Chapter 63: Unbreakable Vow
Wang Zishu was filled with anger, but he forced himself to calm down and began to think about how to kill Ji Tai. As the emperor, he had a lot of guards.
At this time, Yi Jiang saw that Wang Zishu had made up his mind, so he hesitated and said, "My husband, if we can bring the king to the palace, we should be able to kill him."
Prince Shu sighed and said, "If Ji Tai came here, he would certainly die, but why did he come here?"
Yi Jiang had a miserable look on her face and cried in her voice, "My husband, I am pregnant with Ji Tai's child. I need to report this to the Zongzheng Office. Maybe we can use this to summon Ji Tai."
"What?"
Wang Zishu felt dizzy again, his scalp was numb, he gritted his teeth, stared at Yi Jiang's lower abdomen fiercely, his eyes were full of bloodshot.
“Jitai!
You are truly a man-eating beast in the wilderness!
Even if I have to fall into the underworld for generations, I will definitely kill you!
The most supreme and glorious Haotian, I hope you can have mercy on your people.
The most holy and noble Su Wang, please bless your descendants!"
Yi Jiang cried and said, "My husband, please promise me that I will kill the king. What a sin it is to kill the king and father.
Even all the water in the rivers cannot wash it away!
I am just a weed by the roadside, green today and dead tomorrow. My husband, you are flawless gold and jade, remaining unchanged for thousands of years.
I was wrong for causing trouble that implicated my husband. How could I bear to see you bear such a bad name?
My life is coming to an end soon. I hope your life will become more and more noble. I will go down to the underworld alone. I hope you will plant pine and cypress trees on my grave. If you hear the sound of pine and cypress trees, it means that I am praying for you in the underworld. "
Upon hearing this, Wang Zishu hugged Yi Jiang tightly and cried bitterly, "My dear, how could you say such a thing?
You are a virtuous woman. It is only because you married into the royal family and met Ji Tai and Feng Ji that you suffered such misfortune. How can you blame yourself?
Is this the truth ordained by God?
If a man cannot take revenge with his own hands, can he live in this world with dignity?
Haotian is my witness, and the Su Wang is above. If this is successful, we will share the wealth and honor together. If this is not successful, we will meet in the underworld. This is my oath to you."
The two hugged each other and cried, their hatred for Ji Tai was like an endless rushing river.
Yi Jiang was right. The prince’s offspring might inherit Bang Zhou, so they must be recorded in detail.
After Zongzhengliao confirmed that Yi Jiang was pregnant, they would definitely meet Ji Tai to report. Wang Zishu concluded that a beast like Ji Tai would definitely come to see him after hearing the news.
After a few days, Ji Tai arrived at Wang Zishu's mansion as expected. The guards were all waiting outside the mansion, with only a few people following Ji Tai.
Ji Tai looked at Yi Jiang with a proud look in his eyes, and smiled at Prince Shu, "Shu'er, Yi Jiang is your wife, she is a virtuous woman.
You should pay more attention to the first prince of Bangzhou. If you need anything, you can ask Doctor Fengji for help. "
Prince Shu came to Ji Tai with a smile on his face and bowed, saying, "My Lord and Father, I am your heir, the prince of Bang Zhou. I am so honorable, what else do I lack?
Now all I want is your head!"
"You said...ah!"
Ji Tai just felt something was wrong, but when Wang Zishu just said "want", he had already drawn a knife from his sleeve.
He stabbed directly with a knife, and Ji Tai cried out in pain before he could say a word. This sudden change shocked the people who were protecting Ji Tai.
Wang Zishu didn't waste any time. He twisted the handle of the knife and stirred it around in Ji Tai's body, killing Ji Tai directly.
Not until Ji Tai was dead enough did the guards react. Just as they were about to pounce on Wang Zishu, they were shot dead by the ambushed archers.
A coup d'état was completed in the blink of an eye. Wang Zishu certainly didn't want to die with Ji Tai, so he quickly took Yi Jiang and left the mansion with an excuse.
