In the past, the lord of the Shang Dynasty, King Yin, had imprisoned King Wen of Zhou out of suspicion and fear, but later, after careful consideration, he chose to release King Wen. After King Wen returned to Zhoudi, he began to apply the great principles in the "Zhou Yi" to national governance and people's livelihood and well-being. In just a few years, the strength of the Zhou State was as high as the sky, occupying two-thirds of the world, attracting many vassal states to regard King Wen of Zhou as the co-master.
Whenever faced with a crisis or dispute, the vassal states were always willing to seek the assistance of King Wen. When this news reached the ears of King Zhou, he immediately felt deep remorse, although he had the opportunity to kill King Wen of Zhou, but now it made King Wen of Zhou's power stronger and stronger. Fear made him decide to cheer up, and ordered his ministers to offer advice to preserve the Shang dynasty's foundation and successfully eliminate the threat of King Wen of Zhou. Among them, a traitorous minister suggested to the killing of chickens and eggs: "The king should go to Xishan with the richest tribute to worship heaven and earth, and pray that the gods of heaven and earth will protect the Shang Dynasty, so as to destroy the Zhou state in the west." ”
Listening to the slander, the king ordered the expropriation of tens of thousands of people, began to build a majestic sacrificial platform, and collected pure color three animals (i.e., pigs, sheep, and cattle) from all over the country, and transported them to Jingshi, where they were screened by the sacrificial **. ** people at all levels also took advantage of this opportunity to increase the collection of onerous taxes, and scavenged the people's fat and ointment, which made the people of the world complain. Three months before the festival, the king decreed that every family must make new clothes to welcome the festival in order to show their reverence for the gods on the day of the sacrifice.
Although he believed that the sacrifice of heaven and earth through high-quality sacrifices and grand gifts would surely win the favor of the gods. However, on the eve of the sacrifice, he did not stop enjoying himself, and still indulged in lust with Daji and others, with delicious wine and food, and he really regretted it. It was not until the day of the sacrifice that he wore a jade robe made of gold thread and hung all kinds of precious jewels around his waist to the altar. Relying on his power, the king wantonly killed loyal ministers, and was extremely debaucherous, but he tried to consolidate his imperial position with the help of Xishan sacrifices, which is really laughable.
If a person fails to improve his own morality, no matter how devout he is to worship the gods, it is useless. And if a generation of overlords like King Su can't truly practice benevolence and try to gain merit through sacrifices, it is simply a mockery.
Anecdotes February** Dynamic Incentive Program