#548 - Final Choice

Using the lives of over a million citizens of Great Feng within Huailing City to bury the two million citizens of Great Ning who died in the Yuanzhou City massacre.

While such a condition is shocking, it's not difficult to understand Ning Yongnian's purpose from his perspective.

Currently, Great Feng and Great Ning hold conflicting views regarding the true culprit behind the 'Yuanzhou City Massacre'.

The citizens of Great Feng believe Ning Yongnian was responsible, while the citizens of Great Ning generally believe the Great Feng army committed the massacre and were punished by Heaven.

Because both countries suffered tremendous losses in this tragedy – one losing five hundred thousand elite soldiers, the other losing two million innocent civilians – the citizens of both countries harbor intense hatred for each other.

In this situation, if Great Feng agrees to this condition, it would indirectly 'confirm' that Li Qi was the culprit in the Yuanzhou City incident, allowing Ning Yongnian to completely clear himself of suspicion.

Furthermore, such a 'tit-for-tat' action, though cruel, could greatly rally the hearts of the people within Great Ning and sow a seed of 'treason' in the hearts of the people of Great Feng.

To put it bluntly, Ning Yongnian wants to tell the people of both countries a story:

Li Qi launched a war during the internal strife in Great Ning and ordered the massacre of Yuanzhou City after occupying it.

Unexpectedly, the Great Feng army was punished by Heaven after the massacre, and five hundred thousand elite soldiers perished.

Because of this, the 'righteous army' of Great Ning was able to advance triumphantly and ultimately win the war.

To comfort the innocent citizens who died in Yuanzhou City, Ning Yongnian chose to 'retaliate in kind' after the war, a life for a life.

The incompetent Great Feng court, in order to survive, actually agreed to such a condition, watching helplessly as Huailing City was massacred.

If this story is successfully told, then regardless of the Yuanzhou City massacre, the righteousness of the war, or even the impending Huailing City massacre, all the blame will be borne by Li Qi and the Great Feng court.

Ning Yongnian will then transform into a 'wise ruler of his generation' who eliminates harm for the world and cannot tolerate his own people suffering even the slightest grievance.

At that time, both reason and emotion will be on his side, while sin and evil will be placed on Li Qi's head.

If this happens, even if Great Feng does not perish now, it will not be far from destruction.

After all, who would be willing to be ruled by such a 'tyrannical ruler'?

I'm afraid that without Ning Yongnian taking action again, the endless internal strife would be enough to prevent Great Feng from ever recovering.

At that time, it would be much easier for Ning Yongnian to devour Great Feng again.

Because the threat from the Wei family is imminent, the situation on Great Feng's side must be resolved as soon as possible, and the army must be transferred back to the country.

Because he cannot swallow the entire Great Feng in a short period, he must 'negotiate peace'.

Because he cannot allow Great Feng to recuperate during the time he is dealing with the Wei family, he must create chaos in Great Feng and create an irreparable rift between the people of Great Feng and the court.

Because he wants to achieve this goal, he must massacre Huailing City.

In fact, Ning Yongnian had already conceived the entire plan after the defeat at Niutou Mountain and had made many preparations in advance.

Hanging Li Qi on the city wall is not only for Li Wutong to see but also deliberately to allow the martial artists in Huailing City to 'seek death' one after another, so as to reduce resistance to the subsequent massacre.

Broadcasting the negotiation process in real-time is to be able to transmit the message that 'Li Qi agreed to the massacre' at the first moment, shifting the responsibility to Great Feng.

Gently placing the teacup on the table, he straightened his body.

Ning Yongnian stopped all the arguments in the hall with just one action.

He didn't look at Min Zhongguang, but first glanced at Li Qi, then focused his gaze on Li Wutong, whose face was pale.

"Princess, what do you think?"

"..."

Outside the main hall, the crowd crowded on the long street had dispersed a lot, but there were still many people standing in the heavy snow waiting for the final result.

They didn't know what the last condition proposed by Great Ning was, and they didn't know that once Li Wutong nodded, they would all die.

They just felt that this fifth condition had been discussed for too long, so long that the snow on the roadside was already several fingers thick, as if burying the entire Huailing City in it.

It was like a huge coffin slowly closing.

"..."

"I... I will never agree..."

Biting her lip tightly, Li Wutong shook her head, her face bloodless.

She trembled as she looked at Ning Yongnian, but seemed afraid to meet his eyes, and finally had to lower her eyes and repeat the same sentence over and over again.

"Absolutely... absolutely impossible, absolutely impossible..."

"..."

Looking at the struggling Li Wutong, Ning Yongnian's expression did not change much.

He was not in a hurry to interrupt her, but waited until Li Wutong's voice was almost inaudible before slowly saying:

"Princess, there are a total of five conditions, and we have now agreed on four of them."

"You must know that the peace talks between the two countries are now known to the world, and I have no possibility of going back on my word."

"So, only this last step is needed, and Great Feng will not perish."

"And if this last condition cannot be agreed upon, then you should also be clear about what will happen, Princess."

"Princess, think carefully about what you have done before."

"I have been here for a whole day, and I have little patience left. I will give you a hundred breaths to consider."

"If you still don't agree, then there will be no chance to go back on your word."

"At that time, not only will you and your father not be able to leave this hall, but the people of Huailing City will still die."

"Think carefully."

"..."

Simple words, both coercion and enticement.

As long as you nod, Great Ning will immediately withdraw its troops, and everything you have done before will not be in vain.

And if you don't agree, then not only will you and your father not survive, but I will still massacre Huailing City.

Truthfully speaking, facing such an ultimate problem, it is difficult to distinguish between right and wrong in any choice.

In fact, even Min Zhongguang, who had been arguing with Sima Cong for an entire afternoon, didn't know how to choose.

He just felt that Great Ning might compromise, so he would not give an inch and resolutely reject such a condition.

But when Ning Yongnian personally spoke and said that the only two paths in front of them were 'agree' and 'disagree,' then the difficulty of this choice can be imagined.

Therefore, Min Zhongguang had already made up his mind at this moment that no matter whether Li Wutong agreed or not, he would not object.

The other officials on Great Feng's side were the same, all shutting their mouths at this moment and completely handing over the decision to this Wuping Princess who had given up everything to 'preserve Great Feng'.

Just like that.

Under the gaze of everyone in the entire hall except Li Qi, and in the wailing of the biting cold wind outside the house, Li Wutong finally slowly raised her head at the ninetieth breath.

She closed her eyes with despair and struggle, and tears streamed from the corners of her eyes.

Then, as if she had used all her strength, she nodded.