My Treatment for my newest screenwriting project for the Chinese market.
I would love my friends at DU to give me input on the concept and idea. Anyone want to critique, I would greatly accept the input before I put pen to paper to write this. It is my most ambitious piece yet.
To explain, this is my third in my Chinese history trilogy. I've written one dealing with an event in Modern China and an event in Medieval China. This is my piece about Ancient China.
TITLE: FALL OF THE HOUSE OF SHANG (商朝的灭亡
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ACT ONE
In the year 1675BCE, the origin lands of China saw the final ruler of the Xia Dynasty, Xia Jie, submit into madness and alcoholism, giving himself and his kingdom completely to his favored concubine, Mo Xi, a woman of intense beauty and very little else. As a result, some of the most decedent displays ever seen surfaced: A lake of wine and a forest of hanging meat, public debauchery in the Imperial Palace at Yangcheng（阳城） (in modern day Zhengzhou, Henan) and a complete neglect of the duties of the ruler. Mo Xi and Xia Jie would be witness to and participate in executions and torture that would excite and thrill them. All the while, the people outside the palace suffered, starved and slowly died under inhumanity and crippling taxation.
From the southern part of the dynasty, Zi Lv of Tang marched against Xia Jie and, at the Battle of Mingtiao, overthrew the Xia to start the Shang Dynasty. His rule was one of virtue and considered good for all people. This is being dictated by Jiang Zi Ya, a learned scholar and general in the Shang Dynasty to a young, soon-to-be Emperor of the Shang Dynasty, Di Xin with a lesson to always respect those around him so his rule can follow in the path of his ancestors. Di Xin agrees and leaves Jiang Zi Ya alone to go on a hunting trip with his father, Di Yi, the Emperor. Jiang Zi Ya remains hopeful for a continued peace and prosperity of the Shang Dynasty and turns to his most trusted slave, Jiang Ke, for his dinner and continued education in reading and writing, along with his young daughter Yi Jiang. This is in Spring of 1075BCE.
Throughout the next few months, Di Xin shows himself to be intensely strong in body, mind and spirit, a testament to his father’s child rearing and education given to him by Jiang Zi Ya. However, Di Xin begins to show negative aspects of a personality: His carnal desire for women, his love of alcohol, his inability to accept even the smallest of criticism and an intense inferiority complex mixed with fits of paranoid rage. Di Yi and Jiang Zi Ya view these with a sour heart, but also consider them to be part and parcel with a young man in his 20s growing up.
One night later in late Summer, Di Yi sits with his son to discuss the future of his kingdom and the direction that his successor should follow. Di Xin listens intently and appears to agree with everything his father says. Di Yi finishes the glass of wine on his table and retires into his bed, never to awake again. The next morning, an oddly calm and indifferent Di Xin awakens to the announcement that his father has died and he would become the next King of the Shang Dynasty. Di Xin takes the news in and mourns by having his servants bring into his chambers two of the youngest concubines in the Imperial Palace, including Li Yue, the daughter of one of his most loyal lords, Li Tian.
Plans are made for Di Yi’s funeral by Mei Bo, Di Yi’s most trusted adviser, and Jiang Zi Ya, while Di Xin shows little interest, concentrating himself on things that give him pleasure and enjoyment (wine, women, hunting and sports). Di Xin misses the funeral, attended by all people important, including Ji Chang of Zhou and his two sons Ji Kao and Ji Fa. All three notice the new King of Shang’s absence and remark to Jiang Zi Ya about the disrespect. Jiang Zi Ya replies that the new Shang King is still young and maybe mourns the loss of his father a different way. However, in his private chambers, Di Xin is drunk, disrespectfully toasts the passing of his father and spits on the floor in front of three concubines, including Li Yue. One concubine admonishes the lack of respect and Di Xin hits her, knocks her to the ground and chokes her to death, screaming that he is the king and no woman will ever tell him what to do. When she is dead, Di Xin looks at the other two and orders them into his bed. Both look terrified, but submit to the King’s wishes, with Li Yue begging Di Xin not to hurt them. As he closes the door, Di Xin says he won’t hurt them. . .much.
At his coronation, Di Xin become Shang Zhou Wang (King Zhou of Shang) and announces his plans of expansion of the Shang realm into the neighboring lands, starting with expanding north into Yousu. Together with Jiang Zi Ya, Mei Bo, and his uncle, Di Bi Gan, Di Xin convinces the lords loyal to him, including Ji Chang, to join in the planned attack of Yousu （有苏）, the kingdom to the north. Di Xin then brutally conscripts peasants and anyone who has an ability to fight into his army and launches an attack on Yousu.
