Chapter 97: Zhaixing Pavilion: King Zhou Self-Immolates

诗曰： 纣王暴虐害黔黎，国事纷纷日夜迷。良饮不知民血尽，荒淫那顾鬼神凄。 虿盆宫女真残贼，焚炙忠良类虎鲵。报应昭昭须不爽，旗悬太白古今题。

The poem says: King Zhou was cruel and tyrannical, harming the common people; the affairs of the state were in chaos day and night. He drank freely without knowing that the blood of the people had been drained dry; in his debauchery, he paid no heed to the sorrow of gods and spirits. The palace women at Zhoupen were truly cruel and wicked, burning and roasting loyal men as if they were toads and newts. The retribution was clear and without fail; the flag of Tai Bai has been raised, a subject from ancient times to this day.

话说杨戬正赶雉鸡精，见前面黄旛隐隐，宝盖飘扬，有数对女童分于左右，当中一位娘娘，跨青鸾而来，乃是女娲娘娘驾至。怎见得，有诗为证： 一天瑞彩紫霞浮，香霭氤氲拥凤軥。展翅鸾凰皆雅驯，飘颻童女自优游。 旛幢缭绕迎华盖，璎珞飞扬罩冕旒。止为昌期逢泰运，故教仙圣至中州。

It is said that Yang Jian was just pursuing the pheasant spirit when he saw ahead a faint yellow banner and a jeweled canopy fluttering. On either side were several pairs of young girls, while in the center rode a goddess astride an azure 鸾 (qīngluán), who turned out to be Niwa Nai Nai arriving in person. How can this be described? A poem serves as evidence: Rainbow hues and purple clouds floated in the sky, fragrant mists swirling around a phoenix carriage. Spread wings of 鸾凰 (luánhuáng) were all graceful and tamed, while the fluttering young girls strolled leisurely. Banners and standards wove around to greet the ornate canopy, while jingling ornaments flew upward, covering the crown. It was only because of a flourishing era and auspicious fortune that the sages and immortals came to Zhongzhou.

话说女娲娘娘跨青鸾而来，阻住三个妖怪之路。三妖不敢前进，按落妖光，俯伏在地，口称：“娘娘圣驾降临，小畜有失回避，望娘娘恕罪。小畜今被杨戬等追赶甚迫，求娘娘救命。”女娲娘娘听罢，分付碧云童儿：“将缚妖索把这三个业障锁了，交与杨戬，解往周营，与子牙发落。”童儿领命，将三妖缚定。三妖泣而告曰：“启娘娘得知：昔日是娘娘用招妖旛招小妖去朝歌，潜入宫禁，迷惑纣王，使他不行正道，断送他的天下。小畜奉命，百事逢迎，去其左右，令彼将天下断送。今已垂亡，正欲覆娘娘钧旨，不期被杨戬等追袭，路遇娘娘圣驾，尚望娘娘救护，娘娘反将小畜缚去，见姜子牙发落，不是娘娘‘出乎反乎’了？望娘娘上裁！”女娲娘娘曰：“吾使你断送殷受天下，原是合上天气数；岂意你无端造业，残贼生灵，屠毒忠烈，惨恶异常，大拂上天好生之仁。今日你罪恶贯盈，理宜正法。”三妖俯伏，不敢声言。只见杨戬同雷震子、韦护正望前追赶三妖，杨戬望见祥光，忙对雷震子、韦护曰：“此位是女娲娘娘大驾降临，快上前参谒。”雷震子听罢，三人向前，倒身下拜。杨戬等曰：“弟子不知圣驾降临，有失迎迓，望娘娘恕罪。”女娲娘娘曰：“杨戬，我与你将此三妖拿在此间，你可带往行营，与姜子牙正法施行。今日周室重兴，又是太平天下也。你三人去罢。”杨戬等感谢娘娘，叩首而退，将妖解往周营。后人有诗叹之： 三妖造恶万民殃，断送殷商至丧亡。今日难逃天鉴报，轩辕巢穴枉思量。

It is said that Niwa Nai Nai, riding an azure 鸾 (luán), arrived and blocked the path of the three demons. The three demons dared not advance further, so they suppressed their demonic radiance and prostrated themselves on the ground, saying: "Your Majesty's holy presence has descended; we, your lowly creatures, failed to avoid you in time. We beg Your Majesty's forgiveness." We are now being pursued most urgently by Yang Jian and others; we implore Your Majesty to save our lives." After hearing this, Niwa Nai Nai instructed Biyun Tonger: "Use the demon-binding rope to bind these three wicked beings and hand them over to Yang Jian. Take them to Zhou's camp and deliver them to Ziya for judgment." The young girl accepted the order and bound the three demons securely. The three demons wept and pleaded: "Your Majesty, please know this: in the past it was Your Majesty who used the demon-summoning banner to summon us lowly demons to Chaoguo. We secretly entered the palace, deluded King Zhou, caused him not to follow the righteous path, and thus led to his losing his kingdom." We carried out Your Majesty's command, always fawning on him in all matters. We served at his side and caused him to lose the kingdom. Now the kingdom is on the verge of collapse, and we were just about to report back to Your Majesty regarding your decree when unexpectedly we were pursued by Yang Jian. We encountered Your Majesty's holy presence along the way and still hoped for Your Majesty's protection. Yet instead, Your Majesty has bound us and sent us to be judged by Jiang Ziya—does this not mean that Your Majesty is 'acting contrary to yourself'?" We beg for Your Majesty's high judgment!" Niwa Nai Nai said: "I sent you to bring about the downfall of Yin Shou's kingdom, which was originally in accordance with Heaven's will and destiny; I did not expect that you would recklessly create karma, cruelly harm the people, and slaughter loyal and righteous men with extreme cruelty, which greatly violates Heaven's benevolent wish to preserve life. Today your sins have reached their peak; it is only right that you be punished according to the law." The three demons prostrated themselves and dared not utter a word. Just then, Yang Jian, together with Leizhenzi and Wei Hu, was rushing forward to pursue the three demons. Seeing the auspicious light, Yang Jian hurriedly said to Leizhenzi and Wei Fu: "This is none other than Lady Niwa's great presence descending; quickly go forward to pay respects." After hearing this, Leizhenzi and the others knelt down before her. Yang Jian and the others said: "Disciples did not know Your Majesty's holy presence had descended, and thus failed to welcome you properly. We beg for your forgiveness." Niwa Nai Nai said: "Yang Jian, I have captured these three demons for you. You may take them to the field headquarters and hand them over to Jiang Ziya for proper punishment." Today, the Zhou dynasty is rising again; it will be a peaceful world once more. "You three may go now." Yang Jian and the others thanked Lady Niwa, kowtowed, and withdrew, taking the demons to Zhou's camp. Later generations composed a poem lamenting this: The three demons created evil, bringing calamity to ten thousand people; they delivered Yin Shang to its downfall and destruction. Today, it is hard to escape the retribution of Heaven's judgment; in vain did Xuan Yuan (the Yellow Emperor) ponder over his nest.

