Approaching September, it is the autumn of this year and the day of the martial arts examination at the same time is coming, this year's situation is different from previous years, this year is the year of the martial arts and the martial arts at the same time, in previous years the martial arts and martial arts will be staggered, either this year the martial arts examination will be held, not the Wenju, or only the Wenju scientific examination, not the martial arts scientific examination, and the martial arts and the cultural examination are not held at the same time.

This year, the emperor decreed that the Wenju examination would be held on the first day of the ninth month in the Ministry of Rites Tribute Academy, for three consecutive days, and the list would be released after ten days, and candidates could view the list at the gate of the Ministry of Rites Tribute Academy; The martial arts were held on the eighth day of the ninth month at the Forbidden Army University Yard for seven consecutive days.

There is a common practice for the Wenju, and the examiner only needs to follow the usual practice of previous years, but this year's martial arts situation is different from the past, and the good result examination items have been added, so the emperor's holy decree is only a rough arrangement, and the specific method also needs to be arranged and arranged by the examiner.

The chief examiner Niu Xian is old and sick, and he can hardly get out of bed these days, and he doesn't know if he can survive this year, Zhao Ziliang, as the deputy chief examiner, has to take full responsibility, and he is also the general of the left prison guard, Chen Xuanli.

As early as the beginning of June, Zhao Ziliang asked the relevant subordinates of the Ministry of War to send a document to all parts of the country to let the candidates participating in the martial arts examination must register as soon as possible, and the registration date is until August 15, and then all parts of the country will send the registration book to the Ministry of War for the record with 800 miles of expedited fast horses, and all candidates must rush to the capital before the fifth day of September and sign in at the place specified by the Ministry of War.

On 28 August, Zhao Ziliang was in the Yamen of the Military Election Department of the Ministry of War to handle official business related to the martial arts examination, and some specific related matters had not yet been completed. He sent someone to the Left Prison Guard General's Mansion to invite Chen Xuanli.

Chen Xuanli rushed over quickly after receiving the notice, Zhao Ziliang saw him walk into the lobby door, got up to greet him and said with a smile: "General Chen, I know that you are busy with official business, but this year's martial arts examination is a big event, and some things have not yet been decided." Therefore, I must invite you over, and we will discuss it in detail! ”

Chen Xuanli had already understood Zhao Ziliang's power, and he didn't dare to rely on the old and sell the old in front of this young man, so he hurriedly said: "Your Majesty has already issued an order for a certain person to assist General Zhao, and the general can only say what he has to say!" ”

"Don't you dare to do it!" Zhao Ziliang said and welcomed Chen Xuanli into the lobby and sat down.

Looking for someone to bring tea, the two talked while drinking tea, Zhao Ziliang said: "Regarding the examiners, referees and miscellaneous servants of the martial arts examination, etc., the issue of preventing some people from engaging in fraud has not been decided, and the closer these candidates are to the date of the big exam, the easier it is to prevent the leakage of exam questions." Now there are only ten days until the eighth day of the ninth month, and I think it's time to select these people, so I ask the general to come over and discuss! ”

Chen Xuanli nodded and said: "The general is thoughtful, and if you can't do it, just say what you think."

Zhao Ziliang said: "I think so, those generals and schools in the Ministry of War are only afraid that someone has already contacted them, and the candidates for referees, examiners and miscellaneous servants cannot all be let them do it. The rest were drawn from the guards, colonels and soldiers. The examiners are those with the rank of general, the referees are the captains, and the miscellaneous officers are the soldiers. They were not allowed to come into contact with other people, and all of them were gathered in a barracks of the general's left prison guard, until the eighth day of the ninth month, when they could not meet with anyone from the outside world, and no one knew that they were the examiners, referees, and miscellaneous servants of this martial arts examination. Prevent examiners, referees and handymen from leaking exam questions to the greatest extent. It also prevents these people from colluding with the candidates inside and outside to cheat in advance, what does the general think? ”

"Bump", "Wonderful!" Chen Xuanli listened to Zhao Ziliang's words and was immediately amazed, "This method is very wonderful, General Zhao is really wonderful."

"Okay, since General Chen agrees, then handle it in accordance with this law, and after General Chen goes back, he will determine the specific candidates, prepare some more people, make a roster and send it over tomorrow, and then consider it in detail, and the day after tomorrow, all the relevant personnel will be gathered for closed management, the general should remember that this specific and detailed candidate is only known to you and me!"

