Chapter 329: The Civil and Military Lists

The situation changed abruptly, and the others in the arena were momentarily unable to react, but no one dared to say anything irrelevant either—they merely whispered among themselves, faces full of question marks.

At this moment, Xu Yanqi, who lay on the ground wailing, had already been carried off by the newly-added military medics and a physician transferred from the Imperial Academy of Medicine, who hurried him away for treatment—after all, the man was a promising prospect and couldn't be allowed to die just like that.

After Dong Qi shouted his order, the remaining soldiers exchanged glances, and under the coordination and arrangement of several Battalion Commanders, a squad of soldiers immediately pressed forward tightly.

Seeing the armored city-defense soldiers approaching menacingly from both sides, Zheng Guan was straightforward and clean about it—he offered no resistance as he was seized, asking aloud:

"May I ask, Examiner, what crime has this humble one committed?"

"You dare to ask? This Commissioner-in-Chief asks you—are you a deserter!?" Dong Qi shouted loudly.

Hearing this, Zheng Guan's face darkened, and he lowered his head, saying: "Yes!"

"Why did you flee in secret? Do you know what crime desertion in the face of battle constitutes?"

"Death by execution!"

"And what else?"

"Family implicated, all sent into military servitude!"

"You are the first person who can say those words without changing expression." Seeing that Zheng Guan remained unmoved even after speaking of matters concerning his family, Dong Qi sneered coldly.

"To answer the Examiner, this humble one's family all died in Liaodong—my mother was defiled by the Tartars, and my father and my elder brother both died in battle at the Hun River alongside Grandpa Qi and the others!" Zheng Guan spoke these words still with resolute strength, yet tears lingered in his eyes.

Hearing this, Dong Qi glanced at Wang Xiantong, and seeing that the other's expression also dimmed in an instant, he hesitated for a long while before suddenly asking: "Parting in life and death is something all men experience, let alone us! But is this your reason for being a deserter?"

"Yes!" Every answer Zheng Guan gave was extremely crisp and clean. He continued: "Grandpa Qi said that only by enduring humiliation and burden, preserving and strengthening oneself, can one have the chance to avenge a blood debt—otherwise, it will all just be drawing water with a bamboo basket!"

As he spoke, Zheng Guan knelt on one knee and said: "This humble one does not seek the military Zhuangyuan, does not wish to enter the academy, and no longer dares to hope for a glimpse of His Majesty's countenance—I only beg the Commissioner to plead with His Majesty on this humble one's behalf, to grant me some minor post, and let me start from the beginning!"

"This humble one will surely devote his life to His Majesty, and avenge my father, my mother, and the brothers of the Qi family army and the White Pole troops—so that I will not be left with nothing to say to them on the road to the Yellow Springs!"

Whether these words were actually spoken by Qi Jiguang, Dong Qi did not know, but he could now be certain that this Zheng Guan was one who had fled back from the Battle of the Hun River—and judging by his age, he would have been around seventeen or eighteen at the time.

Deserter—this was a scarlet word. At any time, deserters of all kinds had reasons of all kinds, but no matter what, fleeing on the battlefield was always looked down upon by others.

"Do you think the time has come now?" Before long, Wang Xiantong beside Dong Qi asked quietly.

Hearing these words, Zheng Guan nodded with great certainty and said in a loud voice: "military pay and provisions, Gu Pass, Taiyuan—victory in every battle, heads taken numbering over ten thousand! The Shrine of Loyal Martyrs, the Edict of Self-Blame, and this very military examination for selecting talents—all are none other than sound policies for the great revival of the Ming!"

"With the signs of the present, His Majesty is determined to emphasize military affairs, fears not for his reputation, dares to execute corrupt courtiers and treacherous scholars, and all officers and men dare to fight—a hundred wastes are being revived, former abuses all eliminated. Naturally, this is the time for men like us to display our abilities and devote ourselves to the dynasty!"

"This humble one is a native of Jin Prefecture in Liaodong's left region, and once served as captain of the boy soldiers in the Qi family army. I am willing to serve His Majesty!"

This impassioned speech actually stirred even Dong Qi somewhat. He steadied his mind, his face still showing no fluctuation, and after pondering for a long while, finally gave his order in a deep voice:

"Continue the competition. Place Zheng Guan under guard. This Commissioner will report to His Majesty and then make the decision!"

Since the decision was made, there was nothing more to be said. The assembled military examinees all nodded and shouted in unison with clasped fists: "We obey the Chief Examiner's command!"