话说杨戬等将三妖摔下云端，三人随收土遁，来至辕门。那众军士见半空中吊下三个女人，后随著杨戬等三人，军士忙报人中军：“启元帅：杨戬等令。”子牙传令：“令来。”杨戬上帐见子牙，子牙曰：“你拿的妖怪如何？”杨戬曰：“奉元帅将令，赶三妖于中途，幸逢女娲娘娘大发仁慈，赐缚妖绳，将三妖捉至辕门，请令施行。”子牙传令：“解进来。”帐下左右诸侯俱来观看怎样个妖精。少时，杨戬解九头雉鸡精，雷震子解九尾狐狸精，韦护解玉石琵琶精同至帐下。三妖跪于帐前。子牙曰：“你这三个业障，无端造恶，残害生灵，食人无厌，将成汤天下送得乾乾净净；虽然是天数，你岂可纵欲杀人，唆纣王造炮烙，惨杀忠谏，治虿盆荼毒宫人，造鹿台聚天下之财，为酒池、肉林，内宫丧命，甚至敲骨看髓，剖腹验胎；此等惨恶，罪不容诛，天地人神共怒，虽食肉寝皮，不足以尽厥辜！”妲己俯伏哀泣告曰：“妾身系冀州侯苏护之女，幼长深闺，鲜知世务，谬蒙天子宣诏，选择为妃。不意国母薨逝，天子强立为后。凡一应主持，皆操之于天子，政事俱掌握于大臣。妾不过一女流，惟知洒扫应对，整饰宫闱，侍奉巾栉而已；其他妾安能以自专也。纣王失政，虽文武百官不啻千百，皆不能厘正，又何况区区一女子能动其听也？今元帅德播天下，仁溢四方，纣王不日授首，纵杀妾一女流，亦无补于元帅。况古语云：‘罪人不孥。’恳祈元帅大开慈隐，怜妾身之无辜，赦归故国，得全残年，真元帅天地之仁，再生之德也。望元帅裁之！”众诸侯听妲己一派言语，大是有理，皆有怜惜之心。子牙笑曰：“你说你是苏候之女，将此一番巧言，迷惑众听，众诸侯岂知你是九尾狐狸在恩州驿迷死苏妲己，借窍成形，惑乱天子？其无端毒恶，皆是你造业。今已被擒，死且不足以尽其罪，尚假此巧语花言，希图漏网！”命左右：“推出辕门，斩首号令！”妲己等三妖低头无语。左右旗牌官簇拥出辕门来，后有雷震子、杨戬、韦护监斩。只见三妖推至法场，雉鸡精垂头丧气，琵琶精默默无言，惟有这狐狸精乃是妲己，他就有许多娇痴，又连累了几个军士。话说那妲己绑缚在辕门外，跪在尘埃，恍然似一块美玉无瑕，娇花欲语，脸衬朝霞，唇含碎玉，绿蓬松云鬓，娇滴滴朱颜，转秋波无限锺情，顿歌喉百般妩媚，乃对那持刀军士曰：“妾身系无辜受屈，望将军少缓须臾，胜造浮屠七级！”那军士见妲己美貌，已自有十分怜惜，再加他娇滴滴的叫了几声将军长，将军短，便把这几个军士叫得骨软筋酥，口呆目瞪，软痴痴瘫作一堆，麻酥酥痒成一块，莫能动履。只见行刑令下：“杨戬监斩九头雉鸡精；韦护监斩玉石琵琶精；雷震子监斩狐狸精。”三人见行刑令下，喝令：“军士动手！”杨戬镇压住雉鸡精，韦谨镇压住琵琶精，一声呐喊，军士动手，将两个妖精斩了首级。有一首诗单道琵琶精终不免一刀之厄，诗曰： 忆昔当年遇子牙，砚台击顶炼琵琶。谁知三九重逢日，万死无生空自嗟。

