Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 83 Grain Rain Literary Gathering, Six Cases Take the Stage for the First Time!

"receive!"

With a flick of his fingers, Zhou Shanzhang withdrew the sword, the sword light dissipated, and the green blade returned to its sheath, but the sharp sword intent remained condensed and did not dissipate.

He stood with his hands behind his back on the clouds, hovering in mid-air, his robes fluttering like ink, his gaze sweeping across the East China Sea like lightning.

The sea surface was covered with the corpses of demons for dozens of miles, their blood staining the waves. Unfortunately, they were all unintelligent demons and soldiers, and not a single decent scale could be found. There was not a single demon general or commander to be seen.

"Humph!

Hiding its head and showing its tail, you coward!

Do you really think that killing three hundred students from my Jiangyin County can be a mere matter of throwing away some shrimp soldiers and crab men to cover it up? I'll deal with you all later and tear down your coral palaces!

Zhou Shanzhang let out a cold snort, which was like a thunderclap, shaking the sea and sky.

immediately,

"call out--!"

His sword flashed like a rainbow piercing the sun, leaving a white trail for a hundred miles, and soared into the sky towards Jiangzhou City.

Between the sea and the sky, only the raging waves remained, but no trace of any demon dared to appear!

a long time.

"Boom!"

Amidst the ruins of underwater coral buildings, churning mud and sand, a massive black shadow slowly emerges.

A slender demon general, a royal fish, emerged from the water, followed by several powerful demon generals and numerous demon soldiers.

They stared at the demonic corpses floating on the sea, their faces extremely grim.

Fortunately,
Zhou Shanzhang did not find the location of the East Sea Demon Court, but rather an ordinary coral reef inhabited by demons.

"The handsome lord!"

A fish demon wielding a heavy hammer glared angrily, his demonic aura surging, and said in a hateful voice:
"That Headmaster Zhou is too arrogant! He actually dared to invade the territory of my East Sea Demon Court! Why don't we all rush forward and tear him to pieces?!"

The demon general's gaze was icy, and he slowly shook his head:

"No."

"This person possesses the power of mountains and rivers, and his talent is as inexhaustible as mountains and seas. He is extremely powerful in battle. Now, after half a year of seclusion, his strength is even more unfathomable."

He looked up and gazed into the distance.
A purple aura swirled around the Wenqu Star, and the talent of the ten prefectures of Jiangnan transformed into a dragon coiled among the clouds.

He seemed to be weighing the pros and cons, and finally said in a deep voice:

"In the ten prefectures of Jiangnan, the Grain Rain Literary Gathering is imminent. Scholars from all prefectures and counties are gathering, and the literary atmosphere is at its peak. Those pedantic scholars are just lacking the demonic blood to sacrifice for their banners, and they are eager to find some trouble."

If we kill him now, humanity will surely seize the opportunity to declare war and launch a massive retaliation!

Moreover, the East Sea Demon Court was in the wrong from the start, as a demon general attacked a ship carrying three hundred students from Jiangyin.

"Pass down the order: all tribes are to be restrained from landing on the land for ten days and must not engage in any further conflict with the human race!"

The Imperial Fish Demon General's face was filled with suppressed resentment. He snorted coldly, turned around, and sank into the sea, leaving behind only a surging, angry wave.

A streak of sword light pierced the sky, and Zhou Shanchang returned riding on the clouds.

On the city gate tower of Jiangzhou Prefecture, a group of instructors and scholars from the prefectural academy were already lined up to welcome them.

"Zhou Yuanjun is mighty!"

The students shouted in unison, their eyes filled with reverence. Their blue robes and scholar's caps fluttered in the wind, their excitement barely concealed.

This time, the demon generals of the East Sea Demon Court attacked the Jiangyin Tongsheng's ship, staining the great river with blood.

However, the imperial decree had not yet arrived, and the Jiangzhou camp remained inactive, unable to send troops to retaliate without authorization.

Only Lord Tainon,
Disregarding his own safety, dressed in a scholar's blue robe and carrying a long sword, he went alone to the East Sea to slay demons!

This is not the first time.

In the past, a vicious dragon in Taihu Lake stirred up storms and devoured scholars from government offices.

The entire city of Jiangzhou was silent with fear, and while everyone was still hesitating, it was this academy master who bravely ventured alone into the Dragon Pool of Taihu Lake and slayed the demon with a single sword!
Whenever something happens in Jiangzhou Prefecture, this impatient young master is always the first to rush to the front without hesitation.

