Chapter 621 - 347: Sir Has Great Talent
Chapter 621: Chapter 347: Sir Has Great Talent
On careful consideration, Liu Hong’s actions were likely aimed at managing the situation once the disaster victims’ conditions worsened, intending to have the household servants and guards of the Noble Families and Clans defend the prefecture city.
Moreover, he could use that power to eliminate all dissidents in the chaos.
It was just that...
He mused, "No matter how brilliant a scheme is, it still requires capable hands to execute. He and those around him are simply too weak."
Judging by the outcome, Chen Yi was naturally entitled to think this way.
But if he hadn’t intervened, Lv Jiunan, Du Cang, the Ji State Trading Company, the Five Poison Sect, and others would have been more than enough to plunge the entire Shu State into chaos.
—Liu Hong had quite a few cards up his sleeve.
Not long after, Chen Yi arrived outside the main gate of the examination hall and placed his scholar’s basket on the table to be inspected by two government officials.
Chen Yunfan had spotted Chen Yi from afar. Seeing him approach, he finally smiled and said, "Brother Yi, it’s just the Annual Examination. Don’t push yourself too hard."
Chen Yi raised an eyebrow slightly. "Weren’t you worried earlier that I would fail the Annual Examination, Brother?"
"Did I say that? Haha, you must have remembered wrong, Brother Yi."
While joking, Chen Yunfan instructed the government officials with a serious tone to inspect carefully and flip through any books or scrolls.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t a single book in Chen Yi’s scholar’s basket. It only contained a brush, ink, paper, an inkstone, and some fruits and pastries.
Chen Yunfan naturally knew it was impossible for Chen Yi to pull any tricks, so under the guise of an inspection, he swiped two pieces of pastry.
Chen Yi couldn’t help but laugh. "Brother, doesn’t Tingyu Pavilion feed you? It seems I should have our eldest sister inform Miss Cui later, lest you work on an empty stomach."
Chen Yunfan glared at him in displeasure, reached out to take two more pastries, and muttered about him talking too much, "Hurry up and go in. Don’t miss the hour."
Chen Yi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, feeling utterly helpless against his uninhibited brother. Shaking his head, he picked up his scholar’s basket and entered the examination hall.
Li Huai’gu nodded at him in greeting, then looked at Chen Yunfan, who was eating the pastries, and helplessly reminded him, "Lord Assistant Governor, Lord Ma is watching this way from inside the Governor’s Office."
"Let him watch."
Chen Yunfan wolfed down the pastries in a few bites, patted his belly, glanced at Ma Shuhan inside the examination hall, and slightly tilted his head up, pointing his chin at him. "Our Lord Ma here is full of benevolence and morality on the surface, but his belly is full of dirty tricks."
Hearing this, Li Huai’gu turned around to look, only to meet Ma Shuhan’s gaze. He immediately wanted to slap his own mouth.
Why bother advising? Those few words were completely unnecessary.
"Lord Assistant Governor, Brother Yunfan, are you still hungry? I just remembered there are some Osmanthus Cakes at the Government Office. I’ll go fetch them for you right now."
Seeing Li Huai’gu hurriedly scurrying away, Chen Yunfan curled his lips, completely ignoring Ma Shuhan’s gaze as he turned to continue inspecting the examinees’ baskets.
Ma Shuhan’s expression was sinister, but he merely glared at Chen Yunfan before letting it drop.
However, his gaze intentionally or unintentionally drifted toward Chen Yi.
Chen Yi naturally noticed Ma Shuhan’s movements and thought to himself, "Brother is going to suffer a huge loss because of his mouth sooner or later."
Then again, Chen Yunfan had just received a reward from the Holy Emperor. Although he wasn’t promoted in official rank, no one would dare provoke him at a time like this. Moreover, with Chen Xuanji now appointed as one of the Nine Ministers, even if Ma Shuhan were given immense courage, he would still have to pretend he heard nothing.
As for whether Ma Shuhan would target him... Chen Yi cared even less.
To him, the status of a Scholar was merely to help him avoid some awkward situations; it had no other use. With these thoughts, Chen Yi followed the crowd to find his examination cell.
The entire Annual Examination site was divided into four rows of cells—Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding—with over a hundred cells in each row. However, the conditions were extremely crude.
The cells were not only closely spaced but also incredibly cramped inside. Aside from a desk and a chair, there was nothing else, making them look like simple, shabby tea stalls.
Chen Yi didn’t mind. Upon arriving, he sat obediently at the desk, took out his brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and unhurriedly poured water to grind his ink.
Others, like Ma Guan and Tang Ye, first took out small quilts to wrap around their legs. They had no choice. It was fine right now with the bright sun, but come nightfall, when the cold wind blew in, their frail bodies definitely wouldn’t be able to withstand it.
Soon, it was half past the 7:00 AM hour.
The main gates of the examination hall were sealed, and a government official struck a bronze gong.
CLANG.
Ma Shuhan stood up, straightened his Official Robe, and said in a deep voice, "Today, the Shu State Annual Examination is intended to test whether you have been diligent in your studies.
"I have two warnings for you. First, any cheating will be strictly punished. Second, talking and wandering around are strictly prohibited. Violators will either be expelled from the examination hall or, in severe cases, stripped of their scholarly honors!"
