The next morning.
In the Nine-Room Great Hall, Di Xin sat upon the throne while the civil and military officials below bowed in worship.
"Great King, may I ask about yesterday's events?"
Shang Rong stepped out holding a jade tablet, and all the ministers quietly pricked up their ears and listened carefully.
"Yesterday, I went to the Holy Mother Hall to offer incense to the Holy Mother. Who could have expected that a strange person would dare conceal himself behind the Holy Mother's statue and use bewitching magic in an attempt to make me offend the Holy Mother? Fortunately, I had been restless the day before and went to the Three Sovereigns Hall to pray for the people of Yin Shang. I 'happened' to receive the recognition of the Three Sovereigns of humanity, who bestowed upon me the Kongtong Seal, humanity's supreme treasure, for self-protection. Only then was I able to kill that strange person in return, avoiding disgrace in the Holy Mother Hall and preventing the desecration of the Holy Mother's sacred might!"
Anger colored Di Xin's voice, and it could be seen clearly even through the bead curtain. As he spoke, the fortune above his head surged forth in the form of a Black Bird, which held an ancient, unadorned copper seal in its beak.
With the appearance of the Kongtong Seal, the great hall suddenly filled with dazzling light and auspicious air. The fortune of all the officials was stirred, and all kinds of beasts appeared above their heads.
"Great King, you are wise! With the blessings of all three Sovereigns, Yin Shang will surely endure for ten thousand ages!"
Royal Uncle Bi Gan stepped forward from the ranks, dropped to one knee, and shed hot tears of excitement!
What a Di Xin! What a Human King! Having won the recognition of the Three Sovereigns, the foundation of Yin Shang will now be as firm as gold and stone!
"Great King, you are virtuous! With the Three Sovereigns as witnesses, Yin Shang will surely enjoy endless blessings and virtue, lead humanity through every trial, and never fall for ten thousand generations!"
Prime Minister Shang Rong's face was filled with emotion. He knelt on one knee and stared at the Kongtong Seal in the Black Bird's beak, trembling with excitement!
Since the ascension of the Five Emperors, which Human King in history had ever received the praise of the Three Sovereigns? To say nothing of the supreme honor of being granted humanity's ultimate treasure?
And today, the ruler he assisted was so outstanding. He was truly fortunate to have found a wise sovereign. In the future, he would surely leave an immortal legacy alongside that sovereign, and even after death, his spirit would endure forever!
"Great King, you are virtuous! With the Three Sovereigns as witnesses, Yin Shang will surely enjoy endless blessings and virtue, lead humanity through every trial, and never fall for ten thousand generations!"
The rest of the civil and military officials knelt after Shang Rong and shouted in unison, their voices soaring into the heavens!
With the officials won over, the fortune of Yin Shang grew once more. The Black Bird spread its wings and flew around the roof beams before returning to Di Xin's body, while the visions above the officials also dispersed. The great hall fell into an eerie silence.
On the throne, the anger in Di Xin's eyes turned into a smile. Revealing his greatest trump card at the very start was naturally meant to obtain even greater benefits.
If he wanted to change humanity, what use was there in praying to gods and buddhas? None at all! He still had to rely on this group of human rulers below him. Only after they submitted and followed his ideas to make changes could he realize his plans step by step!
The people were like water: water could carry a boat, but it could also overturn one. Yet the materials used to make the boat were these very people!
Today, by revealing the Kongtong Seal and making this boat even sturdier, he would naturally be able to sail farther, faster, and deeper!
"The strange people's arts are far too bizarre and often impossible to guard against. Yesterday, I tossed and turned, unable to eat or sleep, pondering how to deal with them. Unfortunately, one person's wisdom is limited, and I could not come up with a good solution. Do any of my beloved ministers have any ideas? Preferably one that can resolve this matter once and for all!"
"Great King, give me a hundred thousand armored cavalry. I will plow through the territory of Yin Shang until heaven and earth are overturned, and I will surely wipe out every last strange person!"
The speaker was Fei Lian, E Lai's father, who was renowned throughout the world for his speed.
As soon as Fei Lian spoke, two brightly dressed ministers stepped out from the civil officials' ranks, jade tablets in hand. One of them first saluted Fei Lian, then raised his head with a hint of mockery.