Lord Zhou Shanzhang landed gracefully, his sleeves fluttering slightly.

"We failed to find and kill that demon general! Enough, everyone disperse!"

Zhou Yuanjun's voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

The students bowed respectfully, but none of them moved an inch, remaining step by step in the same direction.

they know.

What this person, who always shoulders everything alone, needs most right now is perhaps this silent support from everyone.

"correct!
"Where are the three hundred students from Jiangyin buried?"

Headmaster Zhou asked in a deep, rumbling voice, "It's only just past Qingming Festival, and the fresh soil on the graves is still damp. I'll go to their graves and offer my respects!"

The pain in his eyes was hard to hide.

These three hundred students were all elites from Jiangyin, and many of them would become students of the Jiangzhou Prefectural Academy in the future.

This attack by a demon general and his troops will likely result in the complete annihilation of the army, and the cultural heritage of Jiangyin County will be in decline for the next two or three decades.

"Cough~ No, not at all!"

The instructor suddenly covered his face with his sleeve and coughed lightly.

Upon hearing this, the students in the courtyard had strange expressions, and some were even trembling slightly from holding their breath.

It turns out that Lord Zhou had not yet figured out the casualties of the Jiangyin students. He only heard that the Jiangyin ships had been attacked, so he angrily rushed to the East Sea to seek revenge against the East Sea Demon Court!
"Your Excellency, please allow me to report! Ten students from Jiangyin have been killed in action, along with dozens of soldiers and yamen runners from Jiangyin who were escorting them."

However, they killed more than two hundred demon soldiers and demon civilians.

"So we didn't suffer a major loss!"

The prefectural instructor hurriedly reported.

"Oh, is that so?!"

Zhou Yuanjun's eyebrows shot up suddenly, somewhat incredulous that the casualties were so low.

Every year, during the annual training and combat exercises of the young scholars in Jiangzhou Prefecture and its five counties, there would be some casualties, roughly the same number.

"This is a long story! At the time of the attack, Jiang Xingzhou, a top scholar from Jiangyin, wrote a poem entitled 'Fu Cao' on the spot!"
The bells of the Confucian Temple rang four times, and the demon general, seeing the situation was dire, immediately retreated and fled!

"good!

I must meet him at the Grain Rain Literature Gathering!
"Bring me the poem from Nada Prefecture so I may have a look!"

Zhou Shanzhang was taken aback.
He originally intended to summon Jiang Xingzhou, the top scholar in the Jiangyin examination, to come for a meeting.

But then I thought, the Grain Rain Literary Gathering is just around the corner, so there's no rush. I might as well take a look at the articles from the Nada Mansion first.

As his green robe billowed, the academy master strode toward the prefectural school, with the instructors jogging after him to explain in detail. They walked and talked, surrounded by a group of scholars, heading toward the prefectural academy.

The setting sun casts its rays.

The four gilded characters on the plaque of the prefectural school, "明德至善" (meaning "cultivating virtue and attaining the highest good"), were being illuminated by the last rays of the setting sun.

The students watched as the headmaster, Zhou Shanzhang, entered the prefectural academy, surrounded by instructors and scholars.

They filed out through the dappled shadows of the trees, leaving the vermilion gates of the academy, and went their separate ways.

Gu Zhimian suddenly flicked his sleeve, his brows furrowed with pride: "We scholars should emulate Lord Zhou—upon hearing of demons, we are enraged and draw our swords to act! If I ever pass the imperial examination, I will surely be just like him, pacifying the East Sea with a single sword! How exhilarating!!"

Before he could finish speaking, the young swordsman drew his sword with a clang and began to twirl it, startling the sparrows perched in the street.

Jiang Xingzhou and the other students exchanged knowing smiles.

"Having met Headmaster Zhou today, I finally understand the true nature of a scholar!"

Han Yugui clapped his hands and exclaimed with a smile, "Truly a model for the scholars of Jiangzhou Prefecture, Your Excellency the Prefect!"

Cao An stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sky, and exclaimed, "So this is the sword energy that stretches for miles, recorded in the ink and fragrance of books!"

Gu Zhimian sheathed the scholar's sword with a backhand motion, the tassel drawing a blue arc in the twilight.

"I already have a poem in my mind, 'Grain Rain: Demon Slayer,' which will shine brightly in Grain Rain three days from now!"

