Board Thread:Questions and Answers/@comment-3178324-20200521003038/@comment-27713488-20200521133219

The ambassador's evaluation is not his personal feelings toward you or the Doom King. At this point, he doesn't even know you could have anything to do with Yhilin infrastructure like the bridge. He doesn't know you're the same group that accompanied him to Ardford. The ambassador is evaluating your appearance of legitimacy and your diplomatic position.

The delegation from Ardoheim is an emergency one. They are trying to arrive as fast as they can.

If Rebel's Pass is open with its bridge fixed, they get there very fast. They look around and see the city still virtually on fire. They are not impressed with the new leadership and negotiations with them are not so productive.

If they are delayed by the broken bridge, by the time they arrive you have your act together a little more. The city isn't actively smoldering or being looted, and you've had time to let all your nobles and other city leaders know the score, and realize they aren't all about to be enslaved and business as usual isn't about to be utterly destroyed. You are still a conqueror but you get a bit more begrudging legitimacy from Ardoheim as the new rulers of Yhilin.

That is why the broken bridge is good, for this specific situation.