Huangming

Chapter 508 Suppressing Bandits and Pacifying Sichuan, and Conducting the Imperial Examination

The night was as dark as thick ink, enveloping the mountains and forests of southern Sichuan and the Fotu Pass completely.

The Ming army moved with astonishing speed.

This surprise attack was a thunderous strike that Xiong Tingbi had been planning for many days. He had already thoroughly memorized everything from the ambush location discovered by his spies to the deployment of his troops.

The third watch.

Cao Wenyao led 5,000 border troops and silently sneaked into the valley where Luo Qianxiang had set up an ambush.

The soldiers gagged themselves and their horses wore thick hooves; the sounds of armor clashing with weapons were deliberately muffled, leaving only faint footsteps in the silent forest.

On the high ground on both sides of the valley, Ming soldiers quickly set up rocket launchers and small cannons, and oil barrels were neatly stacked on the cliff edge, waiting for an order.

"Light the fire! Seal the valley!"

Cao Wenyao's voice was deep and resolute.

In an instant, dozens of rockets pierced the night sky with a piercing shriek, and sparks landed on the withered grass and vines at the bottom of the valley, instantly igniting a towering fire.

Immediately afterwards, barrels of kerosene were pushed off the cliff. The hot oil burst into flames upon contact with the fire, and the flames spread along the mountainside, quickly engulfing the entire valley.

Thick smoke billowed upwards, choking the Yongning soldiers at the bottom of the valley, causing them to cough violently and awaken from their sleep by the excruciating pain of being burned by the flames, leaving them in a state of panic.

"Run! Charge out of the mountain pass!"

The commander of the Yongning soldiers roared and brandished his scimitar in an attempt to organize a breakout, but the raging fire had already blocked their retreat. The scorching air burned their skin, and the soldiers whose clothes were set ablaze rolled and howled on the ground. The valley was filled with desperate screams.

The remaining Yongning soldiers could only run frantically toward the only exits on either side, unaware that they had already been set up by the Ming army in a deadly trap.

On both sides of the mountain pass, the Ming army's long spear formations stood like an iron Great Wall.

"Surrender and you will not be killed! Those who resist will be executed on the spot!"

The Ming soldiers shouted in unison, their voices echoing through the valley.

The Yongning soldier at the forefront had just stepped out of the mountain pass when he was pierced through the chest by a spear, his blood splattering onto the cold ground.

Seeing this, some of the people behind still wanted to fight to the death, brandishing their scimitars and rushing forward, but they were all pierced down by the dense gunfire.

Some completely broke down, throwing away their weapons, kneeling and begging for mercy, covering their heads with their hands and not daring to raise their heads.

The encirclement was almost one-sided; the Ming army captured all three thousand elite Yongning troops with almost no casualties.

Those who survived were captured, those who resisted were killed, and only mountains of corpses and still-burning embers remained at the bottom of the valley.

As soon as the flames and shouts of battle began, dust billowed up all over the area below Fotu Pass.

The main force of the Ming army, led by Zhou Tong and Zhao Chengye, surged towards the Tusi coalition that was still besieging the city.

Those chieftain soldiers were forced to attack the city by She Chongming with a knife, and they were already exhausted and demoralized.

Having suffered heavy casualties in the siege for days, and terrified by She Chongming's oppressive policies, they instantly lost all will to resist when they saw the main force of the Ming army coming.

"The Ming army is coming! Run!"

Someone shouted first, and the chieftain's soldiers immediately dropped their ladders and shields and turned to run.

At this point, even the supervising team was afraid, and they all rushed to escape.

Some people panicked and ran away, only to be pushed to the ground by those behind them, and then trampled to pieces.

Some tried to flee towards Jiangjin, but were caught up by Ming cavalry and killed with a single blow.

Some chieftains, seeing the situation was not good, secretly led their troops into the mountains and forests, just to protect themselves.

Zhou Tong, spear in hand, charged ahead. Wherever the spear tip touched, the chieftain's soldiers fell from their horses. He shouted loudly:
"Those who surrender will be spared! Those who dare to turn back and resist will be killed without mercy!"

Just now.

Suddenly, the city gates of Fotuguan were flung open, and Cao Wenzhao led the city's garrison out in a fierce charge.

The cannons roared from the city walls, while the Ming army attacked from both sides below. The chieftain's soldiers were caught in the middle, unable to advance or retreat, and suffered countless casualties.

