Upon returning to the Shang Army's command tent, Yuan Hong immediately ordered wine, meat, delicacies, and fine liquor prepared for a victory feast.
In recent days, Great Shang had suffered the successive losses of Gao Ming, Gao Jue, Chang Hao, Wu Long, and Wu Wenhua, all five dying miserably before the lines. The officers in the tent had lived in fear and unease every day, never once feeling as triumphant as they did today.
The tent was brightly lit by candles, and the fragrance of wine filled the air. The generals stepped forward in turn to toast and congratulate Yuan Hong and Zhu Zizhen, while laughter and cheers rang without end.
"General Zhu's Divine Ability is unmatched! He swallowed Chan Sect's Yang Jian in a single bite! He truly is a god descended to earth!"
"General Zhu has achieved another extraordinary feat today! The Chan Sect disciples are completely unworthy of fear!"
"After this battle, Great Shang will surely turn the tide, crush the allied armies of the lords, and secure the realm forever!"
The endless flattery made Zhu Zizhen, already arrogant by nature, even more pleased with himself.
He sat firmly to one side of the seat of honor, his swollen belly thrust high, his expression haughty.
Yuan Hong raised his wine cup and looked at Zhu Zizhen, his eyes full of approval and expectation.
"Old Zhu, you turned the tide in today's battle and saved Mengjin from danger. Your merit surpasses that of the three armies." Yuan Hong spoke in a deep, solemn voice. "Yang Jian is a pillar of the Chan Sect and the Zhou Army's greatest combat power. Now that you have imprisoned him in your belly, once you refine him, Western Qi will have no top expert left to rely upon. Then, with you and