Chapter Summaries

Su Quanzhong led the Great Wall Guards through a blizzard into Tu Fang territory, where they launched a surprise attack on Yi Shangxie’s camp. Tu Fang surrendered, while Ji Xian died believing he had been falsely condemned as a Shang spy.

• Su Quanzhong ignored Zhao Bing’s warnings and led the vanguard north through the blizzard, suffering deaths as the army lost its way.
• Wu Wenhua marched beside Su Quanzhong, valuing the recognition and hope he had gained on the Northern Border.
• Yi Shangxie accused Ji Xian of betraying Tu Fang and had him beheaded before the assembled tribesmen.
• Su Quanzhong and Wu Wenhua’s forces struck Tu Fang’s great tent, while Zhao Bing led the main force into the battle.
• Su Quanzhong’s troops defeated Tu Fang, and the tribe surrendered beneath the heavy snow.

Zi Shou sent Shi Ji to Guanjiangkou to spread a warning that sea salt was harmful, hoping to protect its supply from aristocratic seizure while gaining Foolishness Value. Shi Ji understood his apparent scheme and introduced her senior brother Zhao Gongming, who sought a position in Great Shang.

• Zi Shou summoned Shi Ji and asked her to divine whether Guanjiangkou sea salt was harmful.
• Shi Ji discovered that sea salt was harmful but less so than the coarse salt commoners usually used, and Zi Shou told her to announce only the danger of sea salt.
• After Zhao Gongming secretly explained Zi Shou’s apparent plan, Shi Ji praised him and agreed to travel to Guanjiangkou.
• Shi Ji introduced Zhao Gongming, who wanted to serve Great Shang and had brought Zi Shou a gift.
• Zi Shou recognized Zhao Gongming as a formidable fighter and wondered whether appointing him would cause trouble.

Zhao Gongming presented Zi Shou with tools for standardizing weights and measures and hoped to earn merit and a high position. Zi Shou appointed him to help promote the system and copper coins, while considering how unified standards could serve his rule.

• Zhao Gongming showed Zi Shou the Qiankun Ruler, a measuring vessel, and a steelyard calibrated with Sea-Calming Pearls.
• Zhao Gongming explained that copying and regularly checking the tools would establish consistent weights and measures throughout the realm.
• Zi Shou realized that standardization could help him enforce the Flower and Stone Transport and make reports of his extravagance harder to downplay.
• Zi Shou appointed Zhao Gongming to work with Daoist Xiao and Daoist Cao to promote copper coins and weights and measures.
• Zhao Gongming accepted the appointment as Zi Shou began thinking about using the new standards to track Long Ji's weight.

The Three Sovereigns sent the Kongtong Seal into the mortal world to aid the Human Race during its coming tribulation, and it landed on Mount Qi. A slave brought the stone to Ji Chang, who dismissed it as worthless while continuing to plot against King Zhou and worry over his son Ji Xian.

• Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan removed the Five Emperors’ souls from the Kongtong Seal, and the Three Sovereigns sent the treasure into the mortal world without choosing a destination.
• The Kongtong Seal landed on Mount Qi, where a slave searching for tribute stones saw it fall and carried it to Ji Chang as a supposed phoenix-blessed treasure.
• Ji Chang brooded over his stalled plans against King Zhou, recalling the long-standing conflict between Xiqi and Shang and considering how to exploit rebellions among the Eastern Yi and Baiyue.
• After Ji Chang learned that his son Ji Xian might be in danger, he angrily threw the stone and struck the slave, then ordered the guards to treat the wound and let him keep it.
• Ji Chang continued planning to use the Eastern Yi and Baiyue conflicts to weaken King Zhou over the coming years.

Chao Lei’s Navy disrupted the Eastern Yi advance with rumors and a surprise coastal raid, while Mai Yun and Mai Zhi turned against the Baiyue rebellion by assassinating the King of Yu Yue. The chapter ended with Mai Yun threatening the guards as he left, and the feudal lords entering Chaoge in the fourth month.