It is said that Yang Jian and the others cast the three demons down from the clouds, then used earth 遁 (tun) to descend and arrived at the 辕门 (yuanguan gate). The soldiers saw three women drop down from midair, followed by Yang Jian and the other two. The soldiers hurriedly reported to the central command: "Your Excellency Commander-in-Chief: Yang Jian and others have arrived." Ziya gave orders: "Bring them in." Yang Jian entered the tent to see Ziya, who asked: "How did you capture those demons?" Yang Jian said: "Following Your Excellency's command, I pursued the three demons along the way. Fortunately, Lady Niwa Nai Nai showed great mercy and bestowed a demon-binding rope, allowing me to capture them at the 辕门 (Yuanguan Gate). Please give orders for their punishment." Ziya gave an order: "Bring them in." The various feudal lords on both sides of the tent came to watch what kind of demon they were. After a short while, Yang Jian brought the nine-headed pheasant spirit, Leizhenzi led in the nine-tailed fox spirit, and Wei Hu escorted the jade pipa spirit to the tent. The three demons knelt before the tent. Ziya said: "You three wicked beings have acted without cause in creating evil, harming living creatures, making people insatiable, and delivering Cheng Tang's realm entirely into ruin; Though it was indeed the will of Heaven, how could you indulge your desires to kill people, incite King Zhou to build the cauldron punishment, cruelly execute loyal advisors, construct the 虿盆 (Chai Pen) to poison palace attendants, erect the Deer Terrace to amass wealth from across the realm, create wine pools and meat forests, cause deaths in the inner court, and even crush bones to examine marrow or open abdomens to inspect fetuses; Such cruelty and wickedness deserve no leniency. Heaven, Earth, humanity, and the gods are all enraged; even if you were to eat flesh and sleep on skin, it would not be enough to atone for your crimes!" Daji fell to her knees, weeping bitterly and pleading: "I am the daughter of Su Hu, Marquis of Jizhou. I was raised in seclusion from an early age, knowing little of worldly affairs. By mistake, I received the emperor's imperial decree summoning me, and was selected as a concubine." Unbeknownst to me, after the empress mother passed away, the emperor forcibly made me his queen. All matters of governance were controlled by the emperor himself; state affairs were entirely in the hands of high-ranking ministers. I am merely a woman, knowing only how to sweep and serve, maintain the palace decorum, and attend to my duties as a wife. As for other matters, I could not possibly take initiative on my own. King Zhou lost control of governance; though there were hundreds of civil and military officials, none could correct it. How much less could a mere woman influence his ears? Now, Your Excellency's virtue spreads across the realm and benevolence overflows in all directions. King Zhou will soon lose his head; even if you kill me, a mere woman, it would be of no benefit to Your Excellency. Moreover, as the ancient saying goes: 'The punishment of criminals should not extend to their families.' I humbly beg Your Excellency to show great compassion and mercy, take pity on my innocence, pardon me and allow me to return to my homeland. Let me spend the rest of my days in peace; this would truly be a demonstration of Your Excellency's heavenly virtue and boundless grace." I beg for Your Excellency's judgment!" The feudal lords, upon hearing Daji's words, found them quite reasonable and all felt sympathy for her. Ziya smiled and said: "You claim to be the daughter of Marquis Su, using these clever words to deceive all who listen. Do you think the feudal lords know that you are actually a nine-tailed fox who killed Su Daji at Enzhou Yizhan, took her body as your vessel, and used it to bewilder the emperor?" All those senseless evils were committed by you. Now that you have been captured, death is not enough to atone for your sins; yet you still resort to these flattery and deceitful words in a desperate attempt to escape punishment!" Ziya ordered the guards: "Drag her out of the 辕门 (Yuanguan gate) and behead her as an example!" Daji and the three demons lowered their heads in silence. Guards with banners and flags crowded around them as they were led out of the 辕门, followed by Leizhenzi, Yang Jian, and Wei Hu overseeing their execution. As the three demons were pushed to the execution ground, the pheasant spirit hung his head in dejection and the pipa spirit remained silent. Only this fox spirit—Daji—was full of coquettishness and caused several soldiers much trouble. It is said that Daji, bound outside the 辕门 and kneeling in the dust, appeared like a flawless piece of jade. Her beauty was as if a delicate flower about to speak; her face glowed with morning 霞 (xiá), her lips held fragments of jade, her green hair loose like clouds, her rosy cheeks dripping with charm. Her eyes sparkled with infinite affection, and her voice, when she sang, exuded countless allures. She turned to the soldier holding the sword and said: "I am an innocent woman wrongfully accused; I beg you, General, for just a moment's delay, which would be more meritorious than building seven tiers of a stupa!" The soldier, seeing Daji's beauty, was already deeply moved by sympathy. When she added a few coquettish calls of "General this" and "General that," he became so weak in the knees and stunned that his limbs felt numb and flaccid, as if paralyzed into a heap, unable to move or stand. Just then the execution order was given: "Yang Jian shall oversee the beheading of the nine-headed pheasant demon; Wei Hu shall oversee the beheading of the jade pipa demon; and Leizhenzi shall oversee the beheading of the fox demon." The three men, upon receiving the execution order, shouted: "Soldiers, proceed!" Yang Jian subdued the pheasant demon, while Wei Hu subdued the pipa demon. With a single shout, the soldiers moved in and beheaded the two demons. There is a poem that specifically laments the jade pipa demon's inevitable fate of being beheaded. The poem says: I recall in years past meeting Ziya, when he struck the pipa on its head with an inkstone to refine it. Who could have known that on this day of their third reunion, they would face death a thousand times and be left only with sorrowful lamentations.

