Ming Dynasty: The Crocodile King of Han Prince Zhu Gaoxu's Family

Chapter 442 Palace Examination
"Kill! Kill! Kill!" As Mu Sheng pushed clay figures, symbolizing soldiers, forward on the sand table in his camp in Korea, endless shouts of battle echoed across the land.
One by one, the North Korean soldiers were cut down from their horses!

Bloodstains stained the earth red!

One by one, the cities of North Korea fell!

Majestic dragon flags were planted on the city walls of Korea!

Meanwhile, in the examination hall of Longdu, the capital of the Dragon Kingdom, different types of assessments were also being conducted.

After going through layers of examinations, only a very small number of students from the Imperial Academy have passed the provincial examination and are about to face the palace examination.

The students of the Martial Arts Academy have finally passed the rigorous tests of martial arts manuals, martial arts skills, and combat simulations. They will soon join the students of the Imperial Academy in the Fengtian Hall to meet the supreme Emperor Longwu of the Great Dragon Kingdom!
At this moment, the Fengtian Hall was bustling with people, yet utterly silent. Clearly, no one would risk jeopardizing their future with even the slightest mistake made within the hall! Moreover, this was the first imperial examination of the Dragon Kingdom, personally presided over by Emperor Longwu!
"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

"The Emperor has arrived!!" After three sharp, clear sounds, a high-pitched yet loud voice rang out in the silent Fengtian Hall!

In an instant, everyone knew that the Dragon Emperor was about to make his appearance!
"Your Majesty, we, your humble servants, pay our respects."

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!" Upon hearing this familiar voice from the eunuch, everyone in the Fengtian Hall knew that their esteemed Emperor Longwu had arrived. Immediately, countless courtiers in the hall knelt respectfully on the ground, offering their knees to Emperor Longwu, who was clad in a crown and dragon robe!
Even the eldest prince, Zhu Qiyu, who followed Emperor Longwu onto the Sumeru Throne, bowed respectfully to his father, Emperor Longwu.

"My beloved ministers, rise!" After Zhu Zhanhe sat down on the tall dragon throne, he looked at his son who was bowing and standing beside him, and raised his hand to let the many ministers rise.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Upon hearing Emperor Longwu's voice, the assembled officials respectfully expressed their gratitude before rising to their feet.

At this moment, not a single official would cause trouble. After all, those almost harsh censors, while they dared not do anything to the mighty Emperor Longwu, were certainly very critical of them!
"Speak up if you have something to say!" At this moment, Xiao Xizi, who was standing at the edge of the Sumeru Throne, turned his head slightly to look at Emperor Longwu, and then shouted loudly to the ministers under the Sumeru Throne.

"Your Majesty, good news has arrived!" Following Xiao Xizi's voice, Grand Secretary Xia Yuanji immediately congratulated Emperor Longwu on the dragon throne.

"Grand Secretary Xia, what brings you this joy?" Zhu Zhanhe was familiar with the proceedings of this court assembly. Usually, important matters that had been communicated in advance were brought up specifically for this day. Therefore, Zhu Zhanhe responded appropriately.

"Your Majesty, good news has arrived from Korea: Grand Secretary Mu has already captured Gyeongju Prefecture in Korea!" Xia Yuanji stepped forward and first reported on the battle situation in Korea!

Okay!

The barbarians of Korea dared to kill my Dragon Kingdom's prince; their crime is unforgivable!

"This time, Minister Mu is personally leading the expedition to quell the rebellion! To inform the world!" Zhu Zhanhe echoed his father-in-law's words, relaying this message to the court. After all, countless people throughout the Dragon Kingdom now yearn to join the army and seize wealth and power!
Once this good news is relayed back, it will stabilize public morale and military morale to some extent!

"Your Majesty, the good news doesn't stop there!" At this moment, Chai Lan, the Minister of Rites, stepped forward and respectfully reported to Emperor Longwu.

"Oh~?

"The Ministry of Rites also has a surprise in store, tell me about it!" Zhu Zhanhe said to Chai Lan with great interest.

