Lu Yanzheng nodded. "Originally, I also wanted to take it step by step, but the court is really too inhumane. The longer I delay in protecting the people, the more they will suffer."

"Did something happen?" Jiang Qinyu asked.

Given Lu Yanzheng's personality, he wouldn't have made such a decision unless something happened that he could no longer tolerate.

Lu Yanzheng pursed his lips, lowered his eyelids, and spoke after a long while, "The method of planting sweet potatoes that you presented to the court was not promoted throughout the entire Dayue. Instead, it was monopolized by a few powerful families and only planted on some fields in the Jiangnan region."

"In the past two years, the people of the imperial court still haven't had a full meal. A few days ago, I received news that people in Qizhou in the north are already eating Guanyin clay mixed with mustard cakes, grass root porridge, and tree bark buns..."

Hearing this, Jiang Qinyu felt a mix of emotions, her nose stung, and her eyes swelled.

She took a deep breath and asked, "Does the imperial court really not care at all?"

Guanyin clay mixed with mustard cake? Good heavens! Is that even edible?

She still remembers when she first transmigrated here, Shufan gave her leaves to quench her thirst. She already felt like she couldn't go on living, but the people of Qizhou actually ate Guanyin clay as flour!

Living in a peaceful and resource-rich China, Jiang Qinyu could hardly imagine such a scene.

In modern China, no matter where there is a disaster, the worst food is instant noodles and bottled water, but the people here...

Jiang Qinyu tilted her head back and sniffed again.

“The imperial court is now focusing all its energy on dealing with the Northwest. All the grain has been requisitioned by the government. People have to eat secretly. Anyone who is even slightly chubby will have their house searched by the government for grain…” Lu Yanzheng’s voice was very low.

Not to mention Jiang Qinyu, even he was stunned when he learned about the court's actions.

Is Emperor Jingqing afraid that no one will rebel?

Jiang Qinyu was also dumbfounded, she could hardly believe that there was such a court. Did they think that the Great Yue Dynasty had been sitting on its throne for more than two hundred years?

“Zheng-ge,” Jiang Qinyu snapped out of her daze and looked at Lu Yanzheng seriously, “Go do what you want to do, I support you!”

If they lacked the ability, that would be one thing, but now Lu Yanzheng has already dominated a region and has offended the imperial court to the death. If they don't grow stronger, they will become nothing more than a piece of the imperial court's plate in the future.

Rather than passively waiting for the imperial court to prepare to attack, they might as well strike first and seize the initiative, thus reducing the suffering of the people.

"Thank you, Qinqin," Lu Yanzheng held Jiang Qinyu's hand, kissed it lightly, and looked up to meet her gaze. "The luckiest thing in my life is meeting you."

Without Jiang Qinyu, he wouldn't be confronting the imperial court like this. Perhaps he would still choose to protect himself, or even choose to retire with his loved ones if the situation becomes unfavorable.

Jiang Qinyu didn't say anything, but just squeezed his hand back tightly.

If she hadn't met Lu Yanzheng, she probably would have chosen to settle for a comfortable life with modest wealth!

But in this era, without the protection of someone with a powerful background, she cannot achieve her modest wealth and contentment.

Lu Yanzheng put his arm around Jiang Qinyu, and after a while he spoke again: "I've decided that no matter whether or not we can take over the court's power, I will live in Dingshui Village."

"Huh? Why?" Jiang Qinyu looked up at him, puzzled.

Lu Yanzheng smiled and said, "I love Dingshui Village. It's our home, our roots."

He had this idea when he decided to start developing Dingshui Village, but it wasn't fully decided at the time.

Now that he has discovered that Jiang Qinyu also particularly enjoys staying in the village, the matter is naturally settled.

Jiang Qinyu chuckled upon hearing this, "I also quite like the village; it's where you can best experience the warmth and life of everyday people."

“Yes, that kind of down-to-earth atmosphere can't be replaced by any amount of glitz and glamour.” Lu Yanzheng smiled and hugged Jiang Qinyu even tighter.

He thought that if he were to actually sit on that throne in the future, he would be an emperor unlike any other in history.

Jiang Qinyu chimed in, "In that case, we need to start planning as soon as possible. We need to buy the land we need to buy and build the infrastructure we need to build..."

Lu Yanzheng listened quietly to her plans for the future, his lips curving into a wider smile.

...

On the mountain, Jiang Chengyou and Liu Ruyi were in his tent, both of them looking very unwell.

"Is this how your Great Yue court operates?" Jiang Chengyou glared at Liu Ruyi.

Liu Ruyi harbored resentment towards him, but she couldn't afford to offend him at the moment, so she could only lower her stance and appease him, saying, "Fifth Prince, please don't be anxious, there is still a chance for this matter to turn around."

"A turning point?" Jiang Chengyou sneered. "Tell me, with so many people protecting that woman, and Lu Yanzheng and another top expert by her side, how am I supposed to capture her?"

He's been so frustrated lately.

His father sent him three thousand men. If he had stormed into Dingshui Village in one fell swoop, he would have been able to capture a few important hostages and threaten Jiang Qinyu to go with him.

But these idiots actually waited a whole day!

On this day, Wei Chengzong, the magistrate of Yongshan County, had everything arranged. Dingshui Village was surrounded like an impregnable fortress, and his men dared not make any rash moves.

What made him even more furious was that the peasants of Dingshui Village were not afraid of his three thousand men. Instead, they organized all the able-bodied men in the village to help the Northwest Army patrol the mountains, forcing them to retreat again and again until they had retreated deep into the mountains!

"Has Your Highness considered that if we stay here and waste time with them, we'll be at a disadvantage? In my opinion, we should catch them off guard..." Liu Ruyi leaned closer to Jiang Chengyou and shared her thoughts.

Jiang Chengyou glanced at her and said, "What you said makes sense."

His men are here, and the daily food and supplies are a huge expense. What's more, it's inconvenient for them to go down the mountain to buy food, so they are eating the dry rations they brought from the Western Qiang.

But now that the weather is hot, the dry rations will go bad if left out for too long, and the soldiers can't eat them. These days they have been hunting in the mountains, digging up wild vegetables and roots, and eating tree bark. They are almost living like savages.

The reason he hadn't rushed to send troops earlier was because he feared the magistrate of Yongshan County had other plans.

However, his scouts have found out that there are no other dangers down the mountain for the time being, and if all three thousand of them attack at the same time, it will be easy to take Dingshui Village.

"May Your Highness achieve immediate success!" Liu Ruyi immediately bowed in greeting.

She lowered her eyes, but her thoughts were quite different.

Let the Western Qiang people scout out the military strength of Yongshan County first. The time she agreed with the emperor is almost here, and she will definitely be able to take Yongshan County in one fell swoop!

As long as they keep Yongshan County under their control, Lu Yanzheng won't be able to cause any trouble.

...

Jiang Qinyu and Lu Yanzheng moved back to Dingshui Village, which made the village lively for several days.

"How long will Ah Zheng stay this time? Can he stay a few more days?" Village Chief Li asked with a smile.