Lao Tzu is Ji Gong

King Zhou muttered to himself, unsure who would answer him. He pushed open the door, leaned against the railing of the Star-Picking Tower, and thought of the time he and Daji had spent frolicking here. He sighed again.

"It is truly pitiful that her jade-like face and fragrant hair have vanished; her beautiful face and cloud-like hair are now hanging high in the sky."

Where are those wondrous songs and dances now? All the upheavals and whims have been in vain.

The phoenix pillow no longer holds the day when jade was hidden, and the mandarin duck quilt can no longer be used to sleep amidst flowers.

This endless sorrow, boundless and profound, endures the vicissitudes of time as the sun sets.

King Zhou recited this poem softly, recalling the scenes of his time with Daji, the songs she sang in his ear, the dance she performed as she swayed her hips, the wine she poured for him with her delicate hands, and the advice she whispered to him.

"My wife, my wife~"

In King Zhou's eyes, he seemed to see Daji slowly walking towards him, recounting her experiences of the past two days.

"Wait for me, wait for me!" King Zhou shouted excitedly, but he stumbled and fainted.

Chapter 1159 The Shang Dynasty Falls, the Zhou Dynasty Rises

The troops defected, and Zhou troops poured into Chaoge City. On the Zhaixing Tower, King Zhou was disheveled, and his magnificent clothes were tattered. Where was his former arrogance?

He gazed down at the palace below, knowing that from this day forward, the Yin family would never again be ruled by him. The once mighty emperors were now facing certain death. At this moment, he couldn't quite articulate his feelings. His personal attendant rushed over, "Your Majesty, hurry and leave! As long as we're alive, we can always rebuild! Your Majesty..."

King Zhou chuckled dejectedly, "Heh heh, Zhu Sheng, you're still a subject of my Yin Shang Dynasty, aren't you?"

Seeing King Zhou's despondent expression, Zhu Sheng immediately knelt down and said, "This old servant was born a subject of the Shang Dynasty, and will die a ghost of the Shang Dynasty."

"Very well!" King Zhou shouted. "Then I command you to immediately pour the oil onto the firewood downstairs."

King Zhou thought to himself, "This Star-Picking Tower is my favorite palace. I and Daji spent a very pleasant time here. I must not leave it to Wu Zhou."

Zhu Sheng was shocked. "Your Majesty, Your Majesty, what are you doing?"

"I, the King, wish to offer this building as a sacrifice to Heaven to comfort our ancestors." After King Zhou finished speaking, he closed his eyes. "Your Majesty, you mustn't!" Zhu Sheng cried and said, "This old servant wishes to die for my country and repay it with my life. How dare I set fire to the king and commit such a heinous crime!"

King Zhou smiled bitterly and said, "You foolish Zhu Aiqing, this is Heaven's decree to destroy my Shang Dynasty. This is my last decree before I die. If you do not wish to see my head hanging high above the Meridian Gate, then hurry up and carry it out."

Zhu Sheng shook his head repeatedly, but seeing King Zhou's resolute expression, he had no choice but to kowtow and accept the order. He went alone to set fire to the Zhaixing Tower. After Zhu Sheng left, King Zhou walked shakily through the various parts of the Zhaixing Tower, recalling his life, the loving time with Daji, the ministers who were harmed, the cruel tortures, the palaces that wasted resources and caused the people so much suffering. The Shang Dynasty was originally solid and stable, but he destroyed it with his own hands. At this moment, he felt a little regret.

Finally, he sat quietly on the ground. The fire grew from small to large, spreading to the upper floors. The raging fire, with red flames shooting into the sky, caused the Zhaixing Tower to collapse continuously in the fire, and wisps of smoke swirled in the sky.

The extravagantly luxurious Star-Picking Tower witnessed the disappearance of a tyrannical monarch in the long river of history. Also destroyed in the fire was the six-hundred-year foundation of the Yin Shang Dynasty. With this, the Yin Shang Dynasty perished, and Mo Tianwen undoubtedly became a driving force in history.