The guards standing outside had no idea what was happening inside. Prince Shu wanted to immediately bring the army loyal to him and kill these nobles who were loyal to Ji Tai.
Wang Zishu's power was still too weak and he was soon defeated by the old nobles, but many nobles and people sympathized with his situation, so he fled Luoyi with his ministers and Yi Jiang.
…
Jin State.
Before the news of the royal civil strife spread, the first news that reached the ears of the Jin monarchs and ministers was the news that the Yi and Luo Rong tribes had invaded the royal capital.
The Rong people of Yi and Luo thought that Jin would relax its control over them just to deal with the Di people. That would be too naive. In the eyes of Jin, the Rong people of Yi and Luo were the key to Jin's hegemony.
How could they relax their surveillance on them just because of a few Di people?
The ruler and his ministers of Jin had waited for a long time, and now they all laughed loudly, "Your Majesty, the time God has bestowed on Jin to dominate has come!
A hegemon must have both the strength to shock the world and the virtue to make the princes submit to him.
Just as Duke Huan of Qi conquered the Laiyi Kingdom, if you can pacify the Yi and Luo Rong and save the Zhou royal family from danger, the emperor will certainly be grateful to you.
When the emperor grants you the title of governor, you will be able to achieve your goal."
The position of Fangbo can be used to conquer rebellious people on behalf of the emperor, and the rites, music, wars and conquests are all decided by the emperor. If the position of Fangbo is obtained, even the State of Luo will submit to the State of Jin.
This is the unspoken thought of the rulers and ministers of Jin. Jin and Qi are different. Although they are allies, they are not yes-men!
Even without the help of Luo State, Jin State can still dominate the world!
Duke Chong'er of Jin sighed and said, "Since Chong'er ascended the throne, it is thanks to the assistance of all your wise ministers that Jin has become as prosperous as it is today.
Two million people in Jin wanted to establish the same hegemony as Duke Huan of Qi, and hundreds of ancient states hoped to have a leader who could whip the barbarians.
Can we give to others the heavy responsibility of obeying the will of heaven and expelling the cholera-infected Rongdi?
Call out to the warriors of Jin and to all the nations of Xia.
Fight against the Rong people and protect the emperor!"
The Yiluo Rong were composed of numerous tribes, so it was impossible for them to send out troops at once. However, their numbers were so large that they were like a tide and locusts.
As soon as the Jin army arrived at the bank of Luo River, they encountered a large group of Rong people. The elite troops of the Jin army formed a battle array and drove away the Rong people with a burst of fighting. Then they heard scouts come to report that an army with the royal army flag was on the road in a hurry.
This army was none other than Prince Shu who had fled from Luoyi.
After Ji Tai was killed by Prince Shu, the nobles who had always been close to Ji Tai would naturally not let Prince Shu live, so they prepared to kill him on the charge of regicide.
After Prince Shu escaped with the help of nobles and fellow countrymen, he did not expect to encounter the Jin army that was preparing to suppress the Yiluo Rong just a few hundred miles away.
Both parties were very surprised when they came into contact, and felt as if they were asking, "Why are you here?"
"Wang Zishu fled? Did something happen in the royal family? Internal strife?"
Chong'er was also a little dumbfounded. He just came here to suppress a wave of Rong people. How could he encounter such a major royal event?
Chong'er himself was hunted down by Prince Wu and Prince Lin, and then he returned to Jin with the armies of Qi and Luo to inherit the throne.
He knew very well that something big might have happened in the royal family, which made him feel gloomy. Now was the critical moment for him to dominate. If the royal family did something weird, he would definitely regret it.
But the ministers of Jin State did not think so. Their eyes lit up, that light that only shines when one sees something precious.
Zhao Qing said excitedly: "Your Majesty, this is a gift from God.
You should immediately pay a visit to Prince Shu. During the 500 years of the Zhou Dynasty, every time there was a major change in the royal family, a hegemon would emerge.
King Su was the one who received the mandate from Heaven. King Wu offered him the throne but he refused it, so he was not among ordinary people.
