Hearing Ji Chang's words, all the ministers began to talk about it. Bo Yikao was the first to stand out and advised, "Father, King Zhou must have bad intentions for summoning you. Last time, you were trapped in the prison for seven years. Thanks to God's blessing, you were able to return to Xiqi safely. If you go to Zhaoge this time, I'm afraid your life will be in danger."
As soon as Bo Yikao finished his words, Ji Fa continued, "Father, now King Zhou is muddle-headed and tyrannical, and the Shang Dynasty is declining. There are many rebels in the world, and Xiqi is growing stronger under your rule. Now that King Zhou summons you, it's obvious that he is afraid of the power of Xiqi and wants to use you as a hostage to make Xiqi hesitate. Father, you can't go there."
Hearing Bo Yikao and Ji Fa's words, Ji Chang naturally understood the key point. But King Zhou was the king, and disobeying the king's order was treason. Ji Chang had been a minister of the Shang Dynasty since King Zhou's father, Di Yi, was alive. But if he wanted to rebel against the Shang Dynasty, he was somewhat reluctant. Therefore, although he understood the key point, he still found it difficult to make a choice. That was why he summoned all the ministers to discuss whether there was a way to satisfy both sides.
Shen Gongbao was good at observing people's expressions. Seeing the hesitation in Ji Chang's eyes, he thought for a while and naturally understood the key point. So he stood out and said, "Marquis, as you said, King Zhou is cruel and heartless now. If you go there now, your life will be in danger. You have seen through life and death, so it's okay to go to Zhaoge. I'm afraid you are thinking that it's worth it to exchange your life for the safety of Xiqi."
Hearing Shen Gongbao's words, Ji Chang's expression changed. Obviously, Shen Gongbao was right. But Shen Gongbao continued, "But have you ever thought that King Zhou is not only afraid of Marquis, but more afraid of Xiqi's prosperity? Even if you are willing to sacrifice yourself, I'm afraid King Zhou will not let Xiqi go. At that time, with you as a hostage, King Zhou's army will invade Xiqi, and the people of Xiqi will suffer. Marquis, please consider the people of Xiqi and think twice."
Shen Gongbao was really smart. Ji Chang was nearly a hundred years old. He had seen through life and death and was willing to sacrifice himself for Xiqi. If he dissuaded him with his own safety, it might not work. But if he dissuaded him with the safety of the people of Xiqi, Ji Chang would definitely listen to him. Shen Gongbao saw this clearly, so he advised him. Obviously, his words hit Ji Chang's weak spot.
After hearing this, Ji Chang's expression changed greatly. If what Shen Gongbao said was true, then Xiqi would be destroyed soon. With the filial piety of Bo Yikao and Ji Chang, how could they resist King Zhou regardless of his comfort? Ji Chang looked at Shen Gongbao and asked anxiously, "State Preceptor, the king's order has come. If I don't go, King Zhou's army will attack me. At that time, the world will be in turmoil and Xiqi will suffer."
After hearing this, Shen Gongbao sighed in his heart. Ji Chang was a mortal after all. Although he was proficient in the Eight Trigrams of the Book of Changes, his vision was still narrow. Now the Cultivation Tribulation had begun. On the surface, it was a competition between dynasties, but in fact, it was a competition between four sects. Even though the Shang Dynasty's strength was still higher than Xiqi's, Xiqi had the support of the Chan Sect and the Western Sect. If they really fought, Xiqi might not be at a disadvantage.
In fact, Shen Gongbao could also see that it was not that Ji Chang was afraid of King Zhou, but that he did not want to rebel. Unfortunately, everything in the world would be fine even if he did not want to. Since he did not want to rebel, he would let King Zhou force him to rebel. Shen Gongbao gave an idea, "Marquis, you only need to reply to King Zhou that you are seriously ill and cannot travel. When you recover, you can go to Zhaoge to see him."
After hearing this, Ji Chang thought it was a good idea, so he replied to King Zhou according to Shen Gongbao's words. Unfortunately, things did not work out as he imagined. A few months later, Ji Chang received an imperial edict from King Zhou. King Zhou directly announced that Ji Chang was a traitor and sent an army to fight against Xiqi. Ji Chang suddenly felt bad.
Ji Chang had served the Shang Dynasty all his life, but at this age, he was regarded as a traitor by King Zhou. How could he feel good? But now that things had come to this, it was useless to be sad. The most urgent thing was how to deal with King Zhou's crusade. Ji Chang could only temporarily suppress the sadness in his heart and summon civil and military officials to discuss how to protect Xiqi.
