Chapter 127: West Qi, the Ji Family’s Deep Concern

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The soldiers of Great Shang returned in triumph, and the people throughout the capital of Chaoge spontaneously took to the streets to welcome their heroes.

Among them, the three thousand light-armored soldiers led by Su Hu and Huang Feihu received the grandest reception.

Those three thousand soldiers had once annihilated the entire army of one hundred thousand from the Kingdom of Wusang.

When news of this spread through every street and alley of Chaoge, the people refused to believe it.

Three thousand men fighting an army of one hundred thousand? Was that even possible?

Absolutely impossible! It had to be something out of a dream.

Yet the news was true, and the people had no choice but to believe it.

Along the main avenue of Chaoge, both sides were packed with crowds, countless heads swaying amid the sea of people.

The citizens were overjoyed—truly, sincerely overjoyed.

They were proud to possess such a brave and battle-hardened army. Only when the nation was strong could the country remain secure and its people live and work in peace.

“Welcome home, our victorious heroes!”

“Welcome! A warm welcome!”

Flowers, applause, blessings… Every person offered their congratulations from the bottom of their heart.

At the Star-Picking Tower, King Zhou personally bestowed military honors and rewards upon Su Hu, Huang Feihu, and the other soldiers.

From that moment onward, the banner of the Great Shang Empire would rise high into the heavens. Like the morning sun ascending the horizon, they would become an empire upon which the sun never set.

“Long live the King!”

“Long live Great Shang!”

“Long live our soldiers!”

The people celebrated with singing and dancing.

King Zhou was delighted beyond measure. He declared a general amnesty throughout the realm and drank to his heart’s content for three days…

Thousands of miles away, in Xiqi, at the residence of Ji Chang.

More than a month had passed since Shang Rong’s diplomatic mission, yet Ji Chang remained deeply unsettled. He could not sleep through a single night.

Shang Rong’s visit to Xiqi had made one truth clear to everyone in the Ji family: their lives hung beneath King Zhou’s waist.

With a single word, King Zhou could make the heads of every member of the Ji family fall to the ground.

As head of the family, Ji Chang worried day and night.

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Now another piece of joyous news had arrived from Chaoge: three thousand soldiers had annihilated an enemy army of one hundred thousand.

When Ji Chang learned of it, he felt as though he had been struck by lightning. His head rang incessantly.

What was happening?

Three thousand soldiers had killed one hundred thousand enemy troops?

How could such a terrifying and astonishing event possibly have occurred?

At first, Ji Chang simply could not believe it.

But sensational reports continued to spread through Chaoge one after another. Those who had assumed it was merely a prank were eventually forced to believe it.

Facts spoke louder than words.

Since when had the soldiers of Great Shang become so fierce and battle-ready?

For a long while, Ji Chang could not recover from the shock. He remained in a daze until his two sons, Boyikao and Ji Fa, arrived together.

“Father, news has come from Chaoge. It is a victory report… It says that three thousand soldiers of Great Shang annihilated the one-hundred-thousand-strong army of the Kingdom of Wusang, leaving not a single survivor.”

His eldest son Boyikao’s words struck Ji Chang’s mind once more, nearly leaving him concussed.

“This… Ah, your father has received the news as well. Tell me… is it really true? When did the soldiers of Great Shang become so formidable?”

Three thousand men annihilating one hundred thousand—that was an utterly horrifying concept.

Everyone in the world believed such a thing was absolutely impossible.

Yet it had happened.

“Father, I believe the report must be true. They say Chaoge is now decorated with lanterns, while the people sing and dance in celebration. There can be no mistake,” Ji Fa said.

Seeing their father looking utterly lost, the brothers Boyikao and Ji Fa grew worried.

“Father, are you all right?” Boyikao asked.

Ji Chang waved a hand. “I am fine. It is only that… the stronger Great Shang becomes, the more dangerous our Ji family of Xiqi will be. Ah, King Zhou will never easily spare us.”

At those words, Ji Chang’s heart filled with bleak despair.

Great Shang had clearly shown signs of impending collapse. How had its fortunes suddenly turned around?

Di Xin had long been plagued by misfortune. How had his fate suddenly changed, bringing one joyous event after another?

Ji Chang could not understand it, no matter how much he pondered.

No!

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It could not be real. All of it had to be an illusion!

That venerable old man, so highly respected, would never deceive him.

With this thought, Ji Chang’s face drained of all color, and he collapsed back into his chair.

His condition terrified Boyikao and Ji Fa.

“Father… are you all right?”

Ji Chang gasped for breath. “My sons, do you understand? The stronger Yin-Shang becomes, the more dangerous our Ji family of Xiqi will be. It may even reach the point where… with a single order, King Zhou could exterminate our entire clan.”

Whether the elder son Boyikao or the second son Ji Fa, both were exceptionally intelligent.

Shang Rong’s mission to Xiqi had made one thing clear to the entire Ji family: King Zhou truly intended to kill them.

“Father, if that is truly the case, what should our family do? Are we supposed to sit here and await death without taking any action? Perhaps… we should rebel against Chaoge.”

Ji Fa’s words left Ji Chang and Boyikao utterly stunned.

Boyikao stared at Ji Fa in shock. “Second… Second Brother, do you mean that seriously? If an outsider overhears you, our entire family will be…”

“Eldest Brother, we have no other choice. Think about it. Even if we have no intention of rebelling, King Zhou is suspicious by nature. He already harbors murderous intentions toward our family. Do you really think he will spare us simply because we remain obedient and law-abiding?”

Ji Fa saw the matter with remarkable clarity.

“Father, I know you have been worrying about our family for many days, losing sleep night after night. Since that is the case, why don’t we strike at King Zhou first? Perhaps we might still be able to…”

“Second Brother, stop! Do not say another word.”

Boyikao, usually so refined and gentle, rarely lost his temper. Yet today, he was furious.

“Second Brother, have you carefully considered the consequences? Their mere three thousand soldiers annihilated the one-hundred-thousand-strong army of the Kingdom of Wusang. So tell me, with only the tens of thousands of soldiers our Ji family has concealed, what could we possibly use to oppose them?”

“This would be nothing more than an egg striking a stone—a foolish act.”

“Heh. Is it truly an egg striking a stone? I am not so sure,” Ji Fa replied, refusing to yield.

“That is enough. You brothers have always been close, yet today you are quarreling over such impractical matters. This must not continue.”

Ji Chang raised a hand and interrupted their argument.

“Perhaps there is something you still do not know. The reason Di Xin was able to reverse the fortunes of Great Shang was that everything came from the guidance and support of that gentleman.”

“Father, is the gentleman you speak of the Saint Lord who appeared at the celebration in Chaoge?” Ji Fa asked excitedly.

Ji Chang nodded. “That is the very man. I hear he is extraordinarily powerful, capable of seeing into the future and discerning events that have yet to occur. Ah, who knows what opportunity came to the misfortune-plagued King Zhou, or how he happened to encounter such a Saint Lord?”

If only it had been he, Ji Chang, who had encountered that man.

The thought left Ji Chang bitter beyond words.

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