131: Written Exam

September 9th, exactly at the hour of Chen.

In the center of the Prefecture City, flags fluttered over the Drill Ground which spanned a hundred acres.

A dense crowd swarmed from all directions: young Martial Artists participating in the Martial Examination, sect elders accompanying them, and countless commoners and merchants who had come to watch.

The periphery of the Drill Ground was already packed to the brim, the noise was deafening, and the air was thick with a mixture of excitement and tension.

To the north of the Drill Ground, a viewing platform thirty feet high and a hundred feet wide stood majestically.

The platform was covered with a crimson carpet and furnished with dozens of red sandalwood grandmaster chairs.

Great figures such as the Prefecture Governor, Envoy Ling Feng, the Vice Commander of the Army Breaker Manor, the heads of the three great clans of the Prefecture City, the masters of various martial arts halls, and the academy headmasters had taken their seats one after another.

Notably, in the third seat to the Prefecture Governor's left sat a fair-faced, beardless middle-aged man wearing a dark purple python robe and possessing a feminine aura.

He sat with his eyes closed to rest his mind, slowly turning a string of black jade prayer beads in his hand. Behind him stood two young attendants, also fair-faced and beardless, with sharp gazes.

The Supervising Eunuch, Eunuch Cao.

He was an envoy sent by the imperial court to inspect the defenses of Jiuqu Prefecture and observe this Martial Examination.

His presence added a touch of solemnity and subtlety to the already grave atmosphere.

On the east side of the Drill Ground, hundreds of examination desks were neatly arranged, each equipped with brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, water, and paperweights. Over six hundred young Martial Artists participating in the Martial Examination were being guided to their seats by clerks according to their sequence numbers.

Chen Linsheng held his examination token and found his seat at desk "Yi Hai No. 27." The desk was located in the front-middle section, offering a clear view.

He looked up and saw Yan Chen sitting at "Jia Zi No. 9" in front of him. His back was as straight as a spear, and his fiery red martial attire stood out strikingly amidst the sea of grey-green and dark blue.

Mu Qingxue was at "Bing Wu No. 3" to the right, still dressed in a water-blue gown, looking as cold and aloof as ever. Lei Hao was at "Ding Mao No. 41" to the back-left, grinning at him.

Yu Linfeng, Lin Yueru, Xu Wangshu, and others were also scattered throughout.

"Silence—"

A chief examiner wearing a crimson official robe and a black gauze hat stepped onto the high platform in front of the viewing stand, his voice booming like a great bell. The noisy Drill Ground gradually fell silent.

"I am Li Yannian, the Judge of Jiuqu Prefecture. By order of the Prefecture Governor, I shall preside over the written portion of this Martial Examination." The chief examiner's gaze swept across the field, his voice solemn. "The Martial Examination is not merely about brute force. A general must be able to fight on horseback and strategize off it; an official must clearly observe the people's conditions and understand governance. Today's written test consists of four questions, with a time limit of three double-hours. The questions cover military strategy, livelihoods, Formations, and martial ethics. I hope you will think carefully, distinguish clearly, and answer pragmatically."

He paused and emphasized, "The written test results account for thirty percent of the total evaluation. Anyone caught cheating, making noise, or exceeding the time limit will be immediately expelled and never employed!"

As his voice fell, the entire field became so quiet that a dropped needle could be heard.

"Distribute the papers!"

Several clerks carrying sealed scroll boxes stepped down from the high platform, distributing thick stacks of examination papers to every desk.

Chen Linsheng took the paper and unfolded it to look closely.

Question One: Military Strategy Case Analysis:

"In the autumn of the 342nd year of the Great Zhou calendar, the 'Blackstone Fort' in the northern frontier, garrisoned by three thousand troops, was suddenly attacked by ten thousand cavalry from the Steppe Golden Tent Court. The provisions in the fort are only enough for ten days, and reinforcements will take at least fifteen days to arrive. The fort commander, Wang Meng, is in the Middle Stage of the Jiaojin Realm, and his five colonels are all in the Flesh Refining Realm. Please detail a defensive strategy and analyze how you, if you were Wang Meng, would allocate troops, boost morale, and stall for time to wait for reinforcements. If you have any unconventional strategies, you may also state them."