Seeing the Scholars nod, he waved his hand to signal the distribution of the exam papers. Several government officials carried boxes and followed behind Ma Shuhan and the other two examiners, handing out the exam papers one by one.
Chen Yi saw Ma Shuhan approaching. He stood up to receive the exam paper from him, and just as he was about to sit down, Ma Shuhan suddenly spoke.
"Mr. Qingzhou, I have long heard of your reputation for talent. I hope you will give this Annual Examination your utmost effort."
Chen Yi paused, looked at him, and replied, "Thank you for your concern, Lord Ma."
He knew very well what his so-called "reputation for talent" truly amounted to. What puzzled him was why Ma Shuhan had singled him out.
Was it because of Mr. Yue Ming? Probably not. Previously, when Ma Shuhan invited Mr. Yue Ming to serve as a deputy examiner, Chen Yi had only offered Mr. Yue Ming some advice and never showed his face.
Ma Shuhan didn’t say anything more. He gave a slight nod and walked past the cell.
Chen Yi watched him walk away. He withdrew his gaze, pondered briefly, and temporarily suppressed his doubts. After all, he was merely an Academic Administrator and couldn’t really affect him.
Since his current Cultivation and Technique had already reached a certain Realm, his self-preservation was assured, giving him more than enough confidence to deal with anyone harboring malicious intentions.
Chen Yi then unrolled the exam paper and looked at the topics on it.
"Study of Classics, Policy Questions, Verdicts, Poetry and Prose..."
Chen Yi subconsciously glanced at Ma Shuhan, his eyes shifting slightly.
It was different. This Annual Examination was different from all previous examinations in the Shu State.
In the past, there were usually only two topics—Study of Classics and Policy Essays. This time, Verdicts and Poetry and Prose had been unexpectedly added. Chen Yi didn’t know if this was proposed by Ma Shuhan or a new policy from the Capital Prefecture, but he was somewhat surprised.
He continued reading the topics.
"Study of Classics... ’The duty of a ruler lies in pacifying the people, just as the duty of a craftsman lies in sharpening his tools. If a craftsman does not sharpen his tools, the timber will be ruined. If a ruler does not pacify his people, the state will be in peril.’
"Policy Questions... ’In the south, there are barbarians; in the north, there are Mang Riders. If our dynasty wishes to take up arms, should we head south or north? What is the rationale? And what are the pros and cons?’
"Verdicts... Ver... Hmm?"
Chen Yi’s gaze abruptly snapped back to the Policy Question, his mind instantly surging like turbulent clouds.
On the chessboard spanning the Nine State and Three Prefectures of the Great Wei, several pieces began to jump wildly. In a corner of the board representing the Shu State, Jiangnan Prefecture, Capital Prefecture, and Guangyue Prefecture, a faint black line seemed to connect them, forming an imperceptible grand dragon.
Chen Yi stared fixedly at the Policy Question, muttering in his heart, "So that’s how it is."
He thought, "Is that what’s going on? The Great Wei Dynasty wants to raise an army to conquer the south or fight in the north... That’s why the Shu State, or rather, the Xiao Family, has faced such a tribulation..."
In an instant, Chen Yi figured out the question that had troubled him for so long—why the Capital Prefecture was so determined to target the Xiao Family.
There was no other reason. A sick and weak General could hardly be entrusted with a great task.
The Xiao Family was in decline. Elder Master Xiao was severely ill, leaving only Xiao Jinghong to hold up the family. Even with the inheritance of Marquis Wu, it would be difficult for them to shoulder the grand ambitions the Great Wei Dynasty hadn’t seen in two hundred years. Perhaps, in the heart of the Holy Emperor, there was already a more suitable candidate. Therefore, the Xiao Family needed to step aside.
"No wonder."
Chen Yi let out a long breath. Looking at Ma Shuhan, who had returned to his seat on the high platform, his eyes flickered with a myriad of thoughts.
This Policy Question posed by Ma Shuhan was probably problematic. If things were truly as Chen Yi guessed, the Holy Emperor’s desire to launch a military campaign should be a top-secret matter. How could it be used as a topic for the Annual Examination?
Unless...
Chen Yi thought of the imperial decree the Holy Emperor had given Elder Master Xiao yesterday, as well as the oral edict he had heard from Xiao Wan’er, and a realization dawned on him.
He thought, "Liu Hong and his cohorts have been uprooted, the Jing State Liu Family has been overthrown, and the Xiao Family is now stable. Additionally, Chen Xuanji has been appointed as Minister of War... Whether it’s a southern conquest or a northern war, a decision must have already been made..."
What that decision was went without saying.
A faint chill ran down Chen Yi’s spine, but he quickly dispelled it. He smiled bitterly to himself, "To think I inadvertently helped the Xiao Family resolve such a massive crisis."
If the Shu State had been allowed to fall into chaos and the Xiao Family toyed to death, a new Marquis Wu would have immediately risen in the Shu State.
As for who that Marquis Wu would be...
Chen Yi looked outside the examination hall, faintly hearing Chen Yunfan’s incessant chattering.
"...Brother Huai’gu, do you really have the nerve to give me this garbage to eat?
"Pancakes and green onions? This is the Shu State, not the Yan State!
"Come on. The Annual Examination has just started, let’s find a place to grab a bite. My treat..."