Faced with overwhelming numbers, the lord of Yousu, Su Hu, surrenders after being told defending with force would be futile and orders all lords and subjects loyal to him to accept Di Xin as their new king. As Di Xin enters Yousu with his army, his advisers and his concubines, people flock to him and his army, cheering his coming and chanting 万岁 (rule for 10,000 years).
Su Hu opens the gates to his palace and welcomes Di Xin by bowing and offering his lands, people and all that is Yousu to the new King. Di Xin accepts and enters the palace with Su Hu, his advisers and concubines.
As he enters, from above the courtyard, a young, extremely attractive woman looks at the new King from her window. She is surrounded by her “奴婢” (slave servant) and comments that the new King seems to be proud of his conquest. This is Su Da Ji. One of the servants knocks on the door, bows and informs Su Da Ji that her father has requested her attendance in the courtyard. She laughs and tells the servant she will be there when she is ready.
As Di Xin and Su Hu talk, Li Yue and the rest of the concubines enter with all the advisers. They watch the agreement signed between Su Hu and Di Xin. Di Xin looks at Li Yue, his prized consort, and then tells Su Hu to “sweeten the pot.” Su Hu rings a bell and from the back, dressed in the finest silk and made up to be strikingly beautiful and seductive stands his daughter, Su Da Ji. Di Xin looks at her and watches her walk in, captivated and immediately infatuated. Li Yue watches this and listens to the other concubines jealously say that Li Yue will now join them in the background because the King has discovered a new, younger and prettier “娃娃” (play doll). Su Da Ji bows before the new King as Su Hu gives his daughter as the ultimate prize Yousu could offer, a prize Di Xin accepts immediately. Conspicuously absent from the proceedings are Ji Chang and his two sons, something Di Bi Gan and Di Ji Zi say to Jiang Zi Ya, causing him distress due to the apparent lack of respect.
That night a drunken Di Xin summons Su Da Ji to his chambers. When she arrives, she is dressed in practically nothing, showing the King everything he wants to see. Drunk, he attempts to seduce her, but Su Da Ji resists him at every turn. As this happens, soldiers between walking through the palace at Yousu. Di Xin begins to beg Su Da Ji, asking her what he needs to do to have her for himself. She plays with his body and begins whispering her demands:
Money (he gives)
Power (he promises)
Control (he relinquishes)
As she dances around him and makes his desire even more pronounced, the soldiers storm through the palace and kick a door open. Su Da Ji turns to Di Xin and says she wants Yousu for herself because she will give Di Xin everything he can desire. As soon as Di Xin agrees, the soldiers that kicked the door in take out their swords and brutally murder Su Hu. A knock comes to the door and a soldier, covered in blood enters, enters carrying the head of Su Hu. Su Da Ji laughs, looks at Di Xin, smiles and tell him he knows how to make a girl happy. They proceed to kiss and begin to make love. When Di Xin orders the soldier to leave, Su Da Ji tells him to let the soldier watch so the soldier can learn about what he will never have in his life.
ACT TWO
Jiang Zi Ya begins to dictate how the world changed as soon as Su Da Ji entered Di Xin’s life. The matters of State disappeared to Di Xin as he spent all of his time trying to keep Su Da Ji happy and at his side. Taxes sky rocketed as every whim Su Da Ji demanded Di Xin fulfilled, which began a massive disease plague. Farms begin to fail, leading to famine and starvation. Su Da Ji tells Di Xin she loves animals and birds, so Di Xin builds a huge xanadu (上都 so Su Da Ji can be surrounded by rare and exotic birds and animals. Su Da Ji requires Di Xin to provide meals of exquisite ingredients specifically from places all over the realm. The meals have to be perfect, as Mei Bo will instruct, or there would be punishment. One meal will be presented to Su Da Ji and Di Xin that has one wrong item and all cooks will be executed in front of Su Da Ji and Di Xin, as they sit in their seats and eat, laughing at the death and carnage around them.
As people begin to starve and are taxed into poverty, no place is this more damaging than in the lands of the Zhou, where Di Xin remembers that Ji Chang did not attend the Yousu conquering and turns his vengeance on the people in Zhou. Soldiers begin ransacking villages and towns suspected of disloyalty. Fields are burned and destroyed. People are rounded up and imprisoned.
In the winter of 1068BCE, in the Zhou capital of Fengjing (沣京 , soldiers arrive with Mei Bo and Di Bi Gan to impose new taxes and tributes upon the House of Zhou. Infuriated by this, Ji Chang makes plans to send his oldest son, Ji Kao to Yinxu (殷墟 with gifts and money to try to normalize relations. As Ji Kao is informed, lesser vassals and lords begin to show up at Ji Chang’s gate explaining the problems their lands are having under the Shang rule. They implore Ji Chang to examine their lands and help them as the Shang King has failed to protect their lands and fails to follow the mandate of heaven. Ji Chang resists the lords’ and vassals’ overtones of rebellion.
