Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 3.djvu/170

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136
THE SHÛ KING.
PART V.

3. On the day Wû-wû, the army crossed the ford of Măng, and on Kwei-hâi it was drawn up in array in the borders of Shang, waiting for the gracious decision of Heaven. On Kiâ-zze, at early dawn, Shâu led forward his troops, (looking) like a forest, and assembled them in the wild of . But they offered no opposition to our army. Those in the front inverted their spears, and attacked those behind them, till they fled; and the blood flowed till it floated the pestles of the mortars. Thus did (king ) once don his armour, and the kingdom was grandly settled. He overturned the (existing) rule of Shang, and made government resume its old course. He delivered the count of Khî from prison, and raised a mound over the grave of Pî-kan. He bowed forward to the cross-bar of his carriage at the gate of Shang Yung's village[1]. He dispersed the treasures of the Stag Tower[2] and distributed the grain of Kü-khiâo[3], thus conferring great gifts on all within the four seas, so that the people joyfully submitted to him.

He arranged the nobles in five orders[4], assigning the territories to them according to a threefold


  1. Shang Yung must have been some worthy in disgrace with Shâu, and living in the retirement of his village.
  2. The Stag Tower was the name of a place in the present department of Wei-hui, Ho-nan, where Shâu had accumulated great treasures. He fled to it after his defeat, and burned himself to death; but it would appear he had not succeeded in consuming at the same time all his wealth.
  3. Kü-khiâo was in the present district of Khü-kâu, department Kwang-phing, Kih-lî, where Shâu had collected great stores of grain.
  4. Dukes, marquises, earls, counts, and barons.