Nezha, Kong Xuan

Chaoge, the royal palace's rear garden.

The afterglow of the setting sun quietly spilled over the pavilions and towers, and all around were blooming flowers, their fragrance wafting in the air, a stark contrast to the somber and heavy atmosphere of the Nine Chamber Hall during the day.

Jiang Ziya, dressed in a plain Daoist robe, stood outside a pavilion, but his heart was far from calmed by the scenery before him.

He has already mobilized all available troops within the Great Shang Dynasty territory and carefully selected capable generals from various regions, all ready to be deployed early tomorrow morning.

They then divided their forces into three routes, heading to the western, southern, and northern battlefields to confront the six hundred rebellious lords.

Everything is ready; all that's missing is the start of the campaign.

But at this critical juncture, the King suddenly issued an edict summoning him to the palace, which left Jiang Ziya completely puzzled.

With the army about to set out on campaign, what could be more important than military intelligence? Has His the King made some new arrangements regarding the campaign strategy?

As he was pondering, Di Xin's calm voice came from inside the pavilion.

"My dear minister, please come in and sit down."

"Yes, Your the King."

Jiang Ziya composed himself and stepped into the pavilion.

Di Xin was not wearing royal robes, but only ordinary black casual clothes, leisurely sipping a cup of tea.

Behind him stood a young warrior in a red robe, with a handsome face and an unyielding arrogance between his brows, casually twirling a Universe Ring in his hand.

It was Nezha.

"Sit."

Di Xin pointed to the stone bench opposite him.

"Thank you, Your the King."

Jiang Ziya sat down as instructed, his doubts growing stronger.

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and couldn't help but ask.

"Your the King, the troop deployment is complete, and the generals have been selected. We can set out tomorrow."

"Your the King has summoned me to the palace at this time. Could it be... that Your the King has other plans regarding the expedition?"

Di Xin waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to be nervous.

"I am naturally at ease with your handling of matters, my dear minister."

"I've summoned you today not to interfere with your military strategy."

"I actually wanted to recommend two people to you."

Recommend two people?

Jiang Ziya's heart stirred.

With a major battle imminent, this is precisely the time when manpower is most needed.

Those who can be personally recommended by the King must be extraordinary.

"May I ask who this worthy talent Your the King has recommended?"

Di Xin did not speak, but simply pointed behind him with his hand.

Nezha.

The young man in red robes, who had been standing behind Di Xin as a backdrop, stepped forward.

"Disciple is here."

"Go, go and meet your commander."

"Yes, Master."

Nezha stepped forward and bowed solemnly to Jiang Ziya.

"This humble Nezha, Nezha, greets the Grand Tutor."

Jiang Ziya quickly stood up and offered a helping hand.

A storm raged within him.

Nezha!

He naturally knew about Nezha.

Li Jing's son, and the King's Direct Disciple. He was brought into the palace to cultivate at the age of three, and has been doing so for twenty years.

Outsiders only know that he is the King's beloved disciple, but they do not know the extent of his strength.

But how could Jiang Ziya, Jie Sect Disciple and in charge of the Shang Army, not know this?

Primordial Unity Golden Immortal!

A Primordial Unity Golden Immortal who is only twenty years old!

Such talent and cultivation are extremely rare, even in the entire Three Realms.

Jiang Ziya had considered it before.

Such strong reinforcements would be a great help if they could accompany the army on its expedition.

But he dared not.

This is the King's only Direct Disciple, extremely precious. What if something were to happen to him on the battlefield? How could he explain it to the King?

Therefore, Nezha's name was not on the list of generals he had drafted for the expedition.

Unexpectedly, Your the King would take the initiative to bring this up today.

Di Xin looked at the undisguised surprise and joy on Jiang Ziya's face and smiled faintly.

"My disciple has been raised in the palace for twenty years, spending all his time cultivating. It's time for him to go out and see some blood and gain some experience."

"I intend to have him accompany you on your campaign, serving as your vanguard."

"My dear minister, what are your thoughts?"

Jiang Ziya suppressed his excitement and bowed again.

"Your the King's willingness to part with this is my deepest gratitude!"

"Nezha is unparalleled in bravery. If he were to join my army, he would surely make my Great King of Shang's army even more formidable!"

With this powerful general, at the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal level, as the vanguard, who among the so-called young talents of the Xiqi Clarify Sect could possibly be a match for him?

After the initial excitement, Jiang Ziya's expression turned serious again.

He looked at Nezha and said in a deep voice.

"However, there is something I must say upfront."