• Eastern Yi forces threatened Great Shang’s eastern border, and Ao Guang ordered the Dragon Tribe to carry Chao Lei’s ships toward the Bird Yi territory.
• Chao Lei used raids and fabricated rumors to make the Eastern Yi soldiers fear that their tribes had surrendered, then escaped by sea with treasures.
• Mai Yun watched a play depicting his attempted assassination of King Zhou and wept at the king’s portrayal.
• Mai Zhi and Mai Yun met the King of Yu Yue and offered him a map that Mai Yun used to assassinate him.
• Mai Yun threatened the King of Yu Yue’s guards and left with Mai Zhi as the feudal lords entered Chaoge.

Chong Houhu arrived in Chaoge with Shen Gongbao and Zhao Bing to report victories over the Gui Fang and Tu Fang, but King Zhou refused to hear news of the Eastern Yi and Baiyue rebellions before the court gathering. Li Jing and Deng Jiugong seemed to understand the king’s reason and left cheerfully, leaving Chong Houhu baffled and chasing after them.

• Chong Houhu returned to Chaoge with Shen Gongbao, who had helped persuade the Gui Fang to submit and move inland.
• Chong Houhu met Zhao Bing, who reported that Su Hu’s army had defeated the Tu Fang, captured Yi Shangxie, and was pursuing the fleeing Wu Li.
• Chong Houhu brought Shen Gongbao and Zhao Bing to the palace, but You Hun said King Zhou would not discuss the Eastern Yi and Baiyue rebellions before the court gathering.
• Li Jing and Deng Jiugong arrived in armor, heard King Zhou’s message, then exchanged a knowing glance and left laughing.
• Chong Houhu hurried after Li Jing and Deng Jiugong, hoping to learn what they had understood.

Chong Houhu and Ji Chang interpreted the pacification of the Eastern Yi and Baiyue rebellions in opposite ways, while Zi Shou staged a football match to make the visiting lords think he was an incompetent, pleasure-loving ruler. The match began with the Royal Guards booing loudly, leaving the lords to watch the spectacle.

• Chong Houhu concluded that King Zhou had secretly planned the suppression of the Eastern Yi and Baiyue rebellions and took Shen Gongbao, Zhao Bing, Li Jing, and Deng Jiugong drinking.
• Ji Chang joined the group and privately believed the rebellions were still raging, planning to use them to challenge King Zhou during the homage ceremony.
• Zi Shou invited the visiting lords and officials to watch a football match and pressured them to bet on the teams.
• You Hun explained the rules as Fang Xiang's Imperial Guards faced Lei Kai's motley team, and Lei Kai intercepted Fang Xiang's overpowered pass.
• The Royal Guards beside the field loudly booed, while Zi Shou hoped the lords would mistake his staged amusement for neglect of state affairs.

Zi Shou watched Lei Kai's team defeat Fang Xiang's Imperial Guards at football, then saw Lu Xiong interpret the match as a lesson in military strategy and troop training. The lords embraced the idea, while Zi Shou privately doubted football's military value and ordered his carriage back to the palace.

• Zi Shou predicted Lei Kai's disciplined defense would overcome Fang Xiang's strength, and Lei Kai's team scored repeatedly in the second half to win the match.
• The Royal Guards celebrated Lei Kai's victory as Zi Shou watched the lords' reactions and asked what they thought of football.
• Lu Xiong connected Zi Shou's commentary on morale, teamwork, and coordination to battlefield principles and praised football as a way to train troops.
• Lei Kai realized football practice had taught his men useful military skills, and the lords' displeasure faded as they decided to promote the sport in their fiefs.
• Zi Shou privately recalled the national football team's failures despite military training, doubted football could train soldiers, and ordered his carriage to return to the palace.