"Your Majesty, the first imperial examination of our Dragon Kingdom this year has been completed, and a total of 120 candidates have been selected! Please grant permission for the palace examination to be held today," Chai Lan respectfully reported to Emperor Longwu. The palace examination, the first since the founding of the Dragon Kingdom, will have 102 participants.

"Granted!" Zhu Zhanhe's eyes lit up with joy, and he agreed without hesitation. "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!" Chai Lan respectfully thanked Emperor Longwu before returning to the ranks.

"Your Majesty, I, the Minister of War, have something to report!" After Chai Lan finished speaking, Qian Guozhong, the Minister of War, stepped forward and reported to Emperor Longwu.

"Minister Qian, please speak!" Zhu Zhanhe gestured for Qian Guozhong to speak.

"Your Majesty, the first batch of 233 disciples of the Dragon Kingdom Martial Arts Academy are about to graduate."

"The Military Academy has selected the top twenty outstanding students to come and pay homage to His Majesty. They will also request His Majesty to conduct the palace examination!" Minister of War Qian Guozhong informed Emperor Longwu of the upcoming graduation of the students from the Military Academy.

Compared to the large number of students at the Imperial Academy, the first cohort of students at the Military Academy numbered only a little over two hundred. Left with no other option, Qian Guozhong could only select the twenty most outstanding students to come and pay homage to Emperor Longwu.

Okay!

Today is a day of great joy! The first batch of newly appointed scholars of our Dragon Kingdom will be taking the palace examination at the same time as the military scholars of the Academy of Military Sciences!

"This is truly a wonderful thing!" Zhu Zhanhe exclaimed happily upon hearing Qian Guozhong's words.

At this moment, Zhu Zhanhe was not worried at all about the small number of students at the Military Academy. What Zhu Zhanhe wanted was the current training system of the Military Academy! As long as the Military Academy formed a systematic approach to training soldiers, he would no longer worry about the decline of the military power of the nobility, leading to a weak military!

"Summon the candidates for the imperial examinations and the candidates for the military academy to pay homage to me!" Zhu Zhanhe immediately waved his hand, summoning all the princes from both the civil and military branches to come and pay their respects.

"Summon all candidates for the imperial examinations and candidates for the military academy to pay their respects!" Upon hearing his emperor's request, Xiao Xizi disregarded the thoughts of the officials present and immediately began to shout.

"Summon all candidates for the imperial examinations and candidates for the military academy to pay their respects!"

"Summon all candidates for the imperial examinations and candidates for the military academy to pay their respects!"

Xiao Xizi's voice, like a megaphone, was relayed layer by layer by the eunuchs standing outside the hall to the areas outside Fengtian Hall, until it reached the two groups of scholars standing at the palace gate.

One can tell from their appearance that all the scholars participating in the imperial examination were dressed in dark blue robes with wide but not tight sleeves, wearing wooden tablets, leather belts with blue leather straps, decorated with black horns, and with tails hanging down their backs. They were clearly elegant scholars of the Imperial Academy.
In contrast, another group of young people appeared much more monotonous. They were all dressed in the same simple bright red samurai outfit, without any accessories, with their hair tied up and crowns on, and sharp eyes. They were all full of vigor and it was clear at a glance that they were elite people with extraordinary skills!
What is most impressive is the discipline that emanates from these twenty students from the Military Academy!
Even now, with only twenty of them, standing in a simple line, anyone passing by would have their gaze firmly fixed on these twenty martial arts academy students! Because their figures were like sharp swords, firmly planted there!
These two groups of people were none other than the scholars from the Imperial Academy and the Military Academy.

Soon, through word of mouth among the eunuchs, the emperor's summons reached the scholars.

Immediately, the group of imperial princes lined up in two neat rows and walked orderly toward the Fengtian Hall.

In contrast to the students of the Imperial Academy, there were only twenty students in the Military Academy!
"Everyone has it!~"
Change formation, two rows advance side by side!

"Forward march!" A young man who had been standing at the very front of the students in the martial arts academy stepped forward, shouted loudly to the group of scholars, and then turned around and strode towards the Fengtian Hall.

"Thump thump thump~!!!" The sound of orderly footsteps echoed across the fields!
(End of this chapter)