He suddenly turned around, his eyes reflecting the last rays of the sunset, and exclaimed with delight, "Brothers, see you at the Grain Rain Literary Gathering in three days. Don't let this poem of yours lose to me!" "Your flattering poem will surely please the Academy Master and win you first place at the Grain Rain Literary Gathering!"

The students burst into laughter upon hearing this.

At the end of the long street in Jiangzhou Prefecture, wisps of smoke began to rise, and the shadows of the young men stretched long on the stone pavement.

"The deer cry out, yo-yo!"

Someone started singing "The Deer Cry" from the Book of Songs, Minor Odes. The clear, melodious voice of a young boy, mixed with the moist air before Grain Rain, startled the evening glow that filled the city.

The evening breeze swept across the long bluestone street, carrying the young men's clothes and their bold pronouncements to the clouds.

Three days later.

As Grain Rain arrives, the fine rain falls like silk threads, transforming Jiangzhou Prefecture into a long ink painting scroll.

The willows on the outskirts of the city are already deep in color, and the mist shrouds the ten-mile-long embankment.

The peach blossoms in the city are in full bloom, their vibrant colors reflecting off the green tiles of the various noble families' mansions.

As dawn broke, the sound of oars could already be heard on the river.

Scholars from various counties who came to attend the literary gathering either traveled by painted boat or light raft, and arrived at Jiangzhou Prefecture.

The Grain Rain Literary Gathering is being held at the East City Tower.

Students from impoverished families, dressed in simple clothes and carrying their books, hurried along the wet stone path.

There were also young masters from noble families, dressed in brocade robes and wearing jade crowns, strolling leisurely past teahouses with their wine flags waving.

"Freshly roasted Grain Rain tea!" "Freshly steamed mugwort cake!" The rising steam mixed with the rain and mist, lingering in the streets and alleys.

Porters and vendors hawked their wares along the streets, creating a scene far more bustling and lively than in the past.

Suddenly, the tinkling of jade pendants could be heard, as young ladies from various households arrived for a spring outing and came to the vicinity of the East City Tower.

Some rode in small sedan chairs with draped curtains, the curtains slightly lifted to reveal a corner of a sleeve embroidered with lotus blossoms.

Some strolled by with oil-paper umbrellas, their delicate hands adorned with ink bamboo paintings that complemented the distant city towers and eaves.

The maids, with their sharp eyes, suddenly pointed to a certain spot and whispered, "Miss, look quickly! Isn't that the young master of the Jiang family who wrote 'Bodhisattva's Charm - Ode to Feet' the other day?"

"You're wrong!" another maid hurriedly tugged at her sleeve. "That's Du Qingyin, the top scholar from Kunshan—didn't you see the jade pendant shaped like a zither hanging from his waist? He's a great lover of the zither!"

"And who is that young man in the blue robe? He's so handsome."

Suddenly, a woman lightly tapped her embroidered shoes.

"That's Shen Zhiyun, the top scholar from Jiyang. I saw the emblem of the Shen family of Jiyang embroidered on the hem of his robe!"

"Who's that guy with the bruised and swollen face?"

"The top scholar in Jiangzhou Prefecture, Zhao Zilu, the illegitimate son of the Zhao family!"

The women were whispering among themselves when they suddenly spotted a bruised and swollen scholar in the crowd, and they burst into laughter.

"Dong dong dong——!"

The deep, resonant sound of drums rose from the east city tower, echoing over Jiangzhou City in late spring.

The Grain Rain Literary Gathering was held as scheduled, and the East City Tower was already filled with scholars and officials.

Inside the city gate tower, seated at the head of the table sat the venerable scholar Pei Jingyi, a literary giant of Jiangzhou. His hair and beard were all white, yet he was still in excellent spirits.

His indigo scholar's robe made him appear even more slender, and the scroll of the Spring and Autumn Annals in his hand added to his refined and scholarly demeanor.

At the Grain Rain Literary Gathering in Jiangzhou Prefecture, this Hanlin Academician, who held the highest literary rank, was naturally the most respected.

In case an article titled "[Dafu]" is born at the Guyu Literary Conference,

Without his personal evaluation, it would be difficult to properly appreciate this article.

Seated on the left and right sides were Xue Chonghu, the Prefect of Jiangzhou, and Zhou Shanzhang, the Director of the Prefectural Office.

Prefect Xue Chonghu, clad in purple robes and a jade belt, exuded an imposing aura even without anger.

Zhou Yuanjun, dressed in a plain-colored robe, exuded composure.