That night, Ji Chang sits in his chambers alone until his wife, Tai Si, walks in. She sits on the bed and the two begin to talk about current events in the realm. Tai Si begins to tell her husband about her ancestor, Da Yu, the first King of the Xia Dynasty, and how it fell apart and was taken over by the Shang because of the failings of the King and his infatuation with a woman that superceded his desire to rule. Ji Chang admits that King Zhou of Shang seems to be the same type of man King Tang of Shang overthrew. Tai Si agrees, saying that her ancestors believed rule happened by a mandate of heaven and that rulers must be just, fair and kind. . .all things King Zhou of Shang is not, stating that it is the ones with no power that are hurt the most, not the ones with power. Ji Chang passively agrees, saying he will go with the lords and vassals to see if the things they say are true.
The next day, Ji Chang’s son, Ji Kao, leaves with an entourage from Fengjing to meet with King Zhou of Shang, with Ji Chang telling Ji Kao he will join him in Yinxu after he is done with his fact finding tour. After Ji Kao leaves, Ji Chang tells his second son, Ji Fa, that he will be in charge of the lands until Ji Chang returns. Ji Fa bows and accepts the responsibility as Ji Chang climbs on board with his entourage and leaves Fengjing with the lords and vassals. Ji Fa tells his mother he has an awful feeling about what will happen and Tai Si, looking to the north and seeing clouds forming, watches her husband leave. His fact finding mission will last six years.
The things Ji Chang sees on his fact finding mission sink his heart. People are starving, floods have ravaged the lands, bandits and thieves run amok with little punishment, law and order has all but collapsed and natural disasters have occurred at a regular clockwork. Overwhelmed by this, Ji Chang decides it is time to present this to the King.
Ji Kao arrives in Yinxu in Summer of 1067BCE and is horrified at what he sees. The people live in squaller and destitution. There is no fire in the peasants’ eyes. They walk around lifeless and almost catatonic, simply going through the motions, hoping to find enough food to keep them alive and make it to another day. Ji Kao arrives at the palace and is brought inside to private chambers. Again, he is horrified by what he sees as a display of abuse and decadence. Inside the palace, for the amusement of Su Da Ji, Di Xin has built lake of wine and a forest of meat, complete with boats. Naked people drink from the lake and eat from the trees. Ji Kao’s presence is announced and Di Xin lifts his head to see from a boat in the middle of the lake. From under him, a half naked Su Da Ji looks up to see Ji Kao, extremely handsome, muscular and well put together. She instantly views him as a prize.
That night, there is a huge banquet in Ji Kao’s honor. Di Xin informs the guests that Ji Kao is well renounced as a musician and singer and asks Ji Kao to give a performance. Ji Kao, shy, gets up slowly, picks up a zither （古琴） and plays something as beautifully and majestically as he can. While he plays, Su Da Ji begins whispering in one of her servant’s ears. After, the servant begins pouring wine into Di Xin’s glass, always making sure the glass is topped off. Su Da Ji begins making seductive eyes at Ji Kao. When he is finished, Su Da Ji stands to applaud first, followed by an extremely drunken Di Xin and then the rest of the Court follows suit. Drunkenly, Di Xin says he has had the realm’s best composers write something and the best musicians play and act out music for his love, Su Da Ji, who smiles, claps and says she loves music. Di Xin snaps his fingers and music playing actors and actresses come to play and act one of the most bawdy and inappropriate displays ever seen. Ji Kao is embarrassed, Li Tian and the rest of the Court are horrified, bu Su Da Ji stands up and plants a huge wet kiss on Di Xin’s lips, who smiles and promptly passes out from the alcohol. Su Da Ji dismisses the Court and Ji Kao shakes his head. Su Da Ji walks up to him and, very seductively, tells him the the King likes the gifts that were given to him and she will plead Ji Kao’s case before the King when the King is able to listen. Ji Kao bows and leaves. In the background, Li Yue watches.
That night, in Ji Kao’s chambers, Ji Kao writes in a journal but is interrupted by someone knocking on his door. Ji Kao opens the door to see Li Tian, Di Bi Gan and Mei Bo standing, wanting a discussion. Surprised by the appearances, Ji Kao lets them in.
