He actually knew what Tian Heng was planning to do. From the moment the Princess Royale was lured away, he was well aware. The other side wouldn't be looking to perish together with the Imperial Army; his Western Sea Army alone couldn't take on the Imperial Army.
What the other side really wanted was to seize this opportunity to control the Imperial Army and kick him and his group out.
The excuse they'd use would probably sound quite legitimate later, claiming the influence of the Demon Buddha Temple had caused him and his men to be bewitched, thereby completely ousting any disobedient generals. By the time the Princess Royale returned, recovering full control of the military authority would no longer be easy.
