"Your Majesty, you must not!"
"You must not place the ruler of an entire nation in such imminent peril!"
"Your Majesty, Great Shang cannot do without you!"
The ministers urged him to reconsider. King Zhou intended to negotiate the alliance himself, and had even declared that he would take no one with him.
This was far too dangerous. What if they cut him down with a single stroke, or those barbarians disregarded the agreement, seized him outright, and opened their lion's maw to demand even greater concessions? What then?
Barbarians would have no regard for righteousness!
"I am the First Emperor. Am I to fear a mere tribal chieftain?"
Zi Shou would not retreat a single step.
The ministers tried persuading him once more, to no avail. They could only accept it.
King Zhou's Fengshan Sacrifice had already provoked discontent. To compromise with barbarians and form an alliance right after performing the sacrifice and proclaiming that his achievements surpassed the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors was simply absurd.
At least negotiating in person would show some courage. It was his last scrap of cloth to cover his shame.
Chong Houhu looked thoughtful.
Since he had already deduced that Tu Fang's advance south was all part of King Zhou's scheme, this alliance could not possibly be a simple alliance.
There had to be another purpose behind his risking his life to go in person.
What could it be?
Chong Houhu felt that, with King Zhou's brilliance and martial prowess, he would surely never agree to the pact. If he did not want peace, the answer was simple: war.
A flash of inspiration struck him!
Something momentous would happen on the day of the alliance!
He had to prepare in advance.
Outside Chaoge City, on the banks of the Qi River.
The