The Bodyguard King’s CEO Wife Chapter 1538: Tens of Thousands of Commoners

"General Ye, you are a high-ranking official of the court and should be loyal to His Majesty. As ministers, our sworn duty is to obey the Emperor's commands." Han Hao discerned Ye Shikai's inner turmoil and continued his earnest persuasion.

"Regardless of whether the characters inscribed on this fallen star represent the will of Heaven or were deliberately placed by human hands, the crucial point is that this message has already been disseminated. Celestial anomalies are indeed significant events. Should these rebellious forces choose to embellish this tale, it will undoubtedly mislead the common folk, driving more to join their ranks. At that juncture, the conflict will escalate, extending far beyond the mere loss of tens of thousands of lives. If the very foundation of our empire is imperiled, the entire nation will descend into utter chaos."

"Lord Han, from the moment I swore my allegiance, I have never once caused the death of an innocent civilian. The Qin Army's triumph over the Six Kingdoms was achieved through unity. Among my ranks, from the highest Chiliarch down to the lowest soldier, many hail from East County. How could they possibly agree to the slaughter of their own kin? Now, with the country fractured and countless commoners flocking to the banner of rebellion, does Lord Han truly believe the fault lies solely with the populace? His Majesty's current command for their execution—is this not effectively compelling them to turn against the court?" Ye Shikai's voice resonated with righteous indignation. He absolutely refused to be ordered to commit such abhorrent, life-denying acts.

"Ye, refrain from speaking such reckless words. His Majesty is known for his wisdom, and the current turmoil is entirely the machination of treacherous ministers and the disgruntled nobility of the Six Kingdoms. The Emperor labors day and night for the peace of the realm. As his loyal subjects, we must not presume to question his decisions rashly, lest we invite dire consequences. I trust I shall not hear such sentiments from you again." Han Hao's countenance turned frigid, the air thick with tension as both men stood on the precipice of a heated argument.

"Lord Han, the very people who elevated the Emperor to his throne possess the power to depose him."

"Silence..." Han Hao abruptly sprang to his feet, his palm striking the table with such force that the sturdy wooden surface splintered. He then cast a furtive glance around, ensuring no other ears were present, before his expression finally softened slightly.

"Ye, should others overhear such words, your head would surely be forfeit." Han Hao gradually regained his composure. It wasn't solely anger that fueled his reaction, but rather the 'taboo' nature of Ye Shikai's statement, especially emanating from a commanding general. If such words were to reach the Emperor's ears, Ye Shikai would undoubtedly be branded with the charge of 'treason.'

"Regardless, Ye, I still feel compelled to offer you counsel: You currently stand in high favor with both the Emperor and the Great General Meng. In East County, which general dares to defy you, save for Commander Ma? Your future prospects are boundless; do not squander them by making a catastrophic error in a moment of heated passion." Having weathered his initial anger, Han Hao offered his advice with genuine sincerity. After all, Ye Shikai was his former subordinate and a recognized military prodigy, an exceptional general. He harbored no desire to see Ye Shikai meet his end under the accusation of rebellion.

"Thank you, Lord Han, for your concern. I shall give your words due consideration. I find myself quite fatigued and shall take my leave to rest now." Ye Shikai gestured dismissively, indicating for the guards to escort their guest out.

"Very well, I shall depart then."

..................The following day.

Ye Shikai emerged from the military encampment. Since the celestial object's descent, nearly all available forces had been mobilized. At this moment, fifty thousand troops encircled the impact zone. Ye Shikai's own subordinates were positioned to the east, while the contingent led by Han Hao occupied the west, with the mysterious meteor lying at the very center of the cordon.

"I heard Lord Han has arrived," Shangguan Jian inquired.

"Indeed," Ye Shikai replied, rubbing his temples, his demeanor one of profound exhaustion, his face pale.

"Old Ye, you appear unwell. Are you perhaps taken ill?" Shangguan Jian, noticing his associate's pallor, posed the question with evident curiosity.

"Shangguan, you are as my brother, and I shall not conceal this momentous affair from you." Ye Shikai exhaled a heavy sigh, having spent the entire night wrestling with thoughts of the Emperor's secret edict that Han Hao had delivered. The directive to execute such a vast number of civilians – the mere contemplation of it filled Ye Shikai with dread. He couldn't recall any instance, even in the hushed annals of the Underworld, where over ten thousand lives were extinguished so summarily.

"Old Ye, what precisely transpired?"

"The Emperor's secret decree commanded Lord Han to liquidate all civilians residing within a fifty-li radius of the meteor's landing site, thereby preventing the inscriptions upon it from propagating and inciting rebellion." Ye Shikai attempted to maintain a level tone, but Shangguan Jian remained visibly shaken.

"What? Such a multitude of innocent lives, all to be extinguished? This is preposterous!"

"Do you truly believe His Majesty's secret decree could be fabricated?"

"Good heavens, how can such a thing even be contemplated?"

"Indeed, I do not agree, but... His Majesty’s decree, Lord Han is resolute in his compliance," Ye Shikai expressed his helplessness. Honestly, he lacked the audacity to openly defy the imperial will. In this current age, the Emperor’s word was absolute law. Furthermore, beyond the three hundred thousand troops stationed in the north, there were the imperial guards surrounding Xianyang and countless garrison forces spread across the nation. To attempt rebellion would undoubtedly lead to utter annihilation.

Ye Shikai was not a man afraid of death, but he had twenty thousand sworn brothers depending on him. Each of them had families, and Ye Shikai also had his own hearth and home. His deepest wish was to spend his remaining years peacefully alongside He Linghan.

Consequently, the most prudent course of action at this juncture was to seek a 'peaceful resolution,' avoiding the necessity of violence if at all possible.

"Old Ye, what are your thoughts on this matter?" Shangguan Jian pondered for a moment before turning his gaze to Ye Shikai.

"I will not commit the act of slaughtering the innocent," Ye Shikai declared without hesitation. This was his unwavering principle, his immutable boundary.

"You are absolutely right. My sentiments align precisely with yours."

"However, even if we refrain from acting, I fear Lord Han will proceed regardless. At that point, we will be forced to watch helplessly," Ye Shikai stated, sinking back into his seat. "I have just received intelligence from Xue San; armies from He Nei County and East County are converging on this location, their numbers no less than sixty thousand. I suspect this mobilization is also in service of executing this clandestine decree."

Contemplating this, Ye Shikai let out a derisive scoff. To think that for such a preposterous decree, two entire counties would be deployed, mustering over a hundred thousand troops. With such ostentatious 'zeal,' any genuine rebel armies would have been utterly vanquished a dozen times over by now.

"Old Ye, there are dozens of villages within a fifty-li radius, home to over ten thousand souls."

"Indeed, but what recourse do I have?"

Should Ye Shikai choose to comply with the Emperor’s directive, he would bear no personal 'culpability.' The lives of tens of thousands of unarmed civilians would be forfeit due to the actions of Han Hao and his ilk, and he would escape future infamy. Yet, by doing so, countless innocent lives would perish unjustly before his very eyes. Conversely, if he were to rebel, two potential outcomes loomed. Firstly, he might succeed in protecting the civilians, but Ye Shikai and his loyal subordinates would inevitably be branded as 'treasonous outlaws,' pursued relentlessly by the Qin Empire's vast army of a hundred thousand, thus initiating a desperate and unequal struggle for survival. Secondly, he might fail to save the civilians, perishing himself amidst the ensuing chaos of war.