Liu She had used the methods that Jiang Pengji mentioned. But he had not been as ruthless.
Liu She's methods for dealing with the nobles in Xu County had seemed cruel and caused a lot of problems. They had even given him the nickname "the judge of hell" behind his back. Yet when one compared his methods to Jiang Pengji's, one might think that his methods were kind.
Even if Liu She was ruthless, he still allowed those nobles to enjoy their privileges and live. Jiang Pengji's method would have been to cut them off completely and leave them to die.
Liu She cast a complicated gaze at Jiang Pengji.
Even though his daughter did not have any murderous intent, her eyes were bright, and he was fairly sure that she was not joking.
"Lanting," Liu She sighed. "You forgot something important."
Jiang Pengji raised an eyebrow. She had thought of her methods at the last minute, so it was easy to miss something. She was interested in hearing what Liu She had to say. "Father, please enlighten me."
Liu She did not speak. Instead, he wrote two words on the table with his finger. Jiang Pengji's expression turned solemn immediately.
"Your methods would work. But have you thought about how your actions would offend all the nobles?"
In that era, insulting a prominent family was worse than insulting the emperor on the streets. A noble family had an immense amount of power. Jiang Pengji's methods could fix Xu County, but what would happen afterward?
She would be the nobles' common enemy.
"Furthermore, there are more and more talented people from these old families…" Liu She paused and turned around. "Have you thought about what would happen to you if the nobles decided to cooperate against you?"
In that era, most resources were given to the nobles. They had control over large amounts of money, so their children were often much more talented than normal people.
If she offended all the noble families, who would lend her aid?
Jiang Pengji's expression was dark as she lifted her head to look at Liu She.
"What would you have done then?" Jiang Pengji asked deliberately.
"I did not burn any bridges," Liu She replied.
One could offend them, but not to the point where they would hold grudges.
Jiang Pengji pursed her lips and replied a moment later. "But keeping them is troublesome. It's easier to just get rid of them."
Liu She's gaze was complicated as he looked at Jiang Pengji. He sighed after a while. "Lanting, I don't care what you think or do. Just think twice before you do anything. You have to think for yourself and your blood relatives."
She was the Liu family's second son!
Jiang Pengji replied, "I understand."
Liu She did not dare contemplate on whether or not Jiang Pengji had really understood his words.
Chapter end
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