Question Two: Livelihood Strategy:

"Linshan County, under the jurisdiction of Jiuqu Prefecture, has suffered from floods for consecutive years, leaving the people displaced and bandits thriving. Fifty thousand taels of silver and five thousand piculs of grain have been allocated. Please draft a detailed comprehensive plan for settling the people, managing the water, and suppressing bandits. You must consider the allocation of funds and grain, the mobilization of manpower, and the chronological arrangement, and explain the reasons for such arrangements."

Question Three: Simple Formation Deduction:

"Provided are the diagrams and brief characteristics of three basic Formations: 'Arrowhead Formation,' 'Circle Formation,' and 'Goose-wing Formation.' Suppose you are leading five hundred infantry (equipped with spears and shields), two hundred archers, and one hundred light cavalry, and you encounter seven hundred enemy troops (four hundred infantry, three hundred cavalry) on a plain. The enemy is attacking with an 'Arrowhead Formation.' Please choose and change your Formation to respond, using diagrams and text to explain the steps of the Formation change, the key points of coordination between different branches, and predict the evolution of the battle."

Question Four: Martial Ethics:

"A Martial Artist bullying the weak is considered unkind; seeing what is right and not doing it is considered cowardly; advancing recklessly for glory is considered unwise; and betraying trust is considered unfaithful. Combining examples (fictional or historical), elaborate on your understanding of 'Martial Virtue' and discuss in what situations 'Martial' and 'Virtue' might conflict, and how one should weigh and choose between them."

The four questions covered a vast range and were certainly not something that could be handled by rote memorization.

Faint gasps and the anxious sound of brush pens tapping on tables began to echo in the examination hall.

Many Martial Artists had sweat on their foreheads.

They had practiced their bones, muscles, Qi, and blood diligently, but when had they ever thought deeply about these matters?

Chen Linsheng, however, looked calm.

He picked up the wolf-hair brush and slowly dipped it in ink in the inkstone.

The perspective from the information explosion era of his past life, the firsthand experience of the people's suffering during his tenure at the Water Patrol Division, the clarity of thought and integration brought by [Statecraft (Minor Achievement)], and the core philosophy of Hunyuan Martial Dao—"solid Foundation, pragmatic pursuit of truth"—converged at this moment into a calm and clear power.

After a brief thought, he began to write.

He answered the questions without haste, with clear logic. His answers had both strategic depth and practical details, and more impressively, a steady and pragmatic sense of righteousness permeated between the lines.

His brush moved like a dancing dragon and a slithering snake. Of the three double-hours allotted for the exam, he finished in two and a half.

He used the remaining time to carefully check, revise, and polish his work.

During this time, he occasionally looked up.

In front, Yan Chen's knuckles holding the brush were somewhat white. Especially when answering the military strategy question, he paused for a long time and crossed out his work several times, his expression gradually turning sour. The tradition of the Blazing Sun Martial Arts Hall, which emphasized killing over strategy, was fully exposed at this moment.

Mu Qingxue answered the questions calmly, her posture still cold and aloof, but her writing speed was steady, clearly indicating her confidence.

Lei Hao scratched his head at times and scribbled furiously at others. His style was bold and direct, striking the heart of the matter; though not refined enough, it possessed the aura of a battlefield.

Yu Linfeng wrote elegantly, not fast, but every step was steady... "Time is up—collect the papers!"

At the chief examiner's command, the clerks quickly collected the papers. Many Martial Artists looked regretful, and some were frantically scribbling until the last moment.

The examination papers were sealed in boxes and carried to the grading room next to the viewing platform. Ten graders, consisting of civil officials from the Prefecture City, retired veteran generals, and academy professors, would grade them through the night.

The candidates left the field one after another.

Just as Chen Linsheng stepped out of the examination area, he felt a scorching gaze pinned to his back like a branding iron.

He turned around and met Yan Chen's eyes, which were burning with flames.

Yan Chen's face was dark. The frustration from the written test just now, intertwined with the old grudge from the Hidden Dragon Banquet, made his gaze exceptionally sharp and piercing. His lips moved slightly, silently mouthing a few words; judging by his mouth shape, it was: "Tomorrow, see you at the martial test."

Chen Linsheng looked calm and gave him a slight nod before turning to join the crowd leaving the field.

