Wen Taishi and Daji: Loyalty and treachery in the last years of Yin Shang
In the classical god and demon novel "Romance of the Gods", the two characters of Wen Zhongwen Taishi and Daji respectively represent the loyalty and treachery in the last years of Yin Shang. Wen Zhong, as the Taishi of Yin Shang, was the minister of Tuogu, loyal to the Yin Shang Dynasty, while Daji was a fox demon sent down by Nuwa Niangniang, with a clear purpose - to cause trouble to Yin Shang. Although the two lived in the same era, their intersection is not deeply developed in the original book, so we need to conduct an in-depth analysis from multiple angles about whether Wen Taishi "knew the identity and purpose of Daji".
First of all, as an important minister of Yin Shang, Wen Taishi's main responsibility was to assist the king and govern the country. His loyalty and love for the Yin Shang was unquestionable, as evidenced by his bravery on the battlefield and his efforts to stabilize the Yin Shang dynasty. However, the original book does not explicitly describe Wentaishi's views or attitudes towards Daji. This may be because Wen Taishi's main focus is on the major affairs of the court and the rise and fall of the country, rather than the intrigues of the harem. Therefore, even if he sensed something unusual in the palace, he might not be able to immediately associate Daji's identity and purpose.
Secondly, as a fox demon sent by Nuwa Niangniang, Daji's methods and scheming are extremely superb. She was able to confuse the king and make him obey her, even at the expense of killing the loyal and innocent. Such a method makes her invincible in the palace, even if she is as smart as Master Wen, she may not be able to easily see through her true face. What's more, Daji also has the support of Nuwa Niangniang behind her, which makes her position more stable.
Furthermore, even if Master Wen really knew Daji's identity and purpose, he might be constrained by various factors and unable to act. After all, Daji was the favorite concubine of the Emperor of Zhou, and any move against her could trigger the wrath of the Emperor and the turmoil of the court. Although Wen Taishi was loyal to the Yin Shang dynasty, he was also well aware of the complex relationships and power struggles in the imperial court. As a result, he may choose to remain silent or find a more opportune time to reveal Daji's true colors.
In addition, we also need to note that "Romance of the Gods", as a novel of gods and demons, often has a strong mythological color in its plot and character settings. In the novel, the intersection of Wen Taishi and Daji does not become the main line of the story, but more as a background setting and plot foreshadowing. Therefore, we should not be too critical of whether the novel's description in this regard is detailed or reasonable.
To sum up, we cannot give a definite answer to the question of whether Wen Taishi "knew Daji" or not. But what we can be sure of is that in that turbulent era in the last years of the Yin Shang dynasty, loyalty and treachery coexisted, and Wen Taishi and Daji represented the contest of these two forces, respectively. Although Master Wen Taishi was unable to see through Daji's true face or stop her treacherous schemes, his loyalty and bravery were praised by later generations. At the same time, Daji's treachery and trickery also make us deeply aware of the corrosiveness of power and the sinister nature of people's hearts.
Through the in-depth analysis of the two characters of Wentaishi and Daji, we can understand the connotation and value of the work "Romance of the Gods" more deeply. It is not only a novel about gods and demons fighting with immortals, but also an epic masterpiece that reflects human nature, power, loyalty and treachery. In today's complex and ever-changing society, we can still draw wisdom and inspiration from these ancient stories to provide useful references for our lives and careers.