Bo Yikao nodded and frowned, saying, "Father, after all, you are the chief among the vassals of Great Shang. To rise in revolt against one's sovereign is an act of great rebellion and against the Heavenly Dao! Therefore, I think Father should submit a memorial advising the King of Shang to repent and mend his ways, rather than raising an army in rebellion."

"How could this be rebellion!"

Ji Fa said displeased: "Father's intention is simply to purge the court and slay demon fiends! We are enacting justice on behalf of the Heavenly Dao!"

"What justice on behalf of the Heavenly Dao?" Bo Yikao retorted: "If we now raise our troops against Shang, that would be seizing the throne and power, executing the king, disregarding the norms of Heaven and Earth!"

Ji Fa, being spoken to in such a manner, also lost his temper and defended himself: "How could this be considered seizing the throne and power! The people of Great Shang are suffering terribly, and the common folk are in endless misery. If we do not rescue them, wouldn't that be even more in line with the Heavenly Dao?"

Bo Yikao shook his head and said: "Nonsense! Water can carry a boat and can also overturn it. We are all vassals of Great Shang, graced by its benevolence. How could we stab it in the back during its time of crisis?"

"The fate of Great Shang has ended, and King Zhou is tyrannical and unprincipled; the foundations of Tang's realm have long been tottering!" Ji Fa said urgently: "If we don't act now, I'm afraid others will seize the opportunity before us!"

Hearing this made Bo Yikao reply impatiently: "You really are intending to take advantage of the situation to seize Great Shang, and all this talk of purging the court and slaying demon fiends is just a pretext!"

"I..."

Ji Fa, accused in such a way, immediately became indignant.

"I am also considering the future of our Xi Qi, not just exclusively for Great Shang like you, eldest brother! Moreover, with Huang Feihu leading his troops out to suppress rebellion, Chaoge will surely be left vulnerable to attack. If we don't send out our troops now, we might never have the chance again!"

Seeing his emotional state, Bo Yikao did not continue the argument, but simply watched him quietly and remarked indifferently: "If that is truly the case, then I think you should not be too hasty for war."

He spoke calmly, without joy or sorrow: "Even if we truly need to purge the court and slay demon fiends, Xi Qi is still far from ready to take action against Shang. At this time, we should keep a low profile and accumulate strength, preparing for the future."

"Hmph!"

Ji Fa snorted coldly, feeling frustrated inside.

Although everyone was brothers, this person always seemed to go against him.

"Alright, all of you go back now, I'll think about it further."

Seeing the two sons argumentative and at an impasse, Ji Chang simply had them both dismissed.

"Yes." Everyone bowed and left the hall.

Ji Chang, watching the two sons leave, felt unsettled.

He knew that these two sons were not mediocre and that they were definitely key to Xi Qi's future, which was why he wanted to hear their genuine perspectives.

Now, having heard the arguments of both, he felt that they each had a point.

If the eldest son, Bo Yikao, were to take over Xi Qi in the future, he would likely be a benevolent ruler; if the second son, Ji Fa, were to take over, he would be a courageous and resolute king.

How should he choose?

He needed to think it over carefully.

...

Ji Fa returned to his own room, the more he thought about it, the more depressed he became.

He felt that although his elder brother Bo Yikao was learned and had far-reaching insights, he was being too conservative regarding this matter.

Now that Great Shang was in decline and the people were not making a living, suffering in desperate conditions, should they still stick to conventions and do nothing?

"Right, Father mentioned that the matter of attacking Shang was proposed by Prime Minister Jiang Ziya. It seems I will have to discuss it with him properly." Ji Fa thought for a moment, then sent someone to call for an ox cart, and prepared some gifts to take to the Prime Minister's Mansion.

This time, his visit was to personally ask Jiang Ziya.

Ji Fa proceeded on his way and soon arrived at the Prime Minister's Mansion.

"My respects to the Prime Minister."

After alighting from the ox cart, Ji Fa bowed respectfully to Jiang Ziya.

"Second Prince, what brings you here at this moment?" Jiang Ziya stepped forward with a feigned limp, helping Ji Fa up.

"I've come to seek the advice of the Prime Minister," Ji Fa followed him into the mansion and said directly: "Just now, my elder brother and I discussed the current affair of attacking Shang before our father, and I have some doubts I would like to consult with the Prime Minister about."

"Oh?" Jiang Ziya smiled and said: "Please speak frankly, Second Prince."

"I heard that the Prime Minister was once a member of the Shang, and you must be very familiar with the situation of Great Shang," Ji Fa started with a polite remark, then asked: "What do you think are the odds of success in attacking Shang now?"

Jiang Ziya, upon hearing this, was silent for a moment, then said: "That depends on what the Marquis himself thinks, what you and I say counts for nothing."

"I..." Ji Fa was at a loss for words at his response.

"Second Prince, there's no need to be conflicted. Now that you already understand the necessity of attacking Shang, what you should do next is to plan carefully," Jiang Ziya said with a smile, continuing: "As the Second Prince has said, Xi Qi might not compare to Great Shang in all aspects currently, but this does not mean we can only sit idly by and wait for doom."

"Oh?" Ji Fa asked with curiosity: "Please enlighten me, Prime Minister."

"Spreading teachings, traveling to enlighten about the great Dao, forming good connections, and practicing virtue, these are all what Immortals do," Jiang Ziya gently stroked his beard as he spoke slowly: "If our Xi Qi can also seek the assistance of these Immortals, why worry that we cannot compete with Great Shang?"

"Immortal assistance?" Ji Fa was stunned for a moment, then chuckled: "Prime Minister, you can't possibly mean to invite the Immortal Gods from the heavens to help us? I am no longer a child; you don't need to amuse me with such tales."

"Second Prince, don't misunderstand," Jiang Ziya explained with a smile: "I am not joking with you."

He paused, then said, "Second Prince, have you ever heard of Linhuan Pass?"

Ji Fa furrowed his brows, then nodded and said: "I have heard my father mention it. I've heard it was initially an outpost for pioneering, but later it fell into near ruin due to the havoc wreaked by a water Demon. Afterwards, the prominent Wen Family from Chaoge went there to eradicate the water Demon, built the town and pass, gathered the populace, and developed the wilderness..."