Western Qi's First Battle Ends in Defeat

The next day, at Great Shang's morning court.

Wenzhong stood in the great hall and announced before everyone that Chao Tian and Chao Lei had switched sides and pledged allegiance to Western Qi.

The hall fell deathly silent.

No one had expected the two men to betray Yin Shang.

But their expressions soon returned to normal. Di Xin's foolish rule had caused so many outrageous things over the years that another betrayal hardly seemed strange.

Seated on the Dragon Throne, Di Xin's face turned livid. Fury surged through him, and his eyes widened with rage.

"Good! So much for loyalty!" Di Xin snarled through clenched teeth. "I treated them generously, gave them high offices and lavish salaries, and placed my trust in them. Yet those two traitors dared betray me and turn against Shang! All my efforts were wasted on them!"

In his rage, Di Xin issued a harsh decree. "Pass on my order. Reduce every member of Chao Tian's and Chao Lei's families to servitude, as a warning to others!"

Wenzhong looked at the furious Di Xin and sighed helplessly. "Your Majesty, it is too late. The two generals planned carefully and made arrangements in advance. Both families escaped beyond the five passes last night and reached Western Qi safely. Great Shang's laws no longer reach them."

"Traitors! Every last one of them!"

Di Xin clenched his fists and roared. They had fled without a trace, leaving him not even their families to punish. With nowhere to vent his fury, he could only stew in frustration.

"Your Majesty, Western Qi grows stronger by the day. Its wings have nearly spread, and it has become a grave threat to Great Shang. Our priority is not to pursue past offenses, but to muster an army at once, destroy the root of