Now, when Han Rong learned that King Wen had engaged Ziya as chancellor of the Zhou, he hastily wrote out a memorial and sent an officer with it to Zhaoge. After many days on the road the officer entered the city and handed the memorial in at the Office of Documents. That day the memorials were being read by Chancellor Bi Gan. When Bi Gan saw the passage in this memorial about Jiang Shang becoming chancellor of the Zhou, he pondered in silence, then looked up to heaven and sighed: “Jiang Shang has always had great ambitions. Now that he is helping Zhou in the west, he has no small purpose in mind. This memorial must be laid before the king.” Bi Gan took the memorial to the Star-Plucking Tower to await the royal command, and King Zhou summoned him in. “What have you to report, royal uncle?” said the king. Bi Gan replied, “Here is a memorial from Han Rong, Commander of Sishui Pass. He says that Ji Chang has engaged Jiang Shang with all due ceremony as his chancellor, and that his ambitions are no small ones. The Lord of the East2 has rebelled in the land of Eastern Lu; the Lord of the South has his troops stationed in the land of the Three Mountains; and if Ji Chang, the Lord of the West, should rise in revolt as well, then war will truly break out on every side, and the common people will long for upheaval. Besides, flood and drought come out of season, the people are poor and the army in want, and the storehouses stand empty. And Grand Preceptor Wen3 is away on a far campaign in the north, with victory or defeat still undecided. Truly the affairs of state are beset with hardship; this is a time for sovereign and ministers alike to look within. I beg Your Majesty to decide in your sacred wisdom. I await your command.” The king said, “Wait until We hold court in the hall. We will discuss it with all Our ministers.” As king and minister were talking over affairs of state, the officer in attendance announced, “Chong Houhu, Lord of the North, awaits Your Majesty’s command.” The king had the command sent out: “Summon Chong Houhu up to the tower.” “What have you to report, minister?” said the king. Chong Houhu said, “By royal command I oversaw the building of the Deer Terrace. It took two years and four months in all. Now the work is done, and I have come especially to report.” King Zhou was overjoyed. “Without your efforts, minister, this terrace could never have been finished so quickly.” “Your servant drove the work on day and night,” said Chong Houhu. “How would I dare slacken or trifle? That is why it was finished so quickly.” The king said, “Now Jiang Shang has become chancellor of the Zhou, and his ambitions are no small ones — Han Rong, Commander of Sishui Pass, has sent a memorial to say so. What is to be done? Have you any plan, minister, to rid Us of this great menace, Ji Chang?” Chong Houhu replied, “What can Ji Chang do? And Jiang Shang — what is he? A frog at the bottom of a well, who cannot see far; the glow of a firefly, whose light does not carry. Chancellor of the Zhou he may be called, but they are like a cicada in the cold clinging to a dead willow: before long both will be finished. If Your Majesty were to send troops against them, the lords of the realm would laugh us to scorn. As your servant sees it, they can do nothing at all. I hope Your Majesty will not trouble to take them seriously.” “Very well said, minister,” said the king. Then King Zhou said, “Now that the Deer Terrace is finished, We shall pay it a visit.” “I have come especially to invite Your Majesty to view it,” said Chong Houhu. King Zhou was very pleased. “You two ministers go ahead to the foot of the terrace and wait there. We shall come with the queen.” The king sent down the command, “Make ready the royal carriage!” and set out for the Deer Terrace to enjoy the sights. There is a poem to prove it. It says: