Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Liu She’s unexpected test roused Jiang Pengji’s suspicions. She glanced at him as he kept his eyes shut.
It seemed that her dad was hiding more secrets than she had assumed. Still, she could tell that he was hoping to prove something with her answer.
“I have studied the conditions in Xu, and I think it is not hard to survive there.”
Liu Lanting had limited memories of her father, but she had been eager to learn more about him. She had collected a considerable amount of books and information about Xu in the hopes of understanding the place that her father governed.
“People in Xu have less refined lifestyles and hate bureaucrats because they collaborate with the local gentry and exploit them. The county has a special custom of allowing officials’ sons to inherit their fathers’ posts, which makes the county like a small nation within Dongqing.”
Jiang Pengji never complicated things as long as simple solutions were available.
Liu She examined her closely, and the doubts and uncertainty on his face gradually went away. “What would you do then?”
“I would lead 300 guards with ten carts of money and crops to eradicate the bandits before I officially took up the government post.” She smiled, and her eyes shone with confidence under candle lights. “Paperwork from the court will hardly intimidate the people. So the first thing I would do is demonstrate my military strength to make them think twice before acting against me.
“The name of a strong army is always consolidated by bloodshed. I would start with minor outlaws and accept genuine surrenders, but I would show no mercy toward any who resisted. If the situation required, I would not hesitate to execute them all. That way, I would build up my image of a cold-hearted and powerful force.”
No one would blame her for killing outlaws, and she could say that she was doing it to bring security to the area. At the same time, she would be able to recruit useful men to strengthen her party.
If Liu She had done as she had said, the family’s fortune could support him for a year or two. By then, the gentry and bandits would doubtlessly be too afraid to cause any more trouble in the region.
“To avoid alarming the king and the court, I would then order the surrendered bandits to continue living in the woods for some time. Meanwhile, they could help secretly monitor the gentry and officials. By doing so, they would be helping me to place Xu under my control.”
Those were merely her first thoughts; she had not come up with any detailed plans.
Years of military life had made violence her instinctive solution to most problems. The only way to manage a treacherous place like Xu was to teach the opponents an unforgettable lesson with military power.
Despite the wealth of Liu family, she also suggested a way to save money: to take supplies from their enemies.
As she explained slowly, the light that was kindling in Liu She’s eyes glowed even brighter. She pretended not to notice and continued, “Two factors caused Xu to become poor: human error and natural catastrophes. It is easy to deal with the former, but not with the latter.”
The weight in Liu She’s heart released as he smiled and said, “But it seems my Lanting already knows how to tackle it.”
“Draught is the main reason for the barren lands in Xu. The earth in the area is too dry for crops to grow.” Jiang Pengji’s finger moved around on the map. She added, “Still, there is abundant water underneath.”
She had taken a look at the information that Liu Lanting had gathered. The girl was stubborn like her father, but she was troubled by the issues in Xu. She had not known what to do about the water and land.
But that was not a problem for Jiang Pengji. Genetic soldiers like her had to accommodate to various types of battlefields, and they acquired every skill and piece of information relevant to battle. There was a time when she had to survive in the notorious Deadly Valley without any material aid. In the end, she was the only one out of 1,000 men who had survived.
Deadly Valley was not made for human inhabitants because food, water, and even air were scarce.
Her experience in Deadly Valley, along with the basic knowledge that she had learned at school and her observation of mountains and waters, helped her find a way to change Xu. She was even more certain after reading about the people and their customs in addition to learning about the geography of the area.
“Underground water alone could not save the whole county from draught.” Her pallid finger pointed at a large river, the mother river of Dongqing. The dikes along it often broke and caused floods to neighboring regions.
Xu was desperate for water while some places were ruined because of it.
It was hard to tell which was worse, for the consequences of both were the same; people either died of thirst or of drowning. Disasters all year round made lives in Dongqing miserable.
“As soon as the underground water alleviated the drought, I would recruit civilians to develop a watercourse that would link a branch stream of the mother river to the streams in Xu.”
The main stream of the large river could not be used because it could cause flooding to Xu, and Liu She would be blamed for it. Working on branch streams was safer, closer, and more efficient.
Liu She raised another question. “This is a practical way, but the task would be too arduous and may even cost people’s lives. How would you compensate for their labor?”
Laborers who were recruited by the court usually received nothing in return. If there was also a high risk of losing their lives due to drowning or overwork, commoners would lack motivation in carrying out the project.
Jiang Pengji considered it for a moment and then replied, “That is easy. In addition to the wages, food, and clothing I would give them, I would also promise to help cultivate their lands after the project was finished. I would provide them with farming tools and cattle, and I would waive part of their taxes.”
Money and rewards would drive people to complete their tasks actively.
After that, since the court’s control over Xu was weak and many of its rules were ignored in the place, it would not be difficult to ask for a reduction or a waive of taxes for several years. The court’s permission would seem like her kindness toward the people, which could also help her reputation.
Liu She continued, “But where would you get the huge sum of money for the project? Besides, those in the court would likely try to impeach you for recruiting locals without the king’s order.”
Her suggestions would rouse skepticism about her loyalty for the kingdom.
