The First Auxiliary Road from the Imperial Examination

Chapter 1149 Rage

"Have you heard? Our five armies from east, west, south, north and center are going to hold a big competition!"

"I haven't heard of the Five Armies Competition, but our military camp competition is about to begin!"

"We are asking, is this possible? First, we have internal competitions among our armies to select the best soldiers, and then they are qualified to represent their respective camps to participate in the Five Armies Competition?"

"Hey! It sounds like... Could it be that you know something about this, brother?"

"Tsk! This is nothing inside! The relevant news has already spread among the five armies. It is said that the court feels that the current war is rare, and wonders if our five armies still have the ability to 'prepare for war as if it is about to happen, and return victorious after fighting', so they want to test us."

"You're not telling the whole story! My brother, who is a capable man, works under a deputy commander of the Northern Sentinel Army. He said that the court is dissatisfied with the current promotion standards of our five armies. They think that promotion based on seniority is too trifling, and that promotion based on contribution is too broad. Therefore, they demand the restoration of the previous system of rewarding based on merit."

"The court is wise! We soldiers don't speak with military achievements, so do we have to learn from those civil officials and speak with poetry?"

"Mo Lao San, you really think highly of yourself! You even speak in poetry? Apart from the military officers who can live in the big tent, how many words can we, the little soldiers, recognize?! The little things taught in the community school have long been forgotten along with the military training! Not only you, but every one of us brothers, can't even hold a branch when holding a pen!"

"That's right! If you give me a twig, I can at least write a crooked character. If you really let me hold a pen, I'm afraid my writing will be full of ink blobs!"

"Still laughing! Still laughing! You've lost your subject! We were just talking about the competition arranged by the Governor's Office! Keep talking!"

"Hey, what are you talking about! Just laugh it off, do you really think the court can change the promotion standards for the military?! If it can be changed back, why did they change it before?!"

"Hey, Brother Chen is right! Everyone knows that rewarding people based on their merits is good for ordinary soldiers like us who have no connections or backgrounds! But the problem is that now the rivers and lakes are stable and the country is peaceful. There is no war even in the border towns, let alone our five armies in the capital!"

"Yes! Warfare equals military merit, and military merit equals promotion. Without war, where would military merit come from? Without concrete military merit, how can we talk about rewarding people based on merit?!"

"Humph, what's the difference between military merits not gained on the battlefield and rewards based on seniority and contributions from nowhere? It's just a way for the children of the rich and powerful to gain reputation and experience!"

"Who said there is no military merit without war? You guys are really ignorant! Even if you don't know other things, you shouldn't have forgotten the big competition you just mentioned, right?!"

"Hey, what do you mean, Brother Qi? Can ordinary soldiers like us also earn benefits from the competition?!"

"Why not?! Let me tell you, my brother-in-law's cousin's nephew's cousin's father-in-law is a clerk in the Communications Office of the Governor's Office! I can't say anything else, but the news from the Governor's Office is somewhat reliable!"

"Tell us now! Tell us now! Let us hear it, maybe we can have some hope!"

"Think about it, when we fight in battle and defeat the enemy, it is a military achievement; but when we win a big competition and defeat our comrades, it is not considered a military achievement, right?"

"What Bozhi said makes a lot of sense. Gentlemen, don't forget, what is the purpose of the court wanting to revise the promotion standards for sergeants?"

"Who could forget? They are just worried that we haven't fought in a long time and have lost our fighting power!"

"Yes! So think about it! Is it possible to ensure that the combat effectiveness does not decline by promoting according to seniority, or is it possible to improve the combat effectiveness of the barracks by promoting according to vague contribution standards?"

"I understand! After all, the principle of 'Strong and Military Power is Respected' that our military camp adheres to can better guarantee combat effectiveness!"

"Hey! If that's the case, maybe I can even earn a small fortune with my skills!"

"A small flag? Look at your ambition! Normally, if you want to earn a rank, you should earn a centurion!" "Let me tell you to stop dreaming, okay?! A small flag! A centurion! Why don't you say you want to be a commander?"

"Hey, I, Liang Dachanzi, have been smart since I was young. If my family hadn't needed labor, I would have been able to go to school! Remember, this is called having brains! Since I joined our Nanshao, I have been following my master to swing a big spoon in the kitchen tent. That's a lot of strength! I have never fallen behind in my training. If we really have to fight, you guys together won't be enough! Hehe, this is called having fighting power! I have both brains and fighting power. If it weren't for the difficulty of finding a war, I would have earned the title of guerrilla general with my ability!"

"You... forget it, I hear you bragging! If you have the time, you might as well practice more. It's better to sharpen your spear before the battle. Who knows, maybe I can beat you bunch of weak and reckless men!"

"Hey! You're rude, but what you say makes sense! Okay, count me in, and let's go spar!"

"Are you really leaving?! Then...wait for me! Old man, what are you squatting for? Are you hatching eggs? Hurry up! If you walk too slowly, there will be no room in the martial arts arena!"

"That's... OK! Let's fight hard in battle, and let the little soldier become a general! I'll fight!"

……

After receiving the letter from his youngest son, Qiu Jimin was so angry that he almost stomped the main tent to the ground. He wanted to come out for some fresh air, but unexpectedly he saw a very intense training scene. Immediately, his three elegant beards were about to explode into mustaches.

"What a wolf with evil ambitions!" Qiu Jimin became more and more angry the more he watched. He couldn't pour cold water on the soldiers, so he could only rush back to the main tent and drink several cups of cold tea in one breath. Only then did he suppress his annoyance.

Tu Gong came forward as ordered, and what he saw was Qiu Jimin's expression as if he wanted to eat the iceberg alive, and he was stunned for a moment.

If he hadn't already stepped half a foot in, he would have really wanted to turn around and run away.

"To the right!"

Qiu Jimin's muffled cry suddenly rang out, Tu Gong suppressed a bitter smile and mustered up his strength.

"Look at this letter. It was sent to me yesterday! Go out and look around the military camp. It seems that everyone knows about it! How did they know about it? It was obviously Sheng Wenzhen who sent someone to leak it! Humph! What a great skill! How dare they lay mines on my territory!"

The more Qiu Jimin thought about it, the angrier he got. He was so annoyed that he could not sit still any longer. "Humph, I'm going to go to the capital to ask her what this brat wants to do. If she has the guts, she can change Nanshao's surname to Sheng!"

"Commander-in-chief, you can't do that! Commander-in-chief, you can't do that!" Tu Gong didn't expect that Qiu Jimin would make himself angry in just a few words, so he immediately hurried to persuade him.

Qiu Jimin, who had already picked up the whip and was about to leave, saw his anxious face and couldn't help but sneer and asked, "Xiang Zhi, are you afraid that I will use force on that guy?!"

  "..." Tu Gongxin said, I'm just afraid that you'll go there to deliver food to others!

Of course, I think so, but I can’t say it that way.

"Don't be angry, Commander. Please allow me to talk for a while. If it makes sense, please think about it again and don't act impulsively. If it doesn't make sense, it won't be too late for you to start again!"

Qiu Jimin snorted coldly, without saying a word or moving.

Tu Gong thought there was a chance, and said hurriedly, "Sheng Wenzhen has only been in office for two days. How could he have planted spies in our military camp? Maybe the people who come to the military camp every day to deliver food and military supplies are nosy. Why don't you give me some time to investigate it carefully?"

"Well, not bad." After hearing this, Qiu Jimin patted him on the shoulder.

Just when Tu Gong thought there might be a chance, he heard Qiu Jimin say in a deep voice: "You put it very well, then go check it out! I will hear your report when I come back!"