The reign of the Shang Emperor (Emperor Xin) became increasingly dull and brutal. He listened to the woman's words, neglected the sacrifices of his ancestors, and abandoned the government, which led to the chaos of the administration of the country and the suffering of the people. The actions of the Shang king caused widespread dissatisfaction among the princes and the people. Not only that, but the king of Shang also killed his loyal minister Bigan and imprisoned Jizi, which further intensified social contradictions and turned people's hearts against him.
At this time, the Zhou people in the northwest became more and more powerful. The Zhou were an ancient tribe that excelled in agriculture. After Ji Li succeeded to the throne, many rebel Shang military tribes were conquered, and the Shang king Wen Ding was jealous and happy, while naming him Xibo and ruling the western region, and then imprisoned him and died in the Shang capital.
Ji Li's son Ji Chang succeeded to the throne, the famous King Wen of Zhou in history. After succeeding to the throne, King Wen was determined to destroy Shang and avenge his father. However, he learned from his father and not only conquered the Jundi tribe, but also reached, mediated, and won more hearts and minds. As a result, more and more rebels returned to the Zhou dynasty.
King Wen also courteous and virtuous corporal, respecting the old and loving the young, in stark contrast to Shang, forming a situation of "two out of three in the world". In order to paralyze the king of Zhou, King Wen was ostensibly very deferential to the king of Zhou, so that the king of Zhou lost his vigilance against Zhou and used the main force of the Shang army in the battle of Dongyi. In this way, a very favorable situation was created for his son Ji Fa (King Wu) to destroy the Shang and laid the foundation for the destruction of the Shang. Therefore, people often say: "King Wen wins the hearts of the people with benevolent government, and King Wu wins the world with martial arts." ”
King Wen reigned for 50 years, and after moving the capital from Zhou Yuan to Yufeng (now northwest of Chang'an, Shaanxi), he died of illness the following year, and Ji Fa succeeded him as King Wu. In the ninth year of his ascension, he led his troops to Mengjin (present-day Mengjin, Henan) for a tentative military campaign. King Wu thought that the time was not yet ripe and led his troops back.
Two years later, the king of Su acted even more perversely, and everyone rebelled and left. King Wu issued a call to the princes of all parts of the country to discuss Zhou, and then led 300 military chariots, 3000 tiger squads (death squads) and 450,000 soldiers came to Mengjin to join the division. Only then did King Wu think that the time was ripe, and waved his army across the Hebei River to the southern suburbs of Muye in Chaoge.
The king hastily mobilized 70,000 men (170,000 or even 700,000) and put slaves in the first line. Although the number of the Zhou army was not as large as that of the Shang army, the formation was rigorous, the banner was clear, the war drums were sounding in unison, and the morale was high. As soon as the two armies came into contact, the slaves of the front team of the merchant army were "former disciples" and attacked the king of Zhou together with the Zhou army. So the Shang army was defeated, and the Zhou army went straight to Gecheng.
In 1046 B.C., the king of Zhou ascended Lutai ** and died, the Shang Dynasty collapsed, and the Zhou Dynasty was established. The Shang Dynasty lasted from the opening of the Tang Dynasty to the fall of the Zhou Dynasty, with 31 kings in successive dynasties, from the 17th century BC to the 11th century BC, about 600 years.