The rise of a family, the Heavenly Evolution Divine Tree

After this devastating defeat, the entire state of Zhao was plunged into deep reflection. This catastrophic event brought immense trauma and losses to Zhao, but it also became a powerful driving force for change.

In the imperial court, ministers offered their advice and suggestions, discussing how to revitalize the Zhao state through reforms. They knew that only by thoroughly overhauling Zhao's existing systems and rationally integrating domestic resources could Zhao rise again among the great powers.

At the same time, the State of Zhao was determined to severely punish those forces that had performed poorly or failed to contribute in its various wars of expansion and defense.

These forces not only failed to contribute to the prosperity and stability of the nation, but instead became stumbling blocks on Zhao's path forward. These malignant tumors must be eradicated with swift and decisive action to provide space for truly capable and responsible individuals to display their talents.

Furthermore, due to the wavering and ambiguous attitude of some forces that originally intended to relocate to Zhao, the King of Zhao decisively issued an order: for the next thirty years, any other human forces are strictly prohibited from relocating to Zhao. This decision was made both to avoid a mixed bag of people and to concentrate efforts on developing the country's strength.

It is worth mentioning that the Jigong Zhao clan, which had always maintained close ties with the Zhao state, also demonstrated its firm support at this time. They not only increased their support for Zhao's development, but even all members of the Zhao royal family relocated to Zhao, betting their fortunes on this land full of hope. This all-out support undoubtedly injected a powerful boost into Zhao's reforms.

Before formally implementing the reforms, the State of Zhao first began to provide compensation to the pioneering legions and other major legions, and actively promoted the redemption of war merits. This measure aimed to recognize the soldiers who fought valiantly on the battlefield and made great sacrifices for the expansion of Zhao's territory and the defense of its homeland.

Through the exchange of war merits, many Zhao forces that suffered heavy losses in the war were able to receive corresponding compensation and rewards, which further inspired the fighting spirit and confidence of the entire army and people.

Subsequently, the State of Zhao issued an order that shocked the entire nation: to reclaim the territories controlled by various powerful forces within Zhao's borders and bring them all under Zhao's direct jurisdiction! Zhao's already vast territory of thirty states has now become a closely connected and highly unified whole.

To effectively govern this vast territory, the State of Zhao decided to establish thirty governors, each stationed in a prefecture, fully responsible for the administration and security of their respective jurisdictions. These governors were not only tasked with ensuring the smooth implementation of state laws, but also with actively promoting local economic development and cultural progress.

Under each prefecture, numerous administrative units were further subdivided. First, there were prefectures, whose offices served as the core institutions of local government, undertaking specific administrative management functions. Next were counties, whose offices were responsible for coordinating the work between prefectures and handling some more complex matters. Then came counties, whose offices focused on solving grassroots livelihood issues. Finally, there were towns and villages, forming a rigorous and efficient administrative system.

Furthermore, to safeguard national security and maintain domestic stability, the Zhao state vigorously strengthened its military capabilities. Each province was required to establish a powerful standing army, numbering as many as ten million! In addition to these regular forces, Zhao also specially established four major combat legions. Each legion possessed an astonishing one hundred million troops, truly a national treasure.

The organization of these main combat corps was also carefully designed. Each battalion had a size of one million soldiers, who were well-trained, well-equipped, and ready to deal with any contingency. Ten such powerful battalions formed a division, and each division had ten million soldiers.

When ten divisions were assembled, they formed an enormous army with a total strength of up to one hundred million men! It is conceivable that such a massive army would become a solid bulwark for the State of Zhao in defending its sovereignty and resisting foreign invasion.

Time passed quickly, and the State of Zhao swiftly launched a series of complex and far-reaching reforms. However, these changes, like a boulder thrown into water, created ripples and triggered numerous upheavals within Zhao. After all, Zhao's sweeping reforms directly impacted the deeply entrenched interests of many powerful factions within its borders.

But what was unexpected was that those forces that attempted to resist seemed to have forgotten a crucial fact—the Zhao royal family was the supreme ruler of this land!

Faced with these restless forces, the Zhao royal family displayed a ruthless and merciless side, brutally suppressing and bloodily purging them without hesitation. For a time, the entire Zhao kingdom was filled with fear and unease, everyone living in constant fear.

Meanwhile, in the distant Yunzhong County, the He family was shrouded in gloom. This once illustrious family had suffered heavy losses due to its participation in the Zhao Kingdom's expansionist army. Of the True Person Realm experts who had once thrown themselves into battle with great ambition, very few had returned.

Of these, only the Supreme Elder He Yiqiu, Zhang Yunyu, He Beichen, He Beixi, He Yuanhuan from the four sects, He Xuanya from the three sects, He Beicang, He Beifeng, and He Beifang from the four sects survived.

Tragically, He Yuanqing of the four sects mysteriously disappeared, his fate unknown; He Beiyu and He Beixu of the first sect, He Yuanteng of the second sect, and He Yuanzhen of the third sect all perished on the battlefield. This devastating war severely weakened the He family, and its former glory was gone forever…

The once formidable Tai Xuan Army has been almost completely wiped out. They shed their blood and lives on that brutal battlefield, and in the end, less than 30% of them managed to return to their hometown alive.

The clan guards responsible for protecting the family's safety, as well as the four highly respected clan guards, also suffered heavy blows, with extremely high casualties.

It is heartbreaking that the Supreme Elder He Yiqiu, Zhang Yunyu, He Beifeng and He Beifang from the Four Sects, and other top experts from these families were all seriously injured.

Their injuries were extremely serious, and even with careful treatment and recuperation, it would take at least several years for them to fully recover.

In this sorrowful moment, the entire He clan of Yunzhong was plunged into grief. Every household wore white mourning clothes to express their deepest condolences for their departed relatives and comrades-in-arms. However, despite the loss of so many clan members, their heroic sacrifice was not in vain. Those brave warriors who died valiantly won countless illustrious military achievements for the He clan of Yunzhong with their lives.

Moreover, the He clan of Yunzhong possessed a large number of outstanding alchemists, weapon makers, and other skilled individuals. They played a crucial role in the logistical support of the Zhao state, providing the nation with a continuous supply of elixirs and sophisticated weaponry.

Thanks to this immense contribution, the He family of Yunzhong was able to exchange several invaluable Dao Foundation Treasures from the state. As for the remaining battle merits, the family decided to temporarily store them for future use.

In fact, families and forces like the He family of Yunzhong, which had experienced the ravages of fierce war, were numerous throughout the Zhao Kingdom. For a time, the previously turbulent and fiercely contested powers all fell silent, quietly licking their wounds and focusing on recovering their strength. The entire Zhao Kingdom seemed to enter a relatively peaceful period, but everyone knew that this was merely the calm before the storm.