The siege formation, which had been struggling to hold on, completely collapsed at this moment. Cries, pleas for mercy, and the clanging of weapons hitting the ground mingled together, echoing throughout the area below Fotu Pass.

On the high slope outside the pass, She Chongming looked at the scene of defeat before him, his eyes bulging with rage, his hair standing on end.

He suddenly drew his gold-inlaid curved sword from his waist, pointed it at the fleeing soldiers, and roared:

"Don't run! Hold your formation! Fight the Ming army!"

The guards also shouted and brandished their swords and spears in an attempt to stop the deserters, but the army was in complete disarray and they could not stop them.
A chieftain's soldier ran past She Chongming in a panic, only to be slashed to the ground by him, his face splattered with blood.

But this did nothing to deter the others; more soldiers rushed over the corpses and fled in a frenzy.

Not to mention the chieftain soldiers who were forced to fight, even the Yongning soldiers trained by She Chongming lost all will to fight when they saw the Ming army coming in force and heard the screams around them. Some quietly put down their weapons, while others retreated with the flow of people.

Standing on the high slope, She Chongming looked at the Ming army surging in like a tide, and then at the chaotic army fleeing in all directions. He felt a surge of blood rushing to his head.

His meticulously planned strategy of besieging the enemy's stronghold and attacking reinforcements ultimately turned into a trap for the Ming army.

The 50,000-strong army he had gathered through oppressive means proved utterly vulnerable to the Ming army's thunderous offensive.

The night wind carried the heat of the fire and the smell of blood, causing She Chongming's cloak to flutter loudly.

The scimitar in his hand trembled slightly, his eyes filled with resentment and indignation, yet also with a sense of desolate helplessness.

His "Great Liang" foundation and his hegemony in the southwest were, at this moment, already teetering on the brink of collapse and on the verge of destruction.

The war at Fotu Pass is still raging.

Brothers Fan Long and Fan Hu, along with dozens of guards, stumbled and rushed up the hillside.

They looked disheveled, their faces splattered with blood and dust, and their voices were hoarse.

"Your Majesty! Run! The Ming army has broken through the outer perimeter. If we don't leave now, it will be too late!"

Behind them, the shouts of the Ming army grew closer and closer, the sound of horses' hooves crashing onto the ground like thunder, and occasionally a stray arrow would whiz past their scalp and embed itself in a broken tree nearby, its fletching still trembling.

Several guards stood firmly in front of She Chongming, their curved swords flashing so fast they were just afterimages, but they couldn't stop the Ming army surging in like a tide.

The Yongning soldiers, who had been fighting desperately just moments before, had now scattered like kites with broken strings.

Leaning on his gold-inlaid scimitar, She Chongming gazed at the chaotic battlefield below the mountain, then looked up towards the direction of Chongqing, his eyes filled with resentment.

"Escape back to Yongning? Is there any chance of survival?"

Staying here is certain death!

Cai Jingui staggered as he caught up.

“Yongning is mostly mountainous and forested. We grew up in the mountains and are familiar with every mountain path and every trap. Even if the Ming army comes after us, they may not be able to gain the upper hand!”
Furthermore, there's the An family of Shuixi. An Bangyan has allied with us. As long as we return to Yongning, with their military strength and relying on the mountainous terrain, we'll definitely be able to hold our own against the Ming army!"

He took a breath and said urgently:
"Summer will be here in two months, and miasma will start to rise in the mountains and forests of southern Sichuan!"
Most of the Ming troops from the Nine Garrisons are northerners who cannot withstand the heat and humidity. When the miasma hits them, they will fall ill and they will have to retreat on their own without us having to fight them!

If we can hold out for these next few months, the imperial court, facing civil unrest in Jiangnan, will surely not waste its main forces in the southwest, and we will have a chance to survive!

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

He Ruohai also tried to persuade him, his voice tinged with panic.

"The Ming cavalry are almost charging up, look!"

He pointed to a section of Ming cavalry not far away, which was galloping toward the high slope, their black battle flags fluttering in the wind.

"As for the young marshal, His Majesty previously sent a secret envoy to help him break through the encirclement. The main force of the Ming army is chasing us, so he will definitely be able to take the opportunity to escape!"
"If Your Majesty stays here, not only will you fail to save the young marshal, but you will also endanger yourself!"

She Chongming's heart clenched suddenly.

He was indeed somewhat worried about his son, Sheyan.

But the shouts of the Ming army were already close at hand. One of his guards, trying to shield him from an arrow, was shot through the chest, groaned, and fell to the ground, his robe splattered with blood.

"Your Majesty! Let's go!"

Fan Long grabbed She Chongming's horse reins and pushed him onto the saddle.

"The guards can hold them off for a while longer, but if it gets any later, we really won't be able to leave!"

She Chongming was pushed onto his warhorse. Watching his personal guards fall one by one, and hearing the Ming soldiers shouting "Capture and kill She Chongming!" behind him, he finally gritted his teeth:
"Let's go! To Jiangjin!"

The warhorse neighed and carried him galloping towards Jiangjin.

Fan Long and Fan Hu, along with the remaining guards, followed closely behind. Cai Jingui and He Ruohai also mounted their horses, and the group carved a bloody path through the chaotic battlefield.

The Ming army pursued them relentlessly, raining arrows down like locusts. Guards were frequently struck by arrows and fell from their horses, but no one dared to turn back.

after all.

Turning back means certain death.

From Fotuguan to Jiangjin, a distance of dozens of miles, they practically fled on the edge of the Ming army's swords.

The road was littered with the corpses of the defeated chieftains, some trampled beyond recognition by horses' hooves, others still groaning weakly, yet no one dared to stop and offer assistance.

The Ming cavalry pursued them very closely, almost catching up with the rear of the column several times. Only the personal guards' desperate rearguard action managed to keep the distance.

Upon reaching the outskirts of Jiangjin Town, She Chongming intended to catch his breath, but then he saw dust rising again in the distance.

The Ming army did not stop and continued to pursue!

"Go into the mountains!"

She Chongming roared, turned his horse around, and charged towards the dense forest outside the town.

The ancient trees there are towering and vines are intertwined, making it difficult for sunlight to penetrate, making it an ideal place to hide from cavalry.

His guards followed him into the mountains and forests. Using the familiar terrain, they weaved through the dense woods, sometimes climbing steep slopes and sometimes wading across streams. Finally, as dawn broke, they shook off the Ming army's pursuit.

She Chongming reined in his warhorse, which was exhausted and covered in sweat, panting heavily with white mist coming out of its nostrils.

He looked around and saw that there were only a few hundred people left around him, all of them dressed in rags, with broken armor, and their faces full of exhaustion and fear.

Of the 20,000 elite Yongning troops he brought with him, plus 50,000 chieftain soldiers, only this few remain.

The wind rustled through the leaves, as if mocking the crushing defeat.

She Chongming slid off the horse, staggered a few steps before regaining his balance, and the gold-inlaid scimitar in his hand clattered to the ground.

Looking at the wrecked soldiers on the ground, and thinking of his son in Chongqing, whose fate was unknown, and the "Great Liang" empire he had built with his own hands, he felt a sense of bewilderment.

lost.

A crushing defeat.

All previous ambitions and dreams of dominating the southwest have now vanished.

Even if they returned to Yongning, could these few hundred remaining soldiers, relying on the mountainous terrain, really stop the Ming army's pursuit?
Can they really establish a foothold in the southwest?

She Chongming squatted down, supporting himself on his knees with his hands, panting heavily, his eyes red-rimmed.

For the first time, he felt that the future was like the fog in this dense forest, a complete blur, with no light in sight.

And the other side.

Chongqing Ancient City.

She Yan stood atop the North Gate Arrow Tower, his face grim as he gazed at the faint sounds of fire and battle cries coming from the direction of Fotu Pass in the distance.

His scouts had reported back half an hour earlier that although the main force of the Ming army had gone after his father, She Chongming, they had left a large number of Huguang soldiers outside the city, clearly having anticipated his breakout.

"Young Marshal, the time has come."

The guard beside him trembled, and the torch in his hand reflected the fear in his eyes.

"The brothers at the four gates are all ready. If we wait any longer, the Ming army's encirclement will likely tighten even further."

She Yan took a deep breath to suppress the panic in her heart. After the fall of Fotu Pass and Erlang Pass, Chongqing had become an isolated city. Its supply lines had been cut off for many days, and the soldiers were already showing signs of hunger. If they continued to hold out, they would either starve to death by the Ming army or be slaughtered after the city was breached.

