Fortunately, there are many government officials who guard the safety of Gongyuan, and the slips for drawing lots do not need to be carefully prepared. Just draw a circle on the slip of paper for taking part in the competition, and dot the rest with an ink dot.
After Qi Run and other government officials came out of the Gongyuan File Room, a government official walked up to the high platform holding the prepared wooden box.
Zhao Fengshou stood aside and glanced at everyone, his expression not unnatural at all: "Dear students, the number of slips of paper in the wooden box is the same as the number of students present. There are two types of slips of paper drawn on it: circles and ink dots. I won the lottery.
The students in the circle will represent the scholars from the south of the Yangtze River to participate in the other six elegant competitions and compete with the scholars from the Jin Kingdom. I hope you will win in one fell swoop and exalt the prestige of our great dragon nation."
"Master Qi is a wise man, Master Zhao is a wise man." The complimenting voices of many scholars resounded inside and outside the Gongyuan.
Zhao Feng, who originally had a normal expression, looked a little unnatural when he heard the words "Sheng Ming" from Mr. Zhao, and a feeling of guilty emerged from his heart.
After coughing twice, Zhao Fengshou signaled the yamen servant to hold the wooden box and go down: "The lottery begins!"
Liu Mingzhi stared at Zhao Fengshou intently and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw him nodding to him. Even if the six of them could not win all of them, they could win directly as long as there were three games left, plus the previous two victories.
It can be said that the victory is in sight.
"Brothers, it all depends on you! The motherland, the imperial court and the people of Jiangnan are all looking at you, waiting for the good news of your triumphant return."
Li Peichao and the others nodded in embarrassment, looking a little nervous. This was because Young Master Liu's words were too scary. The imperial court and the people in Jiangnan were all watching the news of our triumphant return.
I don't know if it's good or not.
Besides, the triumphant return is the news of returning victoriously from the battlefield. We are just competing on elegant things such as poetry, wine, and flower tea. Needless to say, it is so serious.
Looking at the expressions of these people, Young Master Liu sighed. How could he be an official if he was so thin-skinned? How could he be able to take the path of being in power in the future?
You must know that if an official is not shady, his body will be eaten by those shady guys. Although Mr. Liu has no experience in being an official, he has watched TV dramas about the Qing Dynasty. Those officials will definitely eat people without spitting out their bones.
Guy, if nothing else, let’s just say that my father-in-law, Qi Run, was able to rise from a white man to the position of a feudal official. Is his butt clean? He can’t be clean. His family knows his own affairs, and sometimes no matter how honest an official is, he can’t
You can't help it if you do something unconscionable. The world is like this. If the water is clear, there will be no fish. It's not like fish can't survive without food.
The same is true in the officialdom. If you don't have any background, if you want to be a clean figure, if nothing else, you will be squeezed out by your peers.
Not to mention, if you are too thin-skinned, you won't even be able to control your subordinates. What can you do if you call you "sir" respectfully with a face, but do it privately?
So, you have to be a good person, and the old man did this very well. Otherwise, sooner or later, the Liu family in Jiangnan will be the fish on someone else's plate.
In order to avoid the suspicion of these Jiangnan scholars, the order of drawing lots was gradually drawn from the last scholar. Everyone who got the note looked depressed and looked at each other to see if any of the classmates around them had drawn the circled paper.
strip.
Li Peichao and the other six people with different expressions peeled off a piece of paper from the top of the carton and opened it and took a look. Sure enough, without exception, everyone who had been greeted by Mr. Liu had a piece of paper with circles in their hands.
Seeing the officer holding the wooden box return to the high platform, Zhao Fengshou cleared his throat: "The students who drew the circles walked up to the ring on their own initiative and waited for the Jin scholars to fight against the remaining Liuya."
After the six people stood up, there was another commotion.
"How could this happen? God must have favored them a little too much. Not only did Qiu Wei occupy the top ten results, but he also won a world-famous ticket."
"Is there something fishy about it? Why are the people who drew the entry note all among the ten scholars? Isn't this too much of a coincidence?"
"That's right. Could it be that the two adults were causing trouble? How can there be such a coincidence in the world? It just so happened that they drew the circled sign."
"Probably not. After all, the order of drawing lots starts from our side. Maybe their luck is really too good. They can only pity me for waiting for bad luck."
"Perhaps so. Mr. Qi's reputation has always been good, and he has made many achievements as an official in Jinling over the years and has been praised by the people. He should not destroy his reputation and do such a disgraceful thing."