Ji Kao sits and asks if the King had also been as mad as he appears, because Ji Kao remembers a time when they went hunting before Di Xin was king and Di Xin appeared lucent and sane. Di Bi Gan says that the King is completely infatuated with Su Da Ji and that he does everything to keep her happy and by his side. Ji Kao does not understand how one woman can do this to one man, but sees how Su Da Ji has taken over the King’s mind. Li Tian explains that Su Da Ji is a vile, sadistic woman that gets pleasure watching other people’s torment. Li Tian says that Su Da Ji uses “science” as a way to mask her sick tormenting. He relates a time when they were walking on the streets of Yinxu and Su Da Ji, with the concubines and a few of the royal advisers, saw a pregnant woman. Su Da Ji was curious what happened inside the woman, so she ordered a soldier to do a public vivisection on the woman in order to see, much to the horror of all nearby. Li Tian shakes his head in regret has he relates the terror in the pregnant peasant’s eyes and how powerless he was to stop it. Mei Bo explains that the King is losing the army behind him, that the generals are afraid of him and that soldiers are disserting left and right. Di Bi Gan explains that the King has stolen their pay and refuses to allocate the money. He dictates the punishment meted out on a cruel device Su Da Ji had invented called the Paolao (炮烙 , but before he can explain it, the doors swing open and imperial guards inform Ji Kao that Su Da Ji requires his presence in her chambers at once.
Ji Kao then sits in Su Da Ji’s chambers, waiting for her to arrive. He looks out the window to hear yelling. He sees two soldiers dragging a man, screaming he did nothing wrong and not to kill him. As Ji Kao watches, Su Da Ji appears behind him and tells him that the man won’t be harmed. She asked for him to be brought to the palace because she has questions about how he lives his life. Ji Kao begins to turn around, but Su Da Ji tells him to be a good man and do what he tells her. She lays on the bed and says that she likes strong, virile, handsome men. She compliments Tai Si for raising such an amazing looking man then asks him if he’s ever been with a real woman before. Ji Kao replies his wife has been chosen and thanks Su Da Ji for asking, but wants to discuss his issues with her and try to stop the persecution of the Zhou people. Su Da Ji laughs and says she has no interest in that and that the King is just her toy, but the toy is getting boring, that she is looking for a new toy and the Ji family of Zhou provide the best toys. She then tells him to turn around. As he does, he hears a blood curdling scream from outside.
Ji Kao sees Su Da Ji wearing only undergarments sitting on the bed. Ji Kao tells Su Da Ji he does not want to be with her in this fashion and begins to leave. Su Da Ji grabs him and says that no man tells her no, then proceeds to push him on the bed, and climb on top of him. Ji Kao pushes her off and calls her insane. Su Da Ji laughs and says she likes rough times with men. Ji Kao pushes himself off, opens the door, says a few nasty things to her and leaves. Su Da Ji stares at the doorway with evil in her heart as a soldier comes in with two severed feet, bloody. He salutes and holds the feet in front of him. Su Da Ji smiles, tells him to put them on the desk and to get her examining equipment. Su Da Ji sits and stares at the blackened, bloody feet, asking herself how can a peasant walk barefoot on ice without wincing in pain.
As Ji Kao walks to his chambers, Li Yue, from the shadows, asks Ji Kao if what he said was true. . .if his wife had already been chosen. Ji Kao says it was a lie said in order to get out of that horrible situation. Ji Kao invites Li Yue into his room, where Li Yue wraps her arms around Ji Kao and tells him how terrified she is of Di Xin. Everyone is. Ji Kao begins to explain that maybe his father is correct and that the King has lost his mandate to rule. Li Yue begs Ji Kao to take her and her father away to the Lands of Zhou when he leaves. Ji Kao says he will and Li Yue kisses his lips.
The next day, Ji Kao comes out to the lake of wine and sees hundreds of men swimming in the lake, drinking the alcohol. Li Yue watches this from the background. Ji Kao bows to Di Xin and begins to request a counsel with the King. The King yells at the peasants in the lake to keep swimming and drinking, to enjoy the alcohol. Ji Kao is given five minutes. He looks at the lake and sees the men getting drunk and still swimming. Ji Kao pleads his case of the Zhou people to the King, who hasn’t the slightest interest in listening. Di Xin watches one person sink under the alcohol and laughs, then asks Ji Kao why he and his father weren’t at the taking of Yousu ten years earlier. Ji Kao begins to say that the King ordered Ji Chang behind to make sure the southern border was protected and that Ji Chang was personally ordered to lead the army, that Ji Chang and the two sons could not be two places at once. Five more bodies sink under the alcohol and Di Xin starts applauding and telling the peasants not to stop until they can’t drink anymore. Di Xin then turns to Ji Kao and tells him that order should not have been followed and that supporting the King’s conquests was more important. With that, one of the peasants in the lake begins screaming for help, that he is drowning. Di Xin laughs and tells the peasant to keep drinking. Horrified, Li Yue begins to protest and begs Di Xin to pulls the men out of the water before they all die. Di Xin tells Li Yue that no woman will ever tell him what to do. Li Yue screams she knows what happened to the last woman that did that, but that the King lets Su Da Ji control her. Instantly, Di Xin flies into a rage, grabs Li Yue by the head and puts her head under the alcohol until the bubbles stop. Ji Kao tries to stop the murder, but Imperial soldiers hold him back. When the body floats motionlessly in the alcohol, Di Xin stands up and looks up to see Su Da Ji laughing and motioning for Di Xin to come up to her chambers. As he passes Ji Kao, Di Xin looks at him and says death comes to all that betray the King. Di Xin then orders his troops to pull the body from the lake and find “the traitor’s father.” As the soldiers do, more and more men in the lake succumb to their death.
