Portal:Investiture of the Gods/Chapter 20

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.

As the ministers all around clapped their hands in joy upon the hearing of Ji Chang's well-deserved attainment of freedom, a palace messenger immediately set out for Youli District with written decree in hand. Sitting inside his inner chambers with continued detriment over the death of his unfortunate son, Ji Chang made a divination with golden coins following a sudden ominous windstorm. After realizing that King Zhou will pardon him that day, the palace messenger arrived shortly and officially stated the king's decree. Packing his belongings with both joy and sorrow, the people of Youli crowded before him and offered what they could in return for the former's immense kindness in the past. As they escorted the duke some distance from Youli District, every individual present gave their final farewells in tears. Arriving before high ranking ministers such as Bi Gan and Yellow Flying Tiger at the palace gates, Ji Chang expressed his immense gratitude at their kindness for freeing him from his extended confinement. Being in a state of great happiness in addition, an order was soon put forth that stated Ji Chang's presence before King Zhou. Dressing in convictual garb as he presented himself before the king, Ji Chang kneeled in respect and stated his many vows of gratitude. Being thus authorized to undetake military operations as chief of all dukes and appointed as overseeing prince, King Zhou additionally placed forth a banquet at the Dragon Virtue Court in his honor. With each minister smiling with delight at such good fortune for Ji Chang--now known as Prince Wen--the latter paraded for two days throughout the capital's streets in a demonstration of his glory. Late into the afternoon during his second day of parade, Ji Chang was approached by Prince Yellow Flying Tiger and consented to the former's proposal of a personal drink at his residence. Personally sitting down and accompanying Ji Chang with many drinks, Yellow Flying Tiger firmly told him that he is in need of ceasing his current parading and should leave as quickly as possible less any other unpredictable occurrence runs about in such a collosally-torn capital like Morning Song. Feeling as if he had been completely awoken to reality, Prince Wen calmly asked the former how he is get through the five passes. Handing him many military tallies and suggesting that he guises himself as a royal patrolmen to easily make his way through the passes, Yellow Flying Tiger gave one final bow to Prince Wen before being dismissed. That same evening, Yellow Flying Tiger ordered two of his generals--Long Huan and Wu Yan--to open the west gate of the capital and secretly escort Ji Chang from within.

Categorized Events

 * Harmony within Youli District - Ji Chang's praise
 * The continued containment resolution; first game of chess with King Zhou
 * Great hatred within Phoenix City; Easy Life's rational proposal
 * Gift presentation before the Supreme Counselors
 * Clearing the false from the true; second game of chess with King Zhou
 * Edict passed - Ji Chang's long awaited freedom
 * The three day celebration of loyalty
 * Yellow Tiger's conviction; Ji Chang flees from the capital

封神演義/卷020