Investiture of the Gods/Chapter 20
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[edit] General Summary
This chapter is titled "San Yisheng Bribes the Corrupt Courtiers". Being imprisoned within Youli for seven years of time, Ji Chang studied the theory of the eight diagrams throughout each passing moment while writing a book known as the 'Book of Changes' during his confinement. While sitting in his studies and performing divination with gold coins one day, believing that something unfortunate has taken place in his family, Ji Chang soon realizied that his son, Bo Yi Kao, had met a cruel and unfortunate death. Being approached shortly by a palace messenger, and offered three large cakes of deer flesh as a token of King Zhou's respect for the former, Ji Chang happily accepted the cakes and immediately ate all three in his unparalleled show of gratitude. Knowing fully that he had just devoured the flesh of his precious son, Ji Chang sat on the ground and began weeping profusely over what little choice he possessed during the situation. As King Zhou and Fei Zhong were fiercely clashing against each other during a game of chess, the messenger soon arrived and informed the king of Ji Chang's resolution. Deciding that Ji Chang should be excused from Youli after hearing his report, Fei Zhong swiftly retorted by stating that if Ji Chang were to return to his homeland at the current time he would most likely be influenced strongly not only by the bloodlustful people of the Western Foothills due to Bo Yi Kao's death, but the southern and northern dukes in addition because of the strong potential they eminate. Seeing that it would be a more rational resolution to keep Ji Chang detained, no matter how loyal he may seem from the outside, King Zhou consented to the former's suggestion. As the entourage under Bo Yi Kao were soon informed by loyal ministers of their master's death, they fled through the night until arriving within Phoenix City to express their woes before Ji Fa. Bursting into many tears at the hearing of his elder brother's death, Nangong Kuo cried from among the generals present saying that is essential at all costs to deploy an army against the capital in order to wipe out King Zhou and effectively replace him with a true ruler.
Everyone present within the court ground their teeth in rage and glared with great hatred as they agreed with Nangong to destroy the tyrant at all costs possible. With San Yisheng moving forward and reprimanding all around for their lack of control, the former firmly stated that if such an action were put into motion and reported to the capital, all of Ji Chang's years of loyal service and reputation would be nothing more than roadside chaff. With these words San Yisheng additionally stated that two messengers should be sent with gold, jade, and other valuable items, from their dukedom to the residence of Fei Zhong and You Hun to attain potential support in the future -- and will more than likely result in Ji Chang's well-deserved excusion. After additional letters are also to be sent in secret to these two ministers, the soldiers of the Western Foothills shall be drilled day and night as to prepare for a chance later on to strike at the capital with the other dukes. With two generals--Tai Dian and Hong Yao--effectively chosen for this task, they were ordered to take the guise of merchants traveling to the capital in offering to the suffering people. Not daring to stay at a government hostel following their arrival at the capital less they were found out, the two generals approached their respective supreme minister's lodgings that night. As Tai Dian kneeled before Fei Zhong in great respect, the former placed before him a letter from Supreme Minister San Yisheng stating that he will receive over 10,000 taels of silver and other valuable gifts if he is to free Ji Chang as an expression of his inner virtue and compassion. Ensuring Tai Dian that he will do his upmost to set Ji Chang free at all costs, the latter left shortly with the same results as his ally general. Experiencing two successive wins within chess against both Fei Zhong and You Hun a few days later, King Zhou prepared a feast for the three of them as celebration. Beginning a discussion of Ji Chang, Fei Zhong declared that he had recently sent a few trustworthy men to Youli District with the sole purpose of analyzing Ji Chang's current motives following the death of Bo Yi Kao--for this would effectively prove if he still harbored his supposed loyalty even after the conjectured knowing of his son's death. Hearing reports from these men that Ji Chang was burning incense at every moment in the ensurance of King Zhou's health and never uttered a single word of defiance to the current situation, Fei Zhong knew wholely that the former was indeed not a threat to the capital and was a minister of the highest loyalty. As King Zhou heard such a report from Fei Zhong, he additionally asked You Hun for his take on the situation. With research that reciprocated Fei Zhong's analyzation on Ji Chang, You Hun stated that if Ji Chang were effectively freed, he could be appointed into the position of prince and used to subdue the rebelling Northern and Southern grand dukes through words due to the natural respect that they possess towards the former -- and thus may even be encouraged to stop their rebellion. The fact that Ji Chang is to be freed simply out of consideration, his resolve to uphold the kindness bestowed upon him by the king would naturally increase and thus strengthen such an outcome. King Zhou thus issued a decree that stated Ji Chang's essential pardon and his freedom from confinement.
