Great Zhou Wensheng

Chapter 98: The First Round of the Jiangzhou Prefecture Examination!
Ignoring the astonished looks of the other students around him, Zhang Youyi, an old scholar with white hair, shouted loudly in front of the academy.

"Hurry up! Don't miss the auspicious time for my prefectural examination!"

He directed several burly butchers to set up a battle formation in front of the vermilion gate of Jiangzhou Prefectural School.

On the altar, laden with offerings, lay out the food: a live carp, its scales gleaming, still struggled in the dish; a dragon gate made of gold foil. The heads of the three sacrificial animals gleamed with oil, and the meat of the six domestic animals was piled high like a small mountain.

Fresh fruits and delicate pastries were interspersed among the offerings, while the smoke from incense and candles mingled with the ashes of paper money, transforming the solemn gate of the academy into a sacrificial altar.

Jiang Xingzhou turned his head and was taken aback.

In a daze, he would think of the county examination in Jiangyin during the cold winter.

This scene looks so familiar!

Shen Zhiyun snapped her folding fan shut, covering her mouth.

Zhang Youyi, an old scholar with white hair, knelt before the altar covered with offerings, utterly devout.

"May the gods and the earth protect us!"

Zhang Youyi held three sticks of incense above his head, his hoarse voice startling the pigeons perched under the eaves, "I beg you to open my heavenly eye and bless me, Zhang Youyi, so that I may surely pass the imperial examination and become a scholar!"

"Ah!"

Not far away, Zhao Zilu, the top candidate in the imperial examination, suddenly sneered, "The imperial examinations rely on one's own ten years of hard study and ability! Trying to curry favor with a celestial being only when you're at the examination hall? Too late, aren't you! Who do you think you are?"

But his companion tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Brother Zhao! This Brother Zhang Youyi from Jiangyin County is the oldest candidate to take the imperial examination among all five counties in Jiangzhou Prefecture!"

"So it's the old scholar from Jiangyin!"

Zhao Zilu, however, disagreed and raised his voice, saying, "The Analects says, 'The Master did not speak of strange phenomena, physical prowess, disorder, or spirits!' It also says, 'Respect the spirits and gods, but keep them at a distance.' What do we scholars have to do with gods when we take the imperial examinations?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding students all turned to look at him, their eyes showing both approval and sarcasm.

"Indeed! We scholars should conduct ourselves according to the ways of sages and virtuous men, how can we imitate such heretical and unorthodox practices?"

Some echoed, their voices low, yet each word was like a knife.

Many students looked at Zhang Youyi with increasing disdain.

In their view, it was the right path for scholars to worship Heaven and Earth, their ancestors, their parents, and even the orthodox sages, meritorious officials, and divine generals in the Confucian Temple of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

But what I'm seeing now—

It is unknown which wild god or local deity was being worshipped.
They actually dared to try to gain fame and fortune through this?
That's rather ridiculous!

Zhang Youyi was so embarrassed by their rebuttals that he could only remain silent and continue the worship.

"Brother Zhang, which deity are you worshipping?"

Amidst the crowd, Gu Zhimian lowered his voice and asked, his eyes showing both confusion and a hint of eager probing.

"Uh"

Zhang Youyi was muttering to himself when he heard this, and he was taken aback. He blinked his cloudy old eyes, grinned at Gu Zhimian, and revealed a few yellowed teeth:
Brother Gu, you may not know this.

My offerings are quite particular.

Like a golden carp leaping over the dragon gate, it signifies a successful examination and a place on the honor roll!
Fresh seasonal fruits, reserved for the emperor's exclusive enjoyment!
Offerings of three kinds of sacrificial animals and six kinds of livestock are made to honor the Kitchen God and the Earth God!

Incense and candles communicate with the spirits!

Paper money offered to all the spirits of the underworld, do not obstruct my path!

Who cares what kind of deity it is!
I will serve every single one of them, from the Sage of Literature and the Sage of War to the City God, the Earth God, and the spirits of the past!
They've benefited from my help, so they certainly won't hinder my future!

"I am now seventy-two years old, and I have failed the imperial examinations for fifty years. My eyesight is already failing, and I can no longer rely on myself. I can only pray to the gods!"

As he spoke, his voice suddenly choked up, and his withered fingers trembled as he pointed to the altar, "I must have been blessed by the gods to pass the imperial examination last time!"
If I succeed in passing the imperial examination and become a scholar, I will offer sacrifices to his memorial tablet day and night, with incense burning continuously!

