Chapter 92: The Tyrant King’s Resolve to Kill Ji Chang, Lord of the West

Chu Xiaoyu directly drew on an entire body of later-day theory and knowledge, and expounded upon it to them at length.

After all, these were the new theories and concepts of a new age. To a man like King Zhou, or to Bi Gan and Su Hu, they were frankly exhausting to hear, and difficult to grasp.

Looking at the wrinkled, strained faces before him, as though they were all suffering from terrible constipation, Chu Xiaoyu let out a breath and said, “Well, tonight’s topic may have been rather cumbersome and heavy. It must have been hard for you to follow, right? No matter. When you return, you can think it over slowly, mull it over at your own pace, and if there is anything you do not understand, you can ask me all at once next time.”

King Zhou drew a long breath. It truly was hard to understand. Ashamed, he said, “Sir, the insights you just shared are profound and far-reaching. I am still finding them difficult to absorb, and even now have not fully digested them.”

“All right. If you truly could absorb them completely and accept them, I would assume you must be people who traveled here from the future.”

Chu Xiaoyu poured them more tea, then continued, “Let me put it this way: this matter must not be rushed. Your Shang has launched so many major reforms all at once that I am rather worried. Your people’s capacity to accept them may not be strong enough. If you hurry too much, the result may be the opposite of what you want.”

Want to swallow a whole man in one gulp? Easier said than done.

A road is walked step by step; a meal is eaten mouthful by mouthful.

The road ahead is long and boundless; I shall search high and low for my way.

“Sir, if such an army were really trained as you say, would its fighting power be truly terrifying?” Su Hu asked a somewhat peculiar question.

Unbreakable in attack, unshakable in defense, would it be like that?

“Mm, of course. They would be raised from childhood, so their loyalty to the nation goes without saying. Only an army like that can be trusted to use.”

“Of course, if you want to train such soldiers—soldiers who are both outstanding and utterly loyal to the country—the cost in money, manpower, and material resources would be enormous. It could never be accomplished in a day or two.”

“But then again, life is like a journey against the current; if you do not advance, you retreat. Those of us who live, even if we are nothing more than salted fish, must still have our own dreams. What if, by some chance, the salted fish turns over and it really comes true?”

King Zhou suddenly slapped the table and said, “I have decided! As Sir said, even if one is only a salted fish, one must still have a dream. What if it truly comes true?”

“Sir, there is something weighing on me, and it is that distant Western Capital. After hearing your words, I returned and sent men to investigate. It turns out the Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, truly harbors thoughts of rebellion, and has even begun taking steps to proclaim himself king.”

“Hmph. Had I not listened to your counsel back then, I would already have had Ji Chang’s head cut off.”

When he said this, King Zhou’s face was entirely dark. “Sir, that Western Marquis of Western Capital is already stirring. Would it not be better to arrest that detestable Ji Chang and throw him in prison? I beg you for your advice.”

In history, it had been precisely with the imprisonment of the Marquis of the West, Ji Chang, that things began. Then his eldest son, Bo Yikao, was killed, and in the end it led to the true rebellion of Western Capital.

Ji Fa, the King of Zhou, rose like a dragon from the earth, and Shang entered the countdown to its doom...

“Ji Chang, the Marquis of the West? Keep him alive.”

Chu Xiaoyu made a bold decision.

At present, because of the tiny flutter of his butterfly wings, the course of history had already deviated greatly from its original path.

Chu Xiaoyu refused to believe that, as a modern man, he could not outfight some antiquated relic.

If that was so, then let them wait and see.

“My king, is the Marquis of the West in Western Capital really that formidable? Otherwise, why does your expression change whenever you speak of him?” Bi Gan did not know that the reason Shang would ultimately fall was that the Ji clan of Western Capital followed the mandate of heaven, set sail with the winds, and in the end destroyed the Shang dynasty.

They would become ministers of a fallen realm, souls beneath the blade.

“Hmph. That Marquis of the West truly deserves death!”

Thinking back to the court assemblies, where the four regional lords gathered once each year, the Marquis of the West had been the most inconspicuous among them. Yet it was precisely such a man who had become the chief calamity that brought ruin to Shang.

Whenever he thought of this, King Zhou could not help wanting to wipe out the Ji clan in distant Western Capital. Otherwise, leaving such a menace alive would make even sleep uneasy.

Chu Xiaoyu did not hurry to speak, but sat there leisurely sipping his tea.

Even the rough and broad-minded Su Hu sensed that something unusual was in the air.

Bi Gan suddenly recalled something and could not help asking Chu Xiaoyu, “Sir, I remember that last time you met me, you seemed to say this to me: you are the one whose heart was dug out, Bi Gan? Sir, I still remember it now, and even now my back feels cold. This... what exactly is going on? I beg you to tell me.”

Well then.

Something he had not wanted to mention had been brought up by Bi Gan after all.

Chu Xiaoyu set down his cup and looked at Bi Gan with unusual seriousness. “Do you really want to know? If you truly want to know, I can tell you a little of it.”

Bi Gan answered at once, equally earnest: “Sir, I want to know what exactly happened. Otherwise I will not be able to eat or sleep.”

Eat? Not be able to sleep?

Anyone who believed that would be a fool.

At the table earlier, Bi Gan had looked refined and cultured, every inch the elegant scholar-gentleman. Yet the way he ate was so crude, like some starving ghost reborn; the dishes on the table were nearly tucked into his own robes. He had been one breath away from eating alone.

“Ah, this matter of yours... it can be spoken of, and yet it cannot be spoken of.” Chu Xiaoyu deliberately left it in suspense.

Bi Gan only grew more baffled. “Sir, what exactly do you mean by that?”

“All right. In truth, your calamity began with Su Daji. It is only that the Su Daji of the present can no longer spread chaos throughout your Shang court. And you, Bi Gan, will not be burned down her old lair by setting fire to it, nor will you incinerate the entire nest of that thousand-year fox demon’s disciples and descendants. Nor will you have your heart dug out by King Zhou because of Su Daji.”

“What... Sir, no, what is this supposed to mean? I... how could I possibly have my uncle’s heart cut out? That... that is impossible!”

King Zhou looked as though he had been struck by a great fright, waving his hands frantically.

Bi Gan was, after all, the king’s uncle. No matter what, there was no way he could ever be killed.