话说三军动手，已将雉鸡精、琵琶精斩了首级，杨戬与韦护上帐报功。只有雷震子监斩狐狸精，众军士被妲己迷惑，皆目瞪口呆，手软不能举刃。雷震子发怒，喝令军士，只见个个如此，雷震子急得没奈何，只得来中军帐报知，请令定夺。子牙见杨戬、韦护报功，令：“拿出辕门号令。”惟有雷震子赤手来见。子牙问曰：“你监斩妲己，如何空身来见我？莫非这狐狸走了？”雷震子曰：“弟子奉令监斩妲己，孰意众军士被这妖狐迷惑，皆目瞪口呆，莫能动履。”子牙怒曰：“监斩无能，要你何用！”一声喝退。雷震子羞惭满面，站立一傍。子牙命：“将行刑军士拿下，斩首示众。”复命杨戬、韦护监斩。二人领命，另换了军士，再至辕门。只见那妖妇依旧如前，一样软款，又把这些军士弄得东倒西歪，如痴如醉。杨戬与韦护看见这等光景，二人商议曰：“这毕竟是个多年狐狸，极善迷惑人，所以纣王被他缠缚得迷而忘返，又何况这些愚人哉！我与你快去禀明元帅，无令这些无辜军士死于非命也。”杨戬道罢，二人齐至中军帐来，对子牙“……如此如彼”说了一遍。众诸侯俱各惊异。子牙对众人曰：“此妖乃千年老狐，受日精月华，偷采天地灵气，故此善能迷惑人，待吾自出营去，斩此恶怪。”子牙道罢先行，众诸侯随后。子牙同众诸侯门弟子出得辕门，见妲己绑缚在法场，果然千娇百媚，似玉如花，众军士如木雕泥塑。子牙喝退众士卒，命左右排香案，焚香炉内，取出陆压所赐葫芦，放于案上，揭去盖，只见一道白光上升，现出一物，有眉，有眼，有翅，有足，在白光上旋转。子牙打一躬：“请宝贝转身！”那宝贝连转两三转，只见妲己头落在尘埃，血溅满地。诸侯中尚有怜惜之者。有诗为证，诗曰： 妲己妖娆起众怜，临刑军士也情牵。桃花难写温柔态，芍药堪方窈窕妍。 忆昔恩州能借窍，应知内关善周旋。从来娇媚归何处，化作南柯带血眠。

It is said that the soldiers had already beheaded the pheasant and pipa demons, so Yang Jian and Wei Hu went to the tent to report their success. Only Leizhenzi was overseeing the execution of the fox demon, but the soldiers were bewitched by Daji and stood there with their eyes wide open and mouths agape, their hands too weak to raise their weapons. Leizhenzi became furious and shouted orders at the soldiers, but to his shock, they were all in this state. With no other choice, Leizhenzi hurriedly went to the central command tent to report the situation and seek instructions. Ziya, upon seeing Yang Jian and Wei Hu reporting their success, ordered: "Take them out of the 辕门 for public display." Only Leizhenzi arrived barehanded. Ziya asked: "You were in charge of executing Daji—how is it that you come to see me empty-handed?" "Hasn't this fox escaped?" Leizhenzi said: "Disciple was ordered to oversee the execution of Daji. Unexpectedly, all the soldiers were bewitched by this fox demon and stood there stunned, unable to move." Ziya angrily said: "You are useless for failing in your duty of overseeing the execution!" With a single shout, he dismissed him. Leizhenzi stood aside with shame and embarrassment on his face. Ziya ordered: "Seize the execution soldiers and behead them as an example to all." He then assigned Yang Jian and Wei Hu once more to oversee the executions. The two accepted the order, replaced the soldiers, and returned to the 辕门. They saw that the demoness was still as before, just as charming and alluring. She once again caused these soldiers to stagger about, dazed and drunk with infatuation. Yang Jian and Wei Hu saw this scene and discussed among themselves: "This is indeed an old fox, extremely skilled at bewitching people. That is why King Zhou was so entangled by her that he lost his way and forgot to return; how much more so for these foolish men!" "We must quickly go report this to the commander-in-chief, lest these innocent soldiers die unjustly." After Yang Jian finished speaking, the two of them hurried to the central command tent and recounted everything to Ziya in detail. The feudal lords were all greatly surprised. Ziya said to the crowd: "This demon is a thousand-year-old fox who has absorbed the essence of sunlight and moonlight, secretly drawing on the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth. That is why it is so skilled at bewitching people; I shall personally go out from camp to slay this evil beast." After Ziya finished speaking, he took the lead, and the feudal lords followed behind. Ziya and the feudal lords' disciples exited the 辕门 together. They saw Daji bound on the execution ground; indeed, she was exquisitely charming, like jade or a blooming flower. The soldiers stood there as if carved from wood or molded from clay. Ziya shouted for the soldiers to withdraw, ordered attendants to set up an incense table, lit the incense in the censer, and took out a gourd given by Lu Ya. He placed it on the table, removed its lid, and suddenly a beam of white light shot upward, revealing an object with eyebrows, eyes, wings, and feet that spun within the light. Ziya bowed once: "Please turn around, precious artifact!" The object spun two or three times. Suddenly, Daji's head fell to the ground in the dust and blood splattered everywhere. Among the feudal lords, there were still those who felt pity for her. There is a poem to attest to this, which says: Daji's demonic charm stirred pity in many; even soldiers at the execution felt emotional ties. The peach blossom could not capture her gentle grace, nor could peonies rival her graceful beauty. Remembering how at Enzhou she took a body as vessel, one should know her skill in manipulating inner affairs and turning situations to her advantage. From where did such charm ever return? It has transformed into a dream of Nanke, sleeping with blood still upon it.

话说子牙斩了妲己将首级号令辕门。众诸侯等无不叹赏。

It is said that after Ziya beheaded Daji, he displayed her head at the 辕门 as a warning. All the feudal lords could not help but sigh in admiration.

且说纣王在显庆殿恹恹独坐，有宫人左右纷纷如蚁，慌慌乱窜。纣王问曰：“尔等为何这样急遽？想是皇城破了么？”傍一内臣跪下，泣而奏曰：“三位娘娘，夜来二更时分不知何往，因此六宫无主，故此著忙。”纣王听罢，忙叫内臣快快查，“往那里去了！速速来报！”有常侍打听，少时来报：“启陛下：三位娘娘首级已号令于周营辕门。”纣王大惊，忙随左右宦官，急上五凤楼观看，果是三后之首。纣王看罢，不觉心酸，泪如雨下，乃作诗一首以吊之，诗曰： “玉碎香消实可怜，娇容云鬓尽高悬。奇歌妙舞今何在，覆雨翻云竟枉然。 凤枕已无藏玉日，鸳衾难再拂花眠。悠悠此恨情无极，日落沧桑又万年。”

