Chapter 1816 - 423: The Frightening Potential of Huangzhou Prefecture! (Part 3)

"Exactly, exactly. Look at the neighboring village; just because they’re not under Lord Chen’s rule, they ended up with no money to repair the reservoir. Now, this year is a drought year, we have water for irrigation and won’t miss the harvest, while they, they might starve!"

"Isn’t that right? Just one village apart, the difference is huge. How many more years do you think we can enjoy these good days?"

"Li Gouzi, what do you mean? You’re not dissatisfied with Lord Chen, are you?"

"Who am I to dare? Furthermore, Lord Chen has been so good to us, how could I be dissatisfied with him? Am I even human if I, Chen Gouzi, am dissatisfied with Lord Chen? What I’m worried about is, Lord Chen is not a court-appointed official but took over this land himself. I’m afraid one day the court will invade and we’ll have to live like pigs and dogs again!"

Upon hearing this, the group of villagers all fell silent. Initially, when Chen Jiusi and his people occupied the Prefecture City, they were apprehensive, worried that Chen Jie and these Jianghu bandits would harm them, increase their taxes, and make their lives unbearable.

But after a year or two under Chen Jie’s governance, they discovered that these bandits were truly Heavenly Soldiers and Generals. Under their administration, the area prospered, taxes were only a third of what they were under the court, and they even built reservoirs and repaired roads. Now every household has surplus grain, and there’s a little extra money at hand.

They can buy some fabric for the wife to make a new dress, or buy a piece of meat for the children, an extravagance. Watching the smiles on their wives’ and children’s faces, can they not appreciate Chen Jiusi’s goodness?

Thinking back on the days before—the court’s taxes increased year by year, each time heavier than the last. Aside from taxes, just feeding the family was a problem. They had to dig for wild vegetables and tree bark to stave off hunger; not starving was considered good. Such days offered no hope.

But now it’s different; the household has surplus grain, and the family does not need to eat tree bark and roots. There’s even a little extra money, and many are considering buying chicks and ducklings from the market to raise chickens and ducks next year, so the family can eat eggs.

Additionally, they’ve heard that the court plans to build a salt field extraction factory in the village soon. During down times, they can work there to earn some money, and in a few years, they might even be able to renovate their homes and get a new bride for their sons.

This wonderful life seems just around the corner, and now you tell me the court’s army is invading.

Those Mulan Dog officials don’t even know?

When they come, they’ll try every means to seize these possessions, along with the wonderful life we have now, which will certainly disappear. High taxes and endless labor—living like pigs and dogs.

No! We cannot be treated like this; we must defend our wonderful life!

We must not go back to being beasts of burden. No, never!

No one can take away my wonderful life now. No one can; anyone who tries to take my wonderful life, I’ll fight them to the death. Yes, fight to the death!

Thinking about this, the villagers’ eyes reddened.

An honest-looking man, appearing to be so simple that a slug can’t be beaten out of him.

But at this moment, his eyes reddened, and he said, "If anyone dares to prevent me from living a good life, I will take their life. If the court dares to come, I will fight them to the death! I won’t let them take my good life away even if I die!"

Hearing this, everyone was shocked and looked at him. No one expected him, the mildest-tempered among them, to say such fierce words. They exchanged glances and all had a resolute look in their eyes, saying, "Exactly, if anyone prevents us from leading a good life, we’ll fight them to the death!"

"Yes, that’s right, if anyone prevents us from living well, we’ll fight them to the death. When Lord Chen recruits soldiers again, I’ll have my son join the army and deal with these Mulan Dogs!"

"Yes, deal with the Mulan Dogs!"

Never having seen light, they could endure darkness. But after Chen Jie brought them light, none could tolerate darkness anymore. If you try to take away what they’ve gained, these villagers will truly fight to the death.

And this is the hope Peng Yingyu saw within Chen Jie’s territory.

When the villagers spontaneously sought to protect their property, Chen Jiusi’s regime was the most stable. To eliminate Chen Jie’s regime, one would have to uproot him completely; otherwise, they cannot eradicate Chen Jiusi. These villagers are Chen Jiusi’s most solid fortress!

And it’s not only this small village that holds such thoughts. This village is just a small microcosm of Chen Jie’s governance in six prefectures; many share the same idea.

This is Chen Jie’s rural power. Besides agriculture, Huangzhou Prefecture, under Chen Jie’s policy stimuli, has an exceptionally prosperous commerce.

Shen Wansan, appointed as the Minister of Business Development by Chen Jie, has utilized his formidable business skills and networks to expand Chen Jie’s business throughout Jiangnan, and even to the Northern regions.

Currently, Huangzhou Prefecture’s cotton cloth, refined salt, white sugar, glass, tea, and so on, are coveted goods of this era, with commerce flourishing in all places.

Particularly refined salt and white sugar, which are the favorites among affluent families in Suzhou and Hangzhou.

These products, improved by the refined salt factories and sugar factories under Huangzhou Prefecture’s Ministry of Industry, have become the ultimate indulgence pursued by Jiangnan’s wealthy.

It should be noted that salt purification techniques of this era were very poor, producing coarse salt with large grains and a bitter taste. When added to dishes, there’s always a bitterness. Therefore, per Chen Jie’s request...