After saying that, he suddenly remembered something and hurriedly added three more incense sticks: "Yes, yes, and Wenchang Dijun too!"
Wenchang Emperor above!

If you bless me to pass the imperial examination this year, I will surely offer sacrifices day and night, with incense burning without ceasing!

Upon seeing this, a glint of light flashed in Gu Zhimian's eyes.

Also!

He straightened his clothes and respectfully offered incense and bowed three times—it couldn't be wrong to at least pay respects to Emperor Wenchang.

"Oh dear, another one trying to cram for the exam!"

Zhao Zilu was about to utter a sarcastic or humiliating remark,

"I borrow Brother Zhang's incense offerings to respectfully present to the saints of the Confucian Temple!"

Jiang Xingzhou's voice was neither too loud nor too soft, interrupting him in a way that ensured everyone present could hear him clearly.

He straightened the front of his blue robe, picked up a stick of incense with three fingers, and gently twirled it over the candle flame.

A wisp of smoke rose from the incense stick with a hiss, curling upwards above his handsome, aloof brow.

His movements were slow, but steady.

When he bent over, the jade pendant at his waist remained perfectly still, and not a speck of dust rose from his clothes.

He was neither as eccentric as Zhang Youyi, nor as arrogant and disdainful as the young man in brocade robes, Zhao Zilu. He simply bowed respectfully three times towards the direction of the Confucian Temple.

He did not believe in gods or Buddhas, but he revered the literary sage of this dynasty.

Suddenly——

The golden carp on the altar, its belly almost turned white, suddenly struggled, its tail slapping the table with a crisp sound. It leaped into the air and flew perfectly over the dragon gate made of gold foil on the table.

"Ouch!"
Golden carp leap over the dragon gate!

Zhang Youyi's eyes widened in surprise, his finger pointing intently at the offering table, his white beard trembling: "We've succeeded! We who offer sacrifices are sure to pass this imperial examination!"

"."

In front of the sacrificial table,
The students were immediately taken aback, looked at each other in bewilderment, and fell silent.

Some of the previously hesitant students exchanged glances, silently straightened their clothes, lit incense, and bowed deeply.

Whether it works or not, let's just do the prayer first.

"good omen!
This is a good omen!

"Quick! Refill the incense—let's also offer our prayers and share in Brother Jiang's good fortune!"

Amid the rustling of fabrics, one by one, more and more students, regardless of whether they were from aristocratic families or poor scholars, followed suit and offered incense and prayers.

This infuriated Zhao Zilu, turning his face ashen.

As dawn broke, two thousand students outside the Jiangzhou government compound either closed their eyes and murmured the classics, or burned incense and prostrated themselves in worship toward the Confucian temple.

Outside the mansion, there was a lively and bustling atmosphere.

"Boom-"

The deep, resonant sound of the bell in the Jiangzhou government compound shattered the morning mist, and the vermilion gates of the mansion burst open with a roar.

Eight large red [golden carp lanterns] were hung high outside the mansion, their crimson shadows casting eight leaping streaks of light on the blue brick ground, just like golden scales emerging from the water.

"Keng!"

Two rows of armored soldiers brandished their long halberds, their cold gleam forming a silver river in the dawn light.

The yamen runners, with red ribbons tied around their waists, struck the bronze gongs, the sound like tearing silk:
"Open—the—Dragon—Gate—!"

"Jiangzhou students have successfully passed the dragon gate!"

Amidst the sound of gongs and drums, the centuries-old dragon-patterned screen wall of the prefectural school was fully revealed, proclaiming, "Prefectural Examination - Enter the Hall!"

In an instant, two thousand men in blue robes formed a long line in the morning light, solemn as soldiers awaiting inspection.

Hundreds of yamen runners, armed with water and fire sticks, searched each student's examination box and tools.

The head constable of the Jiangzhou Prefecture government office, carrying a black iron talisman and a mind-reflecting mirror, was tasked with investigating corruption and carrying smuggled documents.

Open the examination box. Only the following items are allowed inside: pine soot ink sticks, inkstone, writing implements, and water gourd, to prevent cheat sheets from being smuggled in!

Remove your cloth socks and walk barefoot on the blue bricks, checking the soles of your feet for any entrapment.

Her hair was loose and past her shoulders; she checked her hair bun for something hidden inside.

Check the inner lining of the garment!
The pen tube is hollow!
Anyone caught cheating will have their face tattooed and be imprisoned on the spot.

Only after the inspection was completed were they allowed to enter the Jiangzhou Prefecture Academy.