Meanwhile, King Zhou sat alone and listless at the Xianqing Hall. His attendants moved about in confusion like ants, panicking and running helter-skelter. King Zhou asked, "Why are you all so agitated?" "Is it because the royal city has been breached?" A eunuch at his side knelt down and wept as he reported, "Your Majesty, the three imperial consorts disappeared during the second watch of last night. Because of this, no one is in charge among the six palaces, hence the commotion." After hearing this, King Zhou hurriedly ordered the eunuchs to investigate quickly. "Where could they have gone!" "Report back immediately!" A palace attendant inquired and returned shortly to report: "Your Majesty, the heads of the three imperial consorts have been displayed at the 辕门 of the Zhou camp." King Zhou was greatly shocked. He hurriedly followed his eunuchs and rushed to the Wufeng Tower for a look, and indeed saw the heads of the three consorts. After King Zhou had finished looking, he could not help feeling heartbroken and wept like rain. He composed a poem to mourn them, which said: "Precious jade shattered, fragrance gone—truly pitiable; her charming face and cloud-like hair now hang high." "Where are the wondrous songs and graceful dances now? All efforts to manipulate fate have turned out in vain." "The phoenix pillow no longer shelters jade on its own day; the mandarin duck quilt can never again brush away floral sleep." This endless sorrow stretches beyond measure, and with each sunset, the world changes once more through ten thousand years of time."

话说纣王吟罢诗，自嗟自叹，不胜伤感。只见周营中一声炮响，三军呐喊，齐欲攻城。纣王看见，不觉大惊，知大势已去，非人力可挽，点头数点，长吁一声，竟下五凤楼，过九间殿，至显庆殿，过分宫楼，将至摘星楼来，忽然一阵旋窝风，就地滚来，将纣王罩住。怎见得怪风一阵，透胆生寒，有诗为证，诗曰： 萧萧飒飒摄离魂，透骨侵肌气若吞。撮起沉冤悲往事，追随枉死泣新猿。 催花须借吹嘘力，助雨敲残次第先。止为纣王惨毒甚，故教屈鬼诉辜恩。

It is said that after King Zhou finished reciting his poem, he sighed and lamented for himself, overwhelmed with sorrow. Just then, a cannon shot echoed from the Zhou camp, followed by shouts from the three armies, all readying to attack the city. King Zhou, upon seeing this, was greatly startled. He realized that the situation had already turned against him and could not be reversed by human effort. After nodding a few times and letting out a long sigh, he descended from the Wufeng Tower, passed through the Jiugian Hall to reach the Xianqing Hall, then went past the Fenguang Building toward Zhaixing Pavilion. Suddenly, a whirlwind arose on the spot, rolling toward him and enveloping King Zhou completely. How was this strange wind described, chilling to the bone and soul? A poem attests to it: "Whistling winds seize the spirit, cold to the marrow, as if swallowing one's breath." "Rising up with grievances of past wrongs, weeping like a newly orphaned baboon in sorrow for unjust deaths." "To make flowers bloom requires the force of blowing and urging; to aid rain, it strikes first in sequence, breaking things apart." It is all because King Zhou's cruelty was extreme, so the wronged spirits are compelled to recount his ingratitude.

话说纣王方行至摘星楼，只见一阵怪风，就地裹将上来，那虿盆内咽咽哽哽，悲悲泣泣，无限蓬头披发、赤身裸体之鬼，血腥臭恶，秽不可闻，齐上前来，扯住纣王大呼曰：“还吾命来！”又见赵启、梅伯赤身大叫：“昏君！你一般也有今日败亡之时！”纣王忽的把二目一睁，阳气冲出，将阴魂扑散。那些屈魂怨鬼隐然而退。纣王把袍袖一抖，上了头一层楼，又见姜娘娘一把扯住纣王，大骂曰：“无道昏君，诛妻杀子，绝灭彝伦，今日你将社稷断送，将何面目见先王于泉壤也！”姜娘娘正扯住纣王不放，又见黄娘娘一身血污，腥气逼人，也上前扯住，大呼曰：“昏君摔我下楼，跌吾粉骨碎身，此心何忍！真残忍刻薄之徒！今日罪盈恶满，天地必诛！”纣王被两个冤魂缠得如痴似醉一般，又见贾夫人也上前大骂曰：“昏君受辛！你君欺臣妻，吾为守贞立节，坠楼而死，沉冤莫白。今日方能泄我恨也！”照纣王一掌劈面打来。纣王忽然一点真灵惊醒，把二目一睁，冲出阳神，那阴魂如何敢近，隐隐散了。纣王上了摘星楼，行至九曲栏边，默默无语，神思不宁，扶栏而问：“封宫官何在？”封宫官朱升闻纣王呼唤，慌忙上摘星楼来，俯伏栏边，口称：“陛下，奴婢听旨。”纣王曰：“朕悔不听群臣之言，误被谗奸所惑，今兵连祸结，莫可解救，噬脐何及。朕思身为天子之尊，万一城破，为群小所获，辱莫甚焉。欲寻自尽，此身倘遗人间，犹为他人作念；不若自焚，反为乾净，毋得令儿女子藉口也。你可取柴薪堆积楼下，朕当与此楼同焚。你当如朕命。”朱升听罢，披泪满面，泣而奏曰：“奴婢侍陛下多年，蒙豢养之恩，粉骨难报。不幸皇天不造我商，祸亡旦夕，奴婢恨不能以死报国，何敢举火焚君也！”言罢，呜咽不能成声。纣王曰：“此天亡我也，非干你罪。你不听朕命，反有忤逆之罪。昔日朕曾命费、尤向姬昌演数，言朕有自焚之厄；今日正是天定，人岂能逃，当听朕言！”后人有诗单叹纣王临焚念文王易数之验，有诗为证，诗曰： 昔日文王羑里囚，纣王无道困西侯。费尤曾问先天数，烈焰飞烟锁玉楼。

