After capturing Diqiu, Han Zhuo believed he had completely wiped out the descendants of the Xia Dynasty and could now rule the realm unchallenged. Thus, he became even more debauched and tyrannical, stirring widespread resentment among the people and discontent even within his own court. However, Han Zhuo never imagined that when Diqiu fell, the consort of King Xiang of Xia, Hou Min, was already pregnant. To preserve the last bloodline of the Xia royal house, Hou Min, overcoming her grief and setting aside her dignity, crawled out through a dog hole. Hou Min was originally the daughter of the chieftain of the Youreng tribe, and after escaping, she fled to Youreng (present-day south of Jining City, Shandong) to her family home.
The following year, Hou Min gave birth to a boy at Youreng, naming him Shaokang. Shaokang grew up in his maternal grandfather's home, exceptionally intelligent. His mother never forgot the national disgrace, and as soon as Shaokang was old enough to understand, she began telling him the tragic history of how the Xia Dynasty lost its kingdom, urging him to one day restore the Xia and avenge this shame. Thus, from a young age, Shaokang resolved to work hard and reclaim the realm.
After growing up, Shaokang's maternal grandfather appointed him as a livestock overseer, responsible for managing animal husbandry. Determined to strengthen himself, he never neglected self-cultivation while managing livestock, farming, and weaving, and seized every opportunity to learn military command skills, preparing for the restoration of the Xia Dynasty while also guarding against pursuit and assassination by Han Zhuo.
As the saying goes, "walls have ears," news that a descendant of the Xia royal house, Shao Kang, was still alive reached Han Zhuo's ears. Han Zhuo was greatly alarmed and felt as if sitting on pins and needles all day, convinced that if Shao Kang were not eliminated, endless troubles would follow. So he immediately sent his son Han Jiao to rush to the Youreng tribe to hunt down and kill Shao Kang.
Upon receiving the news, Shaokang fled day and night to the Youyu clan for refuge. The Youyu clan took him in. After observing him, they found that Shaokang carried himself with dignity and grace, so they appointed him as the steward of their kitchen, tasked with managing provisions and learning financial skills. Shaokang was exceptionally clever, keeping the accounts in perfect order. Seeing how astute and capable Shaokang was—clearly no ordinary man destined for greatness—the Youyu clan married their two daughters to him, granted him the city of Lunyi, and bestowed upon him five hundred soldiers.
Lun's territory is small, only ten li in circumference, but the land is fertile, the climate suitable for development, and he has five hundred people under his jurisdiction.
Shao Kang never forgot the national humiliation and his father's vengeance. Using Lun as his base, he diligently studied literature and martial arts while observing the hardships of the common people, promoting the virtues of his ancestor Yu, widely befriending brave warriors and wise ministers, recruiting remnants of the Xia dynasty, and spreading righteous deeds. He took in those who fled from the tyrannical rule of Han Zhuo, actively building up strength to prepare for the restoration of the Xia dynasty. Shao Kang's efforts and virtuous conduct won the support of the people, and many former Xia officials came to join him. Bo Mi, a surviving minister of Xia, had fled to the territory of the Youge tribe (in present-day northwestern Pingyuan County, Dezhou City, Shandong) after Han Zhuo seized the throne, where he gathered exiles, accumulated strength, and secretly contacted the remnants of the vengeful forces from the Zhenxun and Zhenguan clans. When Bo Mi heard that Shao Kang was building up his forces at Lun, he responded to Shao Kang's call, bringing all the troops of Youge to join him and assist in restoring the kingdom.
With the support of his allied tribe Youyu and loyal ministers like Bomi, as well as his own diligent efforts, Shaokang rapidly developed a elite army for restoration in Lun, a place only ten li in circumference. They worked hard to boost production and trained rigorously in military skills. Shaokang often personally mingled with the people to understand their hardships; he treated his soldiers with care, frequently joining them in hunting and drills to boost morale. Meanwhile, he continued to promote the virtues of his ancestor, Yu the Great, among the people and troops. During this time, exiled Xia officials and clansmen expelled by Han Zhuo gradually came to join him; Shaokang incorporated them into his army and trained them. Through his efforts, Shaokang fully prepared for the restoration and began planning his campaign against Han Zhuo.
Shao Kang decided to repay in kind, defeating Han Zhuo's main forces one by one. He first sent General Nü Ai to infiltrate Jiao's territory to gather intelligence, learning that internal conflicts within Han Jiao's army were intensifying—an ideal time to attack. Thus, Shao Kang led the army of the Youyu clan, catching them off guard, storming Han Jiao's fiefdom, capturing it in one swift strike, and executing Han Jiao.
Next, Shaokang sent his son Zhu to attack the fief of Ge, held by Hanxi, the second son of Han Zhuo. The first battle was a victory, boosting the morale of the Xia army, while the defenders of Ge were powerless to resist. Zhu recaptured Ge and executed Hanxi, displaying his head as a warning.
Shao Kang's restoration army successively captured Han Zhuo's two major fiefs, recovered most of the Central Plains, and weakened Han Zhuo's power.
Next, Shaokang led his army from Lun, advancing along the Yellow River in a grand march toward Hanzhuo's capital. The Xia forces swept through all obstacles, annihilating Hanzhuo's entire clan. Shaokang reclaimed the throne, established his capital at Yangxia, and restored the Xia Dynasty's rule.
Shao Kang endured countless hardships and finally restored the Xia Dynasty. After taking power, he revitalized the state through diligent governance, worked tirelessly on state affairs, focused on earning the people's trust, and implemented a series of policies beneficial to the common people, which quickly revived the nation's strength. Under his rule, the people lived in peace and contentment, and both social production and culture made great strides. As a result, he won the support of all tribes, and the Xia Dynasty flourished once again—this period is known in history as the "Restoration of Shao Kang."
From the "Loss of the Kingdom by Tai Kang" to the "Restoration by Shao Kang," the Xia Dynasty's rule was interrupted for over forty years. The establishment of the Xia Dynasty marked the first instance of "family rule" in China, with Qi of Xia being the first true sovereign, Tai Kang the earliest incompetent ruler, setting a precedent for usurping power in later dynasties. It was not until Shao Kang returned to the capital that a restoration emerged, completing the first cycle of order and chaos, rise and fall in Chinese history. This demonstrates that even in the early stages of state formation, complex conflicts and struggles existed among various classes and within the ruling group. Yet precisely because of this, many legendary tales have been passed down through the ages.