Chapter 2 Part 3

The Four Greater Barons led their 800 vassals in tribute to King Zhou of the Shang during the fourth month of the eighth year of the King’s reign. The names of the Four Greater Barons were Jiang Hengchu, the Greater Baron of the East; E Congyu, the Greater Baron of the South; Ji Chang, the Greater Baron of the West; and Cong Houhu, the Greater Baron of the North.

So it was that the Greater and Lesser Barons visited Chaoge City. During this visit, the Grand Minister Wen Zhong was not in the City, and the King began to dote heavily on Fei Zhong and You Hun. The Barons subsequently discovered the King’s reliance on Fei Zhong and You Hun’s assistance in the administrative matters of the Court, and as they wanted to use the power Fei Zhong and You Hun wielded, they began to lavish gifts upon the both of them. As the saying goes: ‘One must flatter the First Ministers before meeting the Sons of Heaven.’

Amongst the Barons, there was a Baron who came from Yizhou, who was surnamed Su and named Hu. Su Hu had a fiery temper and was unusually principled; he did not want much knowledge of currying favours in order to advance in a race. Whenever he witnessed unjust or illegal practices, he always took care to right these accordingly, and was neither too lenient, nor too strict. And accordingly, he did not bring any gifts for Fei Zhong and You Hun.

As things went, on that day Fei Zhong and You Hun were examining the gifts the Barons had given them, and they became furious on discovering that Su Hu alone had not given them anything. They began to bear a grudge against him, albeit silently.

The days passed, and on the auspicious morning of the first day of the first moon, the King Zhou of the Shang, the Son of Heaven, held Court and summoned his Literati and the Martial Officers for a celebration. The Officer of the Yellow Gate bowed to the King, and said, ‘Your Majesty! This year is the year of the gathering of the Court, and the Greater and Lesser Barons are all waiting to pay their respects to you outside.' The King consulted his Prime Minister Shang Rong, and Shang Rong said, ‘Your Majesty need only speak to the Four Greater Barons indoors. Ask them how goes their lands and their subjects, and how they rule; as for the rest of the Barons, let them receive your good wishes outside your Palace.’