Downstream of the Yellow River, there was a tribe called Shang. Legend says that Xie (pronounced "xiè"), the ancestor of the Shang people, lived during the time of Emperors Yao and Shun and worked alongside Yu to control floods, earning great merit. Later, due to rapid development in animal husbandry, by the end of the Xia dynasty, when Tang became its leader, the Shang tribe had grown into a powerful force.
The Xia dynasty ruled for approximately four hundred years. By the 16th century BC, the last king of Xia, Jie (pronounced "jié"), sat on the throne. King Jie was infamous as a tyrant. He and the slave-owning nobility cruelly oppressed the people, with even harsher suppression directed at slaves. Jie also undertook massive construction projects, building palaces and indulging in a life of extravagance and debauchery.
A minister named Guan Longpang (pronounced "páng") advised King Jie, warning that such actions would cause him to lose the people's support. Enraged, King Jie executed Guan Longpang. The people hated Jie so deeply that they cursed: "When will this sun finally perish? We would rather die together with you!"
Seeing how corrupt King Jie had become, Tang of Shang resolved to destroy the Xia dynasty. Outwardly, he remained obedient to Jie, but secretly expanded his own power.
At that time, tribal nobles were deeply superstitious about ghosts and spirits, regarding rituals to heaven, earth, and ancestors as the most important affairs. Near the Shang tribe was another tribe called Ge, whose chief, Bo of Ge, failed to perform sacrifices on schedule. Tang sent messengers to rebuke Bo of Ge. Bo replied, "We are poor here; we have no livestock to offer as sacrifice."
Tang then sent a herd of cattle and sheep to Bo of Ge for sacrificial use. But Bo slaughtered and ate the animals without performing the rites. Tang sent messengers again to question him, and Bo said, "We have no grain; what can we use for sacrifice?"
Tang then sent people to help Bo of Ge plow the fields, and dispatched elderly and weak individuals to deliver wine and meals to the workers. However, along the way, Bo of Ge seized all the food and drink and murdered a young boy who was delivering a meal.
Bo of Ge's actions sparked widespread outrage. Seizing this opportunity, Tang launched an army and destroyed the Ge tribe first. He then successively conquered several nearby tribes. Tang's power steadily grew, yet the foolish King Jie remained oblivious.
Among the slaves brought as part of Tang's wife's dowry was one named Yi Yin (pronounced "yǐn"). Legend says that when Yi Yin first arrived at Tang's household, he served as a cook. Later, Tang gradually noticed that Yi Yin was unlike ordinary slaves. After speaking with him, Tang discovered that Yi Yin had deliberately disguised himself as a dowry slave to seek him out. Yi Yin discussed many principles of statecraft with Tang, who immediately promoted him to be his chief advisor.
Tang and Yi Yin discussed plans to overthrow King Jie. Yi Yin said, "Jie still has strength now. Let us stop paying tribute first and test his reaction to see how he responds."
Following Yi Yin's strategy, Tang halted tribute payments to King Jie. As expected, King Jie flew into a rage and ordered the Nine Yi tribes to attack Shang. Seeing that the Yi tribes still obeyed Jie's command, Yi Yin quickly apologized to Jie and resumed the tribute.
After a year, some of the Nine Yi tribes could no longer endure the Xia dynasty's oppression and extortion and began defecting from Xia. Only then did Tang and Yi Yin decide to launch a full-scale offensive.
Since the time of Xia Qi, the throne had been passed down within the same family for over four centuries. Overthrowing the Xia dynasty was no simple task. After discussion, Tang and Yi Yin decided to gather the Shang troops and have Tang personally address them in a solemn oath.
Tang declared: "I do not dare rebel. It is only because King Jie has committed countless evils that Heaven commands me to destroy him. I dare not disobey the Mandate of Heaven!" He then announced strict rules for rewards and punishments.
By invoking the will of Heaven to inspire his troops, combined with the soldiers' intense desire for King Jie's downfall, Tang's army fought with exceptional bravery. The Xia and Shang armies clashed at Mingtiao (north of present-day Anyi Town, Yuncheng, Shanxi), where the Xia army was decisively defeated.
Finally, King Jie fled to Nanchao (southwest of present-day Chaohu County, Anhui). Tang pursued him there and exiled Jie to Nanchao, where he remained until his death.
Thus, the Xia dynasty was replaced by the newly established Shang dynasty. Historically, Tang of Shang's campaign against Xia is known as the "Revolution of Tang," because ancient ruling classes described dynastic change as a transformation of the Mandate of Heaven, hence calling it a "revolution." This concept is entirely different from the modern meaning of "revolution."