The next day, Jiang Ziya led King Wu and the Zhou army through the Meridian Gate. They found only ruins, with embers still burning in some places. The Zhou soldiers cheered, but Jiang Ziya calmly ordered, "Wu Ji, put out the fire quickly and see if there are any surviving palace slaves."

"Yes," Wu Ji immediately accepted the order and shouted to the soldiers behind him, "Soldiers, you are only allowed to put out the fire, not to commit any acts of violence."

Jiang Ziya added, "Military orders are absolute. Anyone who dares to disobey orders and take even one item from the six palaces will be executed without mercy."

The soldiers shouted "Understood!" and then proceeded in an orderly fashion to fight the fire.

Before long, someone came to report that "King Zhou has set himself on fire at the Star-Picking Tower."

The crowd cheered, and Jiang Ziya said, "The tyrant's self-immolation today can be considered an explanation to the people of the world. It's just a pity that the Star-Picking Tower, built with the people's hard-earned money, has also been reduced to ashes."

Suddenly, a soldier in the crowd burst into tears. He knelt down and cried out, "Heaven has eyes! The tyrant deserved to die! Evil has been punished! Father, Mother, Aunt, the culprit who killed you has been punished by heaven! He is being burned alive! He is being burned alive..."

Another general looked up to the sky and laughed loudly, "Hahaha, you tyrant, you've finally met your end!" He threw down his halberd, clasped his hands together, and said to the sky, "Father, Mother, your blood feud has finally been avenged, finally avenged!"

For a time, the soldiers who had suffered at the hands of King Zhou expressed their feelings, lamenting that they had finally avenged their deaths and comforted the innocent souls of those who had died unjustly.

Seeing this, Ji Fa raised his longbow. His golden armor gleamed even more majestically in the sunlight, displaying the majesty of an emperor. "You tyrant, though you have burned yourself, it is not enough to atone for your sins!"

In the blink of an eye, an arrow flew swiftly towards the ruins. "This first arrow of mine is shot on behalf of the people who have been oppressed under your tyranny. May they be able to have plenty of food and clothing and enjoy peace in the future."

The first arrow landed steadily on the top of the ruins. Ji Fa raised his bow again and said, "This second arrow is for the loyal and virtuous people you have harmed and the other innocent souls you have killed, to comfort their spirits in heaven and to clear their names."

The arrow flew swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, it was the third arrow. "This third arrow of mine is shot on behalf of your ancestors. They entrusted you with the country and its people, but you have ruined it, leaving it devastated and filled with suffering."

The soldiers cheered as the three arrows were fired, but Jiang Ziya cautioned, "Your Majesty, many innocent palace servants may perish in the flames along with the tyrant."

Ji Fa immediately understood and said to the people beside him, "After the fire is extinguished, move these bones out and do not expose them. As for King Zhou's bones, they should be collected separately and buried with proper rites."

Jiang Ziya nodded in satisfaction, “King Zhou was tyrannical and aroused the wrath of both gods and men. Yet Your Majesty could not bear to leave King Zhou’s body exposed to the world and ordered that it be buried with proper rites. This shows Your Majesty’s benevolence, which extends even to the bones of the dead.”

Ji Fa smiled without speaking. Although King Zhou had committed many evil deeds, he was still the monarch of the previous dynasty. He couldn't be allowed to die without a burial place!

Inside the main hall, the various lords and generals gathered together. The Marquis of Dongbo said, "Today we have destroyed the Shang Dynasty and truly vented the anger of the people. However, a country cannot be without a ruler for a day. We should establish a new ruler as soon as possible to appease the hearts of the lords and the people."

“Dongbo Hou is right,” Nangong Shi said. “The sky cannot be without the sun, and the country cannot be without a ruler. The most urgent task at present is to select and establish a new ruler.”

"Yes, yes!" the ministers echoed. "Let's decide on the monarch today!"

"Gentlemen, King Wu of Zhou is renowned for his benevolence and virtue, known throughout the land, and the people's hearts are with him. He should be the new ruler," said the Marquis of Dongbo in a loud voice.

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement and said in unison, "Yes, Lord Dongbo has expressed our thoughts. King Wu's conquest of Zhou is a great success, and he should rightfully become the new ruler."

