Why Did We Let Them Go?

Faced with the public's anger and incomprehension, Ye Jing felt a complex mix of emotions.

He knew that words alone could not soothe all the pain, nor could they immediately change the situation.

Even so, Ye Jing did not back down at all; on the contrary, he became even more determined in his heart.

Ye Jing began to frequently appear in various disaster-stricken areas, personally participating in reconstruction work and demonstrating his determination through practical actions.

He used his wisdom and strength to speed up the clearing of the ruins and help people rebuild their homes and resume production.

However, despite his efforts, the families who lost loved ones still harbored deep resentment towards him.

One day, Ye Jing stood in front of a newly rebuilt village, looking at the busy and tired villagers, feeling a mix of emotions.

At this moment, a middle-aged man stormed up to him, his eyes bloodshot and his voice trembling. "Lord Ye, you're right. We have a new house and new land, but can these bring back my lost son? Do you know how I spend my nights? I listen to the wind and think that it's my son crying!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Jing's heart tightened. He slowly lowered his head, his eyes filled with apology and compassion. "I know I cannot make up for your pain of losing loved ones, but please believe me, everything I have done is to prevent more families from suffering the same tragedy. There are no winners in war, only endless pain and destruction. I hope that through my efforts, such pain will never be repeated."

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man became even more agitated. "So what? Who will bear our pain? Who will wipe away our tears? What makes you think your actions are right?"

Faced with this accusation that bordered on interrogation, Ye Jing took a deep breath, his tone firm yet gentle. "I don't expect you to forgive me immediately, but I hope you can see that I am striving to create a world without war and hatred. I will always stand here, sharing your joys and sorrows, until the wounds in your hearts slowly heal. Please believe that time will prove everything."

"What's the point of proving anything? My son will never come back. What's the use? We could have won, we didn't have to die, why? Why?"

"You should have killed them! Why did you let them go back? Why? They're the murderers of my son!"

The man shouted at the top of his lungs.

Ye Jing remained silent.

This sudden attack by the Great Li Kingdom resulted in casualties of nearly several hundred thousand people.

When the Dali army passed through, almost nothing grew!

"The dead are already dead. There's no need to kill more people. They were human beings just like you..."

"You're talking nonsense! They're murderers, killers, not human, they're beasts... You're in cahoots with them..."

The man interrupted Ye Jing, but was quickly pulled away by someone.

"Let me go! Kill me if you dare! There's no point in living anyway. You're all a bunch of beasts. So many people have died..."

The man's voice faded into the distance, but Ye Jing's heart grew heavier and heavier.

"Ye Jing, it's alright. This isn't your fault. You're not an omnipotent Saint; you can't possibly anticipate every situation."

Suddenly, a gentle voice rang in his ears. Ye Jing turned his head and saw White-dressed Woman.

"What you are doing now will bring blessings to the Shang Ling Kingdom for hundreds of years or even longer. You are doing the right thing. Don't blame yourself or feel guilty."

The Woman in White Dress gently stroked Ye Jing's head, pulled him into her arms, her face full of tenderness.

The woman's words were like warm sunshine, piercing through the gloom in Ye Jing's heart and gradually bringing balance to his originally heavy heart.

He looked up at the Woman in White Dress, his eyes flashing with complex emotions, a mixture of gratitude and relief.

"You're right, I... I really can't bear everyone's pain." Ye Jing's voice trembled slightly, but it was no longer filled with self-blame and helplessness. "Everything I've done is to prevent more tragedies from happening, to give the living a better future."

The Woman in White Dress nodded gently, her eyes filled with understanding and encouragement. "Ye Jing, you possess wisdom and courage beyond ordinary people, which is exactly what Shang Ling Kingdom needs. You don't need to prove your correctness to anyone, because time will witness everything. Remember, every decision you make lays a more solid foundation for this land and its people."

Ye Jing took a deep breath, as if exhaling all his negative emotions with that breath.

He straightened his back, his gaze hardening.

He did nothing wrong; if he hadn't done it, even more people would have died!

He is right.

He did nothing wrong, not at all.

The Woman in White Dress smiled, her gentle eyes looking at Ye Jing.

Just as Ye Jing was preparing to leave the village, a message suddenly reached Ye Jing ears.

"A plague has broken out in the Great Li Kingdom, causing countless deaths and injuries. At the same time, internal strife has erupted, and the army and the rebels are now locked in battle. The situation is dire."

Ye Jing: "!!!"

Night fell.

The sky over the Great Li Kingdom was shrouded in thick, dark clouds, as if even the stars were afraid of the chaos and lamentations on this land.

Inside the city, flames soared into the sky, illuminating anxious and desperate faces. The plague, like an invisible Demonic Claw, spread silently, casting a shadow of death over every street and every household.

Meanwhile, the internal strife was like Pandora's box being opened, and the battle between the army and the rebels intensified, with the sounds of clashing swords and wailing cries weaving together into a tragic symphony.

Outside the city, the army of the Great Li Kingdom was forced to retreat back to its homeland under Ye Jing's pressure, but what they brought back was not only their exhausted bodies, but also a huge need for supplies.

The national treasury was empty, food was scarce, and money was being spent like water, leaving the entire country seemingly devoid of vitality and hope.

In the Imperial Palace of Dali, King Li Xuan of the Great Li Kingdom stood in front of a map with a solemn expression, discussing countermeasures with several trusted generals.

Li Xuan spoke heavily, "Even if we win now, the price will be devastating. Food, money, and the lives of our soldiers have all been exhausted in this war. What's worse, the plague is raging in the country, and the resistance is taking advantage of the situation to rise up. The situation has reached a point where there is no time to lose."

A general beside him spoke angrily, "It's all that Ye Jing's fault! What right does he have to force us to retreat? When has our Great Li Kingdom ever suffered such humiliation!"

"Anger won't help; we must face reality. The problem now is how to stabilize the domestic situation while simultaneously addressing the shortages of food and money," a man in a long robe suddenly said calmly from the other side.

After a moment of contemplation, Li Xuan said, "First, we must intensify our efforts to control the spread of the plague and send medical teams to various places to provide treatment. People are the foundation of the nation."