Chapter 167: Achievements

Huang Laocai made the decision to give up the exam this time, and he was always worried, not knowing whether this decision was right or wrong.

They did not leave the county town immediately, and wanted to see the results of the announcement.

On the night before the announcement, a county government official found the inn where they lived.

"Is it Huang Mancang?"

The official looked at Huang Laocai in front of him and Huang Mancang who was sick in bed.

"Yes, yes, yes..."

Huang Laocai quickly bent down and smiled brightly.

"I wonder what the officer can do for you?"

The officer was not in a hurry to speak, but looked up with a sidelong glance and wiped the non-existent sweat on his face.

"Damn, I'm so hot running all the way!"

Huang Laocai immediately felt sorry, and quickly took out a bottle of Peiyuan Guben Pills from his arms and presented it to the officer with both hands.

"You've worked hard, officer. Here's a small bottle of sugar beans to relieve the summer heat for you."

The officer took the bottle, opened it in front of him and took a look, and then put it in his arms with satisfaction.

"Our master wants to ask, do you still want the 17th place in the military examination?"

Even Huang Laocai, who has seen a lot of things in the world, was stunned when he heard this.

Huang Mancang has already given up the exam, is there still hope?

"Can we still get the military examination in this way?"

"Well, it is indeed a bit difficult to give up the exam after losing in the competition, but if you get full marks in the military book and war strategy exam, there will be no problem."

The yamen runner's implication is very clear. The military book and war strategy exam is a written exam with a lot of room for maneuver.

But it is difficult and requires extra money.

"Thank you for your kindness, master. Huang Mancang broke his bones and can't get out of bed for a short time. I'm afraid it will delay state affairs. Let's take the exam again after the injury is healed."

Since Huang Laocai has given up the exam, there is no need to spend money to buy it back.

"Okay!"

The yamen runner heard this and turned away without looking at Huang Laocai again.

After seeing the yamen runners leave, Huang Mancang rolled over and got up from the bed.

"Dad, I gave up the exam, but I was still able to rank on the list."

Huang Laocai was silent for a long time before he slowly said:

"I'll send the pig at home to the foot of Shekou Mountain when I go back. Even if I give up the exam, I have to thank Master Zhang."

"Isn't the piglet still grown up?"

"It has been raised for more than half a year, and it has weighed dozens of kilograms. Master Zhang has so many people under him, so he can continue to raise it for a year or two before killing it."

…………

The day of the announcement of the results soon arrived. Those who passed the exam were beaming with joy and congratulated each other with the people around them.

From now on, they have completely broken through the shackles and are no longer the meat on the chopping board to be divided.

Even if they only seek a small official position, they are qualified to hold the butcher knife and divide the meat from the chopping board.

Many onlookers cast eyes of envy and jealousy.

The envious crowd naturally included Huang Laocai and his son. Although they gave up, it did not affect their continued envy.

The careful Huang Laocai found that the number of martial arts candidates this year was much more than in previous years.

At this time, a team of county government servants shouted and pushed the crowd away, "Get out of the way! Get out of the way!"

"Congratulations to all the new candidates!"

"I wish all the candidates will be promoted step by step in the future, get promoted and make money!"

These servants walked up to the new candidates to congratulate them.

These new candidates all knew the rules, and they quickly took out various treasures from their pockets to reward all the servants.

The servants received the benefits and dispersed the crowded crowd. Not long after, they saw the county governor coming out of the county government.

"The Lord Qingtian is coming out!"

"Xia Qingtian!"

The onlookers were so scared when they saw the county governor that they knelt down and kowtowed, calling Qingtian.

Several children who were crying just now were almost suffocated by their parents covering their mouths and noses.

Xia Qingtian, who was kowtowed by everyone, was the mortal enemy of Er Gouzi and Sima Yi, the previous county magistrate of Anchang County.

Ever since he got the title of Qingtian Da Lao Ye in Anchang County.

He enjoyed the feeling of the unruly people kneeling on the ground and shouting Qingtian Da Lao Ye in unison.

When he first became the county magistrate, some unruly people were ignorant and didn't even know that he was Qingtian Da Lao Ye.

For such unruly people, they would naturally know that the current county magistrate was a Qingtian Da Lao Ye after suffering a little loss.

Only the newly promoted scholars were nervous and excited.

They seemed to see their own future from the county magistrate.

They were excited to think that they could become such a superior person in the future.

