Fenghou

This is what makes Chen Qing different from other generals. He doesn't want to bear the reputation of stepping on sacrificed soldiers to climb up. Although this is a normal thing, Chen Qing can't pass this hurdle in his heart.

Zhang Jun felt a little unhappy, but he still said to Chen Qing solemnly: "Whether it is you or your subordinates, as the coach, I will give you what I should give, and I will never lose a point."

Coming out of the government office, Chen Qing was still dizzy. He didn't remember any of the official positions Wang Mu told him, but he remembered one thing very clearly. He was going to study in the capital.

……

After Jingkang, Kang Wang Zhao Gou fled all the way to the southeast. He first ascended the throne in Yingtian Mansion, changed Yuan Jianyan, and then moved southward for two years. For Jiankang Mansion, it was designated as the eastern capital, that is to say, the imperial court initially decided to set the capital at Jiankang after Jianyan traveled south.

It's a pity that in less than half a year, Wanyan Wushu led an army of [-] to search the mountains and seas, and the imperial court was forced to continue fleeing south, and established a palace in Hangzhou, and upgraded Hangzhou to Lin'an Mansion, which is called Xingzai, which means I will live here temporarily for a while, and I will go back after the recovery of the Central Plains.

But this time he lived there and never left again. In the eighth year of Shaoxing, the Song and Jin Dynasties successfully negotiated peace, Zhao Gou no longer had the heart of the Northern Expedition, and officially designated Lin'an as the capital.

It was still the first year of Shaoxing, and Lin'an prefecture governing Qiantang County and Renhe County was only a temporary residence of the imperial court. The official Zhao Gou was determined to resist the Jin Dynasty and encouraged the Northern Expedition, and it was only ordinary people who regarded Lin'an City as their capital.

Lin'an City in April is the most beautiful time of the year. The weather is warm and not yet hot. The West Lake is full of lush greenery, with beautiful mountains and clear waters, and the scenery is pleasant.

This morning, on the outer pier of Yuhang Gate in Lin'an City, a passenger ship was slowly docking.

The young scholar standing at the bow is Chen Qing. He is wearing a black gauze headband, a fine linen blue shirt, a leather belt around his waist, and a sword. In addition, he is tall, looks imposing, and has outstanding talents .

This time when he came to An, his spear and war horse were all deposited with Wang Yan, and he only brought his bow, which was put in a wicker box, some broken silver and a few changes of clothes. This was all his carry-on luggage. .

The black fat people behind are the capital chief Zheng Ping and the deputy capital chief Zhao Xiaoyi. They are on leave to visit relatives in Lai'an, and they will go back in two months.

Zheng Ping looked at the county seat and said, "I thought Lin'an City was a small county seat, but it doesn't look that small!"

Chen Qing said indifferently: "The south of Lin'an City is Qiantang County, and the north is Renhe County. It was originally the capital of the Wuyue Kingdom of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms. It has always been very prosperous, but it was destroyed by Fang La's rebellion and looted by the Jin soldiers. He is a wealthy family who fled from the north, and he should recover quickly."

"Old Zheng, do you know where your parents live?" Zhao Xiaoyi asked.

Zhao Xiaoyi also wanted to dress up as a scholar, but he didn't have enough temperament. He was thin and thin, so he looked like a school boy, while Zheng Ping, who had a big belly and wore gold and silver, looked like an upstart businessman.

Zheng Ping scratched his head, "There is an address in the letter, it seems to be in Baohefang, let's find out!"

Coincidentally, the Baohefang they were looking for was not far from Yuhang Gate.

"There are more than a dozen human heads hanging on the gate of the capital?"

Zhao Xiaoyi found a row of wooden cages hanging on the top of the city gate, and when he got closer, it turned out that the cages were full of human heads, each with hideous faces, which were quite frightening.

Chen Qing glanced at it and said with a smile: "It should be Jiangyang bandits and the like, beheaded to show the public, to appease the people!"

The three of them walked into the county seat, and the city was bustling with activity. A large number of rich merchants and dignitaries who fled from the north poured into Lin'an from all directions. The population quickly exceeded one million, and the land price in Lin'an skyrocketed.

All kinds of businesses also prospered. The newly built restaurants and shops are more luxurious and more exquisite than the last, and all kinds of signboards and banners are overwhelming.

