Chapter 147: Chao Ge's Rumors Spread Like Wildfire

  When Emperor Xin heard Ta Ji's words, he immediately ordered someone to take down the wooden sword and burn it. When the wooden sword was destroyed, Yun Zhongzi, as the master of the wooden sword, naturally felt a sense of loss and sighed: "Heavenly punishment can be survived, but self-inflicted punishment cannot." Then he continued his journey and returned to his own Daoist temple.

  From then on, King Zhou returned to his old ways of not attending court early in the morning. Some loyal and virtuous officials of the great merchants thought about advising King Zhou, but it had no effect. People involuntarily placed some blame on Daji. From this time on, Daji's name began to spread among the people.

  These trivial matters between the songs, although Emperor Xin did not attend the early court, it does not mean that he is not concerned about his own country. There are some eunuchs who specialize in collecting intelligence for him. At this time, the intelligence about Daji naturally reached Emperor Xin's ears, including some unfavorable rumors about himself and Daji, especially Daji.

  Emperor Xin indulged in Daji excessively and would not allow anyone to use rumors to attack her. After Emperor Xin ordered a thorough investigation, it was finally discovered that the rumor originated from the residence of Grand Minister Du Yuanzhi.

  Originally, Du Yuanzhi was very loyal to the king and hoped that his majesty would be wise and powerful. However, he did not expect that after meeting Daji, the king began to neglect state affairs and indulge in lust. This made Du Yuanzhi dissatisfied with Daji.

  However, Du Yuancheng understood his duty as a subject and did not speak out about it, but he didn't expect that the other day when he was feeling depressed, he drank a few more cups of wine and vented his dissatisfaction in his own home, only to be spread by the busybody house servant.

  King Zhou did not know the details, and at that time, one of them was Du Yuanzhi's dissatisfaction with himself, so he wanted to spread rumors to slander him. After King Zhou told Tairen about it, he asked Tairen how to deal with Du Yuanzhi and others.

  Daji was still shaken by the affair of Yun Zhongzi, and now hearing Du Yuanzhi spreading rumors and slandering her and Emperor Xin, she became furious. Yun Zhongzi is a saint under Heaven's gate, with profound magical powers that I cannot match; you are just an ordinary mortal, how dare you be so disrespectful?

  Daji said: "Your Majesty, for this kind of evil talk that deceives the masses, it is reasonable to behead them as a warning to others." Emperor Xin had been extremely indulgent towards Daji during this period, and now he also did not think twice about it, and immediately issued an imperial decree, saying: "Behead Du Yuan and display his head to the public, to warn against evil talk!"

  Du Yuanzhi's colleagues in the same dynasty as officials naturally understood a few points. After Emperor Xinzong ordered Du Yuanzhi to be beheaded, it can be said that he provoked a hornet's nest. Many high-ranking officials rushed to persuade and plead with Emperor Xinzong.

  One of them was Mei Bo, a good friend of Du Yuanzhi. After inquiring about his friend's arrest, he couldn't help but feel indignant. Mei Bo was originally a straightforward person, and now hearing that the emperor not only treated state affairs as child's play, asking a woman for advice, but also executed high-ranking officials without reason, he became so angry that his three corpses burst out of his body and smoke emerged from his seven orifices. He immediately went to the palace to see the emperor.

  This Mei Bo Ben was originally straightforward, and now he is in a fit of anger, entering the Shou Xian Palace, seeing Emperor Xin, and loudly presenting his memorial: "I heard that King Yao ruled the world, responding to heaven and following the people; listening to words from civil officials, taking plans from military generals, one day and one morning, discussing ways to bring peace to the people and govern the country; removing flattery and keeping a distance from lust, together enjoying great peace.

  Your Majesty has not held court for half a year, indulging in the depths of the palace, feasting every morning and delighting every night, ignoring state affairs and refusing to accept remonstrances. Du Yuanzhi is a loyal and good official of the governing era. If Your Majesty executes Du Yuanzhi and dismisses the great ministers of the previous king, listening to the words of the concubine, it will harm the pillars of the state. I wish for my lord to spare Du Yuanzhi's life, so that the civil and military officials can look up to the great virtue of the sagely ruler."

