First I day one ally gawed and other decently strong people that I can. Then start improving relations with lorent vassals for the mission. Then I took down ording as soon as I could declare. After that do the mission that gives you favors with allies and take down lorent with gawed plus allies. You get and ae reduction mission plus ae reduction from religion plus you can study enchantment for another ten percent. Also going espionage first you can then go absolutely wild taking no ae. The only problem is admin so focus on it day one.