Ji Kao sits in his chambers with guards at the door to prevent him from leaving when Jiang Zi Ya enters the room. Jiang Zi Ya sits down in front of Ji Kao and begins to relate how the King was one of his prized students. As he does, Jiang Ke comes in with food and drink, then stands in the background. Jiang Zi Ya motions for his slave to join them eating. While eating, Jiang Zi Ya explains that the Shang lands are sick and the disease killing it cannot be done away with easily because the immune system is corrupted to protect the disease. The disease needs to be extended until the immune system turns against it. But one must be patient. Ji Kao barely understands, and asks Jiang Zi Ya what he fears. Jiang Zi Ya says he’s old and fears nothing except what would happen to his daughter if something were to happen to him. But with Jiang Ke nearby, he knows his daughter will be safe. Ji Kao asks if the mission his father gave him is in vain. Jiang Zi Ya simply responds that it would be in vain if the mission didn’t happen, since the disease would continue.
That night, a visibly shaken Ji Kao sits in the banquet hall with the rest of the Court, sitting next to Jiang Zi Ya. The porters bring out the meal to those waiting. Di Xin stands and says that the meal is in honor of Li Tian, who can not be with them, but is there in spirit and wishes him peace. Su Da Ji laughs. Everyone toasts and sits to eat. Jiang Zi Ya whispers to Ji Kao to watch himself, because the vector for the disease sees Ji Kao as a healthy immunity. Di Xin looks over to Ji Kao and asks him when he will return to Fengjing. Ji Kao says after his father arrives from a fact finding mission. Su Da Ji says that it is a shame Li Tian didn’t join Ji Chang, as Ji Chang may need another fool on his fool’s errand. Soon, the discussion descends into a lambasting of the poor and social Darwinism, where Ji Kao admits that the lord and vassals have done little to help the poor. Su Da Ji laughs and tells him the poor are there to be used and thrown away by their King. Di Xin, bored, asks Ji Kao if he could play the Ocarina (埙）. Ji Kao says he can and Di Xin asks for a demonstration. Ji Kao begins to play, but a few seconds into his playing, Su Da Ji begins whispering in Di Xin’s ear. Di Xin’s merriment turns into anger. Ji Kao, ignoring it, continues playing. After a little while, Di Xin flies into a rage and orders Ji Kao arrested for playing music insulting to the King. Soldiers pounce on Ji Kao and haul him away. Jiang Zi Ya looks at Di Xin and then at his meal. He notices that there is a different texture to the meal and asks what he’s eating. Di Xin simply says “food made from an old traitor’s recipe.” To which, Su Da ji raises her glass, laughs and toasts a good meal made with Li Tian.
Jiang Zi Ya begins to explain how he is going mad. The King and his woman have all but driven a wedge between the advisers and the army. Everyone is now fighting with everyone else, while the King and “the woman” do nothing except be as brutal to all under them as possible. He begins to fear that nothing will enable the end to the suffering. Di Bi Gan and Mei Bo try to run the realm, but without the King’s approval, nothing happens. The peasants starve while the King dines on fine food with golden chopsticks. Jiang Zi Ya falls into self loathing, saying he is too old to do what needs to be done.
One day in late Autumn in 1063BCE, Ji Chang and the other lords and vassals arrive at the Imperial Palace to find conditions even more deplorable than before. People are skeletons, farms are bare and empty and rats as big as small dogs eat the bodies of those who died of starvation. Ji Chang cannot believe the Shang King would let his capital of Yinxu get to this level of decay, but considering the things he has seen in his fact finding mission, he is not surprised.
At the gate, Ji Chang is met by Su Da Ji and a young four year old child, Di Wu Geng, the royal prince, who Ji Chang bows to and then to his mother. Su Da Ji says the King is honored by an esteemed guest like Ji Chang of Zhou and all the lords and vassals of the realm. Ji Chang, maintaining civility, remains calm and asks for council with the King, as the lords and vassals have concerns about the state of the Realm. Su Da Ji said the King was expecting them and that the King is waiting for their arrival.
