Zhang Shixun loosened his grip, and the sharp arrow flew out of his hand and flew towards the embrasure at lightning speed. With a dull "puff" sound, it hit the head of the embrasure.

"Good!" Thunderous cheers rang out from inside and outside the stadium.

Before the cheers died down, Zhang Shixun shot out his second arrow, which hit the target next to the first arrow. Then, the third and fourth arrows hit the target one after another...

After the last arrow was shot, Zhang Shixun stood there, looking at the hedgehog-like arrow pile, and smiled with satisfaction. Every arrow hit the target, and all of them were on the head. The result was good!

The stadium was already extremely noisy, with cheers, admiration and whistles filling the air.

The lively and bustling people in Beijing felt that their trip was worthwhile after seeing such a "superb" shooter with their own eyes.

"Brother! Haha! Did you hear what they said? They all say you're a rare sharpshooter, like Li Guang reincarnated." Gao Yanei came over with a wide grin, took his hand and said, "You're the best in the room, haha!"

Zhang Shixun disagreed: "Yanei, you think too highly of me. The Song Dynasty is full of talented people, and there are countless capable people. Don't make such big promises, such as saying you are a sharpshooter or something like that."

Speaking of talented people, he thought of the national hero Yue Fei who has been praised throughout the ages.

How old is Yue Fei now?

I guess he is about the same age as me.

Wang Dong said that Yue Fei was able to pull a bow weighing 300 jin, which was more than three dan.

I really want to see it.

Zhang Shixun stroked the bow in his hand and had to thank Wang Dong. Without his strong support, there would be no good results today.

He Ji came forward and said, "Congratulations, Brother Zhang!"

"Congratulations! Congratulations!"

Zhang Shixun returned to the stage and respectfully saluted the examiners: "Thank you, sirs, for your trouble."

Hearing his unique courtesy, the three of them laughed.

The examiner surnamed Liu said, "Mr. Zhang, you did well on the test. Even without the riding and archery and policy essay tests, you'd have already secured the Juelun exam, unless you wanted to take the Jieyuan prize."

"Thank you! I would like to try again." Zhang Shixun bowed.

"No need to thank us. If you want to win the title of Jieyuan, then do your best on the exam. I hope you can surprise us." Chief Examiner Liu waved his hand gently and said, "Go back and prepare well."

Zhang Shixun bowed again before leaving.

"This boy will surely be a pillar of society in the future!" Chief Examiner Liu sighed as he looked at Zhang Shixun's sturdy back.

The martial arts examiner beside him shook his head and said, "I don't think so. Nowadays, the Song Dynasty values ​​literature over martial arts. Even if you pass the martial arts exam and become the top scorer, if the court doesn't use you, you may not have a bright future."

Another martial arts examiner echoed: "It's too difficult to get ahead by passing the martial arts examination."

"We'll see. Life is unpredictable. If he's talented, he'll eventually rise to prominence." Chief Examiner Liu flipped through the roster in his hand. He picked up the brush on the table, gently dipped it in the inkstone, and made a mark on Zhang Shixun's name. Then he put the brush down and said to the two military officers, "Although the three of us are only examiners, it would be great to be able to select an outstanding martial arts candidate from the examination we preside over. Isn't it?"

Upon hearing this, the two generals nodded repeatedly.

Gao Qiu had greeted all three of them, and they understood each other tacitly.

Since Zhang Shixun was not under any pressure, the following horseback archery was basically a performance, winning countless cheers from both inside and outside the venue.

After the exam, Gao Yanei enthusiastically took everyone to the restaurant, and even invited Coach Lin and others. Everyone was in high spirits, and the drinking was a great pleasure for both the host and the guests.

On the third day, there were ready-made answers for the policy essay and seven military classics exams. Zhang Shixun just had to copy the questions according to their answers. As for the writing, he entrusted it to the intelligent system, using the font of Tang Yin of the Ming Dynasty.

After all the subjects were finished, Zhang Shixun specially invited He Ji and Gao Yanei to a meal to thank them for their enthusiastic help. During the meal, the three of them toasted each other and the atmosphere was very harmonious.

During the conversation, Zhang Shixun learned that He Ji was also an official, serving as the Minister of the Cabinet.

"What kind of official is this, the cabinet minister Xuanzan Sheren?" Zhang Shixun asked.

"This is a ceremonial officer, usually the sons of military officials, responsible for assisting the emperor in court meetings and banquets." He Ji seemed reluctant to discuss the matter further. "I received this position thanks to my father's kindness and favor."

Gao Yanei said, "My father first sent me to the Gemensi, but after a few days I didn't want to do it anymore. The complicated etiquette made me dizzy and I just couldn't learn it. My father scolded me severely for this, but in the end he had no choice but to send me to the Tianwu Army."

The phenomenon of second-generation officials has existed throughout history, especially in the Song Dynasty, when the sons of officials could become officials through nepotism, which was reasonable and legal.

As long as the father is an official, the son can also be an official, and his starting point is higher than that of children from ordinary families.

He Ji said, "You're having a comfortable time as a military officer. You don't have to serve in the army, and you still get your salary every month... Oh! It seems you can even let your soldiers earn money for you. It's so lucrative."

"Brother, you don't know. Although being a military officer is comfortable, people look down on you." Gao Yanei took a sip of wine and complained, "As long as you don't come from a legitimate family, you'll always be looked down upon. If you're still a military officer, you'll be even lower, unless you can sit in my father's position."

"Being a civil servant is certainly good, but we can't blame others for not having the ability to be called out outside Donghua Gate." He Ji seemed to have let it go. "I have made up my mind. I will practice martial arts while I am still young. At least I can become a military scholar like my father."

"Since you have such plans, why don't you take the exam this time?" Zhang Shixun asked.

"My father wouldn't let me take the exam, saying I'm only half-baked at archery and horsemanship, and my writing is shit. Even if I pass, I'll be at the bottom of the class, not worth the money."

"It doesn't matter whether you take the military imperial examination or not. My father had no background, but he still became a palace commander," Gao Yanei said, lowering his voice. "If you want to be a high-ranking official, the most important thing is to follow the right person. Leaning on a big tree provides shade."

"I understand what Yanei means." He Ji smiled when he heard this. "But have you ever thought about this? The emperor's family is surrounded by powerful people now, fighting openly and secretly with each other, fighting to the death. There is no place for people like us who are just juniors to stand?"

"It's true that the government doesn't allow us to interfere, but we are still young and have a lot of time to live. Why bother competing with the older generation?"

"I don't understand. Can you please explain in more detail?" He Ji was a little confused.

"Look at your brain, you seem quite smart, but why are you so stupid?" Gao Yanei rolled his eyes and said, "Can't we use other people's brains?"

He Ji was startled and asked in a low voice, "You...you mean the East Palace?"

"Hehe! I didn't say it, and you didn't ask." Gao Yanei winked at him cunningly.

This was said so bluntly that even Zhang Shixun, who was standing next to him, understood it. It turned out that Gao Yanei was planning to take advantage of the crown prince.