The civil and military examinations were each divided into three sessions, each session lasting three days.

Roughly a dozen or so days later, all three sessions of the civil and military examinations were complete. Among the scholars and military examinees, some left in disappointment, some stayed clinging to a thread of hope, and some who already felt certain they would pass had begun hosting lavish banquets for their guests.

The capital and even the whole country were abuzz with discussion about it. According to the results-posting schedule announced in advance by the Ministry of Rites, the civil and military left and right lists would be posted around the end of the second month or the beginning of the third.

How the civil examination would turn out was still uncertain, but after the military examination concluded, things were basically settled—after all, everyone's performance had been witnessed on the spot, and barring the old practice of meritorious nobles using their power to seize places, it would basically be just as expected.

However, one matter left people sighing with regret—whether Zheng Guan would make the list, and if he did, which of the two, he or Xu Yanqi, would win the honor of military Zhuangyuan this time.

During the wait for the results to be posted, nothing major happened in the capital or elsewhere. The princes and nobles of merit who had been summoned to the capital by imperial edict or arrested and brought in by the Embroidered Uniform Guard—except for those from remote regions who had not yet arrived—all reached the capital successively around the twentieth-something of the second month.

At this critical juncture, according to reports from the depots and guards, the activities of the meritorious nobles and powerful magnates had decreased considerably—clearly they were also holding back for fear of hitting the stone. After all, the Chongzhen Emperor was currently dealing with the affairs of meritorious nobles and powerful magnates, and even the Prince of Fu had been arrested and brought to the capital. What would happen in the future was truly anyone's guess.

After the meritorious nobles entered the capital, they were temporarily housed in post stations surrounded by heavy troops, with their movements restricted. Until the civil and military examination results were posted or the Emperor summoned them, their food, clothing, lodging, and travel were all arranged and provided by designated personnel.

On the fourth day of the third month of the nineteenth year of Chongzhen, outside the East Daming Gate in the capital, the area was already packed wall-to-wall with people of all sorts. Among them, the majority were scholars and military examinees come to scan the lists, and the rest were mostly their uncles, elder brothers, and friends.

Of the two Daming Gates, east and west, due to their geographical location, civil officials and military officers of successive dynasties often had to pass through this place—thus the West Daming Gate was also called the "Dragon Gate." This time, the West Daming Gate where results were posted was called the "Tiger Gate."

This results posting was also different from previous ones. To demonstrate the court's equal regard for the civil and military examinations, the lists were divided into left and right. When results were posted at the West Daming Gate, the military list was on the west side; when results were posted at the East Daming Gate, the civil list was on the east side.

At the time of posting, the scholars rarely found themselves standing alongside the military men they ordinarily despised, beginning the heart-pounding scan of the lists. Considering that many military men could not read, Hanlin officials were specially arranged to read the lists aloud over successive days.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

The grand spectacle of the military examination pleases Us greatly. Wherever there is fine talent able to protect the borders and defend the territory of the Great Ming, it is the fortune of the state. We have the will to achieve prosperity, and thereafter may await the merits of you ministers. You must not disappoint the hopes of the people of the four seas, that We may hope for a single night of peaceful sleep. Ministers, strive on!

It is ordered that a banquet be jointly bestowed in the capital with the Ministry of Rites. All successful military juren and civil and military officials in the capital may attend the banquet. Respect this."

"Military examination, first class: Xu Yanqi, Zeng Wei, Li Wanliang, Qi Yuangong..."

"Military examination, second class: Dong Shichang, Han Zhong, Qi Chief Grand Secretary..."

"Military examination, third class: Liu Kegui, Qi Tianliang, Wu Zhongyin, Qi Yuanbi..."

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees:

The flourishing of the civil examination pleases Us greatly. The foundation of a rising dynasty's enterprise relies on the talents of founding ministers and good officials as supporting pillars, drawing upon the virtues of generations, observing the canonical statutes, and bestowing great grace. The court's grace toward its scholars is never greater than in commendation and reward. You must not disappoint the hopes of the people of the four seas, that We may hope for a single night of peaceful sleep. Ministers, strive on!

It is ordered that a banquet be jointly bestowed in the capital with the Ministry of Rites. All successful military juren and civil and military officials in the capital may attend the banquet. Respect this."

"Civil examination, first class: Xia Wanchun, Qu Changwen, Huang Yuanyao..."

"Civil examination, second class: Hou Xuanyan, Xu Jinhua..."

"Civil examination, third class: Hou Xuanjie, Du Dengchun..."