Chapter 331: Military Examination

"Old Brother Li, I heard Lord Yuan is so handsome that he always wears a silver ghost mask when charging into battle—is that true?"

Ma Xuan, the deputy director of the Dali Temple, asked curiously.

Li Rui: "Lord Yuan's face is indeed well-formed, but as for the ghost mask, I heard it's to make killing easier without blinking."

Ma Xuan immediately cried out in agreement.

"Surely just the idle gossip of bad people."

Next time I go out for drinks, I'll have something to boast about.

When we talk about Lord Yuan again.

I'll be the expert.

Any random person in the capital can chatter for hours about the affairs of ministers and generals in court—that's the capital's unique pride, and imperial officials are no exception.

Except for the Imperial Preceptor and the Grand Secretary, the empire's pillars who reside right here in the capital.

Lord Yuan is also frequently mentioned over tea and meals.

Because he spends so much time campaigning abroad, he gains an air of mystery, making him talked about even more.

Li Rui had no qualms using these small tactics to draw closer to the men.

After three rounds of wine.

The atmosphere instantly warmed; they clinked cups and passed goblets like old friends.

This was naturally because Li Rui wanted to make connections, and the others felt the same.

Otherwise, all of them were shrewd men—they wouldn't call each other "younger brother" after drinking a few jin of wine.

Lin Hai was in high spirits.

Today he not only met Li Rui, the famed man from Yunzhou, but also gained face before his colleagues thanks to Li Rui.

Next time they meet, he'll have more authority.

"Old Brother Li, Princess San is entering the capital, and His Majesty has specially established the Zhen Ke division—perhaps even His Majesty will attend the ceremony himself."

Ma Xuan added:

"Exactly. Last month, the Wu Kingdom's envoy brought several ferocious demonic beasts; His Majesty was so delighted he established the Zhen Ke. I heard if you win top three, you'll receive a sword personally bestowed by His Majesty—immense honor."

Lin Hai chuckled:

"In seven days we'll know—who among the worthy youths will earn His Majesty's gift?"

That sword was no ordinary thing.

It was a fourth-rank spiritual weapon.

Yet while spiritual weapons were precious, the real value lay in the words "bestowed by His Majesty."

This would be recorded in the Ministry of Personnel's ledgers.

When the capital evaluation comes, it becomes capital for promotion.

Li Rui mostly just smiled and listened.

The five of them drank until deep into the night.

Only then did they stagger apart.

Li Rui stepped out of the White Crane Pavilion; Tan Hu and Ge Hong, who had been waiting outside, stepped forward. The others had already left in carriages—Li Rui had no such privilege.

Tan Hu asked curiously: "Big Brother, was dinner expensive there? How was the taste?"

"Average. Seven vegetarian dishes, one meat."

Upon hearing this,

Tan Hu instantly lost interest.

Ge Hong chuckled: "Huizi, you don't get it. They're paying for the elegance—it's worth a fortune."

Tan Hu rolled his eyes:

"These high officials are all addled."

"If it were us, after spending so much, we'd demand a piece of dragon meat to make it worth it."

Li Rui strongly agreed:

"Huizi, you're right."

Seven days passed in a flash.

The day of the examination.

The civil exam was held at the Imperial Examination Hall; the military exam took place at the Ministry of War's training ground outside the city.

Li Rui had already put on his official robe and left the Dianke Office with Tan Hu and Ge Hong.

He hadn't brought an official robe from Yunzhou.

This robe was borrowed for him by Lin Hai, who arranged it through a commander of the Imperial Guards—same rank as Li Rui, fifth grade, and it fit him perfectly.

Not long after,

Li Rui arrived at the outer training ground.

The ground was already packed.

Eager candidates had been waiting outside since early morning.

The military exam imposed no age or gender restrictions.

So there were men and women, old and young.

Li Rui even spotted an old man with white hair and beard—he looked older than Li Rui himself.

He wondered whether the man, like him, was a late bloomer.

Seeing Li Rui's official robe with the bear-and-panda emblem in blue, everyone instantly showed reverence and respectfully cleared a path.

Li Rui walked through without obstruction.

Inside, Ministry of War officials had already prepared everything; he saw many familiar faces.

Lin Hai, Ma Xuan, and the others spotted Li Rui.

They came over warmly to greet him.

"Lord Li, after we're done, come to my house for a gathering—I got a Seven-Star Sword, let Old Brother take a look."

Said Ma Xuan.

"Seven-Star Sword? I'll definitely take a good look."

Li Rui wasn't interested in the Seven-Star Sword.

He was just using it to deepen ties.

After some casual chat,

Li Rui finally found a chance to approach Nie Siming.

Nie Siming looked at Li Rui with a half-smile—he'd seen Li Rui laughing and chatting with those capital officials.

"I was right about you."

Indeed.

