Full of Ruin, Decay as Far as the Eye Could See!
The two exchanged heated words, making the atmosphere in the court increasingly tense. The officials stood or sat, some with furrowed brows and others with worried expressions, clearly weighing the pros and cons and finding it difficult to make a decision.
Emperor Li Xuan sat upright on the dragon throne, listening quietly to the debate between the two sides, pondering to himself.
He knew that this was not just a debate about whether to attack, but a major decision about the future direction of the country.
"My esteemed Dear Subject, please quiet down." Li Xuan finally spoke, his voice steady and powerful, instantly quelling the commotion in the court. "I believe that General Li's courage is commendable, but he must act with caution; the Prime Minister's plans are far-reaching, but they should not be overly conservative. War is a matter of national destiny and the people's livelihood, and cannot be decided lightly."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled officials, and continued, "My mind is made up. We will not rush into an attack, but we must not let our guard down either. On the one hand, we must strengthen border defenses to ensure absolute security; on the other hand, we must closely monitor the movements of the Shang Ling Kingdom and intensify intelligence gathering efforts to ascertain its true intentions. As for whether to attack, we will decide when the time is right."
Upon hearing this, all the ministers were convinced.
They knew that the emperor's decision reflected both recognition of Li Zhen's courage and consideration of Li Tai's prudence, making it a win-win situation.
However, just as the Dali court and its people were making intensive preparations for a possible war, a tremendous change was taking place within the Shang Ling Kingdom.
With his extraordinary wisdom and outstanding leadership, Ye Jing quickly stabilized the situation and began to implement a series of reform measures.
Tax cuts, water conservancy projects, commercial development... every policy is like a gentle spring breeze, nourishing every inch of the Shang Ling Kingdom, making the people exclaim that their lives are about to change dramatically.
"The Great Li Kingdom, seeing our determination to change, should agree to negotiate with us!" Emperor Shangling said happily.
"Yes!" Ye Jing nodded slowly.
Deep within the palace of the Great Li Imperial Palace, the night was deep and the lights were dim, yet they could not conceal the resolute and cold gaze in Emperor Li Xuan's eyes.
He stood alone by the window, gazing at the blurry outline in the distance, in the direction of the Shang Ling Kingdom.
The apprehension and unease about the neighboring country's growing power spread quietly in my heart, like the darkness of night.
"Prime Minister, my mind is made up." Li Xuan turned around, his voice low and firm. "Although the Shang Ling Kingdom has feigned weakness, it is actually secretly gathering strength, and its intentions are unclear. How can our Great Li sit idly by and watch it grow stronger? Issue the order to immediately prepare the army for war. I will personally lead the troops to teach the Shang Ling Kingdom a lesson."
Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Li Tai's expression changed drastically. He knew that once the emperor's decision was made, it was difficult to change. "Your Majesty, please reconsider! Although Shang Ling Kingdom is suffering from internal strife, Ye Jing is no ordinary man. He must have extraordinary abilities to stabilize the situation so quickly. Moreover, our dynasty has not completely broken ties with the Shang Ling Kingdom. To rashly send troops would be unethical and easily invite criticism from other countries."
"Morality?" Li Xuan sneered. "In this chaotic world, only strength matters. Once the Shang Ling Kingdom recovers its strength, it will surely become a major threat to my Great Li. I would rather bear the infamy than fail to ensure the eternal prosperity of Great Li!"
Li Tai wanted to persuade him further, but seeing that the emperor had already made up his mind, he had no choice but to accept the order and leave, secretly praying that Heaven would protect his Great Li and spare him from the suffering of unnecessary war.
The war drums thundered, and the sky was tinged with an ominous dark red, as if even the sun was trembling with fear of the impending catastrophe.
The iron cavalry of Dali surged in like a tide, raising dust as their battle flags fluttered in the wind. The golden dragon patterns embroidered on them were particularly dazzling in the sunlight, a symbol of power and conquest.
Ye Jing stood on the Shang Ling Kingdom, his gaze piercing through layers of smoke, staring directly at the imposing army in the distance.
There was no fear in his heart, only determination and unyielding spirit.
However, when he actually witnessed the brutal scenes on the battlefield, even a calm and wise man like him couldn't help but feel an indescribable shock and sorrow.
On the battlefield, corpses lay strewn for miles, and blood stained the earth red, as if even the air itself had frozen into a blood-red hue.
The bodies were piled up like mountains, some still in the posture of struggling before death, while others were so badly disfigured that they were unrecognizable.
The air was thick with the stench of blood and burning—the lament of lost lives, the cruelest mark war had left on the world.
The soldiers of the Shang Ling Kingdom, once the bravest guardians of this land, now lie here, victims of war.
Their eyes had lost their former sparkle, leaving only emptiness and despair.
Their families are still waiting for their return, only to receive a cold corpse or a promise that can never be fulfilled.
Ye Jing felt no anger, only confusion and bewilderment.
Why?
It's been clearly stated that we shouldn't fight anymore.
They could have had a better life.
Why start a war?
Ye Jing stood on the city wall, silent as a stone, letting the wind carry the dust of the battlefield across his face.
His eyes were deep and complex, as if they could penetrate all the noise and look into the deepest part of people's hearts. The surrounding clamor and accusations surged like a tide, but they seemed to be isolated by the tranquility emanating from him.
"Lord Ye, please think of a solution! The people are all talking about it, saying that it was because of your reforms that we missed the best opportunity to attack Dali!" An anxious general rushed over, his face full of worry.
Ye Jing sighed softly, turned around, his gaze gentle yet firm. "General, war is never the only way to solve problems. What we should pursue is lasting peace and prosperity, not temporary victory and conquest. Shang Ling Kingdom needs is recuperation, development, and the opportunity for every citizen to live a stable life."
Upon hearing this, the general's expression was complex, a mixture of confusion and resentment. "But His Majesty and many ministers in the court have expressed their dissatisfaction. They believe that it was your decision that put Shang Ling Kingdom in a passive position."
"I understand their concerns," Ye Jing's voice was gentle yet firm, "But history will prove everything. True strength is not just reflected in victory or defeat on the battlefield."
"But what do we do now? The enemy army is well-prepared and watching us intently, and our troops are suffering defeat after defeat!"
Upon hearing this, Ye Jing's gaze narrowed slightly, and stars seemed to shimmer in his deep pupils. He gently raised his hand to stop the general's anxious words, and his aura subtly changed at that moment, as if even the air itself had frozen.
He closed his eyes and silently channeled the Evil God Power.
He couldn't hold back any longer.
"It's alright, Ye Jing, everything you said is absolutely right." The Woman in White Dress suddenly appeared, hugged Ye Jing, and said gently.
At the same time, Ye Jing let out a low murmur that was incomprehensible to anyone.
As the incantation was chanted, Ye Jing's body began to emit a faint black light, eerie and ominous, as if it could devour all light and hope.