Puppet*

“Was it really wrong to build the torture pillars, the wine pools and meat forests, and the pit of poisonous snakes? But King Zhou was happy. Was it really wrong to build the Star-Picking Tower and Deer Terrace? Yet no one ever mentioned it.” Kneeling on a thick carpet, she rested her head on his knees and murmured to herself. Then all fell silent.

You fiend! You committed evil for no reason, slaughtered the innocent, and devoured human flesh without end, bringing the whole realm of Shang into ruin. Though it was Heaven's decree, how could you indulge your lust and kill people, urge King Zhou to build torture pillars and cruelly execute loyal advisers, set up a pit of poisonous snakes to torment the palace women, and build Deer Terrace to amass all the realm's wealth for wine pools and meat forests, costing lives within the palace? You even cracked bones to examine the marrow and cut open pregnant women to inspect their unborn children. Such atrocities are unforgivable. Heaven, earth, gods, and men all rage against you. Even eating your flesh and sleeping on your skin would not be punishment enough. Ziya said, “Take him outside the camp gate and behead him as a warning to all.”

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