Chapter 171 [VIP]

Liu Changyi asked in surprise, "How did you know?"

Chen Qingyan naturally couldn't tell the truth, and only said, "My cousin is engaged to Marquis Wuping, and I heard a little bit about it from him."

"No wonder, how is the war in the Northwest going, Uncle?"

Liu Yaozhi said, "Just as Qingyan said, His Majesty has already sent the Jizhou army to provide support."

Upon hearing this, both men held their breath and became worried. They knew from reading history books that war had a huge impact on a country, and that defeat could lead to the extinction of the race and the destruction of the nation.

"The border war is not something you need to worry about right now. You should focus on doing well in the provincial examination first."

"Yes." The two bowed with their hands clasped.

After the two left, Liu Yaozhi took out the secret letter and examined it carefully. The letter had just been sent from the border.

The letter stated that the Northwest Army had fought more than ten battles against foreign tribes, suffering heavy casualties and losing more than it had won.

After reading the letter, his brows furrowed, and his face showed more worry. The war at the border was far more serious than he had imagined.

Since its founding, the Wu Dynasty had been in conflict with the Qiang people. The reason was that the Xizhou area had been occupied by the Qiang people during the previous dynasty, and was only recovered by the Wu Dynasty. The Qiang people then frequently harassed the border under the pretext of reclaiming the city.

Over the years, there have been hundreds, if not hundreds, of battles, but none of them have had any significant impact on the imperial court, at most affecting the people near the border.

Last year, the emperor planned to reopen the ancient tea and salt road and sent troops to sweep away the remnants of the Qiang people and the bandits along the Longxi route. This move angered the Qiang people and many bandits and robbers. In October, these people gathered together and colluded to start this war.

If it were just them, they wouldn't be able to cause much trouble. However, in November, the Turks actually allied with them and sent troops to invade.

The Turkic peoples consisted of eleven tribes, which were gradually unified by a Khan named Jieli over the years, and their power grew significantly.

With a combination of factors, a major battle is imminent.

In just two months, the enemy had captured three cities in the Northwest. Urgent military reports were sent to the capital, and all the civil and military officials were terrified, fearing that the barbarians would enter the pass after the defeat.

This morning, some court officials proposed ceding a city to seek peace, and many others echoed their sentiments. The Emperor was furious, threw the memorial to the ground, and shouted at them: "You cowardly rats who are afraid of death!"

However, the northern barbarians are at the height of their power, with well-equipped and powerful troops, so this war will likely be very difficult.

Liu Yaozhi pondered for a long time, then picked up his pen and began writing letters. These letters were about to be sent to various parts of the south, urging that provisions be prepared in advance to support the northwest before April...

*

"Brother, brother, tell me about the war in the Northwest," Liu Changyi asked Chen Qingyan as soon as they left the house.

"I don't know much either. I only heard your sister-in-law mention it a couple of days before I left. She said that Marquis Wuping was going to lead troops to support the Northwest Army."

Liu Changyi stroked his chin and said, "Jizhou is thousands of miles away from Xizhou. The fact that the court has transferred troops from Jizhou suggests that the border war is already very urgent."

Chen Qingyan said, "That's not necessarily true. Although Youzhou is close, we have to be wary of the Rouran and can't just move our troops around. The troops in Laizhou are mostly naval forces and not good at land warfare. The troops in Longyou also have to keep an eye on the Tubo. So, only the Jizhou army can be mobilized."

"No wonder!"

Liu Changyi wanted to talk to him about the war, but Chen Qingyan was in a hurry to go to the experimental field. "The exam will be in a month. Go and study the policy questions carefully so that you don't end up as a junior scholar."

"Alas, with my abilities, passing the imperial examination was already a great achievement. Even if I work hard for a month, I might not be able to get into the second rank."

"We still have to give it a try. Even last-minute preparation can be effective."

Liu Changyi smiled and said, "Alright, then I will continue to study the policy questions. If I encounter any problems, I will trouble you again."

Chen Qingyan nodded, and seeing him return to the house, he immediately went back inside, bolted the door, and went into the experimental field.

There were no new notes in the experimental field, and the note he had left was still untouched on the table. Chen Qingyan paced back and forth anxiously, wondering how things were going back home.

After waiting for a quarter of an hour, Chen Qingyan heard a knock on the door and hurriedly came out. It turned out that a servant from the Liu family was calling him to go out for dinner.

When they didn't see Lord Liu at dinner, he must have been busy with official duties and gone out again. After dinner, the two returned to their respective rooms.

Chen Qingyan read for a while, but couldn't concentrate; his mind kept wandering. It wasn't until late afternoon when they entered the experimental field again that the two finally met.

"Ah Ying!" Upon seeing him, Chen Qingyan strode forward, grabbed his hand, and looked him up and down.

Wang Ying asked excitedly, "You've arrived in Kyoto?"

"Yes, I arrived yesterday. I didn't have a chance to go into the experimental field on the way and didn't see your message. I was terrified when I saw it yesterday. How is Qing'er?"

"Lin Sui and I took her out of the Li family, but..."

"What's wrong?"

"The child was infected with smallpox. Lin Sui and I went up the mountain to ask Master Qingxu to help treat him. He is now out of danger."

Chen Qingyan's heart skipped a beat. "How could he have contracted smallpox?"

Wang Ying shook her head. "We suspect that it was mostly the Li family's doing. After they took Qing'er away, there was no one to take care of her. They locked the child in a room where they stored miscellaneous items and even put a tattered piece of clothing on her."

