Towards the end of the Xia Dynasty, King Jie was a tyrannical and debauched ruler. His heavy taxes made life unbearable for the common people. When his minister, Guan Longfeng, advised him to change his ways, King Jie had him executed, arrogantly declaring, "I possess the people just as the sky possesses the sun. I will only perish when the sun perishes."

Meanwhile, the Shang Tang tribe in the lower reaches of the Yellow River rapidly rose to power by appointing wise officials and focusing on production.

After eleven expeditions, Shang Tang conquered areas like Ge, Wei, Gu, and Kunwu, finally overthrowing the Xia Dynasty.

When Shang Tang's troops marched eastward, the western tribes complained, "Why didn't they come to save us first?" When his troops advanced southward, the northern tribes grumbled, "Why didn't they come here first?" The people eagerly anticipated liberation, just as those suffering from a long drought desperately hoped for rain.