Duke Wen of Luo became regent due to the rebellion of King Li, Duke Xuan of Luo became regent due to the rebellion of Haojing, and even the Marquis of Zheng became the Grand Chancellor during the rebellion of Prince An.
If you can support the emperor, you won't need to slowly accumulate reputation like Duke Huan of Qi did!"
Chong'er was overwhelmed with emotion when he heard this. Duke Huan of Qi's hegemony was so enviable, but it was too slow. It took him nearly twenty years to accumulate reputation.
Finally, he defeated the State of Chu in the Battle of Yanling and saved the royal family. He was then awarded the honorable title of Fangbo and the Nine Gifts by the Emperor, and even the State of Jin submitted to him.
If he had not been in power long enough, he would have died before he could enjoy the supreme power in the world.
Wang Zishu soon met Chong'er and noticed at a glance his unusually double pupils, which were the symbol of a sage king in ancient times.
Seeing the heroic and extraordinary Prince Shu, Chong'er asked with a smile: "Prince, you no longer want to enjoy your wealth and prosperity in Luoyi. Why do you want to go out with your weapons? The Yi and Luo Rong are now rampant and uncontrollable. It would be bad if the prince got hurt."
Wang Zishu fled from Luoyi, but the road ahead was uncertain and he didn't know which way to go.
When he met the Duke of Jin, a relative of the Ji clan, he knew that he was very powerful and it would be of no benefit to him if he deceived him.
So he took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "Jin Hou, you are a relative of the Ji clan, I shouldn't lie to you, but the truth is too shocking, please sit down.
I killed Du Futai and was hunted down by the nobles in the capital. Fortunately, I was pitied by the people and was able to leave Luoyi. "
Kill the tyrant?
The most famous dictators recognized by all the Xia countries were Jie, Zhou, Li, Huang and You. The next one was King Xi, who killed his brother.
But no matter which one it was, tyrants have always been exclusive to kings. What Wang Zishu meant by this was that he killed the Zhou emperor?
Jitai of the Zhou Emperor, also known as the Tyrant Terrace by Prince Shu!
The rulers and ministers of Jin looked at each other in bewilderment. How broad were their horizons?
The last time this happened was more than 200 years ago, when Marquis Shen killed King You, right? Is there another warrior like this now?
Chong'er was smiling, but suddenly he froze. He thought he had misheard, but it couldn't be wrong. He shouted, "Why don't you take down the regicide?"
The warriors in the tent immediately pushed Wang Zishu to the ground. Wang Zishu did not struggle, but shouted: "Jin Hou, there are the historian's records in the tent, please speak carefully.
I did not kill my father, but I killed the tyrant for the sake of the Xia people. Although you are a noble of the Zhuji, you should not slander a prince so wantonly. "
Chong'er was so angry that he almost laughed. He suppressed his irritation and asked in a cold voice: "Prince Shu, I respect the heavens and have the virtue of cherishing life and not killing indiscriminately. If you can explain the truth, I will not kill you."
So Prince Shu told Chong'er everything Ji Tai had done. The more Chong'er listened, the angrier he became. He thought of the royal family of Jin, as this kind of thing was not uncommon.
His father was the one who went against human ethics and caused the Gongzi Wu incident, which eventually made him bear the reputation of killing his brother and alienated him from the royal family.
The more Prince Shu spoke, the sadder he became, and he said in a sad voice: "Jin Hou, since the time of Xia Qi, the Xia people have called themselves the empress, the Shang have called themselves the emperor, and the Zhou have called themselves the king.
But is it the title of king that is most honorable?
The southern barbarians of Jingchu usurped the throne and proclaimed themselves kings, and the Xu State of Shang Dynasty usurped the throne and proclaimed itself king. Who knows how many people among the barbarians proclaimed themselves kings?
The king’s dignity comes from being appointed by heaven!
The three kings Yao, Shun and Yu, the two kings Tang and Wu, and even the sacred king Su, the mandate of heaven will only fall on these great sages.
Ji Tai is a wicked king like Jie, Zhou, You and Li. If he were allowed to usurp the throne, wouldn't God be disgusted with the Zhou Dynasty?
