Chapter 42
The outer city has been quite lively these days. Many people who passed the preliminary selection came here with their luggage, waiting for the final round of tests.
The academy issued a notice stating that students who passed the selection did not need to pay any fees, but those who failed would be asked to leave.
In addition, round-trip expenses will be provided. For some people whose family conditions are not good, sending their children or young people here will actually reduce the burden on the family. Therefore, most people are willing to make such a trip.
But there are always people who are unwilling.
The young man sitting in a room in the outer city did not hide his expression. The old man who came over naturally saw it clearly, but pretended not to see it. He lowered his head and drank a sip of water, then continued:
"Everyone who passed by these days is going to Pingyi for assessment, and we are also preparing to go there." The implication is that he is not talking nonsense.
He Xuan originally came to the outer city to do some business. Sang Yu was very busy during this period, so he simply wandered around by himself. Unexpectedly, he met such an interesting guy.
However, this man seemed very hesitant. He Xuan watched as his hand, which had been clutching the corner of his clothes, first clenched and then loosened. After a long moment, he spoke again, his voice a little hoarse:
"I'm afraid the old man is mistaken. Apart from being able to do some useless work, I can't do anything else."
He Xuan shook his head and just smiled. He didn't urge him and waited quietly for the man to make a decision.
It was already getting cold outside, and most people had already changed into new sweaters, but the young man in front of him was still wrapped in somewhat worn clothes, and even when curled up in the house he still shivered from time to time.
It's like a seedling in extreme drought and water shortage, trying to dig its roots deeper but withering away because it can't find water. But He Xuan believes that once such a person takes root, they won't be easily blown away in this land.
"This is a token of trust." He Xuan pulled a printed piece of paper from his bag, took out a charcoal pencil, wrote something on it, and placed it next to the young man. "This is my letter. If you change your mind, take this to the guards at Wengcheng, and someone will take you there."
After saying that, He Xuan stood up with a smile, walked out of the room with only a curtain hanging on it, and began to explore what other interesting things there were in the outer city.
The young man looked at the figure gradually moving away, and his hands, which were originally placed on his kneeling legs, trembled slightly, trying to force himself to stabilize.
After He Xuan walked away for a distance, he nodded very slightly and let out a breath.
The haystack in the corner suddenly shook a few times, and a hand reached out from within. A moment later, two figures, one large and one small, emerged from within. If He Xuan hadn't left yet, he might have seen something familiar about them.
The person hiding in the haystack naturally heard what He Xuan said before. In fact, she was the first to recognize He Xuan's identity, but this was not a good time to recognize him, so she simply hid and waited until the man left before discussing it.
Seeing the young man's depressed mood, the woman smiled and touched his head, saying in a calm tone:
"Go ahead. If you feel like you can't make it, come back. We won't leave."
The previous grudges had nothing to do with them. They had a very weak relationship with Yao Wenjun. Even though the woman was that man's sister, under the influence of that elder brother, she also developed some thoughts.
Yao Wang was even a little dissatisfied. They were of the same status, so why was Yao Wenjun able to be reused and treated politely by most people and even the self-important elder brother, while he could only sit at the end of the seat with his head down and eat the cold leftovers.
When this person was in trouble, she even felt a shameful sense of relief. But as time went on, that emotion, which shouldn't have existed, gradually turned to sand and slipped through her fingers, leaving only endless fear. She finally realized how ridiculous her original sense of entitlement was.
When Yao Wang heard that Yao Wenjun had reappeared and his old ministers were planning to demand territory and supplies, he just thought it was ridiculous.
Those who were originally unable to resist in her eyes looked like a joke, so before Yao Wenjun chose to attack, she took her family and left that troubled place.
Because no one cared about them at all, even their escape was extremely smooth.
The young man had followed Yao Wang when she escaped, and could barely be considered her cousin. Although they hadn't been together for long, they had developed some affection after sharing hardships.
Yao Wang had actually guessed who the old man was, and the seal on the paper proved it. He Xuan probably wanted to help him have a better life, so he was willing to help.
But she could also understand her cousin's concerns. Before, he would feel guilty for not being able to help, and would try his best to get more food for the family.
"Well, you can settle down and do some shopping in the inner city when you have time."
The young man clutched the corner of his clothes. He naturally understood what Yao Wang meant. This was the best option for them. He lowered his voice and said:
"Got it, go back and pack your things."
The hardships during this period made him realize how naive his original thoughts were. He just followed them out in a daze at the beginning, and even under the influence of the people around him, he felt that what Yao Wenjun and others did was not worth mentioning.
But lies will eventually be exposed.
The children around them also noticed that they seemed to be separating and became depressed. Yao Wang picked up the little girl and coaxed her in a low voice for a long time. He finally got a human cub with red eyes and finally persuaded her.
"I've finished speaking."
The little girl seemed to want a guarantee that she would come back to see him at least once in a while.
"Well, we agreed that if I come across anything new, I'll definitely bring it back for you."
*
The next day, everyone got up early and prepared to pack up.
In fact, there was nothing to bring, and the young man only carried a small cloth bag.
