Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Liu She kept his back straight as he sat. He said leisurely, “The support of the people is crucial if you want to become a king. This is well-illustrated in history; look at all the kings who were overthrown because they abused the commoners. Our former king is an example.”
After a snort of contempt, he briefly went through the king’s deeds and supported his opinion with examples. The way he explained it was lively and convincing.
“It is true that family influence and military strength are essential components of taking over a kingdom, but all of these things are based on the people’s support.”
Although he was born into a respected family, Liu She had a feeling that his family and other noble families would lose their importance in the near future.
Still, their current impact in court was enormous, and all political decisions were made in their favor.
“The previous king had tension with the big families, and this contributed to his defeat. However, the more important factor in his demise was the fact that he had disappointed the commoners. As a result, Prince Gongshun in Hejian encountered little resistance when his troops marched to Yangcheng and placed their swords at the king’s throat.”
Prince Gongshun, named Wuma Jin, was the man who presently ruled over the kingdom. He and the former king were brothers, but that did not help the hostility that existed between them. The new king’s first order when he came into power, despite strong opposition from the officials, was to execute the overthrown leader. In doing so, he hoped to console the distressed people, and he prayed to the gods to grant them the long desired rain for their dry land.
Jiang Pengji had heard about this before. She found it similar to the world she came from, where nobles and other influential families enjoyed unreasonable privileges and often changed the federal government’s policies. Still, the houses were kept in check by the real masters–the civilians. They constituted the majority population, and their support was critical to the families.
Likewise, the eminent houses in the ancient period could not withstand the people’s betrayal. It was foolish for an upper-class man to believe that he could achieve his purposes through the strength of his noble circle alone.
Liu She looked at Lantin lovingly. His eyes were as dark and bright as clear spring water.
“As my only child, you have grown up under our protection, so I will not blame you for not knowing about the outside world. The kingdom appears to be prosperous, but deep down it is bleeding with corruption and extravagance. The words ‘people’s heart’ are simple enough, but if you want to write them with satisfactory presentation, you need skills.”
He held a brush with his pallid fingers and moved firmly, putting down the two words on a bamboo sheet. “It requires determination and a well thought out plan. Writing is the easy part, though. The challenging part is putting the plan into practice.”
Jiang Pengji’s gaze filled with exquisite sentiments.
“Father, you mean...”
Liu She tossed a bamboo slip roll away. “See with your eyes, and feel with your heart. This will help you comprehend the books you have read. You will then understand the high cost of living, the commoners’ genuine need, their agricultural business, and their hopelessness in selling their children because of destitution.”
Learning their needs was the first step towards helping them. And if she was incapable of this, she would never gain their support. What was worse, if the people did not support her, they may even stop her on her path to the king’s throne. She must avoid that from happening.
Yet his words raised a question in Jiang Pengji’s mind: Why was Liu Lanting his only child? What about her illegitimate brothers and sisters in the backyard?
The flickering candlelight added weight to her father’s distinct speech, as if the syllables were coated with poison. Jiang Pengji realized how dangerous their conversation was.
“Lanting, would you like to hear what I saw while I was in office?”
He cleverly paused to let her think about it. What he was about to mention was related to being a popular leader and a successful official. One must learn about the people’s demands in order to fulfill them with one’s power.
Whether Jiang Pengji wanted to become a bureaucrat or as a king depended upon her ambition, but whatever her focus was, it did not matter. His teaching would be useful in either case.
Jiang Pengji concentrated. “For sure.”
So Liu She, with his calm and cool voice, described the various things he had witnessed as a local officer. The subjects ranged from trivial disputes to cold-blooded plots between wives and mistresses. He also spoke of incidents that happened on commoners’ streets to fierce competitions in court, many of which were complicated and intense.
Every area had its own local leaders. Liu She ruled a province as a foreigner. There was one time when he was almost stripped of all his official powers because he was unaware of the local gentry’s design. Since then, he employed every necessary measure to tighten his control over the area.
As Madam Hu described, his heart could be as dark as ink, even though his appearance looked innocent. He did not avoid dishonest methods, as long as they were useful.
The households of the gentry had their dark secrets. Their hands were stained with blood, and their legal spouses were never happy about the mistresses or the illegitimate children. All Liu She needed to do was to observe them like a hunting snake and patiently wait for the right time to attack.
His narration was vivid and humorous, and it contradicted the appearance of his integrity.
Jiang Pengji admitted that he roused her interest in the world outside, and she began to form a new impression about the ancient times.
She answered seriously, “I understand what you mean, father.”
“Very well.” He touched her hair again. Afterward, he took out a jewelry box and placed it beside him. He opened it and picked up a thin booklet laying inside. “You are now twelve and will become an adult two years later. You will then form your own family and start your career...”
Jiang Pengji could not help finding that hilarious. Was she supposed to start all that at the age of 14?
In her former world, she was in her thirties and still a student at higher institution. People here would no doubt consider her a senior pupil.
“What is this?” She carefully opened the booklet but was unable to comprehend the content.
“The first list of what your mother left for you. These will become yours when you get married. And the second list is what I have added over the years.” He smiled. “Of course, your marriage can wait. I have made new arrangements, and you can have them all before your wedding day.”
In fact, he had never considered that she might get married. If he had, he would not have swapped her identity with her twin brother’s.
Even Jiang Pengji, who was unfamiliar about with this era, could understand her fortune was considerable, given the long list in the booklet.
When her sight fell on the last entries that listed farmland and businesses in grain production and horse breeding, she raised her eyebrows with surprise.