Star-Gathering Pavilion, Killing Three Birds with One Stone

"Great King, your literary and military achievements are unparalleled, your merits lasting through the ages, your virtue complete, recognized by the Three Sovereigns. You are truly a wise ruler of this generation, a Human King of unmatched prowess! Your subjects are of limited talent and shallow learning, only able to slightly alleviate your worries with the trivial matters of the common folk and slaves. For affairs of such magnitude that could shake the very foundation of our nation, we naturally must heed your strategy. Only by following your strategy can we dare to act, can we act, and can we succeed."

Fei Zhong's eyes darted, and he quickly took two steps forward, falling to his knees with a "plop," launching into a barrage of flattery for Di Xin.

"Fei Zhong's mind is truly quick. I must learn from him."

A hint of envy flashed across You Hun's face as he began to meticulously observe Fei Zhong's movements, expressions, and words.

Being a treacherous official also requires skill, and Fei Zhong is a master of it! I must learn and observe more, then push Fei Zhong aside and take his place!

The other officials regarded him with contempt, envy, or indifference. In short, life's myriad forms were on full display, each unique.

"As expected of a favored sycophant of my predecessor, such eloquence, such skill in flattery, it's truly satisfying."

Di Xin surveyed the hall, taking in the expressions of all his ministers. Knowing he had established the right atmosphere, it was time to get down to business.

"Rise."

"Thank you, Great King!"

Fei Zhong's eyes were filled with surprise as he scrambled to his feet, retreated two steps, and nonchalantly rejoined the civil officials' ranks, smugly looking at the contemptuous gazes around him.

Envy me, hate me, there will definitely be benefits for this Doctor in confiscating these strange beings! The treasures of these strange beings are rare and exotic, worth a fortune. If I just miss out on a tiny bit, I, Fei Zhong, hahaha...

"I wish to build a pavilion, named the Star-Gathering Pavilion! To gather all the strange beings of the world to serve my Yin Shang, utilizing their abilities to benefit the nation and safeguard the foundation of Yin Shang! I shall call this: Using the Strange to Control the Strange!"

Di Xin waved his large sleeve and rose from his throne, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials. His passion surged from his heart, evident for all to see!

In other words, he exuded an overwhelming aura of dominance!

"These strange beings may be free spirits, or they may be unruly and arrogant, or they may cause trouble in one region, or they may live in seclusion. May I ask, Great King, if you truly gather all the strange beings to serve the court, how will they be screened? After screening, who will be appointed to manage them?"

Prime Minister Shang Rong stepped forward, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with King Wucheng Huang Feihu.

"Great King, You Hun is unworthy, but I am willing to share your burdens!"

You Hun caught Fei Zhong's eye and strode to stand behind Shang Rong, bowing his head. When he looked up again, his face was full of sycophancy:

"Among my retainers are some strange beings. I am willing to add bricks and tiles, to add flowers to the brocade for Your Majesty's plan."

"Nonsense! The abilities of these strange beings are immense, and gathering them together is even more dangerous. You Hun, a mere Doctor, dares to interfere in this matter! Are you plotting rebellion?!"

Uncle Bi Gan, enraged, his beard askew, stepped forward and pointed at You Hun's nose, shouting.

He still remembered how You Hun had framed Fei Lian earlier. Now, using it against You Hun himself, it was surprisingly effective.

Live and learn, later generations truly did not deceive me. (Dog head, smug face)

You Hun trembled and turned, his face ashen. He then saw Fei Zhong lowering his head, his body subtly shifting inward!

This scoundrel actually schemed against me!

With a "plop," You Hun quickly knelt down, kowtowing as if pounding garlic:

"Great King! You know me well. I merely wished to share your burdens, I absolutely have no intention of rebellion, Great King!"

These two fellows, they're already turning on each other over a little benefit. Truly short-sighted!