"Nothing is absolute. Even if Mr. Qi would not do such a thing that would destroy his reputation, Mr. Zhao? He is a Beijing official. In order to protect the face of the imperial court, he will inevitably not do this in order to perform meritorious service."
"Ming Gong, Prince Huainan, is also on the high platform. With Ming Gong's prestige, I guess he won't watch Mr. Zhao do whatever he wants, right?"
These people suddenly did not know that this kind of secret operation was exactly what they said was Ming Gong making suggestions. The suggestions may not be so serious, but it was still impossible to refute the few points of guidance and awakening of a few people.
It's not a serious crime, at most it's a culprit.
Looking at the few Jiangnan scholars who stood up, Wan Yang looked a little sad. How could he not see that something was fishy? But if he said it directly without evidence, he would be known as making trouble over nothing.
He glared at Liu Mingzhi fiercely again, and he was sure that it was Young Master Liu who ruined his plan.
Sometimes people are so unreasonable and will only blame others for their sins. If you don't plot against others first, how can you be plotted against by others?
Looking at Wan Yang Yanyu who was sitting in his seat with an expression of unwillingness, he looked at Wan Yang with a hint of ridicule: "I haven't tasted this feeling of defeat for a long time. Sometimes, this person has to go out and walk around a lot, so as not to think about himself.
Everything is under control, and it is easy to become arrogant after a long time. You and Mr. Liu are very good opponents. It has been a long time since I have seen you going head-to-head with others."
Yan Yu had no intention of endangering Wan Yang, but rather added insult to injury by teasing the frustrated Wan Yang.
Hu Yanyu rubbed his nose and muttered: "Tit for tat? Otherwise, I think it's just flirting."
Yan Yu turned to look at Hu Yanyu in confusion: "What are you muttering about?"
"No, maybe it's because my stomach is ringing. Did you hear it wrong?"
Wan Yang took a few deep breaths and said: "Bai Ren, you are best at cultivating flowers and plants, so you can use flowers as the theme to take the stage against these scholars from Jiangnan."
Bai Ren nodded and walked out: "Bai Ren, a scholar of the Jin Kingdom, pays homage to all the gentlemen. Sirs, please be polite. Bai Ren is not talented and is good at flowers and plants, so he chose the topic "Flowers in Poems, Wine, Flowers and Teas". Is that brother willing?
Come on stage and give me a lesson?"
Li Peichao and the six of them looked at each other, and finally fixed their eyes on Hu Jun. Hu Jun had said before that his mentor at Dangyang Academy asked him to cultivate flowers and plants, and he also had some experience in flowers and plants.
It is most appropriate to have Hu Jun on stage.
Hu Jun did not refuse, cleared his robes, walked up to the ring, looked at Bai Ren, and saluted: "Hu Jun, a student of Dangyang Academy, has met Brother Bai. Brother Bai mentioned flowers as the theme, and a younger brother came to ask for advice. I don't know Bai Ren."
How do you want to compare?"
"It turns out that he is a high-ranking disciple of Dangyang Academy. Bai has long heard that the students of Dangyang Academy are erudite and talented. They are all well-informed people. Bai is not talented. Recently, he got a strange seedling. He was very happy to see it.
It was transplanted and carefully cared for at home. It was pitiful. Under Bai's careful care, this strange flower did not wither due to the sudden change of growth location. It just so happened that this year's competition between the two countries happened to be titled Poetry, Wine, Flowers and Tea, so Bai had no choice but to
Take this wonderful flower with you."
"Oh? So Brother Bai wants to use this strange flower he mentioned as his theme?"
"Yes, as Bai said just now, I heard that the students at Dangyang Academy are well-informed and knowledgeable. As long as Brother Hu can tell the name and habits of this flower, Brother Hu will win. If not, then Bai will win.
how?"
After Bai Ren spoke about the Jiangnan scholars, everyone here became pale and scolded Bai Ren for being shameless. You have to know how big the world is and how many flowers and plants there are. Some people spend their whole lives struggling to identify the names of all the flowers and plants in the world. But Dalong Jiangnan
The land is thousands of miles away from the Dragon City of the Kingdom of Jin. Many people have never been to the northern border of the Dragon Kingdom in half their lives, so how can they recognize the names of the flowers and plants of the Kingdom of Jin.
Besides, Bai Ren also said just now that this flower was found by chance. Who knows if it was found in the Kingdom of Jin? To tell the name and habits of this flower based on just one flower is as difficult as climbing to the sky.
Hu Jun also looked worried, and he also understood the difficulties involved, but he was already on stage, and the success or failure could only be determined after seeing this strange flower Bai Ren talked about.
