The Great Song Dynasty: You were put in charge of teaching, and you produced a whole bunch of prime

The Battle of Fanlou made Jingshi Academy a household name.

If the academy was only "somewhat famous" before, it is now the "top-tier" academy in Bianjing.

At the entrance of Jingshi Academy, a long queue formed early in the morning, winding and stretching as far as the eye could see.

The servants were so busy they barely had time to breathe; they wore out more than a dozen brushes on the register.

Qian Duoduo stood at the door, looking at the sea of ​​black heads, his fat body trembling, feeling both excited and worried.

He wiped the sweat from his brow and shouted towards the second floor:

"Sir! This...this is far too many people! A rough count suggests over three hundred! Even if we cleared out the pigsties, our academy's dormitories wouldn't be enough!"

Jiang Lin stood by the second-floor window, holding a folding fan.

Looking at the heads below, eager for knowledge (or rather, eager for fame and fortune), he remained calm, with even a faint smile playing on his lips.

"What's the panic?"

Jiang Lin gently waved his folding fan, his tone leisurely:

"The quality of an army is not its quantity, but its strategy; the strength of a general lies not in his bravery."

"Not enough room? Then we'll thoroughly scavenge!"

Qian Duoduo was taken aback: "Screening? How do we screen them? These are all people who paid the registration fee..."

Jiang Lin glanced at him and revealed a smile that sent chills down Qian Duoduo's spine: "The headmaster has his own brilliant plan."

At the front of the group, a few young people exuded a distinct aura.

At the very front of the line was a young man in his early twenties. He had sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a high nose bridge; he was like a drawn sword, exuding an aura of intimidation that kept strangers at bay.

A scholar nearby tried to strike up a conversation: "Brother, are you also here to register? May I ask your esteemed name?"

The young man glanced at him coldly and uttered two words:

"nonsense."

The scholar choked on his words, his face turning pale, and he awkwardly shut his mouth.

This young man was none other than Zhang Dun, a notoriously ruthless man in history.

Not far behind Zhang Dun, a strange person was squatting.

The man was holding a twig and drawing on the muddy ground while muttering to himself.

"Brother Shen, are you drawing a talisman?" someone asked curiously, peeking over.

Shen Kuo didn't even raise his head, and slashed the ground heavily with the dry branch in his hand:

"...Three hundred and twelve people. At this rate, it will take another two hours before it's our turn."

He casually tossed the branch aside, his tone as calm as if he were reciting a mantra:

"I suggest you buy a sesame seed cake, otherwise there's a 90% chance you'll faint from hunger later."

Those around him exchanged bewildered glances, thinking that this person had probably gone mad from reading too much.

In the middle of the line, a burly man stood out.

Although he was wearing an ill-fitting scholar's robe, his back was ramrod straight like a javelin, and his hands were covered in calluses, clearly indicating that he was used to wielding swords and spears.

"Wang Shao?" Someone recognized him. "Weren't you training in the Northwest Frontier Army? Why are you here taking the academy entrance exam?"

Wang Shao said in a muffled voice, "Those old hands in the army are boring. I heard that Mr. Jiang teaches real skills, so I've come to see if this 'practical application' can be used in war."

……

"Name?"

At the registration desk, Qian Duoduo was fiddling with her abacus, not even looking up.

"Liu An".

"Snapped!"

A young man dressed in brocade robes and with a jade pendant at his waist slammed his folding fan heavily on the table, his chin held high:

"My father, Minister Liu, the Vice Minister of Works! Please write this down, when it comes time to assign classes—"

"Oh my goodness! My little darling!"

Qian Duoduo suddenly raised her head, and her round, chubby face instantly filled with a bright smile, her face so fleshy that her eyes were squeezed into slits.

Instead of being angry, he reached out his chubby hand with a pained expression and gently stroked the spot where he had been patted.

"Please be gentle! This is a fine huanghuali wood table. If you break it... won't your hand hurt? Would you like me to blow on it for you?"

Liu An was taken aback by this sudden enthusiasm, then smugly snorted:

"You're a smart servant. Now that you know my father is the Vice Minister of Works, why don't you hurry up and arrange something for me—"

"Yes, yes, yes, the Vice Minister of Works, that's a very high-ranking official!"

Qian Duoduo smiled even more sweetly, her eyes narrowing into crescent moons, her tone gentle as if she were coaxing a child:

"However, Young Master Liu, we have an unwritten little rule here."

Liu An frowned: "What rules?"

Qian Duoduo leaned closer, lowered her voice, and said with a smile:

"Mr. Jiang said that the feng shui of Jingshi Academy is a bit strange. It only recognizes people, not their fathers."

"If you want to rely on your talent, you're welcome; if you want to rely on your family connections..."

