Chapter 277: Welcoming the Marquis

Ten days later.

The news of Viceroy Yuan being enfeoffed as a Marquis spread throughout Yunzhou, especially the news of recruiting guests, which attracted countless geniuses to Qinghe.

The newly appointed County Magistrate faced the biggest crisis since he arrived in Qinghe.

Many of these geniuses were true disciples of major sects.

They came here seeking opportunities.

Each one was arrogant and unruly, and their backgrounds were great, so managing them was not easy.

Bullying the people of Qinghe was still a small matter.

The most feared thing was that these geniuses would have conflicts. When the great sects behind them asked, that would be a big deal.

"This time Marquis Yuan is inspecting five prefectures, and our Anning Prefecture was chosen in Qinghe."

Ning Zhong said.

He had already naturally changed Viceroy Yuan to Marquis Yuan.

If the situation in the north is stable, I am afraid there will be no Viceroy for a long time.

Commanding several towns alone, the power is really too great.

Being enfeoffed as a Marquis and then inspecting is a standard procedure. Choosing Qinghe, although unexpected, is also within reason.

After all, Qinghe's configuration now completely surpasses the prefecture city, and the Trade Office has been established, making it an important place. It is normal for Marquis Yuan to come and inspect.

More importantly.

Marquis Yuan will hold a competition to recruit guests in these five places.

That is to say, Qinghe will become one of the places for the competition.

Otherwise, why would those noble sons and daughters in brocade clothes gather in Qinghe? Do they really think the quality of Qinghe's teaching division can compare to the capital?

Of course, they all heard the wind.

If they can be favored by Marquis Yuan, it is also a bit of incense for the sect, and being able to climb onto Marquis Yuan's connection is something the great sects also crave.

Of course, they are happy to see it happen.

In two more days, Marquis Yuan will arrive in Qinghe.

Don't you see Assistant Regional Commander Cao busy back and forth recently, being extra enthusiastic.

Ning Zhongtian: "This selection is quite interesting. I heard about the situation in other places; those who can pass are very few. I heard that three people have already been chosen by the Marquis, one civil and two martial."

Qinghe is the last stop.

So the content of the competition is already roughly known.

The competition is divided into civil and martial.

The civil test is writing articles.

But if one thinks that writing articles is just about flowery language, that is a big mistake, and it is underestimating the Yu Kingdom's ability to use people. After several reforms, plus the current Prime Minister Zhang advocating that articles should carry the truth, it emphasizes practical application.

The article you think is: "Take spring as the topic, write a poem."

In reality: "Those who govern the world with me are the sect clans. Now the scholar style is not upright, the clans are without etiquette, seeking without limits but with short-sighted knowledge. To rectify the scholar style and restore the ancient way, what should be done?"

First, all content must be supported by classics, then it must be operable, and finally, the literary talent cannot be poor.

Otherwise, do you really think those scholars who studied for decades were just memorizing those few thin classics?

There is great learning in it.

The topic of this civil test was set by Viceroy Yuan himself; it changes every time he goes to a place.

Being able to stand out in the civil test is no less than entering the top three.

As for the martial test, it did not follow the precedent of being brave and fighting, setting up a ring.

Instead, it was novel.

Pulling the spear.

When Marquis Yuan was a Viceroy, he was called "a long spear resisting ten thousand troops."

The content of the competition is Marquis Yuan's long spear, "Breaking Waves," inserted into the ground. Those participating in the competition come forward to pull the spear. Pulling out one inch is Grade C, one foot is Grade B, three feet is Grade A, and if one can pull it out completely, it is Grade A+.

Having passed four places, currently, no one has achieved Grade A+.

The difficulty can be imagined.

Ning Zhongtian: "I heard that Marquis Yuan's spear is an immortal weapon, has a spirit, and can test the martial artist's strength, so there is no need to see blood to select the person Marquis Yuan wants."

This time Marquis Yuan is selecting guests.

The most important thing for a guest is naturally immediate combat power. Is it possible that those working below still need time to be cultivated? That would be too absurd.

Of course.

Immediate combat power is not necessarily the only standard. Who is finally chosen depends on Marquis Yuan's meaning; potential is certainly one of the links considered.

Li Rui was about to speak.

When he saw Xue Gui's advisor Han Zhen walk into the Li residence.

"Younger Brother Han."

Li Rui stood up and cupped his hands with a smile. Han Zhen had been in Qinghe for half a month; it seems it wasn't just for inspection, it should be that he came here early just to wait for Marquis Yuan.

He had heard.

Marquis Yuan traveled, only bringing a few personal guards, not even letting Xue Gui follow.

Since he didn't let him follow, that was that.

Xue Gui simply sent people to wait in Qinghe first. In this way, it didn't break the rules.

Everyone knows the role of the finale.

