Magistrate's Yamen
At this point, the main door was wide open. Two lanterns hung from the eaves, and the entrance was paved with bricks. Two bailiffs stood guard on both sides of the door.
Thirty-three people walked through the gates according to the order in which the results were announced. Some of the new Elementary Scholars were beaming with joy, some were solemn and reserved, and some were deep in thought. Pei Zi Yun looked around and said, "Ma Ji is ranked third."
"The second place just happens to be the second place of the Wen Yan Tournament, Chen Nan."
This young man had an elegant demeanor, and his eyes were as black as ink. Pei Zi Yun thought to himself, 'I don't know any Dao Arts yet. If not, I would be able to see through him. Even if I don't know any Dao Arts, I can tell that he's a rich man.'
As for the first place, it was a thirty year old student named Gu Xiang Gao. Pei Zi Yun was not familiar with him. After looking at him, he saw that Zhang Jie Yu was third place on the second roll.
"Hm, as a Daoist disciple, he suffers from the Imperial Qi. To be able to rank third on the second roll, that's already very impressive."
"The Imperial Qi has a spirit. Those who are not a Daoist disciple may be able to become a High Scholar, but those who are already a Daoist disciple will find it difficult to become a High Scholar." Under Pei Zi Yun's gaze, Gu Xiang Gao led the crowd to the front hall.
The first roll had two people on the left and right, and behind them were the second and third roll.
A scribe shouted, "Gu Xiang Gao, along with the new Elementary Scholars, pays their respects to your excellency!"
Gu Xiang Gao bowed, and the new Elementary Scholars behind him also bowed to the magistrate. This was to thank the magistrate for accepting them, and also to set the status of teacher and student.
"Greetings to your excellency!"
The crowd bowed again.
"Greetings to all the teachers!"
After bowing three times, the Elementary Scholars stood up. The magistrate smiled and told the crowd to focus on their studies. The crowd listened attentively.
The magistrate's speech was short and concise. Next was the Principal's speech, which was also short and concise. After that, there was no need for the Principal to speak. Music started playing and everyone entered the banquet. This banquet was conducted according to the ancient etiquette. Three songs were played, and the host and guests greeted each other.
After the banquet, the magistrate did not speak. Everyone paid their respects to the Principal.
To the top three, the Principal encouraged them. The rest were just a few comments.
Pei Zi Yun walked up and realized that the magistrate, the Principal and the Principal were all paying attention to him. The Principal asked a question, and Pei Zi Yun answered it without any mistakes. Seeing that the Principal was satisfied, he asked, "Thou art, fifteen years old this year?"
"Yes!"
The official then said, "I couldn't tell. Looking at your essays, I thought you were an old scholar …"
He didn't finish his sentence, but looked at Pei Zi Yun once more. Pei Zi Yun's heart skipped a beat, and could only laugh bitterly. He cupped his hands and said, "This student's family is poor, and all I have learnt was from the village's Elementary Scholar. I am not knowledgeable enough, and hope your excellency will forgive me."
The Head Prefect heard this and replied warmly, "Mmm, it wasn't easy for you to get to the tenth position. I've seen your papers, your essays are not bad. But since you've become an Elementary Scholar, you have to cultivate your character. Cultivating your spirit is always the right thing to do."
"Thank you for your teachings, Sir. I will continue to work hard." Pei Zi Yun could only give his thanks as he laughed bitterly to himself. Actually, learning to be a proper scholar meant that his writing style had an air of shabbiness about it. Hence, he had to maintain his composure and maintain his poise.
It seemed that although the old scholar's literary talent was good, his resentment of not being recognized was actually a taboo in the examination hall. The more obvious it was, the more people would not take it. He was already lucky to be able to take it.
After the banquet, everyone bid their farewells. Some of them remained in the mansion, while others returned to their villages. Pei Zi Yun headed back to his village.
