In the hall, all the singers and dancers had already left.
The poetry reading continued.
Zhang Chaozong, the martial arts examiner, dressed in armor, with a face as sharp as if carved by a knife and axe and a beard, took two steps forward from the platform, his eyes piercing as he stared at the crowd.
Everyone immediately fell silent and stopped talking.
After all, most people in this hall had heard of General Zhang's illustrious reputation...
Legend has it that he once single-handedly charged out of the Xiongnu camp with only a sword, killing more than fifty Xiongnu soldiers and even a Xiongnu deputy general. He survived by sheer luck, but was also wounded in thirty-six places...
Zhang Chaozong was not just a martial arts examiner, but also a true hero who was rarely seen in the world!
After Zhang Chaozong stood still, his figure as muscular as a tiger, he raised his head and said, "This general dislikes those sentimental and affected works the most. This last question, I must add some difficulty."
"The last question?" someone whispered in the audience.
"Seven examiners, shouldn't there be seven questions? Why are you ending after only three questions?"
"Who told you that seven examiners must ask seven questions? In previous years, there have been five questions, four questions, and sometimes seven examiners, sometimes five. There is no fixed number."
"Oh, I see. Thank you for clearing up my confusion!"
Zhang Chaozong's loud and powerful voice continued to ring out:
"Our Great Gan has fought against the Xiongnu many times, and although we have won more battles than we have lost, countless men of our Great Gan have died or been wounded. Today, if any of you present can write a poem to boost the morale of our Great Gan's border soldiers, I, Zhang Chaozong, will recommend such a person to His Majesty!"
When he said "Your Majesty," Zhang Chaozong clasped his hands in a fist salute to the north.
After he finished speaking, the hall was filled with the sounds of discussion from the crowd.
"Frontier poetry? Oh no, it has to be lyrics?"
"This is way too difficult!"
"Frontier poems? I don't know how to write those. I've never been to the frontier, how could I possibly write frontier poems?"
Just when everyone was at a loss, Qin Chuan moved his body, and Su Ruyan asked him, "Husband, can you write frontier poems?"
Qin Chuan whispered, "Who said we have to write frontier poems? The requirement is clearly to boost the morale of the soldiers on the frontier..."
"Oh..." Su Ruyan opened her mouth and slowly nodded her head.
At this moment, Qin Chuan stood up and said, "Excuse me, everyone, I also know how to do this problem!"
Everyone looked on in surprise, "You can even write frontier poems? Brother Qin is truly amazing!"
Zhang Chaozong also looked at Qin Chuan with curiosity and said loudly, "Your poems 'Ascending the Heights' and 'Yesterday's Rain and Wind' are indeed good, but it is extremely difficult to write a poem that satisfies this general."
"Please!" Zhang Chaozong gestured for Qin Chuan to begin composing the lyrics.
Qin Chuan composed himself and began to recite:
"My hair stands on end in anger, I lean against the railing as the rain subsides."
"Raise your eyes, look up to the sky and roar, your heart is filled with heroic passion."
"Thirty years of fame and glory are but dust and dirt, eight thousand miles of road are but clouds and moon."
"Don't let your youth slip away in vain, only to regret it later!"
When he recited this part, the examiners on the stage nodded and whispered their approval.
"Don't let time slip by idly, lest you grow old and gray! This is a warning to the younger generation not to waste their time!"
When Qin Chuan finished reciting the first part of the poem, some people thought he had already finished writing it.
"That's it? This doesn't seem like Young Master Qin's level!"
"Is this poem meant to urge us to cherish time? That doesn't meet General Zhang's requirements at all! It hasn't boosted the morale of the soldiers on the frontier!"
Hearing these words, Zhang Chaozong looked at Qin Chuan with a complicated expression and asked coldly, "Is this poem finished?"
Qin Chuan smiled and said, "Of course not, this is only the first part, there is a second part."
"Then please tell me the second part!" Zhang Chaozong said.
Qin Chuan took a breath, then exhaled, adjusting himself to his peak condition, and continued reciting:
The shame of Jingkang has yet to be avenged!
"When will the hatred of the subjects be extinguished!"
"Drive a long chariot and break through the Helan Mountain pass!"
"With lofty ambitions, we'll feast on the flesh of the barbarians when we're hungry, and laughingly drink their blood when we're thirsty!"
At this point, Qin Chuan deliberately paused to observe everyone's reactions.
Sure enough, Zhang Chaozong stood there dumbfounded, as if struck by lightning, his figure frozen like a stone statue. His eyes were bloodshot, and his fists were clenched tightly, as if he were already on the battlefield...
"kill!"
Zhang Chaozong suddenly clenched his fist and roared fiercely, startling many people.
The other six examiners, though older, suddenly had tears in their eyes, clenched their fists, and looked like they were gritting their teeth.
In the hall, someone said with tears in their eyes:
"The Xiongnu have repeatedly invaded our borders for over a hundred years, killing our people and seizing our land. They are truly hateful and deserving of death!"
"Kill the Xiongnu! Kill the Xiongnu!"
"Damn it, I'm going to the frontier to fight the Xiongnu!"
"I want to go kill the Xiongnu too!" the little princess roared in agreement!
After a long while, the crowd gradually calmed down.
Qin Chuan finally found an opportunity to read the last sentence:
"Let's start anew, reclaim our lost lands, and return to the imperial palace!"
After he finished reading the last sentence, Zhang Chaozong, his eyes red with tears, knelt down on one knee: "Young master, you are truly talented! I, Zhang Chaozong, am completely convinced! I will definitely recommend you to His Majesty!"
Just then, a soldier in armor rushed into the main hall of Mingyue Tower:
"General Zhang, something terrible has happened!"
What's the matter?
Zhang Chaozong stood up and asked.
"General Zhang! Scouts have discovered that the Xiongnu have amassed their forces and are heading south. Ji Province is in danger! His Majesty has ordered you to march north immediately to stop the Xiongnu!" the soldier said breathlessly.
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