Moroni's ambition was to now cleanse the Lamanite out of the cities along the eastern seashore. These were the cities that were captured by the Lamanites during the time the king-men among the Nephites were trying to seize power. Moroni never forgave them for this treachery. It was during the internal struggle between the freemen and king-men that the Lamanites captured at least six major cities along the sea east. Moroni's strategy was to pound the Lamanites on the south while Lehi and Teancum pressured them from the north. This resulted in the Lamanites being gradually concentrated in the land of Moroni with Ammoron the apostate Nephite king at their head.