King Wu of Zhou Ji Fa was the founding king of the Western Zhou dynasty and the second son of King Wen. He inherited the throne because his elder brother Boyikao was massacred by King Zhou of Shang.
His father, King Wen, had been in power for fifty years and made a lot of preparations to destroy business. He reformed internal affairs, developed production, worked hard to govern, governed the country with virtue, and treated the virtuous and corporal. Soon, the Zhou Dynasty prospered.
Following in the footsteps of his father, after Ji Fa succeeded to the throne, he valued virtuous people internally. He also continued to use Jiang Taigong as his military adviser, and appointed his younger brother Ji Dan as Dazai , Zhao Gong , Bi Gong , Kang. Uncle , Dan Ji and other good ministers are all in their respective positions, talents are gathered, and politics is flourishing.
Externally, he strived to unite more vassal states, isolate the Shang Dynasty , and strengthen his own power.
At this time, the Shang Dynasty was under the rule of the tyrant King Zhou . Although it was very corrupt politically, it still had strong military strength. King Wu assessed the situation, actively prepared conditions for the destruction of business, and waited for the opportunity. After he ascended the throne, in order to facilitate the attack on Chaoge, the Shang capital (in today's Henan Province), he moved the capital from Feng (today's west bank of Fengshui River southwest of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province) to Hao (today's east bank of Fengshui River southwest of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province), and then held a famous battle in history. "Meng Jin observes the troops."
This military observation is actually a military exercise to prepare for the destruction of business. He led his army to go west to pay homage to King Wen's mausoleum in Biyuan (now Chang'an County, Shaanxi Province), and then turned east to Chaoge .
The army arrived at Mengjin (now northeast of Mengjin County, Henan Province) on the south bank of the Yellow River. Eight hundred princes heard the news and came to participate. It can also be said that it is what the people want, to protect the Zhou Dynasty, the situation of King Zhou of Shang being isolated and helpless has been formed, and all the princes have urged King Wu to march to Chaoge immediately.
King Wu and Jiang Taigong believed that the time was not yet ripe. They had been waiting for an opportunity and a mature reason. If they advanced rashly, it would only lead to going upstream. Therefore, after the army crossed the Yellow River, they ordered the entire army to return. He also warned everyone not to act too hastily by saying, "You don't know destiny."
Although some people are puzzled and feel that they have missed the best opportunity, small impatience will mess up big plans. Those who achieve great things must look forward and backward, and have a long-term vision.
After another two years, King Wu learned that King Zhou was even more foolish and immoral. The good ministers Bigan and Jizi gave loyal advice, one was killed and the other was imprisoned.
King Wu vaguely felt that the time had come. He studied with Jiang Shang and believed that the conditions for destroying the merchants were completely mature. He decisively decided to send troops to attack the merchants and notified all the vassal states to march towards Chaoge.
Before departure, Taishi made a divination. It was a bad omen for this trip. All the officials were shocked and worried about King Wu Jifa. However, King Wu was determined. He said that he did not believe in ghosts and gods, and he led three hundred troops. Three thousand Cheng and Guards warriors and forty to fifty thousand soldiers marched towards Chaoge.
King Zhou heard that Zhou soldiers had arrived, and mobilized soldiers from the capital, and then armed prisoners, slaves, and prisoners of war, and raised a total of 170,000 troops to greet them. The two sides began the historically famous Battle of Makino.
After the decisive battle began, the morale of the Zhou army was high and they charged bravely. Shang Zhou's army collapsed under the Zhou army's fierce offensive. Those slaves and prisoners who were forced to participate in the war were unwilling to sacrifice their lives for King Zhou. Instead, they regarded King Wu as their savior and turned the spearhead to guide the Zhou army into Chaoge. Seeing that the situation was over, King Zhou boarded the Lutai and burned himself to death. This led to the demise of the Shang Dynasty.
After King Wu destroyed the Shang Dynasty, he adopted many political policies and measures in order to win over people's hearts and consolidate the newly established political power. First, it adopted the method of ruling Yin with Yin and divided and conquered it to appease the survivors of the Yin Shang Dynasty; secondly, it adopted the strategy of feudal state and implemented rule over the whole country, which at that time played a role in consolidating and strengthening the rule of the country.
Later, in order to consolidate the national power, King Wu thought day and night and could not sleep well. He also discussed with Zhou Gongdan the construction of Dongfang in Luoyi (today's Luoyang City, Henan Province), which was considered to be among the best in the world at that time. All , control of the East.
Unfortunately, he failed to realize this plan and died two years after destroying Shang.King Wu of Zhou established a new dynasty to replace the decayed old dynasty and became one of the few famous kings in history, praised by future generations. Later generations of Confucian scholars included him in the ranks of saints and became a role model for emperors.