The three of them inquired all the way, and they came to Baohefang not long after. Zheng Ping stood in a daze in front of a big house. This was the address his father gave him, and the house number was clearly written: Zheng's house.

On the plaque above the main gate are engraved five big characters: Hejian County Government.

"Old Zheng, your family is still rich and powerful?"

Zheng Ping shook his head in a daze, "I don't know! My father is only a medicine merchant in Hejian Prefecture. When did he become the county magistrate of Hejian? I'm also at a loss!"

At this time, an old housekeeper walked out, Zheng Ping recognized it at a glance, and shouted excitedly: "Old Uncle Wang!"

"Oh! Saburo is back."

The old housekeeper hugged Zheng Ping excitedly, "It's been five years, and you're finally back!"

"Old Uncle Wang, what's going on?" Zheng Ping pointed to the plaque and asked.

"It's hard to say, go in and tell you slowly, your parents are worried about you!"

Zheng Ping introduced Chen Qing and Zhao Xiaoyi again. When the old butler heard that he was his son's boss, he immediately stood up in awe, clasped his fists and said, "General Chen, please come in!"

Chen Qing smiled at Zheng Ping: "I have to go to report, Xiao Yi will go with you, see you another day!"

Zheng Ping nodded, "Alright, after I settle down first, I'll bring Xiao Yi to find you!"

The three parted, Chen Qing carried the willow wooden box, and soon came to Taixue. Taixue was established last year, covering an area of ​​about [-] acres. The Wuxue established a few months ago cut a corner of Taixue.

Chen Qing inquired and found that Wuxue was at the east door. He walked around to the east side door and saw a notice posted on the door, which read: "Martial Arts Report Office, enter the door and go straight for thirty steps, Qingyang Building In the main hall, all martial arts scholars are requested to bring their own bows and horses, and only those who pass the examination can register. '

Chen Qing was stunned for a moment, still taking the exam?

Chapter 55 exam

"Brother, please step aside!"

Chen Qing stepped aside quickly, and a group of people came behind him. The one who asked him to make way was a man who looked like a family servant. He pushed open the side door and stood respectfully aside. Afterwards, four young men got off their horses and threw the reins to respective entourage.

The four young men seem to be in their twenties, all of them are tall and handsome. Although they are all wearing samurai uniforms and samurai hats, they are all made of exquisite materials. The patterns of colorful phoenixes, flowers and birds, etc. are exquisite in workmanship.

The bow on the back and the long sword in the waist are also inlaid with gold and jade, very gorgeous. Obviously, this is the yamen of four wealthy and powerful families.

But Chen Qing thinks about it, even he entered martial arts to obtain the qualifications for conferring officials, why is it not the case for others?

The four yamen looked arrogant, they didn't even look at Chen Qing, they walked into the side door talking and laughing, and a group of servants followed behind them.

"A group of dudes, do you think this is Bianliang?"

Someone muttered dissatisfiedly behind him, Chen Qing turned around, only to find a man standing behind him, about his age, also wearing a fine linen warrior uniform, leading a horse, with a bow and arrow and a long knife.

"Brother also came to the Martial Arts Journal?" Chen Qing asked with a smile.

"Exactly!"

The man looked at Chen Qing and asked, "Your Excellency, too!"

Chen Qing smiled and nodded.

The man cheered up, and quickly clasped his fists and said, "My lord, Hu Yantong, is a general under the command of Han Dutong of the Shenwu Army. May I ask your surname?"

It turned out to be Han Shizhong's general, and Chen Qing also cupped his fists: "I am the general of Wang Yan, who controls the capital of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Army, and I'm Chen Qing!"

"It turns out that Brother Chen is the Eight-Character Army!"

Hu Yantong quickly looked at Chen Qing's forehead, and Chen Qing smiled faintly, "Some words don't need to be engraved on the face, but the same is true if engraved on the heart."

Hu Yantong laughed, "You're right, I'm short on knowledge."

The two walked into the side door. Chen Qing hesitated and asked, "What's the meaning of the notice posted at the door? Why do you still need to take the exam?"

