Jiang Ziya gathered the defeated troops and returned to the city, meeting with the generals in the main hall. After taking count, he discovered that more than half the officers had been lost. More than twenty generals, including Boda, Boshi, Zhongtu, Huang Ming, and Zhou Ji, had been captured alive by the Shang Dynasty. The unluckier ones had been trampled to death in the chaos. These were all old officials of Western Qi, the assets King Wen had painstakingly left behind for Western Qi. Several were even King Wen's sons and nephews.
Fine, King Wen had many sons, so losing a few was no great matter. But the Chan Sect disciples truly could not afford such losses. Yang Jian, Han Dulong, Xue Ehu, and Wuji were all generals skilled in Daoist arts. Now they were trapped in the Shang Dynasty camp, their lives and deaths unknown. The mere thought of it made Jiang Ziya's teeth ache.
"I knew Wen Zhong was an able commander, but I never imagined he had such valiant divine generals under his command. If no one can stop them, Western Qi is doomed!"
The other generals shared his anxiety. Huang Feihu in particular had first been thoroughly berated by Wen Zhong, then lost two younger brothers. Frustrated beyond measure, he swung a fist into one of the hall's pillars.
Huang Tianhua opened his mouth, unsure how to comfort his father. His Heart-Piercing Nail had been destroyed, and he too was deeply depressed.
Seeing the gloom hanging over the hall, Jiang Ziya knew morale had been affected and could not be allowed to decline further. He declared loudly, "Though Wen Zhong won today, he will inevitably grow arrogant. Once we rest briefly, we will surely turn the tide in a single battle."
Huang Feihu was a shrewd