After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

The last time we met was just a few nights ago.

At that time, he was drinking with Liu Datong and others from the Yushui Thousand Household Office. When he was drunk and his ears were flushed, he saw that it was so late and Governor Gu had sent someone to pick him up and take him to the Yushui County Government Office. He couldn't help but feel a little uneasy. He thought that Governor Gu was the kind of decisive and hardworking maniac who was still up so late. He wondered if he was difficult to get along with.

But to his surprise, when the other party saw him, they neither assigned him any tasks, nor asked him to sign any pledges, nor did they ask him any irrelevant questions.

Instead, they only asked him questions like what books he had read, and said that they had prepared accommodations for him at the county government office, treating him like a nephew or niece. This made him feel a little gratified... As long as the leader didn't cause any trouble, the matter was at least half successful.

The last meeting went smoothly, and this time I was even more calm and composed.

After all, everything had been handled perfectly, and he could now step down as "Gu Futai's advisor."

When he saw the thin old man again, he noticed that Governor Gu's eye sockets were sunken even deeper, his hair was more white than black, and he looked somewhat tired. Of course, the old man's heroic spirit was still as sharp as before.

These past few days, the old man has been running around, dealing with the bureaucratic pretense and delays, and forcing various counties to escort money and grain to suppress bandits. On the other hand, he also has the eunuch Wang Daban, sent by the emperor, by his side. Dealing with both sides has indeed taken a lot of effort.

The enemy's original plan was to surround Black Tiger Mountain and take it for ten days, half a month, or even several months. It would be good if they could take Black Tiger Mountain before the autumn harvest. Otherwise, once autumn came, the garrison soldiers would have to go back to farming. When they returned, winter would come and the mountains would be blocked by heavy snow, making it even more impossible to attack the mountain.

But with the easily disassembled and assembled trebuchets and gunpowder, the spiked shoes, and the reasonable troop deployment, especially... under the generous financial offensive of Chen Ruhai's landlord, the garrison soldiers fought bravely and captured Black Tiger Mountain in just one day.

If it's for the peace and tranquility of the people, the garrison soldiers will naturally be uninterested, but if it's for making money... then they will kill anyone who gets in their way.

"You're quite capable... All my preparations have been for nothing..." After staring at Ning Nan for a while, Gu Xichuan said with a wry smile, "...I've offended so many people for no reason."

He used some methods to ensure that local county governments obeyed his orders.

"Uh..." Ning Nan looked a little embarrassed and bowed slightly, saying, "You flatter me, my lord. It was mainly because of your strong support behind the scenes that I dared to take this risk. With your backing, I was able to take this gamble. And with Wang Daban, sent by the Emperor, by my side, I was blessed by Heaven and was able to break through Black Tiger Mountain in one day..."

He paused, then felt the flattery was a bit too slick, and added, "Ningnan has been fortunate enough to have read some military strategy. The book says that in military competition, one should engage with the orthodox and win with the unorthodox... Your Excellency uses the orthodox methods of military strategy, crushing bandits with a magnificent army. Ningnan uses the unorthodox methods, which can only be used once. They may be effective against bandits like mountain bandits, but if the opponent is a major bandit like the Northern Dynasty that has stolen the country, Ningnan's methods will only make people laugh..." Hmm... Scholars usually fall for this kind of thing.

"Heh." Gu Xichuan leaned back in his chair, looked the young scholar in white up and down, and smiled. "It seems you've read far more books than I imagined."

"Wrong, you can't even imagine how many books I've read..." Ning Nan smiled awkwardly, "I'm speaking presumptuously, please forgive me, Your Excellency."

Gu Xichuan laughed and said, "There's no need for forgiveness. You acted with propriety and spoke appropriately. When I was your age, although I became the top scholar, I was too straightforward and arrogant, which offended Emperor Longchang and many wise ministers. I was suppressed for many years. In recent years, I have only served as Grand Tutor and Hanlin Academician, revising books and instructing His Majesty and Prince Xin."

"Top scholar my foot... Grand tutor my foot... This old guy is indirectly insulting me for not having your backbone..." Ning Nan thought to himself, but pretended not to understand. Instead, he took a breath and said with deep emotion, "Ning Nan's words come from the bottom of his heart... This lad thanks you for your guidance, sir."

