Feng Jianping's assessment eventually fell to the Ministry of Personnel, which was supposed to give him a list of questions based on his past political affairs, and ask him to describe his political achievements based on the list. After recording them, they would be submitted to the cabinet and the emperor for review.

The question-setting issue was a difficult one for the Ministry of Personnel. The difficulty was not in the content of the question, but in the fact that the question setters had to first understand what kind of result they wanted to achieve. This determined whether, in addition to the usual questions, they should also list some sharp, tricky, and sharp questions. Such questions were mainly about asking questions, and no matter how you answered, someone with ulterior motives could find fault with them.

The Minister of Personnel Liu An was caught between the eunuch party and the gentry, and was in a dilemma. Finally, he came up with a rather unethical method that would protect himself and not offend either side.

When Yan Sikong heard Liu An's order, he was stunned for a moment. Then his mind turned and he understood everything. He cursed Liu An in his heart, but he declined humbly on the surface: "I am stupid. I am really unable to handle the important matters listed by King Jingyuan."

Liu An said, "Sikong, you don't have to be so humble. You are very talented and learned. You are the most meticulous and thorough in this imperial examination. This is obvious to all. Everyone has a love for talent. Mr. Yan Ge has tried his best to cultivate you, and I am not willing to be left behind. After much thought, I think you are the most suitable candidate for the title of general. I intend to promote you. I hope you can get familiar with the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel as soon as possible and be able to take charge of your own affairs."

"Minister Liu has shown such appreciation for me. I am flattered and grateful. However, I know very little about the situation in Datong Prefecture, and this assessment is of great importance. I feel that it is difficult for me to take on such a heavy responsibility. If I make a mistake, I am as insignificant as an ant, but I am afraid that I will bring trouble to the Minister."

Yan Sikong cursed in his heart, these old guys are more sinister than each other. Liu An's move can be said to kill three birds with one stone. He is Yan Zilian's man, and has a complicated relationship with Feng Jianping and Feng Ye. If he is lenient in the list of questions, His Majesty and Xie Zhongren will not let him go. If he is difficult in the list of questions, he will offend the gentry and the Feng family. No matter who comes up with this list, it will be a loss. But if he comes up with it, he can discuss it with Yan Zilian and Feng Jianping in advance and try to make a big deal out of it. Even if he is held accountable, Yan Zilian and the Feng family can mediate, which is enough for Liu An to protect himself. If it were anyone else in the Ministry of Personnel, it would be impossible to achieve such a goal.

Liu An's move of harming his neighbor was really vicious.

"You don't have to worry. We have a chronology of the situation in Datong Prefecture. You can also ask Zhang Yushi. He just returned from a tour of inspection in Datong. He must be very familiar with Datong and the political career of the generals." Liu An looked at Yan Sikong with a smile.

Yan Sikong knew he couldn't refuse, so he had to bite the bullet and accept the order.

——

"Liu An actually asked you to do the list of questions?" Yan Zilian said coldly, "He is smart and wants to push the trouble away completely."

Yan Sikong smiled bitterly and said, "The student declined twice, but he insisted. I was really helpless." After he said that, he looked at Feng Jianping.

Feng Jianping said: "It may not be a bad thing. If Sikong comes to do the list of questions, we can discuss it in advance."

"The content of the questions is not the main point." Yan Zilian shook his head. "The difficulty now is that we are not sure about His Majesty's intentions. If there are no problems in the assessment of the generals, I am afraid that they will not pass His Majesty's test. If there are some flaws, it will give His Majesty a reason to reduce the military, which would be a happy ending for everyone. But how do we strike the right balance?"

"The content of the questions is not important, but father's statement is very important." Feng Ye said, "Those censors are very good at taking words out of context. If they got Xie Zhongren's instructions, I don't know how much trouble it would cause."

Yan Zilian sighed, "Yes."

Feng Jianping hesitated for a moment and said, "Sikong, what do you think?"

Yan Sikong thought for a moment, "Liu An threw the difficult questions to me because he didn't want to get into trouble. It seems that Xie Zhongren and him may not have discussed it yet. If Xie Zhongren had contacted him, he would not have let me do the questions. In any case, it is better than Xie Zhongren's people doing it."

"But if the questions you made do not satisfy His Majesty, then it is mostly your fault." Feng Ye narrowed his eyes, "If I want to satisfy His Majesty, I will definitely embarrass my father. This guy is really insidious."

Yan Zilian said, "What Liu An wants to see is that we let General Feng pass the imperial examination with only a few casualties. Even if His Majesty blames us, we will definitely defend the contents of the list. In this way, he will not be held accountable by His Majesty, nor will he offend us. He has thought it through very well."

Feng Ye said coldly: "He has already offended me."

Feng Jianping made a soothing gesture towards him: "Wolf boy, calm down."

Feng Ye curled his lips and glanced at Yan Sikong secretly, probably feeling a little embarrassed to be scolded by his father in front of Yan Sikong.

Yan Sikong winked at him secretly.

Feng Jianping looked at Yan Zilian and said, "Master, this matter is up to you to decide."