Upon entering the room, the Imperial soldiers grab a now 89 year old Ji Chang and Di Xin berates him for being a traitor. Di Xin screams that the other lords and vassals look to Ji Chang as a hero and that Ji Chang’s power has grown too great. Su Da Ji tells him to execute the man, but Di Bi Gan tells his nephew Di Xin that executing Ji Chang will turn all the lords against him and that Di Xin is barely holding on to his throne at the present. Di Xin, in a moment of clarity, orders Ji Chang imprisoned in the prison of Youli, a sentence to be carried out immediately. Ji Chang is carried away and Di Bi Gan thanks his nephew for his wisdom.
That night, while he sleeps, Imperial soldiers enter the chambers of Di Bi Gan and holds him down. Panicked, Di Bi Gan looks around to see Su Da Ji standing over him. She tells Di Bi Gan that he is a good man. She tells him of an ancient saying that "a good man's heart has seven apertures.” She tells Di Bi Gan she wants to know if this is true as she pulls out a long dagger to a screaming, terrified Di Bi Gan.
Jiang Zi Ya hears the screaming and shakes his head. He walks into his daughter’s room, tells his now teenaged daughter they must leave the palace and to just do the things he says for her to do with no argument or questions. Yi Jiang agrees. Jiang Zi Ya looks up to see Jiang Ke looking at him. Jiang Zi Ya shakes his head and Jiang Ke runs out of the room, yelling that his master has gone insane. Soldiers enter the room to see Jiang Zi Ya holding a knife to Yi Jiang’s throat screaming the evil has to leave the body. Di Xin walks in and sees his trusted teacher and mentor about to kill his own daughter. Su Da Ji, holding a normal human heart in her hand, sees this as well and says she is always ready to watch someone die and to kill the child slow in order to make the murder more enjoyable for her. Di Xin screams this cannot happen. Instantly, Jiang Ke jumps in and wrestles the knife away from Jiang Zi Ya. The soldiers, under an order from Su Da Ji, move in to execute Jiang Zi Ya, but Jiang Ke begs the King to let him take this “tired, weak old man” away so he will not be a bother to anyone else. The soldiers pick up Jiang Zi Ya and wait for the order to kill, but Di Xin puts up his hand. The soldiers release Jiang Zi Ya and Di Xin orders Jiang Zi Ya to take his slave, his belongings and his daughter and leave the palace forever, stating that Jiang Zi Ya’s usefulness was over now that he is insane. As Jiang Zi Ya leaves, he puts his hand on Mei Bo’s shoulder and tell Mei Bo to take care of himself.
Jiang Zi Ya dictates that he moved his daughter to safety of the shores of the Wei River, fishing while his slave Jiang Ke tends to his daughter and the household effects. Sometimes Jiang Zi Ya sits on the dock fishing without bait or a hook, explaining to his daughter that the fish would come to his line under their own power when they were ready to come. Pressuring them means little. Jiang Zi Ya also dictates that for the next five years, the lords and vassals that trusted Ji Chang tried to buy his release from prison with favors, gifts, alcohol and women. But when Su Da Ji convinced Di Xin that his advanced age of 94 would mean whatever power Ji Chang had would die with him, Di Xin released the old Duke and allowed him to return home. However, the old man makes an unscheduled stop before going home.
In late 1057BCE, Ji Chang comes to the small home of Jiang Zi Ya with a small entourage. Jiang Zi Ya welcomes them and has Jiang Ke prepare a meal for them. On the dock, the 94 years old Ji Chang and the 72 year old Jiang Zi Ya discuss their prison hell: Ji Chang’s time in Youli and Jiang Zi Ya’s time in Yinxu. Jiang Zi Ya explains that Di Xin is a plague and needs to be stopped before he consumes another soul. Ji Chang says when he gets home, he will hear from his son Ji Kao and will make his decision about Di Xin after talking to his son. Jiang Zi Ya says that may not happen then asks if, while in prison, Ji Chang was ever fed Bao Zi. Ji Chang says yes, to which Jiang Zi Ya reveals the meat for that Bao Zi was made from the remains of his murdered son. With that, Jiang Zi Ya pulls his hookless fishing line out of the water with a fish on it, looks at Ji Chang and asks “Has the fish finally come to me under its own volition?” Ji Chang stands, looks at his hands and says his old body has no more tears and it is time for war to come. With that, Jiang Zi Ya, Yi Jiang, Jiang Ke and Ji Chang ride for Fengjing.