Suddenly, a scream rang out from within the ranks—

A piece of yellow paper with fresh ink slipped out from the crevice of a student's exam box, startling him so much that he trembled and cried out.

Liu, the head constable, sneered. He picked up a pair of red-hot iron tongs from a stove next to the mansion and said, "The first person to be tattooed this year has arrived early."

Amidst screams,

The group of students continued their journey in silence.

The students, familiar with the route, entered the Jiangzhou Prefecture courtyard one by one, where they still needed to have their identities verified in the Jiangzhou Prefecture's ceremonial office.

"Silence—Roll call for identity verification!"

With a resounding gong, the guarantors lined up under the eaves, each holding a guarantor's register. The vermilion ink on each register was still fresh, and they were bound with fine hemp rope.

"Gu Zhimian, a member of the Gu family from Dongchian Village, Jiangyin County, Jiangzhou Prefecture!"

The young man in the blue robe, Gu Zhimian, whose name was called, trembled and ran forward.

Dipping my fingertip in ink, I pressed it onto the booklet, my knuckles turning white from the pressure. That bright red fingerprint resembled a newly blossoming plum petal.

"Examination Room Notice!"

Gu Zhimian held a wooden examination tablet made of poplar wood. It was cool to the touch, and the tablet was engraved in tiny characters: "Guarantor Zhou Mingde, born in the Gengchen year of the Gu family of Jiangyin."

The handwriting still exudes the fresh scent of newly carved pine.

Some people in the line were secretly glancing at their examination tokens when they heard a constable shout, "Keep your token with you at all times for verification! Anyone who violates this rule will be considered to have cheated!"

A pillar of smoke rose in front of the Jiangzhou government office.

"The auspicious time has arrived. Let us offer our sacrificial text to the saints of the Confucian Temple!"

Prefect Xue Chonghu, clad in a python robe and jade belt, stood on the steps of the palace. Behind him stood a row of officials in scarlet and blue robes, including the Prefect, the Chief Clerk, the Military Advisor, and the Chief Clerk, arranged in order of rank.

Chief Examiner Zhou Yuanjun, his peacock-embroidered robes reflecting the morning light, held the "Petition to the Emperor" in his hands above his brow—on the gold-flecked Xuan paper, the ink characters, like ants, carried the dreams of two thousand scholars from Jiangzhou Prefecture to rise to prominence.

"May the wise and virtuous judge this matter—."

The chief examiner, Zhou Yuanjun, dressed in a peacock-embroidered robe, recited the "Petition to the Emperor," and then burned the "Petition to the Emperor" inside a bronze cauldron.

The moment the memorial was plunged into the cauldron, flames suddenly shot up three feet, startling everyone into taking a half-step back.

The wisps of smoke twisted and rose, transforming into a dragon-shaped column of smoke on the glazed tiles of the Jiangzhou government compound, soaring straight into the sky.

The sacrificial ceremony is over.

"Thump, thump, thump—!"

The petition was heard three times.

The sound of drums rolled over the backs of the roof beasts on the walls of the Jiangzhou government compound, startling the morning mist that filled the city.

Jiangzhou City was still shrouded in indigo morning mist.
Outside the academy, a sea of ​​black-clad warriors stood.

Three thousand elite soldiers of the Prefectural Guard stood with halberds at their sides, their black dragon-patterned banners fluttering in the chilly spring air, the golden-embroidered dragon eyes appearing and disappearing in the sunlight, as if a real dragon were on a hunting expedition.

The sound of clashing armor was like the shattering of ice, and the imposing military formation surrounded the eight courtyards of the examination hall like an iron barrel.

The cold light reflected from the blades flowed across the blue brick screen wall, startling the roosting birds into silence. Today, during the Jiangzhou Prefecture examination, not even a mosquito could dare to trespass into this forbidden area.

More than two thousand candidates filed into the examination hall of the academy. The jade pendants on the waists of the handsome young men jingled, their sounds mingling with the worn hemp shoes of the poor students.

The most striking sight was the group of elderly scholars in their sixties and seventies, their temples frosted with white hair—their backs were hunched, but their withered fingers gripped their examination tokens tightly.

The candidates were divided into groups according to their examination badges, which were red, blue, white, and black, and their footsteps echoed on the bluestone slabs.

The examination rooms were divided into four sections: A, B, C, and D. Each section had five hundred examination rooms with blue bricks and gray tiles, arranged neatly like a chessboard.