Ji Fa waved his hands repeatedly and said humbly, "I am of low rank and lack virtue, and I am not capable of fulfilling my duties. I hope that all the wise rulers will jointly select a virtuous person to succeed me as king. I and my father-in-law have long since returned to our hometown and have already fulfilled our duties as subjects."

"Your Majesty is mistaken. If we talk about political virtue, who in the world can compare with Your Majesty? The hearts of the people have been with Zhou for a long time. If Your Majesty insists on not accepting it, you will not only chill the hearts of the feudal lords, but also the hearts of the people. Marshal Jiang, you are a senior, with unparalleled achievements, and Your Majesty's father-in-law. Please persuade Your Majesty."

When Jiang Ziya heard the feudal lords say this, he nodded and advised them: "Your Majesty, King Zhou has brought chaos to the world. Your Majesty led the feudal lords to punish his crimes, and the world is pleased and submits. Your Majesty should ascend the throne and command the world. If Your Majesty insists on refusing, it will cause the feudal lords to attack you, and the world will be in chaos."

Under Jiang Ziya's persuasion, Ji Fa finally agreed to inherit the throne and held a coronation ceremony, thus establishing a new dynasty, the Zhou Dynasty.

"The world has just been unified, and everything is in need of rebuilding. We should re-establish the name of the country, determine the capital, and consider good policies for governing the country. Therefore, I have decided that after the founding of my Great Zhou, the name of the country will remain unchanged, and the capital will be Haojing, located within Xiqi. After I return to the capital, all meritorious officials will be granted land and titles." Ji Fa had just finished speaking in the hall when a soldier came to report, "Your Majesty, Fei Lian and E Lai, ministers of King Zhou, are outside the Noon Gate and request an audience with Your Majesty."

After listening, Ji Fa and Jiang Ziya exchanged glances. Fei Lian and E Lai were notorious villains during the reign of King Zhou. They were cruel and cold-blooded, abused the law, and harmed countless ministers. Now that the new dynasty has been established, they must be trying to use flattery and sycophancy to obtain an official position in order to make a living and survive.

"What does the Prime Minister think should be done?" Ji Fa asked.

"Your Majesty," Jiang Ziya stepped forward and said, "these two men are infamous, comparable to Fei Zhong and You Hun. During King Zhou's reign, they were utterly wicked. Now that the situation is settled, they have come to surrender, but they will not come empty-handed. They will surely offer treasures in exchange for titles. Such treacherous villains must not be trusted, but this old minister has a use for them." His brow furrowed with strategy, Jiang Ziya continued, "Your Majesty, first summon them to the palace and treat them with courtesy. After Your Majesty returns to Haojing, deal with them severely."

Ji Fa nodded and said to the soldier who came to report, "Summon Fei Lian'e to the palace."

Sure enough, the two of them walked quickly, bowing with their hands clasped and their heads bowed respectfully. E'lai, in particular, carried a huge tray with an exquisite national seal on it. This national seal was carved from the finest mutton-fat jade by a master craftsman over ninety-nine days. It was a priceless treasure and the symbol of the monarch's authority upon ascending the throne.

As soon as they knelt down, they said in unison, "Long live the King! Long live the King! Long live the King!" Ji Fa smiled disdainfully, "We are two sinners who have brought ruin to our country. Now, seeing the prosperity of the new dynasty and hearing of King Wu's benevolence, we feel ashamed and have come to offer the imperial seal, jade tally, and golden edict to atone for our sins." The two were respectful, humble, and cowardly.

"Guards, take this national treasure." As soon as Ji Fa finished speaking, someone took the tray from E Lai's hands. "You two have rendered meritorious service by presenting this treasure and deserve a reward. What kind of reward do you wish for?"

Fei Lian and E Lai immediately bowed and said, "If Your Majesty would be so lenient with us, we would be extremely fortunate. We are willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty and swear to be loyal to you to the death. We dare not ask for high positions and rich rewards." What a flattering speech! Ji Fa and Jiang Ziya exchanged a glance and smiled.

