When Ji Chang said this, all the ministers started talking about it. Boyikao was the first to stand up and admonished: "Father, King Zhou summoned suddenly, he must have bad intentions. The last time he summoned my father, he was trapped." Youli has been here for seven years, and thanks to God's blessing, my father was able to return to Xiqi safely. If I go to Chaoge again this time, I fear that my father will be in danger of his life."
As soon as Boyikao finished speaking, Ji Fa continued: "Father, now King Zhou is fatuous and immoral. The Yin and Shang dynasties are declining. There are many rebels among the princes in the world, and I, Xiqi, are growing stronger and stronger under my father's rule. At this time, Zhou The king summoned my father because he was obviously afraid of my Xiqi's strength and wanted to use my father as a hostage so that I, Xiqi, could throw a rat weapon into my hands so that my father could not go."
After hearing what Boyikao and Ji Fa said, Ji Chang naturally understood the key, but King Zhou is the king, and disobeying the king's orders is rebellion. Ji Chang has been a minister of the Great Shang since King Zhou's father, Emperor Yi, was alive, but If he wanted to rebel against the Yin and Shang Dynasties, he really resisted in his heart. Therefore, although he understood the key, he still couldn't make a choice, so he convened all the officials to discuss it to see if he could have the best of both worlds.
Shen Gongbao was good at observing words and expressions. Seeing the hesitation in Ji Chang's expression, he thought for a moment and naturally understood the key, so he went out and said: "Master Marquis, as the two young masters said, King Zhou is now cruel and unkind. Master Hou is so cruel." If you go there at this time, your life will be in danger. The Marquis has seen through life and death, so there is no harm in going to Chao Ge. At this time, the Marquis may be thinking that it is worth sacrificing his own life to keep Xiqi safe."
When Ji Chang heard what Shen Gongbao said, his expression changed. He was obviously right, but Shen Gongbao went on to say: "But has the Marquis ever thought that King Zhou is afraid of Xiqi, not just the Marquis, but probably more?" The reason is that he is worried about the prosperity of Xiqi. Even if the Marquis is willing to sacrifice, I am afraid that King Zhou will not let Xiqi go. When the time comes, with the Marquis as a hostage, King Zhou's army invades Xiqi, and the people of Xiqi will be ruined. Please also ask The Marquis should consider the people of Xiqi and think twice before acting."
Shen Gongbao is really smart. Ji Chang is nearly a hundred years old. He has a clear understanding of life and death and is willing to sacrifice for Xiqi. If he is dissuaded because of his own safety, it may not have any effect. But if he is dissuaded by the safety of the people of Xiqi, Ji Chang will definitely listen to the dissuasion. It was precisely because Shen Gongbao saw this clearly that he began to dissuade him. Obviously, his words hit Ji Chang's weakness.
After hearing this, Ji Chang's expression changed drastically. If Shen Gongbao's suggestion was followed, Xiqi's destruction would be imminent. With Boyikao and Ji Chang's filial piety, how could Ji Chang resist King Zhou regardless of his comfort? Looking at Shen Gongbao, he asked anxiously: "Master, the king's order has arrived. If I don't go, I will definitely attract King Zhou's army to attack. At that time, the world will be in turmoil and Xiqi will suffer."
After hearing this, Shen Gongbao sighed in his heart. Ji Chang is a mortal after all. Although he is proficient in Zhouyi Bagua, his vision is still a bit narrow. Now the calamity has begun. Although it is a dynasty competing for hegemony on the surface, it is actually a struggle between four religions. Even now The strength of the Shang Dynasty is still higher than that of Xiqi, but Xiqi has the backing of Chanjiao and Western Jiao, so it is not far behind. If there is a fight, Xiqi may not necessarily suffer.
In fact, Shen Gongbao could also see that it was not that Ji Chang was afraid of King Zhou, but that he did not want to rebel. Unfortunately, everything in the world would be fine if he did not want to. If he did not want to rebel, then he would let King Zhou force him to rebel. Shen Gongbao said something Idea: "The Marquis only needs to reply to King Zhou, saying that he is seriously ill and cannot travel and travel. When he recovers, he can go to Chaoge to see him."
After hearing this, Ji Chang felt that it was a good idea, so he responded to King Zhou according to Shen Gongbao's words. Unfortunately, the matter did not resolve as he imagined. A few months later, Ji Chang received King Zhou's edict for crusade. , King Zhou directly declared him Ji Chang as a traitor and sent a large army to attack Xiqi. Ji Chang's whole body suddenly became worse.
Ji Chang worked for a great merchant, but at this age, he was regarded as a traitor by King Zhou. How could he feel better? But now that the matter has come to this, it is useless to be sad. The top priority is how to deal with King Zhou's crusade. Ji Chang Chang could only hold back the sorrow in his heart for the time being, and summoned all civil and military officials to discuss how to preserve Xiqi.
