Deng Jiugong Gravely Wounded, Deng Chanyu Seeks to Avenge Her Father

At dawn the next day, fierce winds swept the battlefield, sending banners snapping and rolling.

Deng Jiugong donned his armor and mounted his horse, personally leading the great Yin Shang host out of camp to form ranks against the allied forces of Western Qi.

The two armies faced each other across the field. Before soldiers or horses moved, words clashed first.

Reining in his horse and holding his saber across him, Deng Jiugong fixed Jiang Ziya with a piercing glare and roared, "Jiang Ziya! Your family has enjoyed Shang's favor for generations, yet instead of remaining loyal to your sovereign and upholding righteousness, you raise troops against the imperial gates and march against the court! Where is your conscience, committing such treason against all rightful order?"

Standing before the Western Qi ranks, Jiang Ziya stroked his beard and laughed at those words. His voice rang across the wilderness, reaching both armies, as he answered with unhurried, righteous conviction:

"Old General Deng, those words are exceedingly foolish!"

"King Zhou of Shang, Di Xin, is debauched and cruel, devoid of virtue or principle. His allotted reign has run its course!

"He devised the cruel punishment of the Bronze Branding Pillar to slaughter loyal and worthy men, and created the Venomous Insect Pit to torment palace consorts. He cut open pregnant women to examine their unborn children and smashed Bo Yikao's bones for their marrow. Every single deed was a horror beyond human endurance!

"The loyal ministers at court are chilled to the heart, every official fears for his own life, and the people beneath heaven have been driven from their homes, suffering the bitter ravages of war!

"Such a benighted ruler, who brutalizes his people and defies the Heavenly Dao, has long since lost heaven's favor and the allegiance of the masses!"