Although each examination cell was only half a zhang square, it was a hundred times more respectable than the thatched sheds used during the county examinations.

The yamen runners of Jiangzhou Prefecture held long peach wood handles and sprinkled peach branch water, which was believed to ward off evil spirits and poisonous insects, between the bricks.

The clerk in charge of the rites used a vermilion brush to dip in cinnabar and inscribed the four characters "Wen Chang Bi You" (meaning "May the God of Literature Bless You") and the examination room number on the lintel of each examination room.

"Zhang Youyi, number 76, number Ding!"

Zhang Youyi stepped into the small house made of blue bricks with slight trembling. His calloused palms brushed against the "Wenchang Blessing" inscription on the lintel, which was still wet with cinnabar, and he felt a slight warmth.

In the small, square cell, the insect-repellent water stains on the peach wood table were still damp, clearly from the bailiffs' hasty application. His trembling fingers traced the cool, blue brick wall.

For fifty years, the torn manuscripts from repeated failures in the county examinations have now transformed into tears that flowed down his deeply lined face.

The distant boom of cannons echoed.

He trembled as he bit open the cap of the wolf-hair brush—the half-worn brush tip was finally about to be dipped in the ink for the imperial examination.

Jiang Xingzhou, carrying the examination box, walked steadily into the examination room [Class A No. 1].

Inside the examination cell, an old sandalwood desk lay across the room, on which the four characters "格物致知" (investigate things to acquire knowledge) were deeply engraved, the ink as black as iron. Over the years, countless students had been writing furiously at this desk, the characters now seeping into the wood grain.

On the desk stood a celadon candlestick with a warm, lustrous glaze, holding one of the three official candles that were limited to this purpose. The candle wax had not yet dried and was yet to be lit.

A bamboo curtain hung low in front of the examination hall to prevent peeping. A few rays of morning light filtered through, casting dappled shadows on the blue brick ground.

Footsteps and whispers outside the curtain were blocked out, with only a gentle breeze occasionally blowing by, lifting the corner of the curtain before quietly falling back down.

The chamber pot in the corner was covered with lime, which suppressed the smell to a very faint level, waiting to be changed at dusk.

Jiang Xingzhou sat cross-legged, closed his eyes and concentrated, his breathing gradually slowing down, like an old monk entering meditation.

He is waiting—

Waiting for the resounding gong signaling the start of the exam, waiting for the exam papers to be distributed, waiting for the scent of ink and paper to fill the cramped examination cells...

The imperial examination for scholars, which would determine the fate of two thousand students in Jiangzhou Prefecture, officially began.

Summer of the fifteenth year of Tian Shou.

The Jiangzhou Prefecture Examination has begun!
Inside the main hall of the academy, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Chief Examiner Zhou Shanzhang, dressed in a pine-like blue robe, sat upright with a calm expression. Before him was a vermilion inkstone, its tip already concealed before the ink was ground.

Four deputy examiners stood on either side of the hall—Prefect Cui Chengye, in his purple robe and jade belt; Registrar Liu Mingchuan, holding a pen and waiting to record the names; Clerk Zhao Shiheng, tapping the list of candidates lightly with his knuckles; and Captain Lei Wanting, standing with his hand on his sword, the blades of his armor occasionally clanging in the silence.

"The Jiangzhou Prefecture Examination consisted of three sessions."

The first event was titled "Ambition"—[Slaying Demons and Saving from Disaster].

"The Taihu Lake disaster caused the drowning of 600 people in Jiangzhou Prefecture and destroyed thousands of acres of fertile land."

"Since you students receive stipends from the imperial court, what should you do with them?"

Zhou Shanzhang's voice was as deep as a bell as he said:
“The character is three hundred. Write a [Record of Exorcising Demons and Saving from Disasters], which must describe your actions during the Taihu Lake disaster.”

Furthermore, this record includes one poem submitted as an examination piece.

Articles are graded as A, B, or C based on their achievements, aspirations, and literary talent.
In the first round of the prefectural examination, out of two thousand candidates, the top eight hundred were selected, while one thousand two thousand were eliminated.

Gentlemen, what do you think?

"Duke Zhou's question is excellent!"

"I have no objection!"

The four deputy examiners exchanged glances and had no objection.

"it is good!"

Zhou Shanzhang issued the first question of the prefectural examination.

Below the hall, Prefect Xue Chonghu narrowed his eyes slightly, and upon hearing the examination question, he inwardly praised him. The gold threads on his python robe rippled in the morning light, like dormant dragons and snakes, their power restrained.

