Chapter 417: Chapter 218: Great Increase in Luck (Part 2)
Translator: 549690339
As for the Zhou People, they have a slightly larger number of troops at around twenty-three to twenty-four thousand, but their morale isn’t very high. At present, they have all retreated to their old nest and started avoiding battles.
Generally speaking, the situation is evenly matched between the two sides, and neither can gain an advantage.
“So now, if we want to break this deadlock, we need more resources and forces to be put in.”
This force can be top combatants like me, Lan Cai’er, and Yan Wangqiu, who are Inborn Grandmasters.
It can also be ordinary soldiers, like the two hundred thousand troops from Nanhai and Ninghai countries.
Either of these forces can be put in to influence the outcome of the war.
What matters now is the outcome of the war between Nanhai and Ninghai countries.
When Yan Wangqiu and Su Xuange bring their troops, the war will most likely be over by then.”
Lu Yuan concluded this and then threw the military report aside, not paying much attention to it anymore.
Because ten days ago, he had received a letter from Nanhai Country stating that after dragging their feet for several months, Yan Wangqiu had finally put aside his domestic duties and had set out northwards with the hundred thousand troops he had assembled.
At the same time, seven days ago, Ninghai Country sent a similar letter stating that Su Xuange had also set out with 100,000 troops to fulfill his promise to the court to send troops northwards.
Now the two countries have dispatched a total of two hundred thousand troops.
According to the timeline, the earliest departing troops from the closest Southsea Country may have already reached the border of Yangshan Prefecture in Changsha Country.
Ninghai Country might be a little slower, but it will not take more than five days.
Now, Lu Yuan only needs to wait for one more month, and the two countries’ troops should be able to reach Changsha.
At that time, he and Lan Cai’er will join forces with the two countries, and the four Grandmasters and two hundred thousand fresh troops will head north. Such a massive force is enough to break the hard-built defense line by the Zhou People now.
“Perhaps, if it’s fast enough, we can even end the war before the New Year and have a happy wedding.”
If he could achieve a great victory and return triumphantly before the wedding in two months, it would undoubtedly be the best gift for the wedding.
Time passed quickly.
In the blink of an eye, it was five days later, the day when the results of the imperial examination were announced and names were posted.
In the city, scholars who had stayed all this time got up early that day and gathered at the examination center converted from an outside military barracks.
In the center of the examination site, at the drill ground where the army used to train, several large signboards had been erected, with red roll posted on them, listing the names of successful candidates.
Several similar places were also arranged within the barracks.
A total of seven notice boards were set up to announce the ranking list to the scholars who participated in the exam.
“Don’t squeeze, don’t squeeze! I can’t see!”
“Where’s my name? Where’s my name?”
“I must have passed this time! There are a thousand slots!”
Hundreds of scholars stretched their necks to look at the posted lists in front of them.
Some anxious people pushed and shoved to get to the front to check for their names, causing some chaos.
Fortunately, there were sentries maintaining order near the lists, and they immediately stepped in to handle the situation as soon as they noticed any issue, so no stampede incidents occurred.
In this chaos, some lucky individuals soon found their names on the list and shouted excitedly, “I passed! I passed! Oh, I passed!”
At this time, someone beside them also spotted their name and became even more excited, jumping up and saying, “I passed! Hahaha, I passed! I’m going to be an official!”
These reactions were due to being overwhelmed with emotions.
Many envious glances were cast at these people, who blushed but couldn’t help but giggle foolishly.
Some people with better composure and self-discipline didn’t lose their composure when they saw their names on the list, although they were excited.
After looking at it a few more times, they turned around and left.
Since they passed the examination today, their ten years of hard study were not wasted. It was time to return home and celebrate with friends at a banquet.
At that time, one could slowly let loose. There was no need to lose face here.
Where there is joy, there is sorrow.
Some people in the field had looked at ten lists in a row, but they couldn’t find their names among the thousands of slots. They couldn’t help but burst into tears.
“Why didn’t I pass? Why didn’t I pass? I have been taking exams for more than a decade. There are so many slots this time; why didn’t I pass?”
“My name must have been accidentally left out. It must have been left out. How could I not pass with my great talent?”
“Oh, heavens, I borrowed money from someone to travel thousands of miles for this exam. Why didn’t I pass? If I don’t pass, I can’t be an official, and I won’t have the money to go back.”
“Ahhhhhh…”
Voices of breakdowns and crying abound in the examination site.
Many scholars nearby felt sympathetic and empathetic.
After all, only one in ten candidates would pass this exam, and those who did were still a minority.
More people failed to get the juren title after the exam.
At this point, many scholars from Nanhai and Ninghai countries couldn’t help but feel the sorrow of traveling thousands of miles to take the imperial examination in a foreign land, only to go back empty-handed.
With such thoughts, even more people broke down and cried.
Thus, there were laughter and tears, noise and chaos, and all aspects of life were performed together in the examination site.
Amidst the chaos, the officials and soldiers responsible for announcing the list at various locations also began to shout, “Attention, scholars! In ten days, the palace examination will be held. Those who have passed the imperial examination and obtained the juren title are eligible to participate.”