It is said that as King Zhou was just approaching Zhaixing Pavilion, a strange wind suddenly arose and wrapped around him from the ground. From within the scorpion's pot came choking sobs and weeping sounds. Countless ghosts with disheveled hair and bare bodies, reeking of blood and filth so foul it could not be described, all rushed forward to seize King Zhou and shouted loudly: "Give back our lives!" Others among them were Zhao Qi and Mei Bo, who cried out in their nakedness: "Blind king!" Even you have come to this day of defeat and ruin!" King Zhou suddenly opened his eyes wide, and a surge of yang energy burst forth, scattering the ghosts. Those wronged souls and vengeful spirits gradually withdrew in silence. King Zhou shook his robe sleeves and climbed to the first floor. There, he saw Lady Jiang grabbing him by the collar and scolding fiercely: "You lawless tyrant! You have murdered your wife and children, destroyed moral order. Today you have ruined the state—what face do you have to meet our ancestors in the netherworld!" As Lady Jiang was holding onto King Zhou and refusing to let go, Lady Huang appeared with bloodstained clothes and a stench so strong it was suffocating. She also rushed forward, grabbing him and shouting: "You tyrant threw me down the tower, crushing my body into pieces—how could you bear such cruelty in your heart!" Truly a cruel and heartless wretch! "Today, your crimes are full and evil has reached its peak—Heaven and Earth will surely punish you!" King Zhou, caught between the two vengeful spirits and feeling as if in a daze, saw Lady Jia also rush forward to scold him fiercely: "Blind king Hou Xin!" "You, as a ruler, wronged your ministers and their wives. I chose to die by leaping from the tower in order to preserve my chastity and virtue, yet my grievous injustice remains unavenged." "Only today can I finally vent my hatred!" Lady Jia struck King Zhou across the face with a slap. Suddenly, King Zhou's true spirit was startled awake; he opened his eyes wide and unleashed a surge of yang energy. The vengeful spirits dared not approach and gradually dispersed into the shadows. King Zhou climbed to Zhaixing Pavilion and walked along the winding balustrade. He stood in silence, his thoughts unsettled, and leaning on the railing he asked: "Where is the palace official Feng?" Feng Gongguan Zhu Sheng, hearing King Zhou's call, hurried up to Zhaixing Pavilion. He knelt at the railing and said: "Your Majesty, I am here to receive your command." King Zhou said, "I regret not heeding the advice of my ministers and was wrongly misled by sycophants. Now war and disaster are continuous, with no way to save myself—how can I undo this now?" "I think of my position as Son of Heaven. Should the city fall and I be captured by these petty villains, there would be no greater humiliation." I wish to seek death. If my body remains in this world, it will still be a burden for others to remember; It would be better if I burn myself, thus leaving everything clean and avoiding giving my sons and daughters any grounds for reproach. "You should fetch firewood and pile it beneath the pavilion; I shall burn myself along with this building." You must obey my command as if it were an imperial decree." After hearing this, Zhu Sheng wept with tears streaming down his face and sobbed as he reported: "Your servant has served Your Majesty for many years. I have been favored by your kindness; even if my bones are crushed to dust, it would be impossible to repay you." "Alas, Heaven has not favored our Shang dynasty; disaster is upon us at any moment. I regret that I cannot die for the country to repay my debt. How dare I then set fire to burn down His Majesty!" After saying this, he wept so bitterly that no sound could be made. King Zhou said: "This is Heaven's will to destroy me; it has nothing to do with your fault. "If you disobey my command, you commit the crime of filial disobedience." "In the past, I once ordered Fei and You to perform divination for Ji Chang. They said that I would suffer a calamity of self-immolation; today is exactly the fate Heaven has decreed. How can mortals escape it? You must obey my words!" Later generations composed a poem lamenting how King Zhou, on the verge of self-immolation, recalled the accuracy of Duke Wenwang's I Ching divination. The poem says: "Long ago, King Wen was imprisoned at Youli; King Zhou, cruel and unjust, trapped the Western Marquis in suffering." "Fei and You once asked about the numbers of Heaven's will; flames and smoke would rise to shroud the jade tower."

话说朱升再三哭奏，劝纣王：“且自宽慰，另寻别策，以解比围。”纣王怒曰：“事已急矣！朕筹之已审。若诸侯攻破午门，杀入内庭，朕一被擒，汝之罪不啻泰山之重也！”朱升大哭下楼，去寻柴薪，堆积楼下，不表。且说纣王见朱升下楼，自服衮冕，手执碧圭，佩满身珠玉，端坐楼中。朱升将柴堆满，挥泪下拜毕，方敢举火，放声大哭。后人有诗为证，诗曰： 摘星楼下火初红，烟卷乌云四面风。今日成场倾社稷，朱升原自尽孤忠。

It is said that Zhu Sheng wept and pleaded repeatedly, urging King Zhou: "Please console yourself and seek another plan to break this siege." King Zhou angrily replied, "The situation is dire now! I have already carefully considered the matter. If the feudal lords break through the Wumen Gate and storm into the inner court, and I am captured, your crime will be no less than a mountain of Tai Shan in weight!" Zhu Sheng wept bitterly and descended the pavilion to gather firewood, which he piled beneath the building—this need not be detailed further. Meanwhile, King Zhou saw Zhu Sheng descend the pavilion. He put on his ceremonial robes and crown, held a green jade tablet in hand, adorned himself with pearls and jewels, and sat upright at the center of the pavilion. Zhu Sheng piled up all the firewood, wept bitterly as he kowtowed in farewell, and only then dared to light the fire, wailing aloud. Later generations composed a poem as evidence of this event: "At the base of Zhaixing Pavilion, fire first turned red; smoke rolled up black clouds and winds blew from all directions." "Today's scene has led to the downfall of state and kingdom. Zhu Sheng alone fulfilled his loyal devotion by sacrificing himself."

