In the early morning of the next day, Zhao Liang accompanied Zheng Luya and Yang Ru to the Guozijian in the Imperial City of the Great Song Dynasty to participate in the civil and military competition for the position of commander of the newly formed speed aid division.

Although today is only the part of the literary examination, the main test is the level of reading and literacy of the applicants and the skills of military writing and strategy, and the rules are also a bit similar to the composition answer sheets in the modern examination room, and there is no wonderful competition, but it still attracts a large number of Kaifeng people to watch here.

From the gate of Guozijian to the street on both sides, the road is crowded with people, shoulder to shoulder, as if it is a temple fair during the New Year's Festival, and it is lively.

All those who signed up for the examination received a ribbon issued by the military department in advance, and tied it on their chest or waist, and the bright red color was clear at a glance. In the cheers and cheers of the people, everyone lined up in an orderly manner to enter the Guozijian and prepare for the upcoming exam.

Zhao Liang sat on the horse, looking at the noisy scene in front of him, and couldn't help but sigh in his heart: ancient information technology was not developed, and people also lacked rich entertainment activities, so such open competitions are often particularly easy to arouse the interest of the people, so as to actively participate. In particular, this kind of important competition in selecting military personnel and then leading troops into battle has not even begun, but it has greatly aroused the enthusiasm and morale of the people, and it is by no means comparable to ordinary shows.

In addition, today's literary test has another meaning, that is, to try to eliminate those reckless men who only know how to fight and do not understand literature and ink.

After all, this time it's not about competing for hegemony in the ring, it's about selecting qualified commanders, so no matter how strong your martial arts are, you can't do it without culture.

Sure enough, since he knew that he also had to examine the ability to write and fight in the military book, the more than 300 people who originally signed up for the selection were suddenly reduced to about 40, and most of them were the sons of nobles from the generals, or young officers in the forbidden armies in the capital.

Zhao Liang watched Zheng Luya and Yang Ru enter the field, and saw Yang Zongbao also enter the Guozijian accompanied by the official messenger from a distance. After waiting for a while, I heard three loud gongs in the courtyard, and I knew that this was the beginning of the exam.

He looked at the sun, it was estimated that there would be no two or three hours, and I am afraid that this proposition essay exam for civil servants in the Northern Song Dynasty will not be over, and he will have nothing to do while waiting here, so it is better to take advantage of the free time now to go and see Li Erbai and them.

According to the address that Erbai had left for him before, Zhao Liang inquired as he walked, and after a while, he came to the Taoist temple where the Dark Sect settled in Kaifeng Mansion.

Located in the south of the city near Bianliang, Tokyo, it is a quiet and elegant small temple. Zhao Liang dismounted and pushed the door, walked straight into the Taoist temple and looked around, and was immediately attracted by a portrait of the main hall.

Damn, isn't this the head of the Ancestral Master's lights-out road? Zhao Liang rubbed his eyes and looked at the portrait carefully. That's right, it's the old Taoist deity. Don't even say it, I don't know which disciple of the Dark Sect has a wonderful pen Danqing, who actually painted the lights out Dao Chang vividly, as if he had come to front of him.

After thousands of years of time and space, Zhao Liang has not seen his old friend for a long time, and now he witnesses the portrait of the lights out road chief, which immediately evokes all kinds of memories in his heart, and he can't help but sigh in his heart, and he looks a little stupid for a while.

At this moment, a familiar voice sounded in the corridor next to him: "Oh, Uncle Shi, your old man is here, the disciple has not been able to greet him from afar, and I ask Uncle Immortal for forgiveness." ”

Zhao Liang came back to his senses, turned his head to look, and it was the ingots who spoke. The chubby little Taoist priest bowed respectfully to himself. Zhao Liang took a closer look and found that what this guy was holding in his hand was not the dust that Taoist priests used to use, but the abacus commonly used by businessmen.