Hu Yantong sneered and said: "It's funny to say that, as soon as the news of the military department's re-establishment of martial arts came out, it immediately caused an uproar. All kinds of gift-giving and favor-seeking people were looking for various connections to find cracks. The threshold of the military department's Wang Shilang's house They are all going to be crushed, there are only 2000 places in total, but there are at least [-] people who want to come in."

"This is martial arts, not Taixue. Why is it so popular?"

Chen Qing knew that the Song Dynasty had always valued literature over martial arts, but it was beyond his comprehension that martial arts would be so popular.

"Then you don't understand. After studying in Taixue, you can only go to government schools to become professors in various places. The official position is low, the salary is meager, and there is no hope of promotion, but martial arts is different, especially the first batch of martial arts. The army, starting from the eighth rank, this is a fat job, and the rich and powerful are vying for places. I wonder how many places you got in the Sichuan-Shaanxi Army?"

"Three!"

"That's right! The mighty Sichuan-Shaanxi Army only has three quotas, let alone other places, we all have only two quotas, and the other quotas... Hey! You just saw it too."

"Hurry up, you two, report here!" An official waved to them.

The two walked quickly to the front of the Qingyang Tower...

Now it's just a pre-arrival, identity verification, and then an exam. Only after passing the exam can you officially register.

The exam was held in the Martial Arts Field of Taixue, which was shared by Taixue and Wuxue. It took up a small area, only about ten acres.

An official in charge said loudly: "Everyone, please listen carefully. The content of the test is bow and arrow and weightlifting. There is no requirement for bow and arrow. You can use our bow and arrow or your own bow and arrow. It is required to hit the wooden dummy target at a distance of [-] steps. Three arrows hit at least two arrows.

Then the weightlifting requirement is to lift [-] catties over the head, so it is considered qualified. If you fail the exam, I am sorry!You can only go back and forth from where. "

A total of 21 warriors took the exam today, and Chen Qing drew lots to be the ninth one to appear.

"Be the first to appear, Wang Bo!"

A person walked out from the team, it should be the leader of the four powerful yamen, Hu Yantong lowered his voice and said to Chen Qing: "This person was originally a guard of the palace, the son of Wang Jue who commanded the deputy envoy in front of the palace."

"Looking at how well-dressed he is, Jingkang's disaster has not been affected?"

Hu Yantong sneered and said, "After the Jin soldiers besieged Tokyo for the first time, do you know how many rich and powerful families escaped from Tokyo? Many families have already transferred their money to Yangzhou, Suzhou and other places, and their families did the same."

Chen Qing was somewhat interested. Although this Wang Bo was well dressed, he had strong arms and a vigorous posture. The bow he used was at least a stone bow, and he was from a family of generals, so he should have some real talents.

Wang Bo walked quickly to the shooting line. With his quiver on his back, he drew out an arrow and shot it with his bow. The arrow hit the wooden dummy's throat and immediately won applause.

Chen Qing nodded secretly, his arrow skills were not bad, and his hands were relatively steady. He was not the kind of yamen who only played with birds and flirted with women.

Wang Bo shot two more arrows, both of which hit the wooden man's throat. As for lifting sixty catties, ordinary people can lift it, let alone these warriors.

Wang Bo was the first to pass the exam and came back triumphantly.

Immediately after that, all the warriors passed one by one, and Hu Yantong was the eighth to appear, and all three arrows hit the wooden dummy's face, winning applause.

Hu Yantong bowed to a general in the distance, and walked back to the team.

Chen Qing looked curiously at the general in the distance. He was about forty years old, with a Chinese character face, sword eyebrows and tiger eyes, and a blue beard under his jaw. He was majestic. Although he was sitting with a group of officials, But it can be seen that he has nothing to do with this exam, he just came to watch.

This person should be Hu Yantong's elder!

Chen Qing originally wanted to ask, but the referee was already calling him, "Chen Qing is the ninth player!"

The middle-aged general's eyes lit up when he heard Chen Qing's name, and his eyes were fixed on Chen Qing's every move.

Chen Qing walked forward holding the bow. He had no arrows, so he borrowed a pot of arrows from the table. The magistrate glanced at his bow, "Why don't you use a step bow?"

Of course, Chen Qing used his Dingyuan bow for riding and shooting. It was only used for infantry shooting, and he would suffer a little.

Chen Qing saw that he had no intention of stopping, so he smiled and walked to the shooting line, and there was a murmur of discussion among the warriors.