He paused for a moment, his smile still endearing and even carrying a hint of well-intentioned advice:

"Then please turn left and return to your residence. After all, your father's official prestige is too great, and our small temple... is afraid we can't afford to support him. If he were to collapse under the weight, you would have to pay compensation, which would be a huge loss."

Liu An's face instantly turned bright red: "You...you dare to tease this young master?!"

"No, no, harmony brings wealth."

Qian Duoduo smiled and pointed to the people queuing behind her, her tone gentle yet authoritative:

"It's just that your presence here is blocking the way, delaying those who are paying registration fees... oh no, delaying those who are trying to get into school. That would be a huge offense. Don't you think so?"

Liu An's face turned bright red, and he was about to lash out when a hand suddenly reached out from behind him and shoved him aside like a chick.

"What are you dawdling about?"

Zhang Dun, standing behind him, stared at him coldly, his eyes as sharp as a hawk's:

"Didn't you hear me? We don't accept overgrown children here. If you want milk, go home."

Liu An was trembling with rage, but seeing Zhang Dun's murderous look, he didn't dare utter a sound and could only slink away, covering his face in shame.

A low chuckle broke out from the crowd.

At the very end of the line, a "handsome young man" dressed in a blue cloth robe was bowing his head, trying to shrink himself into the crowd.

He deliberately smeared some ash on his face, and his hair was casually tied up with a wooden hairpin, making him look like someone from a poor, humble family.

It was Princess Yongjia, Zhao Lingjun, who was disguised as a man.

Behind her followed her personal maid, Xiao Shuang, who was also dressed in men's clothing.

"Your Highness," Xiao Shuang said in a low voice, her palms sweating nervously, "Do we really have to sneak in? If we're recognized, the Emperor will skin me alive..."

The princess glared at her fiercely:

"So what if they recognize me? At worst... at worst I'll just say I'm on an incognito visit to observe the people's conditions!"

"But young master, you haven't even written any essays on classical texts or policy proposals, how will you pass this exam..."

"Who said there would be a test on classical texts and policy essays?"

The princess snorted, her eyes gleaming with excitement:

"You went to the competition at Fanlou too. Mr. Jiang tested us on 'practical application of knowledge.' I refuse to believe that someone as clever as me would lose to these bookworms!"

It was finally her turn.

"Name?"

"Zhao Ling." The princess tried to make her voice sound a little rougher.

"Place of origin?"

"Kaifeng Prefecture".

Qian Duoduo paused, pen in hand: "Where exactly?"

The princess's heart tightened, and her eyes darted around: "It's... just a small, insignificant family in the south of Kaifeng. You wouldn't know even if I told you."

Qian Duoduo looked at her suspiciously. Although this "young man" was dressed in shabby clothes, his skin was as white as a peeled egg, and he had a faint fragrance about him.

But he didn't ask any more questions and wrote the three characters "Kaifeng Prefecture" on the booklet.

From behind the second-floor window, Jiang Lin's gaze swept back and forth across the crowd like a searchlight.

Su Shi leaned closer, looking curious: "Sir, with so many people, how many do you plan to take?"

"How much to charge? Don't ask me, you have to ask them."

Su Shi was taken aback: "Huh?"

"If it's scrap metal, I'd rather take up space than give you just one; but if it's real gold, I'd take three hundred of them."

His gaze lingered on the group of people for a moment.

Zhang Dun, who would later become the ruthless prime minister, decisive in his actions and feared by the old party.

It is a peerless, deadly blade. It must be honed fiercely before it can be used to my advantage.

Shen Kuo, a master of astronomy and geography who was ahead of his time.

This is a priceless treasure. We must not let him waste his brain on rigid, formulaic writing; he must be protected by our ancestors.

Wang Shao would later become a brilliant strategist who led his troops deep into enemy territory and expanded the frontiers.

The bones are too hard. This spear must be pointed in the right direction, straight at Liaoxia.

Finally, his gaze fell on Zhao Lingjun, who was covered in dust and dirt at the end of the line.

"what?"

Jiang Lin raised an eyebrow slightly.

"What are you looking at, sir?" Su Shi followed his gaze.

"That kid named Zhao Ling... he's interesting."

Jiang Lin folded his folding fan, seemingly lost in thought:

"Look at the way he walks. His back is too straight, his steps are too steady, and he subconsciously avoids dirty things on the ground."

"He doesn't seem like a poor scholar; he seems more like... someone who was waited on hand and foot since childhood."

Su Shi narrowed his eyes: "Sir, you mean... he's a son of a powerful family in disguise?"

"No matter who he is."

Jiang Lin turned and walked towards the study, a playful smile curving his lips:

"Tomorrow's entrance exam... let's see if I can come back alive."