"Wei Tu?" Magistrate Chen stroked the three-inch wisps of beard beneath his chin. After pondering for a long while, he instructed the clerk to bring the roster of this Martial Examination's candidates to his desk.
The Zheng State court had now enjoyed two hundred and sixty-three years of rule. Officialdom had grown corrupt, its atmosphere far inferior to that of the previous dynasty.
Cheating in the Imperial Examinations occurred time and again across every circuit, prefecture, and county.
Qingshan County was hardly the only one.
"But if Wei Tu's results are poor, I can simply find another excuse to turn him away. The risk is still too great..." Magistrate Chen thought to himself as he searched through the roster.
In literature, there was no undisputed first.
In martial arts, there was no undisputed second.
The Martial Examination differed from the literary examination. Essays were deep waters, but a Martial Examination candidate's ability could be seen at a glance even by a layman.
The three skill and courage subjects—mounted archery and foot archery—could not be faked.
"His Stone Lock Lifting is grade A, and his results in the other subjects are also grade A. Only his blade dancing score is somewhat worse, B-plus grade..."
When Magistrate Chen found Wei Tu's results, he was briefly surprised. With Wei Tu's scores, he was one of the leading contenders for first place.
This showed that the Huang Family's gift was not meant merely to get Wei Tu onto the list and earn him the qualifications to take the prefectural examination. They wanted him to personally designate Wei Tu as the County Examination's Martial Arts Examination Top Scholar.
"Now only the outer-field Sparring Match and the inner-field military strategy remain..."
"Both can be tampered with a little."
Magistrate Chen tapped the roster on the wooden desk, then ordered the clerk to summon the examiner for this County Martial Examination's "Sparring Match."
That afternoon.
The outer-field "Sparring Match" began.
The "Sparring Match" was the Martial Examination's only practical combat assessment. Candidates competed in pairs, and anyone who successfully advanced into the top ten was considered grade A.
As for the relative skill of the Sparring Match's top ten, the county and prefectural examinations did not make detailed distinctions. After all, fists and feet had no eyes; candidates had no need to suffer serious injuries during the county or prefectural Martial Examinations.
Other than the Martial Arts Examination Top Scholar, who was guaranteed passage through the prefectural examination, there was no difference between the remaining candidates who made the list.
The second-place candidate received the same treatment as the last-place candidate.
There was no need to distinguish superiority from inferiority.
Only during the circuit examination, when Martial Scholars received differing treatment, would their true ranks and standings be determined.
I hope I don't encounter those Martial Masters with grade A blade dancing results in the Sparring Match. Otherwise...
As the examiner began assigning groups and calling names, Wei Tu silently prayed.
All told, he had practiced Saber Techniques for less than half a year, and he had no actual combat experience during that time.
Thus, whether it was the demonstrative "saber dance" or the Sparring Match's real combat, he naturally lagged far behind those Martial Masters from wealthy families who had practiced Saber Techniques since childhood.
Very soon.
The "Sparring Match" examiner assigned Wei Tu his opponent.
"I don't recognize this Martial Master. It seems he wasn't among the grade A candidates." Wei Tu glanced at the Martial Master, compared him against the list in his mind, and mused.
Before the Sparring Match began, vendors at the City God Temple purchased every Martial Master's scores in every subject from the clerks, compiled them into booklets, and sold them.
Any Martial Master who achieved grade A in even one assessment was called a grade-A Martial Master, a popular candidate to make the list.
"Ma Hong of Wangdu Township. I ask Martial Master Wei to show mercy."
Soon, Wei Tu and the Martial Master facing him stepped onto the arena platform and exchanged names.
However, Ma Hong clearly recognized Wei Tu. When Wei Tu stepped onto the platform, Ma Hong's expression changed slightly, and he clasped his fists.
"Wei Tu of Changming Township."
Wei Tu likewise clasped his fists in salute.
After exchanging courtesies.
The two immediately began fighting.