Jiang Ziya stroked his beard and said, "You two have always been bright and pragmatic. Today, you have specially brought national treasures to present as a gift, thus turning from darkness to light. I hope Your Majesty will retain you and appoint you to a position."

"Hmm." Ji Fa nodded. "Granted. As the Prime Minister said, you two will first accompany me back to the capital. After we arrive in Haojing, we will reward you according to your abilities."

Feilian and Elai were overjoyed and repeatedly kowtowed, saying, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

At night, Jiang Ziya was engrossed in studying books in his study when someone came to announce, "The King and Queen have arrived." Jiang Ziya quickly put down the bamboo slips in his hand and went to greet them, saying, "Long live the King!"

Ji Fa felt ashamed and quickly helped Jiang Ziya up, saying, "Prime Minister, please rise. There is no need for such formalities between us."

Jiang Ziya stood up, and Ji Fa emphasized again, "Prime Minister, you no longer need to perform this kneeling ceremony. From now on, whether in court or in private, I will not dare to accept your ceremony."

"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty." Jiang Ziya bowed again and invited the king to sit on a rattan chair beside him. "Prime Minister, I have come late at night to bring you ginseng soup made by Ziyu, so that you may enjoy it and prolong your life." Ji Fa explained the significance of his trip.

The servant placed the ginseng soup on the table. "Your Majesty, I am very grateful for your kindness. Tomorrow I will return to the capital in triumph. Your Majesty has traveled a long way, yet you have not rested and have come to visit this old minister. I will remember this in my heart."

Ji Fa and Zi Yu exchanged a glance and said, “Prime Minister, you work tirelessly day and night for the affairs of the state. You are a pillar of our Wu Zhou dynasty. It is only right that I, the King, come to visit you. Moreover, the world has just been settled and everything is in need of rebuilding. I, Ji Fa, am young and lack talent and knowledge. I have not yet thought about how to revitalize our great Zhou dynasty. I am just about to ask you for advice.”

Jiang Ziya pondered for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, please allow me to explain in detail. If there is anything inappropriate, please correct me."

Ji Fa waved his hand repeatedly, "Prime Minister, you are too modest. I will keep your words in mind and work with you to revitalize our Great Zhou."

"Yes, Your Majesty, since the Eastern Expedition against King Zhou, once the uprising began, heroes responded. Eight hundred lords from all over the land raised the banner of rebellion against Shang, determined to overthrow the tyranny. After three years of fighting, many generals such as Huang Feihu, Su Hu, Deng Jiugong, and Deng Chanyu took the lead and fought bloody battles on the battlefield. Later, many disciples of Yuxu, such as Huang Tianhua, Tu Xingsun, Yin Hong, and Hong Jin, devoted themselves to the public good and supported the great cause. Furthermore, many nobles such as Ji Shuyuan and Ji Shugong sacrificed themselves for the country and took the lead for the world. It is they who used their beliefs and lives to achieve the Great Zhou Dynasty we have today."

Ji Fa nodded with deep feeling, "These are all my founding heroes, and I will reward their descendants handsomely."

Jiang Ziya continued, “Your Majesty, in the past, this old minister was ordered by my master to descend the mountain to assist Your Majesty in overthrowing King Zhou and bringing peace to the people. My grandmaster Mo Tianwen once bestowed upon me the Investiture of the Gods, which governs the world. Holding this Investiture of the Gods, I can bestow titles upon the 365 fallen soldiers and loyal ministers worthy of praise, so that all the gods may return to their positions and the world may be at peace. When the Qishan sacrifice was held, Your Majesty ordered the construction of the Investiture Platform, but at that time, the secrets of heaven could not be revealed. Now that the new dynasty has been established, the souls of those gods and immortals who died in battle still wander in the Three Realms, and their loyal spirits are hard to appease. This old minister hereby reports to Your Majesty, hoping that Your Majesty will grant this old minister permission to immediately take up the Investiture of the Gods tomorrow to bestow titles upon the gods.”