"Although Nezha is the King's esteemed disciple and of noble status..."

"But there are no fathers and sons in the army; on the battlefield, there are only generals and soldiers."

"Once you join my ranks, you are my general, and you must obey my orders without question, regardless of right or wrong."

"Any disobedience will be dealt with according to military law, without exception."

"Your the King, are you willing to part with it?"

He had to make the unpleasant points clear upfront.

Nezha was notoriously unruly and was also the Human Emperor's beloved disciple. The Emperor worried that if Nezha went to the battlefield, he would disobey orders and act impulsively, which would ruin everything.

Upon hearing this, Di Xin smiled.

"That's natural."

"Now that he's under your command, he's your soldier. Whether you kill him or punish him is up to you."

"I have no further words."

He then looked at Nezha.

Did you hear that?

Nezha straightened his back and spoke in a booming voice.

"Disciple understands!"

"From the day he left the palace, Nezha was a lowly soldier under Grand Tutor Jiang, obeying the marshal's every command. If he disobeyed, he would gladly accept military punishment!"

Good!

Now, Jiang Ziya's last lingering concerns vanished.

He laughed heartily.

"Very well! With Your the King and General Nezha's words, I am relieved!"

"Nezha, heed my command!"

Jiang Ziya's expression turned solemn, and he adopted the authority of a Grand Tutor.

"Your subordinate is here!"

"I hereby appoint you as the vanguard commander of the western expedition; you will depart with the army tomorrow!"

"Understood!"

Nezha responded loudly, his face filled with ecstatic joy.

Di Xin nodded in satisfaction, seemingly having anticipated this outcome.

He picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

"Besides Nezha, I'd like to recommend someone else to you."

Jiang Ziya's spirits lifted.

If even a trump card like Nezha was dispatched without hesitation, then what kind of earth-shattering figure must this second person be?

"Your Majesty, I humbly request the King instructions."

Di Xin put down his teacup and uttered a name that Jiang Ziya had not expected.

Kong Xuan.

Kong Xuan?

Jiang Ziya quickly searched his mind for the name.

In his mind, information on countless generals flashed by rapidly.

The Great Shang Dynasty boasted numerous military generals, including Huang Feihu, Deng Jiugong, and Zhang Kui —each renowned for their prowess.

Kong Xuan...

Jiang Ziya frowned slightly.

He had some impression of this Kong Xuan, but that was all.

Kong Xuan was considered an important general in the military ranks of the Great Shang Dynasty.

But... that's all.

This Kong Xuan had an unremarkable resume and military achievements; he had nothing outstanding about him.

He was neither as powerful as King Wu, Huang Feihu, nor did he possess unorthodox and secret arts like Zhang Guifang.

He was just an ordinary military officer who climbed the ranks step by step through seniority.

In fact, in terms of sheer bravery, Huang Feihu's sons, Huang Tianhua and Huang Tianlu, far surpassed him.

In the Shang Army, there were at least eighty, if not a hundred, generals more outstanding than him.

Therefore, when drafting the list of generals for this expedition, Jiang Ziya did not even consider him.

But now, the King himself has spoken up, recommending this person alongside Nezha?

Jiang Ziya couldn't understand it at all.

This doesn't make sense.

Could I have misread it? Is there an error in the case file?

No.

It's impossible for a general guarding a region to make such a huge oversight.

Could it be... that this Kong Xuan possesses something completely unknown to me, something so special that even the King would look at him with new eyes?

A series of thoughts flashed through Jiang Ziya's mind, instantly calming his heart, which had just been burning with excitement over obtaining Nezha.

He raised his head to meet Di Xin's deep eyes, trying to discern something within them.

However, those eyes held only a calm lake, undisturbed by any ripples.

Jiang Ziya took a deep breath and decided to stop making wild guesses.

He bowed deeply to Di Xin.

"Your the King."

"Forgive my ignorance."

"I know all the generals in the court by heart."

"In my opinion, General Kong Xuan doesn't possess any particularly outstanding qualities."

"In terms of commanding troops, there is King Wu, Huang Feihu; in terms of bravery, there are Zhang Kui and Deng Jiugong."

"This Kong Xuan... although he is a regional commander-in-chief, he has never had any remarkable achievements."

"I truly do not understand why Your the King values him so highly?"

"Your the King, please enlighten me, what is so special about this Kong Xuan?"

He asked very directly.

Because he knew that in front of this Human Emperor, any roundabout probing was meaningless.

Moreover, this was a war concerning the lives of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and as the commander-in-chief, he absolutely could not accept an unclear appointment.