Zhao Liang couldn't help but sneer: "Hey, it turned out to be an ingot, what's the matter, what about settling the account just now?" ”

"Uncle Hui Immortal, the disciple is indeed settling accounts," Yuan Bao was a little sullen when he heard this, and replied: "Since the senior brother in charge led everyone north to fight the enemy, the cost has become bigger and bigger. A while ago, the four brothers came back from the front line to urge food, but they were worried about the ingots. ”

Zhao Liangqi said: "Since they are contributing to the country, why don't they ask the government to help them receive help, or buy grain on the spot in northern Xinjiang, why do they come all the way back to urge food?" ”

Yuanbao invited Zhao Liang to sit down in the wing, served the teacup and said, "Uncle Immortal, you don't know anything. First, the senior brother said that we were willing to fight, so we couldn't ask the government for food and grass supplies; Second, there have been years of war in northern Xinjiang, and the people are struggling to make a living, and now a large army is gathered, and the people have no food to buy. Therefore, I have to find a way to get food from other places for the food of my brothers and sisters. In the current situation, the cost of transporting grain is more expensive than the grain itself, and it is really about to be unraveled. ”

Zhao Liang thought for a moment and asked, "Yuanbao, the temple of Zongzheng Temple, it seems that his name is Zhao Huiting, do you know him?" ”

"Oh, you're talking about Zhao Huiting, Earl of Huaiyang, right?" Yuan Bao said: "I have dealt with him before, and I have arranged several dojo rituals for his house, and I have earned some errand money by the way. What did he do, you ask? ”

Zhao Liang smiled: "Okay, it's good to know." You know, I am now the Marquis of Lin'an, who was enshrined by His Majesty, and I have hundreds of hectares of fertile land in Jiangnan Huangzhuang, and I heard that there are more than 1,000 tenants cultivating it. If you have time to go to Zongzheng Temple, just say that I said it, and hand over the fiefdom to you to take care of it, and in the future, you can grasp the arrangement of the food and clothing of our dim faction. ”

"Really?!" Xiao Yuanbao was overjoyed when he heard this, and almost jumped up on the spot: "That's great!" Daozu bless Daozu bless! Uncle Shi, now the disciples can be developed, and the food, clothing, and housing of a hundred and ten people will no longer have to worry! ”

Zhao Liang was also happy for Yuanbao, and instructed him to take the pen and paper, write down a document, and clearly entrust the Lin'an Hou fiefdom to Daomen to take care of, and then sign and draw at the payment office. Yuan Bao folded the documents neatly, and after putting them in his arms, he was very grateful. Zhao Liang hurriedly asked him not to see outside, and then asked, "What about your senior brother?" Hasn't he come back yet? ”

Yuan Bao replied, "Senior brother came back yesterday. He said that he had followed your decree and took his four juniors out on errands. ”

Zhao Liang remembered that he had asked Erbai to arrange manpower to secretly protect the two colleagues of the Great Song Division of the Anti-Penetration Bureau, Xiao Feng and Duan Yu. Li Erbai acted resolutely, and immediately took action, and it is estimated that he has already gone to Yingtian's side to find someone at this time.

Since Li Erbai was not at home, Zhao Liang was idle, and he chatted with Yuan Bao for a few words, and when he saw that the time was about the same, he got up and said goodbye. Yuan Bao was worried about the fiefdom in his heart, and he didn't leave much of the immortal uncle, sent Zhao Liang out of the Taoist temple, and went to Zongzheng Temple himself.

Zhao Liang walked around the street for a while, and estimated that the examination room was about to end, so he walked to Guozijian with confidence. He was only halfway through the road, and he saw Yang Ru and Zheng Luya riding towards him from a distance.

"How's the test?" Zhao Liang asked with a smile.

Yang Ru stuck out her tongue: "I can't." The strategy article was so-so, but when the battle formation was compared, I answered it in a daze. ”

Zheng Luya comforted her: "Don't worry, exams are often like this, the more bottomless you are, the more surprising the final results will be." ”

Zhao Liang asked Xiaoya: "What about you?" Isn't it even more bottomless? ”

"That's it," Zheng Lu Yawan smiled: "I don't know what's going on, I feel very familiar with things like exams, even if I haven't seen the questions, I don't feel scared at all." ”

Zhao Liang secretly said in his heart: Isn't that right? The college entrance examination in the modern world, it is a single-plank bridge crossed by thousands of troops, and you are always at the level of admission to Peking University, which is definitely a scholar-type examination machine. Nowadays, writing a random proposition essay is simply pediatric.

