Deng Xiu had already led his troops out to meet the Nanyue army.
The Shang Army stood in orderly ranks, their armor bright and gleaming. With the King of Yu Yue's submission, their morale had soared and their hearts had steadied. Every man brimmed with vigor, lending the army a magnificent presence.
At the center of the army stood a standard-bearer holding an enormous banner pole. One side of the flag bore the Dark Phoenix, while the other displayed the character for "Shang."
Previously, they had not dared use it, and their banners had mostly borne their generals' names. But now that King Zhou was within the pass, they could fly the Dark Phoenix banner. Beneath it, the Shang soldiers roared as though they had all received a buff.
By contrast, most of the Nanyue soldiers wore neither clothing nor armor, leaving their bodies completely bare. Their faces were ugly, and their army sounded no drums or gongs, using only horns for signals. In sheer presence, they had already fallen behind.
Seeing the gulf between the two armies, Deng Xiu knew this battle was a sure thing. He shouted, "You wretched scoundrels! His Majesty has personally marched against Baiyue, yet instead of submitting with folded hands, you dare advance farther and violate the borders of our Great Shang! Hateful criminals, deserving of death! Today, I shall slaughter every last one of you and consecrate the banners of Great Shang's Southern Campaign army with your blood!"
His words stirred every Shang soldier into righteous fury. Countless eyes turned toward the banner at the army's center. Like King Zhou's Imperial Robe, it was yellow and white-but they could dye it red with their enemies' blood!
"Blood for the banner! Blood for the banner!"
Although the Shang vanguard numbered only a few thousand,