"Your Majesty (Great Emperor) is wise!"
Apart from the handful who knew the truth, no one read too much into Xiao Ying's words. Instead, they found them perfectly reasonable and immediately raised their voices in shared outrage.
The people of Yingzhou in particular had hatred blazing in their eyes, their features twisted into savage masks.
Unfortunately, Chu Emperor Xiang Yu had disappeared, the Great Chu Imperial Dynasty was on the verge of destruction, and not a single descended immortal god who had taken part in the battle remained alive. They wanted to vent their hatred, but there seemed to be no one left to vent it on!
Xiao Ying's expression turned solemn as he swiftly continued, "Rest assured! My Golden Mouth and Jade Words are binding. In accordance with our earlier agreement, Yingzhou will become the Hojo Clan's fief. My loyal subject Hojo need not worry!"
"Well..."
Hojo Soun stiffened. His mouth opened wide, but the words caught in his throat. His face looked as conflicted as though he had swallowed dog shit, and he did not know whether to thank the emperor or refuse.
Yingzhou had become a place where not a blade of grass grew and not a soul could be seen. Survival itself was impossible. What would the Hojo Clan want it for? If the Hojo Clan really received an imperial decree to guard the Yingzhou Archipelago, how would that differ from banishment to the savage wilderness, exile beyond civilization?
Not only Hojo Soun but everyone else from Yingzhou wore an utterly miserable expression. Meanwhile, the senior officials of Great Huan, the generals of Great Qin, the leaders of the light, and the others present wore varied expressions, many looking as though they were struggling to hold back laughter.
A fief this vast was indeed a rarity