Summary of the previous chapter: Cao Cao sent Xiahoudun to invite Ma Xiaoquan to his residence, and held a "design competition" in the name of it, and the ultimate purpose of the design competition was to seek talents in water conservancy

+++++++++++++++ Yang Liang was a little nervous because he was a thief.

When Yang Liang and Ma Xiaoquan met, he had poisoned Ma Xiaoquan, but unfortunately, Yang Liang didn't know that Ma Xiaoquan was invincible, and of course, Ma Xiaoquan didn't know that Yang Liang had poisoned him.

Ma Xiaoquan stepped forward and patted Yang Liang on the shoulder, which made Yang Liang very frightened.

"Huh? Brother Tianming (Yang Liang's words), why are you sweating profusely? ”

Yang Liang secretly cursed himself for being embarrassed in his heart, and hurriedly wiped his sweat and said: "Although the prime minister selected me as a water conservancy talent, I will have to compete later, hehe, I am inevitably a little nervous!" ”

Cao Cao heard the conversation between the two, walked over and said with a smile: "Hmm~~ As long as you have the ability, I will naturally not be embarrassed with you." ”

Yang Liang took a step back, knelt on the ground and said respectfully: "Thank you, Prime Minister!" ”

Cao Cao waved his hand and said to Ma Xiaoquan: "Lord Shangxian, then the design competition will begin?" ”

Ma Xiaoquan nodded: "Let's start!" ”

The design competition is divided into two phases, and the official shortlist must be determined in one day, which can be described as a tight time and heavy task.

The content of the competition is very simple, the first item is to draw a design drawing of water conservancy in one hour, and also attach design ideas and concepts.

"An hour?" Several people selected for the primary selection looked at each other, but they didn't expect the difficulty of the first test content to be so high.

Presiding over the design competition was a close official of Cao Cao, who was proficient in water conservancy, and when he saw the heavy faces of the crowd, he explained with a smile: "You don't have to panic, the content of this first competition is mainly to assess everyone's ability to play on the spot. ”

The presiding official's words made everyone blush a little, but fortunately, what he said just now was just the assumption of the presiding official.

Ma Xiaoquan stepped forward and said: "Everyone, you can be selected by Xiao Cao, no, Prime Minister Cao Cheng, that is, fate, Cao Cheng's kindness to his subordinates, I think you also know, but Ben Xian is here to say a word on behalf of Cao Cheng Prime Minister Today's competition, you need to show your true level, but if there is plagiarism and cheating, Ben Xian will burn your clothes on the spot, and then beat out the sticks, do you understand?" After speaking, Ma Xiaoquan deliberately ignited the pale red flame in his hand.

Everyone looked at the flame in Ma Xiaoquan's hand, swallowed their saliva fiercely, turned their heads to look again, and found that Prime Minister Cao Cheng was nodding with a smile.

"Got it!"

"Good!" Ma Xiaoquan clapped his hands, "Then the first content of the competition will officially start now." ”

As soon as Ma Xiaoquan's voice fell, someone asked: "Lord Shangxian, there is always a question for the competition, how can we compete if there is no topic?" ”

Ma Xiaoquan smiled and said, "There is no title." ”

"Scare?" Everyone was surprised, but the immortals all said that there is no topic, so there is really no topic.

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the imperial examination system had not yet been formed, and if you wanted to be an official, the easiest way was to raise filial piety, Cao Cao invited Ma Xiaoquan to be the referee of the design competition, and selected talents by examination, which can be regarded as the pioneer prototype of the imperial examination system.

Ma Xiaoquan walked up to Cao Cao and said, "Xiao Cao, how did I just say?" ”

Cao Cao was very satisfied, and clapped his hands again and again: "Lord Shangxian is really a god, I thought so before, hehe"

Ma Xiaoquan nodded and shifted his attention to the group of water conservancy talents

Yang Liang is not the best in this group of people, but he has a specialization in the art industry, Yang Liang said when he reported his name before, he is good at paddy field design.

Long before Cao Cao released the recruitment of talents in water conservancy, Yang Liang came to Yecheng.

The Yang family had a cousin in Yecheng, and according to the cousin to Yang Liang, they inquired about the whereabouts of the great patriarch, and it seemed to be related to a person named Lu Xian.

Yang Liang came to Yecheng non-stop immediately after getting the news, but unfortunately, after arriving in Yecheng, the news of the person named Lu Xian was gone.

pounced, Yang Liang must have no face to go back to see the second patriarch, and when he was aimless, he suddenly remembered that Ma Xiaoquan's home was in Yecheng.

Originally, Yang Liang meant to go directly to the Ma family's compound to find Ma Xiaoquan, but then Yang Liang pondered and felt that going suddenly would attract Ma Xiaoquan's suspicions, and at this moment, Cao Cao's order to seek talent was issued.