In the hall, Ji Chang looked a little lost. Looking at the people standing below, he said, "Everyone, King Zhou is angry that I didn't go to Zhaoge, so he has announced that Xiqi has rebelled and sent an army to fight against Xiqi. They will arrive in a few days. King Zhou is very aggressive. Do you have any good ideas to deal with the enemy?"
Seeing this, Bo Yikao said, "Father, King Zhou is muddle-headed and tyrannical. He listened to slander and attacked Xiqi. Now the people all over the world are complaining about him. Father, you can follow the will of heaven and call yourself a king. With the power of Xiqi, you can unite all the vassals in the world to fight against the Shang Dynasty. I am not talented, but I am willing to lead the army for father and fight against King Zhou's army."
Hearing Bo Yikao's words, Ji Chang's face changed greatly. Now it was only King Zhou who declared him a traitor. If he called himself a king and attacked the Shang Dynasty, he would be a traitor. How could Ji Chang agree? Therefore, he said seriously, "Bo Yikao, how can you say such rebellious words? I am a vassal in the Shang Dynasty. How can I do such a rebellious thing?"
Seeing this, Ji Fa also stepped out and said, "Father, elder brother is right. King Zhou is muddle-headed and tyrannical and has lost the people's support. Father, you are supported by all the vassals in the world and should replace him. You can create a peaceful and prosperous world for the people in the world and prevent them from being harmed by King Zhou. Since the time of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, the world has always been ruled by benevolent people. King Zhou destroyed his own country, so it is reasonable for father to replace him.
Please don't be a traitor to the Shang Dynasty. "Hearing Ji Fa's words, Ji Chang's face suddenly showed an awkward expression. And when the ministers heard Bo Yikao and Ji Fa's words, they all knelt down and seconded. Ji Chang saw the ministers' reaction and felt even more awkward. What Bo Yikao and Ji Fa said was reasonable, and he also understood it, but he could not get over the hurdle in his heart.
Seeing that Ji Chang was hesitating, Jiang Ziya said bluntly, "Marquis, what the two childes said is reasonable. When I left Kunlun Mountain, my teacher once said that it was the will of Heaven that the Shang Dynasty would be destroyed and the Zhou Dynasty would rise. Now King Zhou is muddle-headed and lawless, and the world is in chaos. Marquis, you are a rare wise ruler in the world, and it is your destiny to worship Heaven as the king.
Seeing this, Shen Gongbao also said, "Marquis, now our Xiqi is rich and strong, and we have strong soldiers and strong horses. With the help of our Western Religious Sect and Chanism, it is not impossible to suppress the Shang Dynasty. Moreover, Marquis has won the hearts of the people in the world. If you obey the heaven, you will get the response of the people in the world. Now that King Zhou's army is coming, please make a decision as soon as possible."
Ji Chang listened to the ministers' persuasion, and the Nation Master Shen Gongbao and the Prime Minister Jiang Ziya also strongly supported him. Since it was the will of heaven, Ji Chang could not refuse anymore. He said, "Since it is so, I will follow your advice and call myself the King. Prime Minister, you can arrange the ceremony." Jiang Ziya was overjoyed and accepted the order.
In nearly three days, all the matters of the sacrificial ceremony had been prepared. On the altar, the table was full of all kinds of treasures. Ji Chang, wearing a royal robe, burned incense and prayed to the heaven, "With the heaven above and the earth as my witness, King Zhou is muddle-headed and tyrannical. He favored the Demon Empress and made the traitors in the imperial court take over. I, Ji Chang, comply with the destiny. Today, I call myself a king, and the name of my country is Zhou.
Below the altar, the ministers knelt down and shouted, "Long live the King." Shen Gongbao and Jiang Ziya's expressions flickered. Although they were both officials in Xiqi, they came here with a mission. Now that Ji Chang called himself a king, there was bound to be an endless war with King Zhou. This would also completely open the prelude of the Battle of Gods Investiture. The Chanism, Western Religious Sect, Jie Religious Sect, and Ren Religious Sect were already in it, and no one could escape.
Ji Chang called himself a king and established the Zhou Dynasty, which was called Western Zhou. Ji Chang called himself King Wen of Zhou. Once the news spread out, the world was shocked. Originally, King Zhou attacked Xiqi on the grounds of Xiqi's rebellion. Now that Ji Chang publicly called himself a king, wasn't it true that he was a rebel? For a time, a storm was brewing in Jiuzhou, and a great war was about to begin.
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