Ever since Xia Jie was banished to Nanchao by Shang Tang, the descendants of Xia had split into three branches.
One branch had thrown in with Great Shang and become its lapdogs: the Si family among Chaoge's nobility.
One branch had gone south to Baiyue. The previous King of Yu Yue had claimed descent from Shao Kang and used it to launch a rebellion.
The last branch had concealed their identities, changed their surname from Si to Lou, and lived in seclusion for centuries.
Lou Yunqu was Yu the Great's thirty-sixth-generation descendant.
Today, he raised high the iron staff passed down from Yu the Great, forged to measure the depths of rivers.
He would tell the world that even if Xia had only three households left, Xia would be the one to destroy Shang.
No, there was only one household left now. The Si family's estate had been confiscated, the previous King of Yu Yue was dead, and King Zhou was attempting to sever Xia's legacy entirely!
Lou Yunqu gazed at the flames inside Chaoge City. He was not alone.
King Zhou had always been at odds with the nobles, and his drastic increases in merchant taxes had stirred resentment among many of them. Add to that the merchants who had trickled into Chaoge disguised as merchant caravans during the six months King Zhou had been away on campaign, and there was no shortage of manpower.
"I am a descendant of Yu the Great!"
Lou Yunqu could not help roaring. The shabby clothes he had worn for nearly thirty years had finally given way to splendid robes.
"Young master!"
A warrior approached with a bloodstained sword in hand and bowed to Lou Yunqu.
"Thirty-six strategic locations in Chaoge are already ablaze, and our people have risen in revolt. Commandant of