I'll steal Gao Qiu's life and lead the Song Dynasty to prosperity.

There are still seven or eight days until the private test this month.

In the dormitories, under the corridors, and even outside the restaurants, you could see students holding books and reciting scriptures everywhere.

Some people frowned, flipping back and forth between the "New Interpretation of the Three Classics" and the old commentaries; others were writing furiously at their desks, simulating possible policy essay questions.

Some people huddled together, whispering and trying to glean clues from the doctoral and academic records.

"Have you heard? The other day, the professor was lecturing on the 'Rites of Zhou,' and he spent half the class on 'the system of the treasury.' Could it be that the exam questions are going to focus on the market exchange law?"

"When Gong Siyue inspected the area yesterday, he brought up practical matters several times again. His policy essays are probably going to be about current affairs; the Market Regulation Law has been in effect for many years, what's there to discuss?"

"Is it going to be a test on the Northwest War?"

"Hush! Matters of national importance are not for us to discuss recklessly. In my opinion, we should just praise the new laws; that can't be wrong."

Similar murmurs rose and fell throughout the various dormitories.

Most people are like headless flies, preparing for all possible directions, but still feeling uncertain.

The Imperial Academy's exam questions were always unpredictable and unpredictable.

Last time, the policy essay question tested the well-field system in Mencius, and the time before that, it tested the two-tax system of the Tang Dynasty. I couldn't grasp the pattern at all.

Despite the tense atmosphere before the exam, one person remained relaxed.

Zhao Mingcheng was just strolling out of his study.

He had two books tucked under his arm, and a ball spun steadily on his right index finger.

It's like spinning a basketball.

This tactic would be common in later generations, but it was quite novel at this time.

This immediately drew the attention of passing classmates.

"Brother Mingcheng, what's wrong with you...?"

An unfamiliar student couldn't help but speak, his eyes fixed on the constantly spinning ball.

"Move around a bit, otherwise your back will ache from sitting for too long."

Zhao Mingcheng laughed, then flicked his wrist, the ball jumped from his fingertips, landed on the instep, and with a gentle bounce, the ball leaped over his shoulder and was caught steadily with the back of his neck.

The student stared in disbelief for a long time before finally speaking.

"But... but the exam is in a few days..."

"I've seen everything I needed to see, and I've thought about everything I needed to think about." Zhao Mingcheng used his shoulder to lift the ball and caught it casually.

"Haste makes waste, so why not just relax a bit, right?"

As Zhao Mingcheng spoke, he headed the ball toward the football field, his steps light and quick, humming an unknown tune.

Compared to my classmates who had such furrowed brows that they could trap a mosquito between their brows, I felt like I belonged to a completely different world.

Zhao Mingcheng wasn't faking it; he was genuinely relaxed.

He may not know all the details of the court affairs, border affairs, and the implementation of new policies during the Yuanfu era, but he certainly knew more than most people of that time.

The upcoming private examination for the Imperial Academy was not a problem for him.

Zhao Mingcheng already had a clue what kind of questions would be asked.

It is now May of the second year of Yuanfu, a critical juncture in the war in Huangzhou.

Therefore, this month's policy discussion topic is very likely to focus on "practical matters," and it is very likely to be practical matters such as the Northwest land reclamation, the performance evaluation of officials, and the effectiveness of the new laws.

This is not only based on his understanding of history, but also on Zhao Mingcheng's understanding of Emperor Zhezong of Song, a tragic figure in the Song Dynasty.

The strategy wasn't difficult; what Zhao Mingcheng found truly challenging was how to maintain his studies while continuing to improve his Cuju (ancient Chinese football) skills.

Furthermore, she also needed to find time to continue studying epigraphy, while simultaneously maintaining her relationship with Emperor Huizong.

It's no exaggeration to say that this is more important than exams.

"I need to practice some new fancy moves today," Zhao Mingcheng thought to himself.

As I walked, I bumped into an acquaintance just after passing a grove of bamboo.

Li Jiong was coming from another path, carrying a stack of books in his arms. He was walking hurriedly, muttering to himself with his head down, and almost bumped into Zhao Mingcheng.

"Brother Li, watch out." Zhao Mingcheng dodged to the side, but the ball in his hand lost its balance due to the movement and was about to fall to the ground.

He flicked the ball with his toe, sending it flying again, where it landed steadily in the crook of his elbow.

Li Jiong then looked up and saw that it was Zhao Mingcheng. He breathed a sigh of relief, but when he saw the ball in the crook of Zhao's elbow, he frowned again.

"Brother Mingcheng, what time is it? Why are you still..."

"Still playing Cuju?" Zhao Mingcheng replied with a smile.

"This is precisely the time to focus on playing football. If you're too tense, you won't be able to think clearly. Come on, shall we go stretch our legs?"

"Alas, I'm not afraid of being laughed at by Brother Mingcheng."

Li Jiong smiled wryly and patted the book in his arms.

