The Grand Preceptor Presents the Music of the Emperor
（20）
He had rushed all the way here, eager to return home. The Martial King and the others returned to the capital of Zhou the next evening.
It was still in the new palace. Not long ago, a banquet was held here to entertain the merchant envoy. The scene at that time was still vivid in his mind, as if it had only happened yesterday. Tonight, he was here to receive the Shang Dynasty's Grand Tutor Chu and Young Teacher Jiang who had come to join the Zhou Dynasty. The Martial King was very happy and frequently chatted with the two of them with a smile. The dim yellow light shone on his face, making him look energetic. Rows of lights were lit on the walls of the palace, but they were much fewer than when they received the merchant envoys. First of all, there was no flower-like lighting. King Wu believed that it was more practical now. It was enough as long as the lights could illuminate the palace. He had even invited all the ministers and relatives to the banquet. It was not a night of brilliant lights, but it could be considered the night with the most people and the most lively atmosphere.
King Wu sat at the table of leaders and raised his glass to toast the two old men sitting at the guest table on the right side. Then, he turned to Lu Shang, Duke Dan of Zhou, Duke Shuang of Zhao, and the other ministers sitting around the center. Everyone raised their cups and drank to their hearts 'content. The Martial King broke the happy atmosphere and said,""It is still the honor of our Zhou Country for the two Grand Masters to come to join us. Today is really a joyous day. This banquet is specially set up for the two advisors to wash away the dust and calm down. Come, drink.”He raised his head and drank another cup, smiling at everyone.
Grand Preceptor Chu also drank a cup and then said to King Wu,""Seeing is better than hearing. The Martial King cherishes talents like this and can be called the Holy Lord. We were still fleeing ministers of the Shang Dynasty, like stray dogs, and were in fear and trepidation. However, we were treated so well here. We were really grateful. Tonight is unforgettable."
Lu Shang continued," If you two Grand Masters stay for a few more days, you'll be able to understand the people of our Zhou Country better. You'll also be able to understand King Wu's benevolent politics. It won't be too late to praise him then." Speaking of which, since King Wen of Zhou, he had attached great importance to the implementation of benevolent politics. Over time, he had won the support of the people inside and the hopes of the people outside. It has been thirty years since I was given such an important task by King Wen. Seeing the achievements of King Wen and King Wu with his own eyes, the Zhou Country prospered. It was really a blessing in life. The advisor was in Shang and had a high position. It was the glory of Zhou Country to abandon Shang and join Zhou. King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty had no way, destroyed etiquette and music, destroyed the ancestral temple, and the government was in chaos. Such a situation meant that the Great Shang Dynasty's hundreds of years of history were coming to an end. You Xilai did the right thing. As the saying goes, the east is not bright, the west is bright. Ever since King Wu succeeded to the throne, he had worked hard for the country and the people. He remembered King Wen's will day and night and worked hard to expand his achievements in morality and benevolence. He wanted to spread his integrity to the world. King Wu was wise and wise. You have come to the Zhou Country. Please do your best to assist King Wu and complete the cause of King Wen when he was alive. For this, I propose a toast to the two Grand Masters.”As he spoke, he raised his glass with his right hand and brushed his beard to the side with his left hand. He raised his head and drank it all in one gulp. Then, he saw that the other party had also finished it before he put down the glass and smiled cheerfully.
"Today, we are fortunate to have two Grand Masters joining us. Everyone should drink to their hearts 'content to celebrate. Come, sing and dance." King Wu shouted at the rear palace.
Immediately, the sound of drums rang out, coming closer and closer. The music that followed echoed rhythmically in the palace, and the lights swayed. Everyone was in a celebratory atmosphere. The musician came forward to report. The first performance was a welcome song to welcome the Grand Master.
The Martial King smiled and nodded. In the joyful and relaxed music, the host and guest respected each other and drank.
