My Sexy CEO Wife

Chapter 488 - 485: Everyone is Frantic

"Alas..." Bai Daqing let out a long sigh, "I am concerned for the common people."

Gao Fei was startled, "The common people?"

"Yes." Bai Daqing nodded, "Since ancient times, the common people's greatest fear has been war. Once war breaks out, the commoners will suffer harm; at best, they will be displaced and homeless, at worst, they will be left in fields of corpses."

"Lord Mayor, you truly are kind-hearted," Gao Fei praised. "You consider the common people at every moment."

"The Emperor himself is leading a great army to subjugate Sikong Yi and others. A massive war is bound to erupt between the two sides, and it is the common people who will suffer most."

"Lord Mayor, you should try to persuade the Emperor to change his strategy..."

"Persuade?" Bai Daqing gave a bitter smile and shook his head, "I know the Emperor too well. He seems amiable on the surface, but he has a formidable temper. Anyone who dares to challenge his authority will be met with severe measures; persuasion is futile." At this point, Bai Daqing added another sentence, "Centuries ago, a mayor openly defied the Emperor. The Emperor ordered the execution of that mayor, along with his family, relatives, and friends. No amount of pleading made a difference."

"What can we do, then?" Gao Fei asked, frowning.

"There is nothing we can do." Bai Daqing let out a sigh of frustration. "No one can change what the Emperor has decided." Bai Daqing paused, then continued, "This war is inevitable."

Gao Fei became increasingly somber. Once a war started, the common people were sure to be affected. People would be displaced, bodies would be strewn everywhere, a truly unbearable sight—but Gao Fei, with his limited influence, could do nothing to stop it; he could only watch helplessly.

Bai Daqing also stopped speaking, sitting in his chair, sighing with dismay.

For a while, the atmosphere in the room was somewhat oppressive.

"The only thing we can do now is... to help as many of those afflicted by the war as we can, one person at a time." After a long silence, Bai Daqing spoke slowly.

Gao Fei nodded, "Lord Mayor is right, to help one is to help one... Regardless of others, we must be true to our own conscience."

...

Several days later.

The Emperor led hundreds of thousands of troops towards Xichu City, and Bai Daqing and Gao Fei followed as well.

At Bai Daqing's insistent request, the Emperor issued a law: soldiers were forbidden from harassing the common folk along the way, and violators would be executed!

Following the proclamation of the law, Bai Daqing and Gao Fei breathed a sigh of relief; that was all they could do... They hoped the war would end quickly and spare the common people from too much suffering.

The news of the Emperor leading his army against the rebels spread rapidly, soon reaching every corner of the Human Territory, and Sikong Yi and the others were also informed.

Xichu City.

Within the royal palace.

Zhao Batu, the King of Xichu, said with an anxious expression, "The Emperor himself is leading a great army here, what on earth should we do?"

"Don't panic," Duanmu Lengqiu, the King of Nan, said. "This is a hurdle we must face! If we survive this, we are safe!"

"Survive? Easier said than done!" Zhao Batu said with a wry smile, "The Emperor alone could annihilate us, let alone with hundreds of thousands of troops."

"If worst comes to worst, we die," Duanmu Lengqiu snorted. "Losing one's head leaves but a bowl-sized scar—what's to fear?"

"Are you truly not afraid of death?"

"Of course, I'm not!"

"Then you go and fight the Emperor, and we'll cheer for you from behind."

"...Why should I go? Why don't you go?"

"Aren't you the one who is not afraid of death?"

"Scram, kid! I'm not afraid to die, but I don't want to throw my life away for nothing."

"Enough, all of you, stop quarreling," King Li He of the Northern Garrison said, "What time is it now, and you still have the mood to argue! Better to think quickly about how to overcome the immediate crisis."

"There is no other way but to fight to the death," Duanmu Lengqiu stated.

"We could try... negotiating peace with the Emperor of the Human Race?" Zhao Batu suggested.

"The Emperor will never agree to it," Li He shook his head, "He will not negotiate peace with us unless we are willing to surrender without a fight."

"I have a method," Sikong Yi, who

had been silent all along, suddenly spoke, "It might work."

"What method?" Zhao Batu and the others asked eagerly.

Sikong Yi scanned the surroundings and then said slowly, "Seek help."

"Help? Where can we find help? Who would dare assist us?"

"The great clans and sects."

"Them? They would help us?"

"Over the years, the Emperor has been suppressing those great clans and sects; they must be filled with resentment. They simply don't dare to speak up because of the Emperor's power. If we ask those clans and sects for help, they will surely be tempted," Sikong Yi explained, "Even if they don't dare to confront the Emperor openly, they would support us in secret." Pausing for a moment, he continued, "If we have the support of those clans and sects, our strength will greatly increase, and we may be able to fight the Emperor."

Zhao Batu nodded, "I think we should try this method. Even if it doesn't work, we have nothing to lose."

"Who will make contact with these clans and sects?" Li He asked, "Definitely not me! Last time, at the Sea of Death, fighting over the Dragon Corpse, I had a very unpleasant altercation with those masters from the clans and sects."

"I'll go," Sikong Yi let out a slow breath, "I have no grudges with them."

"We should not delay, leave now," Li He urged, "As long as you can persuade them to help, it's okay to offer them some benefits."

Sikong Yi nodded, "Wait for my good news." After saying this, he strode away and disappeared in an instant.

"We shouldn't just wait around either; let's get ready for battle," Li He said, "Dispatch all the soldiers to meet the enemy and then activate the City Protection Array..."

In the following time, Li He, Duanmu Lengqiu, and Zhao Batu sprung into action separately, Li He was responsible for summoning the soldiers, Duanmu Lengqiu calmed the citizens, and Zhao Batu was in charge of activating the City Protection Array. They were all so busy they didn't even have time to rest.

A few days later, Sikong Yi returned, covered in dust and dirt.

"How did it go? Did those clans and sects agree?" Zhao Batu asked urgently.

Duanmu Lengqiu and Li He also looked eagerly at Sikong Yi.

Sikong Yi just nodded and then shook his head.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Zhao Batu didn't understand, "Why nod and then shake your head? Did they agree or not? Can you just give us a clear answer?"

"Yeah, stop beating around the bush; we're almost dying of anxiety here," Li He said urgently.

Only Duanmu Lengqiu remained somewhat calm.

"They agreed to only half."

"Half? Can you be more specific?"

"They dare not defy the Emperor openly, and can only help us secretly."

"Cowards!" Zhao Batu cursed, "They have no spirit at all! I despise them!!!"