There was neither fear nor provocation; he was as indifferent as if he had just seen an ordinary passerby.

This disregard instead made Yan Chen's chest tighten, the flames in his eyes growing even more intense... On the viewing platform, the great figures did not leave immediately.

The grading room was brightly lit, and the ten graders had already begun their intense work.

The Prefecture Governor stroked his beard and smiled. "The written test reveals one's Heart-Nature and strategy. Compared to pure martial power, it better shows a person's potential and vision. I wonder if there will be any stunning talents this year?"

Ling Feng's gaze swept over the dispersing crowd below, and he said indifferently, "We shall wait and see."

Eunuch Cao, who had been resting with his eyes closed, now slowly opened them. His eyes were narrow, and his pupils were light in color. When he looked at people, there was always a faint, scrutinizing quality that made one feel uncomfortable.

"While in the capital, I often heard that local Martial Examinations emphasize martial arts over literature," Eunuch Cao said in a high-pitched, slow voice. "I wonder what kind of real substance this written test in Jiuqu Prefecture can produce. If it's just armchair strategy, then it would be quite boring."

The Prefecture Governor hurriedly said, "Rest assured, Eunuch. This year's questions were carefully drafted by Judge Li, several retired veteran generals, and academy professors. The focus is on practical affairs and adaptability, definitely not empty talk."

Eunuch Cao gave a non-committal "mm" and continued to slowly twist the black jade prayer beads with his fingers.

At this time, a clerk hurriedly came out of the grading room, holding several examination papers that had been set aside. He walked quickly to the front of the viewing platform and bowed. "Reporting to Your Excellencies, during the preliminary grading, several papers were found with clear logic and unique insights, especially in the military strategy and livelihood questions. The graders did not dare to make a final decision and have specifically presented them for Your Excellencies' review."

The Prefecture Governor nodded. "Bring them up."

The clerk presented the papers. The Prefecture Governor, Ling Feng, the Vice Commander of the Army Breaker Manor, and Eunuch Cao each took one to read.

The one Eunuch Cao received happened to be Chen Linsheng's paper.

His narrow eyes scanned the pages line by line. At first, his expression was indifferent, but gradually, his eyebrows twitched slightly, and his fingers twisting the prayer beads stopped.

When he saw the risky strategy of "burning the enemy's siege engines" in the military strategy question, a very faint curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. When he saw the plan of "combining suppression and pacification, and providing relief through work" in the livelihood question, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. When he saw the flexible thinking in the Formation deduction, he nodded slightly. And when he reached the discussion of "a Martial Artist's responsibility to the country and homeland" and "the balance between personal feelings and public justice" in the martial ethics section, he put down the paper and looked down from the platform.

By then, Chen Linsheng's figure had long since disappeared into the crowd.

"Who is this lad?" Eunuch Cao asked. His voice was still high-pitched, but it carried a bit more curiosity.

The clerk hurriedly replied, "In response to the Eunuch, the candidate of this paper is Chen Linsheng, a Disciple of the Yang Wei Martial Arts Hall Branch. He is also the one who fought to a draw with Yan Chen of the Blazing Sun Martial Arts Hall at this year's Hidden Dragon Banquet."

"Oh?" A flash of brilliance crossed Eunuch Cao's eyes. "The little fellow who used the Flesh Refining Realm to hard-counter the Dragon Tendon Realm? Interesting... I didn't expect that not only are his bones and muscles tough, but his mind is also sharp."

He gently placed the examination paper on the table and resumed twisting his prayer beads, his gaze turning toward the grading room, lost in thought.

Ling Feng caught Eunuch Cao's expression and felt a stir in his heart, but he remained impassive on the surface.

The Prefecture Governor smiled and said, "It seems this lad's written test is also extraordinary. Tomorrow's martial test is even more worth looking forward to."

The Vice Commander of the Army Breaker Manor, a middle-aged man with a face as hard as iron, also put down another paper (which was Mu Qingxue's) and said in a deep voice, "Only with both military strategy and martial prowess can one be a complete talent. This Martial Examination is indeed turning out to be quite interesting."

As night fell, the crowd at the Drill Ground dispersed, leaving only the lights in the grading room burning brightly throughout the night.