Genesis of the Gods

Part 20 FLIGHT FROM ZHAOGE

"His Majesty appointed him to supervise the construction of the Happy Terrace, but Jiang spoke against him, and he or­dered Jiang's arrest. When the palace guards tried to seize him he ran and drowned himself in the river."

"What's this Happy Terrace?"

"It's a project designed by Lady Su. Extravagant build­ings are to be constructed on a terrace forty-nine feet high. His Majesty's now appointed Chong Houhu as supervisor. 1 can't bear to see him behave like an ancient tyrant and the country fall into ruin. I hope you'll petition him to give up this pro­ject. If you can save the people from the project and relieve the merchants from crippling exactions, your kindness will never be forgotten."

"Don't publish the appointment for the time being. Wait until I've seen His Majesty. We'll see what we can do then," Yang Ren said.

He went to the Star Picking Mansion, and was ordered to go upstairs.

"What memorial do you wish to present?"

"YourMajesty must realize that we're faced with three ca­lamities from without and one from within. Asfor the calami­ties from without: First, there's Jiang Wenhuan whorebelled in revenge for his father. He's besieged Youhu Passfor three years, amd we've suffered several defeats. Second,there's E Shun who's also rebelled in revenge for his father.General Deng Jiugong's been fighting him at Sanshan Pass in abitter warthat's emptied the national treasury. Both the people and soldiers have lost hope. Third, Grand Tutor WenZhong's expe­dition to the North Sea district has already lastedten years without achieving a final victory. As for the calamityfrom with­in, it's clearly seen by all. You're completelybewitched by your concubine and deceived by the minions. As aresult many of the loyal have met cruel deaths. Now you'replanning to carry out a massive project that will only furtherthreaten the peace of the country. I beg you to give it up andplease the people. Otherwise, you'll lose their support andinevitably be faced with doom. What a pity it would be for the 600-year-old Shang Dynasty to fall into the hands of someone else," Yang Ren said bluntly.

On hearing this petition, King Zhou cursed furiously, "You damned wretch! How dare you insult me so!" He imme­diately ordered, "Royal guards! Take him downstairs and gouge his eyes out. Out of consideration for his past service to me, let him off lightly this time."

"Though I can bear the agony of having my eyes gouged out," Yang Ren warned him, "I'm afraid that the marquises of the kingdom may be unable to bear the sight of my suf­fering."

Carrying out the orders, the guards took Yang Ren down­stairs, gouged out his eyes and presented them on a tray to the king.

Yang Ren was a very loyal minister. Even though he had lost his eyes, his loyalty remained unchanged. His bitterness rose to the sky and drifted to Master Virtue of the Pure Void in the Purple Sun Cave on Mount Green Peak. The master real­ized what had happened and immediately ordered his yellow­scarved genie, "Rescue Yang Ren and bring him here at once."

The genie flew straight to the Star Picking Mansion and, using three gusts of fragrant magic wind, raised a violent dust storm. Yang Ren's body disappeared in the whirl of dust. King Zhou had run inside to protect himself from the sand and stones. When the wind subsided, the royal guards came to re­port that Yang Ren's body had disappeared during the storm.

"The same thing happened when I was about to execute the two princes. It's a commonplace occurrence nowadays and nothing to wonder at," King Zhou said, and turning, said to Daji, "Yang Ren deserved death for his insolent admonitions. Chong Houhu must receive my order of appointment with all speed."

WhenYang Ren's corpse was brought to the Purple Sun Cave, Master Virtue of the Pure Void came out.He placed two celestial elixirs into the empty eye sockets andthen blew a celestial breath into Yang Ren's face. "Yang Ren!Rise up!" he shouted.