Chapter Summaries

Zi Shou confronted the crowd outside the palace, invoking Cheng Tang’s words to justify punishing the Shamans and declaring that he would burn their books in three days. The commoners dispersed, but the Feudal Lords’ agents recognized that his escalating measures left them needing to act.

• Zi Shou emerged from the palace and asked the crowd Cheng Tang’s Six Questions, prompting Bo Yi and the ministers to understand that he was completing his ancestors’ unfinished work.
• Zi Shou declared that the Shamans were guilty and ordered the people to assist him in punishing them.
• Zi Shou formally decreed that he would personally burn the Shamans’ books at the Palace Gate in three days.
• Zhang Guifang threatened the crowd with the Imperial Guards, and most commoners left while the Feudal Lords’ agents reacted grimly.
• Zi Shou returned to the palace, judged that the commoners and ministers would not immediately overthrow him, and anticipated greater trouble in three days.

At court, Zi Shou praised the Feudal Lords and granted several of them royal titles, including Ji Fa and Ji Chang, in an effort to sow division among them. Ji Fa had insisted he never wanted to become king, but Zi Shou named him King Wu of Zhou anyway, leaving the realm poised for conflict.

• Zi Shou arrived late and apparently drunk for the court greetings, then praised the Feudal Lords and proposed rewarding their service.
• Zi Shou invested Jiang Huanchu as King of Qi, Chong Houhu as King of Jin, and E Chongyu as King of Chu.
• When Zi Shou named Ji Fa King of Zhou, Ji Fa said he had never wanted to become king.
• Zi Shou invested Ji Chang as King Wen of Zhou and Ji Fa as King Wu of Zhou, then continued granting royal titles to other Feudal Lords.

Zi Shou granted eleven vassals kingships, and Chong Houhu concluded that the seemingly arbitrary titles were meant to divide the feudal lords and create opportunities for Shang’s reforms and military campaigns. The Marquis of Yue then stepped forward to report a matter, glaring at Li Jing with a grudge against him.

• Zi Shou conferred kingships on eleven lords, including E Chongyu as King of Chu, while leaving the stronger Marquis of Yue without a royal title.
• E Chongyu believed his new title would let him unite the southern lords and eventually stand against Great Shang as an equal.
• Chong Houhu reconsidered the grants and reasoned that the titles would sow rivalry among vassals, encourage E Chongyu to consolidate power, and distract the lords from Chaoge.
• Chong Houhu speculated that E Chongyu’s death could leave his son E Shun trapped between accepting the title, refusing it, or rebelling during a vulnerable succession.
• The Marquis of Yue stepped forward to address Zi Shou, harboring resentment over being passed over and hostility toward Li Jing.

Zi Shou answered the court’s dispute over Li Jing’s Reforms by ordering physical punishment for both their opponents and supporters. He began having the officials beaten on the Nine-Dragon Bridge, leaving the court’s factions shocked by his contradictory accusations.

• The Marquis of Yue and allied feudal lords denounced Li Jing’s Reforms, while Wan Nian, Bo Yi, and other officials defended them.
• After the arguments continued, Zi Shou shattered his desk, ended the debate, and led the officials to the Nine-Dragon Bridge.
• Zi Shou accused the Marquis of Yue and the other critics of lying about Chentang Pass, then ordered the Royal Guards to give them fifty strokes.
• Zi Shou called forward Wan Nian, Bo Yi, and the other supporters, accused them of lying about Chentang Pass in the opposite direction, and ordered fifty strokes for them as well.

Zi Shou punished feudal lords and ministers from both sides of the reform debate, then ordered shamanic books burned. At the Palace Gate, Yue Qian used an accusation about Chong Yingbiao buying chickens to challenge the new law as Li Jing arrived.

• Zi Shou ordered the Royal Guards to give Wan Nian, Bo Yi, and the others fifty strokes each for their claims about Chentang Pass.
• Zi Shou told Li Jing to oversee the burning of shamanic texts, and Li Jing left the palace to carry out the order.
• Chong Yingbiao organized the book burning at the Palace Gate while Dark Phoenix Guards brought in carts of shamanic texts.
• Yue Qian confronted Chong Yingbiao over whether he had bought one chicken or two, and Old Man Huang claimed Chong had bought two but paid for one.
• Chong Yingbiao pressed Old Man Huang for an answer, and the old man said Chong had bought one chicken as Li Jing emerged from the Palace Gate.

Yue Qian used Chong Yingbiao’s past crimes and the shamans’ accusations to pressure Li Jing into punishing him as the Reforms began. Chong Yingbiao accepted responsibility under the New Law and cut open his chest, declaring that his heart was crimson.

• Li Jing arrived to announce that the Reforms and the New Law would begin, including a ban on shamans and their texts.
• Yue Qian accused Chong Yingbiao of abducting Su Daji and recited his past misdeeds before the crowd.
• Shamans from Chong City blamed storms on divine anger at Chong Yingbiao and joined the public denunciations.
• Yue Qian challenged Li Jing to uphold equal justice, forcing him to weigh public confidence against the risk of alienating the Marquis of the North.
• Chong Yingbiao admitted that he had broken the law and said the Dark Phoenix Guard should have acted against wrongdoing.
• Chong Yingbiao drew his saber, slashed open his chest, and said his heart was crimson.

Chong Yingbiao exposed his past crimes by cutting open his chest, while Zi Shou began burning the shamanic books despite opposition from the feudal lords and officials. The chapter ended with a witch openly denouncing the book burning and Zi Shou ordering her seized.

• Li Jing caught Chong Yingbiao as he collapsed, and Chong Yingbiao pointed out the collected shamanic books before losing consciousness.
• Yue Qian praised Zi Shou before the crowd, but Zhang Guifang shot him in the throat and declared him executed for suspected assassination.
• Fei Zhong confronted the Marquis of Yue, while the Marquis of Pu challenged him and Shang Rong stepped forward to oppose the feudal lords.
• Zi Shou had Shang Rong taken aside to rest, then ordered the shamanic books burned as officials, feudal lords, and commoners watched.
• A witch condemned the burning and called for reverence toward the gods, shamans, and sacrifices, and Zi Shou ordered her seized.

As shamans and the Marquis of Yue opposed King Zhou’s book burning, Gao San exposed witch prostitution and the abuse of women by shamans and nobles. The revelations turned the crowd against the shamans, and Zi Shou watched as people joined in supporting the burning.

• Shamans threatened King Zhou and warned that suppressing their tradition would alienate the realm; the Marquis of Yue urged him to stop the book burning.
• Gao San arrived with women from the Women's Federation and described Shi Niang’s exploitation and illness, Xiao Hong’s abuse, and the death of her sister.
• Xin Jia recounted Die Fen’s abuse and death, while Jiang Huanchu and Su Hu reacted with anger and other feudal lords recognized the scale of witch prostitution.
• Old Man Huang denounced the shamans and threw his clothes into the fire, prompting the crowd and Tai Dian to join him.
• The crowd turned against the shamans, and Zi Shou was left dumbfounded by their reaction.

Zi Shou banned shamanism and ordered the shamans buried alive, prompting Shang Rong to retire and divert attention from the king’s actions. After drawing Jin Cheng’s saber, Shang Rong turned toward the Marquis of Yue.

• Zi Shou banned shamanism, ordered its books burned, and commanded the Dark Phoenix Guard to seize and bury the shamans alive.
• The Marquis of Yue and other feudal lords protested the burial, while Shang Rong reflected on his age and his need to leave office.
• Shang Rong declared that the shamans deserved death, removed his official attire, and threw it into the fire.
• Shang Rong asked to retire after fifty years of service across three reigns, then drew Jin Cheng’s saber.
• Shang Rong walked toward the gathered feudal lords and turned toward the Marquis of Yue.

Shang Rong killed the Marquis of Yue and tried to take responsibility for King Zhou’s burning of the books and burying of the Shamans, but Zi Shou publicly backed him and ordered the Feudal Lords seized. As rain and thunder fueled claims of Heaven’s wrath, Du Yuanxian and Wan Nian defended the king, and lightning reignited the books until they burned to ashes.

• Shang Rong killed the Marquis of Yue and declared that he had slain a traitor in court.
• Zi Shou realized Shang Rong was trying to shield him, put Shang Rong’s official hat back on him, and ordered the guards to seize the Feudal Lords.
• E Chongyu warned that Heaven would punish King Zhou, but Du Yuanxian argued that the rain was a natural phenomenon and covered Shang Rong with his robe.
• Wan Nian claimed thunder was fire rather than Heaven’s wrath, explaining that lightning could ignite plants, trees, and houses.
• Lightning struck the Shamans’ books and reignited their flames, which continued burning until the books turned to ashes.

Zi Shou faced a feudal-lord uprising outside the palace after a court standoff turned violent. Though E Chongyu offered to take his troops home peacefully, Zi Shou led him toward the rebels with plans to exploit the crisis.

