Blue sky, white clouds, and thick soil.
It is much more difficult to have six long-term workers. Although the driving speed has dropped, Zheng Ruqian and Wang Xiaosong can be lazy and give up the opportunity to control the riding whip to the long-term workers.
They followed the path Fang Hengzhi followed and did not encounter any Tartars once. Once they left the border, they would be completely safe.
Ruan Ping'an, a young man with three cuts on his hand, turned around and asked cautiously, "Isn't my boss from Fengjing? Why did he go to Anshui County?"
"The labor force in Anshui County is lower, and the meat is also lower. You will lose less when transporting it." Zheng Ruqian rested his arm, "I want to expand the workshop this time, and also give some wages to the aunts in the workshop."
Ruan Ping'an was full of admiration, "My boss is not very young, but he can actually open workshops in two places, and he still has the courage to travel long distances to transport things. It's really amazing."
Wang Xiaosong heyed twice without saying anything.
Zheng Ruqian sat up straight and looked at Feng Jing, "Those two workshops are not run by me, but by my sister. I don't know what the little girl is doing."
By a quick calculation, she should be guarding her eldest brother who is taking the exam.
It really is.
Fengjing.
The examination was scheduled for the last day of February, and the originally peaceful Erjin courtyard became busy. Even Jiang Sheng, who loved to sleep in, got up in the dark to pack things for his brother.
Not to mention the pen and ink, the bamboo basket is also an old hero, as well as the chamber pot that was polished by Aunt Zhang until it was shiny. It is also called a chamber pot and a toilet bucket. They are usually different in shape but have the same function.
The general examination is similar to the provincial examination. They are taken three times, each time for three consecutive days.
For these three days, I had to eat, drink, and defecate in the examination shed of Gongyuan. I really couldn’t bear it if I didn’t have any mental strength.
Fortunately, Xu Jieyuan was already familiar with the road. After counting the food and drink supplies, he picked up the bamboo basket and said, "Let's go."
A group of people got into the carriage one after another. Jiang Sheng, holding two pieces of pastry, noticed with keen eyes that the ash pile at the door was messy again, with all kinds of onion peels and confetti scattered, a bit like it had been picked up by a wild dog.
"Auntie, haven't you left the leftovers at the door these two days?" she asked curiously.
Aunt Zhang locked the door and said, "Let it go. Since Jiuzhenfang has expanded its enrollment, I no longer need to leave food for my sisters. Naturally, I have to feed the cats and dogs at the door."
"Then why are they digging into the ashes?" Jiang Sheng got on the carriage in confusion.
Jiang San and Jiang Si rushed to the carriage and rushed to Gongyuan together with countless students.
Jiang Sheng's doubts about the idea were instantly forgotten. She grasped Xu Mo's sleeves and said seriously, "Brother, you have to perform well. You were number one before, and you will definitely be number one this time."
Xu Mo smiled bitterly.
Before, he only compared with students from Anshui County, and the value of being ranked first was not very high. This time, he compared with outstanding students from all over the country. There were twenty or thirty Jieyuan students in each county alone. Can he become a tribute student? It remains to be discussed, and I don’t even dare to think about being the first.
"Okay Jiang Sheng, don't put pressure on brother." Chang Yan comforted beside him, "No matter what, just try your best."
"Yes, brother, just try your best." Wen Zhiyun also agreed.
Even Zhang Xianglian nodded, obviously fearing that Xu Mo would be under psychological pressure.
Jiang Sheng sighed.
Why didn't anyone believe her? She felt from the bottom of her heart that the number one must be her eldest brother. Such an outstanding eldest brother, such a hard-working eldest brother, deserved the position of number one scholar. It didn't matter that he was number one among the top students.
"Don't worry, I will work hard." Xu Mo gently touched his sister's head, "Try to get first place."
Jiang Sheng grinned, "Big brother will definitely be number one."
I don’t know who gave me this confidence.
Soon we arrived at Gongyuan.
As the capital of the Dayu Dynasty, the Gongyuan in Fengjing was wider than any other city, and the entrance was spacious enough to accommodate four to five thousand students and their families.
It's not yet completely dawn, and the gate of Gongyuan has not been opened. Only the Imperial Guards and the officials from Fengtian Mansion are maintaining order outside and preparing for the anti-cheating inspection later.
As a well-known talent in the Imperial Academy, as soon as Xu Mo stepped out of the carriage, several familiar students greeted him and affectionately called him "Brother Xu."
There are also more familiar ones, such as Qi Huai, who led his younger brother Qi Yue over, clasping his fists and saying, "I won't let you, Brother Xu, try this time."
Xu Mo chuckled, "Brother Qi, feel free to show off your skills."
An Jun also came over with a bamboo basket on his back. When he saw Xu Mo, his eyes lit up and he leaned over, "Is Brother Xu confident enough this time?"
"I can't say I'm sure, I'm just trying my best." Xu Mo is always so humble.
Qi Huai laughed loudly beside him, but Qi Yue couldn't help but frown, pointing at Xu An and muttering, "When did they kiss like that?"
We are all men, can we keep some distance?
Longyang's taste is not popular in Fengjing.
He thought his voice was soft, but he didn't want the surroundings to be silent, and those words fell clearly on Xu Mo Anjun's ears.
The younger brothers and sisters in the carriage covered their mouths and snickered.
Xu Mo explained awkwardly, "Brother An is just lively and laughs a lot."
"Yes, yes, I just love eating their chestnuts. Brother Xu is a good man. He knows that I am poor and often brings me several pounds." An Jun showed off happily.
But Qi Yue's face turned even darker and he muttered, "We are all acquaintances, why haven't you met me...brother?"
Qi Huai, the brother who took the blame innocently, shook his head, "I don't like chestnuts."
"Brother, you..." Qi Yue threw the bamboo basket away angrily, "Hold it by yourself, I won't wait with you anymore."
After saying that, he turned around and ran away.
Qi Huai didn't have time to coax the young man, because Zhao Yuan also came, but he was still a scholar and was not qualified to participate in the examination. This time he came specially to see Xu Mo off.
"Brother Xu, I'm waiting for you to show your great ambitions." Zhao Yuan raised his hands and wished.
Xu Mo accepted it graciously.
The sky is getting brighter and the gate of Gongyuan is about to open. Everyone is ready to move. Some are saying goodbye to their families and some are doing final inspections.
They are the best students of the Dayu Dynasty. After passing five levels and defeating six generals, they finally reached the most important level. After becoming Gongsheng students, they are almost certain to be Jinshi, but they have to be ranked according to the palace examination.
As a Jinshi, you basically have one foot in the court, and your future is promising and bright.
But similarly, this exam is also the most brutal of all literary exams.
There are four to five thousand candidates. According to historical judgment, at most four to five hundred candidates will be selected, and at least thirty or forty will be selected, which can be said to be one in a thousand.
"Brother, the door is open." Jiang Sheng suddenly stuck out his head.
Xu Mo, An Jun, and Qi Huai all turned their heads, picked up the bamboo basket, and walked towards the battlefield where pen holders were used as tools.
The same outstanding men with straight shoulders and straight shoulders, the same talented and unbeatable aura, their backs look about the same, and each has its own merits.
But the moment he entered the gate of Gongyuan, Xu Mo turned around, glanced at his younger siblings with big white teeth exposed, and then at Dou Weiming who was standing in the corner waving his hands, and entered the killing field without hesitation.
