The Red Mansion: From a Small Pawn to a Leader

As the military examination approached, the capital city became more lively and more chaotic. Shuntian Prefecture, Wucheng Bingmasi and Nanzhenfusi all dispatched additional officers and soldiers to maintain order.

In the afternoon, an imperial decree was issued from the palace that after the military examination, the military scholars with outstanding performance in the West Mountain Autumn Hunt would receive additional gifts.

As soon as the imperial edict came out, there was jubilation throughout the capital, and all the warriors participating in the martial arts examination expressed their gratitude enthusiastically!
The military examination did not test military strategy. The examination content was also very simple. First, the test was horseback archery. Horseback archery was three rounds of nine arrows. If three hits were hit, it was a pass. If five hits were hit, it was a pass. Then there was a strength test, including pulling a hard bow, dancing with a sword, and lifting a stone. The bow was divided into eight, ten, and twelve pounds; the sword was divided into one hundred, one hundred and ten, and one hundred and twenty pounds; the stone was divided into two hundred, two hundred and fifty, and three hundred pounds.

The bow must be fully opened, the sword must be able to dance, and the stone must be one foot off the ground. Two of these three items must be above level 2 to be considered qualified, and then a seal will be stamped on the forearm to prevent impersonation. Only qualified people can participate in the final competition, actual combat, and the ranking will be determined.

Like the imperial examination, it is divided into three grades, called the "three classes".

The first place is the top three, and the first place is the martial champion. The emperor personally bestows armor, swords, etc. on the martial champion, and makes him a third-rank lieutenant general. He is treated the same as the civil champion, wearing red and ribbons, and parading on the streets to show off his official position. Then the Ministry of War sends people to escort the martial champion home to show off his honor.

The second place was the military second place, the third place was the military third place, and they were all awarded the rank of fourth-rank guerrilla general. The second place was awarded the rank of chief thousand officer, and the third place was awarded the rank of battalion commander.

The top three were called the "Three Dingjia" and were awarded the qualification of "granting the title of Wu Jinshi". The top ten or more in the second place were awarded the qualification of "granting the title of Wu Jinshi Chuan". Those below the second place were all in the third place and were awarded the qualification of "granting the title of Wu Jinshi Chuan".

For those who failed the military examination, the Ministry of War would give them travel expenses based on the distance of the journey, ranging from more than ten taels to as little as four or five taels.

There are about a thousand warriors participating in the martial arts examination this year, and one hundred and twenty will be selected.

The examination hall for the military examination was located in the Bingmasi military camp in the inner city.

Accompanied by a group of officials from the Ministry of War and the Military Affairs Department, Li Hu and Baoling Hou Shi Nai inspected everywhere and directed everyone to set up the examination hall for the joint examination.

After the establishment of the Dashun Dynasty, several military examinations were held, divided into two parts: the inner and outer. The outer part tested archery on horseback, archery on foot, and skills and bravery; the inner part tested policy essays.

This military examination was purely a whim of the emperor and was held in a hurry.

Li Hu shook his head. This kind of military examination would soon be eliminated. It only selected a group of strong men who could ride horses, shoot arrows and were very strong. It was suitable for them to stay in the palace as imperial guards, but it was a joke to send them to the military camp as officers and lead troops, especially high-ranking generals such as guerrilla generals and lieutenant generals. They were simply playing with the lives of the soldiers.

In terms of managing troops, they are not as good as those who come from the military; in terms of bravery and endurance, they are not as good as those who have been promoted through military merit. The army needs capable people, not brave people.

The military examination was to select talents for the imperial court, and should be diverse. It should not only select strong men who can ride horses, shoot arrows and have great strength, but also select talents who understand military tactics, astronomy, geography, camp formations, guns and artillery, etc.

As they walked, several military officials looked at each other.

A doctor spoke up: "Duke"

As Li Hu walked, he asked, "What's the matter?"

The doctor said: "The military examination is getting closer and closer, is it time to finalize the list?"

Li Hu stopped and asked: "What list?"

Several officials from the Ministry of War looked at each other and smiled bitterly, thinking that this gentleman had indeed forgotten about it.

