Meng Zhao's question was not superfluous. Bei Tangsu's strength appeared quite formidable on the surface, but compared to the Beitang Imperial Clan, it was still not enough.
To put it more harshly, it was precisely because the Beitang Imperial Clan supported him from behind that Bei Tangsu possessed his current strength and status. Once he turned his back on the Beitang Imperial Clan of Imperial Capital City, how much of his present strength would remain was yet to be seen.
Given that premise, even if he could draw upon the power of Demonic Saber Jingqing, he might not necessarily possess the ambition or resolve to swallow up Yanzhou whole.
Meng Zhao was different. He possessed not only absolute strength, but absolute influence as well. The hundreds of thousands of troops in Lingwu City, his arrangements in Ji Prefecture and Liang Prefecture, and even his connections in Yanzhou all gave him a certain foundation to accomplish this—not merely indulge in empty fantasies.
Strength and influence were by no means equivalent to martial force. Martial force was only one part of them.
Gong Huai was actually uncertain about this as well. His gaze flickered as he fell into thought. After hesitating for a moment, he finally said,
"I do not know either. After all, I am merely one of Bei Tangsu's subordinates and do not have a particularly thorough understanding of the forces under his command.
"Judging solely by the strength he has displayed, if he were to tear off all pretense with the Beitang Imperial Clan, openly turn against them, and then scheme against the Tan Family and Yanzhou, he would likely be unequal to the task.
"Even if he holds an extraordinary position within Divine Saber Hall, Tan Changming himself is a major figure who came from Divine Saber Hall.