Although he was told to bring the letter, He Xuan still came back with his men. The middle-aged man called Sang Yu even brought a few bags of food and vegetables. Yao Wang originally wanted to let him take them away, but the young man refused. The middle-aged man also chimed in:
"He will definitely have enough food and drink. Please accept these things. He will feel more at ease in there."
As if convinced by these words, after He Xuan and others left, Yao Wang stood at the door and finally carried those things into the house without noticing the few copper coins wrapped in cloth hidden under the grain bag.
When she and He Xuan made eye contact, she knew he had figured out her identity, and could also infer the young man's identity. However, He Xuan didn't say anything, and continued to treat the others as if he didn't know, which made Yao Wang feel relieved.
For Yao Wenjun, their existence would only be trouble, and the best way was to not disturb each other.
Looking at the two-wheeled carriage not far away, the young man just silently followed the middle-aged man's instructions and followed diagonally behind.
Many people who were on their way here had already followed behind. Sang Yu walked around the outer city. The accounts related to these people's food, clothing, housing and transportation were very complicated. After several days of hard work, he finally got it done.
The young man originally thought that he would just walk to Pingyi quietly, but the people walking near him went from whispering to arguing loudly, and instead of trying to stop them, the people around him seemed to want to join in.
Sang Yu continued to walk slowly and steadily without looking around, but He Xuan slowed down his pace with great interest, as if he was listening to them carefully, which made the discussion more intense. At this time, arguing was also a way of recommending oneself.
He Xuan stroked his beard. Some things cannot be said openly. Indeed, most of the people who came to him might be mediocre and it would be troublesome to find them one by one, but if they were gathered in one place, it would be easy to deal with them anyway.
The same is true for the Academy. If only one person is useful out of dozens or hundreds of options, then the deal is worth it. Those who can't help our side can't be left to the enemy.
These cunning people are also a threat in the outer city. It is better to gather them together first, which can also save some effort for Wen Yi and others, killing two birds with one stone.
*
Wen Yi looked at the white outside. A charcoal fire had already been lit in the house. After all, he couldn't lie in bed all day.
At this time, Yuwan likes to curl up near the stove. Fortunately, there is a barrier so that his fur will not be burned or scorched.
"What are you thinking about?" Song Jin stood up and saw Wen Yi standing by the half-open window.
Since the workshop was able to process metal products, the picture albums filled with strange things that were originally placed aside were taken away by Amu and his friends, who started making them together with the masters when they were not busy.
It was only after Wen Yi and his companions had installed the stove and chimney that they realized these things had been made and had even started to be sold after Song Jin's approval.
"I'm wondering whether those little guys can adapt to life here." Wen Yi replied.
She was looking in the direction of the parade ground. Although it was far away, she seemed to hear some noisy sounds.
The first batch of students entered the academy in winter.
Common sense says that it is best to do it in spring and summer, after farming. At that time, there is not much need for people in the fields. It is easy to get frostbite if going out in winter, and most people cannot get enough food and supplies in winter.
However, Pingyi is not the same kind of study as Yao Wenjun's previous apprenticeship to He Xuan. In addition to paying a hefty tuition fee, one also has to provide various supplies on one's own.
This group was left after several rounds of screening. There were not many people, but with Pingyi's family background, it was no problem to provide food and drink for these people, who numbered less than one percent of the soldiers.
Song Jin also stuck his head out of the half-open window. Although the city was high and he could see most of the buildings in the southern area from the tower next to it, he couldn't see anything from here.
Wen Yi retracted her gaze and said, "Let's not talk about this anymore. Wenjun may not come back this year, but I received a letter saying that she has asked Nanxun to bring back some things."
"He still has some conscience." Song Jin nodded. "If it weren't for the silver paid every half a day, no one would be willing to work. If you can't come back this winter, you'll just have to suffer the cold outside."
It would take some effort to tidy up the newly annexed territory. Some time ago, someone wrote a letter asking for help. Song Jin muttered a few words, but still sent someone to deliver what the person wanted.
"Yes, they said they were so busy that they had no time to rest. Those pedantic but not heinous people who were temporarily spared kept blocking our way from time to time." This made Yao Wenjun, who was already so busy that he had no time to rest, even more irritable, and even the letter contained some resentment.
Wen Yi even received a stack of letters from scholars around her. She had no idea what these people were thinking. They criticized Yao Wenjun for being rude and immoral, and said he was not fit to be a general.
During this time, she also learned to use these useless things to make fire, which was particularly stress-relieving.
Being able to attract so many verbal attacks, Yao Wenjun's gains were naturally huge - some of his old subordinates who had been dispersed were re-convened. Although they could not be trusted immediately, training them was much easier than recruiting new people.
Soldiers do not have the complicated relationships with generals or forces. It is more of a relationship of choosing and being chosen, and they do not have to worry about being suspected and betraying others.
Of course, there were also those who betrayed Pingyi earlier, and it all depended on their choices in the future. For Yao Wenjun, Wen Yi, and the others, as long as they didn't do anything that threatened their current situation, it didn't matter what they thought.
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