"All the distinguished guests of this manor have arrived; it is time to begin!"

The two scholars, both of whom had passed the imperial examinations, were discussing matters related to the literary gathering in hushed tones.

Ten Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) and dozens of Juren (successful candidates in the provincial imperial examinations) sat in order on both sides of the hall. They were all heads of various mansions in Jiangzhou and were prominent figures.

They were either whispering to each other or resting with their eyes closed, the air filled with the faint scent of ink and the aroma of tea.

Zhao Bingzhu, the head of the Zhao family, sat alone at the last seat on the right, his long black robe spotless. His expression was calm, his slender fingers lightly tapping the table, as if waiting for something.

"Festival-beginning!"

With a loud shout from the master of ceremonies, the Grain Rain Literary Gathering officially began.

Hanlin scholar Pei Jingyi stepped forward slowly to preside over the "Washing Brush Ceremony".

On the altar, twenty-four inkstones are arranged in order, corresponding to the twenty-four solar terms.

The servant fetched water from the Grain Rain season and slowly ground ink. The ink's fragrance was refreshing and invigorating.

The scholars, holding new brushes dipped in ink, respectfully wrote the four characters "Cangjie's Divine Seat" to pray for the prosperity of literature in their prefecture.

On the east gate tower, only those who had passed the imperial examinations were allowed to ascend the platform and take their seats—otherwise, there were only those who had been summoned by name, such as the scholars and students who had completed their studies.

Below the stage, many scholars stood solemnly, their eyes burning with anticipation, hoping to receive this honor and be summoned by renowned scholars.

Below the city gate, more than two thousand students were already waiting quietly, looking up with respect and eagerness.

They came from five counties in Jiangzhou Prefecture, all of them scholars who had studied diligently for years and were preparing to take the prefectural examination. It would be a great honor for them to be able to stand on the stage today and witness the demeanor of the famous scholars of Jiangzhou.

in the crowd.

Zhao Zilu had a bruised and swollen face, and the scabs on his forehead had not yet healed, but he still forced himself to bow to Jiang Xingzhou, his voice trembling slightly: "Brother Jiang, I have offended you in the past, please forgive me!"

Jiang Xingzhou gave him a cold glance, feeling secretly annoyed.

But there was no other way.

The Grain Rain Literary Gathering is a grand event in Jiangzhou, and even if one is displeased, there is no reason to obstruct it.

Just then, the official in charge of ceremonies called out loudly, "Please invite the top students from the prefecture and five counties to ascend the tower!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the students were in an uproar, their eyes burning with envy.

Zhao Zilu, the top candidate in Jiangzhou Prefecture; Jiang Xingzhou, the top candidate in Jiangyin County; Shen Zhiyun, the top candidate in Jiyang County; Zhou Wenyuan, the top candidate in Liangfeng County; Du Qingyin, the top candidate in Kunshan County; and Lin Haizhou, the top candidate in Taicang County.

The six people stepped forward one after another, climbed the steps, and ascended the East City Tower.

Upon reaching the front of the stage, the six men bowed in unison, paying their respects to the distinguished figures of Jiangzhou present: "We are junior students, paying our respects to our seniors!"

Dean Zhou's gaze was sharp as he slowly swept over the six people.

Zhao Zilu, the chief investigator of Jiangzhou Prefecture, looked disheveled with a wound on his forehead, while the other five looked normal.

He had heard about the recent turmoil in Jiangzhou Prefecture, but he had no interest in Zhao Zilu's plight—it was his own fault, and he had no one else to blame.

His gaze finally settled on Jiang Xingzhou.

The young man was dressed in a thin, moon-white robe. He was slender and his eyes revealed a sense of aloofness, silence, and coldness. He had none of the noble air of a scion of a noble family. Instead, he seemed like a hermit practicing in a Taoist temple in the mountains.

Such temperament is truly hard to reconcile with that sensual and enchanting poem, "Bodhisattva's Charm: Ode to Feet".

“You six are the leading students among the students of Jiangzhou.”

Zhou Shanzhang nodded slightly, his voice deep and slow.

"We should set an example for all students."

Please have a seat!

The servants quietly brought over six low sandalwood tables, and the six young scholars, standing at the head of the table, respectfully took their seats, occupying half of each table.

His gaze sharpened: "Before we begin this literary gathering, I have a question for you."

The six top candidates for the preliminary examination were immediately filled with trepidation.

Is this the beginning of their test?

(End of this chapter)