Conferred Gods: Master Tongtian is my master

Chapter 217 Flag Sacrifice

Inside the Longde Hall, the flickering candlelight shone on the magnificent beams and pillars, but it seemed unable to dispel the solemnity and uneasiness that permeated the air.

In the center of the hall, the dragon throne, a symbol of supreme authority, appears even more majestic and lonely in the dim light.

King Di Xin of Shang sat on it, his face gloomy and his eyes flashing with anger that could not be ignored.

All around, civil and military officials in court robes stood on both sides. They seemed to be deliberately breathing lightly, fearing that the slightest mistake would anger the furious king.

The ministers' eyes were all focused on Emperor Xin, some with worry, while others secretly speculated about the coming storm.

"Humph!"

Emperor Xin suddenly snorted heavily. Although the sound was not loud, it exploded in the hall like thunder, making everyone's heart tighten.

"Ji Chang, the Marquis of Xibo, dared to openly issue a manifesto to attack the Shang Dynasty and disregard the royal power of the Shang Dynasty. This is truly a great act of treason!"

His voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, carrying unquestionable anger.

"My dear ministers, what do you think?"

"Should we allow this rebellious person to continue to act arrogantly, or should we immediately send troops to wipe out this rebellious intention and set an example for others?"

Emperor Xin looked around with his eyes as sharp as torches, as if seeking resonance and support.

Upon hearing this, the generals stood up with their chests puffed out, their faces showing determination.

"Your Majesty, I, Huang Feihu, am willing to lead the troops to fight and swear to wipe out Ji Chang and his rebels in Xiqi, so as to ensure the stability of the Shang Dynasty and the integrity of Your Majesty's prestige!"

King Wucheng Huang Feihu's words were passionate and every word was powerful.

"Your Majesty, your servant Zhaofeng is also willing to lead the troops to Xiqi. Ji Chang is arrogant and must be punished."

"I will personally escort him back to Chaoge and wait for the king's decision, so as to uphold the law and reassure the people!"

Although Zhaofeng's voice was not as loud as Huang Feihu's, it also revealed his unquestionable determination and courage.

"Your Majesty, I, Guan Sheng, am willing to lead an army of 100,000 and march to Xiqi immediately. Ji Chang and his ilk are no match for each other. I, your humble servant, swear to use my spear to break their formation, kill their generals, destroy their army, and restore peace and prosperity to our Shang Dynasty!"

Guan Sheng's tone was full of confidence and heroism, as if the entire Xiqi area was already in his control.

……

The oaths of the generals rose one after another, echoing throughout the hall. Their voices gathered into an unstoppable force, stirring everyone's heart.

The hall was filled with a strong atmosphere of fighting spirit and loyalty, as if even the air was trembling with their determination.

On the other side, the civil officials seemed exceptionally quiet. They exchanged complex and subtle glances with each other, as if weighing the weight of every word.

"Your Majesty,"

An old official with white hair and beard stood up slowly with a trembling but steady voice. "The Art of War says: 'The best strategy is to attack the enemy's plans', which means that the best way to use troops is to use strategy rather than force."

"I think that although the current situation is urgent, it does not necessarily require war."

He paused for a moment, looked around, and seeing that all the ministers were listening attentively, he continued:

"Although Ji Chang gathered people in Xiqi, his heart may not be completely rebellious."

"Perhaps, we can first send an eloquent envoy with the king's letter to Xiqi to explain the pros and cons and the righteousness, and try to resolve this dispute in a peaceful way."

"This way, we can avoid unnecessary sacrifices, reduce the suffering of people, and show the tolerance and wisdom of our Shang Dynasty. Why not do it?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Xin frowned and seemed to be lost in thought.

He turned to look at Prime Minister Shang Rong beside him, only to see Shang Rong lowering his head and keeping silent, as if thinking about this matter.

"What does the Prime Minister think?"

Emperor Xin asked, with a hint of inquiry in his tone.

Prime Minister Shang Rong stepped forward, bowed and replied:

"Your Majesty, I think what Doctor Gu said makes a lot of sense. Although the art of war says 'speed is the essence of war', it also emphasizes 'conquering the enemy without fighting'."

"It would be the best option if this crisis could be resolved peacefully."

"However, sending envoys must be done with extreme caution. The person selected must be both wise and brave, so as to live up to the king's trust."

After hearing this, Emperor Xin nodded slightly, as if he had made a decision.

"The path of peace should be given priority. But Ji Chang's actions have shown his rebellious nature. If he is not punished, I am afraid that many people will follow suit in the future."

"I have made up my mind. I will send an envoy to Xiqi first. If Ji Chang persists in his wrongdoings, it will not be too late to attack him later."

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall suddenly became quiet, and everyone knew that a storm was about to brew in Xiqi.

Although the generals were unwilling, they understood that the king had his own considerations, and they all retreated to their original positions.

