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

Chapter 726 Water can carry a boat and also capsize it

Chen Dao had not thoroughly investigated why Zheng Qing and others were so determined to follow him in betraying the imperial court.

However, he could probably guess part of the reason.

Whether it's Zheng Qing, the prefect of Taicang County, or Xu Zhiwen and Li Qingyun, the county magistrates of Taicang County, they all have one thing in common: they were all born in Taicang County, or lived in Taicang County for decades and regarded Taicang County as their hometown.

It was precisely because they regarded Taicang County as their hometown and had a deep affection for this land that they felt compassion when they saw their fellow villagers struggling to make ends meet and living in dire straits. The conscience of scholars made it impossible for them to stand idly by and watch the suffering of the people.

Therefore, upon seeing that Chen Dao could bring a better life to the people of Taicang County and allow them to live a good life, while the imperial court could only bring suffering to the people, they almost all boarded Chen Dao's pirate ship without hesitation, choosing to betray the imperial court with Chen Dao, even if they would be branded as disloyal and despised by scholars all over the world.

"Do you see hope for your hometown to get better?"

Yang Zheng repeated this sentence, feeling a sense of recognition for Zheng Qing and other officials of Taicang County.

Because in essence, Yang Zheng and officials like Zheng Qing are the same kind of people. Zheng Qing and others betrayed the court in order to make their fellow villagers in their hometowns live better lives, and Yang Zheng's rebellion was no different.

Yang Zheng couldn't help but think that if Liangzhou had been governed by an official like Zheng Qing who valued the people, he probably wouldn't have been forced to rebel.

Yang Zheng shook his head, dispelling the thoughts in his mind, and looked at Chen Dao: "Mr. Chen, do you mean that I need to persuade Zheng Qing and other officials of Taicang County to willingly join the Yang Family Army?"

"Not bad!"

Chen Dao nodded and said, "If King Yang can persuade Prefect Zheng and others, Taicang County will immediately be brought under King Yang's rule. Then King Yang can use Taicang County as a fulcrum to take over the entire Qingzhou!"

"How easy is it to persuade these stubborn officials?"

Yang Erlang suddenly spoke up: "When we rebelled in Liangzhou, we saw countless foolishly loyal officials. Even if they were facing execution, they would still curse us as rebels. We couldn't persuade them at all!"

Liangzhou was not without good officials. In fact, when they rebelled, Yang Zheng and others met many officials with good reputations. Yang Zheng had also been interested in talent and tried to win over these officials to serve him.

however……

These good officials were often extremely loyal to the imperial court. Even with a knife to their throats, they showed no fear and instead denounced traitors like Yang Zheng and Yang Erlang...

Under such circumstances, even if these officials were highly respected and beloved by the people, Yang Zheng had no choice but to ruthlessly kill them and send them to meet the King of Hell.

"Different."

Upon hearing what Yang Erlang said, Chen Dao shook his head and said, "Those blindly loyal officials in Liangzhou are different from Zheng and others. Zheng and others have long been dissatisfied with the court, and their loyalty to the court is practically nonexistent. It is far easier to persuade them than to persuade those blindly loyal officials in Liangzhou."

After speaking, Chen Dao paused for a moment and continued, "To be honest, King Yang, ice wheat has already been planted in various counties of Taicang Prefecture. As long as King Yang can persuade Prefect Zheng and other officials to support us, the food shortage situation in Liangzhou will be greatly alleviated by the end of the year."

Upon hearing this, Yang Zheng's previously calm expression instantly changed.

According to Chen Dao, the yield of ice wheat can reach more than 1,000 jin per mu, which is more than four times that of ordinary wheat!

Based on this figure, the ice wheat grown in Taicang County may not be able to completely solve the food shortage in Liangzhou, but it can at least alleviate the situation...

Thinking of this, Yang Zheng's breathing immediately became heavy, and he said, "It seems that I have no choice but to persuade Zheng Qing and the others!"

Persuading Zheng Qing and others to support him meant he could take over the entire Taicang Prefecture, and even more so, he could obtain the grain produced by Taicang Prefecture...

These two points alone were enough to make Yang Zheng make up his mind. Not to mention, after taking over Taicang County, he could also plot against the entire Qingzhou!

Once he brings Qingzhou under his rule, he will have a greater chance of contending for the throne, as he will control two provinces.

"Mr. Chen!"

Having made up his mind, Yang Zheng said with a firm expression, "When can I arrange to meet with Zheng Qing and the others?"

"Zheng Qing and the others are already waiting in Chenjia Village. If King Yang is willing, I can arrange for you to meet tomorrow."

"Alright! Let's do it tomorrow!"

So, the matter was settled. Tomorrow, Chen Dao will arrange for Yang Zheng to meet with Zheng Qing and others. During the meeting, Yang Zheng will need to gain the support of Zheng Qing and the others.

After the matter was settled, Chen Dao took the opportunity to extend an invitation to Yang Zheng and the others, saying, "King Yang has come from afar, how about coming to my home for a simple meal?"

"no need."

Yang Zheng shook his head and refused: "We plan to take a walk around Chenjia Village."

"Alright! Let's go back together then."

Chen Dao didn't insist, and soon the group turned around and returned to the village.

On their way back, it happened to be the time when the villagers of Chenjia Village were finishing work. Yang Zheng and the others saw many villagers walking out of the fields, carrying hoes and other farm tools as they returned.

"Good afternoon, Brother Dao!"

"Good afternoon, Mr. Chen!"

"Brother Dao, do you want to come to my house for dinner tonight?"

"..."

The villagers walked along the road in twos and threes with relaxed expressions. Every villager who saw Chen Dao would stop and greet him with a smile.

It was easy to see from the smiles and words of these villagers that they had a heartfelt love and respect for Chen Dao, which made Yang Zheng and others deeply feel Chen Dao's prestige in Chenjia Village.

I'm also glad I didn't choose to send troops to attack Chenjia Village, otherwise... given Chen Dao's prestige within Chenjia Village, I'm afraid all the villagers would have taken up arms without hesitation at Chen Dao's call and fought against the enemy attacking Chenjia Village.

Of course, given the size of Chenjia Village, even if all the villagers took up arms, Yang's army would not be afraid. What Yang Zheng was really worried about was losing the hearts and minds of the people of Taiping County, and even the entire Taicang Prefecture, because of attacking Chenjia Village.

The will of the people is an intangible thing, and some people think it is useless, but Yang Zheng is very clear about its importance.

When he rebelled, if it weren't for the united support of the people of the two prefectures, how could a cowherd like him have defeated the Liangzhou army, and how could he have defeated the imperial army that followed?

This is the power of popular will. When the will of millions of working people comes together, the force that can be unleashed is enough to shake the heavens and the earth, and enough to overthrow a powerful dynasty!

Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it; this is the principle at play!