Ming Dynasty: Domination of the World from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 6: A bet with southern scholars!

Xia Zhibai's previous remarks had left Lian Zining and the others with no room for argument, but they never expected that Xia Zhibai would take the initiative to arrange a bet at the end of the day.

This surprised Lian Zining.

However, Lian Zining looked quite unhappy when Xia Zhibai directly revealed his thoughts. He quickly changed the subject.

Lian Zining looked at Xia Zhibai gloomily, his eyes sizing him up and down, and sneered, "You want to make a bet with the three of us?"

Xia Zhibai nodded and shook his head.

He glanced at the crowd that had gathered and said meaningfully, "I want to gamble with those who want to participate in this bet to see the strength of the southern students and to see if you three are really superior in talent in the eyes of the southern students."

"I bet that none of you southern students will become the top scholar this time."

As soon as the words fell, there was silence all around.

Huang Zicheng, Lian Zining and others were all stunned. Some could not believe their ears. What did Xia Zhibai mean by this?
Want to challenge the entire South on your own?
Did he really think he could win the first prize? Or did he really think he was the first prize, so he was so unscrupulous and arrogant?
Hua Lun sneered, "You don't know your own limitations."

Huang Zicheng snorted coldly, "How arrogant! You don't really think that you can dream of winning the first prize just because you answered the questions well, do you?"

"A question is a question."

"The imperial examination consists of three tests, not just one. If you want to be selected as the top scholar, you must pass the palace examination."

"You are such an arrogant person, you dare to dream of becoming the top scholar, and you even dare to bet with all the southern students."

"Since you want to humiliate yourself, I, Huang Zicheng, will accompany you to the end. However, I will not bully you. If one of us three becomes the top scholar, I will not kill you. You just need to avoid us students from the south in the future."

"how?"

Huang Zicheng had a look on his face that made sure he had Xia Zhibai defeated. It was impossible for him to let Xia Zhibai die. After all, Xia Zhibai was still a juren.

It is also possible to pass the imperial examination and become a Jinshi.

If a person like this died because of a bet, it would inevitably implicate them. Xia Zhibai's death would be a small matter, but the impact on their careers would be a big deal.

How could he make such a mistake?

Xia Zhibai looked at Hua Lun and the others and asked, "What are your opinions?"

Hua Lun looked at Xia Zhibai suspiciously, but he couldn't understand where Xia Zhibai got the confidence to make such a crazy bet.

But he would not show his weakness.

The North cannot compare with the South, and he is still the leader of the South. If he shows weakness at this critical juncture, he will never be able to hold his head up in the future.

"I have no objection." Hua Lun said.

Lian Zining also nodded.

Xia Zhibai looked at Ding Xian and others again.

Ding Xian and other students who were watching sneered and readily agreed.

Xia Zhibai smiled and said, "Since you all agree, then this bet will take effect, but I'll make it clear in advance."

"If I win."

"I don't ask for much, just one thing. In the future, if your opinions differ from mine in the court, you can either remain silent or choose to stand on my side."

"Impossible." As soon as Xia Zhibai's request came out, Hua Lun directly refused.

This is an exaggeration.

Xia Zhibai was not betting with the three of them, but with most of the southern students in this year. If Xia Zhibai really won.

Wouldn't they have to keep looking at Xia Zhibai's eyes? They were all proud and arrogant people, and they would be officials in the court in the future, so how could they be controlled by others everywhere?

There was no way he would agree.

"Three times." Xia Zhibai closed his eyes slightly and held up three fingers: "It can't be less. After all, I am alone against the entire South."

“I naturally have higher requirements.”

"And there are tens of thousands of students from the south, don't you even have this much confidence?"

Xia Zhibai sneered.

Hua Lun and Huang Zicheng looked at each other with a solemn look in their eyes. After thinking for a moment, they nodded and said, "Okay, three times." "I want to see where you get the courage to make such a boast. But it's okay. After this incident, you northerners should wake up. The North is not as good as the South."

“And it’s far inferior!”

Xia Zhibai frowned and said, "After the world is unified, what is the difference between north and south? Being too obsessed with the idea of ​​north and south will only lead to more losses than gains, and will ultimately ruin your own future."

"If you really want to stay in office for a long time, you should think about the country, the people, and put the people first, and abandon these prejudices."

"And the decline of the North will be completely eliminated one day, and that day will not be too late."

Xia Zhibai's tone was firm.

The North is still in turmoil right now, but once the North begins to resume production and its vast resources are mined.

The North will surely be revitalized again.

If the Hexi Corridor can be opened up and the Silk Road of the Han and Tang Dynasties can be restored, the economy of the north will enter a stage of rapid development.

However, few people took Xia Zhibai's words to heart. After the separation between the North and the South during the Song and Yuan dynasties, the gap between the North and the South was indeed too big.

It cannot be eased overnight.

Seeing the disapproving looks of the crowd, Xia Zhibai frowned slightly, said nothing more, and walked out of the tribute hall with his luggage on his back.

Walk out of the Imperial Examination Hall.

Xia Zhibai walked along the Qinhuai River. Today, with the holding of the imperial examination, the banks of the Qinhuai River have become prosperous again after a long absence.

Many new brothels and theaters were opened along the river.

Scholars are passionate.

During the nine-day exam, many people were on edge. Now that the exam is over, many people need to vent and release some stress.

I am afraid that in the next period of time, many scholars will be reluctant to leave and indulge themselves and relax.

Not long after Xia Zhibai left the Imperial Examination Hall, Xie Min followed him and said, "Brother Xia, you were too impulsive just now."

"We in the north are indeed not as good as the south. The books, classics, and literary masters in the south are far superior to those in the north. It is not easy for us to catch up."

"Your bet is really unwise."

Xia Zhibai smiled and said, "I have full confidence in this year's top high school student, and what I just said is indeed my true thoughts."

"It is true that the North cannot compare with the South in literature, but how can their ambitions be lower?"

"Huang Zicheng and his people are clearly drooling over the title of No. 1 Scholar, but they dare not even speak out their true thoughts. It is really shameful to let them brag about themselves."

"Don't give the world to people you despise."

"We can lose in the exam, but how can we let these people be so arrogant in terms of ambition? Besides, we may not be able to defeat them in the future."

"The ranking in the imperial examination can only represent the result of this exam, not our future career. The South is too theoretical."

"It will not please His Majesty."

Xia Zhibai said a few simple words and continued walking forward.

Xie Min stood there, thinking, and seeing Xia Zhibai deviating from the direction, he asked, "Brother Xia, where are you going? The Northern Guild Hall is not over there."

Xia Zhibai said: "I won't go to the Northern Guild Hall. It's better for me to stay alone. Otherwise, if I implicate you, it will harm you instead."

Xie Min was stunned.

He stared blankly at Xia Zhibai's departing figure and didn't say anything else.

Xia Zhibai’s consideration was correct.

His words of "Tian Ce No. 1 Scholar" are indeed somewhat dangerous. If His Majesty is displeased, he may face great disaster.

Although he wanted to keep her, he didn't dare to speak.

There are many students in the Northern Guild Hall, and he cannot harm others just because of himself.

Jie Min watched Xia Zhibai walk away.

(End of this chapter)