Ji Chang watched King Zhou use a new opera to warn the regional lords that the king could punish even powerful nobles and to sway the common people. Ji Chang realized opera could threaten the support he had built in Xiqi, while Zi Shou remained absorbed in the performance.

• Ji Chang worried that King Zhou was using football and other entertainments to win the people’s hearts and display his control over the regional lords.
• After receiving an imperial invitation, Ji Chang went to watch an opera depicting the Marquis of Xia’s son abusing a commoner woman and the Marquis covering up the crime.
• The audience grew furious as the play showed the woman’s father enslaved and her body revealed to him.
• The king in the opera investigated the crime, arrested the Marquis of Xia and his son, and sentenced them to beheading, prompting the crowd to cheer, “A fine execution!”
• Ji Chang recognized the opera as a warning to the regional lords and feared it could weaken his popular support in Xiqi, while Zi Shou watched with interest.

Zi Shou let Marquis Li challenge his First Emperor title and threaten him with the Western Rong, then used Marquis Li’s admission of human burial sacrifice to condemn him. He ordered the Pao Luo brought out.

• Marquis Li challenged Zi Shou’s imperial title and claimed it had frightened the people and disrupted tax collection.
• Marquis Li warned that the Wugao Rong might invade unless Great Shang compromised and paid tribute, but Zi Shou refused to yield.
• Marquis Li accused Zi Shou of risking the loyalty of the feudal lords, and Zi Shou asked whether Marquis Li’s late father had been buried with human sacrifices.
• Marquis Li admitted that three hundred household servants, wives, concubines, and slaves had accompanied his father in burial.
• Zi Shou asked Fei Zhong what punishment Marquis Li deserved, and Fei Zhong answered that it was the Pao Luo.
• Zi Shou ordered the Pao Luo brought out.

Zi Shou used a feast and a performance of decadent music to provoke criticism from the assembled lords, while Marquis Li and Yang Ren spoke against extravagance. The chapter ended with Bo Yi defending luxury and pleasure as things the people desired, alarming his father, the Lord of Guzhu.

• Zi Shou had Marquis Li bound beside Pao Luo, then served roasted meat and wine to the ministers and lords.
• Marquis Li condemned the feast’s extravagance, prompting Yang Ren and several lords to remonstrate against the Pool of Wine and Forest of Meat and the spread of luxury.
• Bo Yi and Shu Qi arrived with thirty dancers and performed music and dance for the assembly.
• Marquis Li denounced the performance as lascivious music that heralded a kingdom’s downfall, and Bo Yi rebuked him.
• The Lord of Guzhu worried that Bo Yi had become a flatterer, but Bo Yi declared that food, drink, luxury, and pleasure were what the people desired.

Bo Yi argued that extravagant spending by the nobles would create work, circulate wealth, and improve the people’s livelihoods, persuading many lords to support King Zhou’s policy. Marquis Li challenged the idea and proposed appeasing the Western Rong with tribute, and Zi Shou advanced on the bound marquis with Tai'a.

• Bo Yi told Marquis Li that noble extravagance could stimulate production, trade, and employment rather than impoverish the people.
• Jiang Huanchu endorsed the policy, and other lords joined him as they grasped Bo Yi’s argument.
• Bo Yi rebutted Marquis Li by explaining how changing population and resources made frugality less suited to the present age.
• Marquis Li proposed sending gifts and annual tribute to the Western Rong, leaving Bo Yi uncertain how to respond.
• Zi Shou silently approached the bound Marquis Li with Tai'a in hand.

Zi Shou killed Marquis Li in the Nine-Chamber Hall after Marquis Li threatened him and challenged his authority. The hall reeled from the execution as Zhang Guifang offered to lead troops into Li Territory and Ji Chang stepped forward to submit a petition.