"You are a vassal of the Ji clan, will you be able to escape then?"
Chong'er was no longer so angry, and at this time Zhao Qing, who was known for his courtesy, whispered in his ear: "Your Majesty.
The fact that Wang Zishu killed Ji Tai is worthy of sympathy. What he said made a lot of sense and is worthy of being recorded in history books.
He doesn't have strong power. If you can send him back to Luoyi to inherit the throne, won't he repay you greatly?
I think that Prince Shu is the key to becoming a hegemon that God has given you."
Zhao Qing convinced Chong'er with just a few words. Jin was a powerful country and all it needed to interfere in the royal capital was an excuse. Now that Wang Zishu had given him an excuse, it certainly could not be missed.
So he personally helped Prince Shu up from the ground, bowed to him and said, "Prince, as you said, Ji Tai is a tyrant who tramples on the clan law, this is not your fault.
You are not a sinner who killed his king and father, but I was rude to you. This is my fault. I bow to you three times and beg for your forgiveness.
I am willing to send you back to Luoyi. Only a prince with noble character like you can be blessed by heaven."
Wang Zishu didn't expect that things would turn out to be so unexpected. He just wanted to save his life in front of the Duke of Jin, but he didn't expect that the Duke of Jin would send him back to Luoyi to inherit the throne.
The Duke of Jin is the most powerful among all the princes, and the words of the Duke of Jin are the future.
What is a surprise?
The surprise is that one moment the prince is in exile, and the next moment someone hands the crown to him.
How could Wang Zishu remain calm? He immediately held Chong'er's hand and said emotionally, "Jin Hou, I really don't know what to say to express my respect for you.
Under the witness of Haotian and Su Wang, I am willing to swear by Luo River that if I can become the king of Bang Zhou, I will never forget your kindness today.
Apart from the throne of Dazong, I am willing to share with you anything I have, as long as it is what you want. Only in this way can I repay your kindness to me a little."
Wang Zishu really doesn't care about these things. He is the type of person who goes with the flow. If Ji Tai hadn't touched his bottom line, he would have lived a dull life with Yi Jiang.
Chong'er felt the sincerity of the prince's words and was somewhat moved. He bit his finger, put his hand on his lips, and pointed to the sky, saying, "Prince, there is no cow's blood here, but my heart is clear from this. Please rest assured."
This was a blood oath. In all previous alliances, the princes would smear their lips with cow blood to express the unbreakable alliance. Wang Zishu also bit his finger and wiped it with his hand. The two of them held each other tightly and looked at each other affectionately, their eyes full of trust and smiles.
The ministers of Jin State looked at each other with joy in their eyes. Things were really going too smoothly. There was actually such a prince in the royal family. He really had the style of King Yi.
The Jin army came to wipe out the Yi and Luo Rong. Although they encountered the incident with Prince Shu, they had no problem getting rid of the Yi and Luo Rong on the way to Luoyi.
When the Jin army appeared at the gate of Luoyi City, the entire army looked murderous, which directly frightened the nobles in Luoyi.
Fortunately, it was the army of Jin. If it was the army of Chu, they would have immediately handed over the Nine Cauldrons and begged for mercy.
The appearance of Wang Zishu in the Jin army shocked the nobles greatly. They did not expect that Wang Zishu could find Jin for support just after his escape.
Prince Shu, surrounded by the Jin army, came to the palace where he was born, with Yi Jiang by his side.
He dragged the dying Feng Ji in his hand, and then chopped off Feng Ji's head outside the ancestral temple.
Prince Shu knelt in front of the ancestral temple and killed all of Ji Tai's favorites in a ceremony of offering captives. This was a declaration to the entire Zhu Xia world that Ji Tai was not worthy of being king.
"The 20th generation grandson Shu offered sacrifices to his ancestors King Wu, King Su, and all the previous kings.
Ji Tai brought disaster to the country, violated the patriarchal law and trampled on human ethics, but he was unaware that the will of heaven was clear and that God had already rejected him.
He lost his destiny, and the heaven punished him through Shu's body, and he eventually died in heaven.
This is not something that can be accomplished by one person. It must have been with the help of our ancestors that we succeeded.”
Ji Shu wanted to distance himself from the responsibility of killing Ji Tai. How could a mortal kill the emperor?
Ji Tai died because God deprived him of his destiny. The previous king of Bang Zhou was dissatisfied with Ji Tai and finally took action himself.
After the show, Ji Shu began his real revenge. The first thing he did was to give Ji Tai a posthumous title, which was undoubtedly a bad one. The posthumous titles he liked the most were those of Jie and Zhou, the two kings who lost their country.
"The one who is extremely licentious is called Jie, the one who is cruel and unkind is called Jie, the one who kills many people is called Jie, the one who is unkind and burdens many people is called Zhou, the one who is cruel and harms good is called Zhou. Is there anything that is not suitable for Ji Tai to use?"
These words of Ji Shu would be recorded in history books, but he still said them, which shows his hatred for Ji Tai, and he eventually decided on the posthumous title of Jie.
Ji Shu said again: "How can such a thief and tyrant be allowed to enter the ancestral temple of Zhou and be on the same level as King Wu?
Bury him in the wilderness and trample his grave with five horses, so that no one will offer him blood offerings."
This is true hatred, everyone thought so.
But neither Chong'er nor other ministers thought that Ji Shu was vicious and scary, because Ji Shu was just a simple person with a simple temperament.
After doing all this, the anger between Ji Shu's eyebrows disappeared. He held Chong'er's hand and said with a smile: "Duke Jin, without your help, can I sit facing south?
Having received such a great favor, how can I not repay it?
You are the monarch of Jin. Jin has a vast territory, like the bright moon, while the royal territory is small, like a grain of rice.
But I am still willing to give you Henei and Yangfan, if it can make the bright moon of Jin shine brighter, this is what I can do for the people of Xia."
Chong'er immediately stood up and bowed, saying with great emotion: "Your Majesty, your benevolence is no less than that of the ancient sage kings. It is not what a loyal minister should do to have a monarch like you and not assist him.
The various states in the Xia Dynasty that pay tribute to you without sincerity should be punished. I am willing to serve as your charioteer and drive your chariot. "
Chong'er was moved by Ji Shu's generosity and keeping his promise, so he reciprocated the favor and promised to urge the various countries in the Xia Dynasty to pay tribute to the royal family on time.
"Duke Jin, Duke Huan of Qi drove out the barbarians and brought peace to the Chinese people. The king bestowed upon him the title of Fangbo and the Nine Gifts, which are the highest honors for a subject.
Your character and achievements are not inferior to those of Duke Huan of Qi. If I do not grant you the title of Fangbo and the nine gifts, do you still have the dignity to sit here?"
Since the land had been given, Ji Shu didn't care about the title of Fangbo and the Nine Gifts anymore, and he generously gave them all to Chong'er.
At this point, after King Yi, Chong'er became the second prince to obtain the two overlord sets, the title of Fangbo and the Nine Gifts.
The rapid rise of the Jin State shocked the princes of the world.
…
When King Yuan ascended the throne, he was grateful for the kindness shown by Duke Wen of Jin and bestowed upon him the title of Fangbo, added the honor of the Nine Gifts, and granted the two lands of Henei and Yangfan to Jin.
The ministers advised: The Duke of Jin has made great contributions, so he should be granted the title of Fangbo and the Nine Gifts. Henei and Yangfan are the lands of the king. If we lose them, the Zhou will decline.
King Yuan replied: The rise and fall of the Zhou Dynasty is determined by heaven, while life and death, disaster and fortune are in the hands of man.
The one who gave me life was King Jie, and the one who saved me was the Duke of Jin. I swore an oath with the Duke of Jin that I would be the king and the Duke of Jin would be the hegemon. This is the king's order, and there is no need to say anything more! - "Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Zhou"
This chapter has a very cool foreshadowing. You can guess. Suddenly I realized that I can tell a good story without writing about Luo Shi~
Two-in-one chapter, no more today~over~
(End of this chapter)
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