Wen Zhong passed through Huanghua Mountain and subdued the Four Heavenly Monarchs. Before he had gone more than a few steps, he recruited Duke as well. He felt that Heaven's mandate still rested with the Shang Dynasty, and that turning the tide might not be impossible.
In Wen Zhong's view, this campaign against Western Qi was bound to be a hard battle, because the people's hearts were no longer with the Shang Dynasty. Western Qi's rebellion ultimately stemmed from King Zhou's foolishness and tyranny, which had provoked the wrath of Heaven and the resentment of the people. He, Wen Zhong, might be able to suppress Western Qi, but if South Qi or North Qi rebelled next time, what then?
Public resentment was boiling over. Suppressing it with force would only backfire, like adding fuel to a fire—it would only burn hotter. No matter how formidable Wen Zhong was or how skilled he was in war, with the people's hearts unsettled, he could not keep saving the crumbling Shang Dynasty time and again.
What Wen Zhong wanted most now was to capture Western Qi as soon as possible and return to court to take charge of the overall situation. With him there, King Zhou would certainly restrain himself somewhat, and the Shang Dynasty might yet have a chance to rise again.
The army of three hundred thousand emerged from the endless mountains and sped westward. After another half month, they arrived within Western Qi's territory. Wen Zhong ordered the army to set up camp and rest for three days, preparing themselves before launching the campaign against Western Qi.
Western Qi had long since received reports from its scouts. King Wu Ji Fa appointed Jiang Ziya as commander, and Western Qi's troops had been reorganized and waiting for some time.
Jiang Ziya