网开三面 — “To show magnanimity and mercy”

King Tang, the founding emperor of the Shang Dynasty, whose surname was Zi and given name Lü, was the fourteenth-generation descendant of Qi, the Shang tribe's ancestor. Qi had assisted Yu in flood control and, upon Emperor Shun's ascension, was appointed Situ. He was tasked with implementing the Five Virtues (filial piety, brotherly affection, marital propriety, loyalty and tolerance to friends, and mutual support among colleagues) to instruct people in the principles of conduct. He was also enfeoffed in Shang and granted the surname Zi, thus becoming the progenitor of the Shang tribe.

From the time of Yu to Jie, the Xia Dynasty lasted over four hundred years. Xia Jie was an extremely cruel and debauched ruler. His tyranny aroused intense dissatisfaction among the people of various tribes. In contrast, Tang, the leader of the Shang tribe, was a wise chief. He cared about the people's suffering, governed diligently, and was greatly admired.

One day, while Tang was out handling affairs, he saw a man catching birds. The man had set up a large, cage-like net, blocking all four sides, intending to capture birds from every direction. At that moment, the hunter was praying to heaven, hoping to catch more prey, mumbling, "May all that falls from the sky, emerges from ground holes, comes from all four directions, whether flying high or low, moving east or west, all fall into my net."

As soon as his prayer ended, Tang walked over and said to the man, "Oh dear, your method is too cruel! Won't this wipe out all the birds and beasts? You mustn't do such a thing as to kill them all off!" With that, Tang personally folded up three sides of the net, leaving only one side open for the hunter. Then, as if making a prayer, he gently whispered, "Oh, birds and beasts, go left if you wish, go right if you wish; fly high if you desire, burrow into holes if you prefer; go where you please, embrace freedom. If there's no way out, nowhere to escape, then enter this net! This is also entering the trap willingly, with no other recourse!"

The feudal lords from all directions, upon hearing this story, were deeply moved. They sincerely praised Tang's great virtue, exclaiming joyfully, "King Tang's benevolence is truly supreme! He shows such care even for animals, let alone people! He is truly a sagely ruler!" Consequently, forty-six states came to submit to Shang Tang. Tang's dominion grew larger, and his power became increasingly mighty.

Meanwhile, Xia Jie, a monarch addicted to drink and lust, treated human lives as trifles and frequently plundered labor, causing farmers to miss their planting seasons. This eventually led to widespread resentment, with the common people hating Jie to the extreme and wishing for his early demise. Thus, Tang followed heaven's will and the people's wishes, launched an expedition against Xia Jie, and the feudal lords submitted to him. Tang replaced Xia Jie, pacified the realm, and established the Shang Dynasty. King Tang also appointed Yi Yin as his prime minister to assist in governance, ensuring political clarity domestically, allowing people to live in peace and contentment, and bringing great order to the world.