Chapter 222: Taking a Fancy

The townspeople running toward the examination grounds quickened their pace upon hearing the sudden, boisterous commotion coming from that direction.

There was clearly something exciting going on!

Who knew what was different about this year's examination? Why hadn't anyone mentioned it before?

By the time many townspeople arrived, the first round of the examination had already ended, but the onlookers were still debating it incessantly.

"He truly deserves to be the one ranked in the first round!"

"That Young Master Rong has extraordinary archery skills; one look and you can tell he is a man of great strategy!"

They didn't really understand the technical aspects, but looking at the results was enough; it didn't stop them from bragging.

The townspeople who had just rushed over to watch the excitement didn't know how many disputes were hidden within, but just from listening to the discussions of their fellow villagers, they knew that "Young Master Rong" from the first round was no ordinary person!

"Anyone who can be ranked in the first round must be a formidable figure!" they concluded.

More and more townspeople continued to rush toward this side.

The number of people gathered around the grounds increased rapidly.

Doctor Tang sat in the seat reserved for famous doctors.

His mind had completely flown off to his own small hut; he just wanted the examination to end quickly so he could go back and continue his research.

As for the big commotion over at Wen Gu's side, he only glanced at it once and didn't take it to heart.

If it weren't for this new apprentice taking the examination today, he wouldn't have had the "time" to come over either.

However, as the number of onlookers grew, Doctor Tang also felt more and more attention directed at him.

Many famous doctors sat in the reserved seating area, yet Doctor Tang was exceptionally conspicuous.

His attire had a unique aesthetic that defied worldly definitions!

The everyday clothes worn by famous doctors tended toward the image of scholars—refined, elegant, and tasteful.

Doctor Tang was completely different; his color-blocked, patched attire, which carried a slovenly, wild air, was very eye-catching!

Therefore, the crowds of onlookers arriving one after another focused a great deal of their gaze on him.

Doctor Tang, who had been distracted and wanted to breeze through this examination, couldn't help but sit up straight and put on the air of a famous doctor.

Among the other famous doctors nearby, some were also sitting uncomfortably.

However, the ordinary candidates participating in the examination were mostly happy.

The more onlookers there were, the fairer the examination would be.

Famous doctors had to maintain their reputations, too!

The most dissatisfied, and those who cursed the most, were the pre-selected candidates with connections waiting to be tested.

That man surnamed Rong's three arrows were too eye-catching; he showed off his skills right at the start, so how could they perform poorly afterward?

As long as a young master from a noble family wasn't a good-for-nothing, he would always have some special skill.

It all depended on whether they chose to slack off or to rise to the occasion.

In truth, there was no choice left now.

In this kind of setting, with this kind of atmosphere and so many people, they had to give it their all for the sake of their family's face!

After Wen Gu finished the first round of the examination, Patrol Lieutenant Yang went to question the person in charge from Shenyi Gu.

Anyone with a discerning eye could see that "Rong Huan" had been targeted in the first round; as his ostensible backer, Patrol Lieutenant Yang certainly had to make a statement.

Otherwise, people would think that their Xinzhou Zhao Fa Xunweis were soft persimmons, easy to squeeze!

Around the examination grounds, as round after round passed, regardless of whether they were hired to stir up the atmosphere or not, the commotion grew louder and the atmosphere hotter, which in turn attracted even more locals.

Quantitative change did indeed lead to qualitative change.

This number of onlookers had already changed the nature of this examination.

Once there were more people, those who hadn't originally intended to hire atmosphere-builders had to bite the bullet and create some noise for themselves, otherwise, they would truly be lost in the crowd!

They couldn't slack off or coast during the examination; with so many people watching, even if they were acting, they had to act well!

Some brandished saber techniques, some practiced a few sets of sword moves, or perhaps used staffs and long spears; in any case, these were flashy moves they usually practiced at home, but they were certainly very watchable when performed.

In troubled times, those who could travel far for advanced studies, regardless of gender, had at least some ability to protect themselves. Thus, under heavy pressure, they could bring out some impressive-looking skills.

Regardless of whether it was to snatch the Medicinal Herb on the cliff face, once these moves were performed, the atmosphere of the onlookers immediately ignited.

But standing in the middle of the field, they always felt as if they were being watched like monkeys.

They were the monkeys.

Very uncomfortable!

But thinking that everyone was the same, they managed to convince themselves.

They exhausted all their efforts just to get through this examination. By the end of the day, they were mentally dazed.

They had spent quite a bit of money!

They were tired as dogs themselves!

And they felt incredibly awkward inside!

"So annoying!"

"Who said the examination was just a formality?"

"Who was it that arranged for that man surnamed Rong to be in the first round?!"

"Who on earth was behind this?!"

They collectively cursed the person pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Some also speculated: "Could this have been intentionally arranged by Xinzhou?"

A self-directed act?

Others denied it: "It shouldn't be; I just saw that leader from the Xinzhou Xunweis go to find the people from Shenyi Gu, looking murderous. The medical official presiding over the examination has been wearing a long face and didn't talk back, which shows that the fault truly lies with Shenyi Gu; they'll likely have to pay a price later."

With matters having developed to this point, no matter who was pulling the strings to arrange for Rong Huan to be in the first round, given the current trend of events, no one would admit to such a failed scheme.

It was truly lifting a rock only to drop it on one's own feet!

