Begging His Enemy for Help!

"Secondly, as for the rebels, our forces are weak, but we still have food and money..."

He paused, a resolute glint in his eyes, "We've sought aid from our neighboring countries!"

"Shang Ling Kingdom? Will they really agree? We recently invaded them and destroyed several of their cities," a general asked worriedly.

Li Xuan's gaze was deep, as if piercing through the palace dome, looking directly at the unknown and hope in the distance.

He spoke slowly, his voice filled with unwavering determination. "Yes, Shang Ling Kingdom. The grudges between us have indeed made this path unpredictable, but at this critical juncture of life and death, we must put aside our prejudices and fight for that glimmer of hope for the people of Dali and for the future of this land."

"Your Majesty, this move will likely be extremely difficult, Shang Ling Kingdom may not be willing to lend a helping hand." An old general frowned with worry, knowing full well that the hatred between the two countries could not be resolved overnight.

"That's precisely why we need to act more wisely." Li Xuan turned around, his gaze sweeping over everyone, and continued, "First, we must publicly acknowledge that our invasion of the Great Ling Kingdom was wrong and express our deepest apologies. At the same time, I am willing to send my younger brother, Li Yun, as an envoy, carrying the sincerest sincerity, to the Shang Ling Kingdom to request their assistance. Li Yun has a well-known reputation among the people; his arrival may be able to ease the tensions between our two countries."

"Furthermore, we need to prepare a detailed aid plan, promising to repay the kindness of the Shang Ling Kingdom double once we overcome this difficulty, and to offer them the greatest preferential treatment and convenience in future trade, culture, and other areas," the man in the long robe added, his eyes gleaming with wisdom.

"And most importantly, with that man Ye Jing around, I doubt he'll just sit idly by, even if Shang Ling Kingdom numerous difficulties!" Li Xuan added, a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

Once the decision was made, the entire Dali Imperial Palace seemed to be enveloped in an atmosphere of tension yet full of hope.

Li Xuan immediately began arranging various matters, and Li Yun also made preparations in the shortest possible time, embarking on the arduous journey to the Shang Ling Kingdom.

Meanwhile, in the capital of the Shang Ling Kingdom, Ye Jing also received a message from the Great Li Kingdom requesting assistance.

He stood on the city wall, gazing into the distance, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew all too well that this was a complicated situation; on the one hand, the people of the Shang Ling Kingdom would absolutely not agree to aid Great Li Kingdom.

On the other hand, he also understood that the disasters brought about by war would ultimately fall on innocent civilians.

If the internal strife in the Great Li Kingdom continues, there will only be more casualties.

This goes against his original intentions.

His idea was that neither side would suffer any losses.

But so far, it seems nothing has changed.

"Ye Jing, what do you plan to do?" The Woman in White Dress appeared beside him at some point and asked softly.

Ye Jing turned around, looked into her gentle eyes, and slowly said, "I... am still thinking about it. It's hard to persuade the people, but I have no choice but to bite the bullet. I think we need a plan that can show our tolerance and kindness while ensuring that they truly repent."

The Woman in White Dress smiled slightly and nodded gently, "I believe in you, Ye Jing. You will always find the best solution."

Ye Jing took a deep breath, his gaze resolute. "I will. For the future of the Shang Ling Kingdom, and for the future of the Great Li Kingdom!"

Several days later, Li Yun arrived with the sincerity and trepidation of the Great Li Kingdom.

Finally, they entered the capital city of the Shang Ling Kingdom.

He was dressed in plain clothes and had a humble expression.

Upon meeting the Emperor of the Shang Ling Kingdom, they bowed respectfully.

"Your Majesty, on behalf of the Great Li Kingdom, I express our deepest apologies to you and the people of the Shang Ling Kingdom. We know that the mistakes of the past cannot be undone, but we are willing to do everything we can to make amends. We only ask that the Shang Ling Kingdom extend a helping hand in this time of crisis."

In the Shang Ling Kingdom, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable; the air seemed to freeze, and even breathing became a cautious affair.

Li Yun's words, instead of calming the storm, ignited the anger in the hearts of the officials, causing the entire hall to boil over instantly!

"Utterly absurd! The Great Li Kingdom, the enemy that stained our land with blood and displaced our people, dares to shamelessly extend a helping hand?! Every word they utter is a trampling on our painful memories and an insult to the fallen heroes!"

The general's roar was like a volcanic eruption. He suddenly stood up, his hands clenched into fists, as if he was about to strike at the heart of the Great Li Kingdom's envoy.

His eyes blazed with fury, every vein bulging spoke of his defiance and rage.

"Your Majesty, such a treacherous nation is despicable! How can we forget the scars of history and embrace a flower with thorns? If we were to offer assistance, wouldn't we be telling the world that our Shang Ling Kingdom is weak and easily bullied, at the mercy of others? This would be a disgrace to our nation, an unforgivable mistake for future generations!" The civil official's voice was sharp and powerful, each word as piercing as a knife. His face was ashen, and his anger was palpable.

"I've lived most of my life, what storms haven't I weathered? But these underhanded tricks of the Great Li Kingdom are utterly shameless! Their current pleas for mercy are merely the calm before the storm, an attempt to use us to recover their strength. When the time is right, they will surely return with renewed force, once again bringing the flames of war to our land! Your Majesty, please reconsider!"

The old minister's words were filled with a sense of vicissitude and resolve. His voice trembled, a testament to his memories of past suffering and his deep anxieties about the future. He knelt on the ground, banging his head against it, expressing his most fervent opposition and plea in this way.

The entire court was now a boiling sea, with angry and opposing voices rising and falling like raging waves, threatening to completely drown out the absurd pleas for help.

Standing in the Shang Ling Kingdom's court, Li Jun felt unprecedented pressure.

He was well aware of the importance of his mission and anticipated the opposition and doubts he might encounter.

However, when he actually faced the anger and disdain of the entire court, his heart was still stirred, and his body trembled with fear!

"I come on behalf of the Great Li Kingdom, not to reignite the flames of war, but to seek an opportunity for peace and coexistence."

Li Jun lowered his head and forced himself to speak.

He recalled the scene when he left the Great Li Kingdom, where the people were suffering from the hardships brought by war, their homes destroyed, their families separated, and every pair of eyes filled with longing for peace.

Faced with the anger and opposition of the court officials of the Shang Ling Kingdom, Li Jun felt both heartbroken and helpless.

He understood that this anger and discontent were not unfounded, but stemmed from deep-seated historical grievances between the two countries.

However, he also firmly believes that only through communication and understanding can these grievances be resolved and true peace achieved.