A short while later.
After more than ten exchanges, Wei Tu forced Ma Hong off the platform and claimed victory in the first match.
—A B-plus blade dancing score was not weak. The only people he feared were the dozen or so Martial Masters who had earned grade A in blade dancing.
Next.
Several more bouts followed.
What surprised Wei Tu somewhat was that in every practical fight, the examiner assigned him opponents from the same group of relatively weak Martial Masters.
"Could it be..." After the fifth match ended, Wei Tu seemed to think of something. His steps paused on the stone stairs of the arena platform, and his gaze unconsciously turned toward Master Huang among the gathered gentry.
Where something was abnormal, there had to be something fishy.
Other than revealing to the Huang Residence that he was Martial Graduate Dan's disciple, Wei Tu had not publicized that identity during this County Martial Examination.
—He had not been confident that he could claim first place in the County Martial Examination, so there had been no need to mention Martial Graduate Dan as backing.
This made it clear that the examiner had not changed his opponents because of Martial Graduate Dan's connections. Someone else was helping him from behind the scenes.
Someone with the power to influence the County Martial Examination's examiner, and who was willing to help him...
That person's identity was naturally obvious.
Other than Master Huang, who had acknowledged kinship with him, no one met all these conditions.
"Cheating in the Imperial Examinations?" Wei Tu frowned.
—It was not that he could not stand such filthy business. He was simply worried that someone might use it to harm him.
For a Martial Master with real ability like him, underhanded tricks brought more harm than benefit.
"Master Huang and I have acknowledged kinship. Even if I did not accept Master Huang's recruitment, he should not harm me..."
At that thought, Wei Tu shook his head and pressed these distracting thoughts down into his heart.
Very soon.
Several more matches began.
Without encountering any of the County Martial Examination's experts, Wei Tu felt no pressure in winning. He crushed his opponents with ease and stood among the final top ten of the "Sparring Match."
And the little tricks Wei Tu noticed were noticed by very few of the Martial Masters present or the watching commoners.
After all, Wei Tu's scores before the practical matches had not been weak. He was a popular candidate for Martial Arts Examination Top Scholar, so it was only natural that he could easily defeat the other Martial Masters.
"Wei Tu?"
Among the top ten, a young man with eyebrows slanting into his temples gave Wei Tu, standing beside him, a deep look, his gaze carrying faint contempt.
No one else had noticed the cheating in Wei Tu's Sparring Match, but he was not among them.
Because he was wary of Wei Tu's strength, he had kept a close eye on Wei Tu, observing his moves in order to formulate tactics...
But unexpectedly...
During that time, he had seen that Wei Tu's matches seemed likely to involve cheating.
"Forget it. If I make a big fuss, it won't be good for me either." Wei Fei shook his head and withdrew his gaze from Wei Tu.
Reporting cheating in the Imperial Examinations.
Would not only target Wei Tu, but also officials large and small throughout Qingshan County.
He did not have the courage to do such a thing during the examination.
Besides, even if his report succeeded.
His future prospects would be ruined from that day onward.
Officials protected one another.
That had never been empty talk.
After the event ended.
Wei Tu sought out Master Huang to confirm his suspicions about the Sparring Match.
As expected.
Master Huang had indeed spoken to Magistrate Chen regarding this Martial Examination.
"The County Top Scholar may seem useless, with guaranteed passage through the circuit examination being its only benefit, but... in truth, when you are appointed to office, if the authorities see that you were the County Top Scholar, they will also take that into account and arrange some better military posts for you..."
"Furthermore, even if your uncle-in-law did not do this, the other gentry would do the same for their own nephews and sons."
"Giving Magistrate Chen advance notice was only to ensure that the results you deserved would not fall because you offered no bribes..."
Inside the carriage, Master Huang and Wei Tu sat facing each other. Master Huang explained slowly.
Thanks to Meijiu Ganshu Wo Dou Ai for the reward of 2,000 Qidian coins.
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