Jiangning County
Pei Zi Yun rested for a short while at an inn in the county. Following which, he and Tang Zhen paid their respects to the County Magistrate and Head Prefect. Needless to say, the County Magistrate said, "Students of the county, it's all up to you now. Our province's literary style is not very flourishing. Hence, the higher-ups have decreed that an Elementary Scholar will be given five mu of land, and ten mu of land will be exempted from taxes. All these must be settled within a few days."
Pei Zi Yun thanked him profusely. Tang Zhen smiled and bowed. He did not say much and only replied with a "Yes". Although his family was not considered a big landlord, they still owned a hundred mu of land. Hence, he did not care about a few mu of land.
The two of them walked out of the county yamen. It was drizzling, and a cool breeze blew, causing them to sober up a little. Tang Zhen laughed, "Brother Pei, do you intend to stay in the county for a few more days?"
Pei Zi Yun paused before replying, "It's alright, brother Tang can go by yourself. I have something to settle in the county, and will return to my village soon."
Tang Zhen did not insist and called for an ox-cart. The ox-cart rumbled loudly and left.
At this point, Pei Zi Yun called for an ox-cart as well and said, "To the patrol office!"
The ox-cart driver paused for a moment before looking at Pei Zi Yun, who was dressed in a green Elementary Scholar robe. He then acknowledged him and left. The rain was drizzling, and there were very few pedestrians in the alley. The sound of hooves stepping on the muddy ground could be heard.
After some time, the ox-cart came to a halt. The ox-cart driver then said, "We've arrived!"
Under the drizzling rain, Pei Zi Yun alighted from the ox-cart. He looked around and saw that it was a small scale yamen. He paid the driver and walked up the steps.
There were no armed guards at the entrance of the patrol office, but there was a guard who held an invitation to enter. When he entered, he saw a couplet inscribed on a pillar. The pillar read, "Deceiving others is akin to deceiving the heavens, do not deceive yourself. Betraying the people is akin to betraying the country. How can you bear to betray them?"
A bailiff then led the way to a large room.
The first thing he saw was a file placed on a table. At this point, the patrol officer was dressed in his ninth ranked official robes and was reading through it. A long blade hung behind him.
When he entered the room, the bailiff reported to him. The patrol officer then said, "Please take a seat, please wait a moment."
There were two chairs in front of the table, and a tea table in the middle. Pei Zi Yun sat down. Before long, the bailiff came and served him tea before he left.
Pei Zi Yun looked at the patrol officer's face. He had thick eyebrows and large eyes. He had a murderous look on his face. When he sat down, his back was ramrod straight, and he was holding onto a file. His handwriting was huge, as though he was writing with a knife.
Once he was done, he raised his head and bowed, "Student pays his respects to his excellency."
The patrol officer looked at Pei Zi Yun and smiled, "So it's Elementary Scholar Pei. I wonder what brings Elementary Scholar Pei here today?" Pei Zi Yun nodded.
The patrol officer had been in existence since a few hundred years ago. Their main purpose was to arrest bandits in the counties. In the beginning, their rank was not high. However, before the First Emperor was crowned the Emperor, he had already set up patrol officers in the areas he conquered. Most of them were patrol officers in towns, which showed how much importance they placed on patrol officers. After the First Emperor was crowned the Emperor, many patrol officers were set up throughout the country. They were institutionalized and standardized. Most of them were set up along the main roads, and were under the jurisdiction of the local counties. They were responsible for the use of archers, and were responsible for the suppression of smuggling and apprehension of bandits.
Even though the patrol officer's rank was not high, he held an important position in the county. "The archers of the county are responsible for apprehending bandits, and the people are peaceful."
This time, Pei Zi Yun had come to the county to apprehend bandits. He then bowed and started talking, "Your excellency, before I left the county for the examinations, there were Black Wind bandits who came to the village to extort money. The public security was not very stable. This time, I have become an Elementary Scholar, and have to return to the village. I feel uneasy, and hope that your excellency will protect me."
