Nobles wouldve always retreated...cos they are nobles thats what they do, they dont stand and fight when someone else can do it fore them, and they dont get their loyal samurai or their loyal ninjas to fight when theirs an army coming.
If Shojo had been in charge its even possible that the nobles wouldve tried reasoning with Xykon...how would THAT turn out?
And its more likely that warrior troops would be bolstered morally by their leader running around smiting evil whilst riding his massive wolf that has silver teeth, than the crazy old guy in the castle