As expected of Headmaster Zhou!

This exam, ostensibly a prefectural examination, was actually an opportunity to reward the students who participated in the "slaying demons and saving the day" campaign.

To maintain the dignity of the entire court—the Jiangzhou Prefecture examination questions were indeed upright and proper. At the same time, to pave the way for meritorious officials—this was clearly a ladder to heaven that offered easy points.

Outside the hall, numerous scholars, officials, and heads of powerful families from the five counties of Jiangzhou Prefecture stood solemnly listening, their brocade robes rustling.

Some people's eyes darted around, while others whispered among themselves, harboring countless schemes.

Zhao Bingzhu, the head of the Zhao family, frowned deeply, his knuckles slightly clenched, and a cold glint appeared in his eyes.

"The first session of the prefectural examination begins!"

The black-clad constables marched in a line, carrying a blackboard with the "[Prefectural Examination Question 1]" printed on it. They swept past the bamboo curtain, their voices echoing like the sound of waves crashing on the shore.

At this moment, the students stared in astonishment at the exam questions.

More than two thousand wolf-hair brushes were dipped in ink at the same time.

The moment the snow-wave paper was unfolded, two thousand pieces of pine soot ink were ground simultaneously, and the aroma of ink suddenly became intense.

Inside the Jiangzhou government compound.

"Raise the kite—proctor!"

Dozens of proctors made hand gestures, their sleeves fluttering without wind, and as their fingertips flashed with spiritual light, wooden kites took flight.

A soft click of a mechanism suddenly broke the solemn atmosphere of the examination hall.

The wooden kite hovered above the examination hall, its sharp eyes like lightning.

They might perch on the eaves, their iron claws gripping the tiles, silently surveying the examination hall.

Even more extreme, some will fly and hover directly in front of the desk of a candidate who is "suspected," with their wings slightly spread, as if examining the ink on the answer sheet.

Their wings sliced ​​through the morning mist, and subtle ripples of spiritual energy appeared in their eyes—clearly, they had been imbued with the idiom "[The net of heaven is vast, and its wisdom is keenly discerning]".

The two thousand students in the examination hall all lowered their heads, even their breathing became slightly softer, and they dared not meet the eyes of these wooden kites.

Examination Room No. 1, Class A.

Jiang Xingzhou lightly pressed his fingertips against the inkstone, the ink stick slowly drawing a circle on the Chengni inkstone. The ink gradually thickened, like the still water of a night pool, reflecting his serene face.

Outside the curtain, the sound of a wooden kite flapping its wings could be faintly heard, but he didn't even flinch.

The air was filled with the fragrance of ink.

He held a wolf-hair brush, dipped it in thick ink, and held the brush tip over the draft paper.

Slay the demons and save the day!

The four characters are written with powerful strokes, their strength penetrating the paper.

Jiang Xingzhou's gaze lingered on the four characters "slay demons and save the disaster," and he smiled, a slight upturn of his lips.

"A three-hundred-word essay, plus a poem?!"

What a fine Professor Zhou!

This is hardly a test question.

It was clearly a ladder to success paved for the students who had rendered meritorious service in Jiangzhou.

Every student who shed blood in the battle to exterminate the demon in Taihu Lake had a pent-up resentment in their heart.

Three hundred words of ink are merely a way to recreate the sword light that slew the demon that night and the fervent heart that saved the people on paper.

Examination Room No. 6, Class A

"Snapped!"

The wolf-hair brush fell to the ground, and ink splattered onto the blue bricks like splashed crow feathers.

Suddenly, the sound of a wooden kite flapping its wings approached from outside the window, its iron claws scraping against the eaves with a piercing sound.

Zhao Zilu stared blankly at the first question of the prefectural examination, his ten fingers trembling uncontrollably, his palms turning white.

At that moment, he suddenly understood what it meant to have exhausted all strategies!

Make your own way!

Too much cunning and scheming can backfire and cost you your life!

Over the past two months, he has practiced hundreds of exam questions.

He knows every single one of the books, from "The Sage's Strategy for Exterminating Demons" to "The Strategy for Disaster Relief and Peace for the People," by heart.

No matter what the exam was about, Zhou Yuanjun could always write a brilliant essay.

But that was completely unexpected.
The first exam question in Jiangzhou Prefecture was to write about one's achievements in the battle to slay a demon in Taihu Lake?!
He was momentarily stunned.

Disaster relief?

