Becoming a literary master starting from the story of Minglan

Chapter 487: Strategy
"Boom--!"

A deep, resounding gong shattered the dawn's silence at the examination hall, its echo reverberating between the imposing high walls.

Then came the rough, hoarse shouts of the yamen runners: "Distributing the exam papers—!"

Heavy footsteps approached from afar, and the exam papers were passed and distributed in stacks to each small, cramped cell.

Sheng Changquan's cell was located in the middle of the east row, with a faded wooden plaque nailed to the lintel that read "Jia Zi Xuan Hao" (甲字玄号).

The cell was only big enough for one person to turn around. Three sides were walls that were peeling and revealed the original color of the blue bricks, with years of dust accumulating in the gaps. One side was a thick wooden fence, about the thickness of a wrist, through which one could see blurry figures in the cell opposite.

A narrow wooden board, barely big enough to hold exam papers and an inkstone, served as a desk, while an even narrower board, barely a foot off the ground, became their "bed" for the nine days and nine nights.

The air was filled with the pungent smell of inferior ink sticks, the musty smell of years of accumulated dust, the sour odor of sweat that lingered for days, and the suffocating body odor from thousands of people gathered in a confined space, all mixed with a suffocating tension and desperate anxiety.

Fortunately, his cell was not among the "stinky cells," those near the latrines; otherwise, the indescribable stench would have been another hell on earth.

Sheng Changquan sat upright at the desk, his posture as imposing as a mountain, his expression calm and composed.

Even the suppressed coughs, irritable sighs, desperate sobs, and even the sudden, uncontrolled wailing from some corner could not shake the focused concentration between his brows, as deep as an ancient well.

He first took out the purse Minglan had given him, and poured out the small, exquisite white porcelain bottle inside, which contained refreshing and invigorating menthol oil.

He carefully uncorked the bottle, dabbed a tiny bit on his fingertip, and gently massaged it into his temples. A cool sensation went straight to his brain, dispelling some of the confusion.

He then placed the ink stick in the center of the coarse porcelain inkstone, took out a small copper kettle the size of a palm from the basket, and poured a little water into the inkstone.

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his slender yet powerful wrists, and began grinding the ink with steady, forceful strokes.

Of course, the faint mark on the side of his wrist was still there. Sheng Changquan had deliberately kept it so that he could gain some sympathy from Sheng Hong.

The soft rustling sound, amidst this unsettling noise, strangely sounded exceptionally clear and rhythmic, like the prelude to the war drums beating in his heart.

"Give!"

The yamen runners slipped a thick stack of exam papers through the gaps in the fence.

The imperial examination consisted of three sessions, each lasting three days, with the exam papers packaged separately by subject.

Today's first exam is the most important, including classics, policy essays, and poetry. The exam papers are bound in thick mulberry paper, with the cover printed with "First Exam of the Bingchen Year". The inner pages are in vermilion vertical lines, and the characters must be neatly copied onto them.

Sheng Changquan quickly scanned the questions, and when his gaze fell on the most important policy essay question, a sharp, lightning-like glint flashed in his deep eyes!

"On the Power of the Northern Frontier Liang Kingdom: Where Does Its Strength Lie? Can Its Weakness Be Exploited? What Strategies Should Our Great Hong Utilize to Defend Against and Overcome It, and Secure the Foundation of the Nation?"

This question hits the nail on the head regarding current problems and concerns the fate of the nation!
Sheng Changquan took a deep breath, dipped his brush in thick ink, and let the landscape in his heart transform into waves under his brush, his strokes as swift as the wind.

"I have heard that the most important matters of a state are sacrifice and war."

"The Liang Kingdom in the northern frontier now commands a million archers, whose fierce cavalry has long been a thorn in the side of our Great Hong. To secure the foundation of our nation, we must first understand their strength, and then devise a strategy for victory!"

Sheng Changquan begins by stating the theme directly, with vigorous strokes and rich ink: "The strength of Liang State lies in three aspects: First, its iron cavalry is unstoppable, moving like the wind, and unparalleled in field battles; this is the advantage of its claws and teeth."

"Secondly, it occupies the strategic location of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun, which is high and commanding, allowing it to advance or retreat as needed; this is its 'advantageous terrain'." "Thirdly, its ruler, Yelü Hongji, although not a great talent, is still able to control the various tribes and prevent internal strife; this is its 'temporary stability'."

He paused here, and then continued: "However, its weakness is also evident: First, it is a vast land with a sparse population and scarce resources, especially lacking in grain, fodder and silk, relying on trade at border markets and plunder for supplies, which is the 'emptiness of the heartland'."

"Secondly, there were numerous tribes, and the Yelü and Xiao families jointly ruled. However, the Khitan, Xi, and Bohai tribes were outwardly united but inwardly divided, harboring deep-seated hidden dangers. This was a 'thorn in the side',"

"Thirdly, its government is crude and does not value education; it relies solely on force, is plundering by nature, and has lost the support of the people. This is its 'fundamental fault'!"

