50 Xibo Chang

A3.31

As the people were resentful, and some of the princes also rebelled, so Zhou the Tyrant increased the severity of the law and instituting the punishment of burning people alive. Zhou the Tyrant appointed Xibo Chang, Jiuhou and Ehou as his three principal ministers. Jiuhou had a beautiful daughter, so he offered her to Zhou the Tyrant. But Jiuhou's daughter resented promiscuity, which got Zhou the Tyrant outraged and killed her, and further more, made ground meat out of her father. And Ehou was made meat jerky out of, just for his strong and fierce arguments and debates. After hearing about it, the only thing Xibo Chang could do was to sigh discreetly. Chong Houhu, another minister of Zhou the Tyrant, learned about Xibo’s sigh and reported it to Zhou the Tyrant, so Zhou the Tyrant imprisoned Xibo in Youli. Xibo's minister Hongyao and others searched for beautiful women, treasures, and fine horses to offer to Zhou the Tyrant, so Zhou the Tyrant pardoned Xibo. After being released, Xibo offered a piece of land west of Luoshui to ask the favor of King Zhou the Tyrant to abolish the punishment of burning people alive. And Zhou the Tyrant agreed, and also rewarded him with bows and arrows and axes, and appointed him as Xibo, with the power of conquest, as the leader of the western princes. Zhou the Tyrant also appointed Feizhong to preside over state affairs. Feizhong was flattery and greedy, so the Yin people were not friendly with him. And Zhou the Tyrant also appointed Elai, who was a slanderer, and that made the princes became more alienated from Zhou the Tyrant.

百姓怨望而诸侯有畔者，于是纣乃重刑辟，有炮格之法。以西伯昌、九侯、鄂侯为三公。九侯有好女，入之纣。九侯女不憙淫，纣怒，杀之，而醢九侯。鄂侯争之强，辨之疾，并脯鄂侯。西伯昌闻之，窃叹。崇侯虎知之，以告纣，纣囚西伯羑里。西伯之臣闳夭之徒，求美女奇物善马以献纣，纣乃赦西伯。西伯出而献洛西之地，以请除炮格之刑。纣乃许之，赐弓矢斧钺，使得征伐，为西伯。而用费中为政。费中善谀，好利，殷人弗亲。纣又用恶来。恶来善毁谗，诸侯以此益疏。