"I haven't even fully grasped the 'New Interpretation of the Three Classics' yet. These past few days, I've been flipping through the sections on food and goods and official positions in the 'Comprehensive Institutions.' The more I read, the more confused I get. I have absolutely no idea what the policy questions will be. How can I possibly have time to play football?"

Zhao Mingcheng sized up his brother-in-law in front of him.

Li Jiong looked pitiful, with dark circles under his eyes, clearly having stayed up all night, and his lips were a little dry.

Zhao Mingcheng thought to himself that this child must have suffered a lot while preparing for the exam recently.

You may put in a lot of effort, but if you're working in the wrong direction, all your hard work will be in vain.

"Brother Li," Zhao Mingcheng suddenly said, "preparing for the exam like this will only exhaust you and prevent you from doing well."

Li Jiong was taken aback: "Brother Mingcheng, what makes you say that?"

Seeing Li Jiong's distressed expression, Zhao Mingcheng decided to give him some pointers.

With no one in the corridor, Zhao Mingcheng lowered his voice and spoke to him.

"Brother Li, let me ask you, a few days ago, the Chongzheng Hall issued an imperial edict to the Imperial Academy, ordering Chancellor Ye and Vice-Chancellor Gong to hold a closed-door meeting. What was the purpose of this?"

"Naturally, it's for the private exam questions," Li Jiong said. "But what exactly will be on them, who knows?"

Zhao Mingcheng patiently guided him.

"The specific topic is uncertain, but we can always guess the direction."

"The imperial decree represents the Emperor's will. What do you think was the Emperor's biggest concern during your recent audience with Minister Zhang?"

Li Jiong thought for a moment and said uncertainly.

"Northwest...war?"

"Yes, but not entirely," Zhao Mingcheng said.

"What worries the emperor is the practicalities of the military-agricultural settlements in the northwest, especially the problems of officials making false reports and lax performance evaluations."

"Think about it, what does the Emperor care about most? It's that 'carrying on Emperor Shenzong's will' cannot just remain lip service; it must have real results. Therefore, this policy essay topic will most likely focus on practical matters, and it's very likely to be about things like land reclamation, performance evaluation, and the effectiveness of the new laws."

Li Jiong's eyes lit up, but then dimmed again.

"Brother Mingcheng, even if you know this, so what? I know nothing about the situation in the Northwest, let alone about land reclamation and performance evaluation. Do you think I'm just writing nonsense?"

"That's why you need to use your brain." Zhao Mingcheng leaned closer, his voice even lower.

"Brother Li, you don't need to cover everything in your answer. Just focus on three points. First, praise the new policies and the current emperor's ambition to continue the legacy. This is fundamental. The tone must be correct and lofty."

"Second, point out the real problems in practice. For example, with land reclamation, you can say, 'Reclaiming wasteland is not difficult, but it is difficult to reclaim it and then defend it, and defend it and then make it abundant.' You can also mention the rectification of officialdom in passing."

"Third, suggestions must be specific and based on evidence, and they must end by emphasizing that 'this is an important task to fulfill Emperor Shenzong's legacy and secure the borders and the people.' You know, the Emperor likes this kind of thing."

Zhao Mingcheng finished speaking in one breath, and Li Jiong was stunned.

This line of thinking... is so clear.

Moreover, every sentence was reasonable, in line with the court's direction, and showed insight and was not empty talk.

"Brother Mingcheng, you…" Li Jiong swallowed hard. "Where did you come up with all this?"

Zhao Mingcheng chuckled.

"Just some random thoughts, but Brother Li, there's something I need to remind you: when answering questions, you must maintain a firm stance."

"I know your uncle is a member of the old party, but after you submitted your policy essay, the examiners were Ye Jijiu and Gong Siye, who are the Iron-Willed New Party."

"If you reveal even the slightest pro-establishment bias in your policy essay, no matter how well-written it is, it will still be considered inferior."

Li Jiong's face turned pale.

This is what he fears most.

He was not only afraid of failing the exam, but also afraid of being scolded by his uncle.

His uncle, Li Gefei, was a former official of the Yuanyou era and a member of the Su School. Politically, he always belonged to the old faction.

If I were to write a long essay on the benefits of the new law, and my uncle asked about the exam when I returned home on my day off, how would I explain it?

"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Mingcheng. I... I certainly know." Li Jiong's voice was a little dry. "But if my uncle asks about my policy proposals later..."

Zhao Mingcheng waved his hand.

"What's so difficult about that? Just tell your uncle that the Imperial Academy's private examination tests knowledge and writing skills, not whether you're taking sides in the court."

"You said you praised the new policies and discussed practical matters when answering the questions, because that's what the questions were about; that's called addressing the question directly. Besides..." Zhao Mingcheng blinked.

"Your uncle has been an official for many years. Doesn't he know the current political climate in the court? If you really ask him, you can ask him: 'If you were in my position, how would you answer?' I guarantee he won't say another word."

