574 Muye (1/2)
In the imperial palace of Shangyi.
The grandeur of the palace halls was enhanced by the faint sounds of bells and drums. It was the Shang King Xin luxuriating in the singing and dancing of beautiful performers.
In the Shang ancestral temple.
The old man who was the Great Witch of the Shang examined the burnt tortoise shells in his hands and jumped up in shock.
”A crisis looms overhead. No, I must inform the King immediately!”
The Great Witch jogged to the palace, ignoring the strange looks that people gave him as he passed them. Before long, he had arrived before the palace.
”Halt!”
Two gentleman-bureaucrats stopped the Great Witch at the gates to the palace.
”The King is enjoying himself. Do not bother him!”
”Get out of my way!”
The Great Witch felt a rising anger and pushed the two men aside forcefully.
”My King, the Great Witch from the ancestral temple requests an audience with you!”
The Great Witch rushed into the palace hall and saw that musicians lined both sides of the hall while scantily-clad women gyrated to the music in the middle.
His arrival had somewhat ruined this beautiful scene.
”Ah, it's the Great Witch…”
The Shang King put down his wine cup and sat up straight. He held this man, who ran his ancestral temple and had the authority to reprimand him in the name of his ancestors, in high regard. At the same time, the Shang King was displeased with him, especially after the Great Witch had dissuaded him from personally leading the troops to war previously.
”What brings you here, Great Witch?”
”My King...there is trouble!”
The Great Witch bowed and presented the tortoise shells to the King.
”I have consulted the heavens about the future of the Shang Dynasty by burning these tortoise shells and ominous cracks have appeared on them. They tell of a threat approaching from the northwest that could destroy the Shang Dynasty and forever deny the past generations of Shang Kings their sacrifices and offerings!”
”What?”
The Shang King lost his temper.
”How is this possible? The Great Shang is descended from the Black Bird and is favoured by the heavens. We have tens upon thousands of chariots. Who can overthrow me?”
”Calm down, my King, calm down!”
The two gentleman-bureaucrats who had been pushed aside by the Great Witch staggered their way into the palace hall while crying.
”The Great Witch shows disregard for the rules and is spouting nonsense. Don't be angry, my King!”
”Get lost!”
The King roared with anger when he saw that the two men were fanning the flames. He threw the aside the woman lying in his arms and swept the wine vessels and plates off his table in a fit of rage.
”Plink! Plank!”
The dinnerware fell to the floor and the sounds echoed throughout the hall.
All the women and musicians fell to their knees. None of them dared to say a word.
”Great Witch...you speak of a threat coming from the northwest. Of whom do you speak of?”
King Xin turned his fiery gaze to the Great Witch.
”If there is really a traitor, I will have his head. However, if the results of your divination are erroneous, I will have you roasted over a fire!”
”It's too late! Too late!”
The Great Witch began to bawl his eyes out.
”The trouble lay at Western Zhou but now, the evil star has reached Muye. It will be difficult for the Shang Dynasty to escape this calamity!”
”Muye?!”
King Xin was taken aback and remained sceptical.
”Haha...Muye is only a short distance away from Shangyi. What haven't I heard anything yet? Great Witch, you are too much of an alarmist!”
At this moment, a soldier rushed into the hall and fell to his knees.
”My King, we have urgent news from the northwest. Marquis Li of Western Zhou has formed an alliance of feudal lords and is marching on the Shang Dynasty with a host of 10000. Their army has already reached Muye!”
”What?”
King Xin suddenly felt faint and swayed slightly on his feet. He never would have expected the obsequious old Marquis to pull off something like that.
”Li...you got me good!”
A savage look came over his face.
”Men...arrest Young Master Wu and cut him into pieces!”
”My King...Young Master Wu has disappeared!”
The soldier braced himself as he gave the reply.
”My King...do you still not understand? You have been leading a hedonistic lifestyle and keeping despicable people by your side. People like Yu Zhong and Kun Guo will only tell you what you want to hear and conceal important news from you. They have even received bribes in return for helping Young Master Wu make his escape!”
The Great Witch looked at the two gentleman-bureaucrats coldly.
”Spare us, my King, spare us!”
The two gentleman-bureaucrats were frightened out of their wits. They crawled over to King Xin piteously and tugged on his robe while pleading for their lives.
The King would no longer show any mercy.
”Argh…”
King Xin roared as he aimed kicks at the two gentleman-bureaucrats, making them fly and crumple against the wall. Then, he unsheathed his sword and cut them down before bowing deeply to the Great Witch.
”Thank you for enlightening me, Great Witch. I am deeply remorseful for all that I have done before!”
The Great Witch took a long and hard look at the Shang King. As an old man who had lived his life in the palace, he could remember a time when King Xin was young and brave, humble and wise. Early in his reign, King Xin had been one of the most brilliant rulers the Shang Dynasty had ever seen.
However, in his middle age, King Xin gave himself over to drinking and women. He placed his trust in unscrupulous officials and ignored almost all affairs of state.
Now, King Xin looked like he was determined to turn over a new leaf.
”Since the enemy has already reached Muye, we shall face them head on…”
The Great Witch took in a deep breath.
”How many people are there still left in the capital?”
”...”
King Xin was silent for a while. When he finally spoke, it was with anguish.
”My son has taken with him the most elite soldiers as well as most of the able-bodied men in the city...if we have to deploy another army, the only conscripts available are the old folk, minors and slave…”
”Within Shangyi, we have enough equipment to arm a 20000-strong army!”
The Great Witch went on calmly.