The boy looked straight ahead, his steps were calm and unhurried.
His friend watches from the left, while his enemy smiles from the right.
He didn't spare a glance for anyone, steadily stepped over the steps and the threshold, entered the main hall, and stood before the eight examiners.
It was at this moment that Xu Mo realized that there were acquaintances among the examiners.
To avoid suspicion, he could not exchange pleasantries, but could only bow deeply in that direction and loudly reply, "Student Xu Mo greets all the examiners."
Some nodded in satisfaction, their gazes growing even more loving.
The examiner opened his paper, first admiring the neat and beautiful regular script, then quickly looked up and said, "Please read the paper."
Xu Mo took a deep breath, looked up at the northern frontier, as if traversing an endless river, seeing countless ancestors' bones, countless wronged souls who perished, and moments of fierce fighting.
The figures leaped, spun, and wailed around him.
Turning around again, all figures disappeared, leaving only peace and tranquility, confidence and composure.
"In my humble opinion, war must be stopped!" he declared emphatically. "War has cost people so much: lives, loved ones, homes, and peace. The nation needs to recuperate, and the people need to live in peace. Stopping war is what the people want, it is the trend of the times, and it is the aspiration of all our compatriots..."
Some of the eight examiners nodded slightly, while others remained unmoved.
These viewpoints are no different from those of the students who advocated stopping the war; although the wording is excellent, they do not offer any fresh perspectives.
Xu Mo paused for a moment, his tone filled with grief and indignation, "But this war cannot be easily stopped. The hatred between Dayu and the Tartars has lasted for decades. The late emperor advocated war, and the current emperor advocates peace, but neither has been able to quell the border war. Ultimately, it is because Dayu is not strong enough."
"A strong nation strengthens itself and the world. Only when the Great Yu Dynasty is strong can it have the opportunity to crush its enemies under its feet, stop wars, and use war to end wars! And then it can thrive and multiply!"
The young man spoke with a firm and resounding tone, every word a gem, filled with the wishes of countless people, moving even the listeners.
"Good, what a brilliant idea to stop war with war and allow people to multiply and thrive!"
Some people applauded and praised it highly.
Some people gave a cold look and scoffed.
Xu Mo ignored him and looked up directly at the examiner.
The fact that eight examiners were appointed indicates that the system was designed to prevent favoritism, but in any large group, there are bound to be some bad apples, and it's not surprising that the Fang family could place their connections among the examiners.
As long as the examiners are fair and impartial, there is a need for the palace examination to continue.
As expected, the person at the very center of the long table picked up the scroll and nodded, "That makes some sense."
This is an acknowledgment of Xu Mo's talent.
He breathed a sigh of relief, lowered his eyelashes, and stopped caring who gave him a high rating and who gave him a bad one.
Reading the examination papers is only the second step; the real key is to meet the emperor.
As the chief examiner stood up and called out, "Next, An Jun."
Xu Mo bowed and stepped back, nodding to his friend as he passed by him on the steps.
The young man, who had been trembling, seemed to be infected by the virus and gradually became calm and composed.
Upon returning to the student group, Qi Huai also sent a concerned look.
Xu Mo smiled slightly, then closed his eyes and continued reviewing the questions that might be asked when he met the emperor, and the answers he needed to provide.
After an unknown amount of time, the last student finished reading his paper.
A commotion broke out among the crowd; people whispered and murmured amongst themselves, seemingly nervous about the upcoming audience with the emperor.
However, when the eight examiners reached the outside of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, they waved their hands and said, "The Court of Imperial Sacrifices, please come forward."
Dozens of young people dressed in uniform came up with food boxes and placed the meals, along with bowls, spoons, and chopsticks, at the spot where the students were answering their questions on the scrolls.
It was at this moment that everyone realized it was already noon. The food they had eaten in the morning had long been digested, leaving only a lingering hunger in their stomachs.
"It's lunchtime, and everyone is starving. Please don't stand on ceremony, just enjoy your meal." The examiner's words won him much favor.
The students bowed in gratitude and took their seats at the tables and chairs.
Sitting next to Xu Mo were Qi Huai and An Jun, who ate their meal in an orderly manner and even took the time to comment.
"Everyone says the food for the imperial examinations in the Dayu Dynasty is excellent, and seeing it today, it's true." Even the son of the Minister of Rites can remark on this, which shows that the imperial family is quite generous in this regard.
A meal consisting of four dishes, two steamed buns, five snacks, five fruits, and a large bowl of unlimited soup and rice is a great treat, no matter where you are.
"It's said that the Court of Imperial Sacrifices is specifically responsible for large-scale banquets, sacrifices, or court assemblies." An Jun swallowed hard. "It's a place that's really lucrative."
The word "oil and water" here has two meanings: one refers to making money, and the other refers to food.
Xu Mo chuckled, "If you work harder during the palace examination later, you might just become the Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices."
After they finished eating in silence, people from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices quickly came to remove the bowls and chopsticks, and even cleared out and moved the tables and chairs, leaving only four hundred students standing at the entrance of the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
The midday sun grew increasingly intense, and the students' hearts burned with anxiety.
I'm about to meet the emperor, who is the highest leader of a dynasty and the one to whom everyone is loyal.
"I wonder what the imperial family likes and dislikes, and what they can't mention?" Some quick-thinking students began to probe.
"The imperial family is gentle and fair, and the imperial examinations have always been just and impartial. Don't be afraid," someone replied indifferently.
At this critical juncture, who would leak crucial information?
If it really exists, then it must have some ulterior motive.
For example, Fang Yuan, with one hand behind his back, said calmly, "Do you know that this year's imperial examination is not attended by only one member of the imperial family?"
Most of the students fell silent.
This level of information is only accessible to scions of aristocratic families; ordinary people are completely unaware of it.
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