"Let's go! Follow the plan. Break out from all four gates simultaneously, in batches. Surely some brothers will escape!"

He gritted his teeth and gave the order, and the curved sword at his waist was drawn with a clang.

At 3:45 PM, the four gates of Chongqing city suddenly opened wide.

Hundreds of Yongning soldiers rushed out of the North Gate first. They crouched low and rushed towards the open ground outside the city, their steps as light as those of mice stealing food. But the moment they stepped out of the city gate, they were shocked by a deafening roar that made their eardrums ache.

"Set off the fire!"

At the command of the adjutant under the General of Huguang, the twelve breech-loading cannons that had been set up simultaneously spewed fire, and the shells, with sharp whistles, swept across the night sky and crashed into the ranks of Yongning's troops.

Earth and rocks flew everywhere, blood and flesh were torn apart, and the soldiers at the forefront were instantly blasted into pieces, their severed limbs and weapon fragments mixed together and covering the ground.

"Charge! Charge through!"

The junior officer of Yongning roared and swung his sword at the hesitant soldiers around him, but after taking only two steps, he was riddled with arrows.

The open ground outside the city gate had already been covered by three layers of antler obstacles set up by the soldiers from Huguang, with sharp wooden spikes pointing upwards, like a group of lurking wild beasts.

Behind the antlers, dozens of shield wagons formed a defensive line, with a dense array of musket barrels extending from behind them. The continuous "bang bang bang" of gunfire filled the air as lead bullets pierced the air, knocking down Yongning soldiers one by one who tried to climb over the antlers.

The situation was exactly the same at the East Gate, West Gate, and South Gate.

Outside every city gate lay a carefully laid trap by the soldiers of Huguang.

Cannons blasted through the ranks, arrows and muskets reaped lives, and stag antlers and shields blocked the retreat.

She Yan personally led the main force of the North Gate, and with all their might, they broke through the first layer of deer antlers, but were blocked in front of the shield wagon defense line. The soldiers stepped on the corpses of their comrades to rush up, but they could not even cut through the wooden planks of the shield wagons. Instead, they became live targets for the muskets.

"Retreat! Retreat back to the city immediately!"

As She Yan watched the soldiers around him fall one by one, the bloodshot in his eyes grew thicker and thicker, and he finally couldn't help but roar.

The surviving Yongning soldiers felt as if they had been granted a pardon and turned to flee into the city gates. Some were pushed to the ground by their comrades, while others were cut down by the Ming soldiers pursuing them. Less than 30% were able to retreat back into the city.

Just as the city gates were about to close, a deafening battle cry suddenly erupted from afar.

Xiong Tingbi had long anticipated that She Yanhui's breakout attempt would fail, so he left a surprise force to ambush him when he retreated back into the city!

The Ming cavalry surged in like a tide, their hooves crushing the corpses at the city gate. With flashes of swords, the Yongning soldiers guarding the gate fell from their horses, and the city gate could no longer be closed.

"Kill! Take Chongqing!"

The shouts of the Ming army reverberated through the night sky as soldiers poured into the city through the city gates, engaging in street fighting with the Yongning troops inside.

Just then, a plume of smoke rose from the direction of the city's armory.

Huang Shoukui and Xu Keqiu led more than a thousand Ming soldiers who had been holding out for more than a month and finally broke out of the armory!
Although these Ming soldiers were dressed in rags and their armor was tattered, they all had sharp eyes and wielded their weapons with great force.

They were familiar with the city's terrain and specifically targeted the Yongning soldiers' weak points, shouting as they fought:

"She Chongming has been defeated and fled! She Yan is like a cornered beast fighting desperately! Surrender and you will be spared!"

The Yongning soldiers, whose morale had already collapsed due to the failed breakout attempt, became even more demoralized upon hearing these words.

Most of these Yongning soldiers threw down their weapons and knelt down to beg for mercy.

Some took advantage of the chaos to sneak into houses, hoping to blend in with the people and hide.

The people in the city were also alarmed. They picked up kitchen knives and wooden sticks and joined the Ming army in killing the bandits. Chongqing Prefecture City was instantly thrown into chaos.

She Yan was caught up in the chaos of the soldiers, watching those around her either surrender or be killed, and a desperate madness welled up in her heart.

He brandished his scimitar and cut down two Ming soldiers who tried to capture him, but as he turned around, he bumped into Ma Jiong, the general of Huguang, who was leading his personal guards in.