Yang Liang inquired around and learned that Ma Xiaoquan and Cao Cao had a good relationship, so he made up his mind to apply for Cao Cao's account first, and then find a way to get close to Ma Xiaoquan and give him a roundabout

Of course, Ma Xiaoquan didn't know Yang Liang's idea, but Ma Xiaoquan was also a little surprised to be able to see Yang Liang again in Yecheng.

In the past, Ma Xiaoquan put down his words and let Yang Liang have time to come to him, but in fact, it was just polite, but now it seems that this Yang Liang came to Yecheng from Jingzhou thousands of miles away, and he definitely wouldn't be a water conservancy official under Cao Cao.

Due to the ongoing design competition, Ma Xiaoquan did not step forward to ask Yang Liang directly, so Ma Xiaoquan and Cao Cao put forward a request to borrow Yang Liang for a few days

An hour later, each designer picked up their own design.

Due to the relatively short time and the high and low personal ability, the water conservancy officials in charge of reviewing the designed plan frowned tightly after reading a few of them.

Ma Xiaoquan also took a look at a few, and aside from the profession, most of these plans are indeed very rough.

"Look, Lord Immortal"

Ma Xiaoquan shook his head, called a professional water conservancy official to his side, and ordered: "Take a look, if it doesn't work, it will be eliminated directly!" ”

"Yes!"

The first stage ended quickly, and a total of 4 people were eliminated in this stage, but if there is elimination, there will be selection.

Because of the practicality of the plan he designed, Yang Liang was given the third place in the first competition by the professional water conservancy officials.

However, this is only the first item.

"The second competition" Ma Xiaoquan paused for a moment, and looked at the few remaining humanitarians present, "This second competition is a test of hands-on ability!" Well, the first plan you designed, now you need to use the materials and tools you have now to build a prototype of it, without further ado, let's get started! ”

Cao Cao had already ordered people to prepare tools such as hammers, hammers, and saws, and at the sound of an order, several people who were selected immediately stepped forward to pick up tools.

Yang Liang picked out some wood and tools, and carried a few buckets of water, thinking quietly according to the plan he had just designed.

The others, like Yang Liang, also pondered after choosing the right materials and tools.

Ma Xiaoquan touched Cao Cao and signaled Cao Cao not to speak loudly for the time being, Cao Cao nodded lightly and agreed.

The second test was a little more relaxed than the first, but it was only two hours.

After thinking for a while, the first round of finalists began their own work.

Yang Liang designed a paddy field drainage plan, due to the tight time, the scheme and drawings are relatively rough, after a short period of thought, Yang Liang decided to temporarily remove some secondary functions, focusing on water direction drainage.

And the other people are also moving saws, digging pits and digging pits, and the quiet scene just now suddenly became noisy again.

Time is moving forward little by little, and the designs of each of the people are gradually taking shape.

An hour and a half later, a young man was the first to stand up, raising his hands and signaling completion.

Several professional examiners walked over, looked around the man's design for a while, then asked a few more questions, and then scored a score, but it was not announced.

Immediately afterwards, Yang Liang also stood up and raised his hands

Seeing that someone had completed it ahead of schedule, Cao Cao was very happy and said to Ma Xiaoquan: "Lord Shangxian, does the man you know seem to have a good ability?" ”

Ma Xiaoquan was also a little surprised, he didn't know that Yang Liang had this ability.

"Hehe" Ma Xiaoquan said truthfully, "It is said that it is an acquaintance, but in fact, it is just a meeting in Pingshui, Xiaocao, I have to declare first, if that person is on your list, you have to borrow me for a few days first." ”

Cao Cao said: "Of course, hehe, Lord Shangxian also promised to go to Huaishui with me, hehe"

Ma Xiao gave Cao Cao a blank look and stopped talking

"Two hours have come, everyone, stop what you are doing!"

Under Ma Xiaoquan's order, although some people have not yet finished it, they are forced to stop unwillingly because the time has come.

After some verification, the final list of selected candidates came out immediately.

Yang Liang smoothly entered the list of Cao Cao's water conservancy officials, and at the same time, Cao Cao also announced the fortune of these water conservancy officials on the spot.

"One thousand stones" After listening to Cao Cao's words, Yang Liang's heart was also a little surprised, you must know that although his family is relatively wealthy, everyone does not have the treatment of one thousand stones a year, this Cao Cao is really generous.

After announcing the treatment, Cao Cao set up a banquet to entertain everyone.

During the banquet, several newly selected water conservancy officials frequently toasted Cao Cao, and Cao Cao smiled in return, while Ma Xiaoquan, as a very undrinkable immortal, quietly slipped out.

Raising his head and looking at the moon in the night sky, Ma Xiaoquan sighed deeply and said to himself: "It seems that the matter of this solar recorder has to be delayed a little longer."

Just as Ma Xiaoquan was about to sigh again, a deep male voice came from behind him: "Brother Ma, it turns out that you are here"