Di Xin wanted to dismiss them with a flick of his sleeve, but remembering his current position in court, he could only use the universal gesture to conceal his small actions:

"Enough, rise. With your character, I wouldn't dare even if you had eight more courage. Retreat!"

"Thank you, Great King! Great King, you see clearly! Great King, you see clearly!"

You Hun, terrified, scrambled back to his position in the ranks, secretly glancing at Fei Zhong in front of him, his eyes filled with venom.

Fei Zhong, you just wait!

"Since it is 'Using the Strange to Control the Strange,' naturally, the leaders should be strange beings themselves!"

A smile flickered across Di Xin's face, then he regained his composure:

"According to my investigation with the Kongtong Seal, the General of Sanshan Pass, Kong Xuan, possesses immense martial power and divine strange abilities. I shall recall him to Chaoge to serve as the Master of the Star-Picking Tower, to lead the strange beings. That should suffice!"

Kong Xuan, this precious treasure, I can't let him be lured away by the West. Peacock Great Bright King, give him to me!

"Great King, may I ask what official position and rank you intend to bestow upon this Kong Xuan? How do you plan to accommodate him? And how will you attract strange beings from all over the world?"

As soon as Di Xin finished speaking, another person stepped forward from the civil officials' ranks. It was Grand Master Mei Bo, who had previously submitted a memorial to have Di Xin appointed Crown Prince.

"In my Yin Shang, rewards are given for merit. Naturally, he must first achieve something before I bestow rewards upon him. My dear minister, rest assured, since I have spoken of it, I have a plan."

"Yes!"

Mei Bo cast a deep glance at Di Xin, his eyes filled with approval and satisfaction: Great King, you are venturing further and further down the path of a wise ruler.

"Great King, I am willing to accept the commission to build the Star-Gathering Pavilion!"

As soon as Mei Bo retreated, Fei Zhong seized the opportunity to cause trouble again. The keen senses of a treacherous official told him there was much profit to be made!

"Great King, I am also willing to accept the commission to build the Star-Gathering Pavilion!"

You Hun, having a short memory for beatings, saw Fei Zhong make his move and naturally wanted to extract some profit from him.

"Great King, how do you intend to build the Star-Gathering Pavilion?"

Prime Minister Shang Rong also sensed something amiss. Di Xin's grand undertaking would certainly not be a small building or two. However, if it were built on a large scale, it might be... a drain on the people and resources...

"The Star-Gathering Pavilion, I wish to build it nine hundred and ninety-nine feet high, a perilous tower a hundred feet tall, reaching the stars!" (Approximately 169 meters in modern terms)

Di Xin raised his hand and pressed down, and before Shang Rong and the others could object, he spoke again:

"Grain Official, are my granaries still full?"

"Reporting to the Great King, since my Great King ascended the throne, our Great Shang has enjoyed favorable weather year after year, and the granaries are already full!"

A middle-aged man walked out from among the civil officials and answered with cupped fists. He was the Grain Official of the Shang Dynasty, specifically in charge of grain. (This is a novel, not history. Please bear with any inaccuracies.)

"And my slaves? How many are there?"

"Reporting to the Great King, there are hundreds of thousands of them."

"With people and grain, everyone, is there really a big problem with me building a pavilion less than a thousand feet tall?"

Di Xin smiled, his gaze sweeping over the assembled ministers. He had done so much groundwork; he wondered who would dare to jump out and object!

"Great King, this nine hundred and ninety-nine feet..."

"Has it reached a thousand feet yet?"

"No!"

"Then that's that! I know what I'm doing!"

Di Xin sat back on his throne once more. With a flip of his right hand, he produced the Kongtong Seal. Its brilliant light shone, intimidating everyone.

"Issue my decree: In my Great Shang territory, all slaves may voluntarily participate in the construction of the Star-Gathering Pavilion. I grant them one hundred thousand spots!

During construction, they will be provided three meals a day, with all they can eat, until my Star-Gathering Pavilion is completed!

If they are not my slaves, I will grant their masters one dou of grain, and I will... buy these slaves!"