Luo Peng was at his wit's end. After thinking for a while, Zhen Cheng said,
"If the Emperor permits it, we may be able to borrow the Imperial Court's power and perhaps place some pressure on the Meng Family."
Jian Si shook his head, directly snuffing out the flame of hope in their hearts.
"Forget it. It's impossible. Meng Zhao's position as General Yangwu is unshakable. He now commands nearly a hundred thousand troops, and the Imperial Court has not paid a single coin in military salaries. They are all supported by Meng Zhao and Lingwu City itself.
"Moreover, Meng Zhao is, after all, a member of the Southern An Meng Family. The Earl of Nan'an is one of the Founding Nobles. If Meng Shentong had not earned such a poor reputation and offended far too many people in his early years, drawing endless criticism, how could he possibly have been granted nothing more than a mere earldom?
"Even so, the founding Great Ancestor still enfeoffed him in Nan'an of Ji Prefecture. There were no Nine Surnames and Thirteen Families nearby to restrain him, granting the Meng Family ample compensation. This also led to the Meng Family possessing an exceedingly terrifying influence in both the Imperial Court and the martial world today.
"The Emperor must consider not only Meng Zhao himself, but the entire Southern An Meng Family—and even the thoughts of the Ninth Prince."
Jian Si was extraordinarily knowledgeable and understood the Southern An Meng Family well. He knew the terrifying potential of that clan.
Throughout the vast Ji Prefecture, there were no top-tier forces such as the Nine Surnames and Thirteen Families. The Southern An Meng Family had once been the greatest clan and the most powerful force there. If they could truly digest all of Ji Prefecture,