Moreover, Meng Zhao had always been using the Meng Family's connections to infiltrate Ji Prefecture. Even without the Meng Family, his influence remained immense. Besides, the Meng Family and the Lei Family were both his people—who could contend with him?
Yanzhou was not much worse. First, through the marriage alliance with the Tan Family, he had gained official support. Second, he had forged an exceptionally close connection with Divine Saber Hall, one of the Thirteen Families, winning the aid of Purple Thunder Dao Lord's lineage. Its foundations were likewise incomparably secure.
Besides, Yanzhou was the Pudu Cult's stronghold. Meng Zhao's relationship with Monk Huikong also counted as a powerful source of support.
Thus, Ji Prefecture and Yanzhou might not yet be things in Meng Zhao's pocket, but they were not far from it.
Only Liang Prefecture remained difficult to grasp in its entirety.
Meng Zhao's arrangements in Liang Prefecture consisted mainly of three points.
First was the deployment within Hu Mountain. Its military force numbered around one hundred and fifty thousand, all tempered through countless trials and survivors of a hundred battles.
Second were the Dan Chi Clan and the Ji Clan branch—the very reason Meng Zhao had once lavished such attentions upon Ji Rushuang.
Third was Madam Xie.
As for whether there was a fourth point, that depended on how much affection Tang Wan'er of Fire Dragon Cave still held for Meng Zhao.
Now that the Ji Clan branch had greatly increased in strength, Meng Zhao's influence over Liang Prefecture had likewise grown stronger.
Of course, drawing upon the Dan Chi tribesmen to form an army of one hundred thousand or even one hundred and fifty thousand was impossible. The Dan Chi Clan itself would find that difficult to accept, and even if it were forcibly carried out, it