Grand Preceptor Chu and Young Master Jiang were immersed in this happy sound, forgetting their panic and the disaster of losing their family. The two of them happily enjoyed this sumptuous banquet and drank the mellow rice wine. The tiredness of the journey had long disappeared beyond the Nine Heavens Cloud.
When the song was over, the song started again. The performance this time was " Osmanthus Blossoms ", followed by " Happy Harvest ". Accompanied by the touching beat of the music, the palace maids danced happily, singing and dancing, bringing the heartstrings of the people present into the scene of a bumper harvest.
The two advisors watched and drank. He was engrossed in listening and watching. He was so excited that he could not wait for King Wu to toast him. The two of them drank one glass after another. When the song ended, the two of them were half drunk and half confused, their expressions dazed, as if they were in a harvest field.
Grand Preceptor Chu got up and said to King Wu,""I'm willing to perform a song to help celebrate."
The two of them sat in the middle of the palace hall and took the instruments that had just been brought from the Shang Dynasty from the attendants. They adjusted them. The Grand Preceptor said to King Wu and the others,"Let us play the song 'Welcome the Harvest.' This was something that he had hastily made up when he saw the scenery on the road just now.”As they spoke, the two of them began to play. The music was like flowing water, like weeping, like complaining, and it was pleasant to hear. It was even better than the song and dance just now. The two of them had traveled through two countries and were in two worlds. They felt the deepest feelings and were filled with emotion. They started singing in the car. Now, in the bright lights of the palace, the musical instruments were playing and the singing was even more joyful and touching.
As the ruler of a country, King Wu was worried about his country and people. He often celebrated and worried with his people. At this moment, he was brought into a bumper harvest by the music. He was fascinated by it. Just as everyone was listening attentively, the music stopped. The two of them looked around at the crowd. After pausing for a moment, King Wu came to his senses and clapped his hands in praise."It's indeed a good song. The two advisors could indeed be said to be divine hands of rites and music. Hahaha." He started laughing, and everyone else followed suit. Everyone laughed happily and contentedly.
"I didn't expect Grand Master to have such a mesmerizing song," Lu Shang said loudly. This is the first time I've heard such a subtle song. It's really refreshing.”
Grand Preceptor Chu and Young Master Jiang looked at each other. The Grand Preceptor said,"King Wu is the true Lord of the world." In these few days, the two of us have experienced two worlds. That was why he had such a deep feeling. King Zhou of Shang was cruel and tyrannical. King Wu of Zhou was benevolent and benevolent in governing the country, and he carried out justice on behalf of heaven. On the way from the west, we saw the people happy and peaceful. We were very moved. Seeing the situation in Zhou Country, he realized that the source of fortune in the world was in Zhou of the West. This was the pride of the world. The Martial King was the Holy Lord of the world, the favored son of the heavens, helping the people in the mortal world for joy. We just had the thought to create the song 'Heaven's Chosen One'. Now I present this song to King Wu to express our desire to complete the Zhou Dynasty. Please listen to 'Heaven's Chosen One'."
With that, the two of them began to play excitedly again. This song was grand and far-reaching. Its sound was as loud as thunder, delicate and intimate, and the sound was as clear as a spring. This music brought everyone to a broader world. A realm where the family was happy and the village was safe, the government was clear and courteous, and the country was strong and the world was peaceful. It was a peaceful world that people yearned for.
As he listened, Lu Shang began to ponder, feeling the weight of the burden on his shoulders. He might not have any hope of completing this great undertaking in this lifetime. At this age, he might go and follow King Wen if something happened to him. He had to lay down the foundation for the rest of his life and then encourage the Martial King to continue working hard to complete it.
The Martial King was also mesmerized by this piece of music. He thought that as a marquis of the Zhou Kingdom, he was only in charge of the Western Regions. His father's will had not been completed yet, so he could not fight for the peace depicted in the music.
