Chapter 334: A Good Man Returns Home, Granted Imperial Honor (Part One)

In this imperial examination, the civil Zhuangyuan was Xia Wanchun of Jiangzuo, whose fame was already known to all even before he passed the jinshi examination; his father was even a renowned scholar of Jiangnan, a jinshi of the fourth year of Chongzhen, already a civil official at court.

So for many people, Xia Wanchun's achieving the Zhuangyuan was hardly anything remarkable—it was simply a matter of course. But apart from the civil Zhuangyuan, this examination also produced a military Zhuangyuan.

Throughout the Ming dynasty, military Zhuangyuan were not unheard of, but few had truly received attention or become famous. The present situation differed from previous dynasties—the first military Zhuangyuan after the Chongzhen Emperor's reform of the military examinations was certain to draw great attention.

This military examination's Zhuangyuan was a man of the capital city, Xu Yanqi.

As it happened, this Xu Yanqi was participating in the military examination for the second time. The first time, he had also overpowered all rivals, but the quota was seized by noble families with imperial connections. When the Chongzhen Emperor of that time in history heard of this, he immediately ordered a re-examination.

Yet this proved utterly useless. Lacking power and influence, and with no Eastern Depot or Embroidered Uniform Guard oversight, the powerful nobles and imperial relatives ran amok with impunity. Xu Yanqi was forced out by their threats and bribes through every means at their disposal.

Since returning home, Xu Yanqi had not failed to inquire about the military examination, but military men were ultimately not well regarded in this dynasty, and he spent his days in frustration, his ambitions unfulfilled.

In the original history without the time-traveler, after the Qing army entered the passes, Xu Yanqi came to blows with Eight Banner soldiers who forcibly seized his wife. At the time, Xu Yanqi was but a commoner with only a kitchen knife in hand—yet even so, he "fiercely cut down three Banner soldiers, gravely wounded one niru officer, and fought until his death," showing the full measure of his ferocious bravery.

Although Xu Yanqi had no reputation among court and country, within the streets and alleys, as well as among the martial candidates who had come from all regions to participate in this military examination, all knew of his fierce reputation and felt the title was well deserved.

Xu Yanqi was but a commoner who, relying on sheer martial valor, had taken first place in the military examination. Moreover, among this examination's successful candidates, there was not a single one from a powerful family background—all were common folk who had come drawn by reputation from various regions. This all the more showed the remaining martial artists a path to serve the nation.

"Third year of Bingxu, first rank first place, Military Zhuangyuan, man of the capital, Xu Yanqi!"

The Directorate of Ceremonial specially selected several young eunuchs with loud voices to call out from atop the Chengtian Gate tower all day long. For the first time, the name of a common man echoed within the Forbidden City—this was what was commonly called the "name-calling."

Whatever the civil examination had, this military examination would have the same.

After attending the celebration banquet held by the Ministry of War, to show his regard, the Chongzhen Emperor personally received Xu Yanqi, the military Zhuangyuan of the Bingxu year, together with Dong Qi, Wang Xiantong, and others.

Last time at the palace examination it had been a proper assessment; this time his status had changed, and Xu Yanqi's feelings were naturally different. His heart surged with excitement, and he felt as though his whole person might float away. It was understandable—this was the most glorious moment in his nearly thirty years of life.

The Chongzhen Emperor understood that people of the time responded well to such gestures, so he expressed earnest expectations toward Xu Yanqi, personally descending the imperial steps to place in his hands the military Zhuangyuan armor and great blade specially made for him by the Imperial Staves Bureau.

By the time he returned near the small alley where he lived, Xu Yanqi was already clad in splendid armor and bearing a gleaming great blade—he had truly transformed into a military Zhuangyuan, his entire bearing and spirit utterly changed from before.

The crowds surging onto the main thoroughfare to watch the military Zhuangyuan's procession filled the road, even more numerous than those who had come to watch Xia Wanchun. Both sides of the street and the small alleys intersecting it were packed with people.

By comparison, those who had gone to watch the civil examination procession were not so many.