• Marquis Li threatened that killing him would cost Zi Shou the feudal lords' support and invite the Western Rong east.
• Zi Shou drew the Tai'a Sword and stabbed Marquis Li through the throat, killing him in the Nine-Chamber Hall.
• Chong Houhu and Su Hu stopped eating as Marquis Li's blood splashed toward them, while Fei Zhong declared his loyalty to Zi Shou.
• Zhang Guifang volunteered to lead troops into Li Territory and repel or defeat the Western Rong.
• Ji Chang stepped out of the ranks and began to submit a petition.

After Ji Chang condemned King Zhou for killing Marquis Li, Li Jing argued that the execution was lawful and called for sweeping reforms to strengthen Great Shang. He pledged to carry out the reforms, while the court fell silent.

• Ji Chang denounced King Zhou's rule and urged him to give up the emperor's title and restore the bond between sovereign and feudal lords.
• Zhang Guifang declared his support for King Zhou and volunteered to defend Li Territory against the Western Rong.
• Wen Zhong rebuked the feudal lords, saying they had no right to criticize King Zhou.
• Li Jing used the story of Emperor Yao to argue that rulers should reflect on their faults, then insisted that Marquis Li's crimes warranted execution.
• Li Jing called for clear, equal laws and strict punishments, declaring that feudal lords who broke the law should be treated like commoners.
• Li Jing affirmed that Marquis Li deserved to die and offered to lead legal reforms to purge corruption and strengthen Great Shang.

At court, Li Jing turned Zi Shou’s execution of Marquis Li into an argument for legal reform, while the lords interpreted recent events as a carefully planned show of Shang power. Zi Shou embraced the prospect of reform as a way to weaken the lords and earn foolishness value, then invited them to Shanglin Garden to view the Flower and Stone Transport.

• The lords connected the racecourse, football match, and opera to Marquis Li’s execution and concluded that King Zhou had deliberately intimidated them before Li Jing proposed legal reform.
• Zi Shou was stunned that Li Jing had reframed his actions as support for equal justice and law reform, but decided that reform could still benefit him by provoking the lords and strengthening central authority.
• Zi Shou invited Li Jing and the lords to Shanglin Garden to admire the Flower and Stone Transport, planning to use strict standards for their offerings to make trouble for them.
• The lords accepted the invitation, while Ji Chang withdrew into the ranks and reassessed King Zhou as a farseeing opponent.
• Someone called for the Marquis of the West to drive Zi Shou’s carriage.

Yang Ren defended King Zhou’s authority by verbally cornering the lords who objected to Ji Chang driving the king’s carriage. Ji Chang agreed to serve but secretly planned to reveal the frontier rebellions at Shanglin Park and turn the humiliation to his advantage.

• Marquis Gong and Marquis Ruan challenged Yang Ren’s demand that Ji Chang lead King Zhou’s horse, but Yang Ren rebuked them by invoking the duties of subjects and the troubled history between Shang and Xiqi.
• Yang Ren defended King Zhou’s rule and achievements against another lord’s comparison with the ancient sage rulers, leaving the man unable to respond.
• When Marquis Hu protested that Ji Chang should not serve alone, Yang Ren asked Chong Houhu and Jiang Huanchu to accompany the king, and both agreed.
• Yang Ren ordered Ji Chang to drive for King Zhou, and Ji Chang accepted while secretly intending to expose the Eastern Yi unrest and Baiyue Rebellion at Shanglin Park.
• King Zhou recognized Yang Ren’s support and ordered the party to set out for Shanglin Park.

Zi Shou planned to use Jiang Wenhuan to provoke conflict with the Western Rong and considered modest reforms to improve slaves’ status. At Shanglin Garden, he began inspecting the vassals’ Flower and Stone Transport tribute and asked You Hun whether an ordinary-looking stone was pretty.

