Seeking Truth with a Sword
Chapter 62 - 57: First Test_2

Chapter 62: Chapter 57: First Test_2

Suddenly, that illusion of being drenched by the rain surged in his mind again. Li Ang subconsciously lifted the curtain to look outside, only to see the multicolored mountain flowers and Xia Mountain, wrapped and obscured by distant mist.

The Academic Palace was just on the other side of Xia Mountain.

Chai Cuiqiao also stuck her head out of the carriage window, sniffed the scent of the flowers, and whispered, "Young Master, the caravan has slowed down."

"Mmhmm, the carriages ahead must have arrived."

Just as Li Ang had predicted, the caravan of carriages slowed down as they approached the base of the mountain and came to a stop on the slope.

The slope was gentle, the green grass luxuriant. By the clear stream sat more than twenty pavilions, each with three floors, red walls, and green tiles, with decorated eaves flying high. This was the grassland on the edge of the Academic Palace.

Accompanied by the drumming from the Ministry of Rites, tens of thousands of candidates disembarked from their carriages. According to their regions of origin, they formed orderly lines and walked to the edge of the stream to listen to the admonishment delivered by senior officials from the Ministry of Rites. The content was nothing more than reminding scholars to remember their loyalty to the Emperor and love for the country.

As for the numerous officials, dignitaries, family members, and servants, they waited in pavilions along the lower reaches of the stream.

"Risheng," Song Shaoyuan, who stood in front, turned his face and whispered, "How are you feeling about the preparations?"

Li Ang nodded. "Not bad. How about you, Brother Song?"

"Also... not bad."

Their conversation, an attempt to alleviate tension, was not particularly enlightening. The senior official from the Ministry of Rites finally stopped his long admonishment about loyalty to the Emperor.

Then, the Academic Palace Sacrificial Official, Chen Danqiu—a plainly dressed, expressionless middle-aged man—came up to explain the examination standards.

The preliminary test of the Academic Palace was divided into two parts: compulsory and elective.

The compulsory part included Scriptures, Poetry, Strategies, and Horse Riding and Shooting. The first three were to be completed in a single session, with those finishing first being able to prioritize their Horse Riding and Shooting test.

The elective content included, but was not limited to, Mathematics, Yu Law, National History, Phonetics, Painting, Military Attack, Chess, Engineering, and more.

Passing the preliminary test of the Academic Palace was based on a combined score, primarily considering the grades of compulsory items such as Scriptures and Poetry. As for electives such as Mathematics, Yu Law, and Phonetics, it was up to the candidates to choose whether to participate. If they performed averagely and showed only mediocre talent, they wouldn’t gain any bonus points. Only those whose performance in the electives was exceptionally outstanding, meeting or even exceeding the expectations of the Academic Palace Instructors, could receive points on a discretionary basis.

This was also considered an extra opportunity for those scholars who were not adept with the pen but possessed a particular skill. However, this was very challenging. Bearing in mind that the Instructors at the Academic Palace were each an authority in their field, standing out among the crowd was something only the genius of geniuses could achieve.

The subjects I’m most confident about in the examination are Mathematics. Calculus, algebra, geometry... I have more than enough to tackle ’Nine Chapters,’ ’Conjugation Technique,’ and ’Island.’ For the other subjects, I have no such confidence, especially Military Attack.

Li Ang glanced at the distant group of muscle-bound candidates with savage faces and full beards, recommended by the Ministry of War, who were eager to try. He silently complained, The maximum age for entering the Academic Palace is eighteen, right? These guys are eighteen years old? They must be on steroids!

Forget Military Attack; that’s the domain of the Ministry of War’s recommended students. While other scholars from the State Schools are still learning how to butcher a chicken, those fellows have probably already been slaying enemy generals on the battlefield.

Yu Law and National History... feel a bit out of reach too, with my scores on past exams barely above the passing line. Painting, on the other hand, might be worth a try, given my experience in medical drawing and illustration...

Li Ang shook his head, clearing the cluttered thoughts from his mind.

The speech by the Academic Palace Sacrificial Official Chen Danqiu was still ongoing. Zhai Yiming scanned the officials on the stage, memorizing the faces of the Academic Palace Directors, Supervisors, Doctors, and Instructors, then muttered in a low voice, "Why don’t I see the Mountain Master?"

"It’s only the preliminary test. Of course, the Mountain Master wouldn’t be present."

Yang Yu emerged from the crowd, jumped in front of the scholars from Yizhou, and said in a lowered voice, "You wouldn’t expect to see the Mountain Master until at least the final stage of the third trial."

"Mr. Yang?" Song Shaoyuan said in a surprised whisper, "What are you doing here? Aren’t you from Chang’an?"

