Chapter 495 Rebuilding Home and Country (11)

[Maplestone City]

[town Hall]

In the marking room that was temporarily transformed from a conference room, someone was furious.

"Come and listen! What the hell are these answers!"

Andre picked up the test paper that fell on the table, turned to the other people in the marking room, and read word by word:

"Common knowledge, question 5, [Why can boats float on water]? Answer, [Because wood can float on water, so boats can float on water]."

There was a burst of cheerful laughter in the marking room.

"[Expletive]!" Andre slammed the test paper on the table again and cursed: "The answers are all in the questions, and you can still get the wrong answer!"

The laughter in the marking room became louder.

Andre pushed hard at the edge of the test booklet - the part covered with names and seat numbers, trying to open a gap.

After discovering that the binding of the test booklet was very strong and could not be broken with just his hands, he looked around for a paper knife.

"No!" Andre muttered nervously: "I must see, I must see who is this idiot who can be so stupid!"

"Hey! The volume in your hand is pretty good. Listen to my volume!" Another one-eyed cavalry captain who was grading papers next to him turned around, held up the examination paper, and read in a measured tone: "Common sense, No. 1 Five questions. Ask, [Why can boats float on water]. Answer..."

The one-eyed captain deliberately paused for a moment to whet the appetite of the others, and then revealed the suspense: "...[because it is the will of the Lord]."

There was another burst of laughter in the marking room.

The one-eyed captain picked up the handkerchief, took off his blindfold, and wiped his empty eye sockets: "Oh, it's true, it hurts my wounds."

In a sense, this exam covering all informal officers in the army is almost a large-scale test of the New Republic Army, so the exam results are naturally very important information.

The preparatory meeting cannot—and is embarrassed to—appoint outsiders to review the test papers.

Therefore, all regular officers who were off duty and could still move, including wounded soldiers like Captain Lauzon, all appeared at the review site.

As Andre and Lauzon fired the first and second shots, the atmosphere in the marking room became completely lively.

All the official officers responded with the outrageous answers they saw.

"Politics, the first question is, [What is the full name of 'League'?]" Someone laughed heartily: "Answer, [The full name of 'League' is 'League']."

"Geography, the second question, [the 'two mountains' in the narrow land of two mountains, which two mountain ranges do you refer to?]" Some people were dumbfounded: "Answer, [Nanshan and Beishan]. Hey! I really can't say that he is completely wrong. , at least the direction is correct."

A voice floated from the corner of the marking room: "Then please listen to the answer of the person at hand. [The 'two mountains' in the narrow land of two mountains refers to]...[big mountains and small mountains]."

Not to be outdone, another officer said: "[White Mountain and Black Mountain]."

"[Yinque Mountain and Tiefeng Mountain]." Someone killed the game and joked: "I just realized that the 'land' in the two narrow mountains refers to newly cultivated land!"

"Geography questions are trivial, come and listen to me! Current affairs, the third question, [Who is the former chief state secretary of the federal provinces and the current actual ruler of the federal provinces?]"

Some people were so happy that they said, "Answer, [the former Secretary of State was Blood Wolf, and the current leader is Winters Montagne]."

One stone stirred up a thousand waves, and someone else immediately followed, reading loudly: "Current events, the fourth question, [Who is the current chairman of the Grand Council of the Zhuwangbao government who launched a coup in Zhuwangbao in early 559, leading to the outbreak of civil war?" ]. Answer, [It’s a blood wolf].”

"Current events, question five, [Who is the current marshal of the Hongchuan military government?]. Answer, [It is His Excellency Winters Montagne]."

"Current affairs, question six, [Who is the current governor of the Republic of Veneta?]. The answer is [Your Excellency Blood Wolf]."

"Current events, question seven...[Blood Wolf]."

A pair of answers, and everyone suddenly discovered that any question asking a person's name was the hardest hit area for "Winters Montagne" and "Blood Wolf".

Captain Lauzon patted Andre on the shoulder and asked teasingly: "Lieutenant Cellini, what's going on with your people? Do you know a blood wolf?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Andre said angrily: "I have this in my hand now. I asked who is the leader of the Hongchuan Military Government, and the answer was [Richard Mason]!"

The marking room erupted into unprecedented laughter, and everyone laughed until tears flowed from their eyes.

After the laughter dissipated, Andre let out a long sigh, slumped down on the only reclining chair in the marking room, covered his face with the paper, and shouted sadly:

"So we have been relying on such a group of illiterate people to fight the war?!"

Captain Lauzon couldn't help laughing: "Otherwise, what do you think? Do you think everyone knows as much knowledge as we do?"

Richard Mason pushed a small cart of newly bound test papers and distributed them all the way, and finally came to Andre and Lauzon, just in time to hear their conversation.

Looking at the cavalry and infantry alumni in the marking room who openly laughed at others, Mason couldn't help but shook his head slightly and sighed.