Qin Bin looked at Liu Mingzhi with a depressed expression: "Brother Liu, Brother Bai is afraid that things will go wrong this time. The world is so big that An can identify all things."
Liu Mingzhi also knew the difficulty of this question. In ancient times when information was underdeveloped, even the species in his own country could not be fully recognized, let alone the exotic flowers among the people of other countries, let alone Hu Jun.
Liu Mingzhi, who was born more than 20 years later, did not dare to say that he could recognize the names of all the flowers and plants in the era of developed information networks.
Moreover, the ancient names may not be exactly the same as the modern ones. Liu Mingzhi sighed silently, he had no expectations anymore and could only resign himself to fate.
Hu Jun paced back and forth a few times and looked at Bai Ren quietly: "What if I recognize the name of this strange flower and you don't admit it? No one present can say who is right and who is wrong."
Bai Ren seemed to have been prepared. He took out a folded piece of paper from his sleeve and held it up: "It's easy at this moment. Bai has already written the name of this strange flower on the paper. Now you can put it
Put the note on the table, wait for Brother Hu to tell the name of this flower and plant, open it and compare it, even if Bai wants to quibble, there is nothing he can do, and Bai will guarantee with his life that the name on the paper is absolutely true, if there is any false wish
He committed suicide on the spot, and as witnessed by seniors and brothers, Mr. Bai's testimony is correct."
After finishing speaking, Bai Ren put the note on the table and looked at Hu Jun calmly.
Hu Jun gritted his teeth: "Bring up the flowers!"
Bai Ren clapped his palms several times, and immediately a servant came up holding a potted plant covered with white cloth, placed it on the table between the two of them, and stepped back.
"Brother Hu, please watch."
Hu Jun stretched out his somewhat stiff arms and slowly peeled off the white cloth on the potted plant.
Well? Hu Jun looked coldly at the strange flowers in Bai Ren's mouth, revealing the true face of Lushan. How could it be?
I saw a few gorgeous flowers in the flower pots blooming extremely vigorously, swaying gently with the breeze in the Gongyuan, showing their most beautiful side.
Hu Jun's expression gradually became relaxed, and he even smiled, looking at Bai Ren with a slight smile on his face.
When Bai Ren saw Hu Jun's expression changing from gloomy to sunny, he suddenly had an unpleasant thought. Could it be that Hu Jun really knew what kind of flower this was.
Then Bai Ren immediately denied it in his heart. Hu Jun was a student of Jiangnan Academy. At this age, he had almost never been to the border fortress, let alone the farther Turkic grassland. This flower was sent to Princess Yan Yu to marry.
The flower was discovered by the Huyan tribe. The name of this flower was known from the introduction of the local people, Jinlu Mei.
The Dalong Dynasty usually prides itself on being a heavenly dynasty, and is never willing to go to grasslands, which they consider to be barbaric places. How could they know the flowers produced in the grasslands? Even though there are businessmen who have been to the grasslands, they are businessmen who are only here to make money.
The purpose of selling cattle and sheep is that I would not be interested in the flowers and plants growing on the ground. Could it be that Hu Jun is deliberately messing with my mind?
Liu Mingzhi also lit up when he saw the flowers in the potted plants on the table. They turned out to be Wolfsbane flowers, or Kelsang flowers as Tibetan compatriots call them. Then he became worried. He could recognize the Kelsang flowers because of the development of the Internet in later generations and the fact that some of his classmates were
Tibetan compatriots, but where is Hu Jun?
The Tibetans of later generations are now the land of the Western Regions in the mouth of the Great Dragon Dynasty. Few people would travel that far by relying only on cattle and horses.
Hu Jun squinted at Bai Ren, who was a little uneasy: "Brother Bai, are you sure that as long as I tell you the name of this flower and its habits, I will win this competition?"
Even though Bai Ren was worried, he couldn't go back on his word. He said bravely: "Yes, a gentleman's words are hard to follow. As long as Brother Hu tells the name of this flower and its habits, Bai will admit defeat."
Hu Jun circled around Jinlumei twice: "Jinlumei is produced in the Western Regions. This flower also grows in Turkic lands. People in the Western Regions call it Gesanghua. Gesanghua means happiness and contentment in the mouths of people in the Western Regions.
This flower stem has a thin petal and looks very weak. In fact, the more violent the wind and rain, the stronger and greener it becomes, the stronger the sunshine, the more brilliant this flower is. Although there are not many Turkic lands, there are not many, but this flower is found in the Western Regions.
