Cang Yuan soon told Pan Long how the political struggle had ended.
Cang Yuan spoke with shining eyes and boundless enthusiasm, plainly delighted by the great victory. Pan Long, however, only smiled faintly.
What did Cang Yuan and Di Luonan's victory have to do with Pan Long?
From his perspective, the outcome was satisfactory enough. But Reform was a long process, and this was only the beginning.
Winning this round merely meant the work could continue. Who would win in the end remained to be seen!
After telling him about it, Cang Yuan said, "Brother Pan, it's already the end of the seventh month. Tomorrow is the Autumn Sacrifice. Then, from the first through the tenth of the eighth month, the Capital Examinations for the Ten Subjects of All Under Heaven will be held in turn. The results come out on the thirteenth, the final Golden Hall Talent Selection begins on the morning of the fifteenth, and the Jade Grove Banquet is that evening. The Moon-Viewing Gathering is on the sixteenth... These next two weeks will be the liveliest time of year around the capital. Interested in joining the excitement?"
"Joining the excitement?" Pan Long looked puzzled. "How would I do that?"
"Each of the Ten Subjects of All Under Heaven has places for recommended candidates. Would you be interested in taking the Military Strategy and Martial Arts Examination on the tenth?" Cang Yuan said with a smile. "With your abilities, even if you didn't place first, you wouldn't fall outside the First Class."
Pan Long did not feel underestimated. The Military Strategy and Martial Arts Examination tested strategy as well as fighting skill. He was confident no candidate under heaven could beat him in a fight, but when it came to military strategy, he suspected he was rather lacking.