Though Wang Vice Minister had specially invited him to supervise, Li Rui was the one Nie Siming had specifically requested to bring along. Now it was clear his move had succeeded.

Nie Siming was no petty superior who envied his subordinates.

Li Rui was his subordinate; Li Rui's connections were his connections.

The more people he knew in the capital, the easier things became.

That was precisely why he'd kept Li Rui in the capital.

Li Rui understood Nie Siming's implication; he bowed slightly and smiled: "Thank you, General Nie, for your guidance."

Nie Siming waved it off:

"It's your own ability. Repay this favor after you break through."

Li Rui knew Nie Siming meant "repay the favor" by fighting him.

As they spoke,

A deafening dragon's roar erupted from one corner of the training ground.

No mistake—this was the content of the test!

Nie Siming stared at the spot: "A fierce nine-yin jiao."

There, beneath a white cloth, lay a massive cage—the demonic beast to be tested in this military exam.

"It's a Nine-Yin Jiao, brimming with potent nine-yin demonic energy. Few in the Guanhai realm could subdue it."

"No one will subdue it this time."

"Not even last year's military top graduate could."

Li Rui strongly agreed.

He knew much about the Wu Kingdom, including demonic beasts.

The Nine-Yin Jiao was infamous for its killing power—unbeatable at its own level.

Even Nie Siming said few could subdue it—that meant almost none. Likely, no one in this military exam would tame the beast.

Officials on the training ground each had their duties.

Supervisors like Li Rui were just one group; there were also supervisors, inspectors, martial judges, supply officers, and more—hundreds in total, a grand and solemn spectacle.

Such a grand display was meant to show the world the Emperor's love for talent.

Unlike the civil exam,

the military exam would directly rank the top three and second tier; the second tier would then enter the Fengtian Hall for personal examination by the Emperor.

'If someone defeats this jiao, he's surely a top-three candidate—likely the top graduate.'

As for why it's likely.

Because the Top Graduate is chosen by His Majesty's own decree.

Scores are only part of it.

What matters most is His Majesty's personal preference.

Take the previous Top Third Place winner—his essay was superb, yet his martial skill was mediocre, and his appearance was grotesque; in the end, he was named Top Third Place and missed the Top Graduate title entirely.

Very soon.

As a deep, resonant drumbeat began to rumble.

The martial examination begins!

Compared to the other candidates, all tense and anxious, Li Rui was far too relaxed—he might as well have been an outsider.

For the first two days.

First came the Strength Test, then the Stability Test.

After completing both, candidates proceed to the Hanlin Academy for the Military Test.

Like the literary examination, it lasts three days total.

But the martial examination is far better—candidates aren't locked inside the Imperial Examination Hall, forced to eat, drink, and relieve themselves in tiny cubicles.

As all candidates entered the grounds.

First, Minister Wang of the Ministry of War spoke of the Emperor's boundless grace, to inspire morale and demonstrate His Majesty's benevolence.

Then various officials began guiding candidates to their test stations.

Martial arts are for killing.

The Strength Test is purely a contest of raw power, decided by random draw and ladder matches.

Unlike ordinary martial tournaments, each match is limited to fifteen minutes; if no victor emerges, the examiner judges the outcome, verified by the supervisor.

Li Rui had long known he was assigned to the Si-character platform.

His assigned examiner was a Ministry of War Assistant Director.

The assistant director handled all logistics with his clerks; he merely watched leisurely.

The matches on the platform were truly dazzling.

With time limits, when the incense burned out and no winner emerged, the examiner decided the outcome—candidates naturally fought with all their might, unleashing lethal techniques.

It was a pleasure to watch.

Generally speaking.

The Second Rank consisted of only about forty people, nearly all of whom were Ocean-View cultivators.

Candidates must pay respects to the supervisors before the tests.

Even a slight favor creates goodwill.

Later, when they become officials, they'll feel more connected.

Li Rui came here to cultivate such connections, so as long as candidates weren't excessive, he treated them all with great courtesy.

He formed bonds with several promising candidates.

He showed particular care for those from Yunzhou.

This was not favoritism—it was human nature.

If you didn't help your own countrymen, it would be unthinkable.

He wasn't the only one doing this; all supervisors acted the same way—this phenomenon was common throughout Yu Kingdom.

If everyone enforced rules strictly, who would willingly take on the thankless job of supervisor?

In the evening.

Li Rui, Lin Hai, and several other officials gathered at the Ma residence, exchanging cups and toasts.

Similar scenes played out in many mansions in the capital.

"This year has produced many fine talents—Xu Yan from Haizhou is especially strong, a top contender for Top Graduate."

"I think that young man from the Bai family in the capital is impressive too."

"Truly, talent abounds."

"But who will secure the top rank in the most critical Stability Test? The Nine Yin Jiao is no easy foe."

(End of Chapter)