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

Chapter 722 Launching into the Air

Liangzhou has been a harsh and cold place since ancient times. Although the harsh environment has shaped the people of Liangzhou into brave and warlike, fighting is never just about courage.

Warfare is a contest of resources. It's easy to see that an army that can be well-fed and has a constant supply of logistical support is almost unlikely to lose to an army that can't even get enough to eat.

This is the fundamental reason why Yang Zheng lacks confidence. Liangzhou is simply too poor and cannot support the expenses of a large-scale expedition. During the great battle with the government army, the Yang family army experienced many food shortages. If Yang Zheng had not had sufficient prestige, and if the soldiers had not been so hostile to the court, the Yang family army would probably have collapsed before the government army was defeated.

This was also why Yang Zheng was unwilling to send troops to Qingzhou when news of the death of the King of Qing came. The Yang family army was already short of food while fighting on its own territory in Liangzhou. If they were to penetrate deeper into Liangzhou and extend the battle line, Liangzhou's current food reserves would simply not be able to support the consumption of a large army's expedition.

In this way, the front line will run out of supplies, and the Yang family army will undoubtedly be defeated.

This is the current predicament facing the Yang family army. The state lacks resources, and Yang Zheng is unwilling to plunder the people. He can only accumulate strength and wait until the livelihood of the people in Liangzhou is restored and he has sufficient power before he plans to conquer the whole country.

But Yang Zheng knew very well that time waits for no one. The restoration of people's livelihoods would take at least several years, and in those years, rebel armies like the White Lotus Sect in other states would likely have grown much stronger. By then...

The chances of Yang's army winning were now extremely slim.

"So, the reason why King Yang has not sent troops to Qingzhou is because of insufficient resources?"

Chen Dao asked thoughtfully, as he had always been puzzled as to why the Yang family army remained indifferent to Qingzhou, which was so close at hand.

This question has now been answered: the Yang family army lacked food and was simply unable to send troops.

"exactly."

Yang Zheng didn't seem to mind telling Chen Dao about the predicament within the Yang Family Army: "There have always been people in the army who have proposed sending troops to Qingzhou, but I haven't adopted the idea because of the food shortage in the prefecture."

"I see."

Chen Dao suddenly realized, and after a moment of contemplation, he asked, "Has King Yang ever considered a deeper collaboration with Chenjia Village?"

"Deeper cooperation?"

Yang Zheng frowned, puzzled, and asked, "What do you mean by that?"

"It means that Chenjia Village is willing to fully assist King Yang in seizing the world!"

Upon hearing Chen Dao's words, Yang Zheng was shocked, and Yang Erlang and the others also widened their eyes, feeling that Chen Dao's tone was a bit too arrogant.

Although Chenjia Village has many amazing products, it is ultimately just a village. How could it possibly help the Yang family army conquer the world?

Chen Dao seemed oblivious to Yang Zheng and the others' reactions, and continued, "If Chenjia Village provides full assistance, the problems facing the Yang family army will no longer be problems."

"You're being a bit too arrogant."

Yang Erlang couldn't help but question, "I admit that Chenjia Village does indeed have some magical things, but how can they solve all the problems of the Yang Family Army?"

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. The problem facing Yang's army was, in essence, the problem of the entire Liangzhou. Although Liangzhou was a barren land, its area, as seen on the map, was more than a thousand times that of Chenjia Village.

How can a village that is only one-thousandth the size of Liangzhou, or even smaller, solve the problems of the entire Liangzhou?

"What, you all don't believe me?"

Chen Dao looked at Yang Erlang and the others, seemingly unconcerned by their doubts.

Faced with Chen Dao's gaze, Yang Erlang and the others shook their heads firmly. They found it hard to believe that Chenjia Village, such a small village, could solve the problems of Liangzhou.

"It's not that we don't want to believe Mr. Chen, it's just that what Mr. Chen said is too astonishing."

Yang Zheng said, "The biggest problem in Liangzhou right now is the lack of food. Although Chenjia Village has all sorts of magical things, how can they solve the food shortage in Liangzhou?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Dao immediately laughed and said, "It seems that the spies sent by King Yang do not have a thorough understanding of Chenjia Village."

That's right. Chen Dao was always aware that Yang Zheng had sent spies to Chenjia Village. The entire Chenjia Village was under Chen Dao's control. Every stranger who entered would be carefully questioned and have their identity registered. How could Chen Dao not know the identities of those spies sent by Yang Zheng?

Chen Dao refrained from eliminating the spies simply because he wanted to befriend Yang Zheng and the spies didn't seem to have any ill intentions.

"What do you mean by that, Mr. Chen?"

"it means……"

Chen Dao paused for a moment and said, "The spies sent by King Yang don't even know the grain yield per mu in Chenjia Village!"

What is the grain yield per mu?

Yang Zheng looked even more puzzled. Although he had never farmed, he knew that the grain yield per mu was roughly the same these days, generally around 200 to 300 jin.

However, Chen Dao specifically emphasized the grain yield per mu in Chenjia Village. Could it be...?

Could the grain yield per mu in Chenjia Village be higher than in other places?

Upon realizing this, Yang Zheng was startled and couldn't help but say, "Please speak frankly, Mr. Chen."

"Fine, I'll just tell you directly!"

Chen Dao didn't keep anyone in suspense and said directly, "At harvest time, the wheat yield per mu in Chenjia Village is 800 jin!"

"what?!"

Yang Erlang sprang up from the stool, staring at Chen Dao in disbelief: "What did you say?!"

Before Yang Zheng rebelled, he was a cowherd, while Yang Erlang was the son of a farmer.

As the son of a farmer, he was extremely sensitive to grain yields, which is why Yang Erlang was so excited when he heard Chen Dao say that the yield per mu was 800.

Not only Yang Erlang, but also the men of the Yang family army who accompanied him were stunned.

"800 jin per mu? How is that possible?"

"Mr. Chen, are you trying to fool us? A wheat yield of 300 jin per mu is the absolute maximum, how could it possibly be 800 jin per mu!"

“When I used to farm, my whole family would be overjoyed if we could harvest 250 jin of wheat per mu. 800 jin per mu... I never even dared to dream of it!”

"How can there be such a high yield of wheat in this world?"

"..."

The men stood up one by one, their eyes fixed on Chen Dao. Although they believed Chen Dao was most likely lying, they still...

What if it's true?

"Mr. Chen, is this true?"

Yang Zheng also stood up in shock, his breathing becoming much heavier.

There's no way around it; a wheat yield of 800 jin per mu is simply too amazing and too tempting.

If such high-yielding wheat truly exists, wouldn't that mean...?

A mu of land that could only produce 200 to 300 jin of grain before can triple its yield after planting this wheat.

How could Yang Zheng not be excited that the same size of land could produce more than three times the amount of grain?