Sure enough, Zhao Liang's judgment is really reliable. Early the next morning, the emperor list was released from all over the capital, and the results of the national examination were announced, Mu Ling's name ranked first in the whole list, and Yang Zongbao and Yang Ru brothers and sisters ranked fourth and fifteenth respectively.

The martial arts competition test to recruit the commander of the rapid aid division was set up on the same day that the results of the literary examination were released. Among the more than 40 test takers, 15 of the best candidates were selected to show off their skills in the military field of the colonel.

The contest has always been unprecedented, not only the dignitaries and residents in Kaifeng City came to watch, but even Song Zhenzong himself was present in person, which immediately added a lot of luster to this competition.

Zhao Liang was invited by the little prince to sit with him on the viewing platform next to the emperor's throne. It's in a great location with a view of the whole arena.

Taking advantage of Yang Ru and Zheng Luya's preparations, the little prince introduced Zhao Liang to the rules of today's martial arts test with great interest.

The fifteen excellent competitors in the literary examination will first face a round of bow and arrow assessment. In ancient times, archery was an important skill, not only those who practiced martial arts needed to be proficient, but even Confucian scholars had to refer to the standards of the six arts, and learn more or less. Therefore, the first subject of the school competition is to compete in archery.

In this round, the seven worst performers will be eliminated, while the remaining eight will move on to the next stage.

They draw lots to determine the order of promotion for the knockout rounds, working in pairs, catching each other, and eliminating layer by layer.

The competition items in each round are: fists and feet, guns and sticks, and cavalry combat. At the end of each event, half of them will be brushed off until the real winner emerges in the final cavalry battle.

As the little prince was talking, the bow and arrow competition in the audience had begun. For a while, the bowstrings on the field sounded, the feather arrows galloped, and the surrounding crowd continued to burst into cheers and cheers, encouraging and applauding the superb performance of the players.

In less than half an hour, the archery link was all over, Yang Zongbao and Zheng Luya had excellent results and successfully entered the top eight list, while Yang Ru did not play well and became one of the seven people who were eliminated.

But it's no wonder that although the second miss of the Yang family was born in a general's family and has been learning various martial arts with famous teachers since she was a child, she was raised according to the delicate ladies after all. Compared with ordinary wealthy girls, she is of course outstanding in martial arts, but when it comes to the real school field, there is still a big gap between her ability and other competitors.

As the saying goes, as soon as the connoisseur makes a move, he will know if there is any, and there is no ambiguity in the competition and the battle.

However, being eliminated in advance did not affect Yang Ru's mood, she ran to the stands like a cheerful bird, sat next to Zhao Liang, and asked with a smile: "Brother Zhao, do you see Ru'er's performance okay?" ”

Before Zhao Liang could speak, the little prince said sarcastically on the side: "How can you say it's okay?" That's pretty remarkable! 100 steps to fix the target, Miss Yang shot 20 arrows and flew 18 arrows, if this is on the battlefield, it is equivalent to putting down 18 more Liao soldiers, hahaha. ”

Yang Ru glared at the little prince angrily: "Who asked you?" Dislike! ”

Zhao Liang hurriedly said: "To be honest, your level is stronger than mine." It's not easy to shoot at a distance of 100 paces, and if it were me, I might not have a single arrow. ”

"Listen, listen! Look at how much Brother Zhao can talk," Yang Ru turned into joy when she heard this, and said dissatisfiedly to the little prince: "If you look like you, you are a bastard!" ”

The little prince turned a deaf ear to Yang Ru's words, and pulled Zhao Liang and said, "Look, Miss Mu is going to be in trouble this time!" ”

When Zhao Liang and Yang Ru heard this, they hurriedly turned their eyes to the venue, only to find out. At this time, the fist and foot competition has begun, and the opponent that Zheng Luya drew is actually a big man with a height of nearly two meters and a sturdy and sturdy physique.