Portal:Investiture of the Gods/Chapter 30

This chapter is titled "Incidents Leading to a Rebellion". Ascending the Star Picking Belvadere and kowtowing before the king, Yao Zhao thoroughly declared that now Ji Fa has succeeded the deceased Ji Chang as king over the Western Foothills, Jiang Ziya should easily be able to influence the former through ambitious motives of attacking the capital. However, King Zhou was not the least worried—for he believed that Jiang Ziya was nothing more than a vile trickster that would sow hate and ill-trust in the hearts of any other potential rebel of the capital; Ji Fa in addition was considered a mere child that lacked any disciple in the art of war and should thus not be taken as a serious threat to any extent. After leaving the belvadere in great disappointment over King Zhou's words, Yao Zhao knew that King Wu must be the destined savior that shall put the tyrannical king to his eternal rest. As the new year's day celebrating King Zhou's 21st year of reign over the Shang Dynasty had arrived in rather short time, ministers went about to offer their traditional greetings to the king, while each of their wives payed obeisance to Queen Daji. When the day's natural formalities had drifted by, Lady Jia, the wife of Yellow Flying Tiger, entered the palace to offer her personal greetings to Daji before visiting her sister-in-law, Concubine Huang. At the very moment that Daji had attained word that Lady Jia was none other than Yellow Flying Tiger's wife, she grinned in great delight at such a chance to attain revenge against the prince. As Lady Jia and Daji alike both offered their respective greetings, Daji realized that the former was eight years older than her at the age of forty-one. Asking her fellow lady if they would like to become sworn sisters, Lady Jia refuted at first but freed herself from such modesty after realizing that they were both similar in aristocratic rank. After they had drunken two glasses of wine, Jia quickly hid herself within the Rear Hall upon Daji's suggestion once King Zhou had arrived to see his queen following such a long day of hard work. Clearly seeing that two cups were sitting one across the other in front of Daji, King Zhou inspected who had been present. Being told that Lady Jia, wife of Yellow Flying Tiger, had been present earlier, Daji told the king that he should see her. Rather reluctant at such a suggestion—for it would vile the rights between king and minister—King Zhou was eventually convinced after hearing that she was not only extraordinarily beautiful, but could be considered his relative out of ties between Yellow Flying Tiger's concubine sister. As Daji thus approached Lady Jia shortly after, and asked for her to walk together at the Star Picking Mansion in order to enjoy the scenery around them, Lady Jia had little choice but to comply—for they can only meet one time a year according to the rights. Walking along the upper balcony and gazing forth at a large pit full of snakes and skeletons, Lady Jia became frightened at the explanation that such a method was in need simply to uphold disciple within the capital. Accepting a few more cups of wine from Daji after sitting down with the latter, Concubine Huang meanwhile became worried at the hearing that her sister-in-law was present at the Star Picking Mansion with Daji—and thus immediately sent one of her maids to carefully observe the queen's motives. With report that King Zhou is currently ascending the Star Picking Mansion, Lady Jia stood outside of the balcony while the king made his approach. Following his arrival, and immediate informing that the woman standing outside the balcony is Yellow Flying Tiger's wife, King Zhou became very lustful over her beautiful looks. Being told by Daji to enter forth and sit by the king's side, she gradually accepted such an order less she were to attain any such punishment as earlier seen if the slightest defiance were to be shown.

