In years of famine and drought, their village even rejected fatty meat.

Chapter 769 Nine Provinces Shaken

The children of the poor are in charge early.

Eighteen-year-old Xu Xiaoma was no longer an innocent child. He had seen his parents' hard work over the years, which was why he resolutely joined the Qingzhou Army, just to ease the burden on his family and allow his younger siblings to eat better.

Now that he has been promoted to centurion, he will receive more military pay, which will surely greatly improve his family's impoverished situation.

"pony……"

Looking at her sensible eldest son, Zhou Yan was moved and held Xu Xiaoma's hand tightly.

A look of emotion flashed across Xu Jun's face, but he was not good at expressing his feelings, so he simply nodded and said, "Since you have your own ideas, then do them. Your father, mother, and younger siblings will all support you!"

"Big brother, I support you!"

"I support you too! When I grow up, I want to join the army like my older brother, earn money to buy meat for our parents, and buy new clothes for my younger sister!"

"Ha ha!"

The child's innocent voice seemed to dispel the oppressive atmosphere, and the small house was filled with the family's laughter.

Meanwhile, in other parts of the city, many Qingzhou soldiers gradually returned home. Some of these soldiers were unwilling to continue serving, while others had surrendered the city with Xu Xiaoma and received rewards.

Regardless of the reason, their return brought great joy to their families, especially those soldiers who had rendered meritorious service in surrendering the city. The rewards they brought back greatly improved the family's situation of not having enough to eat. After they told their families that these rewards were given by Yang Zheng, their families became even more grateful to Yang Zheng and the Yang family army, and they also became more and more supportive of the Yang family army's rule in the prefectural city.

Thus, under Yang Zheng's various policies, Qingzhou Prefecture, ravaged by war, gradually began to recover, and the entire prefecture was slowly getting better.

As officials from Liangzhou took office one after another in the other counties outside the prefectural city, the local government resumed normal operations, and the counties also returned to normal order. In short, the entire Taiqing Prefecture was getting better and showing a thriving state.

Meanwhile, Yang Erlang also led his army into Qingming County.

Apart from the city guards of each county, Qingming County had no army at all, so naturally no one could stop Yang Erlang from conquering cities and seizing territory.

Even without Yang Erlang launching an attack, wherever the army went, before Yang Erlang could even attack the city, the officials inside the city, who already knew that the prefectural city had fallen, would spontaneously come out of the city and surrender.

Only a few officials who were loyal to the court chose to defend the city to the death. Yang Erlang did not hesitate to order an attack on the city. After the city was breached, the people inside would not be harmed. However, those officials and landlords who were loyal to the court were not so lucky and all became victims of the army's swords!

In mid-October, Yang Erlang led his army into Qingming County. By early November, he had occupied all the county towns in Qingming County. He then stationed his army in Dingnan County, the southernmost part of Qingming County, where he confronted the White Lotus Army stationed in Qingyue County, Yuezhou, and did not give the White Lotus Army any chance to enter Qingzhou territory.

…………

…………

In early November, as Yang Erlang took over the entire Qingming County, the news that the entire Qingzhou had fallen into Yang Zheng's hands spread throughout the land, shaking the entire nation!

"What?! The Yang family army has actually occupied the entire Qingzhou?"

When did this happen?

"With Liangzhou and Qingzhou combined, doesn't Yang Zheng now possess two provinces?"

"Yang Zheng is truly a force to be reckoned with! He has taken over the entire Qingzhou with such incredible speed!"

"This child has the potential to become a dragon among men!"

"..."

Yang Zheng's swift conquest of Qingzhou was clearly beyond the expectations of most people, and everyone was extremely shocked upon hearing the news!

Although the world is in chaos and rebels are everywhere in the nine provinces, very few rebels can control a province. Apart from the White Lotus Army that occupies Yue Province and the Yang Family Army that occupies Liang Province, the rebels in other provinces are still in a state of chaotic fighting.

After the imperial army within the state was eliminated, the rebel forces in the various states were no longer united as before. They attacked and annexed each other in order to seize territory. It is foreseeable that these rebel forces will not be able to unite in the short term. They will need to wait for a real strongman to appear before the rebel forces in other states can form a united force.

And what about Yang's army?

Not only did he acquire the territory of Liangzhou early on, but he has also quickly taken over the entire Qingzhou. Holding two provinces means that Yang Zheng has more soldiers, land, resources, and so on.

Simply put... Yang Zheng, who now owns two states, will have a much greater chance of conquering the world!

This caused unrest among many in Kyushu. Yang Zheng, who held sway over two provinces, might not necessarily be able to conquer the world, but he was undoubtedly one of the most likely to become a powerful and ambitious ruler. If they could join Yang Zheng now, wouldn't they be... when he eventually ascended to the supreme position?

"Let's go! Let's go to Qingzhou and seek refuge with King Yang!"

"Let's go together!"

In an instant, countless scholars from humble backgrounds who felt their talents were not being recognized set off for Qingzhou, intending to seek refuge with Yang Zheng and make a name for themselves.

Meanwhile, in a mansion in Qiongzhou, the young Ming King, upon receiving the news, turned ashen-faced.

Logically speaking, Yuezhou, occupied by the White Lotus Army, and Liangzhou, occupied by the Yang Family Army, were separated by Qingzhou. The two sides should have lived in peace and kept to themselves.

However, the reality is not like that.

Although Qingzhou separates the two sides, Xiaoming Wang has always regarded Yang Zheng of Liangzhou as a formidable enemy!

Xiao Mingwang always believed that among the heroes emerging across the land of Kyushu, the one most likely to seize the world was undoubtedly himself, followed by Yang Zheng of Liangzhou!

Yang Zheng has always been his imagined enemy, and now that he sees Yang Zheng take over Qingzhou, he naturally won't have a good look on his face.

Not to mention, Qingzhou has always been considered by Little Ming King and the entire White Lotus Sect leadership as their own!

It's important to understand that the Qingzhou army was defeated by the White Lotus Sect. At that time, the White Lotus Sect had every opportunity to advance into Qingzhou and bring it under their rule. However…

A single misstep caused them to lose the entire Qingzhou, and they themselves became deeply mired in the Yuezhou war, unable to extricate themselves!

"If we had known this would happen, we should have marched into Qingzhou back then!"

A high-ranking member of the White Lotus Sect said with a grim expression, "If we had taken the opportunity to enter Qingzhou when we defeated the Qingzhou army, Qingzhou would already be under our control. Why would we have let that brat Yang Zheng get away with it, and why would we be stuck in this quagmire of Qiongzhou!"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the White Lotus Sect leaders present became even more grim. The White Lotus Sect did indeed have the opportunity to easily take over the entire Qingzhou, and there were indeed voices within the White Lotus Sect calling for an attack on Qingzhou. However, in the end, they chose to abandon Qingzhou and advance on Qiongzhou instead.