Do you know: I am the crown prince

Chapter 479 Is it funny?
It will take some time to promote the use of silver coins, but the Mint is already minting silver coins in large quantities.

After producing a certain amount, Zhao Xing planned to promote silver coins in Bian Jing first.

On the other hand, after a period of selection, 600 people were selected in each of the two major categories of strategy and martial arts.

The final number of admitted places is 600, which means that 300 people will be eliminated from each of the two major categories.

In order to show his importance to the martial arts examination, Zhao Xing decided to go and watch it in person.

Compared to the imperial examination, which had a specially built tribute academy, the military examination was much more shabby.

The military examination selection was held in the military camp of the city defense camp in Bianliang City.

When Emperor Zhao Xing arrived, Zeng Gongliang, along with officials from the Privy Council, the Ministry of War, and the three yamen, were waiting at the gate of the camp.

At the front were Privy Councilor Zeng Gongliang and Duke of Wei Cao An.

Zeng Gongliang represented the Privy Council, while Cao An represented the Three Yamen.

The Ministry of War is responsible for managing logistics and is almost dispensable.

Zeng Gongliang and Cao An were responsible for strategic assessment respectively.

"I will pay my respects to Your Majesty!"

"No gift!"

Zhao Xing waved his hand and entered the camp surrounded by the crowd.

"Your Majesty, would you like to take the strategic assessment first, or the martial arts assessment?" Zeng Gongliang, who was accompanying him, asked.

"Let's see his martial arts." Zhao Xing said.

Zhao Xing knew very well that a general's strategy was more important than his bravery, and no matter how skilled a general was in martial arts, his role on the battlefield would ultimately be limited.

However, the three items of military strategy assessment are military tactics, sand table simulation and marching formation, which are somewhat like armchair talk.

In comparison, the martial arts competition looks more interesting.

Zeng Gongliang and Cao An thought this was meaningless, so they led Zhao Xing towards the parade ground.

"Mr. Zeng and my uncle are in charge of the military examination. Now there are only more than a thousand people left. Have you found any good talents?" Zhao Xing asked.

Because Zhao Xing watched the martial arts selection first, Zeng Gongliang did not introduce him first, but Cao An came first.

"Your Majesty, there are a few people with very good martial arts, and they are also skilled in archery and horse riding. Among them, I am afraid no one can be his opponent in terms of martial arts alone. He is also very good at archery, but his riding skills are a little worse. However, this person's identity is a bit problematic." Cao An said.

"Ok?"

Zhao Xing was stunned and asked, "Since your identity is problematic, why can you still participate in the martial arts examination?"

Like the imperial examination, the military examination will strictly check the family background, and a clean family background is the primary requirement.

"This man's name is Zuo Qiang. He is the younger brother of a commander named Zuo Qi of the Imperial City Department." Cao An said.

When Zhao Xing first heard the name Zuo Qiang, he didn't remember him. But when he heard that he was Zuo Qi's younger brother, Zhao Xing finally reacted.

Everyone knew that Zuo Qi had a younger brother, Zhao Xing. He was even specifically mentioned in the report to the Song Dynasty, which said that he was good at martial arts.

At that time, Zhao Xing did not care about it. Later, Zuo Qi presented the treasures of Southern Tang to Zhao Xing, which included not only the imperial seal, but also gold, silver and jewelry worth more than 20 million taels.

Zhao Xing pardoned his crime and appointed him to work in the Imperial City Department to assist in tracking down the witch cult.

Although the leader and protectors of the Wizarding Cult have not been captured yet, with the help of Zuo Qi, many landlords and gentry who secretly funded the Wizarding Cult have been seized, and his contribution is not small.

"I'd like to see what kind of abilities this person has to deserve such praise from my uncle." Zhao Xing said with a smile.

If Zuo Qiang's martial arts skills were really good, he would be a good general who could charge into battle.

Although the brothers were members of the wizard sect before, Zhao Xing didn't care.

Not to mention that Zuo Qi stayed in the Wizarding Cult for Ruyu, but the Wizarding Cult betrayed him, and he also assisted the Imperial City Bureau in confiscating many landlords and gentry who funded the Wizarding Cult, so Zhao Xing was not worried that he would betray him.

What's more, the Imperial City Bureau has been keeping a close watch on Zuo Qi Ru Yu, so they cannot leave the city.

Zuo Qiang could have escaped at the beginning, but he didn't because of Zuo Qi. As long as Zuo Qi stayed in Bian Jing, Zuo Qiang would not dare to betray him.

Arriving at the reviewing platform in the parade ground, Zhao Xing sat down in the main seat and asked all the officials to sit down.

"Uncle, let's start!" said Zhao Xing.

"Yes!" Cao An responded, bowed, and went down to make arrangements.

After a while, Cao An came back and told Zhao Xing about the next steps.

At the beginning of the selection, cavalry and archery were separated. Now there are only 600 people left, and Cao An does not plan to separate cavalry and archery further.

There are only two items in the next selection, namely martial arts and horse riding and archery, and then the elimination will be based on the comprehensive results of the two items.

The first thing to start was horseback archery. Thirty people were divided into groups and rode horses three times around the parade ground.

There is a target on one side of the training ground, one for each person, and they can shoot once in each round.

Zhao Xing had no objection to Duke Cao's arrangement. As the drums sounded, thirty sturdy men of different ages led their horses into the parade ground.

The youngest of these people are only sixteen or seventeen years old, while the oldest are in their thirties or forties.

Thirty people stopped in the center of the parade ground and bowed to Zhao Xing on the stands.

They had all heard the news that the official was coming in person to watch, and they were very excited.

Zhao Xing smiled and gave them a few words of encouragement, then let them start.

A team of guardsmen holding large shields came to the stands.

After all, there will be a horse riding and archery competition, and we need to provide bows and arrows. It will be troublesome if someone has bad intentions.

Soon, the soldiers brought bows and arrows, and thirty strong men took the bows and arrows and mounted their horses.

"Woo~"

A melodious horn sounded, and when it stopped, thirty people urged their horses on and galloped around the parade ground.

In the stands, Zhao Xing shook his head slightly.

Among the thirty people, only one or two looked natural when riding horses, while the rest seemed to be very cautious.

I don’t know if it’s fear or nervousness, or maybe both.

Boats in the south and horses in the north.

There is a lot of water in the south, and boats are the main means of transportation. Even if you don’t know how to drive a boat, riding on it is as easy as walking on flat ground.

The north is mostly plains, and horses are the main means of transportation.

Although we are not as good as the nomadic people who grew up on horseback, we still know how to ride a horse basically.

However, the Song Dynasty was short of horses, and poor horses were rare among the people. Even people in the north mostly did not know how to ride horses nowadays.

Although it is a bit disappointing, it is understandable.

This also shows that Zhao Xing's decision to set up the Military Academy was correct.

Although the number of people taking the military examination was not as exaggerated as that of the imperial examination, according to statistics, there were tens of thousands of people who signed up across the country.

Those who were able to sign up were all somewhat confident and confident, but these people's riding skills were not as good as his.

You have to know that those who remain until now are already considered elites.

Soon, thirty people ran around and arrived at the target.

Thirty men rode on horses, drew their bows and shot arrows.

Although the distance was far, Zhao Xing had good eyesight and saw that several of them missed the target.

Two of them even fell off their horses.

"Haha~"

When the officials watching in the stands saw this scene, many of them laughed.

"What are you laughing at? Is it funny?" Zhao Xing said coldly.

"His Majesty!"

Cao An stood up and said, "It is my fault that I did not choose the right person. Your Majesty, please punish me!"

(End of this chapter)