Chapter 286 Jiang Zhiqin Wants to Participate in the Martial Arts Examination

Most ordinary people just treat it as news, because it has nothing to do with them. People's thinking has been restricted. The generals of the imperial court are generally people with connections. There are so many generals in the army, why bother to elect them from the common people?

It's probably just another showy contest.

Whoever wins the title of Martial Arts Champion will become a great general.

Whoever has the harder fist is the stronger one.

Upon seeing the last comment, someone said, "The imperial court wants to select military talents, but becoming the top military scholar is not easy. One must cultivate both virtue and talent; a person without talent or virtue cannot become the top military scholar."

Someone asked, "What are the boundaries of this moral standard? What kind of people are eligible to apply?"

"Isn't there also an academic test? You need to be good at both martial arts and academics to be eligible to take the test, right?"

"If you have good academic knowledge, you can become an official by directly taking the imperial examination. Why bother with all that effort?"

"Who can explain what this proclamation from the government means? Is it recruiting soldiers or generals? And how many are they recruiting?"

Jiang Zhiqin and Jiang Can also squeezed to the front. After reading the notice, Jiang Zhiqin was all smiles. He was over fifteen years old and had just turned fifteen. He wanted to register to participate in the martial arts examination.

Then I heard people around me talking and debating the definition of the word "virtue".

He cleared his throat and, mimicking his father, said in a measured tone, "A gentleman uses this to regulate his conduct and discuss his character. Here, 'character' refers to the quality of a person."

Mencius said: Zai Wo and Zigong were good at persuasion; Ran Niu, Min Zi, and Yan Yuan were good at speaking of virtue and conduct. Here, "virtue and conduct" refers to the excellent qualities of a gentleman.

However, the Book of Rites mentions that "therefore, the former kings valued virtue, respected the virtuous, and appointed the capable." Here, "virtue" refers to virtuous people...

After he finished speaking, everyone was even more confused. "What he said was as good as saying nothing at all."

Jiang Zhiqin said, "So everyone should stop considering it. The requirements are too strict and it's not easy to pass the exam. Even the top martial arts champion needs to be knowledgeable."

His thinking was that fewer people would sign up, meaning fewer competitors.

At this moment, Lin Yu and Tan Wanqing were also squeezed in the crowd, and they heard Jiang Zhiqin talking eloquently, and speaking in such a profound and difficult-to-understand way.

Tan Wanqing didn't have much formal education; at best, she could only recognize and write characters. As for classical Chinese, she preferred martial arts and couldn't handle anything that required thinking.

Lin Yu had been studying and writing since childhood. Although she wasn't a talented woman, she was influenced by Jiang Fenghua and had some knowledge, which is why her business was able to grow so large.

Lin Yu knew exactly what Jiang Zhiqin was thinking, so she directly contradicted him and took the initiative to explain, "Everyone, don't listen to this kid's nonsense. The proclamation issued by the government is not that difficult or harsh. Those who want to take the exam should think carefully. If you don't have good character, even if you pass the exam and become the top martial arts scholar, you can't become the top martial arts scholar. The court's selection of people with good character to serve as officials is a responsible attitude towards our people."

As for how many to recruit, there's no limit from above; the more the merrier. We're not some heinous criminals; anyone with ability can apply.

Just then, Guo Xiao appeared again, but he spoke to Lin Yu, saying, "Miss Lin is right, so I'm going to take the martial arts exam."

Lin Yu saw him again and felt annoyed. "With your abilities?"

"Didn't Miss Lin say that good character is all that matters? I consider myself to have very good character." Guo Xiao held a fan and gently waved it.

Lin Yu said directly, "You're just a spoiled young master. Have you even considered your own abilities? You want to take the martial arts exam? I'm afraid you won't even pass the first hurdle!"

“Miss Lin, don’t underestimate me. Although I didn’t become the top scholar in the civil service exam, I’m confident I can become the top scholar in the military.” Guo Xiao gestured and leaned closer to Lin Yu. “I’ve always been determined to serve my country since I was a child. My father has already found me a position in the military. I believe I will definitely achieve something in the future.”

Lin Yu just wanted to roll her eyes, but she felt it would damage her image, so she didn't want to waste a single word on him and turned to leave.

Without a father, he is nothing.

Guo Xiao saw that she treated him as if he were invisible, as if she didn't see him at all.

Lin Yu used to glance at him more than once, but now she doesn't even want to look at him twice.

He ran up to Lin Yu and asked, "If I pass the exam, what will Miss Lin say?"

Because there were too many people, Lin Yu couldn't run away even if she wanted to. Guo Xiao, shameless and persistent, kept pestering her until she gave him an answer.

The people around them chimed in, "This young man is dashing and handsome, and this young lady is beautiful and graceful. If the young man passes the exam, the young lady should marry him!"