"It doesn’t matter. When the time comes, candidates from all places will be mixed up and randomly assigned to various examination rooms, so it doesn’t matter which side you stand on." Yang Yu chuckled and nodded toward the front left. "Yong Erlang isn’t standing with the Xiangzhou candidates either, is he?"

Li Ang followed his gaze toward the front left and saw Yong Hongzhong standing with a group of young men and women dressed in luxurious clothes. They appeared composed, though Yong Hongzhong himself looked somewhat nervous.

"Those are the legitimate children of the Chang’an nobility."

Counting on his fingers, Yang Yu said casually, "The fourth son, Pei Jing, from the household of Minister of the Left Pei Su; the eldest son, Chou Jinghuan, from the household of the Deputy Minister of Ministry of Personnel Chou Wenhan; the sixth son from the family of an Assistant in the Ministry of Supervision; the daughter from the family of the Great General of the Left Brave Guard..."

Zhai Yiming’s eyelid twitched. Yu Country followed the Sui system. The position of Minister of the Ministry of Supervision—who theoretically held authority over the Six Ministries and wielded power in the court second only to His Majesty the Emperor—had always been vacant, with no one appointed to fill it. The Minister of the Left was, in practice, the Minister, the true, bona fide Prime Minister of Yu Country.

"But on the bright side, aren’t we now standing in the same place as those sons and daughters favored by the heavens?" Yang Yu chuckled. "The Academic Palace exams are strict and won’t show leniency because of royal or noble relationships. Whether you can pass all three stages still depends on knowledge... and luck."

Luck, eh?

Li Ang scanned the surrounding nervous scholars, his gaze settling on a group of young men and women with high noses, blond hair, and blue eyes.

"Why are there so many Hu Ren?" a Yizhou student next to them asked before anyone else could.

Yang Yu replied in a low voice, "The Academic Palace, after all, teaches without discrimination. Don’t let their blond hair and blue eyes fool you; these are actually descendants of Hu Shang families that have lived in Chang’an for decades or even centuries. They speak the Chang’an dialect more fluently than anyone. Apart from the Hu Ren, there are also Zhou people, Southern Zhao people, West Jing People, Fusang people, and even noble Turkic people and Desert People from the Ten Thousand Desolate Mountains."

Pointing at those students of various skin and hair colors standing away from the main group, Yang Yu said indifferently, "As long as they can pass the exam, the Academic Palace will admit them just the same."

"This..." The Yizhou student gaped and asked, "Aren’t we enemies with Nanzhou and the Turkic peoples? The Academic Palace takes them as Disciples; aren’t they afraid they’ll go back and strengthen their motherlands’ national power?"

"The barbarians are uncivilized and backward," Yang Yu said. "If those people truly become Academic Palace Disciples, receive the best education and lifestyle, and then return to their savage motherlands, they themselves will find it hard to adapt. They would prefer to reside in Chang’an long term. Besides, enriching the national strength of a great country is not something that one or two Academic Palace Disciples can achieve—it’s like trying to put out a fire with a cup of water. It would take at least a hundred Doctors to make a dent."

Yang Yu continued, "Take the Turkic peoples, for example. Their tribes move with the waters and pastures, seasonally migrating thousands of miles each year. If they were truly to learn from Yu Country’s agricultural lifestyles, build palaces, and establish a system of officials and laws, it would only lead their tribes to break apart on their own. Although, as this continues, the gap in national strength between Yu Country and the Turkic peoples will only grow wider, and they are bound to collapse eventually anyway."

A proud smile, typical of Yu people, emerged on Yang Yu’s face.

In this world, the powerful Yu Country did not fear any other power. Even toward the Haotian Temple on Taihao Mountain, its respect was greater than its fear.

The Academic Palace was the foundation of Yu Country’s confidence.

DONG! DONG! DONG!

As the speech by the Academic Palace Sacrificial Official Chen Danqiu came to an end, the melodious sound of a bell rang out. An Academic Palace Instructor used scissors to cut the hemp rope strung across the front of the examination hall, allowing the candidates to enter.

The first round of the Academic Palace exam had begun.

The families of the candidates in the pavilions downstream also heard the loud bell, and many parents sat in their seats, praying silently or softly for their children.

Chai Cuiqiao was among them. Her eyes were closed, palms pressed together in devotion, and she was murmuring under her breath. A richly dressed young girl next to her leaned in with curiosity, only to hear Chai Cuiqiao muttering, "Amitabha Buddha, Lord Lao Zi of the Great Monad, God of Wealth, Kitchen God, enforce your edicts swiftly! I am willing to give up dinners and late-night snacks for three years—no, two years—no, actually, three months will do! Three months of dinners and late-night snacks in exchange for my Young Master to excel in the exam. Young Master, you absolutely must pass..."