• After Du Yuanxian and Wan Nian explained rain and thunder, Xuandu gained inspiration and began comprehending the Dao, while Yun Zhongzi sent Guangchengzi and Chijingzi to Chaoge.
• At the Medical Academy, Guangchengzi saved Chong Yingbiao with Immortal Beans and took him as a disciple, while Chijingzi took San Yisheng for the Antarctic Immortal.
• Feudal lords’ troops surrounded the palace gates, and an arrow aimed at Shang Rong prompted Zhang Guifang to declare the Marquis of Yue a rebel and promise that coerced soldiers would not be prosecuted.
• E Chongyu offered to withdraw his troops and return to his territory, but Zi Shou decided to target him and personally led him toward the rebellious soldiers.

Zi Shou killed E Chongyu during the escort and defeated the Feudal Lords’ hastily assembled army. He openly embraced the Feudal Lords’ accusations that he was a foolish tyrant, leaving his relationship with them beyond repair.

• Zi Shou stopped Fang Xiang, Fang Bi, and the other officers from accompanying him as he escorted E Chongyu, and E Chongyu secretly planned to seize the king.
• Zi Shou killed E Chongyu with the Tai'a Sword, prompting E Chongyu's retainers to attack.
• Lu Xiong rallied the Dark Phoenix Guard while Yin Pobai led Royal Guards to protect Zi Shou, and Zhang Guifang struck down the Feudal Lords' soldiers.
• Li Jing raised E Chongyu's corpse on a halberd and called on the soldiers to surrender, causing the rebel army's morale to collapse.
• The Feudal Lords cursed Zi Shou for killing E Chongyu and violating their trust, and Zi Shou loudly declared himself a foolish tyrant.

Wen Zhong explained that King Zhou called himself a benighted ruler because he dared do what earlier enlightened rulers had not: strike at the Shamans and the lords and nobles. Ministers, Feudal Lords, and Immortal Cultivators swore to aid King Zhou’s tyranny, leaving the court united against its external foes.

• Wen Zhong recounted the deeds of past Shang rulers and argued that their restraint toward the Shamans and lords had allowed those threats to persist.
• Wen Zhong swore to aid King Zhou’s tyranny, and Shang Rong, Zhang Guifang, Lu Xiong, Yang Ren, and other ministers followed.
• Chong Houhu woke, saw E Chongyu’s body, and concluded that King Zhou had secured unity at court before confronting the Feudal Lords.
• Chong Houhu, Su Hu, and Jiang Huanchu swore their support for King Zhou.
• Shen Gongbao, Zhao Gongming, Luo Xuan, Lü Yue, and the Dark Phoenix Guards joined the oath-taking, while their arrival deterred the rebel soldiers.

Zi Shou released the feudal lords after burning the shamans’ books and executing E Chongyu, while promising to leave Chaoge’s gates open for three days. Chong Houhu realized Zi Shou’s compromise could encourage the King of Wu and King of Yue to seize the vacant Yue Territory, leaving the feudal lords free but dividing their interests.

• Zi Shou warned the feudal lords against growing ambitious, then declared he would treat their confrontation as a dream and let them leave after they paid their congratulatory gifts.
• The King of Wu considered submitting to Zi Shou so he could take the Yue Territory, but Zi Shou ordered the guards to stand down before he could speak.
• When the feudal lords hesitated to leave, Zi Shou swore to open Chaoge’s gates for three days and ordered the garrisons withdrawn.
• Chong Houhu stopped Wen Zhong from detaining the feudal lords and suggested that Zi Shou’s appointments of the King of Wu and King of Yue positioned them to claim the Yue Territory.
• Wen Zhong understood that Zi Shou had left one side of the net open, while Chong Houhu returned home knowing Chong Yingbiao had been rescued by Immortals.

Zi Shou asked Wen Zhong about fallen soldiers and learned that soldiers who died in battle would eventually become Heavenly Soldiers and Generals. He prepared two conflicting war plans so the ministers would approve his command of the campaign while he secretly led the Shang Army to defeat.

• Zi Shou asked Wen Zhong where people went after death and what happened to fallen Dark Phoenix Guard soldiers.
• Wen Zhong told Zi Shou that soldiers who died in battle would ascend to the Heavenly Court as Heavenly Soldiers and Generals.
• Zi Shou studied the Battle of Boju and planned to present the ministers with a sound strategy while secretly using orders designed to bring about defeat.
• Zi Shou finished two versions of his campaign plan and headed to court, believing a new path had opened for him.

Zi Shou presented a rapid campaign plan against E Shun and convinced the court that former king Wu Ding had taught him strategy in a dream. He declared that he would lead the southern expedition himself, then asked his officials to plan an alliance with the feudal lords.