What does it mean?
I didn't go at all!
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead—that night when the demonic calamity raged, he was clearly studying diligently behind closed doors in the warm pavilion of the Zhao residence, preparing for the prefectural examination.

What else can he do?

Zhao Zilu dared not fabricate anything in his examination essay.

Many students in Jiangzhou Prefecture knew that he studied in the Zhao residence and never went out.

If one fabricates a story about slaying demons and saving people from disaster, it will be too easy to be exposed—if one's essay for the prefectural examination is full of lies, it would be like the sky falling down, and one would probably be disqualified from the prefectural examination.

"What a brilliant plan to slay demons and save lives!"

A low laugh escaped Zhao Zilu's throat, then he suddenly tasted a metallic sweetness in his mouth and bit his tongue until it bled. "Well done, Lord Zhou! With just this one question, I have no hope of winning the top spot in the imperial examination!"

He thought about it for a long time.
The pen tip hovers uncertainly on the paper.

"How about we write an essay titled 'A Record of Diligent Study'?"

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck him.

Zhao Zilu suddenly dipped his brush in ink and wrote a short essay and poem of three hundred characters:

"Closed doors become battlefields, and lamplight becomes beacon fires!"

It's not that I lack courage; I await the day when I can soar to the clouds!
It's not that I cherish this life; my long sword awaits to be drawn from its sheath!
"Today the inkwell is shallow, tomorrow the sea of ​​blood will be deep!"

With a final, forceful stroke, he tore the rice paper three-tenths of its length.

Only by passing the prefectural examination and obtaining the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations) can one gain greater power and stand up for the court and the common people in the future.

He went to great lengths to do this!
Be patient for now!
In anticipation of a better future to vanquish demons and save the people!
Jiangzhou Prefecture Courtyard.

The examination halls with their blue bricks and gray tiles stand in rows, and the pale morning light, like rice paper, shines through the carved wooden windows, casting fine shadows on the bluestone slabs.

Some of the students who did not participate in the battle to exterminate the demon in Taihu Lake were deathly pale, as white as a living Xuan.

Some of the students, however, had flushed faces with excitement, feeling immense gratitude towards Professor Zhou.

Shen Zhiyun, the top scholar in the Jiangzhou Prefecture and Jiyang County examination, with his wrist suspended and brush held high, created ripples on the last stroke of the character "功" (gong, merit).

He seemed to see himself on the shore of Taihu Lake two months ago.

Zhou Yuanjun's blood-stained official boots trod over the floating corpses of the demon race.
A dying scholar grabbed the hem of his scarlet official robe, and the abbot bent down to close his unwilling eyelids: "Those who survive should all have a good future." This was the very sentence he was referring to.

What was once a bloody and foul sound now sounds like heavenly music!
"I was just thinking a few days ago that we, the students from the five counties of the prefecture, went to Taihu Lake to make meritorious contributions, and it has been two months since we returned, but we have not received a single reward from the prefect and the academy."

"I didn't expect that Lord In-kun had already made arrangements here!"

"With our abilities, as long as we achieve something, we will undoubtedly pass the first round of the prefectural examination!"

"Although I was on the front line of the battlefield, I did not have many kills."

Compared to Jiang Xingzhou, he is utterly inferior!

However, it made a tremendous contribution to the second-line logistics and supply!

The Shen family of Jiyang donated one thousand dan of millet overnight to send to the front lines to reward the students of the prefectural academy.

Shen Zhiyun's wrist moved with lightning speed as she licked the brush and wrote swiftly, the ink carrying the scent of millet.

That day in front of the government granary, when my father placed the grain on the scale, there was a dull thud as the bronze weight fell to the ground.

A thousand dan of golden millet grains piled up like a small mountain in the government office's ledgers.

He was puzzled at the time as to why his father was so eager to donate grain.
At this moment, Shen Zhiyun suddenly realized that her father was indeed the number one silk and cloth merchant in Jiyang County, with such a sharp eye!
The Shen family head had meticulously planned this scheme two months in advance.

"This is verifiable!"
On the seventh page of the government office's logistics and supplies list, there was a government office stamp in black and white!
Based on this great achievement alone, I'm certain I'll rank among the top three in the first round of the Jiangzhou Prefecture Examination!

He wrote quickly.

".
"Jiyang County, Shenjialang."

On page seven of the Logistics and Supplies Record, the vermilion seal of the government office shone as brightly as the morning glow.

"A thousand dan of millet, every grain a seed of success!"

Shen Zhiyun produced a lengthy and eloquent article, a three-hundred-word essay.

(End of this chapter)