More and more Ming troops climbed over the battlements and joined the battle. More and more Ming troops climbed up the city walls unhindered using ladders, expanding the space they occupied.
"Fuck it!" Zhang Zongbao cursed and let out a long sigh of relief. "Finally, I won."
Fatty Zhao stared at the castle with his eyes wide open, and the spear in his hand stopped stabbing on the ground.
After a long while, his eyes rolled around, his fat lips moved up and down, and he murmured, "That seems to be my horse, my BMW, my black horse with snow hooves."
On February 17, the second year of the Tianqi reign, the Dongjiang Army captured the Huanggu Island Fort and wiped out all 276 defending enemies.
………………..
The bright spring weather, although still cold, can still make people happy and refreshed.
On the last day of the examination, most candidates had already finished their exams and could hand in their papers and leave. Of course, if you were a slow writer, you could continue working today and hand in your paper in the evening, the last group to leave.
The crisp sound of the cloud board rang out, and the clerk shouted loudly outside the examination room: "The time for the first batch of cards has come. Candidates who have finished their papers can raise their hands to indicate that they have handed in their papers. After the signatures are issued, they will receive the tokens to leave the examination room."
Lu Xiangsheng had already checked it twice, and when he heard the shout, he raised his hand to indicate that he should hand in the paper.
An examiner came over, checked the papers, and began to seal them. Then they were put away and the invigilator stamped them with a red seal and the same red number as the red papers.
After the procedure was completed, Lu Xiangsheng received the release card, packed up his things, and followed the guiding soldiers out of the field.
The sun was shining brightly and the air was fresh. Lu Xiangsheng, who had stayed in the examination room for nine days and eight nights, now had a happy smile on his face.
Nine days and eight nights, what a shame. Compared with the ancient times, the college entrance examination candidates of later generations are so lucky.
Those who were in the same good mood as Lu Xiangsheng were naturally the first group of candidates who handed in their papers.
Even though they were taken care of with meals, they were still tormented for such a long time, as if they had gone through a fierce battle. They were exhausted and wanted to go back to have a good rest and relax.
Early orioles are competing for warm trees, and new swallows are pecking at the spring mud.
Lu Xiangsheng looked up at the swallows flying in the sky and heard the calls of unknown birds. He couldn't help but think of these two lines of poetry.
The breath of spring is getting stronger and stronger. Although everything is not sprouting and flourishing, it brings people a kind of vigorous and uplifting excitement.
Walking out of the Imperial Examination Hall, Lu Xiangsheng saw a sea of people. Just like the Gaokao in later generations, where parents waited outside, many of the candidates' families and friends were also waiting to greet them.
People gathered in groups of three or five, asking about each other's well-being, how the exam went, listening to the candidates talk about what happened in the examination hall, or discussing where to go for a big meal to celebrate.
Lu Xiangsheng also wanted to find some good friends to have a drink with, but when he looked around, he didn't see any familiar faces.
Forget it, I'll go back to the inn, take a shower, change clothes, and go have a drink by myself. That's not bad.
Although Lu Xiangsheng felt a little disappointed, he didn't pay much attention to it. He walked through the crowd and found that the noisy voices had died down, and the view before him was suddenly clear.
Oh, why did you hand it in so early? I don’t have any lunch.
Lu Xiangsheng patted his stomach and thought, wouldn't it be better to have another meal in the examination hall and hand in the papers in the second batch in the afternoon? Never mind. He quickened his pace and walked towards the inn. It would be the same to eat there.
"Brother Lu——" As I was walking, I heard a greeting from the side of the road.
Lu Xiangsheng turned around and saw that it was Mr. Chen, who was sitting in front of a street food stall, waving and calling out to him.
"Brother Chen, you're out early!" Lu Xiangsheng walked over, bowed with a smile, and said, "You must have written like a god, finishing it in one go."
Chen Juzi laughed heartily, evidently feeling that he had done well on the test and in a good mood. He beckoned Lu Xiangsheng to sit down and said, "The food has been good these past nine days, but I'm getting tired of it. Let's try a change of taste. Brother Lu, you won't be picky, will you?"
"What are you being picky about?" Lu Xiangsheng put down his food and said, "Hey, first, a bowl of cold noodles and two wraps."
Chen Juzi pointed and said, "The dalan huoshao here is very famous. It's made with donkey meat and it tastes delicious."
"Let's not eat the meat yet." Lu Xiangsheng smiled bitterly and shook his head, saying, "I'm just thinking about drinking porridge and some pickles. Something light is better."
Chen Juzi smiled and nodded, then handed over a piece of paper and said, "Brother Lu, take a look at this. It's published by the Imperial Court and is from the Daming Forum!"
Lu Xiangsheng didn't care much about it, thinking it was just a court gazette, so he picked it up and started reading.
"It's truly an imperial publication!" Chen Juzi, noticing Lu Xiangsheng's expression, emphasized again, adding, "The Emperor restored Zhang Juzheng's official title and posthumous title, and also promised to reward his descendants. There's also a poem, also written by the Emperor himself, that's extremely profound; you should carefully consider it."
Lu Xiangsheng then turned his attention to the front page, where, indeed, was a poem composed by the emperor, titled "A Miscellaneous Poem of the Renxu Year": The nine provinces rely on wind and thunder for vitality, yet it is truly lamentable that all the horses are silent. I urge the Heavenly God to shake himself up and send down talents of all kinds.
"Excellent poem!" Lu Xiangsheng praised it immediately. After carefully studying it, he commented, "It creates a unique and fresh scene. The meaning is profound and the momentum is extraordinary. Your Majesty wants to revitalize and innovate, and the poem has a proud spirit."
Chen Juzi nodded and said, "Brother Lu is absolutely right. Combined with the restoration of Zhang Jiangling's posthumous title, the emperor's intentions are crystal clear!"
After a pause, Chen Juzi continued, "But don't you think there's a deeper meaning behind the phrases 'a thousand horses all silent is a pity' and 'talents are recruited regardless of their background'?"
Lu Xiangsheng frowned, picked up the cold noodles and spring rolls brought by the waiter, and ate them slowly without directly answering Chen Juzi's question.
If it is said that "it is sad that all the horses are silent", the current situation is not one where the government and the opposition are silent and lifeless.
Take the censors for example. They satirized the government and commented on officials. Each one was more outspoken and louder than the other.
Besides, the saying "talents are recruited regardless of their background" is true. Is it true that with so many upright people in the court, there is still a lack of talent? With so many upright gentlemen and so many great sages of the Donglin School, can't the emperor be satisfied?
Chen Juzi had his own ideas, but he wouldn't reveal them. Seeing that Lu Xiangsheng didn't say anything, he didn't comment on it. He just laughed and continued to attack the refreshing snacks.
Lu Xiangsheng was not hiding anything, he just felt that he had not figured it out clearly and it was not appropriate to say anything.
He ate while reading the Ming Forum. After a long pause, he spoke: "Since it is a royal publication, I think it is better than the imperial gazette. As an official or a citizen, anyone who cares about national affairs should subscribe to it."
Chen Juzi smiled and said, "Brother Lu, have you seen the notice below? This newspaper is initially scheduled to be published every seven days, and the monthly subscription fee is thirty wen."
Lu Xiangsheng nodded and said, "I've seen it. In other words, if you want to buy it, you need to pay a month, and you can register at any of the dozen or so major restaurants and teahouses in the capital."
"Indeed." Chen Juzi pointed to a large inn not far away and said, "I bought it from there. The first two installments are discounted, only three cents."
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