Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Chapter 212 The best martial arts conference in the world
The situations of Cao Wenzhao and Cao Bianjiao made Zhu Youjian realize that there are always some talented people in the world who are better than others in some aspects.

Just like the athletes of later generations, under the same training program, some people will stand out and far outperform others.

There are countless people like Cao Wenzhao among the people. After they become refugees, they are likely to become bandits. After these people have experienced several battles, they may become thieves and generals.

Zhu Youji thought about this and said after thinking:

"I intend to hold a martial arts competition to select talents with strong martial arts skills and enrich the army after studying martial arts."

"It is said that no one is best in literature and no one is second in martial arts. In this martial arts conference, we will select the best warrior in the world!"

As soon as these words came out, all the generals' blood boiled and they felt like something was awakened in their bodies.

Who wouldn’t want the title of the best warrior in the world?
This is a great honor for military commanders.

The civil servants were not so happy. Yuan Keli was worried that the emperor was as addicted to martial arts as Emperor Zhengde, so he advised:
"Your Majesty, fighting requires more than just bravery, but also the art of war."

"I believe that those who are capable can participate in martial arts competitions, and there is no need to hold separate martial arts competitions."

Of course Zhu Youjian knew that there were martial arts exams, but in the Ming Dynasty's martial arts exams, in addition to riding archery and infantry archery, the third game also had to test policy theory.

In this way, those people who do not read will naturally not be able to pass.

In the past, he thought there was nothing wrong with this. Military generals should indeed study, especially the art of war.

But now that the world is about to be in chaos, those who only have courage but do not study may become thieves and generals.

In order to reduce the source of generals for rogue thieves, Zhu Youjian must recruit these people, give them a path to rise, and prevent them from rebelling.

This is the same as the purpose of the imperial examination, which is to bring "the heroes of the world into our ranks" and prevent them from being desperate.

So Zhu Youjian said:
"Nowadays, there are many things going on everywhere, and brave men are needed."

"The martial arts conference does not involve martial arts competitions, it only tests the school's martial arts."

"The selected people are not given official positions, but are sent to study martial arts."

"It would be best if they could learn the art of war. If they can't learn it, let them serve as guards to protect the palace."

As soon as these words came out, many civil servants who wanted to remonstrate had nothing to say. The emperor wants to select strong men as bodyguards. How can they stop him? Could it be said that the emperor does not need anyone to protect him? Just rest assured.

The capital is so chaotic now that thieves dare to go to the government offices to steal money and even chop down officials. Which civil servant dares to say such a thing without fear of being sent by the emperor to catch thieves?

There were some people among the nobles who dared to speak. The Marquis of Funing, Zhu Guobi, bravely said:

"The guards around His Majesty must be chosen to be reliable."

"I think that the children of each family can join the Jinyi Guards as bodyguards."

This was one of the reasons why they entered the palace. Zhu Youjian intended to cultivate some noble children, nodded and said:

"Children from each family who have martial arts can enter martial arts or serve as guards in the palace."

"Those with strong civilian weapons should also be used. Those with reliable family backgrounds are selected to serve as guards in the palace, and those who pass the selection will temporarily serve as guards."

"The Security Department has the task of protecting officials, and it needs people with strong force."

No matter the guards or bodyguards, they all belong to the Jin Yiwei. Yuan Keli said:
"Since we are selecting talents for Jin Yiwei, all the money and food expenses should be borne by Jin Yiwei."

This was to use money and food to make the emperor take the initiative to limit the scale of the martial arts conference. Zhu Youjian frowned and thought about whether his money was enough.

Thinking about the money confiscated from the inner treasury, and then thinking about spending money to recruit folk warriors, it is better than sending troops to exterminate them after they become thieves. So Zhu Youjian nodded and said:
"Since Jin Yiwei is responsible for it, Jin Yiwei will take the lead, and the Ministry of War will send people to assist."

"I will let the local Jin Yiwei select talents from various places."

He also discussed with the soldiers present how the martial arts conference should be held. What these generals can come up with is naturally the traditional bow, knife, stone, horse and step arrows. Zhu Youjian subdivided them into six basic skills: bow drawing, sword dancing, stone breaking, equestrianism, riding and shooting, and foot shooting.

And because the era of hot weapons is coming, Zhu Youjian added fire gun shooting events, which are also divided into mounted shooting and infantry shooting.

The martial arts competitions are divided into three categories: unarmed, equipment, and horse fighting. Unarmed wrestling is subdivided into sumo wrestling, boxing, and unrestricted fighting. Weapons are subdivided into swordsmanship, swordsmanship, spearmanship, other short weapons, other long weapons, and unlimited full-armor combat.