Zhou Gongdan had long been intoxicated by this music. With his young and imaginative spirit, he silently described this peaceful world in his heart. The order of the Tao was different, everyone had their own respect, and everyone lived together. Each industry complemented each other. Ah, where did the peaceful world come from? He imagined this realm that seemed distant but could become reality.
Everyone stopped eating and drinking. They were all intoxicated and fascinated. The palace was filled with music. The song turned into a melodious light tone after a series of happy and intoxicated music, as if it had risen into the clouds and slowly disappeared. It only stopped when it was so soft that it could not be heard clearly.
Grand Preceptor Chu and Young Master Jiang were still sitting there, motionless. They could vaguely feel that their souls had drifted far away, leaving only their bodies, waiting quietly. Their expressions were calm and calm, filled with yearning.
It was so quiet in the palace that it made people fall asleep. It was as if the lights were frozen.
After an unknown period of time, Lu Shang was the first to wake up. He slammed the table and stood up. He blew his beard happily and shouted,"That's great, that's great. It's really the joy of the emperor.”
Lu Shang broke the silence, and everyone came back to their senses. They all praised the music and the peaceful world described in the song.
Amidst the praises, King Wu stood up and personally poured wine for the two advisors.
Grand Preceptor Chu and Young Master Jiang returned to their seats and bowed to King Wu.
The Grand Preceptor said,"This song was created by us. It is dedicated to King Wen and King Wu, who have made remarkable achievements. It is a model for future generations to praise."”
King Wu and the other two advisors finished the wine and refilled it before saying respectfully,""The two Grand Masters offered this song to encourage me, to spur me on. At the same time, it also reminded me that as a king, it is not enough for me to work hard for the people of the country. Thank you for your advice, Master. I will take the benevolence of the world as my duty.”
The Grand Preceptor said,"I hope this piece of music will spread all over the world and become a true piece of music." It will be passed down for thousands of generations."
King Wu continued,"The happiness of the world is still the blessing of the people of the world. I will do my best to benefit the people of the world and future generations.”
Then, Grand Preceptor Chu introduced the state of the Shang Capital to King Wu, Lu Shang, and the others. They all expressed their willingness to contribute to the Martial King's achievements. The Grand Preceptor said,"The Shang Dynasty's rites and music were broken, and King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty had lost the Way of Heaven. King Wu enforced justice on behalf of Heaven. But now that Shang City was empty, if they attacked Shang City, they would definitely win. Destroying King Zhou of Shang was to eliminate evil for the people of the world.”
"It is my duty to eradicate King Zhou of Shang and eliminate the evil for the people. However, this matter is of great importance.”The Martial King expressed his agreement with their suggestion and spoke his mind.
Young Master Jiang added,"We must get rid of the evil in time, or else there will be endless trouble." Now, taking advantage of the insatiable greed of King Zhou of the Shang Dynasty, taking credit for his achievements, and not being vigilant against the Zhou Dynasty, he could only send troops to attack Zhou and win. If we don't send troops now, when will we? We were originally ministers of the Shang Dynasty and had been serving the Lord for a long time. Today, we can't care about these court principles. We only ask King Wu to enforce justice on behalf of Heaven and eliminate the scourge of the human world. I beg King Wu to send troops as soon as possible. Although we are old, we are willing to go with the army and advise the merchants to submit to the Zhou Dynasty with our own responsibilities. Please reconsider, Martial King."
"Erm…" The Martial King's heart wavered. He hesitated and said," We'll make a decision after tomorrow's court meeting. You've worked hard. For the time being, you'll rest in another post station in the palace." In the future, I will choose a place that will satisfy you and let you live a peaceful life.”
"Thank you, Martial King, for taking me in. Thank you, Martial King, for your hospitality. If there's anything that needs us, we'll definitely do our best.”Grand Preceptor Chu expressed his intentions on behalf of the two of them.
A joyous and satisfying welcoming banquet was held in a harmonious and harmonious atmosphere. From then on, Grand Preceptor Chu and Young Master Jiang stayed in the Zhou Country and became the Grand Preceptor and Young Master of Rites and Music in the Martial King Palace and the Zhou Imperial Court.