The civil officials smiled at each other, as if they felt a little relieved to be able to help the king share his worries and solve his problems.

……

In Xiqi, Ji Chang, together with Jiang Ziya, San Yisheng and others, met the envoys from Chaoge.

The envoy was led to the center of the hall. He was wearing the official uniform of the Shang Dynasty, holding a jade sceptre, and had a solemn expression. He was obviously an experienced diplomatic envoy.

He bowed and extended his sincere greetings to Ji Chang and all the ministers.

"My lord, I have long heard of your great name. It is my great honor to meet you today." The messenger's words were full of respect and courtesy.

Ji Chang smiled slightly and replied:

"The envoy has come from afar and has taken the trouble to come. Ji Chang is very grateful. Please take a seat and we will discuss important matters."

After the envoy sat down, Ji Chang turned to look at Jiang Ziya and San Yisheng, and the three of them exchanged a tacit look.

Then, Ji Chang slowly said, "Sir, may I know why the king sent you here this time?"

The messenger's face became more solemn when he heard this. He gently stroked his clothes and said seriously:

"My Lord, the King has something important to say. But it is too serious to be fully expressed in words, so I have ordered this messenger to bring this letter to you for your personal reading."

After saying this, the messenger slowly took out a delicate silk book from his sleeve. The edges of the silk book were inlaid with gold threads, making it look extremely solemn.

He held the silk book in both hands and handed it to Ji Chang respectfully, with a hint of awe in his eyes.

Seeing this, Ji Chang nodded slightly and signaled the attendant beside him to come forward and take the silk book.

He gently stroked the cover of the silk book, and an inexplicable emotion surged in his heart.

Ji Chang slowly unfolded the silk book, his eyes wandering between the lines.

On the silk book, Emperor Xin's words were like a violent storm, violently impacting Ji Chang's heart.

He questioned Ji Chang why he dared to unite the various princes in the territories under his jurisdiction to issue a manifesto to attack Shang and challenge the authority and rule of the Shang Dynasty.

Every word was filled with majesty and anger, as if to drown Ji Chang and all the participants in the endless accusations.

Emperor Xin's writing is as sharp as a sword, and every word cuts through the heart.

After Ji Chang finished reading, a faint smile appeared on his lips. This smile contained both mockery of Emperor Xin's hypocrisy and confidence in his own firm beliefs.

He looked up at the messenger, his eyes shining with determination and wisdom.

"Mr. Envoy, I already know the king's intention."

Ji Chang said slowly, "Please rest at the inn, my envoy. I will give you a reply after I think about it."

Upon hearing this, the envoy secretly admired Ji Chang's calmness and wisdom.

He was well aware that the mission was arduous, and he also understood that Ji Chang needed time to weigh the pros and cons and make a decision.

So he bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, what you said makes sense, and I will obey you. Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I will wait for good news at the post station."

After saying this, the envoy followed the attendant's lead, left the palace, and went to the post station to rest.

Ji Chang turned around and looked at Jiang Ziya and San Yisheng, and said solemnly:

"King Di Xin of Shang actually ordered me to go to Chaoge to apologize for writing an edict to attack Shang. Do you two have any suggestions?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ziya frowned slightly, stroked his beard gently, and his eyes flashed with wisdom.

"My Lord, in my opinion, the King of Shang's move is actually a test and coercion. If you rashly go to Chaoge, it will be like a sheep walking into a tiger's mouth. I am afraid it will be difficult to escape unscathed."

Upon hearing this, Ji Chang's face became solemn. He knew very well that what Jiang Ziya said was true, and he couldn't help feeling worried.

However, he believed more in Jiang Ziya's wisdom and foresight, so he waited for what would happen next.

Jiang Ziya paused, as if he was organizing his thoughts, and then continued:

"I, your humble servant, would like to suggest that we take this opportunity to do the opposite. Kill the messenger as a sacrifice and use it as a clarion call for our uprising.

San Yisheng nodded in agreement when he heard this, and added:

"What the Prime Minister said is absolutely right. This move can show Xiqi's determination and courage to resist tyranny."

"Secondly, it can intimidate those princes and people who are still watching, and let them see our Xiqi's firm stance and unshakable faith."

"Thirdly, we can take this opportunity to inspire the fighting spirit and cohesion of our Xiqi military and civilians, and make full preparations for the upcoming war."

After hearing this, Ji Chang was silent for a moment. Finally, he nodded slowly, his voice firm and powerful:

"Okay! Let's do as the Prime Minister says. Immediately prepare for the flag sacrifice, and at the same time pass down the order to strengthen Xiqi's defense and prepare for war. The soldiers and civilians of Xiqi swear to fight the Shang Dynasty to the end!"

As Ji Chang finished speaking, the entire hall seemed to be shrouded by an invisible force.