Zhu Youjian referred to later martial arts competitions and added freehand and equipment routine performances as an appetizer before the official competition.

For these projects, rules need to be formulated in order to distinguish between superior and inferior.

Horse fighting, like the competition just now, is the closest to actual combat. It can be said that the winner of the horse fight is the real number one in the world. Zhu Youjian promised that the best warrior in the world would be the first person in horse fighting. This is the talent most needed when fighting against Hou Jin.

Cao Wenzhao, who had just won the first place in martial arts, was looked at with envy by many people. They all think that the person who can achieve the first place in the world is probably Cao Wenzhao. This man is indeed very powerful. According to current parlance, he is a general who can be defeated by ten thousand people.

However, the generals in the army have duties and cannot leave at will. Many people have raised questions about whether they can participate in the competition.

Regarding this issue, Zhu Youjian thought about it and said:

"The battalion officers such as the staff general, the guerrilla general, and the assisting general are already the generals commanding the first battalion and cannot leave their posts easily."

"Those in the capital are allowed to take leave to participate. Those in the border towns who want to participate in the competition must step down from their posts and hand over to their successor generals."

"Those who are below the rank of General Assistant can take time off to participate, and their duties will be temporarily replaced."

This policy obviously discourages generals above the level of assisting attack generals from participating. In Zhu Youjian's view, generals at this level need more command and combat capabilities. The reason why the four Cao Wenzhao were promoted after the competition was first of all because they had military exploits and the ability to command operations.

Thinking of letting his nephew Cao Bianjiao take the lead, Cao Wenzhao immediately said:

"I am already a general of the Shenji Battalion and will not participate in the martial arts conference."

Zhou Yuji, Huang Degong and Yang Guozhu also expressed their refusal to participate.

Except for these four generals who were obviously higher than their peers, the others naturally started to think about it. They have not been awarded official posts by the emperor, and they are still martial arts students, so they naturally have time to participate.

Some people have made up their minds to practice hard and strive to be number one in the world. There are also people who want to write letters to the brave warriors they have made friends with and ask them to come to Beijing to participate in the martial arts conference.

Regarding this situation, Zhu Youjian is happy to see the outcome. Regardless of whether martial arts will become lonely after the era of hot weapons arrives, in this era of alternating hot and cold, it is very important. The role of a brave general is obvious.

Moreover, the job of Jinyiwei requires people with strong individual combat capabilities at all times. Zhu Youjian wants to collect these skills while martial arts is not yet lonely.

At the same time, he also plans to promote the development of martial arts into sports and improve the quality of the people. Swimming, track and field, gymnastics, rowing, and Cuju were also included in his competition.

Zhu Youjian plans to organize this martial arts conference into a sports meeting to promote the development of sports:

"The martial arts conference is hosted by Jinyiwei. The winners are awarded gold, silver, and bronze medals, and are granted the status of public servants."

"The officials in charge of the military examination from the Ministry of War will co-organize it. The time will be after the imperial examination next year and before the Dragon Boat Festival."

"During the Dragon Boat Festival, a dragon boat race is held as the end event."

"Tell the world about this and let all capable people, regardless of their origins, come and participate in the competition!"

　"History of Ming Dynasty":
　　The martial arts discipline was established in the first year of Wu Dynasty. In the 20th year of Hongwu, Yu Li invited him to establish martial arts and use martial arts...

　　In the 14th year of Zhengde's reign, it was decided that in the first trial of horseback arrows, thirty-five steps should be used as the rule; in the second trial of the arrow, eighty steps should be the rule; in the third trial of arrows, one should be used...

　　At the time of Mu and Shen sects, some commentators said that martial arts should focus on skill and courage. At the end of Wanli, Kechen also invited special generals and martial arts subjects to test horses, infantry, arrows, spears, knives, swords, halberds, boxing, stabbing and other methods in the first session. In the second session, they tried camp formations, mines, gunpowder, and chariots. For other items, each of the three fields will talk about those who are familiar with their art of war, astronomy, and geography. It's possible to repay but not done yet.

　　In the fourth year of Chongzhen's reign, the martial arts test results were released, and commentators were in an uproar. The emperor ordered Yun Fang Feng Nian and Ni Yuanlu to try again and take Weng Ying and other 120 people. Every year, Yuan Lu, as the time required talents, asked the palace to pass the examination, as shown in the article. It was given to the king to hire someone with a different rank and background. This is when the martial arts examination began.

　　In the fourteenth year, he ordered all ministers to develop special plans and bravery. No one responds to the edict.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)