Chapter 45: Chapter 45: Surprise and Martial Scholar
The second round of the competition soon came to an end.
With that, the top thirty had been selected.
Fang Yue had advanced, naturally, still holding his thirteenth-place rank.
According to the examination schedule, the first Martial Scholar selection for Xiahe County Town should have been drawing to a close.
"You have all passed two rounds of examination to become the first cohort of Martial Scholars in our Great Wei Dynasty and in Xiahe County."
"However, as the saying goes, ’Scholars don’t vie for first, but fighters never settle for second.’ If any of you are dissatisfied with your current rank, you may challenge any Martial Scholar ranked above you. Victory will grant you their position. Defeat, however, will nullify your examination results entirely."
But just then, the Military Officer overseeing the examination spoke up.
As his words fell,
The surrounding Martial Scholars, who had been basking in their success, suddenly had their eyes gleam with fighting spirit.
Clearly, many of them were not satisfied with their ranks.
However, upon hearing that failure meant losing their Martial Scholar status, few were willing to act on it. Not many chose to challenge a Martial Scholar who had performed better in the stone-lifting trial.
After all, the benefits were nearly identical for everyone. Unless you could seize the top spot, it was hardly worth the risk, especially given the severe consequences of failure.
Most of them quickly had second thoughts. In the end, only a few Martial Scholars actually stepped forward to challenge those ranked above them.
’So that was their game. Now I’m certain he’s the one behind this.’ Fang Yue couldn’t help but glance at the gray-robed young man in the distance.
’Is this part of his plan, too?’
’It seems he has considerable influence, enough to sway the Government Office into adding a new rule to the Martial Scholar examination on the fly.’
’In that case, his background must be impressive. He can even influence the examiners.’
’This young man, Wang Teng... he must be a powerful figure in Xiahe County Town.’
Fang Yue’s expression turned cold as he pondered, ’If that man uses this opportunity to challenge me...’
’...should I use seventy percent of my strength and just injure him, or should I go all out and use this chance to cripple him for good?’
While Fang Yue was lost in thought, six people had already stepped up to challenge the rankings.
Among them was none other than Wang Teng!
And his target was none other than Fang Yue.
At that, Fang Yue was absolutely certain. This was the man who was plotting against him.
"Lord Liu, there is a matter I feel I must speak on."
Just then, a discordant voice rang out.
Chen Cheng’an stepped out from the crowd of Martial Scholars. He strode to the center of the field, his gaze fixed resolutely on Liu Zheng, who sat at the center of the viewing stand.
The official’s eyes narrowed, his brow furrowing slightly. There was a hint of curiosity in his expression, but it was overshadowed by sternness. He was clearly displeased with Chen Cheng’an for this sudden outburst.
However, the man was the eighth-ranked Martial Scholar. Despite his displeasure at the man’s lack of decorum, Liu Zheng could hardly lash out in public.
"What is it? You may speak freely," Liu Zheng asked.
"Lord Liu, this year’s tax increase has brought untold suffering to the people of Xiahe County, and their livelihoods are in ruin. Furthermore, corrupt officials deceive their superiors and exploit those below, levying unauthorized taxes and forcing good citizens to become bandits! I can only hope that you, my lord, will prioritize the common folk and punish these lawless, cruel officials who deceive their leaders and oppress the people!"
Chen Cheng’an’s voice wasn’t loud, but as soon as he finished speaking, the previously festive atmosphere of the Xiahe County Martial Scholar examination grounds fell deathly silent.
Everyone, from the Military Officers of the Government Office to the dozens of Martial Scholars present, was stunned into silence by Chen Cheng’an’s words.
Perhaps some among them had come from poor backgrounds.
But having made it this far, every one of them lived a life countless times better than those mud-caked peasants.
After all, martial arts training was expensive. The cost of daily meat consumption alone was enough to bankrupt an ordinary family.
Even a minor landlord with no other source of income would struggle to support a single Martial Artist.
In reality, they belonged to a completely different social class than the farmers at the bottom.
Everyone looks up, striving for greater heights. Who would bother to look down at the farmers?
It was a blessing if they didn’t bully the commoners themselves; who would actually stand up for them?
"Hmph! How audacious!"
"Insolent whelp, spouting such nonsense! Someone beat him with clubs and throw him out!"
"Yes, yes! His examination results should be voided, and he should be permanently barred from taking any imperial examination!"
Hearing this, the faces of the surrounding officials changed drastically, and they immediately began to shout him down.
Even Fang Yue was stunned. He had never imagined that the man would say such a thing at a time like this.
Chen Cheng’an’s expression, however, remained unchanged, his eyes still fixed on Liu Zheng at the center of the stand.
"The northern Barbarian Race is invading! If we don’t raise taxes, how is the court supposed to fight a war? Are we to simply let the barbarians invade and spill rivers of blood across the land?"
Liu Zheng spoke. His tone was level, but it carried an undeniable, harsh authority.
"Hmph! The Dynasty’s policies are not for you to question! Considering your youth, I will allow you to retract your statement. If you do, I will pretend this never happened."
"The Grand Pronouncements of the Great Ancestor state that a Scholar has the right to offer counsel and shall not be convicted for his words. If a Scholar has this right, then as a Martial Scholar, so do I! I offer this counsel today and implore you, my lord, to reconsider!"
At these words, the color drained from everyone’s faces, yet no one dared to utter a word of rebuttal.
A long moment passed.
Liu Zheng’s gaze was ice-cold. "Fine. What a fine Martial Scholar you are! Since you have such counsel to offer, then for the next month, the three shifts of tax collectors are yours to command. All I require is the full tax quota to deliver to the imperial court. If you fail, you will make up for the shortfall with military service."
With that, Liu Zheng flicked his sleeves and stormed off the training grounds.
He left everyone standing there, staring at one another in stunned silence.
Fang Yue couldn’t help but marvel at Chen Cheng’an’s audacity. ’To even bring up the Grand Pronouncements of the Great Ancestor...’
Centuries ago, the Great Ancestor of the Great Wei had risen from the chaos of the Five Kingdoms era. He repelled the Barbarian Race in the north, conquered the Hu Qiang in the west, pacified the lands, and established the Great Wei Dynasty.
In those early days, the Dynasty was newly founded, its decrees were not always enforced, and corruption was rampant among local officials.
Therefore, the Great Ancestor issued the Grand Pronouncements, empowering the common people to supervise the officials.
It was written: "We issue these pronouncements to clarify fortune and disaster. All people, regardless of station, have the right to offer counsel and shall not be convicted for their words."
Although hundreds of years had passed and the Grand Pronouncements of the Great Ancestor had lost much of their power, no one dared to openly defy them.
This was because even now, rumors persisted throughout the Two Capitals and Thirteen Prefectures of the Great Wei that the Great Ancestor still walked the mortal realm!!!
~~~~~~
With such a fiasco, even Liu Zheng had left.
Naturally, the challenge for the Martial Scholar rankings could not proceed.
The supervising Military Officer instructed everyone to go to the Office of Personnel to register their information, create new identity rosters, and have themselves and their immediate families added to the tax-exempt list in the Office of Households.
By the time all the administrative work was finished, it was already afternoon.
Normally, the County Magistrate’s Office would host a banquet after the Martial Scholar examination, but after today’s events, the banquet was naturally canceled.
Fang Yue had no choice but to pay his own way, stopping for a bowl of mutton soup at a nearby stall before heading back to his lodgings.