• Zi Shou noticed Jiang Wenhuan and decided the young, impulsive son of Jiang Huanchu could be sent to Li Territory to stir up trouble with the Western Rong.
• You Hun mistook Zi Shou’s hidden plans for a benevolent effort to spare Chaoge’s soldiers and resolved to become more capable.
• At Shanglin Garden, Zi Shou saw the slaves’ scars and considered having Li Jing establish rules to reward slaves who rendered meritorious service.
• Zi Shou chose the most ordinary-looking tribute stone and asked You Hun whether it was pretty.
• You Hun struggled to praise the stone and wondered whether the vassal lords had shown disrespect by presenting it.

Zi Shou used an ordinary stone from the Flower and Stone Transport tribute to impose arbitrary standards, punish feudal lords, and appoint the slave Shi Bufan as a general. After Ji Chang raised the threat from the border barbarians, Zi Shou asked You Hun whether there was any news of them, setting up the coming revelation of the rebellion.

• Fei Zhong praised the worthless stone as a rare treasure, and You Hun agreed.
• Zi Shou invented the tale of the Stone Mother and Stone Egg, then named the slave who found the rock Shi Bufan and appointed him General of Shanglin Garden.
• Zi Shou used the stone as a standard to measure tribute, reducing some lords’ ranks, fining others, and ordering the Marquis of the South to write a volume of repentance.
• The feudal lords and officials grew angry at Zi Shou’s arbitrary punishments, while Zi Shou was satisfied with their reaction.
• Ji Chang warned that the Eastern Yi and Baiyue were stirring and blamed Great Shang’s troubles on Zi Shou.
• Zi Shou lamented that the feudal lords would not share his burdens and asked You Hun for news of the barbarians.

After learning that Baiyue and the Eastern Yi had rebelled, Ji Chang used the crisis to challenge King Zhou and demand provisions and an edict confessing his faults. King Zhou refused to yield and declared that Shang would crush the rebellions without the feudal lords’ help, leaving Ji Chang to ask whether Xiqi belonged to Great Shang.

• You Hun reported that the Eastern Yi and Baiyue had rebelled, and Zi Shou feigned shock before asking the feudal lords what to do.
• Ji Chang blamed Zi Shou’s broken alliance with the Tu Fang Leader and demanded an edict confessing fault and supplies for the troops.
• Gonghou and the other feudal lords recognized that the rebellions gave them leverage, while Lu Xiong protested Ji Chang’s demand for Xiqi to provide troops.
• Wen Zhong said King Zhou had been ill and promised the feudal lords reimbursement for provisions, but Ji Chang pressed Zi Shou directly for his intentions.
• Zi Shou declared that Shang would fight the Eastern Yi and Baiyue until they submitted, even without help from the feudal lords.
• Ji Chang asked Zi Shou whether Xiqi was a territory of Great Shang.

Ji Chang challenged Zi Shou over the feudal lords’ treatment, but reports revealed that Great Shang had crushed or subdued the rebellions on every frontier. The lords witnessed the submitted tribes and joined a song proclaiming that Shang would endure, while Zi Shou remained frustrated that events had upended his plans.

• Ji Chang questioned Zi Shou about chilling the feudal lords’ hearts, but Zi Shou redirected attention to the frontier wars and asked Bo Yi and Shu Qi to play music.
• Li Jing reported that Great Shang’s forces and Chao Lei’s navy had devastated Eastern Yi, capturing prisoners and carrying off treasure.
• Deng Jiugong reported that Mai Zhi and Mai Yun had killed the King of Yu Yue, after which Deng Chanyu helped bring Yu Yue into submission.
• Zhao Bing reported Su Quanzhong’s raid against Tu Fang, and Shen Gongbao reported that Gui Fang had migrated inward rather than been annihilated.
• Leaders from Gui Fang, Tu Fang, and Yu Yue appeared with greetings, surrender, treasures, or pledges of allegiance, leaving Ji Chang doubtful and the lords cowed.
• Zi Shou threw down his rock in frustration as Bo Yi led the court and guards in singing that Shang would endure.