That very day, Meng Zhao held a grand banquet within the manor, drinking and making merry with his trusted confidants and senior subordinates. He officially showed himself and announced his return. The scene was exceedingly lively, and the atmosphere was thoroughly harmonious.
On the second day, Meng Zhao began summoning his subordinates one by one. Whether they were his four great confidants, old retainers who had come with the Meng Family's Second Branch, or newcomers who had only pledged themselves to him after arriving in Lingwu City, not a single one was overlooked.
Just as Meng Zhao had previously intended, those who deserved rewards were rewarded, and those who deserved punishment were punished. Grace and authority went hand in hand as he won over their hearts.
This matter alone took Meng Zhao nearly three days.
There was no helping it. The operation beneath him had grown far too vast. Experts and outstanding talents of ability emerged one after another. Moreover, this was not merely going through the motions—he had to win them over according to their individual temperaments, which required even more effort.
Furthermore, if he wished to win people's hearts, he had to act fairly and not let his subordinates harbor misgivings. Otherwise, if he summoned one but not another, making his favoritism plain for all to see, trouble could easily arise.
Three days later, Meng Zhao began formally dealing with the various important matters and miscellaneous affairs that had piled up in his hands. Liang Muqiu worked beside him, filling in gaps and remedying omissions, and was likewise busy beyond measure. Then a subordinate suddenly came to report that the Nine Surnames Li Family had sent a visiting card. Their people were currently outside the manor, and he did not know how to handle them.
Meng Zhao's tightly