• Zi Shou explained a fast-moving campaign against E Shun, and the military officers praised the plan.
• Lu Xiong and Wen Zhong judged that the campaign could succeed within three to six months, while Wen Zhong wondered whether Zi Shou had learned from a worthy talent.
• Zi Shou claimed that Wu Ding had taught him the art of war in a dream and instructed him to lead the southern expedition.
• Zi Shou justified the expedition by invoking Wu Ding’s campaigns and promised to remedy the troubles caused by enfeoffing feudal lords.
• Zi Shou asked his officials to discuss forming an alliance with the feudal lords, leaving them bewildered while Chong Houhu stayed calm.

Zi Shou appointed the exceptionally yielding Zhang Youren as an envoy, hoping his mission to forge an alliance would fail and earn foolishness value. He sent Zhang Youren from Chaoge with a jade pendant and instructions to yield, endure, and remain silent, then summoned Li Jing to discuss the reforms.

• Wen Zhong questioned whether Zi Shou intended to ally with Wu or Yue, and Zi Shou asked the ministers to recommend an envoy.
• After Zhang Da recommended Zhang Youren, the ministers described his reputation for yielding and endurance, but Zi Shou decided to appoint him anyway.
• Chong Houhu defended Zhang Youren’s suitability, and Zi Shou confirmed that he would summon him as envoy.
• Zi Shou gave Zhang Youren the Dark Phoenix Jade Pendant and instructed him to prioritize yielding and endurance and not to speak.
• After Zhang Youren departed, Zi Shou summoned Li Jing to continue working on the reforms.

Zi Shou inspected the new reforms at the North Market and smashed the stone slabs that proclaimed his supreme authority, imposed collective punishment, and listed harsh penalties. Li Jing took the destruction as guidance to make the laws fairer and account for different circumstances, while Zi Shou left hoping the reforms would remain slow and ineffective.

• Zi Shou and Li Jing visited the North Market, where Duobao predicted rain and Li Jing explained how Wan Nian and Du Yuanxian’s book had spread practical knowledge about the weather.
• Zi Shou ordered the slabs praising his authority removed, then smashed them himself when Li Jing objected.
• Zi Shou also smashed the collective-punishment slab and ordered the punishments removed and the laws worded more gently.
• Li Jing considered how collective punishment could unfairly condemn people who did not understand the law, and recalled that he and his wife had once tried to shield Nezha.
• Li Jing concluded that laws should distinguish intentional killing from negligent killing and account for legal principles and human circumstances.
• Li Jing accepted Zi Shou’s instructions, and Zi Shou left the market before anyone recognized him.

Jiang Ziya waited for his gift to Ji Fa to take effect while Zi Shou prepared to lead a campaign south, intending to lose rather than win. Zi Shou slowed the army with increasingly long rests, and Fang Xiang and Fang Bi finally challenged his pace.

• Jiang Ziya recalled his failed business ventures and watched Ji Fa leave with a ring containing a strand of his primordial spirit.
• Zi Shou chose Consort Yang to accompany him on the campaign, left Queen Jiang to oversee Chaoge, and set out with the army.
• After half a month, Zi Shou received Foolishness Value and ordered the exhausted army to stop for a feast and rest.
• Zi Shou began marching shorter distances and taking longer rests, while the soldiers enjoyed the plentiful food and leisure.
• Fang Xiang and Fang Bi grew concerned that the supposed surprise attack had barely advanced and requested an audience with Zi Shou.

Zi Shou delayed the march toward Chu Territory and kept his army camped at Mawei Slope while searching for Long Ji and waiting for the settlement period. Fang Xiang and Fang Bi failed to persuade him to advance, and the chapter ended with Chao Lei arriving unexpectedly from the river.

• Zi Shou named the gorge Mawei Slope and ordered the army to camp there while scouts searched the surroundings and continued looking for Long Ji.
• The soldiers rested for several days, prompting Fang Xiang and Fang Bi to visit Zi Shou for the third time and question his repeated delays.
• Zi Shou played Chinese Chess with Consort Yang, using fanciful explanations for his invented rules while Fang Xiang and Fang Bi watched.
• Fang Xiang and Fang Bi warned that delaying would damage Zi Shou's prestige and give E Shun time to strengthen Chu Territory, but Zi Shou revealed he had requested reinforcements from Chaoge.
• A messenger announced that Chao Lei had arrived and requested an audience, surprising Zi Shou because Chao Lei was supposed to be waiting by the river.