From a slave to the Great Qian Martial Saint

Were we fooled?

If our military strength surpasses that of the enemy, what need is there for tactics and strategies?

The so-called method of using strength to defeat weakness, which is known as the "method of winning every battle," is probably known even to a three-year-old child.

Chen Shi returned from the Star-Picking Platform with a gloomy face.

Did making a last-minute decision waste the opportunity?

wrong.

If the Star-Picking Platform is only at this level, even if he inquires about the method to break the Eight Trigrams Formation, he will probably only get a perfunctory answer like "having thoroughly studied formations".

How could the wise and sage Zhuge Liang be of such low caliber? Could it be that the "conversation with Zhuge Liang" was a complete illusion from beginning to end?

Using such a deceptive trick as a reward for the autumn exams is going too far by the Zhechong Academy.

"That's enough."

But given the circumstances, what's the use of Chen Shi thinking so much?

In fact, he had always harbored doubts about his conversation with Zhuge Liang.

Why are you taking it so seriously now?

He took a deep breath, his expression serious, and circled around the problem, but it remained unresolved.

To break the Eight Trigrams Formation, another method must be found.

The next morning, after having breakfast, Chen Shi did not go to the drill ground as usual.

They practiced martial arts in the morning and drilled military formations in the afternoon.

Because of the trouble caused by the recommended students, he was temporarily unable to practice military formations with wooden puppets.

As for martial arts, Zheng Bisheng dared not spar with him anymore, so he could not practice the Dragon Claw Hand.

As for using those troublesome educated scholars to practice the Dragon Claw Hand technique, the results are too poor!

The saying goes, "The poor study literature, the rich study martial arts." Many students who passed the imperial examinations had never even learned martial arts before entering the Zhechong Academy. Even if they started learning martial arts now, they would only practice a few low-level martial arts techniques provided by the Zhechong Academy.

For Chen Shi, improving his Dragon Claw Hand technique was a case of getting twice the result with half the effort.

Now that he had all the time in the world, Chen Shi decided to do his best and focus on deciphering the Eight Trigrams Formation!

"Sir, is this all?"

Inside the Martial Arts Pavilion, Chen Shi held several military books related to military formations in his hands and looked at the guard.

"Everyone is just starting to learn about military strategy and tactics, and it's a very new and exciting time. There have been a lot of people borrowing military books these past few days, so we only have a few left."

An elderly man in gray robes with a wrinkled face was tidying up the bookshelf while explaining a few words with a smile.

Chen Shi nodded, agreeing that this was indeed the case.

Without saying anything more, after registering, I borrowed these books.

Next, he found an empty schoolroom and began to look through it.

The Eight Trigrams Formation is the culmination of Zhuge Liang's formations. No matter how talented Chen Shi is, as a novice in formations, how could he possibly break it?

Haste makes waste. After a series of setbacks, Chen Shi decided to calm down and start learning formations from scratch. Once he had a certain level of expertise in formations, he might be able to decipher the mysteries of the Eight Trigrams Formation.

Thinking of this, Chen Shi couldn't help but smile. If he had asked about the method to break the Eight Trigrams Formation at the Star-Picking Platform, he might have received the answer "Master the formation".

But isn't it the same as what he's doing now?

It is clear that the answers to many questions are not hard to find; the difficulty lies in doing them.

Although Chen Shi was only twenty years old, he had one thing that set him apart from ordinary people: he was extremely calm and composed!

After making up his mind, he spent the next few days studying military books and learning about military formations on his own.

"Only two new books were returned today."

In addition, every morning, Chen Shi would go to the Military Classics Pavilion first, not only to return the military books he had finished reading, but also to borrow the military books that others had returned.

That should be enough for him to see.

"Um?"

Holding the two new military books, he glanced at one and noticed a math book sitting next to it.

Chen Shi couldn't help but wonder, why is there a divination scripture in the Martial Arts Pavilion?

The so-called Wujing Pavilion was the library of the Zhechongyuan (military training institute), a place for training generals, and it housed books related to military affairs.

Mathematical calculations seem to have absolutely nothing to do with military affairs.

In fact, Chen Shi had seen it before.

The book "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art," "Sea Mirror of Circle Measurement," "Jade Mirror of the Four Elements," and "Zhui Shu" are just a few examples of arithmetic classics.

"Why are there so many abacus scriptures here?"

With doubts in his mind, Chen Shi couldn't help but ask a question.

"It's been like this before."

The old man in gray thought for a moment, then smiled and said.

"These mathematical scriptures came before me; they existed since the establishment of the Zhechong Academy."

"The Zhechong Academy was established before? What's the purpose of the Zhechong Academy collecting these mathematical scriptures?"

"It wasn't actually in the collection of the Zhechongyuan."

The old man in gray had been staying alone in the Martial Arts Pavilion, probably because he was bored and wanted to chat with people.

"You should know that the predecessor of Zhechongyuan was Zhuge Guan, which was established by Zhuge Wuhou. Zhuge Wuhou was fond of arithmetic and collected many arithmetic classics. Although dynasties changed later, these arithmetic classics were preserved."

"The collection of Zhuge Liang..."

Chen Shi was slightly taken aback, not expecting it to be related to Zhuge Liang again.

That makes sense, though. The Zhechongyuan was established by Zhuge Liang, so it's only natural that the things here are related to him.

"May I borrow these mathematical scriptures to take a look?"

After a moment's hesitation, Chen Shi also took out these arithmetic classics.

"Just take it and look at it; it's just gathering dust anyway."

The old man in gray nodded and casually said with a smile.

"In all these years, besides Nangong, you are the second person to borrow the arithmetic manual."

"Nangong little girl? Which Nangong?"

"Nangong Caiyun, she's the only one with the surname Nangong among the students in recent years. Isn't she quite famous among you students?"

"Nangong Caiyun also borrowed the arithmetic manual..."

Chen Shi was surprised again, and a thought struck him.

After registering, as usual, Chen Shi took his books and found an empty classroom to study.

After studying military formations for the entire morning, he returned after lunch to continue. He had finished reading the "Tiger's Seal Classic" and was about to pick up a new military book when Chen Shi suddenly noticed the arithmetic manual beside him.

He couldn't help but pick up the book "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art".

As I flipped through a few pages, a slight smile crept onto my lips.

When he was young, he suddenly became very interested in arithmetic for a period of time, so he specifically sought out some mathematical classics to read, including this book, "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art". Even after so many years, he still remembers its contents vividly.

"Could it be that Nangong Caiyun is also interested in arithmetic?"

Looking at the arithmetic manual in his hand, Chen Shi couldn't help but ponder.

wrong.

Although he didn't have much contact with Nangong Caiyun, he could sense that Nangong Caiyun was a very goal-oriented person. Such people are usually quite ambitious and wouldn't do anything meaningless.

"Is there some hidden story...?"

After a moment's hesitation, Chen Shi put the military treatise aside and moved the mathematical classics to his side.

First, quickly skim through "Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Classic," then pick up "Sea Mirror of Circle Measurement" and begin to study it carefully.

For several days in a row, Chen Shi studied mathematical classics.

"what?"

That evening, Chen Shi took out the Eight Trigrams Formation again and tried to decipher it to verify the results of his study of military formations over the past few days.

With just a slight touch, my eyes were suddenly opened.

One of the changes subtly overlaps with the "Square Field" chapter of the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art!