In the main hall, Ji Chang looked at the people standing below with a disappointed look on his face, and said: "Everyone, King Zhou was angry that I didn't go to Chaoge, so he declared that I, Xiqi, was rebelling, and sent his army to attack. I, Xiqi, will be arriving in the near future, and King Zhou is approaching with great force. I wonder if you have any good strategies to deal with the enemy?"
Seeing this, Boyikao said: "Father, King Zhou is stupid and unprincipled. He listened to slander and attacked me, Xiqi. Now the people in the world are complaining against him. Father, you can obey the destiny of heaven, respect heaven and claim the title of king, and use me as the king of Xiqi." I will use my strength to unite the princes of the world to suppress the Yin and Shang Dynasties. I am not talented, but I am willing to lead the army for my father to fight against the army of King Zhou."
As soon as Boyikao said this, Ji Chang's expression changed drastically. Now it was just King Zhou who declared him a rebel. If he claimed the title of king and attacked the merchants, wouldn't it be true that he was a rebel? How could Ji Chang agree, so he said seriously "Yikao, how can you say such treasonous and unethical words? My father served as a minister in the Shang Dynasty, how can I do such treasonous and unethical actions?"
When Ji Fa saw this, he also went out and said: "Father, my eldest brother is right. King Zhou is mediocre and has lost the support of the people. My father is supported by the princes and people of the world, so he should replace him and create a peaceful and prosperous era for the people of the world." The people of the world have been protected from the cruelty of King Zhou. Since the time of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, this world has always been inhabited by benevolent people. King Zhou destroyed the country and the country, and it is understandable that my father will replace him. I also ask my father to respect the heaven and proclaim himself the king and attack the Yin and Shang Dynasties."
When Ji Chang saw that even Ji Fa said the same thing, he immediately showed a look of embarrassment on his face. When the ministers heard what Boyikao and Ji Fa said, they also knelt down and agreed. When Ji Chang saw that the ministers were like this, he became even more embarrassed. What Boyikao and Ji Fa said made sense, and he understood it, but he still couldn't get over the hurdle in his heart.
Seeing Ji Chang's hesitation, Jiang Ziya said bluntly: "Master Hou, what the two young masters said makes sense. When Pindao left Kunlun Mountain, the teacher once said that heaven's secret was to destroy Zhou Xing in Shang Dynasty, and a bright Lord came to the world. Now, King Zhou is ignorant and unruly, and the world is in chaos. Lord Marquis is one of the few wise rulers in the world. Respecting Heaven and calling him king is his destiny. Please, for the sake of all the people in the world, please restore peace to the world!"
Seeing this, Shen Gongbao also said: "Master Hou, now that our Xiqi country has a rich and powerful people, a strong army and strong horses, and with the help of my Western teachings and Chan teachings, it is not impossible to conquer the Yin Shang Dynasty, and my Lord Hou has won the hearts of the people in the world. If you act in accordance with the will of heaven, you will get the response of the people of the world. Now that King Zhou's army is about to arrive, please make an early decision."
When Ji Chang saw that the ministers were admonishing him, and that the state counselor Shen Gongbao and the prime minister Jiang Ziya also strongly supported him, he bluntly said that it was destiny. Ji Chang could not refuse anymore, so he said: "In that case, I will follow the words of the ministers and respect heaven." Proclaim yourself king, Prime Minister, and you will arrange this ceremony." After hearing this, Jiang Ziya was overjoyed and accepted the order.
In the past three days, all the ceremony matters have been prepared. On the altar, the desk is filled with all kinds of exquisite products. Ji Chang wears royal robes, lights incense to offer sacrifices to heaven, and prays to heaven: "Heaven is above, be kind to me." As evidenced by the earth, King Zhou is foolish and unprincipled, favoring the demon queen, which leads to the treacherous and sycophant in the court. I, Ji Chang, obey the destiny and proclaim myself the king today. The name of the country is Zhou. I will use all my great Zhou soldiers to conquer the Yin and Shang Dynasties and restore peace to the world. .”
Under the altar, the ministers knelt down together and shouted long live the king. Shen Gongbao and Jiang Ziya's expressions flashed. Although they were both officials in Xiqi, they came with a mission after all. Now that Ji Chang is king, then There is bound to be an endless war with King Zhou, which will also completely kick off the war of the gods. Chanjiao, Western religion, Jiejiao and Renjiao are all involved, and no one can escape.
Ji Chang proclaimed himself king and established the Zhou Dynasty, which was called the Western Zhou Dynasty, and Ji Chang claimed to be King Wen of Zhou. Once the news came out, the world was shocked. Originally, King Zhou attacked Xiqi on the grounds of Xiqi's rebellion. Now, Ji Chang proclaimed himself king openly. Wouldn't it be true that he was rebellious? For a time, the country was turbulent, and a terrifying war was about to begin.
(End of chapter)