Gu Xichuan waved his hand and asked Ning Nan what his plans were. With Ning Nan's merits, he could petition His Majesty to recommend him for a position as a clerk in the Ministry of Works, or he could join the army. If he wished, he could recommend himself to the Marquis of Zhenguo or the Marquis of Jingbei. Both marquises were pillars of the state, and as long as one established a connection with them, one's future would be limitless.

Under the Marquis's command? ... Ning Nan's eyebrows twitched; he was somewhat tempted.

But upon further reflection, I decided against it. Since the inception of the imperial examination system, in the end, apart from the achievements of founding the nation and expanding its territory, the imperial examination degree is still the one that allows people to stand tall. This is something that men from the lower classes earn through years of hard study, without relying on bloodlines or kneeling. Even when facing the emperor, the degree they obtained through the examination gives them the confidence to say "no".

Even if you fail the exam, as long as you've studied, the emperor will still give you some face... Otherwise, who knows if you'll become another Huang Chao or Zhang Yuan who failed the exam?

Having figured this out, Ning Nan truthfully told the reporter that he planned to take the imperial examinations.

Gu Xichuan looked somewhat surprised, but quickly said "Oh," and nodded with satisfaction, "This is indeed the right path." He then smiled and said that anyone who had any questions about the imperial examinations could come to him for help.

"A top scholar of the Great Liang Dynasty, a tutor to the emperor, willing to teach me?" Ning Nan was immediately excited, his eyes reddened, and he repeatedly expressed his gratitude, saying thank you, sir, and stopped thinking badly about the other party in his heart.

Gu Xichuan picked up his teacup and took a sip with a smile.

He then glanced at a screen not far behind Ning Nan. On the screen was an embroidered phoenix painting, and on the white silk screen, a shadow could be faintly seen.

Gu Xichuan put down his teacup and asked with a smile, "How old are you this year?"

Ningnan said eighteen.

Gu Xichuan nodded and said, "Men should marry when they come of age, and women should marry when they come of age. You are indeed at the age where you should get married."

Ning Nan didn't know how the other party had brought up this topic, but she smiled and agreed.

At this moment, Gu Xichuan pondered for a moment and said that he happened to have a grandniece who was of marriageable age. Her grandfather was the Minister of Personnel. This grandniece was born graceful and elegant, knowledgeable and reasonable, and gentle and virtuous.

"Since you are interested in taking the imperial examination, I owe you a great favor," Gu Xichuan said with a smile in his eyes. "If you agree, I will do my best to make this happen."

"Minister of Personnel?" Ning Nan raised an eyebrow, looking somewhat surprised.

"good."

Gu Xichuan looked at Ning Nan with great interest. "My old friend comes from a farming family, so you don't need to worry about your background. 'From a peasant in the morning to a high-ranking official in the evening,' the Minister of Personnel himself rose through the ranks. He certainly won't look down on your background. On the contrary, I think he will be very satisfied with an outstanding grandson-in-law like you."

Without much hesitation, Ning Nan immediately bowed awkwardly and said, "I dare not hide it from you, my lord. I am already engaged and the wedding is imminent, just a few days from now. This is rather... disappointing you for your kind intentions." He said with some regret.

Gu Xichuan sensed the regret in the other's tone and smiled. "In my Great Liang..." He hesitated for a moment, then said, "—This isn't a rigidly traditional place. If a woman is jilted, as long as the man's family provides sufficient compensation and proper etiquette, and someone intercedes on her behalf, well... I can speak on her behalf. This way, the woman's reputation won't be affected... I just don't know..." Gu Xichuan's gaze was sincere and earnest, "Whose family is your in-laws?"

"Well……"

Ning Nan looked somewhat embarrassed. How could he put it... If he were to say that his wife was a "maid," then no matter whose maid she was, even if she were a princess or the Empress Dowager's maid... Cui Cui would be outshone by this Minister's granddaughter... He took a small breath, his eyebrows furrowing slightly. He wondered if this old scholar had gotten himself into a mess and suddenly started playing matchmaker.