Seeing the County Magistrate say that, Lu Feng felt deeply grateful to him. If the County Magistrate had no intention of appointing a new constable captain, then no matter how hard Lu Feng worked, it would all be for nothing.
Although a constable captain wasn't an official rank, he was already the head of the junior clerks.
With that status, Lu Feng would have some measure of protection for his own safety.
He wouldn't end up like the previous owner of his body, who had been beaten to death on the way home.
After the competition, Lu Feng collected his constable captain's uniform and Specialized Oxtail Saber, which Strategist Wang had arranged for him.
After putting on his new uniform and strapping on his new saber, Lu Feng followed the strategist to the County Magistrate's study.
County Magistrate Wang Lichuan was seated in the main chair, drinking tea. Seeing him, Lu Feng clasped his hands in greeting. "Your subordinate Lu Feng pays his respects to the County Magistrate!"
This was Lu Feng's first time in the County Magistrate's study. The room looked no different from an ordinary study, but an Iron Man Post stood on one side, two meters tall.
Wang Lichuan gave a quiet hum, then set down his teacup and said, "Lu Feng, your performance these past few days has certainly given me quite a few pleasant surprises!"
"You flatter me, County Magistrate. I just didn't want to let this opportunity pass me by."
Wang Lichuan glanced at him and continued, "Then do you know why I established a new constable captain position?"
Lu Feng's heart stirred slightly. He had indeed heard about this.
Fan Tao and Chen Han had mentioned it to him before, saying the County Magistrate had established a new constable position in preparation for the Martial Examination.
However, Lu Feng wasn't certain, so he could only reply, "Your subordinate doesn't know. Please enlighten me, sir!"
Wang Lichuan looked out the window and said, "In two months, the Great Yan Dynasty's Martial Examination, held once every three years, will begin. As a county in Baiyue County, Beiyuan Prefecture, Great Yan, Qinglu County naturally has to take part."
Lu Feng stood to one side and listened carefully. It seemed the new constable captain position really was related to the Martial Examination.
Wang Lichuan paused, then continued, "I've been in Qinglu County for two years. Though the people under my jurisdiction live and work in peace, I haven't achieved any notable accomplishments. So I want to use this Martial Examination as an opportunity to recommend some promising talent to the Imperial Court. That would be a way to serve Great Yan and His Majesty."
At this point, Lu Feng understood what the County Magistrate meant.
He wanted to boost his own record through the Martial Examination!
However, in this world, might made right. If Qinglu County really produced a Martial Arts Candidate, County Magistrate Wang Lichuan would certainly attract attention from his superiors.
Understanding his intentions, Lu Feng asked again, "County Magistrate, although I've heard of the Martial Examination, I don't know much about its rules or particulars. With my current Martial Realm, can I be of any help to you?"
Wang Lichuan smiled faintly. "Heh, if I remember correctly, you're not yet twenty, and your Martial Realm is that of an Eighth-Rank Martial Artist, correct?"
Lu Feng nodded. "Your insight is remarkable, sir. You're exactly right."
"Mm. Then do you know the qualifications for taking the Martial Examination?"
Lu Feng shook his head again. "Your subordinate doesn't know. Please enlighten me, sir."
The previous owner of his body had been a lazy, gluttonous little constable. How would he have known anything about the Martial Examination?
Wang Lichuan picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and slowly explained, "The Martial Examination has two selections: the Youth Elite Competition and the Martial Elite Competition. To enter the Youth Elite Competition, a competitor must be no older than twenty and must have reached the rank of Ninth-Rank Martial Artist."
Hearing this, surprise appeared in Lu Feng's eyes, and he asked, "Sir, why are the entry requirements for the Martial Examination's Youth Elite Competition so high?"
To be no older than twenty and at least a Ninth-Rank Martial Artist—there probably weren't many in all of Qinglu County who could meet those requirements.
Wang Lichuan shook his head with a smile. "Lu Feng, those requirements are indeed a little high for Qinglu County, but for the Martial Artists of the entire Great Yan Dynasty, they're only the bare minimum."
"Oh? What do you mean?"
"I won't even speak of all the Martial Artists in Great Yan. Just in Baiyue County, more than a hundred talented Martial Artists in the county seat meet the entry requirements."
His words made Lu Feng even more surprised.
"Sir, do you mean that with my current Martial Realm, I'm not even qualified to enter the Youth Elite Competition?"
Wang Lichuan gave a slight nod. "That's right! But the Martial Examination won't begin for another two months. If you train hard, you may still be able to meet the entry requirements for the Youth Elite Competition."
"This..."
A hesitant look appeared on Lu Feng's face. He wasn't worried about whether he could break through to Ninth-Rank Martial Artist in two months; he was worried about whether he could handle all the prodigies in the Martial Examination.
Seeing him like this, Wang Lichuan reassured him, "Lu Feng, you don't need to worry. To help you meet the entry requirements, I won't assign you any work or duties over the next two months. You only need to focus on cultivating."
Since the County Magistrate had gone so far, Lu Feng naturally wouldn't refuse.
"Thank you for looking after me, sir. But I'm not worried about my cultivation. I'm worried that if I don't achieve a good result in the Martial Examination, I'll bring shame upon Qinglu County and you."
Wang Lichuan first looked pleased, then smiled helplessly. "Heh, don't worry about that. Qinglu County has always been at the bottom of Baiyue County."
At this, Strategist Wang Jun, standing to one side, added helplessly, "Captain Lu, in fact, Qinglu County hasn't even had anyone sign up for the last few Martial Examinations, so you don't need to put too much pressure on yourself."
"Ah? It was really that bad!" Lu Feng was both surprised and speechless.
He had thought Qinglu County's Martial Artists weren't very strong compared with those in Baiyue County, but he hadn't expected them to be at the very bottom.
It was clear from this that County Magistrate Wang Lichuan truly wanted to change things. Otherwise, he wouldn't have created a new constable captain position.
Wang Lichuan let out a long sigh. "Alas, my expectations aren't high. If you can just break through to Ninth-Rank Martial Artist within two months, I'll be more than satisfied."
Lu Feng scratched his head and asked again, "Sir, if your subordinate achieves a decent result in the Martial Examination, what benefits would that bring?"
Based on Lu Feng's understanding, the highest Martial Examination honor was Top Martial Scholar. He didn't know what the other results were called.
"There are plenty of benefits! If you place in the top ten in the county-seat Martial Examination, you'll earn the title of Martial Scholar and receive certain privileges and subsidies. In addition, the top ten from the county seat can go to the Prefecture City for a second round of examinations. If you place in the top ten there as well, you'll become a Martial Arts Candidate. At that point, the Imperial Court will give you two choices: wait for the court to assign you an official post, or go to the capital and continue taking the Martial Examination!"
Hearing this, Lu Feng finally understood.
The Martial Examination of the Great Yan Dynasty was actually very similar to the imperial examinations in another world.
The only difference was that one tested literary knowledge, while the other tested martial strength.
"I see. Your subordinate understands!"
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