"Why are you sighing?" Andre was sensitively aware of the senior's micro-expression. He sat up suddenly as if he had been pricked by a needle: "At least I know that the reason why a boat floats on water is because of buoyancy!"

"I know you know." Mason explained calmly at first, then comforted Andre in a hoarse voice: "I'm not laughing at you."

Then, he sighed again and whispered softly: "I'm just sighing - what a great power education is."

"Ah?" Andre didn't understand what the senior's words meant for a while.

"Quickly mark the papers, hurry up and mark the papers." Before Andre could react, Mason quickly pushed the test paper booklet on the trolley into Andre's hand and urged: "There are probably no reserve officers taking the exam tonight. One of them can fall asleep. Hurry up and get the papers approved so that we can announce the next step and put them at ease."

Andre instinctively took the test paper. He was about to complain a few times and complain that there were too few markers, but Senior Mason had already pushed the cart and slipped away quickly.

Andre and Lauzon looked at each other and had to reluctantly return to their posts and continue to face the outrageous answers that made their scalps numb.

On the other side, Mason pushed the cart back to the binding room at the other end of the corridor and found that the clerks in charge of binding were no longer there. The only one left in the binding room, Lieutenant Woods of White Mountain County, was making hot honey water from flowers and plants.

"Is it all bound?" Mason asked hoarsely.

"Yes, they are all bound." Lieutenant Woods pointed to the test paper on the ground and replied in the same hoarse voice: "It's too late, so I took it upon myself to let the clerks go first."

With that said, Engineer Lieutenant Woods poured a cup of fragrant and steaming honey water to Artillery Captain Mason and said with emotion: "It's not easy, senior."

Mason took the hot honey water, but did not taste it directly. Instead, he waited until Lieutenant Woods poured himself a glass, then gently clinked the glass with the latter as if celebrating a victory: "Yeah, it's not easy, but we still put it together." It’s done.”

The two of them turned their attention to the conference table, where the last thirty sets of examination papers waiting for review lay quietly there, like a pile of ordinary files.

But looking at this ordinary result, it is completely unimaginable how much effort and sweat Richard Mason, Woods Friend and other preparers of this exam put in to obtain it.

Compared with holding the exam itself, what is the difficulty if there are not enough marking staff?

It should be noted that just instilling the concept of "examination" into the subjects has already exhausted Mason and Woods.

Except for a small number of people who were taught by Winters Montagne personally during the first founding of the army, most informal officers and reserve officers have not received formal cultural education and do not even understand what an "examination" is. It is confused with "test".

As a result, many candidates take it for granted that the "examination" is similar to the questions that mortals must answer if they want to pass the gate of heaven after death, such as "Are you pious?" "Are you loyal?" "Have you ever lied?" etc;

Or some of the great deeds that heroes must accomplish in legends and stories - catching pigs, killing snakes, catching cows and even life-and-death duels.

Many people were frightened because ordinary people would definitely not be able to pass the questioning from the gatekeeper of heaven. Otherwise, why would there be a purgatory and a confessional?

And the heroes who catch pigs and cows have to face the test of almost death. Just think about it and you know how dangerous it is.

In fact, the format, subjects, scope and other information of the examination have been explained in detail in the announcements posted and distributed.

However, "the characters are too small and there are too many", "everyone can't understand" and "are too lazy to read", so all kinds of exaggerated and bizarre rumors spread like wildfire, and everyone talks about it vividly.

After learning the news, Mason and Woods, who were busy printing test papers, had to personally visit the military camps in various counties to hold meetings with the candidates and explain the relevant content of the "exam" in person.

I don’t know how many words were wasted, how many ridiculously stupid questions were answered, and how many patient explanations were given, before this unexpected storm was calmed down and the "big exam" was successfully held without delay.

This "big exam" not only has exam rooms in Maple Rock City, but also in Warnie County, Tiefeng County, Baishan County, Leiqun County, Bianjiang County and even Jinghu County.

The pre-printed test papers have been sent to all counties immediately. If the exam is postponed, it will affect the whole body.

There was no time to notify the examination centers in Tiefeng County and Bianjiang County, which were far away. Once the first two open the test papers in advance, in principle, all the test papers will be invalid and the questions will have to be reissued.

This would not only cause a huge waste, but would also embarrass the whole province.

On the other hand, the successful holding of this "big test" covering the newly cultivated land was also a beautiful display of skill under the watchful eyes of the county administrative agencies, municipalities and even the powerful families of Maple Stone City.

This time, it was an internal "test" within the army.

The next time, it will also cover the newly cultivated land, but it will be aimed at "selection" other than the military.

The new republic will no longer only draw money, products and war horses from the newly cultivated land, but also the talents of this land.

At that time, the intellectual class and gentry families in the newly cultivated land will all have to make a decision - whether to jump on this new ship.

That's what they're going to worry about.

And now, Richard Mason and Woods Frank, who have overcome all kinds of difficulties and successfully completed such a feat, deserve to celebrate with a warm glass of honey water... and treat their throats at the same time.