So this is why he let Han Zhen brush his face at the last stop, Qinghe, to leave a good impression in Marquis Yuan's heart.

Han Zhen holds no rank or official position, so doing this is most appropriate.

"Old Brother Li, Marquis Yuan has already passed the Anning Prefecture boundary and should arrive tomorrow."

Han Zhen said.

It was a day faster than originally scheduled.

He smiled and said: "Lord Li, our Yunzhou is counting on you."

Marquis Yuan had already been to four places and recruited three guests, all of whom were not from Yunzhou.

There is no way.

The talent of one province can eventually be compared to the world.

Those three were either disciples of major sects or elders of clans, indeed experienced enough, and the people of the Yunzhou sects were all suppressed.

Li Rui: "I will do my best."

A large ship slowly drifted south along the wide river, the sails on the huge mast, which was three zhang high, flapping in the wind.

A large black-gold tiger-pattern flag fluttered.

Annan!

This was exactly the ship of the newly appointed Marquis of Annan.

On the deck.

A middle-aged man wearing a vermilion-purple robe, heroic and extraordinary, stood quietly, letting the river wind blow, his figure like a mountain, motionless.

"General, we are about to reach the Qinghe boundary."

A young man in his early twenties, wearing light armor, said.

"Hmm."

Yuan Dingting's voice was heavy.

He set off from Yunzhou, toured five places, and reached Qinghe, which was the end.

Along the way, he was quite satisfied.

Although Yunzhou is not as deep as the Central Plains and Jiangnan, it also has some characteristics. This trip can be considered a small harvest.

Behind him were a man, a woman, and an old man.

All were guests newly recruited by Yuan Dingting.

"Do you think there will be anyone in Qinghe chosen by Marquis Yuan?"

The young man opened his mouth and said.

His name is Yang Heng, originally the head disciple of the Divine Martial Gate, a major sect in the Central Plains, and also a hot candidate this time. In Yunzhou, he had already achieved Grade A early on and was recruited as a guest by Yuan Dingting.

However, he was not satisfied with the result.

Just a guest; why did he have to go to such great lengths? What he wanted was the position of founding disciple.

Now it seems that this Marquis Yuan does not seem to have any intention of taking disciples.

The woman spoke slowly, her voice pleasant: "I heard that Senior Brother Xu of the Guiyun Sect is in Qinghe; it should be him."

Yang Heng nodded:

"With Senior Brother Xu's ability, there is indeed a great chance."

The woman, like him, was from a major sect, named Yan Qin, the head disciple of the Heavenly Fragrance Valley, with status equivalent to his.

By comparison.

The old man on the side seemed somewhat out of place.

It was not just because of his age, or because he was the only civil official among the three, but also because of his origin.

Yingdong Wang clan, a great clan, but the old man was only a branch of the Wang clan, a proper cold-door.

Nearly sixty years old.

One article actually made him a guest of the Marquis Mansion.

It can be called a sudden fame. But Yang Heng and Yan Qin were different; they had long been quite famous and fundamentally didn't need to be famous in one competition.

Different origins; it would be strange to have common topics.

Even if Yang Heng and Yan Qin didn't intend to alienate him, it would still be like this.

Just as they were talking.

The large ship slowly docked.

A large group of people were waiting on the pier.

"Marquis Yuan."

Cao Wei, Yan Zhongxing, Han Zhen, and the new County Magistrate Jia Qi walked a few steps onto the large ship and bowed to Yuan Dingting.

"All rise."

The people watching the fun not far from the pier stretched their necks, wanting to admire the divine power of this Military Saint.

Compared to Ning Zhongtian and the others, Li Rui's position was excellent.

Please... you.... collect_(!)

Right on the pier.

He could see everything clearly. Who told him that his status in the Anning Guard was now transcendent, so Cao Wei only brought him alone to the pier.

Of course.

It was just entering; he didn't have the qualifications to walk on the deck.

'Returning to simplicity?'

Li Rui squinted his eyes.

In his Wisdom Eye, this Marquis Yuan was not as shining as he had imagined; on the contrary, he looked almost indistinguishable from ordinary people, and not a bit of light could be seen.

The Wisdom Eye failed on Marquis Yuan.

He had a premonition that if Yuan Dingting wanted to kill him, the Wisdom Eye would not detect it at all.

In the end, the Wisdom Eye is a strange eye, not a cheat.

It is impossible to ignore the realm.

According to his speculation, it should fail above the Earth Immortal.

Sure enough.

Afterward, it was naturally time for the local officials to perform. The four of Cao Wei showed their magical powers, wishing they could stick to Marquis Yuan.

Wasn't it to win the favor of this Marquis Yuan?

Marquis Yuan is now the sky of Yunzhou. They are officials in Yunzhou, so they cannot bypass Marquis Yuan.