"Sheni! Prepare to die!"

Ma Jiong, clad in heavy armor and wielding a long spear, thrust it towards She Yan's chest.

She Yan hurriedly raised his knife to block, but with a "clang," the curved knife was knocked out of his hand, his hand was split open, and blood flowed freely.

"You damned emperor! You wicked heavens! You've treated me unfairly!"

She Yan roared and lunged at Ma Jiong with his bare hands, his eyes filled with resentment and bitterness.

Before he could even get close, Ma Jiong's servants rushed up and stabbed him in the body with several long knives. Blood gushed from the wounds, staining his "Da Liang" official robe red.

She Yan swayed and fell heavily to the ground, her eyes still wide open, gazing at the night sky over Chongqing, as if still fantasizing that her father, She Chongming, would lead troops to her aid, and that his "Great Liang" empire would survive.

As dawn approached, the resistance in the city finally subsided.

The soldiers from Huguang joined forces with the Ming army that rushed out of the armory.

Ma Jiong stood in front of the government office, holding She Yan's head high, and shouted:
"The rebellious and treacherous have been executed! Chongqing Prefecture City has returned to the Ming Dynasty!"

Cheers echoed through Chongqing, dispelling the gloom that had lingered for days.

Three days later.

Only then did the fighting around Chongqing finally come to a complete end.

"General, in the past three days, we have gathered more than 23,000 prisoners. After screening, 70% of them were civilians who were forced into the coercion. There are about 6,000 soldiers from Yongning and private soldiers of the chieftains. Another 20,000 bandits have fled into the mountains and forests of southern Sichuan, and seem to be gathering in the direction of Yongning."

The guards held the roster in their hands, speaking in hushed tones, afraid of interrupting Xiong Tingbi's thoughts.

Xiong Tingbi looked at the mountain roads of southern Sichuan on the map, his tone slow and deliberate:
"All the people were released, and they were given grain, seeds, and travel expenses to return to their hometowns for spring plowing. They were also allowed to spread the news, while those who followed the rebels faced certain death."

Those soldiers in Yongning who committed minor offenses were incorporated into auxiliary troops to assist in repairing the city's defenses, while those who committed serious offenses were imprisoned and awaited judgment by the court.

As for the fleeing remnants... send scouts to keep a close watch, but do not pursue them for the time being.

The most important thing right now is to stabilize Chongqing and implement the government's policies.

As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Keqiu, the governor of Sichuan, pushed open the door and entered, holding a stack of books in his hands. His face showed some fatigue, but could not hide his excitement:

"My lord, the people in Chongqing have been initially appeased. Some businesses have reopened since yesterday, and some farmers have returned to cultivating the fields outside the city. This is the initial plan for the conversion of native chieftains to imperial officials. Take a look."

The book was filled with densely written terms and conditions:

The territory under the jurisdiction of the southwestern chieftains was surveyed, and the population and land were registered; the hereditary chieftain system was abolished, and appointed officials were appointed to govern the region.

The weapons and taxes privately hoarded by the chieftains were investigated and brought under the jurisdiction of the prefectural government.

Establish Confucian academies to promote the Chinese language and the imperial examination system...

Xiong Tingbi turned the pages one by one, his fingertip pausing on the entry for "Establishing Officials by Appointment":

"How should we deal with the former subordinates of the chieftain? If they are not handled properly, it may cause further chaos."

"A plan to appease them has been devised."

Xu Keqiu leaned down and pointed to another clause.

“Those chieftains who are willing to surrender may be granted honorary official positions and retain some of their land.”

If their subordinate leaders had military merits, they could be incorporated into the auxiliary camps of the Ming army.

Those who resisted were stripped of their property and relocated to the interior of China.

Such a combination of kindness and severity should be enough to quell the conflict.

Xu Keqiu has lost a lot of weight, and the month or so he's spent in the armory hasn't been easy.

But we made it through.

He made great contributions in suppressing the rebellious She Ni!
Perhaps he could be transferred to the central government and become a high-ranking official.

Xiong Tingbi nodded and looked out the window.

In the streets and alleys, Ming soldiers are helping people repair their dilapidated houses, and children are carrying pottery jars, following behind the soldiers to pick up scattered grains. The land ravaged by war is slowly recovering.

