Must Become My Vassal State!
I must persevere, for the future of the Great Li Kingdom, and for all living beings on this continent.
Li Jun made a silent vow in his heart.
He tried his best to remain calm and, with the utmost sincerity and earnestness, explained to the Shang Ling Kingdom the predicament of the Great Li Kingdom and its desire for peace.
"Gentlemen, our Great Li Kingdom has failed you all..."
The emperor of the Shang Ling Kingdom looked at Li Yun, remained silent for a moment, and then glanced at Ye Jing standing to the side.
He spoke slowly, "I appreciate your sincerity, but aid is not given without reward. I need to see genuine change and remorse from the Great Li Kingdom."
Upon hearing this, Li Yun's eyes lit up, and he quickly replied, "Please enlighten us, we will certainly do our utmost."
Shang Ling Kingdom put forward several conditions. "First, Great Li Kingdom must publicly acknowledge its mistake in invading Shang Ling Kingdom and compensate and appease the victims."
"Secondly, after this incident, our Shang Ling Kingdom's army will be stationed on your border for an extended period, monitoring your every move."
"At the same time, the number of your troops can only be half that of our Shang Ling Kingdom, and cannot exceed that number, otherwise it will be considered as war!"
"We can discuss compensation later!"
"There's one last thing: from this day forward, your Great Li Kingdom will be a vassal state of our Shang Ling Kingdom."
!!!
As soon as the emperor finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence; even the air seemed to freeze.
A complex mix of emotions flickered in Li Jun's eyes—shock, anger, and resentment.
These conditions are undoubtedly a serious infringement on the sovereignty of the Great Li Kingdom and a great trampling on its dignity.
He clenched his fists tightly, but there was nothing he could do.
If they don't agree, their Great Li Kingdom might be doomed.
Even with these conditions, the civil and military officials of the Shang Ling Kingdom did not agree.
Inside the main hall, the air was so heavy you could almost hear a pin drop. Every pair of eyes was fixed on Li Yun, waiting for his next reaction.
However, before Li Yun could speak, the civil and military officials of the Shang Ling Kingdom could no longer contain their indignation and stood up one after another, their voices intertwining into a passionate wave.
"Your Majesty, you mustn't! Such conditions, though they will cause the Great Li Kingdom to lose face and become a laughingstock throughout the world!" A military general's eyes widened, his voice booming, "But there will still be hidden dangers!"
"Your Majesty, our Shang Ling Kingdom has endured countless hardships to achieve the peace we enjoy today. How can we easily allow wolves like the Great Li Kingdom to submit to us? This is not only a desecration of our martyrs, but also an irresponsibility towards future generations!" The civil officials were also indignant, their words sharp and incisive. Their voices echoed in the hall, piercing the hearts of people like sharp swords.
"Send troops! Your Majesty! Take advantage of the weakness of the Great Li Kingdom and annihilate it in one fell swoop, eliminating future troubles!" A young general spoke passionately, his eyes gleaming with the desire for victory, as if he could already see the scene of the Great Li Kingdom's cities falling and its flags dropping.
The atmosphere in the hall instantly reached a boiling point, with anger and hatred spreading like wildfire, uncontrollable. Li Yun's face was ashen; he knew how harsh these conditions were, but he was even more aware of the consequences of refusing.
He suppressed his inner turmoil, trying to find a glimmer of hope.
However, at this critical moment, Ye Jing slowly stepped forward. His voice was not loud, but it was exceptionally clear.
Everyone fell silent.
After all, the man in front of them was the culprit who changed the two countries and brought them to their current state.
They were also the ones they dared not resist.
"My lords, please hear me out." Ye Jing's gaze was calm and profound. She looked around, taking in everyone's expressions. The Shang Ling Kingdom has always been founded on benevolence and righteousness, and governed by wisdom.
"If we act on impulse and destroy the Great Li Kingdom today, we may get our revenge, but what will it bring? More hatred, more war, or endless slaughter and destruction?"
Ye Jing continued, "What we need is not a short-term victory, but lasting peace. Although the Great Li Kingdom was at fault first, they have now sent envoys to sue for peace and are willing to bear all the consequences. This is the time for us to show tolerance and wisdom."
"You're talking nonsense! You're a saint! Are you out of your mind? Even if I die, I'll say it!" Suddenly, the young general stood up and stared straight at Ye Jing.
"You keep talking about wanting peace, yet the casualties you've caused so far are almost the same as those of a war, or even more people have died."
"I don't know if you want real justice or fake justice? Anyway, I don't like it."
"If there are grudges between families and countries, then fight each other with weapons. Getting involved in these unnecessary things will only Shi Tuo in the end."
"I'm sure you know that, huh? Fine, kill me now!"
The young general raised his head, ready to die.
Everyone was stunned, unable to comprehend what outrageous things this young man had said!
"How dare you!" Emperor Shangling shouted.
Ye Jing narrowed his eyes, a fierce glint in them. This guy actually dared to defy him in public.
Evil Qi surged within him, but he still managed to restrain himself.
"Well said, but it's useless. I agree to provide support. Do you agree to Li Jun's conditions just now?"
"I... I agree!"
Despite the unexpected twists and turns, and despite the difficult conditions, Li Jun had no choice but to agree.
"Alright, I'll go and deal with the rebels for you right away." After saying that, Ye Jing's figure disappeared directly from the hall.
This Divine Ability stunned everyone, and even the young man who had just been there was covered in cold sweat.
On the other side.
Ye Jing moved through the dense forest like a ghost, each step seemingly blending into the light and shadow of the trees, silently approaching the rebels' hidden camp.
A gentle breeze, carrying a hint of coolness, could not mask the tension and unease that permeated the air.
The rebel camp was surrounded by makeshift traps and sentries, but all of this was useless to Ye Jing.
He silently considered the complex entanglements between the Shang Ling Kingdom and the Great Li Kingdom, as well as the heavy responsibility on his shoulders, and his steps became even more resolute.
"Who's there?" A low shout suddenly broke the silence of the night. A sentry, sensing something amiss, quickly sounded the alarm.
Ye Jing did not rush to reveal himself. Instead, he used the cover of night and the terrain to quietly eliminate the sentries on the perimeter without alerting any more enemies.
She knew that to completely resolve this conflict, military suppression alone was not the best approach; she needed to outsmart the enemy and demonstrate enough strength to intimidate everyone.
Therefore, there's no need to make a big fuss about it.
"Friends of the resistance, I am Ye Jing. I am willing to use my own strength to bring an opportunity for peace to the two countries and three forces in the conflict between the Great Li Kingdom and the Shang Ling Kingdom." Ye Jing's voice was not loud, but it clearly spread throughout the entire camp, carrying an unquestionable authority.