"Grand Master Fei Lian must be joking, surely? A hundred thousand troops? How many slaves would that require? How much grain and fodder? And how greatly would the lives of the people of Yin Shang be disturbed?"
"Great King, Fei Zhong is right! If Grand Master Fei Lian truly led a hundred thousand armored cavalry, the supporting troops and slaves alone would number a million! The required grain and fodder would be incalculable! Such an action would waste both manpower and wealth, and it would only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. No matter how vast Yin Shang's resources are, we cannot act this way!"
Fei Zhong spoke, and You Hun naturally followed close behind. Though these two men were treacherous ministers who were corrupt and greedy, their abilities were genuinely formidable!
"Then what do you suggest? This old man would be pleased to hear your advice!"
Fei Lian whipped his head around, his eyes bulging with fury as murderous aura rose from him. He was a fierce general of Shang, and now that he had become serious, the temperature throughout the great hall seemed to drop several degrees.
Frightened by him, Fei Zhong and You Hun instinctively shrank their heads. They exchanged a glance, then nodded faintly to each other.
"Grand Master, there is no need to be anxious. This is a discussion of court affairs, not a contest between martial men. Your posture..."
"If we did not know that Lord Fei Lian's family had served Yin Shang faithfully for generations, we might have thought you intended to assassinate the Great King in open court!"
Fei Zhong spoke first, and You Hun followed close behind. With their coordinated performance, the two of them casually saddled Fei Lian with the grave accusation of assassination and treason!
"Silence! Lord Fei Lian's family has served our king faithfully for generations. How could he possibly assassinate the Great King?"
Huang Feihu stepped out from the ranks, glaring furiously at the two traitorous villains, Fei Zhong and You Hun. These two bastards truly deserved to die!
"King Wucheng, I never said Lord Fei Lian intended to assassinate the Great King. I was merely reminding Lord Fei Lian that behaving this way in court might be considered a breach of etiquette before the king."
Seeing Huang Feihu speak up, You Hun hurriedly changed his tone, but he still managed to smear Fei Lian once again.
Huang Feihu held the rank of King Wucheng. He was also the elder brother of one of the three consorts in the inner palace, Consort Huang, and a disciple of Grand Tutor Wen Zhong. Even with Di Xin's favor to rely on, You Hun did not dare provoke him at present.
But not daring to provoke him did not mean You Hun would swallow the loss in silence. Fei Lian had dared threaten the two of them in open court, and with their petty dispositions, they naturally would not let the matter rest.
"Great King, Grand Master Fei Lian is a military commander. If military commanders are not hot-blooded and bold, should we have petty men like Fei Zhong and You Hun be hot-blooded and bold for Yin Shang instead?"
Seeing that You Hun would not let the matter go, Shang Rong could no longer contain himself. He brought his hands together and immediately fired back!
He had finally encountered a wise ruler, so he naturally would not allow these treacherous ministers to mislead Di Xin and ruin his own bright future of becoming famous throughout history.
"Besides, Lord Fei Lian is already advanced in years, yet he still possesses such fierce courage and fiery spirit. That is the Great King's blessing, the people's blessing, and the blessing of the realm!"
"Prime Minister, that is not how you can put it..."
"Enough!"
Di Xin rubbed his slightly throbbing temples and stopped Fei Zhong from continuing to poison him against others. I told you to handle serious business, yet all you know is how to fight among yourselves!
Treacherous ministers were difficult to use. If used poorly, they could stab him in the back.
"Most of the soldiers of our dynasty have studied under strange people. Exterminating them all is not an option."
"Then what does the Great King intend?"
Hearing Di Xin speak, Royal Uncle Bi Gan's eyes flickered. With a turn of his thoughts, he had already figured out Di Xin's meaning: I already have a plan. Come and ask me about it!
"Ahem! Royal Uncle, please remain calm. My plan is somewhat crude, so let us first hear what the other ministers have to say."
Di Xin nodded in satisfaction. You really do understand me, old man. But I refuse to say it outright. You know what to do, right?
"Please enlighten us, Great King..."
Before you continue