He had executed San Yisheng. Xiqi was bound to make a move.
Deng Jiugong knew that because of what he had said while drunk, Jiang Ziya would try every way he could to scheme against him, steal his daughter, and force him to surrender.
Although he had executed San Yisheng, he had not agreed to the marriage. Still, he could not stop the other side from scheming.
If Xiqi's army attacked, Deng Jiugong had three hundred thousand troops under his command, enough to hold them off.
Even if third-generation disciples of the Chan Sect joined the battle, Deng Jiugong could still resist them.
What he feared was the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect getting involved, especially Juliusun.
Originally, after the Nine-Bend Yellow River Formation, the Three Xiao Sisters had stripped the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect of the three flowers atop their heads and extinguished the five qi within their chests.
But when Jiang Ziya persuaded Deng Jiugong to surrender, Juliusun had indeed been there.
That meant Juliusun, at the very least, had recovered some of his cultivation.
In Deng Jiugong's camp, there had once been no one who could stand against a Grand Unity Golden Immortal powerhouse. Even if Juliusun's injuries had not fully healed, they still would not have been able to stop him.
Fortunately, after Emperor Xin appointed him marshal, he had sent the new commander of Three Mountains Pass to Deng Jiugong before the campaign began.
"Tailuan!"
Deng Jiugong called out.
"Marshal!"
Tailuan soon came before Deng Jiugong and answered respectfully.
"The new commander has been here for some time. Go call him over."
Deng Jiugong said.
"Yes!"
Tailuan hurried off.
Before long, Tailuan brought the new commander to meet Deng Jiugong.
"Marshal, this is the new commander the king sent!"
After speaking respectfully, Tailuan glanced at the new commander, making no effort to hide his displeasure.
The main reason was that the new commander had already been in camp for some time, yet ever since arriving, he had stayed in his tent without showing himself. He had not even come to pay his respects to Tailuan's lord, leaving Tailuan deeply dissatisfied.
Even if the king had sent you to replace your lord and become the commander of Three Mountains Pass, you should at least show the proper deference of a junior!
But you had stayed cooped up and out of sight, and on top of that, you had not even come to pay your respects to your lord.
That was blatant disrespect!
"I, Kong Xuan, pay my respects to Marshal Deng!"
Kong Xuan paid no attention to Tailuan's attitude. He looked at Deng Jiugong, gave a slight nod, and spoke.
"So you're Kong Xuan!"
After Deng Jiugong spoke, he studied Kong Xuan with a scrutinizing gaze.
Although he knew Kong Xuan's identity, on the surface, Deng Jiugong treated him no better than Tailuan had.
After all, Kong Xuan had not come to pay him a visit in all these days.
Emperor Xin had ordered Deng Jiugong to lead the campaign and sent Kong Xuan to take his place and guard Three Mountains Pass.
Whatever his identity, Deng Jiugong was the one in charge here. Kong Xuan was the newcomer; without a formal transfer of office, he was not even the new commander yet.
Though Deng Jiugong did not show Kong Xuan much warmth, he was quietly turning things over in his mind.
Kong Xuan's origins were extraordinary. He was the first peacock in the Primordial World and the son of Yuanfeng, former chief of the Phoenix Clan.
The Mysterious Bird had given birth to Shang, and the fate of Great Shang was closely tied to that of the Phoenix Clan.
It was only after Wen Zhong died and Great Shang's fortunes plummeted that Kong Xuan emerged from seclusion to aid the Shang.
Kong Xuan was incredibly low-key. Though his cultivation had reached the Quasi-Saint realm, he was practically the strongest being beneath the Saints.
Neither the Chan Sect's vice leader, Daoist Randeng, nor the rogue cultivator Daoist Lu Ya was his match.
He was a mighty powerhouse!
Yet during the fighting, Kong Xuan only captured his opponents; he never killed them. As a result, the Shang's favorable position gradually shifted toward Xiqi.
In the end, Zhunti took Kong Xuan away, and the balance of power swung entirely against Great Shang.
That was not something Deng Jiugong wanted to see.
"Yes, my name is Kong Xuan."
Seeing that Deng Jiugong meant to put him in his place, Kong Xuan remained calm and replied.
Kong Xuan's manner was already exceedingly humble.
Moreover, Kong Xuan looked rather young. He did not seem like someone who had seen countless battles or experienced the battlefield, so it was no wonder Tailuan resented having him take Deng Jiugong's place.
But Deng Jiugong knew that Kong Xuan had lived for who knew how many billions of years.
Kong Xuan might never have led troops into battle, but the experience he had accumulated was beyond anything Deng Jiugong could gain in a hundred lifetimes.
Though Kong Xuan had not stepped outside his tent once in all these days, he knew everything that was going on.
"Young man, you've met me without groveling or fawning. No wonder the king thought highly of you and chose you to replace me. I have high hopes for you!"
Deng Jiugong did not put Kong Xuan in his place. Instead, he slowly rose to his feet, walked over, and patted Kong Xuan on the shoulder, wearing an expression that said the younger generation was impressive. Even Kong Xuan was taken aback.
After all, they were on the same side. They should support each other!
"Marshal Deng, you flatter me!"
Kong Xuan smiled faintly and said nothing more.
"What do you think, Commander Kong, about attacking the rebels of Xiqi?"
Deng Jiugong asked suddenly.
"Marshal Deng is the expert when it comes to leading troops into battle. I need only guard this place to ensure Great Shang has nothing to worry about."
Kong Xuan replied calmly.
After all, his cultivation was profound. The soldiers of Xiqi were no more than weaklings in his eyes, nothing to fear.
"You!!!"
At Kong Xuan's words, Tailuan could no longer hold back.
My lord has fought countless battles. He asked for your opinion because he values you, and you repay him with such insolence!
"Tailuan!"
Deng Jiugong raised a hand to stop Tailuan.
He knew Kong Xuan was simply speaking the truth.
In terms of individual strength, Kong Xuan was practically invincible beneath the Saints. With him guarding Three Mountains Pass, no one could breach it unless a Saint appeared.
One only had to look at how Kong Xuan later fought at Golden Rooster Ridge to see that it took Zhunti himself to subdue him.
At the time, Kong Xuan thought no one knew who he really was, and Deng Jiugong was pretending not to know his origins.
"Commander Kong, hearing such bold words from you truly comforts me!"
Deng Jiugong said, his face wearing an expression that showed how much faith he had in Kong Xuan.
More than anything, it was the look of someone admiring a promising junior.
"Marshal Deng, you flatter me!"
Kong Xuan smiled faintly and replied.
"My side is short of young people like you, with such lofty ambitions. From now on, you'll follow me. If you perform well, I'll make you deputy marshal!"
Deng Jiugong said suddenly.
At that, both Kong Xuan and Tailuan were stunned.
Tailuan could already tell that his lord thought highly of Kong Xuan.
He could not understand what Kong Xuan was capable of that made the marshal hold him in such high regard!
Was it just because of his bold words?
Anyone could say pretty things. The battlefield was where true ability showed!
"Marshal Deng, this...!"
Kong Xuan looked at Deng Jiugong in confusion.
Emperor Xin had sent him to replace Deng Jiugong, not to follow Deng Jiugong into battle.
With those few words, Deng Jiugong seemed to be trying to bring him under his command.
"Kong Xuan, you just said it yourself: I'm the one who's good at leading troops into battle. By following me, you can learn a thing or two. It's settled!"
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