Elsewhere, after Meng Zhao had finished explaining some key matters, he was about to have the guards outside the tent fetch wine and dishes from the kitchens when he heard that Shen Zhihang and Li Ao had come to pay their respects.
Meng Zhao did not know why the two had come. Since Cao Zhan happened to be present as well, he invited them in, intending to introduce them to one another.
Though Hong Tianzheng and Ji Rulin were the people Meng Zhao trusted most, that did not mean these two could not be used. At certain times, when their interests aligned, they could be more worthy of being entrusted with major responsibilities than loyal subordinates.
Once the two entered the tent, Meng Zhao directly introduced Cao Zhan's background and origins to them, then said,
"Azhan has been by my side since our days in Nan'an. His family has a deep martial heritage, and the Great Sage Splitting Heaven Art he cultivates can attain the Celestial Realm. He himself is a prodigy of the martial path, with a future beyond measure.
"After I leave, Cao Zhan will be the sea-calming needle I leave behind in the Divine Might Army. What he does is what I command. You must grow closer to him, cooperate with one another, and help me manage the Divine Might Army well."
Meng Zhao was practically telling them outright that Cao Zhan was the person he had designated to hold power over the Divine Might Army in the future. His status would be comparable to Meng Zhao's own. They would do best to coordinate and cooperate rather than make any petty moves.
Shen Zhihang and Li Ao exchanged a covert glance, each reading the other's thoughts. With considerable tacit understanding, they greeted Cao Zhan. There was nothing