Chapter 62: All Treacherous Ministers and Rebellious Traitors Are Sent Straight to the Heavenly Prison
King Zhou’s words about his “nightmare” sent chills through the hearts of the more timid ministers. Some could barely suppress their trembling, almost startled into wetting themselves right there in the hall. Sweeping his gaze over the gathered officials, King Zhou continued, “That was only the first nightmare I had. Now for the second.”
“In a gloomy prison cell, a blazing bonfire burns a model of an ox, forged from iron. The flames glow a vivid, searing red, and even from a distance, the heat feels oppressive enough to ignite anyone in an instant.”
“Heh, why don’t you guess what I did next in this dream?” As he asked, King Zhou deliberately cast several meaningful glances at Fei Zhong, You Hun, and a few others.
At once, those men shrank back in terror, their legs weak and trembling uncontrollably. The king’s words clearly carried a hidden meaning—a powerful sense of foreboding. Something terrible was about to happen.
“Grand Preceptor Wen, why don’t you tell me what I did next?” King Zhou turned his gaze to Wen Zhong.
Without hesitation, Wen Zhong replied, “Your Majesty, I do not know.”
King Zhou chuckled, “Ah, Wen Zhong, your honesty never wavers. I appreciate your stubbornness—your foul temper. What I did next was both cruel and exhilarating. I shoved Fei Zhong into the blazing iron ox, burning him to ashes.”
“Ah… Your Majesty, this…” Fei Zhong was so terrified he could barely speak.
Ignoring Fei Zhong’s disarray, King Zhou raised his voice, “Ministers, the second nightmare I spoke of is called the Bronze Ox punishment. Yet, there is an even more cruel punishment—the Roasting Torture. Would you like to hear how it’s carried out?”
“Your Majesty, perhaps it’s best not to…” Some of the more fearful ministers struggled to keep their balance, needing the support of their colleagues to avoid collapsing in fright.
The king was behaving most unusually today.
“Haha… What’s this? Have my words frightened you already?” Twenty-eight years of national fortune passed in the blink of an eye. The king who loses his kingdom? No, never—such a tragedy must not be allowed.
Suddenly, King Zhou shouted, “Guards! Seize Fei Zhong, You Hun, Chong Hou Hu, Bo An, Ji Sui, Lu Xiong, and all those traitorous villains. Imprison them in the heavenly dungeon!”
King Zhou’s abrupt command left every minister in the hall dumbfounded.
What dreadful thing had happened? Why had the king, without warning, ordered so many ministers detained—especially high-ranking officials like Fei Zhong, You Hun, and Chong Hou Hu? Was the court about to change forever?
“Ah… Your Majesty, why are you doing this?”
“Mercy, Your Majesty! If you’re going to imprison us, at least give us a reason! Why?”
By now, Fei Zhong, You Hun, Chong Hou Hu, Bo An, Ji Sui, and the others had all been seized by the palace guards and forced to their knees. Terror was etched across each face.
“Your Majesty, what have I done wrong? Surely you must provide a reason!” Fei Zhong protested, unwilling to accept his fate.
King Zhou wore a sinister smile. “Very well. You want a reason, Fei Zhong? I’ll give you one.”
“Listen carefully, Fei Zhong. You are cunning by nature, skilled in flattery, greedy for pleasure and profit, and masterful in deceit. You even schemed against the queen.”
“If you want more reasons, I could list them for three days and nights without exhausting them.”
Thanks to the guidance of the sage, Fei Zhong’s wicked deeds had finally come to light. If this villain is not executed, he will surely continue to bring ruin upon the nation.
He must die!
Fei Zhong was clever enough to sense King Zhou’s furious demeanor. Inwardly, he lamented, “The king’s wrath is like the judgment of Heaven itself—my fate is surely sealed.”
A tragedy, indeed!
“Guards! Imprison them all in the heavenly dungeon and await execution after the autumn trials!”
A thunderous roar echoed through the hall. Every traitorous minister named could not escape—the invisible net had fallen, and the graveyard would soon be crowded with new souls.
Wen Zhong, Shang Rong, Bi Gan, Uncle Qi, Wei Zi Qi, Du Yuan Xian, Mei Bo, and others were deeply shaken. As loyal ministers, they sensed something profound.
Those being imprisoned were all led by Fei Zhong and You Hun, ministers who had never sought the welfare of the king or the people. Instead, they delighted in bribery and extorting wealth from the populace day after day.
They were truly insatiable villains. Now, the king had caught them all in one fell swoop—a momentous occasion that called for celebration and universal joy.
Yet, after the initial relief, the ministers grew anxious and uneasy. King Zhou had always been suspicious by nature; serving a ruler like him was like serving a tiger—one careless word could cost a man his head.
Fish and bear’s paw were never to be had together.
Each minister’s thoughts were different, but King Zhou saw them all and offered reassurance, “You need not worry. So long as you remain loyal to me and to the nation, seeking the welfare of the people, I will respect you as I would a teacher or a father.”
“But if I learn that you harbor duplicity in your hearts and commit crimes against the people, I will show no mercy. Your fate will be the same as Fei Zhong and You Hun—there will be no leniency.”
“Rest assured, Your Majesty! We pledge our unwavering loyalty, care for the people, and diligence in our duties. We will not dare cross the line,” Wen Zhong was first to declare.
“We pledge ourselves!”
“We pledge ourselves!”
“We pledge ourselves!”
…
Shang Rong, Bi Gan, Uncle Qi, Wei Zi Qi, and the other ministers all voiced their loyalty to the nation.
Isn’t it better to be an honest minister than a traitor, forever reviled?
With that, the matter was settled.
King Zhou dismissed the ministers, leaving only Grand Preceptor Wen Zhong.
Wen Zhong, puzzled, watched the king’s mysterious preparations and couldn’t help but ask, “Your Majesty, you kept me behind—do you have some special instructions?”
King Zhou, mindful of the sage’s advice, dared not forget his purpose for even a moment.