The next morning, King Wu summoned Lu Shang, Duke Dan of Zhou, Uncle Guan, Duke Shuang of Zhao, Lei Zhen, and the other important ministers of the Zhou Kingdom to discuss matters in the new palace. Grand Preceptor Chu and Young Master Jiang also participated in the court discussion as guests of honor.
King Wu spoke first. He once again expressed his warm welcome to Grand Preceptor Chu and Young Preceptor Jiang Touzhou, and explained the importance of the ceremonial instruments they had brought. Following that, King Wu raised a topic based on the information he had on the Shang Dynasty. He believed that now was a good time to attack King Zhou of Shang. The Shang Dynasty had lost their music, and their ancestral instruments had been transferred to Zhou. The political darkness of the Shang Dynasty had reached a level where everyone was resentful. In addition, the current military strength of the Shang capital was empty, only about 100,000. If all the military strength of Zhou and the strength of the marquises of the Western Regions were mobilized, they could form a large and powerful army that could defeat King Zhou of Shang and win. King Wu analyzed the situation of both sides and felt that sending troops now could deal a devastating blow to King Zhou of Shang. In the past, wars were carried out after the autumn harvest so that the army could store food. Only when there were people in the country could they start a large-scale war. If they were to send troops during the autumn harvest, they could achieve unexpected results. They could throw the Shang Dynasty into chaos and catch King Zhou off guard. The Zhou Country's army had strict discipline. After these few years of training, they had already become an invincible army. Relying on this army, they could take advantage of the chaos in the Shang Dynasty to win this war.
King Wu then said in a clear voice,"Ever since I inherited my father's will, I worked day and night to strengthen the country, just waiting for the day of the Eastern Expedition." With so many favorable factors supporting us, we must not miss this opportunity. Everyone was looking forward to this opportunity. In order to be cautious, in case there are any serious consequences, all of you are here to express your opinions before making the final decision.”
King Wu sat on a stool in the middle. Behind him was a large table. On the table was a memorial tablet of King Wen. On both sides of the tablet were two oil lamps. The flickering red lamps were particularly eye-catching. In order to emphasize that he was inheriting King Wen's will, King Wu would always arrange King Wen's memorial tablet first to urge and encourage him. Everyone looked at King Wu, and of course, they also clearly saw King Wen's memorial tablet. They could not help but feel a sense of reverence in their hearts. The Martial King looked around excitedly.
Lei Zhen couldn't help but be excited. As soon as the Martial King finished speaking, he immediately jumped up from his seat and walked to the center of the room, shouting,""I agree with big brother's suggestion. Send troops to the east. We are all ready. They would immediately set off after Big Brother and Father Shang gave the order. Didn't you mean it?”He looked around at the crowd, hoping to get some supporters.
Only Grand Preceptor Chu and Young Master Jiang clapped in response. The others were still silent, obviously observing the situation.
Not getting a warm response, Ray Zhen shouted again,"Tell me, can't we send out our troops at this opportunity?”Seeing that his suggestion still did not get the support of others, he felt strange and said,"Why aren't you saying anything?" He returned to his seat sullenly and sat down so heavily that his stool rattled, but fortunately it was made of tree bags, or it had been crushed.
Everyone knew that the discussion of sending troops was a matter of utmost importance to the country. They had to be cautious and think twice before speaking. In the quiet moments, everyone's thoughts were moving and thinking fiercely. Those who thought that they could send troops were already considering how to attack and make contributions, while those who thought that they could delay sending troops were considering the reasons for perfecting their arguments. Everyone stared at each other as if they were trying to guess each other's thoughts and were unwilling to reveal their intentions first.
