In the Shang Dynasty camp, Wen Zhong gave orders through the night for the army to withdraw ten li and regroup. After taking stock, they found they had lost around eight thousand men. Western Qi had left behind nearly twenty thousand soldiers' corpses, and close to fifty generals in total. It could be said that nearly every general Western Qi had committed to battle had been wiped out in one fell swoop.
Wen Zhong ordered them hung from the flagpoles, leaving only Huang Feihu in the tent. He dismissed everyone else and spoke with Huang Feihu alone. No one knew what the two had discussed, though they could roughly guess, because before long, Huang Feihu was hanging from a flagpole as well.
Wen Zhong was mentally exhausted. Only after resting for half a day did he summon the generals to assess merit and dispense rewards. Wen Zhong governed his troops with clear rewards and punishments. The Four Heavenly Lords of Huanghua Mountain had failed in their supervisory duties and allowed Western Qi's forces to break into their rear. Ji Li and Yu Qing had mishandled their troops, resulting in the destruction of the provisions. All of these offenses warranted severe punishment. Wen Zhong himself was no exception. As the army's commander, he had been defeated by Jiang Ziya before the lines, badly damaging morale. He deserved even harsher punishment.
But times had changed, and they were in desperate need of capable men. Wen Zhong temporarily recorded their punishments and allowed the six men to redeem themselves through service. Rewards and penalties would be settled after Western Qi was defeated.
Wen Zhong cupped his hands. "Thanks to your aid, fellow Daoist, the provisions were kept safe. Otherwise, Wen Zhong would have been in grave danger last night!"
Duke lightly shook his