If he is happy, a word can promote them.

About half an hour passed.

Just when the crowd in front of the pier was getting impatient, Cao Wei's voice slowly sounded:

"Marquis Yuan is recruiting guests. Those who wish to participate, come forward! Civil test on the left, martial test on the right!"

The crowd that had been waiting impatiently rushed to the pier.

Fortunately, they were all decent people, so no chaos occurred.

After all, no one wanted to leave a bad impression on Marquis Yuan at the start. Marquis Yuan had been to four places and only recruited three people, meaning Qinghe could also recruit none.

They didn't want such a thing to happen, ending up with nothing.

Afterward.

The government officials began to organize those for the civil test to go to the shed prepared on the pier.

As for the martial test...

He saw Marquis Yuan take a snow-white silver spear handed by the soldier behind him.

He raised it slightly and then dropped it.

The silver spear was inserted four feet into the ground, leaving only a small part of the spear body on the ground.

At this time, Cao Wei's voice sounded on the pier.

"Martial test participants, come forward in order to pull the spear."

Just after saying the rules.

Several young people from other provinces rushed up eagerly. Looking at their clothes, one knew they must be from some major sect or clan.

He frowned and pointed at one person.

"You, you go first."

The designated young man was overjoyed, rubbed his hands, walked to the silver spear, rolled up his sleeves, held the spear shaft with both hands, and pulled hard.

Motionless.

He was anxious on the spot.

Just as he was about to continue trying, Cao Wei said coldly: "Grade C, next."

The young man's performance was like a basin of cold water poured on the head of every participant. That young man was not weak, with the cultivation of the peak of the Dragon Gate, yet he couldn't shake Marquis Yuan's silver spear at all.

With the experience of the first person, everyone else became much more honest.

One by one, they no longer shouted to go up first and became much more cautious.

Of course, actually, those who rushed up first were all people trying their luck; those who really had the strength to pull out the silver spear were all waiting.

A full half hour passed.

Only then did they finally hear the good news: "Grade B."

Watching a young man pull the silver spear out one foot high, everyone was shocked.

The silver spear seemed to have intelligence, slowly sinking on its own.

The first Grade B appeared, as if the floodgate had been opened, and then four or five Grade Bs appeared one after another.

For a time, the atmosphere reached its peak.

Afterward, the scene became even hotter.

Even several Primordial martial artists went on stage and achieved good results of Grade A.

At this time.

A handsome young man walked slowly out of the crowd.

"Guiyun Sect, Xu Chuan."

"He actually came too."

"Unexpected, truly unexpected."

Seeing the young man appear, discussions arose one after another. No other reason, who told Xu Chuan's reputation to be too great, and he himself was already a peak expert of the Sea-Observing Realm, also the person with the highest voice in this selection.

Not just the people watching the fun.

Even Yang Heng and the other two who had become guests looked with interest.

Yuan Dingting's mouth rose slightly.

Cao Wei spoke at the right time: "Marquis, this person is named Xu Chuan, the head disciple of the Guiyun Sect."

Yuan Dingting just nodded faintly.

The Guiyun Sect has a great reputation, and most people have to respect it a bit; it just so happens he is not among them.

Xu Chuan's face was solemn.

He walked to the silver spear, held the silver spear slowly with both hands, and his muscles bulged instantly.

In an instant—

A white tiger phantom appeared.

Bai Hu Rending Heaven Diagram!

Seeing the phantom appear, many people exclaimed.

The tiger form is not high in rank, but if it is the divine beast Bai Hu, it is completely different; it is a top-level true qi on par with dragon-form and other qi forms.

"No false reputation under a great name."

Ning Zhongtian stood beside Li Rui and sighed.

He had to admit that this Xu Chuan was indeed very powerful.

"Grade A!"

Cao Wei narrowed his eyes. Xu Chuan pulled it up more than three feet, a solid Grade A, and if he went a few more inches, it would be Grade A+.

'The younger generation is to be feared.'

He sighed secretly in his heart.

This result was even better than the several Primordial martial artists just now.

Xu Chuan finished everything and then returned to the crowd with a calm face, as if nothing had happened.

Everyone was even more amazed at Xu Chuan's extraordinary composure.

With Xu Chuan as this bright sun, others became dim.

Although another person got Grade A, compared to Xu Chuan's near Grade A+, it seemed somewhat ordinary.

"This silver spear not only has a spirit but also Earth Immortal true intent."

Ning Zhongtian grinned.

He had just gone up to try.

Finally, he got a Grade B rating, and he also saw the power of this silver spear, and could understand the gold content of Xu Chuan's pull just now.

The number of participants on the pier became fewer and fewer, and the atmosphere gradually cooled.

Li Rui smiled slightly and took a step forward:

"Let me try the power of this immortal weapon."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 278 =====