Portal:Investiture of the Gods/Chapter 9

This chapter is titled "The Prime Minister's Resolve". As General Lei continued to the south from day to night, the majority of his soldiers fell off their saddles in their tiredness; and a command for rest was thus ensued. With the intention to rest at a village for the night, a section of his soldiers roamed about through the pine forest to eventually find the Temple of Xuanyuan. Upon the entering of this temple, General Lei smiled in immense delight as he saw none other than prince Yin Hong sleeping soundly before him. Awaking the prince immediately, he allowed the former to personally use his horse on their travel back to the three-staked road. Meanwhile after two days of travel, General Yin arrived at a small village by the name of Fengyun where he noticed the residence of Shang Rong nearby. Upon his entering of this residence, it was decided that Yin Jiao would personally ride together with General Yin back to the capital while Shang Rong heads to the former location at a later time less Yin were to be accused of private dealings with Shang Rong in the future. As Generals Yin and Lei thus regrouped at the three-forked road in due happiness over their success, Yin Hong and Yin Jiao wept together for their unfortunate situation. Following their arrival back to the capital, Yellow Flying Tiger ground his teeth in explosive rage, declaring that he would personally slay Generals Yin and Lei with his sword before they ever were to be recognized for their one-sided merit. Ordering all ministers to quickly gather before the palace gates in defense for the two princes, Yin and Lei meanwhile attained a written report from King Zhou to put them both to death before the gates in quick pace. Seeing such a report, Supreme Minister Zhao Qi grabbed it from their hands and tore it to many pieces in his rage. Continuing in such a manner, Zhao Qi declared to every minister present to go to the Grand Hall and invite His Majesty to attend; for such was the perfect chance to admonish the simple-minded tyrant.

With Yellow Flying Tiger's four right-hand generals protecting the princes with their lives, and ministers banging the bells and beating the drums to attain the king's attendance, King Zhou simply wrote a decree to put an end to the princes for their unfilialness while remaining in his Fairy Longevity Palace. With the executioners thus pacing towards the two bound princes, Superiorman Pure Essence and Grand Completion meanwhile roamed about through the skies in great boredom. As they thus appeared above Morning Song and saw the two princes ready for execution, a grand gust storm ran across the skies -- putting every official and soldier present in fear. With the sudden disappearance of Yin Hong and Yin Jiao following the end of the storm, this calamity brought great relief and joy in the hearts of each official, while King Zhou sat in wonder at such a happening. Now finally arriving at the capital of Morning Song, Shang Rong rose forth and heard the complete story of current happenings from Yellow Flying Tiger himself. In due resolve to be able to confront the emperors of yore in high honor and loyalty, Shang Rong immediately ordered the beating of bells and drums to force the foul King Zhou into the Grand Hall. As the king thus arrived before his desk, Shang Rong kneeled forward and presented to the former his written report. Upon the reading of this report, King Zhou flew into great rage—immediately ordering Shang Rong to be beaten to death with the golden hammer. Yelling back at the king with words of duty and love towards his past services in the name of the Shang Dynasty, Shang Rong knocked away the guards and jumped head-first into a stone pillar—effectively ending his life in a rather grusome manner. As many ministers exchanged glances at such a horrific scene, King Zhou ordered for his body to be thrown into an empty field behind the capital in an expression of his dignity towards the former.

封神演義/卷009