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After completing the whole process of receiving the imperial edict, the imperial envoy also put on a smiling face, held the imperial edict in front of Mao Wenlong with both hands, and congratulated him: "Congratulations, General Mao."
"Thank you, Imperial Envoy." Mao Wenlong did not dare to neglect the matter and bowed, saying, "You have been exhausted on the journey, Imperial Envoy. Please rest for a while. I will prepare some wine, please do not refuse."
The imperial envoy chuckled and said, "I'd better do the emperor's errand first before I dare to drink Marshal Mao's wine."
As he spoke, he extended his hand and introduced, "This is Ke Zhenhuai, the former captain of the Jinyiwei and the newly promoted deputy general of Dongjiang Town. He was meritorious in defending the city of Youtunwei and fought face to face with the Eastern Tartars."
"I am Gou Zhenhuai, a lowly general with some minor merits. I was sent by the imperial court to serve under General Mao's command." Gou Zhenhuai stepped forward and bowed.
The Dongjiang town was established and divided into four divisions, with a temporary quota of 24,000 soldiers. Mao Wenlong was appointed as the commander-in-chief of the General Ping Liao, and was given the seal of the General Zheng Lu. His deputy generals were Chen Jisheng and Gou Zhenhuai.
There were no civil servants or eunuchs supervising the army in Dongjiang Town, but Gou Zhenhuai, as a deputy general of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, played the role of a military supervisor. This was very obvious, and Zhu Youxiao did not hide it too much.
Mao Wenlong extended his hand to support him, and praised him enthusiastically, "General Gou, there's no need to be so polite. I'm very fortunate to have the help of this brave general who fought so fiercely in the battle against Youtunwei!"
Mao Wenlong knew that it was impossible to be without a military supervisor in a remote place overseas. However, military men who came from the Jinyiwei and had military achievements were always easier to get along with than civil officials and eunuchs.
"This Wang Yining is an old acquaintance of Marshal Mao, so I won't say much about him." The imperial envoy smiled and pointed to another civil servant who was accompanying him.
Wang Yining stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your humble servant greets Marshal Mao."
"Sir Wang, long time no see! You're polite, you're polite." Mao Wenlong returned the greeting with a smile. He was not quite sure about Wang Yining's specific identity, but since he came with the imperial envoy, he must be no simple person.
Wang Yining, a student from Liaodong, was a courageous man. Mao Wenlong's night attack on Zhenjiang was his plan. For his meritorious service in the battle of Zhenjiang, Mao Wenlong was promoted to lieutenant general, and Wang Yining was promoted to magistrate of Denglai.
"I am currently serving as a painter in the court of Lord Yuan, the governor of Denglai," Wang Yining introduced himself. "I am here on Lord Yuan's orders to invite Marshal Mao to Denglai to discuss military matters."
It turned out that this was his identity, the personal secretary of his immediate superior. Mao Wenlong hurriedly accepted the order and decided to take a boat to Denglai the next day to report to his new superior.
The establishment of a garrison in Dongjiang, his promotion to general, the imperial gift of armor, and his removal from the control of Xiong Tingbi, the governor of Liaodong, were all great relief for Mao Wenlong, a blessing in disguise.
As for the supplies that were delivered and the reward for beheading in the Battle of Southern Liaoning, in his opinion, they were just small joys.
Of course, Mao Wenlong felt a little surprised that the imperial edict clearly designated Zhang Pan as a lieutenant general and led a group of troops.
But considering that Zhang Pan's name and resume were mentioned in the victory report, and perhaps combined with the report from the Jinyiwei in the army, it is understandable that the emperor favored him.
Perhaps it was because the name was auspicious, or perhaps it was because Zhang Pan came from an aristocratic family. After all, the emperor promoted whomever he pleased.
Mao Wenlong was so overwhelmed by the surprise that he could ignore any minor issues. Even the generals of the Dongjiang Army were beaming with joy, but they suppressed their excitement and didn't dare to get too carried away.
What was I like before? A poor child without a mother. Although the emperor gave me military pay, without an official title, who knew what I would do in the future?
Now, I have a regular job with a fixed salary and food provided by the government, which solves all my worries.
Moreover, Island Master Mao became General Mao and continued to work under his old leader, so his path to promotion was also smooth!
"And those young masters who have been training," the imperial envoy said casually, "The emperor has also allowed them to return to the capital, so they are all returning with me."
Young soldier, get out of here as soon as possible.
Mao Wenlong was overjoyed and agreed to it. He asked someone to quickly notify the young masters and give them a surprise. He also invited them to a banquet to make good friends and give them a farewell party.
There were several officials accompanying the ship, all smiling and friendly, but the imperial envoy did not introduce himself, and Mao Wenlong did not dare to ask any more questions.
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On March 15th, the palace examination was held as scheduled.
When the first ray of sunlight spread to the earth and illuminated the magnificent and majestic Forbidden City, a burst of drum music sounded and the vermilion gate slowly opened.
The tribute candidates who had been standing in front of the square were excited and followed the officials from the Ministry of Rites and the Honglu Temple to stand in front of the Danbi of the Wuying Hall.
The examiners and recipients, headed by Sun Chengzong, and dozens of stewards stood on the steps, accepted the greetings of the examinees, and then waited for the emperor's arrival.
After the reign of Emperor Yongle, the palace examinations were held in the Jinshen Hall, which was later changed to the Jianji Hall.
But the first three halls were still in ruins at that time, so the highest level of the imperial examination - the palace examination - had to be held here.
Entering the palace, adorned with its royal grandeur and majestic dignity, the scholars could hardly contain their excitement. Like a carp leaping over the dragon gate—this had been their childhood dream, their driving force behind their painstaking study—and now, finally, it had come true!
How many people envy them for reaching the pinnacle of life, a goal that many people find difficult to achieve in their lifetime.
Just as these scholars were thinking about how glorious it would be to win the top three, have their horses praised by the emperor, and attend the Qionglin Banquet...
There was a clanging sound of footsteps, mixed with the clashing of armor plates. Dozens of military generals wearing helmets and armor lined up in an orderly manner and came to the open space next to the tribute students and stood there bowing solemnly.
Is he a military scholar? !
Although everyone knows that failed candidates can take the examination for military jinshi, they also know that with the talent of the candidates, as long as they are strong and healthy, they can basically be promoted to military jinshi.
But the tribute scholars would never have thought that the military scholars who gave up literature and took up military service and lowered their status would receive the same treatment as them.
With his helmet and armor shining and his spirit high, he stood there handsomely and majestically, as if he was more conspicuous than them.
Sun Chengzong, the chief examiner of the palace examination and the Minister of War, stroked his thick beard and smiled with satisfaction. He had also been thinking about raising the status of military personnel. And the emperor's move would have immediate results.
Although the number of people was not large, with only less than fifty of the nearly two thousand failed candidates, if word of this matter spread today, it would undoubtedly attract more candidates.
The military examination and the military jinshi examination are held once a year as a normal practice; the civil examination is held every three years, which is the ancestral system.
If you can endure loneliness, the torment of hard study, and are mentally prepared to fail again, then there is nothing to say, please continue to pursue your ideal life.
But if you abandon the secular view of respecting culture and suppressing military power, and want to become an official and serve the country as soon as possible, the court has already opened its doors.
A centurion is a sixth-rank official. This is the lowest rank for military scholars, and it is considered a favor from the emperor. However, many civil scholars have to start from the seventh-rank county magistrate!
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