ACT THREE
After 12 years away from home, Ji Chang finally returns to his palace in Fengjing to find Tai Si has died and his son, Ji Fa, has grown into a very strong, capable man, even more so than his oldest son, Ji Kao. Jiang Zi Ya sees this as well and allows Ji Fa to spend time with his daughter, something Yi Jiang accepts immediately. The two walk on the shores of the Wei River, talking about their childhoods and how long it has been since they had seen each other last. Yi Jiang asks if Ji Fa has had a wife chosen for him. He replies in the negative and asks the same. Yi Jiang says her father has not found any man that fits the idea of a good husband. Ji Fa smiles and says they are both still young and their fathers know what is best.
Ji Chang, that night, explains to his son, that it is time for war, but that he is too old to fight it. He then tells Ji Fa the fate of his brother. Filled with vengeance, Ji Fa swears to bring Di Xin to his knees. Jiang Zi Ya tells him the time is not ready yet, but that the other lords and vassals in the southern part of the realm are waiting for the Zhou to take the lead and will join the Zhou in war, but something needs to happen first. He then orders Jiang Ke to go to Yinxu and tell the King Jiang Ke escaped from Jiang Zi Ya and he wanted to return to the safety of the palace. As Jiang Ke leaves, Jiang Zi Ya wishes him well and tells him they will meet him again. After Jiang Ke leaves, Jiang Zi Ya explains that Di Xin will put the slave in the slave quarters.
Soon after, the other lords and vassals arrive at Fengjing with many soldiers, prepared for war and explain to Jiang Zi Ya and Ji Chang that Di Xin is moving his army against the kingdoms of Dongyi (东夷） (modern day Shandong) and that now may be the perfect time to strike. However, before war plans can be drawn up, Ji Chang, at the age of 96, succumbs to age and dies peacefully in his sleep. At his funeral, Ji Fa announces that his father’s dream was the end of the reign of the tyrant Di Xin and it is now time to make that happen. All those attending lift their weapons and war is declared.
The Zhou armies run through the southern part of the realm, attacking all towns, killing those employed by the Shang and opening the army to all that wanted to see the end of Di Xin. Peasants join the army in droves.
In Yinxu, Di Xin hears about the fall of his southern border and calls in Jiang Ke to explain what his former master was doing. He said the old man is not the leader of the rebellion, but the son of Ji Chang. Di Xin calls in Mei Bo and demands that the army be outfitted for war. Mei Bo says that the army has shrunk in size and may not be loyal to the King anymore. Di Xin blames this all on Mei Bo. Mei Bo replies that Di Xin has killed most of his loyal advisers and generals, sapping the strength of virtue from his rule. Enraged by this lack of loyalty, Di Xin sentences Mei Bo to death through beating.
Su Da Ji sees this and says beating the traitor would not be the best punishment because the evil needs to be burned out of Mei Bo. With that, Mei Bo is dragged by imperial soldiers to the Paolao, a large, over twenty foot tall execution device with three levels of burning fire from burning charcoal; and two wheels to move it around like a chariot. Before his death, Mei Bo curses Di Xin and Su Da Ji, telling them he is not afraid of death and that he hopes Ji Fa’s rebellion successfully ends Di Xin’s reign of horror and stupidity. Mei Bo is then stripped naked and is thrown into the Paolao. While inside, loud blood-curdling screams are heard as Di Xin and Su Da Ji laugh and become sexually aroused, while all those around them stand in complete horror of the display. Di Xin then orders Jiang Ke to equip the slaves with weapons with the promise that those that fight for him will gain freedom when the rebellion is crushed.
At the Mengjin River Ford, the Zhou army is intercepted by another army. Outnumbered, the Zhou say they will fight to the death. However, the army are of those vassals and lords that hadn’t turned against Di Xin yet. They explain they heard about the death of Mei Bo, a man they respected. This was the sign they needed to show Di Xin had lost the mandate to rule and that they were behind the Duke of Zhou, Ji Fa. Ji Fa looks to Jiang Zi Ya, who tells him the patience has paid off and now is the time to attack.
Outside of the capital of Yinxu, in the small village of Muye on the night before the attack, Ji Fa sits in his tent looking over the huge army of the Shang. Yi Jiang comes up behind him and tells him he needs to be careful because no one can replace him. Ji Fa smiles and accept the worry. Yi Jiang tells him that he will be remembered and that the heavens have said that Ji Fa is destined to rule. Ji Fa looks at Yi Jiang and kisses her. Jiang Zi Ya walks up and informs Ji Fa that most of the army defending the gates of Yinxu are conscripted slaves and that the time is right for the Shang collapse.
In the morning, the Zhou awaken to see a massive amount of people walking towards them. Ji Fa orders his troops to attention and to prepare for war. Ji Fa finds Jiang Zi Ya and says the attack wasn’t supposed to happen. Jiang Zi Ya, looking through his telescope, says this is not an attack because no one is in orderly lines. Jiang Zi Ya looks through the crowd walking towards them and finds what he is looking for: Jiang Ke leading the slaves conscripted into battle that defected from the Shang army. Jiang Zi Ya waits for the slaves to come to the Zhou side and Jiang Ke to explain that the defection broke the spirit of the Shang because many soldiers are disserting. Jiang Zi Ya looks at Ji Fa and orders the attack immediately.
The Zhou army descends onto the Shang army, but many of the troops on the Shang side turn their spears upside down and drive their swords into the ground, refusing to fight and running back into the city. However, the fight is still brutal and bloody as, with all the defection, the Shang army still outnumbers the Zhou army 4:1. However, morale breaks quickly as the Zhou are much better trained and much more vicious as their morale is higher. As the defensive line of the Shang begins to fall, Jiang Zi Ya orders Ji Fa to launch a chariot charge through the center of the line, breaking it. Di Xin, watching the battle, sees this and runs into the palace, destroying any last vestige of Shang morale as the remaining Shang troops fall into chaos and are routed. The loyal Shang soldiers surrender, but the Zhou show them no mercy and the pent up hatred and rage comes out as the slaughter of all loyal Shang soldiers continues well into the night.
Ji Fa and his royal guard storm the city, expecting a fight, but the people are so starved and weak, they do nothing. When reaching the palace, Jiang Ke’s sabotage effectively opens the doors of the palace. All imperial forces refuse to fight and sit down, only to be slaughtered without mercy.
In a back room, Di Xin dresses himself in the finest of silk, adorns himself with jewelry and lays on a bed as two of his imperial guard carry torches toward him. From down the hall, Ji Fa and his royal guard make it to the back room, break in the door and see Di Xin’s dead body burning on a bed. The Zhou royal guard slaughters all in the room, but Ji Fa takes one Imperial Guard and screams for him to reveal Su Da Ji’s location. The guard, terrified, does after violent persuading and then is run through by Ji Fa. Ji Fa orders his guards to follow him but not to hurt Su Da Ji. However, Ji Fa finds Su Da Ji first trying to escape with a bag filled with gold. Ji Fa drops his sword and shield and stalks toward Su Da Ji. She is terrified and begins to bargain to save her life. Ji Fa pulls out a long dagger and lists the crimes she is guilty of. Su Da Ji cowers and begs for her life. Ji Fa grabs her by the hair and tells her the moment she had his brother murdered was the day her life ended. Ji Fa lifts the dagger.
From the outside, the slaughter begins to conclude as the peasants and the soldiers walk to the square in front of the imperial palace. They look up to see Ji Fa standing next to Jiang Zi Ya. Ji Fa holds up the severed head of Su Da Ji to the cheers of Zhou Wu Wang and Long Live King Zhou! From the platform overlooking Yinxu and the battlefield, Jiang Zi Ya tells Zhou Wen Wang that his father and brother would be proud. Zhou Wu Wang says they would and that he will marry Yi Jiang.
The movie ends with an epilogue explaining Zhou Wu Wang ruled for only three years until he died abruptly. This brought a rebellion against the Zhou by the son of Di Xin, but it was suppressed within three years. After the Di Wu Geng rebellion, China would enter its longest era of peace in its long history of over 800 years, bringing the world the teachings of both Confucius and Daoism of Lao zi as well as many of the inventions that China is known for. All of this would set the stage for China to be unified under China’s first emperor, Shi Huang Di of the Qin.
CHARACTERS
XIA DYNASTY (夏朝）
Mo Xi (末喜）
Xia Jie （夏桀）
SHANG DYNASTY (商朝）
Zi Lv (Shang Tang) - overthrows Xia Dynasty （商汤）
Di Yi - Emperor of Shang Dynasty （帝乙）
Di Xin (Shang Zhou) - main antagonist （商纣王）
Jiang Zi Ya - General and scholar （姜子牙）
Yi Jiang - Jiang Zi Ya’s daughter (邑姜）
Li Yue - Consort to Di Xin （季月）
Li Tian - Lord, Li Yue’s father （季天）
Su Hu - Da Ji’s father （蘇护）
Su Da Ji - Di Xin’s prized concubine （蘇妲己
Di Bi Gan - Shang Zhou’s uncle （帝比干）
Di Ji Zi - Shang Zhou’s uncle （帝继子）
Di Wu Geng - Shang Zhou’s son （帝吴庚）
Jiang Ke - Slave to Jiang Zi Ya （姜科）
Mei Bo - Di Xin’s trusted adviser （枚博）
ZHOU DYNASTY （周朝）
Ji Chang (Zhou Wen Wang) - King （周文王）（姬昌
Ji Fa (Zhou Wu Wang) - His second son （周武王）（姬发）
Tai Si - His wife, ancestor to Da Yu (太姒
Ji Kao (Bo Yikao) - His first son (姬考