"The conversion of native chieftains to imperial officials, a project that our Han Chinese dynasties failed to accomplish for over a thousand years, can finally be steadily advanced today."

He sighed softly.

"Once the land register is completed, taxes are deposited into the national treasury, and the population is registered in the household register, this land will truly be incorporated into the territory of the Ming Dynasty, and the likes of She Chongming will no longer have a basis for causing trouble."

Who would have thought that the She'an Rebellion, which swept through several provinces in Sichuan, Guizhou, and Yunnan, lasted for several years, and cost the imperial court tens of millions of taels of silver, was quelled in just a few months thanks to Zhu Youxiao's prior planning. The damage suffered by the southwest was far less than recorded in historical records.

Although the artillery fire at Fotuguan was fierce, it opened the way for the new policies in the southwest.

Although the blood shed in Chongqing was hot, it nurtured the seeds of long-term stability and security.

the other side.

Thousands of miles away in Beijing, a different, vibrant scene unfolds.

March of the third year of the Tianqi reign.

The crabapple blossoms outside the East Warm Pavilion are in full bloom.

Zhu Youxiao, dressed in casual clothes, glanced at the three people below the steps.

Grand Secretary Fang Congzhe, Assistant Grand Secretary Ye Xianggao, and Minister of Rites Sun Shenxing.

"How is the spring plowing situation in Beizhili?"

Zhu Youxiao spoke, his voice gentle.

Fang Congzhe stepped forward, bowed, and replied:

"Your Majesty, the spring planting in all prefectures and counties of Beizhili has been 90% completed. This year, the rainfall has been abundant, and the grain seeds are all new varieties improved by the Academy of Sciences. The Ministry of Revenue estimates that the yield per mu will increase by 20% in the autumn harvest."

However… in the southwest, She Chongming is plotting a rebellion, and in the south, Wang Haoxian is causing unrest among the people. There are many vacancies in local official positions, making it difficult to support the implementation of the new policies.”

Zhu Youxiao nodded.

"I summoned you here precisely for this matter."

Last year, the eldest son of the emperor was born, and I issued an edict to hold the special imperial examination in the year of Guihai. Now, the southwest needs to be pacified and the south needs to be pacified. It is the time for the newly appointed scholars to use their talents.

This special imperial examination will not adhere to old rules; anyone proficient in agriculture, water conservancy, or law will be exceptionally admitted and given priority for assignment to the southwest and south of the Yangtze River after entering officialdom.

Upon hearing this, Ye Xianggao's eyes flickered.

"Your Majesty's move is excellent! The newly appointed scholars are mostly ambitious and familiar with the new policies. Sending them to the provinces will be just the right way to eliminate long-standing problems."

However… the time for the capital inspection has arrived, and the rectification of officialdom and the selection of officials through the special imperial examination must be carried out simultaneously. I humbly request Your Majesty's instructions.”

When the "Beijing Inspection" was mentioned, Zhu Youxiao's expression darkened.

The Jingcha was a supervisory system in the Ming Dynasty.

The Imperial Examination was an assessment of officials in the capital, conducted every six years. After the examination, officials of the fourth rank and above were evaluated, and the emperor would decide whether to promote or demote them. For officials of the fifth rank and below, the retirement, demotion, or dismissal would be handled differently.

There's a lot to explore here.

But Zhu Youxiao pondered for a moment and slowly said:

"The matter of the capital inspection was jointly presided over by the Ministry of Personnel and the Censorate, with a focus on investigating corrupt and negligent officials."

Those who exploit the people in local areas and condone powerful local figures, and those who form cliques and obstruct the new policies in the imperial court, will all be dismissed without exception.

Sun Shenxing bowed and echoed:
"Your Majesty is wise! Only with clean and efficient administration can government orders be effectively implemented. If this capital inspection can eliminate long-standing malpractices, and with the addition of new officials through the special imperial examination, the administration of the Ming Dynasty will surely be renewed."

However… the Ministry of Rites needs to prepare for the special imperial examination in advance, and therefore requests Your Majesty to set a date for your imperial visit to the Imperial Academy to inspire the scholars.”

Zhu Youxiao raised his hand, gesturing for the three to stand up:

"The matter of the imperial carriage being inspected will be decided a month before the special imperial examination."

"As for the capital inspection, gentlemen, please tell me properly, how exactly should the investigation be conducted?"

(End of this chapter)