About half a month later, the King of Nanyue led his troops to Three Mountains Pass and made camp ten miles away.
The King of Yu Yue had fled with three hundred trusted followers, which suited the King of Nanyue perfectly.
Apart from Yu Yue, the Baiyue Tribes were all roughly equal in strength. If he took the initiative and won a battle, he could become the ruler of all Baiyue rather than the king of a single tribe.
The King of Nanyue told his retainers, "I hear King Zhou brought few great generals on his Southern Campaign. Apart from Wen Zhong, the likes of Fang Xiang, Fang Bi, and Zhang Guifang are all nameless nobodies."
"Our opponents are still just the generals of Three Mountains Pass. You should all know how skilled they are. If we challenge them, the men of Shang will surely come out to fight, puffed up with pride in their own prowess. Once we bring down a few of their generals and blunt the Shang Army's edge, I can become the ruler of Baiyue!"
General Wood Snake volunteered. "Your Majesty, I am willing to issue the challenge!"
General Wood Zhuang refused to fall behind. "I am willing to go too!"
General Wood Tiger hurriedly added, "Let me go instead. Let me test them first."
Seeing all his generals clamoring to fight, the King of Nanyue could not decide whom to send. He could only say, "Go together. The men of Shang are sinister and full of tricks, so there is no need to show them courtesy. Once they accept the challenge, attack together and kill whichever Shang general comes out."
They promptly mustered eight thousand troops under Wood Snake's command and charged toward Three Mountains Pass.
The General's Mansion at Three Mountains Pass.
A Messenger