When the Chief Patrol Officer heard this, he fell into deep thought.
The dynasty had just been established, and the world was not at peace. There were a few bandits in the county, and this was the responsibility of the patrol officer. However, the patrol officer would not be able to deal with them in a short period of time. Hence, he sent archers to patrol the villages. However, Snail Village was far away, and no one went there.
Since Pei Zi Yun had become an Elementary Scholar in this village, he might as well do him a favor and send someone to patrol the village for a period of time. Thinking this way, he said, "The Elementary Scholar is here for this matter, and I can agree to it. It's just that the dynasty has just been established, and the army is stationed in the inner regions. This remote place is not sufficient, and these bandits are wreaking havoc. This official feels uneasy."
At this point, he paused before continuing, "Since Elementary Scholar Pei's village is in danger, I shall send someone to patrol the village. However, the number of people is not large."
"Of course, these are all retired soldiers. Although there aren't many of them, I'm sure the Black Wind Bandits would not dare to harass them. After some time, I shall deal with the bandits one by one, and return peace to the county."
Pei Zi Yun was overjoyed. He was just an Elementary Scholar, and the Chief Patrol Officer was willing to send a few people to patrol the village. This was already giving him face. Perhaps it was because of his young age, and the fact that he was about to become a High Scholar.
The Chief Patrol Officer must have been a retired military officer, and was decisive in his actions. As soon as he finished speaking, he called a bailiff over and ordered the captain of the archers to come over. Before long, someone came over to answer the order.
Pei Zi Yun looked at the captain, and saw that the captain was tall and sturdy, and had a knife hanging from his waist. His face was cold, and there was a long scar on his face, which made him look ferocious.
The Chief Patrol Officer looked at the captain and instructed, "Cao San, this is Elementary Scholar Pei. Take a team and escort him to Snail Village. Once we've arrived, gather the village warriors and set up patrols."
"Yes, sir!" Cao San was definitely a retired soldier, and replied loudly.
Cao San and Pei Zi Yun walked out, and Cao San said, "Elementary Scholar Pei, we're going to Snail Village. Our team has to pack our luggage and weapons as well. You should return to the inn first. Tomorrow morning, we'll set off together!"
"Of course!" Pei Zi Yun said as he watched the man turn around and leave. Looking at the man's back, Pei Zi Yun couldn't help but fall into deep thought, and let out a cold laugh.
The world had just been conquered, and the soldiers were like wolves and tigers. If the world had been at peace for thirty years, how could they be so arrogant?
But now, what he wanted was to be like these wolves and tigers.
"Zhang Jie Yu, you're a disciple of Holy Jail Sect. This incident at Silver Dragon Temple, after thinking about the cause and effect, it's obvious that it was a trap set up by you. I'm sure that these ten Elementary Scholars have become your Holy Jail Sect's outer sect disciples."
"Outer sect disciples are usually the claws and teeth of the Dao Sect, occupying the villages and giving blood to the Dao Sect!"
"Those who are talented can cultivate Dao Arts and enter the inner sect."
"This has nothing to do with me, but you plotted against me. Besides, this Silver Dragon Temple is too dangerous for a woman's reputation. We have to get rid of it."
"That's a matter for the future. Right now, we have to get rid of the Black Wind Sect."
"In the previous life, the original owner had heard rumors that the Black Wind Sect were your claws and teeth. They were too dangerous, and had to be eradicated."
"Most importantly, I've heard that the Black Wind Sect has a rogue cultivator, and that he's your guest. My mission is to find him on you."
"Zhang Jie Yu, you plotted against me, and I shall repay you!"
Thinking up to this point, a small white Plum Blossom appeared in front of his eyes. It grew bigger and became a translucent information interface. It floated in front of him, and the mission appeared.
"Mission 1: Save Ye Su'er (Completed)"
"Mission 2: Attain Elementary Scholar status (To be completed)"
"Mission 3: Obtain a Martial Cultivator's Legacy (Incomplete)"
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