"No need to be polite, fellow martial arts candidates!"

"I wish you all success in the imperial examinations and a smooth career!"

"Thank you, Lord County Magistrate!"

When the Lord County Magistrate said this, the faces of these candidates flushed, as if they had seen themselves in official robes.

"A good man has ambitions in all directions. Now there is a chance to serve the court and make achievements. You need to show your skills."

The newly-promoted martial arts candidates were just looking forward to their own ambitions, but they didn't expect that the opportunity would fall on their heads so soon.

It's really a good thing that someone will send a pillow to you in your dreams.

"I don't know what we need to do for you!"

"As candidates, we should be brave and strive to be the first to serve the court!"

"Even if there are mountains of swords and seas of fire ahead, we should live and die."

"..."

These candidates appeared in front of the Lord County Magistrate for the first time, so of course they had to perform hard and try to leave a good impression.

Everyone has read the books of sages, and naturally they are good at flattery, far beyond the reach of those farmers.

"Good! I am relieved that you can be so loyal."

The county magistrate saw that everyone was so enthusiastic and active, and his face showed his appreciation for the young people.

"Everyone should know that the Wan Yao Kingdom in the south took advantage of the severe drought in Qingzhou a few years ago and cooperated with the evil cult to invade the border of Da Zhou and plunder the population of the border."

After the county magistrate said this, the people watching outside the yamen were also excited.

"The Wan Yao Kingdom is too hateful!"

"We must take revenge!"

Several candidates suddenly realized that something seemed wrong and began to remain silent.

If it weren't for the public anger, they would even want to persuade everyone to be patient, because war is not good for anyone.

Only a few martial arts candidates who hadn't figured it out followed the crowd and made a fuss as if nothing had happened.

The county magistrate narrowed his eyes. He was very satisfied with the atmosphere at the scene. The atmosphere was almost set.

"According to the decision of Qingzhou Prefecture, all the martial arts candidates who passed the list this year will be sent to the border of Wan Yao Country to make achievements and defend the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty."

As soon as the county magistrate finished speaking, there was a burst of applause from the crowd.

"Good! Good..."

"Flatten Wan Yao Country..."

"Flatten Wan Yao Country..."

Huang Mancang in the crowd couldn't help cheering a few times.

"A real man stands between heaven and earth, reporting to the king and the people, why fear death!"

"If you can't share the worries of the king and can't protect the people's stability, what's the point of keeping this head!"

There were so many onlookers at the scene, and no one was as excited as Huang Mancang.

At this moment, he made full use of the sage books he had read over the years.

Only the newly promoted martial arts candidates were dumbfounded and stunned.

The atmosphere has become so heated. I just expressed my opinion. With so many eyes on me, I can't say now that I don't dare to go.

"Is it only our martial arts exam?"

Finally, a martial arts candidate asked boldly.

"Yes, there are many martial arts candidates in the past, but they are all in important positions and cannot be transferred for the time being."

"You are all loyal and brave pillars of the country. I believe you will not be afraid of death. Everyone go back and prepare. We will set off in three days."

"Those who disobey the order will be executed!"

The county governor threw down a sentence and turned to the county government office.

Only a group of cheering onlookers and stupid martial arts candidates were left.

They have practiced for many years, and have gone through untold hardships, giving gifts to please, and being humble.

They thought that they would finally become the best and become the meat eaters holding the butcher knife.

I didn't expect that after all this trouble, I'd still be left with meat on the chopping board...

On the way back, Huang Laocai and his son Huang Mancang seemed extremely excited, happier than if he had saved his life for nothing.

"Dad, you're really as good as a god!"

"Nothing, just a few more years of life!"

Huang Laocai didn't seem very excited, and remained silent.

"Although we have temporarily escaped a disaster, don't be too happy too early."

"Since the border war has come to this point, we farmers will be the ones who suffer in the end."

Huang Laocai kept frowning, he was making a difficult decision.

Because of the border war, the government has collected a large amount of food and civilians in various places in recent years to supply the front line.

Many small landlords around Shekou Mountain were overwhelmed and had sold their own land to become tenants under Ergouzi.

Huang Laocai originally planned that his son would escape this disaster if he passed the imperial examination.

Now that he has given up the title of juren, he has temporarily saved his life, but it may not be easy in the future.

Huang Mancang's title as a military scholar can only last for a while, but it may not be useful when the critical moment comes.