Chapter 61: Chapter 57: Wang Anshi

The 4th Year of Zhengyong, November 15th.

The Great Yu Dynasty’s grace examination officially commenced, drawing over 5,400 scholars from all over the Great Yu to the Capital City to partake in the examination.

Nominally, the chief examiner for this test was Emperor Zhengyong, but the actual executor was the newly appointed Minister of the Ministry of Rites, Kong Xiangsi.

The contents of this grace examination were outlined by numerous officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Personnel and personally selected and set by Zheng Yi.

Surveillance by the Embroidered Uniform Guard revealed that many noble families and factions within the court were competing for numerous placements in this grace examination.

However, due to Yang Xuansu’s rebellion case, Zheng Yi executed many officials and their Nine Clans, which temporarily shook the heavens.

Thus, for this grace examination, no one in the Imperial Court dared to overstep their bounds.

No acts of cheating occurred during the examination, at most competing for a few Advanced Scholar or scholar slots.

However, Zheng Yi made slight modifications to the examination’s contents.

The topics were more inclined towards Wu Country war affairs, how to suppress rebellious civilians, and strategies for stabilizing the common people.

Three days later, the examination concluded.

Of the more than 5,000 scholars who participated in the grace examination, only 112 passed and became Advanced Scholars!

On the day the results were announced, the entire Capital City was bustling with excitement.

Outside the Imperial Examination Hall, at least 10,000 people, including participating scholars, their relatives, and locals from the Capital City, gathered. The crowd was dense, all pushing towards the hall.

“The results are out, the results are out!”

“Hahaha! I made it! I made it!”

“Tang Baitu! My name, Tang Baitu, is there! Hahaha…”

“Not selected! I’ve been taking exams for over 30 years and still not selected, oh heavens…”

“Only 112 passed, the grace examination pass rate is still this low, seems there’s no hope in this life…”

“Not selected, even the young master wasn’t selected…”

“Su Bei’s Wang Anshi! Only 24 and still unmarried, quick, seize the chance~!”

“Among these 112 people, less than a third are noble family offspring…”

“Great is Your Majesty’s grace! Executing Yang Ni, consolidating Beiwu, now who dares disobey Your Majesty’s orders in court!”

“Alas, Your Majesty is perfect in all but should not seek those elusive Immortals!”

“Hmph! Now that I’ve excelled, I must personally petition Your Majesty at the palace examination to revoke the Immortal Seeking Order!”

Countless people crowded outside the Imperial Examination Hall, some were there for the excitement, others to check results, and even wealthy merchants from the Capital City to snatch a son-in-law.

In the midst of such excitement, Zheng Yi did not make a personal appearance but was focusing on the Military Examination.

This Military Examination was the first held by the Great Yu Court.

Under normal circumstances, the court ministers would never agree to this.

But because of the treason of King Tang and Prime Minister Yang Xuansu, with many officials and their Nine Clans executed, royal authority became highly centralized.

Thus, the Military Examination was held smoothly.

Inside Qiankun Hall, Zheng Yi was listening to the military examination report from Prince Xian.

Prince Xian, being an Innate Realm Martial Artist and also the Imperial Uncle, was the most suitable candidate as the examiner for this Military Examination.

As for Zheng Yi, he did not attend either the literary or military examinations.

What if someone attempted an assassination, or if some unexpected incident occurred?

He preferred to stay obediently in the depths of the Imperial Palace, remotely commanding his subordinates to handle matters.

Prince Xian sat below and began, “Your Majesty, the Military Examination proceeded smoothly, however…”

“However, what?” Zheng Yi inquired, “Please speak, Imperial Uncle, I’m already mentally prepared.”

Prince Xian said, “As this Military Examination is our court’s first, there were not many participants.”

“The literary examination had over 5,000 participants, whereas the military examination had only about 1,500.”

“Most of them were unqualified martial artists, just having learned a few moves or strengthened themselves over the years, or those adept in some folk performances…”

“These people cannot be called true martial artists at all.”

Zheng Yi said, “Those people can be entirely eliminated, what about the remaining ones?”

Prince Xian continued, “The remaining ones come from four main sources.”

“The first source is the military, those units affected by King Tang and Yang Xuansu’s rebelling.”

“For instance, the Imperial Guard, for being closely associated with traitors, those cleared of suspicion were dismissed.”

“These people, having been in the military for many years, excel at military formation combats, perhaps seeking to seize this chance to rise again.”

“The second source is the noble families’ offspring.”

Prince Xian said, “Nowadays, most noble families have endured for hundreds of years, their clan power incredibly strong.”

“Under the primogeniture system, many illegitimate or secondary sons have been cast out.”

“These people mostly end up in marginal roles within their family businesses or given a few shops to manage.”

“A small portion of them can only enter the army through martial arts, or by opening martial arts halls.”

“The third source is the numerous martial arts halls established within the Capital City.”

“Most people from this group cultivate Horizontal Refining Techniques with few advanced Inner Power Heart Methods.”

“Their combat skills are strong, making them highly suitable for military enlistment.”

“However, these people often have unstable temperaments, prone to gathering and causing disruptions, requiring significant time for training.”

When Prince Xian reached this point, Zheng Yi recalled something.

The night Yang Xuansu rebelled, he had bribed a large number of martial artists from the Capital City’s martial arts halls to form part of the rebel forces, storming the Imperial Palace.

These individuals were willing to work for anyone who offered them benefits.

Although Zheng Yi had ferociously purged them once, quite a number still lingered.

“The fourth source is the numerous sects affiliated with our Great Yu Dynasty.”

Prince Xian said, “Disciples from sects like Taiyii Dao, True Martial Sect, Longhu Mountain, Shushan Sword Sect came with intentions of gaining experience, though some are genuinely interested in gaining fame.”

“This group represents people our court can actively win over.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep