They knew full well that Xiqi had won victory after victory in recent days, leaving the army's morale proud and overconfident. And last night, the immortals of Xiqi had discussed matters to no result, their minds weary and troubled. This was precisely the moment when they would be most lax and unprepared.
Thus they settled on a plan: at daybreak the next morning, they would take the initiative, leave camp, and challenge them before their lines, catching Xiqi off guard and, with thunderous momentum, crush the Zhou Army's edge once more!
Sure enough, the Xiqi main camp had no defenses prepared. Before the immortals had even decided on a plan and before the army's morale had been put in order, the Shang Army abruptly blocked their gates and called them out to battle.
Jiang Ziya and the assembled Immortal Officials were still standing before the formation, their minds unsettled. Before they could lay out a formation or issue orders to repel the enemy, a fierce general from the Xiqi army could no longer hold himself back and suddenly urged his horse out of the ranks!
This man was none other than the great general Wu Rong!
Wu Rong relied on his own exceptional bravery. Having followed the army through many campaigns, he saw that there were only two enemy generals opposite them—one young and composed, the other fierce and ugly—and did not take them seriously at all.
His heart set on seizing merit and breaking the enemy, he did not wait for the prime minister's military order. Holding a long saber, he roared in fury, spurred his horse straight toward the front, and slashed at Ma Yuan with a cold, biting flash of blade-light!
"Arrogant demon Daoist! Don't be so wild! Watch me take your head!"
Hooves thundered, saber-wind howled,