Ji Fa nodded repeatedly, "Yes, that is the way it should be. I urge the Prime Minister to quickly take up the Investiture of the Gods list to appease the souls of the fallen soldiers in heaven. The Prime Minister should bestow titles upon the dead, and the King on earth should also grant titles and emoluments to the meritorious officials and lords of the land who have fought in the war, so that they may return to their hometowns, enjoy lasting peace, and enable all people to live in peace and prosperity."

"Hmm." Jiang Ziya nodded in satisfaction.

The next day, when the army returned to the capital, the people spontaneously lined both sides of the street to welcome the new king, chanting, "Long live the King! Long live the Queen! Long live the Queen!"

Ji Fa, riding his long horse, waved to signal to everyone. The Zhou army followed in orderly fashion behind him. Jiang Ziya, clad in armor that gleamed in the sunlight, sat astride his horse, looking spirited and awe-inspiring.

Among the crowd, Jiang Ziya's ex-wife, Madam Ma, was looking up. The more she looked at Jiang Ziya's figure, the more familiar he seemed. Finally, she recognized him as her ex-husband, Jiang Ziya. Madam Ma pointed at Jiang Ziya but couldn't say a word.

"Look at that prime minister in front of you, wearing golden armor. Isn't he also named Jiang Ziya? Could he share the same name as that unfortunate ex-husband you mentioned?"

Yang the Cripple, Ma's current husband, asked. Ma was filled with regret. She regretted that she had been greedy and materialistic. How could she not have seen that her ex-husband would one day become a prime minister who was second only to the emperor and even the king would have to give way to him?

"Oh dear, oh dear, so what if it is or it isn't? What's it to you? You're just a shoe repairman, you don't even earn enough to eat," Madam Ma began to look down on Yang the Cripple again, her eyes still fixed on Jiang Ziya.

"It seems so. Everyone in Chaoge says you were unlucky and missed out on the greatest benefactor among geniuses. But now look, Jiang Ziya has become the prime minister, a first-rank official. We won't have to repair shoes anymore." Yang the Cripple was very happy. He still didn't know why Madam Ma had divorced Jiang Ziya in the first place.

Madam Ma was so remorseful she was almost crying. "I already said, he's a first-rank official in the court, he has nothing to do with a shoe repairman like you."

"How could it not be related!" Yang the Cripple said happily. "You are his wife, and I am your husband. In that sense, I am also related to the Prime Minister of the current dynasty by marriage. Surely Jiang Ziya wouldn't make me repair shoes all over the streets again, would he? It would be embarrassing for him. Everyone in Chaoge is saying that I, Yang the Shoemaker, am also repairing his discarded old shoes. Wife, what does that mean? I don't understand. I'm illiterate. Can you explain it to me?" Yang the Cripple asked.

The term "broken shoe" was clearly referring to herself. Ma felt a tightness in her chest, a rush of air, and in the blink of an eye, she fainted, vomited blood, and died.

Back in Haojing, Jiang Ziya was diligently studying the Investiture of the Gods in his study, preparing for the upcoming investiture ceremony. Late at night, he kept hearing someone call out, "Husband..." The voice was so familiar that Jiang Ziya couldn't help but look up. "Is that you?"

It turned out that it was Ma's ghost who came looking for Jiang Ziya. Jiang Ziya stepped forward and said, "First, you have already passed away. Second, we are no longer husband and wife. Why are you still looking for me?"

"Husband, you can't be so heartless!" Madam Ma cried out. "As the saying goes, a day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness, and a hundred days as husband and wife is deeper than the sea. We have been husband and wife for hundreds of days. Besides, it was because of you that I was angered to death."

Jiang Ziya snorted coldly and turned his head away. "We haven't crossed paths since we parted. What does this have to do with me? Why don't you hurry up and reincarnate? What are you doing here looking for me?"

"Let's be husband and wife again?" Mrs. Ma hurriedly said.

“Nonsense,” Jiang Ziya immediately rebuked, “We are of different worlds, and we have long been separated. Don’t come here to make trouble.”

“Look how scared you are. You just think I’m too old,” Ma said, beginning to explain the true purpose of her soul’s visit to Jiang Ziya. “You can stop making trouble, but you have to let this wronged soul of mine rest in peace.”