Chapter 9: The Fall of the Bronze Pillar
News of Chentang Pass's fall reached the Shang capital, sending shockwaves through the royal court. King Zhou, however, refused to accept the reality of his situation. He ordered the construction of more torture devices and increased the persecution of anyone who questioned his leadership.
The infamous Bronze Pillar stood in the center of the palace courtyard, a symbol of the king's cruelty and madness. Prisoners were forced to embrace the heated pillar, their screams echoing through the palace walls. The court officials lived in constant fear of becoming the next victims.
Jiang Ziya, learning of these atrocities, decided that the time had come to strike at the heart of the Shang Dynasty. He assembled his most trusted warriors and prepared for the final assault on the capital. The moral imperative was clear: the tyrant must be stopped.
The Zhou army approached the capital with determination. The city's defenses were strong, but the morale of the defenders was low. Many soldiers had witnessed the king's cruelty firsthand and questioned their loyalty to such a ruler.
Inside the city, resistance movements began to form. Common people and lower-ranking officials secretly communicated with the Zhou forces, offering intelligence and assistance. The king's grip on power was slipping, and his own people were turning against him.
The final battle for the capital began at dawn. Zhou forces attacked from multiple directions, overwhelming the disorganized Shang defenses. Nezha and Yang Jian led the charge, their supernatural powers cutting through the remaining resistance.
King Zhou, realizing that his reign was over, retreated to his palace. He ordered his servants to build a great fire, choosing death over capture. The Bronze Pillar, symbol of his cruelty, stood empty as the tyrant met his end. The Shang Dynasty had fallen, and a new era was about to begin.