Begging, however, to leave the king's side to show her true loyalty through modesty, King Zhou encouraged her to sit by his side an enjoy a personal glass of wine. Feeling as if her honor would be torn apart if she sat by the side of such a wicked tyrant, Lady Jia took her glass of wine and threw it into King Zhou's face as a showing of her hatred towards his vile ways. Even though she clearly realized that such an action would probably cost her life, and bring about further mayhem within her family, Lady Jia was resolute to preserve her honor at all costs possible. As King Zhou ordered his guards to seize her, Lady Jia ran to the balcony rails and exclaimed a final vow of farewell to her beloved husband and children before leaping forth to her unfortunate death. Attaining word shortly that Lady Jia had lost her life, Concubine Huang seethed with rage while running up the Star Picking Mansion's stairs immediately. Thrusting forth at Daji and physically beating her for conjectured treachery, King Zhou told his honored concubine that Daji is truly innocent—for Lady Jia acted out of her own irrational impulse and died because of it. Not in any mood whatsoever to stop beating Daji—or hear the king's words at that--Huang unthinkingly smacked King Zhou violently in the face. Great rage thus filled the breast of King Zhou while he grabbed the sadistic maiden by the air and lunged her forcefully off the mansion's rails. Grabbing hold of Daji and holding her in his arms in great sadness over his beloved's condition, the attendants under Lady Jia were meanwhile informed by a palace maiden of the unfortunate events that came about at the Star Picking Mansion. As Yellow Flying Tiger was enjoying the New Year's feast throughout the evening with his right-hand generals and fellow brothers, Lady Jia's attendants ran to his residence immediately and informed him of the disaster incident with his wife and sister-in-law. With everyone in great alarm while Yellow Flying Tiger sat in silence, Huang Ming approached his master and told him that it is clearly evident that they should seek a new ruler to serve under; considering Yellow Flying Tiger is the head of all military affairs and state headship, his reputation would be the first to suffer by the neighboring people who are rising in rebellion—thus by rebelling, he would be looked upon as a hero that strikes at any injustice that may befall his people upon circumstance. Knowing that his reputation would effectively soar with the greater majority if he issued forth his rebellion, Yellow Flying Tiger still considered such an action as being far too risky due to solely rendering the incident with his wife. Running after his four generals and telling them to discuss the issue further before being completely resolved to leave the capital for good, each of the four returned with Yellow Flying Tiger to his residence. Raising his sword unexpectedly before his generals, Yellow Flying Tiger declared that his family has served honorably under the Shang Dynasty for over seven generations—and the death of a single woman who is unknown to the former is most definitely not reason enough to destroy such honor through rebellion. As General Zhou Ji approached his master and declared that all who are unknowing of his glory and rank would only believe that he attained such high rank through his wife's beauty instead of progressive loyalty through generations, Yellow Flying Tiger realized the reality of his reputation and thus ordered a full flight from Morning Song immediately. Being suggested by General Guang Ming to challenge King Zhou to a battle within the capital before leave less his master regretted his decision in the future, Yellow Flying Tiger consented to such a suggestion as he equipped his armor and strode towards the palace gates atop his divine ox. Once General Zhou Ji had declared to the guards that they are rebelling, and if they do not pull King Zhou out of the palace in short time they will be slaughtered in entirety, the guards fearfully fled through the gates and informed the king of such a sudden situation. Bursting with furiosity at such a report, King Zhou personally put on his armor, took his cutlass, and smashed open the gates to do away with the rebelling Yellow Flying Tiger at the crack of dawn.

As King Zhou aligned his royal army before the rebelling forces outside the palace, Yellow Flying Tiger looked into the king's fiery eyes and felt a level of shame for his actions at hand. Once Generals Huang Ming and Zhou Ji had clearly noticed such hesitation on his part, they both unleashed their cutlasses and clashed with great renown against King Zhou immediately. Originally intending on clarifying the facts with the king before taking any physical action, Yellow Flying Tiger felt greatly displeased but nonetheless strode forth to assist his two generals. Even though King Zhou possessed great skill with the cutlass, he could not handle a three-pronged attack—and was thus forced to flee through the palace gates following thirty-rounds of battle. Grabbing hold of his two generals less they attempted to chase the fleeing king, Yellow Flying Tiger rode through the capital's western gates while catching up shortly with the rest of his family along the way. As King Zhou meanwhile returned to court and felt a high level of remorse and rage at the former incidents, many people began hearing of the rebellion and thus approached the king to hear the reason for such a sudden turn of events. Informing the ministers present that Lady Jia, Yellow Flying Tiger's sister, impulsively threw herself from the Star Picking Mansion simply out of her own personal dignity, and Madame Huang, the sister-in-law of the former lady, committed suicide after being informed of such news, King Zhou asked what should be done at such a present time of confusion that had little to do with him. As everyone present began pondering in silence, it was soon heard that Grand Old Master Wen Zhong had returned from the East Sea district. Entering the palace gates and being warmly welcomed by each minister, Wen Zhong became worried as to why his old friend Yellow Flying Tiger was not seen—and he thus approached King Zhou to inspected the reason for such. Being informed by the king that Yellow Flying Tiger had rebelled most likely due to the elaborated incident with Concubine Huang and Lady Jia, Wen Zhong clearly realized the reality of the situation -- knowing that his comrade would never rebel unless the circumstances were indeed exceedingly crucial and in need of amendment. Suggesting to King Zhou that he shall return with Yellow Flying Tiger only if his case is personally considered as justified and without punishment on the part of the king, ministers began to shout about, saying that Flying Tiger's actions are deserving of punishment no matter what the case may have been. Excusing such pointless dribble nonetheless, Wen Zhong ordered Generals Li Ji and Yu Qing to send urgent reports to the Good Dream and Green Dragon passes so that Yellow Flying Tiger's route of escape is cut off during his future pursuit.

封神演義/卷030