The pre-selected connections were unhappy, but the common folk were all quite pleased. Especially those who rushed over to join the "atmosphere group"—they got to enjoy the show and earn money, it was such a bargain!

The medicine workers of the Tang Sect were also happy; if they, as medicine boys and workers, couldn't earn this money, Doctor Tang would be unhappy.

But their families and friends earned it! They didn't miss out on this wave of benefits!

Many people who came today brought their families along. Originally, they just called for more people to build up the momentum, but who would have expected they could earn this kind of money too!

Everyone was happy!

The townspeople and medicine workers realized it!

So that was what Old Imperial Physician Zhan meant by not letting outsiders in, but allowing the locals to enter!

The medical officer presiding over the examination and the disciples of Old Imperial Physician Zhan were screaming frantically inside: No, my master did not mean that!!

When the old imperial physician set the rules, his original intention was to reduce the interference of forces outside the valley into the valley; who could have imagined it would turn into what it is now!

One can imagine what future examinations will be like.

The medical officer presiding over the examination now just wants to strangle those who stirred up trouble behind the scenes!

An examination that was originally just a formality made "Rong Huan" famous overnight.

Some say he is vain and only resorts to flashy, crooked tricks.

Others say he is forthright and open-minded, a person who does not hold grudges!

In the Xinzhou Army station, inside the small building next to the post house.

After the examination ended, Wen Gu and Patrol Lieutenant Yang came here.

There was some work that needed to be arranged in person.

Today, all personnel of the Patrol Guard Division stationed at Shenyi Gu were busy.

An examination is also a collection of information.

The people sent by the Six Great Clans—which family? What status? What kind of ability? What special skills?

In this examination, being forced to show a thing or two gave them the opportunity to collect information.

The later the session, the more onlookers there were, and the greater the pressure on those young people from the wealthy aristocratic families.

Besides the connections sent by the Six Great Clans, they also paid attention to the other examinees.

From different people's on-the-spot performance, one can see a lot; if they spot someone suitable, they can try to develop them and see if they can be recruited into the Patrol Guard Division.

At the same time, because of the "atmosphere group" Wen Gu brought, they conducted a new round of investigation into the movements of the town's residents.

Because they had arranged scouts in advance and laid out plans beforehand, the people the Patrol Guard Division planted everywhere could obtain accurate information at the first opportunity.

All of this would be successively summarized into the intelligence information of the Patrol Guard Division.

Local residents, refugees from elsewhere, and spies planted in the town by various parties—there would be entanglements between these various identities.

People of different identities would certainly react differently when they learned there were benefits to be gained and a show to watch.

This kind of temporary differential performance could reveal many issues.

And, in the two or three years that Shenyi Gu has developed rapidly after the chaotic times, how could there not be "small folk social organizations"?

When there is money to be made like this, they would absolutely not miss it; information was also supplemented on which people belonged to which "organization."

Besides this, information was also expanded on what kind of divisions existed within Shenyi Gu, what the inclinations of the famous doctors were, and what the temperaments of the managers were like.

These new pieces of information cannot be seen for the time being; the personnel planted everywhere still need time to compile and organize them. Anyway, there is no hope of resting for the next two or three days.

Patrol Lieutenant Yang truly admires this Deputy Envoy.

Just entering Shenyi Gu, he managed to make such a big deal out of a perfunctory examination!

Although the Patrol Guard Division had collected information on Shenyi Gu before, this time, the sudden, large-scale influence starting from the grassroots populace made their intelligence information more detailed and accurate.

He is indeed worthy of being someone who can serve as a Deputy Envoy of the Patrol Guard Division!

Patrol Lieutenant Yang sighed with emotion many times.

It is hard to imagine what this person did when he was in Xinzhou!

Wen Gu was looking at a piece of information at this time; it was about those who were in the same group as him during the examination.

The group members two and three who were in the same group as him both had people behind them.

One could tell from their movement techniques that they were not ordinary people. They certainly were not originally arranged for the first examination; this time, they were implicated by Wen Gu and thrown into the first session. However, the result should still be able to go as they wished.

It is a pity that those two were wary of Wen Gu and had their own original stances; the possibility of them being won over by Xinzhou is not high.

Only Zhao Tieniu was a bit cleaner.

Zhao Tieniu's family background, as well as the information on his wife's father's family, was listed in great detail on the paper in Wen Gu's hand.

"Zhao Tieniu will definitely come to the mountain to apologize to me, accompanied by his father-in-law," Wen Gu said.

Patrol Lieutenant Yang thought that the Deputy Envoy seemed to have spent some extra effort on this person.

The so-called "no profit, no early rising" (×)

Deputy Envoy Wen has eyes like torches and deep foresight! He must have seen something that ordinary people find hard to notice!

Zhao Tieniu is indeed burly and has great strength; he held off four people at once in the examination hall, and everyone saw it.

But his aptitude is truly average!

In Patrol Lieutenant Yang's view, this person is fine for doing some rough work, but he cannot do anything else, and he does not quite fit the aura of their Patrol Guard Division.

But in view of Deputy Envoy Wen's past record, Patrol Lieutenant Yang suppressed the dissent in his heart and asked very humbly, "Deputy Envoy, you have taken a fancy to Zhao Tieniu?"

Wen Gu said: "I have taken a fancy to his father-in-law."

Patrol Lieutenant Yang:???