"What's next?" Woods asked quietly.

"The next step is to wait for the test papers to be approved and the results to be listed." Mason sipped the hot honey water and sighed: "The level of illiteracy in the officer corps... is worse than we expected."

"Don't be afraid, just teach them." Woods glanced at the door where the noise came from, and teased: "Since the old marshal's military academy can teach those muscle sticks to become what they are now, then what do we have to worry about? .”

As soon as these words came out, the two looked at each other and smiled knowingly.

But soon Mason fell into his habitual worry. He held the cup and said distressedly: "But where are we going to find so many teachers now? We are so short of manpower! So short of qualified clerks!" I'm almost exhausted, we can't let those guys..."

Mason pointed to the other end of the corridor with his toes: "Going to be an elementary teacher? I'm afraid they don't have that much patience."

Woods was also troubled, but after experiencing the Battle of Riverdale, the once cautious engineer lieutenant had learned not to worry about tomorrow tonight.

"Let's enjoy it now." Woods said with a smile, and he walked to the filing cabinet in the corner: "I know the place where the scribes hide their wine, it should be..."

After a brief rummaging, Woods pulled out a bottle of wine from the pile of scrolls: "Here!"

"Do clerks usually drink at work?" Mason was stunned.

"If you don't drink some wine." Woods replied with a smile: "How can you survive it? Hot honey water mixed with a little wine will taste better."

After that, Woods poured a little wine into Mason's and his own wine glasses.

The dark red wine liquid and light golden honey water are mixed, showing a gorgeous light pink color.

"To the great education." Woods raised his glass: "It makes us who we are."

Mason thought for a while, smiled and clinked his glasses: "There is also a test - asking questions is indeed more interesting than doing them."

…

On the other side, at the Winters home.

"Why are there only two?" Winters glanced at the two new spellcasting students sitting in the living room, staring at each other. While pouring wine for Lieutenant Colonel Moritz, he asked sadly: "There is one more It’s stupid.”

Smelling the smell of alcohol, the tip of Lieutenant Colonel Moritz's nose twitched slightly involuntarily, making his delicate facial features become a little unnatural.

But the lieutenant colonel didn't reach out to touch the cup in the end.

"It's good to have two." The league's top spellcaster explained listlessly to Winters: "It's normal to have none."

Winters looked at the Lieutenant Colonel carefully and asked carefully: "Have you really stopped drinking?"

"Quit." Lieutenant Colonel Moritz yawned. Winters felt like he would never be able to imitate that kind of lazy movement.

"Then leave them both to you, okay?" Winters asked solemnly.

Lieutenant Colonel Moritz yawned again, not wanting to say a single unnecessary word: "Don't worry, that's all."

"Come here." Winters waved.

Claude and Vashika moved to Winters in small steps without knowing why.

"Originally, it should be more ceremonial, but..." Winters glanced at Lieutenant Colonel Moritz who was already sleepy, cleared his throat, smiled and said to Claude and Vashika: " All in all, congratulations to both of you, you have been released."

It took Claude and Vashika a while to figure out what "walk" meant. Joy instantly overflowed from their eyes. If they were not in front of the blood wolf, they would have jumped up and punched in celebration.

Immediately afterwards, the two heard the blood wolf say something they didn't quite understand: "Starting from today, you will be selected to become the first batch of students in the Magic Combat Course of the Second Military Academy, and you will be fortunate enough to receive Moritz Van ·Lieutenant Colonel Nassou teaches skills. This means that I, the Supreme Council, and the Republic have absolute trust in you. The following words are what they said to me when I was selected. Now, I will tell you."

Winters held Claude and Vashika's hands, and briefly projected a stinging magical fire from his palm to their palms.

"When you use this power one day, remember where it comes from." Winters said word by word: "Do not let down the blood of the martyrs."

Claude and Vashika nodded confusedly but solemnly.

Lieutenant Colonel Moritz was leaning listlessly against the wine cabinet. There seemed to be a little tear in his half-closed eyes.

"Now." Winters released his hand and ordered: "Step back half a step."

Claude and Vashika reflexively took a half-step back.

"stand at attention."

Claude and Vashika stood straight at attention.

"Salute." Winters also took half a step back, and together with Claude and Vasya, saluted the lieutenant colonel: "Salute to the best spellcaster in the alliance!"

Moritz stood up straight little by little, pressed the heels of his boots together, and solemnly returned the greeting.

…

The next day.

Also at the Winters home.

"Wait." Winters, half lying on the bench, took the flyer away from his eyes, sat up, raised his eyebrows and looked at the little Priskin on the other side of the small table: "What do you mean? Who wrote this?"

As the blood wolf slapped the flyer on the table, the sensational title printed in enlarged font on the first line of the flyer was also exposed to little Priskin's vision:

"Lies, Betrayal and Massacre - The Second Bloody Night in the Castles of Kings from beginning to end"

"Kay Morland." Little Priskin crossed his knees and answered in a low voice.

[Late but arrived]

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