Duke of Zhou raised an objection. He pondered and said,"The chariots of the Zhou army have not yet been equipped with the carriage and the horizontal knife." If we send out troops, it will affect our army's full combat strength. It was far from enough to rely solely on the chariots of the Tiger Guards. In addition, this year was another good harvest year. If the male laborers were transferred to fight, the remaining women, elderly, and children would not be able to complete the harvesting work in time. The crops would ripen and fall to the ground to rot. The entire country would waste a lot of food, and with the losses of the vassal states, the amount would be even greater. I don't think we should consider sending troops for the time being.”
"What little brother Wang said is also a problem. This question was only about measuring the gains and losses of food. If they could take the opportunity to defeat King Zhou of Shang and expand Zhou's influence to the vast territory of Shang Yuan, the benefits they would obtain would be much greater than the loss of food. The benefits outweigh the losses. It's still worth it." King Wu calmly refuted Zhou Gongdan's argument.
Zhou Gongdan glanced at King Wu and continued,""If we can't defeat King Zhou of Shang in a short period of time, the consequences will be unimaginable. If they defeated King Zhou of Shang, the area would expand several times, and they would have to free up manpower to occupy it. At that time, the marquis troops would be outside, and they would have to use the country's wealth to support their expenses. If a season's grain was wasted here, they would have to pay a portion of the loss. I think defeating King Zhou of Shang is only a temporary victory, and it will be even more difficult to maintain this victory. At that time, all his energy would be focused on this, so he would not have ignored these problems in the rear. Please reconsider, Big Brother."
Uncle Guan had learned his lesson from the previous discussion. At first, he remained silent, considering how to express his support for King Wu's proposal to send troops. After hearing Zhou Gongdan's analysis, he said,"We are fighting for victory. We can only consider the problems after victory. It was too early to think about it now, and it was easy to create a mentality of being afraid of the wolf in front and the tiger behind. Big Brother's analysis was right. Sending troops in time and seizing the opportunity to defeat King Zhou was the top priority. If he missed this opportunity, he might not have such a good opportunity in the future. When the Shang army conquers Huai Yi and returns to Shangdu, even if the Shang Dynasty is corrupt and the government is dark, with such a powerful army, it will be difficult for us to win. At that time, he would never be able to defeat King Zhou of Shang. Was he going to lose the fertile land of the Shang Dynasty? Big brother, what do you think?" He turned his head to look at the Martial King, his eyes full of desire.
"I think the time has come to send troops to the east.”King Wu had already considered striking first before the court meeting. Control this court meeting and strive to send troops to the east to complete father's career as soon as possible. When he heard Uncle Guan say this, he immediately agreed. He said to everyone,"However, we still have to listen to Father Shang's opinion.”
Every time there was a court meeting, the ministers would participate. However, these ministers were usually people who carried out orders and rarely played a decisive role in the court meeting. Because this was a discussion of the military, even San Yisheng was unwilling to intervene to express his opinion. He knew that he was old and could not keep up with these young people, so he did not express his opinion and let the young people do it themselves. He was happy to have his mind at ease. Moreover, these were questions that were considered laymen to him. He could rest assured that the state preceptor, Lu Shang, was already worrying about them. As an old official of King Wen, he had to attend important court meetings. The main purpose of his visit was to hear about the progress of King Wen's career.
As for Lu Shang, as the Imperial Advisor, he had to seriously consider all the political issues and help make the right decisions. From King Wen to King Wu, it had been like this for more than thirty years. Today was no exception. When he saw that the Martial King had repeatedly suggested sending troops, he knew that the Martial King had made a rash mistake. As the ruler of a country, a Martial King shouldered a heavy responsibility, so it was inevitable that he would be anxious for success. Lu Shang was thinking of a reason to remind the Martial King that he could not rush to send troops when he heard the Martial King mention him. He couldn't help but mutter," I…" He had been watching the Martial King brothers 'dispute from the side, and now he had no choice but to express his opinion. He said slowly,"I can't wait to send troops to the east. This is your father's lifelong wish, the moment he has worked hard for. But this matter was of great importance. The blood, sweat, and tears of two generations and the hard work of the entire country were all judged by this decision. I don't think we can send troops to the east yet.”At this point, he stopped and looked at the Martial King seriously.