"What a vicious heart!"

"Alas, it's fortunate that the child is alright. If Qing'er had really died, I'm afraid that when Marquis Wuping returned, he would have destroyed the Li family."

Chen Qingyan said angrily, "They deserve it. They can treat their own granddaughter like this!"

Wang Ying said, "Let's not talk about them. How was your journey? How is Lord Liu? Are you comfortable staying with them?"

"The journey was very smooth. Lord Liu was much as rumored. He was a serious man, and I was quite nervous talking to him. The accommodations were fine. The Liu family's house was very spacious, and they arranged for us to stay in a guest room in the outer courtyard. Changyi was right next to me."

"That's good. Don't worry about things at home. I'm here. Just focus on doing well on your exams."

Chen Qingyan nodded, "By the way, if you have time, bring Yuanbao in for a visit. His birthday is coming up soon, and we won't be able to celebrate it with him this year."

“This kid cried several times after you left, and it took him a few days to recover.”

Chen Qingyan sighed, "When I saw the note you left yesterday, my heart ached terribly. If it weren't for the need to pass the imperial examinations, who would want to be separated from you all?"

Seeing his eyes redden, Wang Ying smiled and patted his shoulder, "It's nothing, I'm not that sentimental."

Chen Qingyan said with some grievance, "My brother doesn't miss me."

Wang Ying was so embarrassed by his sweet talk that she wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her head in his shoulder. "I was thinking about it. I didn't sleep well the first day you left."

The two hugged for a while, and then the system notified them that their public time was almost used up and they would have to spend experience points to use it again.

"Alright, go back and get some rest. I'll bring him in on Yuanbao's birthday."

"good."

The two parted reluctantly and went back to their respective rooms.

Chen Qingyan read for a while, then turned off the light and finally got a good night's sleep.

Three days later, Chen Qinghuai arrived from Shanzhou, and the three brothers met and talked by candlelight until late into the night.

Because Shanzhou is relatively close to Xizhou, it naturally knows a lot more about it. When Chen Qinghuai mentioned Xizhou, he said with a solemn expression: "This war is completely different from the past. The Turkic army came with great force and successively captured Tingzhou, Xizhou and Luntai."

The army is now assembled in the Beiting Protectorate, and could attack Chaoyang Pass at any moment. Before leaving, my father had already transferred all 18,000 soldiers from Shanzhou to support the front lines; I don't know if they can hold the border.”

The Wu Dynasty had enjoyed too much peace for too long. This battle served as a wake-up call: "Adversity breeds strength, comfort breeds weakness."

*

February 16th is Yuanbao's birthday. After this birthday, he will be four years old.

On his birthday, the family sat down together for a meal. Lin Sui and Lin Qiu prepared a small gift for Yuanbao; it was nothing expensive, just a hundred or so coins.

Xiao Qing'er also prepared a gift, which she chose herself. It was a wooden spinning top that could spin for a long time when whipped. The children had a great time playing with it in the yard.

Chen Rong looked at Qing'er and said, "This child has had a tough time. She has no mother and no father by her side. From now on, she will have to rely on you to take care of her."

Lin Sui was enjoying herself, saying, "Qing'er is obedient and sensible, and I'm very happy to have her by my side."

With the weather warming up recently, Lin Qiu and Chen Rong planned to return to Longquan County in a few days. Originally, they intended to stay until Lin Suicheng got married before leaving.

The Marquis has led his troops to the border and it's uncertain when he'll return. The family can't be left unattended indefinitely, so they've decided to go back first.

That evening, Wang Ying took her son to bathe, changed him into new clothes, and went directly into the experimental field.

Chen Qingyan was waiting inside. The father and son hugged each other excitedly as soon as they met. "Daddy!"

"Yuanbao'er!"

The two finally separated after a long while. "Yuanbao misses Daddy so much!"

"Your father misses you too. Have you been listening to your father at home these days?"

Yuanbao nodded and said, "I listened."

Wang Ying said, "This child plays wildly at home with Qing'er and Xiaomai every day."

Chen Qingyan ruffled his son's hair. "Have fun while you have time, or you won't have time to play when Daddy comes back."

Wang Ying asked in confusion, "Why?"

"I'm planning to start Yuanbao's formal education."

"Okay!" Yuanbao had wanted to learn to read for a long time. He often ran to Chen Qingyan's study to secretly take a pen and scribble. Without anyone teaching him, he had already learned to write his own name by being exposed to it.

This child inherited Chen Qingyan's intelligence. Even Wang Ying had to admit that Yuanbao was indeed exceptionally clever. When she was his age, she was still peeing and playing in the mud every day.

However, as clever as they may be, it remains to be seen whether they will be able to use their intelligence in the right way.

Chen Qingyan picked fruit in the experimental field with his son in his arms for a while. Before leaving, he took out the birthday gift he had prepared from his bosom, a jade pendant engraved with auspicious clouds and peace, and hung it around his neck.

"The imperial examination will begin in two days. I'm afraid I won't be able to come in and see you these days. Stay home and listen to your father. I'll come back to be with you after the exam."

"good!"

Wang Ying held his hand and said, "Don't be nervous during the provincial examination. If you don't perform well, don't be discouraged. There's still the palace examination to come."

"I understand, wait until I get back..."

On February 18th, the triennial imperial examination officially began at the Kyoto Examination Hall.

Two hundred top students from all over the country slowly stepped into the examination hall. Some of them faded into obscurity over time, while others left a significant mark on the long river of history.

A note from the author: