Jiangnan East Road of the Song Dynasty, Jiankang Mansion, Jinling City, and the ferry in the west of the city.
A passenger ship docked, and Brother Cao Youwen, who was carrying a baggage, mingled with the crowd of passengers, stepped ashore, and looked curiously at the towering Jinling City Wall in front of him.
There are many shops, busy traffic, bustling people, lively shouts, and young people coming and going in a hurry, speaking with accents from various places.
These young people are probably all candidates for the Martial Arts Hall.
Jiankang Prefecture is an important town in the south of the Yangtze River, with a population of 500,000 to 600,000 inside and outside the city. There are wealthy businessmen, traffickers, and wanderers, all living in three religions and nine streams. Although it is not as prosperous and lively as Lin'an Prefecture, it is still a large city and has a great reputation. It's spectacular.
"Old man, here are ten steamed buns and a pot of hot tea!"
Cao Youwen took off his baggage and sat down at a tea stall with his younger brother Cao Youwan.
There are 100,000 households in Jinling. Compared with the three passes and five states in the northwest border, the population here is simply too dense.
"My guest, are you here to take the exam for the martial arts hall?"
The shopkeeper is an old man over fifty years old. He can tell from his words and demeanor that he is a foreigner.
"Old man, how did you know?"
Cao Youwen's younger brother, Cao Youwan, took the teapot and poured tea, and asked curiously.
"Guest, I can tell by the way you dress and by your accent. These days, there are thousands of young people coming from all over the country, some of them arrived a month ago. Now all the inns in the city are full. Now, I’m just waiting for the martial arts hall to open for exams.”
The shopkeeper smiled and put the buns on the table, nodded and bowed.
These two young men were tall and powerful, and their accents suggested they were from the northwest. Looking at the rich clothes and the long sword hanging on his waist, he belongs to a family that is not short of money.
"Thank you, husband!"
Cao Youwen picked up the tea cup and continued to ask:
"Old man, do you know how to get to this martial arts hall?"
"The Martial Arts Hall is in the north of the city. It was the palace of the original Emperor of the Southern Tang Dynasty. Later, Emperor Gaozong came south to the south of the Yangtze River and changed the palace into a temporary palace. Now, the new emperor has changed it into a Martial Arts Hall!"
After the shopkeeper finished speaking, he walked away with a smile.
"Brother, it seems that there are quite a few people who come to apply for the martial arts hall!"
Cao Youwan said to his eldest brother while eating steamed buns.
"The emperor has decreed that all the young talents in the world will gather here. Jinling City is probably a hidden dragon and a crouching tiger."
Cao Youwen was eating steamed buns with a mouthful, and took out a small book from his arms with his left hand to read. On the cover of the book, there were three words "Tatar Policy".
The two brothers have similar faces, they are generally tall and powerful, but the younger brother Cao Youwan is stronger and more powerful, while the older brother Cao Youwen is much more elegant and delicate.
"Brother, I just don't know if the emperor will come to Jinling City?"
Cao Youwan's young face was full of expectation.
"They will definitely come. The Martial Arts Hall was founded by the emperor himself, and the emperor is the principal of the Martial Arts Hall. For such a big event, the Emperor will definitely come. Don't you want to take the martial arts examination? The Martial Arts Hall is the place to be!"
Cao Youwen looked at his younger brother and smiled slightly.
My younger brother is skilled in archery and horsemanship, and is familiar with military literature. If he takes the martial arts examination, it should not be a problem. Now that martial arts and lectures on martial arts are combined into one, you can just take the exam directly on lectures on martial arts.
"Brother, aren't you going to Lin'an City to take the imperial examination? Do you also want to apply for the martial arts hall?"
Cao Youwan asked about his brother.
I originally thought that my brother would go on a trip to prepare for the imperial examination next year. Now it seems that Cao Youwen may have changed his mind.
However, my brother is an expert archer, extremely powerful, and capable of both civil and military skills. He should be more than enough to pass the martial arts hall examination.
"It is better to be a centurion than a scholar. From this book "Tatar Strategy", from this martial arts lecture hall, and from this "the country is so beautiful that it attracts countless heroes to bend their waists", we know that today's emperor The ambition is to open up new territories and deploy troops at home and abroad."
Attracted by his brother's words, Cao Youwan raised his head in surprise.
"Brother, so the emperor really wants to strengthen his troops and become an instant emperor?"
"Whether he is the emperor or not, you will know once you enter the martial arts hall."
Cao Youwen drank tea and smiled slightly.
"Don't look at me, brother. Go to the martial arts hall. Let's take a closer look. If it doesn't work, you can take your exam at the martial arts hall, and brother can take the imperial examination. We won't miss each other."
"Brother, your heart is already moved. You promised your sister-in-law that you would go to the imperial examination to obtain scholars and honor your ancestors!"
Brothers united, Cao Youwan laughed.
"The Four Books and Five Classics, Guangzong Yaozu, but unfortunately the world has changed. What the emperor needs are strong warriors and generals who can fight decisively on the battlefield. Let's go to the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall first. Maybe that's where the dream begins."
Cao Youwen sighed quietly, drank the hot tea in the cup, looked at his brother, and stood up.
"Eat well, let's go to the city!"
When Cao You heard that the brothers left, the tea shop owner looked at the burly backs of the two brothers and couldn't help but be in a trance.
These young and energetic young people might really be able to do something.
"Shopkeeper, look, there's another guest!"
A customer reminded the shopkeeper that another passenger ship had docked, and many young people were disembarking.
A few young men who had traveled a lot, carrying knives and guns, came to the tea stall and sat down one after another.
Although folk in the Song Dynasty restricted standard weapons, such as crossbows, general swords, guns and sticks could be carried with them. Especially when these young people applied for martial arts classes, the local government and local checkpoints along the way gave the green light.
"Commander Wang, what is the purpose of the imperial court in establishing this martial arts hall?"
The tall and thin young man spoke first, with what seemed to be a Guangxi accent.
"It goes without saying that the new emperor's military strategy must be to strengthen his troops and use troops against the Jin people and the Tatars. Take a look at this newspaper and the "Tatar Policy" published in it. The emperor must definitely destroy the Jin people. country, and then used troops against the Tatars!”
The young man named "Commander Wang" is dark and tough, with a lively look on his face, but he speaks in Hubei dialect.
"Commander Wang, you "Loyal and Submissive Army" are all elite soldiers and strong generals. I heard that besides you, your old Linggong's son Meng Gong has also been summoned to Jinling City!"
Another burly and honest young man asked, also with a Guangxi accent.
The man known as "Commander Wang" is Wang Jian, a native of Dengzhou, Nanyang, and currently serves in the frontier army on the South Beijing Road.
In the twelfth year of Jiading (1219), the Jin army commander Wanyan Yingke invaded Tangzhou and Zaoyang. Meng Zongzheng, the governor of Zaoyang army in Song Dynasty, recruited more than 20,000 warriors from Tang, Deng and Cai states, named Zhongshun army. Wang From there, Jian joined the Zhongshun Army, guarding Tang and Deng in Wu, stationed in the fields, trained troops, and guarded the border.
This time the Jinling Lecture Hall recruited students, and the quota of 200 people was given to military generals. Wang Jian was recommended to the Lecture Hall and came to enroll for "further studies."
Being recommended by the military shows his strength. The strength of the border army officers is demonstrated with swords and guns, which is convincing.
"Although it is recommended to enter the Jinling Martial Arts Hall, I also want to take the exam to see if I have the ability to pass."
Wang Jian seems to have full confidence in himself.
"Brothers, you are so young and you are here to teach martial arts?"
Wang Jian smiled slightly and patted the tall and thin man next to him on the shoulder.
He is already twenty-five years old, and these two brothers are in their early twenties at most, maybe not yet twenty years old.
"I would rather be a centurion than a scholar. I feel that when the new emperor ascends the throne, it seems that he will work hard to govern and rectify his military equipment. He simply has nothing to do at home, and our brothers are here!"
"Yes! The emperor founded the Jinling Martial Arts Hall, and the opportunity for martial arts came. We brothers just want to be admitted to the Martial Arts Hall and make meritorious deeds on the battlefield!"
The two brothers spoke out one after the other.
The tall and thin man is called Cao Erxiong, and the burly man is called Cao Shixiong. They are cousins, one is twenty and the other is just eighteen. They are both from Guangxi.
Several people met on the boat coming to Jinling and went to the martial arts hall together. They hit it off and quickly became close.
"Cao Shixiong, I think you are good at reading. Why don't you go to the imperial examination to get a scholar? Instead, you want to apply for the Jinling Martial Arts Lecture Hall?"
Upon hearing Wang Jian's question, Cao Shixiong smiled, a little embarrassed.
"Commander Wang, is the imperial examination so easy? Like my second brother, we both like to dance with spears and sticks, and don't want to spend our lives learning about the classics. The Emperor personally founded the Martial Arts Hall, and I think this is an opportunity. What we lack in life is opportunities. dont you agree?"
Cao Shixiong was enthusiastic and made no secret of his ambition.
"That's good! However, you have to pass the martial arts training hall first. Do you know how to ride horses, archery, swords, guns and sticks?"
Wang Jian laughed and admired Cao Shixiong's words.
"That's not a problem! Brother, I've been working hard since I was a child, and I can even ride a horse and shoot an arrow. A martial arts school can't stop me!"
Cao Shixiong was confident and as arrogant as Wang Jian.
"Okay! Be ambitious!"
Wang Jian said loudly with appreciation.
This guy is unruly, tall and strong, and is born to fight on the battlefield.
"Commander Wang, you are already a commander. You have fought so many battles and crawled out of the dead. You know everything. The emperor has summoned you to lecture on what to learn in the martial arts hall. Isn't it useless?"
Cao Erxiong asked curiously.
Wang Jian is a veteran on the battlefield, and he fought with swords and guns. It seems unnecessary for the court to let them go to the martial arts hall.
"Brother Cao, I was also puzzled at first. After so many battles, why did you come to the martial arts hall to teach? Later, I heard someone said that the martial arts hall has added a new artillery section. The artillery can kill the opponent with hundreds of steps, especially the enemy. It is particularly effective against cavalry. I think this may be one of the reasons why the emperor founded the Lecture Hall."
Wang Jian has seniority in the military, and there are a lot of rumors about firearms. He naturally knows a lot more than the Cao brothers who are from the civilian world.
"Artillery section? Artillery?"
As expected, the Cao brothers' interest was suddenly piqued.
"That's right! I heard that the cannon was built by the emperor himself, and even the teaching materials for the artillery were written by the emperor himself. The emperor serves as the principal of the Martial Arts Hall. To be honest, I want to see that cannon, and I can't wait!"
Wang Jian's eyes lit up.
Since last year, there have been rumors that the emperor built a cannon. If the artillery is as powerful as the rumors say and can deal with the powerful cavalry, it will be enough to change the way and direction of war.
"He killed traitorous ministers, he was also good at making artillery, and he was also a great poet. The emperor is really amazing!"
Cao Erxiong shook his head and said enviously.
The emperor got rid of the treacherous minister Shi Miyuan, implemented the New Deal on Jiangnan East Road, founded the Jinling Lecture Hall and the Jinling University Hall, and organized and trained the new army, giving people inexplicable hope.
"It's more than amazing! Emperor Qin and Han Wu were slightly less talented in literature, and Emperor Tang Zong and Song Zu were slightly less elegant. The newspaper said that the emperor founded the martial arts hall and personally served as the principal of the martial arts hall. If we are admitted to the martial arts hall, we are the disciples of the emperor. You can see the emperor. If you want to make achievements and order troops on the battlefield, it will be much easier!"
Cao Shixiong's saliva flew everywhere and his eyes shone.
The emperor personally serves as the principal of the Jiangwu Hall. Aren't the students of the Jiangwu Hall the emperor's students?
Just thinking about it made Cao Shixiong's blood boil.
"Brother Cao, you are ambitious! If the emperor is really Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, let's be Wei Qing and Huo Qubing under his command! Come, let's drink tea instead of wine!"
Wang Jian raised his tea bowl and spoke impassionedly.
"Okay, it's a deal! The emperor will be Emperor Qin and Emperor Wu of Han, and we will be Wei Qing and Huo Qubing!"
The Cao brothers raised their bowls together, and the three of them bumped together with a bang.
Seeing the high spirits of these young people, the tea shopkeeper shook his head enviously.
These young people who come to Jinling to pursue their dreams are either from the private sector or from the military. They all have dreams and don’t know what their future will be like.
However, there seems to be a difference in their vibrant bodies, a sense of hope that makes people yearn for them.