"I have been thinking about this for the past few days. Instead of trying to figure out His Majesty's intentions, why not go directly to the palace and discuss Datong's military equipment with him? If I can mediate and make His Majesty feel that the generals are willing to take the initiative to reduce some of the military equipment, and His Majesty is satisfied, the imperial inspection will be just a formality."

Feng Jianping stroked his beautiful beard and asked, "Before Wen Youchi left, did you discuss the Datong military with the elder?"

"No, but after Zhang Yushi returned from his tour of inspection in Datong, Minister Wen met with him several times and learned about the situation in Datong. He was already making preparations."

"Now that he has returned to his hometown, this matter has fallen into Feng Kan's hands. I don't know if he has discussed this with Xie Zhongren. The military can be cut, but how much..." Feng Jianping shook his head, "We don't have a definite idea in our minds."

Yan Sikong understood what Feng Jianping meant. If Wen Youchi had not informed Xie Zhongren, then the amount of the reduction would be decided by Feng Chan. Feng Chan was Yan Zilian's man, so there was no need to worry. But if Xie Zhongren already knew about Wen Youchi's military reduction plan, the number they proposed on their own initiative would be too different from the number Wen Youchi had investigated, and Xie Zhongren would definitely make trouble.

"I'll talk to Zhang Yushi again, maybe I can guess Wen Youchi's plan." Yan Zilian looked at Feng Jianping, "If I can get a rough number, maybe it would be better for the generals to take the initiative to request a reduction in military equipment instead of me going to see the emperor."

Feng Jianping nodded: "That makes sense."

"Sikong," Yan Zilian said, "Since you have accepted the order, you should prepare the questions carefully. Make a few copies for me to see. I will use which one when the time comes, depending on the situation."

“Students understand.”

"By the way, there is another happy event." When Yan Zilian said this, his eyes passed Yan Sikong, glanced at Feng Ye, and then returned to Yan Sikong.

"What's the good news?"

"Your Majesty told me a few days ago that before the Queen Mother passed away, she requested that Princess Wanyang not observe a three-year mourning period. The princess is already of marriageable age, and if she waits for three years, she will be a little too old." Yan Zilian smiled and said, "Your Majesty intends to arrange your marriage next year."

Yan Sikong froze, and Feng Ye was struck by lightning, his face changed drastically.

"Very good." Feng Jianping looked at Yan Sikong and noticed that he looked strange. He then looked at his son and couldn't help but frowned.

"Really?" Feng Ye asked anxiously, "This...did His Majesty say this in person?"

Yan Zilian said: "Of course, your Majesty said it himself. Your Majesty is a filial son and will certainly obey the Queen Mother's will."

"No!" Feng Ye said loudly.

Feng Jianping scolded: "Feng Ye, what kind of 'no' do you mean? This is Xi'er and Sikong's marriage, and it was arranged by His Majesty himself!"

Yan Sikong's lips trembled. He wanted to persuade Feng Ye to stop talking, but he was afraid that once he opened his mouth, Feng Ye's emotions, which he had been able to suppress, would explode.

Feng Ye gritted his teeth: "Sikong doesn't want to marry her."

Yan Zilian narrowed his eyes slightly, stroked his beard slowly, and said nothing.

Feng Jianping's face was already filled with anger: "Shut up, what nonsense are you talking about in front of the elder? Who told you that Sikong doesn't want to marry Xier? Xier is the daughter of a rich and powerful emperor, and all the nobles and celebrities in the world are yearning for her, Sikong." He stared at Yan Sikong, "Don't you want to marry Xier?"

Yan Sikong knelt down hurriedly: "Your Highness, Teacher, I dare not. It is a great honor for me to marry the princess."

Yan Zilian knew what was going on, but he didn't expose it. Instead, he looked at Feng Ye with a smile and said, "Why is the prince so opposed to this marriage? Although Sikong was born in a poor family, he has a bright future. A hero should not be judged by his origins."

Feng Ye stood up suddenly, his fists clenched so tightly that they made a clattering sound.

Feng Jianping whispered, "Get out of here."

Feng Ye turned around and left, slamming the door heavily, which made Yan Sikong's heart skip a beat.

Feng Jianping felt ashamed, and said to Yan Zilian in a coy voice: "This kid grew up outside the Great Wall, and is wild and difficult to tame. Don't blame him, old man."

Yan Zilian smiled and said, "It's okay, my prince, just follow your own will." He looked at Yan Sikong and said, "Sikong, the emperor will probably set a wedding date for you before the New Year. After the general's inspection is over, the wedding date will be set. You can be promoted next year."

"...Thank you, teacher. Thank you, Your Highness."

Yan Sikong was thinking about Feng Ye, and his heart was in turmoil. He originally thought that they had at least three years, but he didn't expect that the Queen Mother would leave a will, asking him and Wan Yang to get married as soon as possible. Now... what should he do?

Feng Jianping looked at Yan Sikong, then looked through the window paper at Feng Ye standing outside. His brows furrowed slightly, and there was a hint of inquiry in his eyes.