King Wu looked at Lu Shang, who was sitting peacefully on his left, in surprise. He did not expect that his respected father Shang would not agree with his suggestion and support him to complete his father's will in front of such a good opportunity. He couldn't help but shout,"Father Shang, you…"”
Lu Shang raised his hand, signaling King Wu not to interrupt him. He continued to speak in a steady tone," What King Wu, Duke Dan of Zhou, and Uncle Guan said just now is correct, but they are not comprehensive enough. They haven't grasped the core of the problem and its essential points.”When everyone heard Lu Shang's words, they all paid close attention to him. "Today's government is still governed by the family. Just like your Zhou Country, the main leaders of the government are all members of your Ji family. It was the same in the Shang Dynasty. The Shang Dynasty was currently in a state of political chaos, and the rites and music had collapsed. However, the clan, which was the pillar of the government, was still firmly maintained. Even though we have justice in our hands and are righteously sending troops to the east under the banner of enforcing justice on behalf of the heavens. In the face of an invasion from the outside world, the clan will unite to fight to the death, which will cause great difficulties for us to win. If we're not careful, we might be the ones who lose the army and the country. National politics was complicated, especially when both sides were hostile. Many factors had to be considered. Therefore, I advise King Wu and all of you to calm down and think calmly at this critical moment. Don't be in a hurry to send troops to the east. On this point, Zhou Gongdan was right. He had to consider the consumption of property and the difficulty of maintaining the results after the war. Martial King, please think twice before you act.”Lu Shang pursed his lips and looked at everyone's expressions.
Everyone listened quietly, thinking about Lu Shang's words and weighing their weight in their hearts.
King Wu spoke again,"The decisive battle between Zhou and Shang is a matter of time. Our country has gone through a long period of preparation to reach its current state. The year before last, the Mengjin army had proved that our army was a strong force. All the marquises supported us and jointly attacked Shang Zhou. Many factors would occasionally appear in a war, and no one could control them. The choice of timing before the battle was all in the hands of the general. Taking advantage of the fact that the main force of the Shang army was outside, they would definitely be able to win. In addition, Taishi fault, Shaoshi Jiang came to our country, ritual and music tradition into our country. Therefore, he couldn't miss this opportunity.”
"This is a good opportunity. However, this was not the best time for a decisive battle.”Lu Shang interjected.
"Then what's the best time?" The Martial King couldn't help but ask in a rough voice. Why was Father Shang, whom he had always respected, going against him today? He thought that Shang father might be old and muddle-headed, just like King Zhou of Shang. The Martial King's face revealed a hint of dissatisfaction as he glared at Lu Shang.
"Not yet. It would appear in the future. No one could be sure of the future. They could only predict it.”Lu Shang said excitedly. He guessed that King Wu was getting impatient and was beginning to show impatience, eager to make contributions. He thought that he had to use sufficient reasons to dissuade the Martial King, so he said,""We can fight for opportunities in the future. For example, he could continue to find opportunities to sow discord among the Shang clan. When the internal division weakened, King Zhou of Shang became more corrupt, and the people's hearts boiled, that would be the best time.”
Uncle Guan said discontentedly,"When the time comes, just as I said, the Shang army will return to the capital. I'm afraid that we will find it difficult to deal with this large and powerful army. A good opportunity becomes a difficult opportunity."