Then, Sheng Changquan quoted extensively from classical texts, discussing the bloody lessons of the previous dynasty, his words sharp as a knife: "The previous dynasty lasted for 312 years. In its final period, the 'Loss of Youyun' was not only due to the weakness of the army and poor tactics, but also to the complacency of the emperor and his ministers, the neglect of military preparedness, the corruption of border generals, and the demoralization of the army. As a result, the strategic location was handed over to the enemy! This is a lesson learned in blood and tears!"

"The previous dynasty lasted for 405 years. Its decline began with frequent border troubles. The court responded poorly, either retreating and paying tribute to seek temporary peace, or rashly provoking border conflicts and losing soldiers and generals. In the end, the people were impoverished and the country was in decline, which was taken advantage of by the predecessor of the Liang Kingdom!"

Let us set an example for our dynasty: "Looking back at our Great Hong Taizu and Taizong Emperors, at the beginning of the dynasty, they strengthened their military preparedness and revitalized their armed forces. Emperor Taizu personally led the expedition and won three battles in a row, defeating the fierce Liang Kingdom outside Yanmen Pass, thus laying the foundation for thirty years of peace in the northern frontier! This is clear proof of 'stopping war with war and defending the border with force'!"

"Therefore, I believe that the strategy for defeating Liang should be based on 'strengthening the foundation and cultivating the source, seizing opportunities to advance'..."

Sheng Changquan's strategy, from strengthening the army, building cities, trapping the enemy, and dividing them, to the final decisive battle, progresses step by step with rigorous logic, demonstrating both strategic vision and tactical detail.

Every word is precious, and the spirit is awe-inspiring!
He wrote thousands of words, and when he put down the last stroke, the ink was dripping and the spirit was soaring!
Sheng Changquan felt that this policy essay was extremely well written. Not only did it present novel viewpoints, but it was also written in a gentle style. It affirmed the current dynasty's strategies and was completely devoid of the arrogance of a young man. It can be said that it demonstrated his profound wisdom and grand vision beyond his age!

Sheng Changquan was secretly pleased with himself. However, the essay had taken a toll on his mind, and by the time he put down his pen, the sun was already past its zenith, and a strong feeling of hunger struck him.

Sheng Changquan put down his pen, rubbed his slightly sore wrist, and took out a small copper pen, several pieces of charcoal wrapped in oil paper, and a flint and steel from the bottom of the examination basket.

This is essential for every candidate – only cold water is provided in the examination room; candidates must bring their own hot water for food.

He carefully placed the copper spool on a small clay stove specially set up in the corner of the cell and used a flint to ignite the charcoal.

The crackling charcoal fire illuminated his calm face. As the water simmered, he took out the carefully prepared provisions from his family from his basket: several hard and durable flatbreads made from a mixture of refined flour and coarse grains, a small jar of savory pickles stir-fried with sesame oil, and a small packet of smoked jerky torn into thin strips.

He broke a steamed bun into pieces and dropped it into boiling water. Once the pieces had absorbed the hot water and become soft, he scooped them into a rough earthenware bowl, sprinkled them with shredded dried meat, and ate them quietly and politely, bite by bite, with some pickles.

His movements carried a kind of tenacity in maintaining his dignity in a cramped predicament. The water in the copper pot was limited and had to be used sparingly. After finishing his meal, he only sipped half a bowl of hot water to quench his thirst.

In the yellow booth with the letter "甲" diagonally opposite, Yuan Shanjian was also having a meal.

His food was equally simple, but Sheng Changquan noticed that he used a smooth and shiny white jade cup to hold water, which was obviously not a permitted item in the examination hall. The fact that he was able to bring it in showed that he had a special status or had been properly taken care of.

Yuan Shanjian ate very slowly, chewing each bite with a composed demeanor, as if he were in a quiet study rather than this filthy prison. Occasionally, he would raise his head, his gaze calm and unwavering, and his eyes would briefly meet Sheng Changquan's. They would nod slightly to each other in greeting before immersing themselves in their own worlds.

Between masters, everything is understood without words.

In contrast, not far away, in the "Bingzi Honghao" shop, Dong Wenchang, known as "Wolong," could be heard from time to time complaining and clattering of cups and plates.

He complained that the steamed buns were too coarse and scratched his throat, and the delicate snacks he brought were ruined by the yamen runners. He could only manage a few bites and couldn't swallow them. When he clumsily tried to start a fire and boil water, he was choked by the smoke and coughed repeatedly. His mood became increasingly irritable, and the sound of him pounding on the table drew a stern reprimand from the patrolling yamen runners.

For a time, it caused quite a stir.

I went on a business trip over the weekend.