Above the Great Dao
Chapter 681 - 306: Born Killer (Big - Requesting Votes)

Chapter 681: Chapter 306: Born Killer (Big Chapter Requesting Votes)

"My lord! The hour for the military examination has passed, it is unwise to create further complications!"

The Minister of War, Ren Xiao, stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Both the literary and military examinations have concluded. I request the Cabinet to finalize the selection for the top scorer! My Ministry of War, the Five Armies, Divine Mechanism, Divine Pivot soldiers, are all waiting for you to announce the results of both examinations!"

Zhang Fuzheng’s expression slightly darkened, glancing at him, he said indifferently: "Minister Ren, you have overstepped your bounds. You cannot mobilize the Five Armies, nor can you mobilize the Divine Pivot, Divine Mechanism, and pose no threat to the Cabinet. The Divine Mechanism Camp and Divine Pivot Camp are under the supervision of the Chamberlain. Without the West King Jade Seal, who can mobilize them?"

Ren Xiao looked at the brothers Xia Fanghe and Xia Shouying. Standing among the civil and military officials, Xia Fanghe and Xia Shouying remained motionless.

Ren Xiao felt a chill in his heart and looked at the overseer of the Divine Mechanism Camp, Ma Weimin.

Ma Weimin smiled slightly but did not speak.

Zhang Fuzheng said lightly: "Minister Ren, do not make a mistake about one thing. The Five Armies Camp, Capital Guard Commanding Department, Capital Commanding Department, Guard Commanding Department, Households, Recruitment Department, all seemingly under your control as Minister of War, are actually under the dispatch of the Cabinet. What you can mobilize is through the Commander of the Fifty Provinces to mobilize the Border Army, but the Commander is also controlled by people from the thirteen major families."

He no longer looked at Ren Xiao, his gaze fell upon the young noble.

The young noble knelt on the ground, expressionless.

He had originally awaited the decree to achieve the title of top scorer, but unexpectedly Chen Shi, wielding three hundred and fifty scholars and accompanied by Heaven and Earth Righteous Qi, arrived in the Western Capital, renowned throughout Beijing, sweeping away all the reputation and fame he had accumulated over many days.

If he couldn’t defeat Chen Shi, even if he won the title of top scorer, people would say he obtained it without a battle with Chen Shi.

Zhang Fuzheng said: "Young noble, what you desire is power, what you desire is fame. Without fame and power, what use is this top scorer to you?"

The young noble felt a surge of anger within and stood up.

Shui Xuanzhi hurriedly shook his head repeatedly, signaling not to stand up.

The young noble ignored his signal, turned around, his gaze meeting Chen Shi’s gaze outside the hall, his voice reverberating: "Esteemed officials, Chen Shi and others fell into the underworld during the imperial examination, and now they return alive from the underworld, not only without fault but with merit. They ought to be Advanced Scholars. I believe, in the Imperial Examination, they too deserve participation. If in this Imperial Examination, I cannot defeat the heroes of the world, this title of top scorer would be unworthy!"

Shui Xuanzhi and others secretly gritted their teeth.

The young noble absolutely shouldn’t have agreed personally; he should have let the civil and military officials wrangle and delay time for ten days or half a month, letting Chen Shi’s prestige gradually fade away.

The people of the Western Capital would transform their admiration for Chen Shi into mere indifference, talking of his righteous deeds as just casual chats.

Then, they would have various reasons and means to manipulate Chen Shi, granting him the second-place, as if showing mercy.

But now with the young noble’s words, it adds many uncertainties to this matter!

"Very well!"

Chen Shi said loudly, "Then I shall wait for you outside!"

Zhang Fuzheng looked at the other twelve ministers of the Cabinet, who hesitated for a moment and then tacitly agreed each.

Now the young noble was riding a tiger and having difficulty dismounting it; he needed reputation. Now Chen Shi occupied the reputation, even if he became the top scorer, people would gossip. Now, to gain reputation, he must defeat Chen Shi and rightfully seize the top scorer title.

"Months ago, the imperial examination encountered sudden changes, causing scholars to fall into the underworld. Now Chen Shi leads three hundred and fifty scholars, returning to the Western Capital. The Cabinet has resolved that Chen Shi and the three hundred and fifty-one scholars will enter the Imperial Examination.

Zhang Fuzheng walked out of Zhongji Palace, his voice heavy, exploding in the sky above the Western Capital: "Young noble Ren Mu is currently the first in both the literary and military examinations of the Imperial Examination, witnessed by officials, without objection. To be fair, the remaining three hundred and fifty-one scholars must determine the first among them to compete with young noble Ren Mu for the top scorer title."

As his words fell, out of the hall, the three hundred and fifty scholars, including Zhang You, Daoist, Yu Lingzi, and others, all said: "Chen Shi is first! No need for competition!"

Zhang Fuzheng said: "Since it is so, then let Chen Shi compete with young noble Ren Mu. Ren Mu has already defeated three hundred people, and Chen Shi has traveled extensively, both Advanced Scholars need rest..."

Chen Shi shook his head and said: "I do not need rest."

The young noble stepped forward and shook his head: "I do not need rest either."

Zhang Fuzheng turned back, scanned the surroundings, and smiled, saying: "Honorable officials, since both Advanced Scholars express this, let today be the day for them to compete outside the Zhongji Palace. What do you think?"

The civil and military officials nodded one after another.

Zhang Fuzheng smiled and said: "Then let the two Advanced Scholars compete against each other. The range shall not exceed the True King Nine Halls, consisting of Wen Hua, Wu Ying, Hua Gai, Zhongji, Wen Yuan, East Pavilion, Righteousness, Vigilance, Jianji."

The civil and military officials walked out of Zhongji Palace, vacating the True King Nine Halls.

Below the noon gate, Eunuch Feng smiled and said: "Lord Chen Tang, you stand below the noon gate, are you perhaps waiting for your son to be defeated and executed outside the noon gate?"

Chen Tang’s face remained calm, saying: "Lord Feng, do not joke."

Eunuch Feng restrained his smile, seriously saying: "During the imperial examination, you said your son wasn’t confident in defeating the young noble, but by the end of the month, the young noble would surely lose. Are you still certain of this?"

"Certain." Chen Tang said.

Eunuch Feng breathed a sigh of relief and laughed: "Then my position as Chamberlain and East Factory Director is settled."

Seeing the officials emerge from Zhongji Palace, Chen Tang’s expression subtly changed, saying: "Lord Feng needs to prepare, for when my son and the young noble face off, the scene may not be tranquil."

Feng Tianhuan was slightly taken aback: "What do you mean not tranquil? Chen Tang, Chen Tang! Where are you going?"

He hurriedly turned his wheelchair, seeing Chen Tang walking swiftly away.

"This brat, running so fast! Didn’t he know that my legs were broken by his father? And still run..."

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