Chapter 238: Could It Be Her?

A group of people looked at Liu Zheng with eyes gleaming with intensity.

That's right.

At this moment, Liu Zheng was like a deity to this Western Regions Protectorate.

Everyone wanted to earn his appreciation.

Qin Zhangfeng also walked over and said with a smile, "Young Master, things are about to begin over here."

Liu Zheng nodded: "Don't worry about me, you all continue."

Xiong Ao was truly excited at this moment: "Did you all hear that? Did you hear? Young Master Liu said that my slaughtering in all directions is also a strategy, also an Art of War! Haha!"

Everyone laughed.

Liu Zheng suddenly saw Xie Chan and Xiao Tao in the crowd and asked in confusion: "How come there are women here?"

Others also looked over one after another.

Actually, many people had been curious just now.

This was the Martial Examination, a matter for a bunch of rough men; why would two women appear? But remembering that the Protectorate's Martial Examination indeed did not specify that it excluded women, others hadn't asked anything.

But at this moment, this one sentence from Liu Zheng still caused everyone's gaze to focus entirely on these two young women.

Not to mention those looks—all sorts of mockery, all sorts of ridicule.

Before Xie Chan could speak, Xiao Tao beside her wouldn't have it and scolded sharply: "What's wrong with being a woman? You might not even be able to beat my young lady!"

The crowd burst into laughter, none of them believing it.

Since ancient times, there had truly been no precedent for women to go to the battlefield.

Xie Chan was furious at being mocked by these people. She looked coldly at Liu Zheng and asked: "Young Master Liu, I have learned that in your Yinzhou, there is a General Zheng who is indeed a woman. Furthermore, isn't this Western Regions Construction Corps within the scope of the Militia? Even the Craftsman Examination has women, so why can't the Martial Examination?"

Once these words were spoken, the whole place was speechless.

Xie Chan then said proudly with a smile: "The Empress Dowager of Loulan, Reguli, led troops to kill the enemy—the whole world knows this. Is the Magistrate Liu, then, such a pedantic person?"

"You..."

Qin Zhangfeng was angry.

Liu Zheng, however, waved his hand and looked at this sharp-tongued young woman again.

Her figure was not bad, but her face was smeared with dirt and oil stains. It was clear she was a young girl of seventeen or eighteen, but in this era, she was already an adult woman. Especially those eyes, clear and spirited; Liu Zheng looked at her and unexpectedly felt she seemed somewhat familiar...

That shouldn't be...

He shook his head; in this world, the women he was familiar with were few and far between.

He said with a smile: "The Martial Examination indeed makes no distinction between men and women. Zhangfeng, this is what I came to instruct you about: from now on, within the jurisdiction of the Western Regions Protectorate, men and women are equal, and the Natural Inheritance Law is equally valid in the Western Regions. Therefore, this Imperial Examination is the same! Arrange it yourself."

"What?"

Xie Chan's delicate body trembled upon hearing this.

The others also looked at each other in dismay.

Men and women are equal?

Xie Chan watched Liu Zheng's departing back with burning eyes. Why did this guy bring her such extraordinary shocks time and time again?

Imperial Examination?

Men and women are equal?

Natural Inheritance Law?

What was that?

But seeing Qin Zhangfeng respond with a booming agreement, with no strange expression on his face.

She suddenly felt...

That her assassination target seemed to hide too many things, and she did not know enough about him yet.

No!

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated!

She had to figure out his situation!

You dare to laugh at me?

Watch how I make you unable to step down!

After all, this was the Western Regions Protectorate's first Imperial Examination. To be precise, it was the first Imperial Examination in this world.

Liu Zheng still went around to every examination hall.

Although the preparations were hasty and the conditions simple, people at this time likely had no thoughts of cheating, so he wasn't worried about that.

It was bustling with activity.

For three consecutive days, Yanqi City was exceptionally lively.

What Liu Zheng did not expect was.

This Imperial Examination really did screen out many excellent talents for him.

First, the most eye-catching one was that Ling Chen.

In the eyes of Qingyang Shuo, he was the person most suited to Liu Zheng's temperament. This child was indeed an extreme talent. The policy paper he wrote made Liu Zheng feel terrified.

Colonization!

Expansion!

Colonization!

Expansion!

Cultural aggression, religious aggression!

This kid thought exactly that way about those small countries in the Western Regions. Break them and then rebuild; whatever ancestral temple, tear it down; whatever Temple, tear it down; whatever idol, smash it!

Slaughter the city, expand!

Immigrate!

Do you think he came just by following Liu Zheng's wishes, or by following that previous long essay?

Not so.

This kid, from his own perspective, analyzed the current status of the Western Regions within the Longyan Dynasty, as well as its strategic significance. Especially the complex relationship with Liangzhou. And the relationship between Liu Dahao, Liu Zheng, and the imperial court, the entire Great Trend of the world, and then combined with the policy essay he provided, down to every detail, in every aspect.

He had made plans for all of it.

In short, it is one phrase: militarism!

Rapid expansion!

He believes that the intensification of domestic conflicts is precisely because expansion is insufficient! If the speed of expansion exceeds the rate at which internal conflicts breed, then this dynasty is truly prosperous!

Qingyang Shuo was dumbfounded: "Young Master, this kid..."

Liu Zheng also didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "Sir, this Ling Chen is indeed a double-edged sword..."

Against enemies, he must be very strong.

But...

Being too sharp and exposed will always lead to a backlash.

Just like the Mongols in Huaxia history; back then, the kingdom of Genghis Khan was exactly like this. The speed of outward expansion exceeded the speed at which internal conflicts grew, and thus, the Mongol Empire was formidable for a time, with territory spanning Asia, Africa, and Europe, but when Genghis Khan died, his sons immediately turned against each other, and the kingdom fell apart.

When it collapsed, it was truly fast.

This Ling Chen is an extremely ambitious person!

But...

Liu Zheng and Qingyang Shuo understood that they needed someone to guard the Western Regions.

This person is the best candidate!

However, as for how to use this person, how to employ him, for how long, and to what extent, it must be handled carefully.

Otherwise, this will be a sword hanging over their heads at all times!

"This Liu Yan is not bad either."

"Standard and steady."

"And this Qian Lang..."

Three days of Imperial Examination.

Three days later, the results were posted.

These three days gave Liu Zheng, Qingyang Shuo, and the group at the Protectorate time to evaluate and screen. Liu Zheng, Liu Dahao, and Qingyang Shuo were mainly responsible for the Literary Examination side.

Qin Zhangfeng and Jiang Xuan were responsible for the Martial Examination side.

As for the Artisan Examination, it was handled by Wei Tiezhu, who had come with the team.

Just at this moment.

The door was suddenly pushed open by Jiang Xuan, who ran in covered in sweat: "Young Master, it's bad, it's bad!"

Liu Zheng and Qingyang Shuo looked over at the same time.

Both of them had a headache regarding the personality of this reckless kid. After so long, he still couldn't be more composed.

Who would have thought.

The next sentence from Jiang Xuan made even Liu Zheng jump up.

"Young Master, this, this, this, the one who took first place in the Martial Examination is a woman, what should we do?"

"What?"

In Liu Zheng's mind, the image of the mud-covered girl he had seen that day flashed instantly.

Could it be her?