"This guy actually uses a bow, what do you mean? Does he appear to be superior?"

"He thought that no one else could ride and shoot, so he deliberately showed off himself!"

"Old Wang, what do you think?"

Several yamen looked at Wang Bo, and Wang Bo curled his lips, "I guess I just came from a small place and haven't seen much of the world. If we want to show off, let's just watch a monkey show."

Everyone laughed together, "That's right, this monkey show is quite interesting."

Having said that, Wang Bo kept his eyes on Chen Qing, saying that today's exam was just a formality, but he got the news that this exam is actually very important, and the results will be placed directly on the official desk, No.1 The importance is self-evident.

They are the last batch of exams. The previous batches of exams were mediocre. He hit the throat with three arrows, which is considered the best result so far. Although Hu Yantong hit the door with three arrows, but one arrow is not critical, let's be more serious , he is not as good as himself.

Wang Bo is determined to win the first place in this entrance examination.

He knew all the warriors who took the exam today, but he knew nothing about this one, and Wang Bo felt a little wary.

Chen Qing drew out a white-feathered arrow, he glanced at the wooden dummy target, barely aiming, Zhang Gong just shot the arrow, the arrow was like lightning, 'Ka! 'It hit the left shoulder of the wooden man's target, causing a knowing laugh.

Taking a riding bow in a serious manner to take the exam, he only shot the left shoulder, not even the vitals.

"Huyan, where is he from?" a yamen named Qi Yun asked.

This group of yamen all knew Hu Yantong and grew up together, but they were not the same kind of people, and they couldn't play together.

Hu Yantong originally didn't want to pay attention to this person, but thinking that their fathers and grandparents are family friends, he responded vaguely: "I don't know the details, it should be sent by the Western Army!"

Everyone suddenly realized that it was the Western Army, and they really came from the countryside.

The low status of the Western Army has always been a tradition in the Song Dynasty, as can be seen from the experience of Di Qing and Zhong Shidao.

This is also because the region is far away and communication is inconvenient. For example, any major victory of the Western Army is just a number. Except for the emperor, other people don't care too much. After all, they live too far away from them.

The most typical are the four famous generals of the Southern Song Dynasty against the Jin Dynasty, Han Shizhong, Yue Fei, Zhang Jun, and Liu Guangshi. There is no general of the Western Army among them.

People in the Kingdom of Jin changed their colors when they heard about Jie. Wu Jie’s reputation was no less than that of Yue Fei, but he was ignored by the court. There were also famous generals of the Western Army, such as Wu Ji, Wang Yan, Liu Ziyu, Liu Kai, Li Yanxian, etc., who were finally lost in history. in the dust.

Even Wang Yan and Liu Ziyu are unknown, let alone a small commander of the Western Army like Chen Qing.

Wang Bo also heaved a sigh of relief in his heart, this person only shot in the shoulder, far inferior to himself, and he was the first one in this exam.

At this time, Chen Qing drew out a second arrow, and shot again. The second arrow still hit the left shoulder, and then the third arrow still hit the left shoulder. There was laughter all around. This person likes the left shoulder so much, could it be the left shoulder? king?

The general outside the city saw a clue, and his expression became dignified...

At the end of the exam, all 21 people passed the exam and went to go through formal registration procedures.

More than a dozen examiners in the martial arts arena are still arguing about who can win the first place in today's results.

"Although Wang Bo hit the throat with three arrows, the throat is not as good as the face. This is recognized. Today's No. [-] Huyantong should be number one."

"Nonsense! The arrow in the face is not necessarily dead. Hu Yantong missed the second arrow slightly, but you can try the arrow in the throat? He hit the throat with three arrows. Wang Bo must be ranked first, and Huyantong can be ranked first." second."

At this time, Wang Hao, the servant of the Ministry of War, came over, smiled and said to the general next to him: "Han Dutong, your general performed very well today! He actually hit the front door with three arrows."

The middle-aged man is none other than the famous general Han Shizhong. He happens to be reporting his duties in Lin'an. Today is his confidant general Hu Yantong taking the exam. He is quite interested and came here to have a look.

Han Shizhong shook his head, "Hu Yantong's archery skills are average! Even Wang Bo can't rank first, and No. [-] Chen Qing is much better than them."