  Di Xin was furious when he heard the words, and shouted: "Mei Bo and Du Yuanlian formed a clique, privately breaking into the inner court, not distinguishing between inside and outside. They should be beheaded together with Du Yuanlian! Considering that Mei Bo has worked hard for the country's affairs for half his life, I will spare his death penalty, strip him of his position as Supreme Minister, and never reuse him!"

  "Alas, the foolish ruler listens to the words of Daji and loses the righteousness between ruler and minister! Now that Du Yuan is beheaded, it's not just one person being beheaded, but actually the entire nation is being beheaded! As for dismissing me from my position, what's there to say? It's just that I couldn't bear to see the foundation of the Shang dynasty, which has lasted for hundreds of years, destroyed by a foolish ruler! Now that the Grand Preceptor is on a northern expedition, the government is in disarray and everything is chaotic. The foolish ruler listens to the words of treacherous ministers, is deceived left and right, and indulges in debauchery with Daji in the deep palace day and night. Seeing the world in chaos, I have no face to meet the former emperor even after death!"

  Mei Bo did not know that he had just spoken to his own satisfaction, but instead brought the entire capital into a state of turmoil. Emperor Xin heard Mei Bo's disrespect towards him and immediately became enraged, just about to order the guards to take him down and kill him, when he heard Ta Ji say from beside him: "Your Majesty, if you let this person die like this, wouldn't that be letting him off easy? I, your subject, know of a way to make him unable to live or die, and it can also be used to intimidate the petty officials."

  "Ah, indeed there is such a method," said Di Xin, "Beautiful one, quickly tell me."

  Daji said: "It can be made of red copper, about two zhang high and eight feet in diameter. The top, middle and bottom use three fire doors, like a copper pillar. Inside, charcoal is burned to make it red hot. Those who speak evil, deceive the people, insult their lord, disrespect the law, and recklessly create memorials, as well as all kinds of lawbreakers, are stripped of their clothes, bound with iron chains to the copper pillar, and their limbs and bones are scorched by fire. In just a moment, they turn into smoke and disappear, leaving nothing but ashes. This punishment is called 'cannon scorching'." Na Mei Bo heard this from below and loudly cursed Daji's cruelty.

  Na Dezhen was overjoyed and said, "This method is wonderful, the beauty is indeed clever." He immediately ordered someone to pass on the order to behead Du Yuancheng and display his head to the public, and also had Mei Bo arrested and imprisoned, waiting for the cannon to be forged.

  Three days later, the cannon was ready. Emperor Xinzong rarely attended the morning court again, but at this time, the ministers in the great hall were puzzled about the use of the twelve bronze pillars outside the temple. Emperor Xinzong did not let the ministers wait and immediately dispelled their doubts.

  Only then did Emperor Xin order Mei Bo to be brought up, and Mei Bo saw the copper pillars standing outside the grand hall, red and hot, and could feel the heat from a distance. He didn't understand that this was what Daji had said about being roasted alive. At this point, he was so frightened that his legs were trembling.

  "Blockhead! It's not that Mei Bo's death is regrettable, but I'm a high-ranking official, an old minister of three dynasties. What crime have I committed today to deserve such cruel punishment? It's just pitiful that the world founded by Cheng Tang will perish at your hands, you blockhead! I don't know how you'll be able to face your ancestors in the future!"

  Emperor Xin was enraged when he heard the words, and ordered someone to take off Mei Bo's clothes, and then use chains to bind his hands and feet, and drag him to the copper pillar. In an instant, Mei Bo was branded on the nine halls, his skin and bones were scorched, and the smell was unbearable. Mei Bo wailed and cried out in a mournful voice, and those who heard it could not help but shed tears. Not long after, he let out a loud cry and died, and even his corpse turned to ashes in an instant. Alas, a loyal minister of the Shang Dynasty spent his whole life working hard for the great cause of Yin and Shang, only to end up with no bones left, a tragic fate.

  Mei Bo's downfall frightened many officials, and many officials were also disheartened. The next day, Shang Rong and other officials asked Emperor Xinzhi to resign. Emperor Xinzhi was originally annoyed with Shang Rong, but he understood the importance of unity and had not taken action. He gladly agreed when Shang Rong voluntarily offered his resignation.