Lü Shang said calmly," According to the current situation, King Zhou of Shang is even more depraved, and Fei Zhong is even more powerful. I reckon that they will soon have internal strife, and their clan members will split up and disperse. It will not be until this winter, or at least next year. The main force of the expedition to Huaiyi will not be able to achieve complete victory during this period. The Shang army had been on an expedition for several years and had become exhausted. The people of Huaiyi were scattered again. They were in the dark. The more they fought, the stronger they became. It was difficult for the Shang army to look around for reinforcements. The Shang Dynasty would soon send reinforcements. Therefore, there were many good opportunities in the temple. "In addition, we can't ignore the fact that the people are the foundation of the country. The people of Shang hated King Zhou, but they were scattered and had not formed a strong tide or a rebellious force that would cause a crisis for the Shang Dynasty. Therefore, sending troops to the east at this time was still a matter of deep thought. To us, there are many opportunities. As long as we can grasp the development of the situation and observe what is about to happen, we will be able to seize better opportunities.”
"Father Shang, your analysis makes sense. However, I believe that we will definitely win this expedition. We can't wait any longer." King Wu admitted that Lu Shang's words were reasonable and far-sighted. He still made the last effort to persist in his opinion of sending troops, hoping that Lu Shang would change his mind and support him.
"We must not send troops." Lu Shang's tone was firm as he refuted the Martial King's words.
King Wu stood up and said loudly,"I am the ruler of a country. You have the right to make this decision."
"You." Lu Shang was also angry. "As the Imperial Advisor, I have the right to dissuade the unfavorable imperial order.”
King Wu did not expect Shang Fu to be so adamant in opposing the dispatch of troops. He was so angry that he thought to himself," I am the ruler of a country. I still have the right to dismiss you from your position as the state preceptor."”However, he had grown up under Father Shang's guidance for the past few decades. He had long developed the habit of consulting Father Shang on everything and respecting Father Shang's decisions. Although he was angry, he still suppressed the words that were about to come out of his mouth. His lips trembled a few times, and the excitement on his face was obvious. He and Lu Shang were in a stalemate.
Seeing that the two of them were about to clash with each other with stern faces. Everyone was so shocked that they listened in silence and watched the development of the situation, worried that there would be serious consequences.
Lu Shang sat down first. He understood the Martial King's temperament the best. He could guess what the Martial King was thinking at the moment. He thought that if the Martial King used the dignity of a king to suppress him, the situation might fall into a difficult situation. Forcefully sending troops would lead to very serious consequences if the conditions were not ripe. He thought that he should restrain himself and think of a way to convince the Martial King as well as the other clan relatives. After a pause, she said in a gentle tone,"You are the ruler of a country. In the end, it is up to you to decide. However, your decision is related to the future fate of the country. Although it was only a decision for one operation, the decision for this operation was based on 30 years of hard work and the fate of the entire country as the price. Because of the importance of this matter, I can't not fulfill my duties as the state preceptor.”He stroked his beard with trembling hands and forced himself to calm down. After a moment, he said slowly,"Your father's 30 years of hard work will be wasted in this instant. I can't bear to see this happen. At this critical moment, everyone had to remain calm, keep a clear head, and consider the problem rationally. Or the consequences will be unimaginable." After a pause, Lu Shang continued,"You can't make important decisions that affect the survival of the country based on your own feelings.”
Zhou Gongdan saw that the two of them were in a deadlock, so he first advised King Wu,"Big brother, Shang father helped father build the empire and also assisted us. What he said is reasonable, we have to consider carefully. Now, they had to be united internally and have the same thoughts in order to have the strength to face the outside world. Big brother, think about it."
Zhou Gongdan's words reminded King Wu. He remembered that Father Shang was an old hero of his father and also his father-in-law, so he had to be polite. He remembered that Lü Shang had analyzed the internal situation of the Shang Dynasty and said the same thing. Now, in order to decide on the issue of sending troops, internal disputes had started, and the hearts of the people had dispersed before the troops were sent. If everyone's hearts couldn't come together, there was no way they could win. He knew what Father Shang meant. He had to wait for the Shang clan to split up before sending troops to the east. Only then would he have an 80% chance of victory. He sat down and closed his mouth, trying hard to control himself.
