"King Zhou is lawless and tyrannical. He killed his wife and executed his son, invented the bronze torture pillars and the snake pit, and minced his ministers while casting aside the laws of the former kings. He made wine pools and meat forests, killed his palace women, listened to Daji's slander, abandoned the elderly, kept company with criminals, rejected remonstrance and executed the loyal, and gave himself over to wine and women. He claims Heaven is not to be feared and goodness is not worth practicing. He is bent on debauchery and shows no sign of repentance. Before long, Chaoge will belong to someone else."
The clear, sonorous voice rang out from a desolate wood. At the same time, an old man slowly emerged from among the trees. He was over sixty, lean, with a sallow face, and a lame donkey followed at his side. As he walked, he kept bending over to cough. He seemed to be coughing so violently that he might collapse at any moment, which was worrying to watch.
The old man gazed at the road beside the woods, then slowly sat on a dead tree trunk and closed his eyes.
The sky gradually darkened. A faint cloud of dust appeared on the deserted highway. The old man sniffed lightly, then broke into another fit of coughing. The gray donkey, which had been lowering its head to graze, raised its neck and brayed impatiently at the dust rushing toward them.
The old man slowly got to his feet and scolded the donkey, "Just eat your grass. What a racket."
The traveler approached with unsteady steps, moving in haste. He was so exhausted that he could barely go on, but his anxious pace still carried him toward them.
Seeing him, the old man hurried forward and bowed