话说朱升举火，烧著楼下乾柴，只见烟卷冲天，风狂火猛，六宫中宫人喊叫，霎时间乾坤昏暗，宇宙翻崩，鬼哭神号，帝王失位。朱升见摘星楼一派火著，甚是凶恶。朱升撩衣，痛哭数声，大叫：“陛下！奴辈以死报陛下也！”言罢，将身蹿入火中。可怜朱升忠烈，身为宦竖，犹知死节。话说纣王在三层楼上，看楼下火起，烈焰冲天，不觉抚膺长叹曰：“悔不听忠谏之言，今日自焚，死故不足惜，有何面目见先王于泉壤也！”只见火趁风威，风乘火势，须臾间，四面通红，烟雾障天。怎见得，有赋为证，赋曰： 烟迷雾卷，金光灼灼掣天飞；焰吐云从，烈风呼呼如雨骤。排炕烈炬，似煽如，须臾万物尽成灰，说甚么栋连霄汉；顷刻千里化红尘，那管他雨聚云屯。五行之内最无情，二气之中为独盛。雕梁画栋，不知费几许工夫，遭著他尽成虀粉；珠栏玉砌，不知用多少金钱，逢著你皆为瓦解。摘星楼下势如焚，六宫三殿延烧得柱倒墙崩；天子命丧在须臾；八妃九嫔牵连得头焦额烂；无辜宫女尽遭殃；作恶内臣皆在劫。这纣天子呵！抛却尘寰，讲不起贡衣航海，锦衣玉食，金瓯社稷，锦绣乾坤，都化作滔滔洪水向东流；脱离欲海，休夸那粉黛蛾眉，温香暖玉，翠袖殷勤，清讴皓齿，尽赴于栩栩羽化随梦绕。这正是：从前馀焰逞雄威，作过灾殃还自受。成汤事业化飞灰，周室江山方赤炽。

It is said that when Zhu Sheng lit the fire, it ignited the dry wood beneath the pavilion. Immediately, thick smoke surged into the sky; fierce winds and raging flames raged. The palace attendants in the six quarters screamed in terror. In an instant, heaven and earth turned dark, as if collapsing. Ghosts wept and gods wailed, and the emperor lost his throne. Zhu Sheng saw that Zhaixing Pavilion was ablaze in a fierce fire, which looked extremely ominous. Tearing at his robe, Zhu Sheng cried out several times with great sorrow and shouted: "Your Majesty!" We servants will die to repay your majesty!" After saying this, he leaped into the fire. Pitiable was Zhu Sheng's loyalty and valor; though a eunuch, he still understood to die for his principles. It is said that King Zhou, on the third floor of the pavilion, saw the fire erupting below and flames surging into the sky. He could not help but clasp his chest in long sighs and lament: "I regret not heeding my ministers' loyal advice. Today I burn myself to death; though dying is nothing to fear, what face do I have to meet my ancestors in the netherworld!" Just then, the fire took advantage of the wind's strength, and the wind fed the flames. In a moment, all four directions turned red with fire, and smoke obscured the sky. How was this scene described? A rhapsody attests to it: "Smoke and mist rolled together, golden light blazing as if tearing through the sky; "Flames roared upward with clouds, fierce winds howled like sudden rainstorms." The blazing torches lined up fiercely, as if fanned by invisible hands. In moments, all things turned to ash—what of the beams reaching into the heavens? In an instant, thousands of miles became a sea of red dust; who cares about clouds gathering or rain pooling elsewhere! Among the Five Elements, none is more merciless than fire. In the two forces of yin and yang, it alone reigns supreme in intensity. Carved beams and painted pillars—how much effort had been spent on them—all were reduced to dust by the fire's wrath. Pearl railings and jade steps, which must have cost countless treasures—now all crumbled into ruins at your hands. Beneath Zhaixing Pavilion the fire raged like a blaze; it spread to the six palaces and three halls, toppling pillars and collapsing walls. The Son of Heaven lost his life in an instant; Eight consorts and nine concubines were caught up, their heads burned and brows scorched. Innocent palace ladies all perished in the disaster; Evil eunuchs who had done wrong were all caught in the calamity. This King Zhou! He abandoned the mortal world. All his past glories—offering tribute by sea, wearing brocade and feasting on delicacies, ruling a golden empire, adorning a land of silk and splendor—are now reduced to surging floods flowing eastward; He has escaped the sea of desires. No more can he boast of his beauties with painted brows and delicate complexions, their warm fragrance and tender grace, their green sleeves and graceful songs—everything now dissolves into a dreamlike transformation, vanishing like butterflies in flight. This is indeed: "The flames of past arrogance once showed their might; the calamities wrought now return to be suffered by oneself." "The achievements of King Cheng Tang turned to flying ashes, while the Zhou dynasty's rivers and mountains blaze with new vigor."

话说子牙在中军方与众诸候议攻皇城，忽左右报进中军：“启元帅：摘星楼火起。”子牙忙领众将，同武王、东伯侯、北伯侯共天下诸侯，齐上马出了辕门看火。武王在马上观看，见烟迷一人，身穿赭黄衮服，头戴冕旒，手拱碧玉圭，端坐于烟雾之中，朦胧不甚明白。武王问左右曰：“那烟雾中乃是纣天子么？”众诸侯答曰：“此正是无道昏君。今日如此，正所谓‘自作自受’耳。”武王闻言，掩面不忍看视，兜马回营。子牙忙上前启曰：“大王为何掩面而回？”武王曰：“纣王虽则无道，得罪于天地鬼神，今日自焚，适为业报；但你我皆为臣下，曾北面事之，何忍目睹其死，而蒙逼君之罪哉？不若回营为便。”子牙曰：“纣王作恶，残贼生民，天怒民怨，纵太白悬旗，亦不为过；今日自焚，正当其罪。但大王不忍，是大王之仁明忠爱之至意也。然犹有一说，昔成汤以至仁放桀于南巢，救民于水火，天下未尝少之；今大王会天下诸侯，奉天征讨，吊民伐罪，实于汤有光，大王幸毋介意。”众诸侯同武王回营。子牙督领众将门人看火，以便取城。只见那火越盛，看看卷上楼顶，那楼下的柱脚烧倒，只听得一声响，摘星楼塌倒，如天崩地裂之状，将纣王埋在火中，一霎时化为灰烬。──一灵已入封神台去了。后人有诗叹之，诗曰： 放桀南巢忆昔时，深仁厚泽立根基。谁知殷受多残虐，烈焰焚身悔已迟。