Li Jiong was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing.

"Pfft... Brother Mingcheng, you, you..." He pointed at Zhao Mingcheng, his shoulders shaking with laughter, "This is clearly playing tricks!"

"Can a scholar's actions be called being cunning?"

Zhao Mingcheng was very serious.

"We call this assessing the situation. Besides, do you really think the new laws are completely useless? The Exemption from Service Law, the Market Regulation Law, and the Green Sprouts Law—haven't they brought any benefits after all these years of implementation? The expansion into the northwest and the victory in the Huangzhou campaign—wasn't that an advantage for our Great Song Dynasty?"

Li Jiong stopped laughing.

He paused for a moment, then said in a low voice.

"Actually... I've read my uncle's early articles on the New Policies. He also said that Wang Anshi's reforms were well-intentioned, but they were implemented too hastily and the personnel were too diverse, which led to many problems. Abolishing them all during the Yuan You era was indeed excessive. It's just that he can't say these things now."

"That's right, Brother Li, that's the correct way to think about it."

Zhao Mingcheng patted Li Jiong on the shoulder.

"Nothing in this world is simply black and white. New laws and old laws each have their advantages and disadvantages. As scholars, we must avoid blindly following others."

"Take this opportunity to articulate your true thoughts in detail. As long as your arguments are sound and your points are substantial, even if you say something out of the ordinary, as long as it doesn't violate any taboos, it will actually make you seem insightful."

These words struck a chord with Li Jiong.

He nodded emphatically, and the stack of books in his arms seemed less heavy.

"Thank you for your guidance, Brother Mingcheng." He bowed respectfully. "A single conversation with you is worth more than ten years of study."

"Don't be so polite." Zhao Mingcheng tossed the ball to him. "Come on, let's play soccer. You can only concentrate on your studies when your mind is clear."

Li Jiong took the ball, hesitated for a moment, and then suddenly smiled.

"good!"

The two walked side by side toward the football field.

Upon arriving at the Cuju field, Li Jiong followed Zhao Mingcheng's example and warmed up.

Li Jiong also played Cuju (ancient Chinese football) on a regular basis, but mostly just for fun and never seriously practiced it.

Watching Zhao Mingcheng juggle, stop, turn, and dribble the ball with such fluid movements, it was as if the ball was attached to his feet. I felt both admiration and envy.

"Brother Mingcheng, how did you train your ball skills?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Nothing special, just practice makes perfect."

Zhao Mingcheng kicked the ball to him.

"However, there are some tips. For example, when stopping the ball, don't force it, but let the momentum carry you; when dribbling, don't just keep your eyes on the ball, look around the field; shooting isn't just about strength, use your waist and abdomen, and control your ankles..."

He explained and demonstrated at the same time.

Li Jiong followed along and learned. At first, he was clumsy, but Zhao Mingcheng taught him patiently, and before long he had grasped the basics.

The two sparred for a while, and both were covered in sweat.

Li Jiong was panting, but his face was full of a hearty smile.

"That was truly exhilarating! Much more enjoyable than being cooped up in the dormitory studying!"

"Right?" Zhao Mingcheng wiped his face with a towel.

"You need to concentrate on your studies, but you can't just study blindly. You need to relax when it's time to relax; if you stretch the string too tight, it will break."

As dusk deepened, the others gradually dispersed, and Zhao Mingcheng and Li Jiong also packed up their things and headed back.

"Brother Mingcheng," Li Jiong suddenly said, "thank you very much today, not only for the football, but also for your words. Now I have a clearer understanding."

"It's good to have a good understanding," Zhao Mingcheng said with a smile.

"Actually, private exams aren't that scary. We've studied hard for years, and we all have the knowledge. What we lack is just the right direction. Once we're on the right track, everything will fall into place."

"And what direction is Brother Mingcheng heading?" Li Jiong looked at him earnestly.

"From what I've observed, Brother Mingcheng, you don't seem particularly enthusiastic about pursuing an official career or achieving fame?"

Zhao Mingcheng gazed at the distant horizon, seemingly looking at something, and spoke slowly.

"Fame and honor are certainly desirable, but the purpose of pursuing them is not to bring glory to one's ancestors, nor to live a life of luxury."

"Instead, I was thinking... since we have studied the classics, we should do something. There are so many things to do and so many things we should do in this world and in the Song Dynasty. These are things that we scholars should pay attention to."

Seeing Zhao Mingcheng's suddenly serious expression, Li Jiong remained silent for a long time before nodding emphatically.

"Brother Mingcheng is a man of great ambition."

Zhao Mingcheng responded with a smile.

"I wouldn't call it lofty ambition, but I just can't bear to see the people of my Great Song Dynasty suffer. Let's go, Brother Li, it's time to return to our quarters."

After saying that, Zhao Mingcheng juggled the ball as he walked, while Li Jiong helped carry the book, and the two went back together.