The doctor said: "According to the rules, each link must have a dedicated person in charge, including the supervisor, shooting supervisor, test supervisor, gate supervisor, patrol, search, supply, etc. By the way, the outer field must also be joined by the supervisor and town officials."

Li Hu was stunned when he heard this. He had been busy cleaning up the villa and setting up a bedroom for Lin Daiyu, and had forgotten about this matter. However, he would not admit that he had forgotten about this matter.

He suddenly had an idea and said, "You don't need to worry about this matter. I will ask for permission to dispatch 500 musketeers to the city to escort the martial arts examination. Anyone who dares to cheat or cause trouble will be executed on the spot!"

When these words were spoken, the doctor was the first to be stunned.

Several military officials were also confused.

Shi Nai smiled bitterly and shook his head.

The officials of the Military Affairs Department looked at each other in bewilderment. This man was indeed as cruel and ruthless as the legend said!
Li Hu smiled inwardly and asked again, "Do you have anything else to say?" The doctor said, "No, nothing more."

Li Hu: "Then please introduce him to me."

The doctor said: "I wonder what the Duke wants to hear?"

Li Hu: "Archery on horseback and archery on foot."

The doctor said: "Yes. The target for archery on horseback is a felt ball, and the target for archery on foot is a cloth dummy. For archery on horseback, the candidate must ride a horse three times at a distance of 35 steps, and hit three arrows out of nine to pass; for archery on foot, the distance is 80 steps, and five arrows out of nine to pass."

Li Hu nodded and scanned the martial arts arena: "Which examination room is closest to the stands?"

The doctor pointed to the left: "That one."

Li Hu: "How many steps?"

The doctor said: "One hundred and eighty steps, absolutely safe."

Safe, absolutely safe? Bullshit!
Li Hu shouted loudly to the soldiers behind him: "Bring the horses, and get a twelve-strength bow!"

The officials looked at each other and then turned their eyes to Shi Nai.

Shi Nai asked tentatively: "Duke Lu?"

Li Hu smiled and said, "I have many enemies, so I must be on guard."

A personal soldier came leading Li Hu's big white horse, followed by another personal soldier bringing a bow and quiver.

Li Hu mounted the horse, took the bow and arrow, rode the horse to a distance of two hundred steps and stopped, then stroked the big white horse's neck, squeezed his legs, and the big white horse rushed towards the stands like an arrow.

At the same time, Li Hu pulled out an arrow from the quiver, put it on the bowstring, drew the bow to its full length, and shot the arrow out with a "whoosh".

By the time the warhorse had rushed forward eighty steps, Li Hu had already shot the third arrow.

Li Hu pulled the reins suddenly, and the big white horse raised its front hooves into the air, snorted, and stopped abruptly.

Deathly silence.

The doctor was sweating profusely. Of the three arrows, except for the first arrow that landed under the stands, the other two arrows all landed on the stands, and the third arrow landed next to Li Hu's seat. No, this was a twelve-strength hard bow, and few warriors could use it. Eight-strength and ten-strength bows would have to rush in fifty steps, or even thirty steps, to reach Li Hu's position.

At this time, Li Hu rode over and said to the doctor, "If you don't retreat another thirty steps, retreat fifty steps."

The doctor hesitated for a moment and said, "If we retreat further, the examination room opposite will have to be reduced and rearranged."

Li Hu: "Don't bother with that. Let the martial arts candidates in that examination hall take the sword dance and stone lifting tests first."

The doctor said: "I'm afraid this is not a good idea."

Li Hu's eyes narrowed: "I am informing you, not discussing with you. If you don't obey my orders, go back to the Ministry of War and I will find someone who will obey my orders!"

The doctor panicked and said while bowing, "I deserve to die. I will arrange it right away." Then he retreated in a hurry.

Li Hu quickly scanned the martial arts arena. Two hundred and thirty steps, including the stands, at least three hundred steps. At this distance, the musketeers of the firearms battalion could fire two rounds at once, and no matter how skilled the assassins were at riding, they would have to lie down obediently.

Thinking of this, Li Hu sneered in his heart, I want to see which blind man dares to assassinate me! (End of this chapter)