"Marry him! Marry him!"

Even Tan Wanqing felt embarrassed. These days, Guo Xiao had been provoking Lin Yu quite a bit and had been coming to her every day to woo her. Today, he was here again in a similar situation.

These words were exactly what Guo Xiao wanted to hear. He laughed in a flirtatious and lewd manner, "This is exactly what I want. I want to marry Miss Lin Yu properly."

As soon as she finished speaking, Lin Yu swung her fist and punched Guo Xiao in the nose, causing Guo Xiao's nose to bleed profusely. He was in so much pain that he couldn't even cry out for his parents and fell straight to the ground.

Instantly, the surroundings fell silent. Everyone thought that although the girl was beautiful, her fists were too hard, and they all shut up.

Who would dare to mess with a girl like that?

Even after Lin Yu and Tan Wanqing left, Guo Xiao was still lying on the ground laughing. He covered his nose and shouted, "I, Guo Xiao, swear that I will marry no one but Miss Lin Yu in this lifetime."

People around said, "This young master has gone mad, he really has gone mad! Let's stop the nosebleed first!"

Jiang Zhiqin and Jiang Can emerged again and stomped on Guo Xiao several times, saying, "You toad trying to eat a swan, I'll stomp you to death."

Guo Xiao was kicked several times, and his servant hurriedly asked, "Young master, are you alright?"

"Quickly help me up! Who stepped on me just now? Go after them and beat them up!"

The servant also recognized Jiang Zhiqin. "He's the Fourth Young Master Jiang." Last time, the young master had bothered Miss Lin and was beaten up by Jiang Zhiqin.

The servant also complained: Ever since their young master fell in love with Miss Lin Yu, he no longer drinks at brothels or wanders around outside. He gets beaten up every day, but he still finds it quite enjoyable.

Is the young master really sick?

-

Jiang Zhiqin chased after Lin Yu, "Sister Lin Yu, what brings you here too?"

Lin Yu said, "The Crown Prince is the chief examiner for this recruitment. This proclamation should have been issued by the Crown Prince. If you want to take the martial arts exam, just have your sister pull some strings for you."

"Sister Lin Yu, you underestimate me. With my abilities, do I need to pull strings? I want to get in based on my own abilities."

Lin Yu went straight for Jiang Zhiqin, but Jiang Zhiqin was no pushover either, and dodged her attacks in no time.

Jiang Zhiqin smiled and said, "See? You can't hit me!"

Lin Yu gave Tan Wanqing a wink, and the two of them attacked him together. Jiang Zhiqin was like an eel, his hands and feet moving even faster, and they couldn't catch him at all.

"The fourth young master of the Jiang family has grown up!" Lin Yu teased.

"You're fifteen now, aren't you all grown up?" Jiang Zhiqin said cheerfully. "How's my newly learned boxing style? Do I qualify to take the martial arts exam?"

"You really want to participate?" Lin Yu asked him. "This is no joke. The Crown Prince is holding the martial arts examination to recruit talented people for his own use, right? You little brat want to be a great general?"

Jiang Zhiqin smiled. "Sister Lin Yu, do you think I'm suitable?"

Tan Wanqing said, "Cover your face first, I think that's fine."

Lin Yu smiled and said, "It is indeed admirable that Young Master Jiang stood in front of the enemy and let them see his magnificent good looks, causing them to retreat without a fight."

Jiang Zhiqin was displeased, and his face immediately fell. "I really want to take the martial arts exam."

After saying that, he turned around and left. Why did everyone treat him like a child? His eldest brother did, his second sister did, his third sister did, and even his parents did. They didn't care about him at all.

Instantly, Lin Yu and Tan Wanqing stopped smiling. "Are you angry?"

"You're the one who made me angry," Tan Wanqing said, shifting the blame directly. "You were the one who laughed the loudest and was the most smug."

"Did you go easy on him just now?" Tan Wanqing asked.

Lin Yu nodded. "A little, but he is indeed quite agile."

"Our fourth young master wants to register for the martial arts examination. We should tell the Crown Princess about this!"

"Let's not do it yet, let's observe first." They didn't know that Jiang Zhiqin, who was usually carefree, was serious this time.

Instantly, an idea popped into Lin Yu's head: "Did the notice say that it only recruits men and not women?"

Tan Wanqing shook her head, "I didn't see it, and it doesn't seem to have any restrictions."

“Let’s apply too. Ever since she entered the palace, we seem to be from two different worlds. If we apply, won’t we be closer to her?”

Tan Wanqing's Jishantang was also doing well, so she was quite bored lately. She nodded, "Why not give it a try!"

The two acted immediately, went to find Jiang Zhiqin again, and then took him directly to Jishantang for training.