The tense atmosphere also aroused San Yisheng's attention. He pondered and raised his weak hand to persuade him, but he heard Lu Shang say again,"After decades of preparation and the hard work of two generations, it has only developed to such a situation where the East and the West are evenly matched. At the moment, both sides were not sure who could defeat the other. War was the top priority of a country, and it was related to the survival of the country. In order to launch a war that they were confident of winning, they had to prepare sufficient material resources and strong manpower to train a powerful army. They had to wait for the right time to start. Although I am the Imperial Advisor of the Zhou Country now, I will retire to the mountains and forests after completing King Wen's career. After a few days of leisure, I will write books and pass them on to future generations. My true wish is not to covet the merits of this life, but to leave my name for generations to come. It is the duty of young heirs like you to promote benevolent politics. Oh, King Wu, I've repeatedly advised you to stop sending troops to the east. I'm not giving up on the eastern expedition, but rather, I'm trying to be more confident before sending troops to the east. This was all for the sake of the long-term interests of the overall situation.”
When Lu Shang said this, San Yisheng continued,"Well said, that makes sense, that makes sense. When King Wen was still alive, he would definitely listen to your opinion.”He looked at the Martial King and spoke slowly.
The Martial King had already calmed down after hearing Lu Shang's words. When he heard San Yisheng's words, he began to feel guilty for his earlier anger. With an awkward expression, he tried his best to speak to Lu Shang in a calm tone,"Father Shang, please forgive me. I was angered just now and offended you.”He turned around and said to everyone," Father Shang's analysis is still thorough and comprehensive. Let's listen to him and wait for the next opportunity." In that case, I would like to ask Father Shang to guide me on how to work hard in the next stage.”
When Lu Shang saw that the Martial King had calmed down, he knew that it was caused by his emotions. At this critical moment, it was easy for him to be impatient for quick success and instant benefits, so he didn't bother about it. It was the quality of a Martial King to know his mistakes and correct them. He smiled and said,"We must be united internally so that we can work together for the cause." The next step of the plan was to do a good autumn harvest. Once the autumn harvest was over, they would hurry up with the military training and send people to the various marquises to supervise them so that they could also hurry up with this work. In addition, didn't Hou Ban bring a message to the east to prepare the annual tribute this winter? We can take the ten tiger skins that Lei Zhen obtained from patrolling the border and choose some horses to send along. He told Hou Ban to work harder and find an opportunity to sow discord among the Shang clan.”As he spoke, Lu Shang glanced at Lei Zhen." Lei Zhen did a great deed this time. He helped us defeat King Zhou of Shang.”
"It's me." When Lei Zhen heard Lu Shang mention him, he said,"Father Shang, I don't want this merit. What I want is to crush King Zhou of Shang, overthrow the tyranny of Shang Dynasty, and strengthen the power of Zhou Country.”
"Good, you have ambition." Lu Shang said to King Wu,"Let's settle this matter today." The autumn harvest was more important now. Please go back and prepare the equipment.”
"Alright, let's do this." The Martial King's tone was relaxed. He said to Lu Shang,"Father Shang is old. It's important to take care of your health."”The Martial King's tone was filled with concern and sincerity, but there was also a deeper meaning to his words.
"Thank you for your concern, Martial King. This old man's bones will wait for the cause of King Wen to be completed in your hands before I rest in peace.”Lu Shang replied with a smile. He understood the meaning behind the Martial King's words.
After a dispute, the state affairs were decided. Grand Preceptor Chu and Young Master Jiang witnessed the quarrel between King Wu of Zhou and Lu Shang. They were worried for Lu Shang at first, but the result was unexpectedly peaceful and harmonious. They were filled with emotions and secretly praised him. The two of them followed the crowd out of the palace gate and smiled at each other in front of the palace gate. In this smile, their emotions had already been integrated. It was right to come to Zhou. In this life, they had finally done a good thing for the people of the world and the human society. They brought ritual and music instruments to Zhou.
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