The common folk jostled and pushed, wanting only to catch another glimpse of what this warrior who had overpowered all rivals in the military examination looked like. They had heard that this Xu Yanqi could wield a hundred-jin great blade and had single-handedly taken first place in the three military subjects of foot archery, great blade, and unarmed combat—just how formidable must he be?

Naturally, apart from those idle folk watching the excitement, there were also many jealous nobles among the crowd, wanting to see just what sort of country bumpkin this selection had produced.

They dared not touch him, of course. At present the Chongzhen Emperor valued military men, having personally issued Xu Yanqi his armor and great blade in the hall and spoken a few words besides. Whoever laid a hand on him, no matter how great their backing, would find themselves in deep trouble.

Quite a few officials, gentry, and merchants watched silently from taverns on both sides of the road as Xu Yanqi was surrounded by the crowd, quietly pondering to themselves—it seemed this situation of the current His Majesty valuing military men would continue. Should they send someone to the Xu household with gifts?

Seeing Xu Yanqi, who under his brand-new armor cut an impressively heroic figure, no matter how jealous the nobles and imperial relatives were, they could only secretly resent that they could not defeat him in combat—in backing, they had already lost.

As long as this Xu Yanqi committed no great offense, the Chongzhen Emperor would be his patron.

Under the gaze of the fellow townsfolk lining both sides of the road, Xu Yanqi's new splendid armor gleamed brightly, his frame as stout as an ox. He kept cupping his fist in salute to those around him and laughing heartily, causing quite a few lovestruck young maidens to blush shyly, secret feelings budding in their hearts.

At this moment, all around Xu Yanqi were elite soldiers of the city defense forces personally selected by Dong Qi, Commissioner-in-Chief of the city defense forces, to escort him home. Dong Qi also had the intention of using this opportunity to let all inside and outside the capital see anew the strength of the reformed Capital Camps.

These city defense soldiers were all fully armed, with a short blade strapped to each calf. Every one of them held their chests high, right hands resting lightly on their scabbards, marching forward in straight ranks with long strides. The orderly steps and formation drew wave after wave of admiration from the onlooking commoners.

Xu Yanqi himself was a man of the capital, and this time even the Shuntian Prefecture office had specially dispatched numerous constables to escort him along the streets. This made him all the more proud, and his desire to risk life and limb for the current His Majesty grew ever stronger.

"Whoa, this military Zhuangyuan is a real big one—sturdier than my ox at home!"

"Right you are! Looks like this time they picked a genuine military Zhuangyuan!"

"No wonder he could take first place in the military examination—he's a true hero, one in a thousand!"

Many commoners brought out rice wine brewed in their own homes, pouring cup after cup for Xu Yanqi and the escorting city defense soldiers to drink. Xu Yanqi and the soldiers refused none, drinking with gusto.

Xu Yanqi, wearing the armor specially made for him, heard the "clang-clang" sound of the iron armor scales striking together and felt utterly delighted inside.

Xu Yanqi also daydreamed happily about how his wife would react when she saw him in this outfit. He had never let his wife suffer hardship in the past, yet she had never left his side. Those days would never come again!

Thinking of this, he unconsciously quickened his pace.

Xu Yanqi drank large mouthfuls of the rice wine handed up from both sides, and after finishing, stuffed the wine bowls back into the hands of the commoners nearby, who passed them back along the line for him.

Some sharp-eyed merchants, fearing inspection by the agents, hurriedly had their shop assistants bring fine pastries to present to Xu Yanqi and the city defense soldiers.

Xu Yanqi felt he could not refuse their goodwill, so whenever something came before him, he grabbed it and stuffed it into his mouth, eating as he walked—eating the entire way, which made the crowd's excitement grow even greater.

Before long, Xu Yanqi, surrounded by the crowd, entered a crooked little alley and stopped before a shabby wooden door. The accompanying city defense Company Commander was about to step up and knock when Xu Yanqi gently pulled him back.

"Better let me do it—my wife's timid, only recognizes me." Xu Yanqi wore an embarrassed expression. After the Company Commander stepped back, he went up and knocked on his own door, calling out loudly:

"Wife! Mother! It's me—I'm home!"