Chen Xuanli immediately patted his chest and said, "General Zhao, don't worry, I still know the importance of Lao Chen!" ”

"That's fine! This is the first thing" Zhao Ziliang nodded, and said: "The second thing, our martial arts examination is different from the Wenju examination, in addition to the written examination of the military arrangement and military strategy, the other exams are conducted in the open air, and it is in the forbidden army school field, the venue is wide, and the audience can be accommodated outside, so I think so, let's do it, let's make the atmosphere of the scene up, and allow the people to watch around the school field, but we can't look at it in vain, we organize soldiers to guard the door, People who want to come in and watch have to pay! ”

Chen Xuanli was puzzled: "Collect money? Will this work? Will anyone be willing to pay? Besides, will such a collection of money be impeached by those imperial histories? ”

Zhao Ziliang said with a smile: "Of course it can be done, such a lively martial arts competition will be tried, how can no one be willing to pay money to come in and watch?" You must know that the people of Chang'an and many wealthy merchants, nobles, and ministers from all over the country are rich people, and collecting some ticket money is nothing to them! As for the impeachment of the imperial history, Brother Chen doesn't have to worry about it at all, we don't put this money in our own pockets, you must know that the money needed to hold the martial arts examination and the palace examination is definitely not a small amount, and these money need to be withdrawn from the household treasury, but if we collect the tickets ourselves and think of other ways to make a profit, we can completely bear the costs of the entire martial arts examination period, and we don't need to spend from the treasury at all, how much money does this have to save for the imperial court? And a certain think, we can take some inns, inns and inns in the city to charter the guest rooms for those exams to live for free, free food for them, after all, not all the candidates who come to participate in the martial arts examination have money at home, come all the way to Chang'an, along the way entanglement and cost must be a lot, many generals and brave people are very poor, and the martial arts test competition is a consumption of strength and spirit, if you don't eat well, sleep badly, how can you play well? ”

Chen Xuanli was stunned for a moment, "Provide free accommodation for candidates?" How much does this ・・・・・・ have to be raised? You must know that during the examination, there are seven days in total, and there are not 10,000 but 8,000 candidates from all over the country, which is not a small amount of money needed to eat, drink and Lazar every day! How much can I charge for admission? ”

Zhao Ziliang wrenched his fingers and calculated: "The people, officials, nobles, relatives and other people who want to enter the venue must pay money, and the amount of the fee depends on the location, the closer to the test site, the higher the fee, the lower the fee, the lowest charge is the consistent money, and the highest fee is 100 yuan!" ”

Chen Xuanli listened to what Zhao Ziliang said about the charges, and immediately gasped, and stammered: "The charges are so high, who would want to go in and see?" ”

"Of course there is!" Zhao Ziliang said with a smile, "There are so many rich people in Chang'an City, and there are a lot of relatives of the emperor, not to mention officials and nobles, as well as rich businessmen who are engaged in business, and landlords and gentry around Chang'an City, these people are all rich people!" Moreover, money has always been unaffordable for the middle-class people in Chang'an City, so General Chen can rest assured, this matter will be arranged by a certain person, and he will never ask the imperial court to reach out and ask for a penny to make this martial arts meeting a trial, and it must be done beautifully and lively."

Chen Xuanli saw that Zhao Ziliang was so confident, and he also had some expectations in his heart, after all, everyone is a military general, and they all know very well that the pattern of martial arts is not a little lower than that of Wenju, if it can be made beautiful and lively, of course, it will also improve the importance of martial arts in the court and among the people, and raise the status of military generals.

"Okay, since General Zhao is so confident, I, Chen, agree, even if there is anything, I, Chen, will bear it with General Zhao!"

"Thank you!"

After the two discussed, Chen Xuanli immediately went back to select candidates for examiners, referees, and handymen in the examination room, while Zhao Ziliang handled other matters.

Zhao Ziliang then convened a meeting of the officials of the military election department, at the meeting, Zhao Ziliang said: "The general has discussed with General Chen Xuanli, and decided to provide food and lodging for all the candidates participating in this year's martial arts examination, the source of these two expenses, we decided to collect tickets at the examination site, and allow the people, officials, nobles, and relatives of the emperor to watch, but they all have to pay money, the closer the distance, the higher the fee, the farther the fee, and the general will also think of other ways to raise funds to supplement the lack of expenditure. We will hold a martial arts meeting this year, and try not to ask the court for a penny, we will solve the problem of funding by ourselves! Where is Wai Lang? ”

An official stood up and saluted: "The lower official is here, I don't know what the general commands?" ”

"After this discussion is over, you go to the city to negotiate with the proprietors or shopkeepers of various inns, inns, and inns, and book all their empty rooms, and keep the price as low as possible!"

Zuo Yuanwailang said with a bitter face: "General, the Wenju test is about to start, the inns, inns and inns in the city, and even the homes of the common people are full of scholars who came to participate in the Autumn Festival, and now I want to find those places to find empty rooms, but I'm afraid it's difficult!" ”

Zhao Ziliang waved his hand: "You can go to look for it, you can also go to the market to find those idle courtyards, find the landlord to rent the house for the candidates participating in the martial arts examination to live, and the other insufficient part, General Ben decided to negotiate with the Zuo Jin Wuwei Mansion to see if they can vacate a military camp for the candidates to live in, of course we can contribute some money, this problem should not be very big!" ”

Zuo Yuanwailang breathed a sigh of relief and saluted: "General, this is very good, the lower officials will try to find it!" ”

"Okay, we must give General Ben a result within two days!"

"No!" (To be continued.) )