It takes root all over the place, and it is not called a strange flower as Brother Bai calls it. It is just that it has never appeared in the Dragon Kingdom and Jiangnan."
After saying that, Hu Jun took the note on the table, opened it and read it. Sure enough, there were three words Jin Lumei written on the paper.
Hu Jun smiled elegantly: "Brother Bai? How about it?"
Bai Ren took a few steps back, looking embarrassed: "Impossible. How could a scholar from Jiangnan be so weak and weak and go to the grassland thousands of miles away? It's impossible."
"Nothing is impossible. Isn't this just what Brother Bai said? Dangyang Academy students are well-educated and well-informed. What's so strange about meeting Jin Lumei? Moreover," Hu Jun leaned into Bai Ren's ear and whispered softly.
: "Since I took the stage, I have always called myself a student of Dangyang Academy, not a scholar from Jiangnan."
Bai Ren stared at Hu Jun in astonishment with wide eyes: "You"
Hu Jun shook his head slightly and turned to look at Qi Run and Qi Run on the high platform: "Junior Hu Jun meets these two adults. According to the rules, this junior will win."
"Well, I am worthy of being the third-ranked Jingkui Juren. He is really talented in literature. I will definitely be seriously injured after the Lu Ming Banquet."
"Thank you, sir!"
Both Qi and Run looked overjoyed. They had won another game and three consecutive sentences. As long as nothing went wrong, the chances of the Jin delegation to turn around were slim to none.
Some people were happy and some were worried. Bai Ren returned to his original position unwillingly: "Commander, I didn't expect this."
Wan Yang glanced at Bai Ren indifferently: "I forgive you, no one thought that Jiangnan, a scholar living in a corner of the Yangtze River, would know the flowers and plants thousands of miles away. Go back to your place."
Bai Ren wiped the sweat from his forehead and did not dare to look at Wan Yang's expression: "Thank you for your magnanimity, Commander."
Hu Yanyu calmly watched Hu Jun walk back to his seat, shaking his head helplessly.
Yan Yu looked at Hu Yanyu strangely: "Husband, do you know the young man on the stage just now?"
Hu Yanyu was stunned and immediately shook his head: "I don't know him. I'm just sighing that this person actually knows the flowers and plants of my Turkic tribe. I'm just curious."
Yan Yu lowered her head and stared at Hu Jun's back, wondering what she was thinking.
"Brother Hu, congratulations! You won another round for me. What a joy!"
Hu Jun, who greeted everyone respectfully, nodded and said: "I just happened to have heard the name of this flower and plant. I can only say that I was lucky to win. The next duel will be all yours."
Hu Jun sat back down: "Brother, do you know that flower and plant?"
Liu Mingzhi raised his eyebrows and shook his head: "I don't know, but brother, you are well-informed."
After finishing speaking, Liu Mingzhi held his chin and wondered what he was thinking about. He glanced at Hu Jun aside from time to time. Only he knew what he was thinking in his heart.
Qin Bin whispered suspiciously next to Liu Mingzhi: "Brother Liu, when Brother Hu opened the white cloth just now, your eyes lit up when you saw the flower. Do you really don't know the name of that flower?"
Liu Mingzhi glanced at Qin Bin playfully, secretly thinking that Qin Bin was really observant and actually saw his fleeting expression.
Liu Mingzhi still shook his head: "I'm just shocked that there are such beautiful flowers and plants in this season. I really don't know its name."
Seeing that Liu Mingzhi's expression was unchanged, Qin Bin shook his head and stopped asking.
"In the third round of the Baya Competition, Hu Jun, a student from Dangyang Academy, won."
Zhao Fengshou stood up again and looked at Li Peichao and the other five: "Next, a scholar from Jiangnan will come on stage to pose a question. Which student is willing to take the lead?"
Several people looked at each other, and Li Peichao walked out: "The junior Li Peichao from Dangyang Academy is not very talented, but he is willing to go on stage to play against the Jin Dynasty envoys with the theme of painting. Which brother is willing to come on stage and give me some advice?"
"Gui Bu'er of the Kingdom of Jin is willing to ask Brother Li for advice."
Seeing that a competition was about to begin, Liu Mingzhi felt no turmoil in his heart, and turned to look at Wen Renzheng, who was leaning against the wall not far away.
But Wen Renzheng's eyes were like a pool of calm stagnant water, unable to see anything at all.
Young Master Liu stretched out and murmured: "It is human nature to have secrets, but if they are too deep, they will make people fearful and uneasy. It's not good, it's really not good!"
: It’s a big chapter worth three, I’ll try to update it again tonight.