It is said that while Ziya was in the central command discussing with the feudal lords how to attack the royal city, suddenly a messenger rushed into camp and reported: "Your Majesty General, fire has broken out at Zhaixing Pavilion." Ziya quickly led his generals, along with King Wu, Dongbo Hou, Beibo Hou, and feudal lords from all over the world, mounted their horses and rode out of the 辕门 to view the fire. King Wu, while on horseback, looked and saw a figure obscured by smoke. The person was wearing a dark yellow ceremonial robe, crowned with a headdress of jade pendants, holding a green jade tablet in his hands, sitting upright amidst the mist and haze—his features were indistinct and hard to discern. King Wu asked those around him, "Is that King Zhou in the mist?" The feudal lords replied, "This is indeed the tyrant and corrupt ruler." Today's plight is exactly what one might call 'reaping what he sowed.'" Upon hearing this, King Wu covered his face in sorrow and could not bear to look any longer. He turned his horse and rode back to camp. Ziya hurriedly stepped forward and asked, "Your Majesty, why did you cover your face and return?" King Wu said, "Although King Zhou was tyrannical and had offended heaven, earth, gods, and spirits, his self-immolation today is a karmic retribution; we are both subjects who once served him with due respect, bowing to the north. How could we bear to witness his death and risk being accused of forcing our former sovereign's demise?" "It would be better for us to return to camp." Ziya said, "King Zhou committed great evils and cruelly harmed the people. Heaven was angry and the people were resentful; even if the planet Venus hung its banner as a sign of war, it would not be excessive; today's self-immolation is precisely his due punishment." But Your Majesty cannot bear to witness it, which demonstrates the utmost virtue of your benevolence, wisdom, and loyal love. Yet there is another matter to consider: in the past, King Cheng Tang, with his utmost benevolence, exiled King Jie to Nanchao and rescued the people from water and fire; the world never regarded this as lacking. Now, Your Majesty has gathered feudal lords from across the realm to carry out a righteous campaign under heaven's mandate, to comfort the people and punish the guilty. This truly shines with the virtue of King Cheng Tang; I hope Your Majesty will not take it to heart." The feudal lords and King Wu returned to camp together. Ziya supervised his generals and disciples as they observed the fire, in preparation for capturing the city. They saw the fire growing fiercer, quickly spreading to the top of the pavilion. The pillars beneath collapsed from the heat, and with a loud crash, Zhaixing Pavilion crumbled as if heaven had fallen and earth split apart, burying King Zhou in flames. In an instant, he was reduced to ashes. ——His soul has already ascended to the Immortal God List. Later generations composed a poem lamenting this, which says: Recalling the past when Jie was exiled to Nanchao, deep benevolence and profound virtue laid the foundation. Who could have known that Yin Shou would be so cruel and ruthless—burning in flames, it was too late for regret.

又有史官观史，有诗单道纣王失政云，诗曰： 女娲宫里祈甘霖，忽动携云握雨心。岂为有情联好句，应知无道起商参。 妇言是用残黄耇，忠谏难听纵浪淫。炮烙冤魂多屈死，古来惨恶独君深。

There was also a historian who observed history and composed another poem specifically lamenting King Zhou's loss of governance. The poem says: In the Nüwa Palace, they prayed for sweet rain; suddenly arose the desire to grasp clouds and wield storms. Was it out of affection that beautiful verses were composed? One should know that tyranny led to conflict between Shang and the stars. He listened to his concubines' words, harming old men; loyal advice was hard to hear as he indulged in licentiousness. The souls of the innocents burned by cauldrons and scalding water died unjustly; since ancient times, no ruler was as cruel as he.

又诗叹纣王才兼文武，诗曰： 打虎雄威气更骁，千斤膂力冠群僚。托梁换柱超今古，赤手擒飞过鸷雕。 拒谏空称才绝代，饰非枉道巧多饶。只因三怪迷真性，蠃得楼前血肉焦。

Another poem laments King Zhou's combined talents in both literature and martial prowess. The poem says: He displayed heroic might when slaying tigers, his vigor surpassing all officials with strength of a thousand catties. Replacing beams and pillars surpassed feats of ancient and modern times; he captured flying hawks and fierce eagles with bare hands. He rejected advice, vainly claiming unmatched talent; he concealed his faults, twisting the truth with cunning and deceit. It was because three demons clouded his true nature that he ended up with charred flesh before the pavilion, a tragic loss indeed.

话说摘星楼焚了纣王，众诸侯俱在午门外住札。少时，午门开处，众宫人同侍卫将军，御林士卒酌水献花，焚香拜迎武王车驾，并诸侯入在九间殿。姜子牙忙传令：“且救息宫中火。”不知后事如何，且听下回分解。

It is said that after King Zhou perished in the fire at Zhaixing Pavilion, all the feudal lords took up residence outside the Wu Gate. After a short while, the Wu Gate opened and palace attendants along with imperial guards and soldiers from the Imperial Forest presented water and flowers, burned incense, and paid homage as King Wu's procession entered, followed by the feudal lords into the Nine-Bay Hall. Jiang Ziya quickly gave orders: "Quickly extinguish the fire in the palace." What will happen next? Stay tuned for the following chapter.