"Congratulations, King of Pingqiu!"
A beat behind, the chief of Ironblood Stronghold finally caught on. He trembled with excitement as he offered his congratulations in a quavering voice.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty! Our warmest congratulations!"
The demons who were not entirely dim-witted also offered their congratulations.
Black Spirit and others like her, however, were rather baffled. What was there to get so excited about? The old emperor had merely sent someone to announce a decree and deliver a golden seal, hadn't he?
The thing was only good for looking at. You couldn't eat it.
She had submitted to the King of Pingqiu because of his strength. An imperial decree and a golden seal made no difference.
The Demon Race was simple by nature. Born in the underworld and roaming the mountain forests, they knew nothing of the importance of official rank and power in the mortal world.
Little did she know that this single imperial decree and golden seal had made Yan Zheng so envious he nearly went mad. The other officials, great and small, along with the local gentry and wealthy magnates, were also dumbstruck.
"That fellow really has been made a king!"
"He's only a commandery king, but he's been specially permitted to establish his own headquarters and court, exercise authority, and appoint a full complement of ministers and officials. This is nothing less than carving off territory to grant him a fief!"
"With monsters holding sway, the nation will cease to be a nation!"
Great Qian had long implemented a system of commanderies and counties. Though its vast territory meant that commanderies and kingdoms still existed side by side, unless the exalted dignitaries at court and the emperor had lost their minds, they ought to know which arrangement to favor.
Great Qian's reign was measured in millions of