During the tumultuous period at the end of the Shang Dynasty, King Wu led the Zhou forces to attack the Shang Dynasty. After several clashes, the Shang Dynasty found themselves retreating as they faced the relentless assaults of the Zhou military commander Yang Jian. King Zhou of Shang was furious and sought a way to counter Yang Jian's influence, offering substantial rewards. However, the strategist Shen Gongbao advised against it and suggested recruiting skilled leaders. The plan was to bring the Meishan Seven Heroes into the fold.
