Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

Huang Chao stood on the steps, carrying his tattered bundle, looking at the group of people expressionlessly.

"Gentlemen, whether you pass or fail is of little importance. As long as your ambition remains, you have not wasted your life as a scholar!"

After saying that, he tried to push through the crowd to leave.

The gong rang again.

The messenger, holding up a red banner announcing good news, shouted something at the top of his lungs at the crowd at the academy gate that left everyone speechless.

"Great news! Great news! The winner of this year's Enke High School Tournament is Huang Chao from Luming Academy!"

In an instant, the entire Luming Academy fell silent.

Even the firecrackers seemed to have gone silent.

Only the old cicadas, now in autumn, continue their incessant chirping.

Huiyuan? Huangchao?

How could these two words be combined?

Someone paused for a moment, then instinctively asked the messenger:

"But is it Huang Chao, who's 40 years old?"

"It's him! It's him! It's definitely him! Our champion is Huang Chao!"

boom!

Drums and gongs resounded, and firecrackers exploded!

Luming Academy won the top prize, something that hasn't happened in a long time.

This was a good thing for the academy, but those who ridiculed Huang Chao were all devastated.

Even Huang Chao found it hard to believe.

"The top scholar...it's the top scholar..."

"I've won the imperial examination with top honors..."

A forty-year-old man stood there, tears streaming down his face.

Scenes from my past life flashed through my mind.

Twenty years ago, he shouted to his parents and neighbors: "Don't underestimate a young man's potential!"

Twenty years later, he sneered at his classmate:

Don't underestimate the young!

He had just thought about it. When he returned to Luming Academy another day, he would reconcile with everyone and tell them:

Respect for the dead is paramount, so stop mocking them!

But now...

The enormous difference was too much for Huang Chao to bear.

He wanted to say something to vent his anger, but before he could finish, everything went black, and he blissfully fainted.

Pfft!

It fell straight down to the ground.

It took everyone a full three breaths to react.

"Quickly, fetch some water!"

"Pinch the philtrum!"

"Help! Save them!!"

However, at that moment, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the street corner again.

This time, it was the Embroidered Uniform Guard who came.

The horse didn't listen at all, and the Imperial Guards held up the bright yellow imperial edict and shouted:

"His Majesty has decreed that extraordinary measures must be taken in extraordinary times. The top one hundred candidates in this special imperial examination will be allowed to enter the palace for the final examination!"

After shouting three times, the Imperial Guards turned their horses around and headed to another location to read out the imperial edict.

The students looked at each other in bewilderment.

That's against the rules.

But now, in these turbulent times for the Great Yan Dynasty, who would dare to defy the imperial decree?

Immediately, the students who made it into the top 100 tidied themselves up and headed to the palace.

Huang Chao was woken up by his classmate, and upon hearing about the incident, he ran away as fast as he could.

They didn't even bother with their luggage.

......

One hundred students filed into the main hall.

At this moment, they were still immersed in the ecstasy of passing the imperial examination.

But the moment they stepped into the main hall, they were all dumbfounded.

Then came Emperor Chen Shao, the legendary Great Sage True Lord who could summon wind and rain.

He was standing at the top of the imperial steps, wearing heavy black iron armor, with the Emperor's Sword hanging at his waist and his helmet tucked under his arm.

There was no examination desk, no writing brushes or ink, and no examination questions on the classics.

Only civil and military officials and a hall full of solemn, armored soldiers remained.

The students knelt and bowed in awe, shouting "Long live the Emperor!"

Chen Shao did not tell them to rise.

His gaze swept across the young faces.

He then laughed and said:

Congratulations to all of you! After ten years of hard work, you have achieved your goal of passing the imperial examination.

"This is the honor you deserve. I am happy for you."

Then, the tone shifted:

"However, I did not invite you all here today to write eloquent articles."

"This great hall beneath your feet is not an examination hall today."

"The imperial examination system selects not only those who are good at studying, but also those who are willing to sacrifice themselves for the country and those who are willing to risk their lives for the well-being of the people."

"No matter how learned someone is, if they lack the heart to serve the people, even if they become an official, no matter how high their position, they are still..."

Chen Shao's tone suddenly turned cold.

"Useless!"

The students then realized that things were probably not so simple today.

This emperor is unpredictable; who knows what kind of trouble he'll cause next?

"Today is a day of great joy for you, but it is also a day of great fire and great disaster."

"I have just received a military report that the Yellow Turban rebels have already reached within a hundred miles of the capital. It will not be long before they besiege the city."

Upon hearing this, the entire hall erupted in uproar.

The civil and military officials were fine, after all, there had been many wars recently.

But some of these young students were so frightened that their legs went weak, and some even fainted.

Chen Shao waved his hand, and immediately the Imperial Guards dragged the man out.

"These records are on file, and they will never be hired again."

"Gentlemen, what is the purpose of becoming an official?"

Chen Shao suddenly looked at Han Cao.

"Your Excellency, please speak."

Han Cao cupped his hands in a respectful gesture and said solemnly:

"Serving the people!"

"Well said!"

Chen Shao nodded slightly, "As expected of the Prime Minister of our Great Yan, these words deserve a toast."

"These guys faint at the mere mention of war. What kind of officials are they? They're just here for pleasure, aren't they?"

"If any of you still have this kind of mentality, you'd better go home and sell sweet potatoes as soon as possible, or don't blame me for being merciless with my sword."

"The rest of you, listen up!"

"Today's palace examination will not test knowledge of the classics or policy essays."

"Your examination hall is on the city wall, and your examination papers are knives!"

"You will accompany me to the battlefield, and your performance will directly determine your ranking!"

"I call this palace examination 'Killing the Gallant'!"

"Everyone, take off your scholar's robes and put on military uniforms. Those who wish to take the exam, I will be waiting for you on the city wall."

After Chen Shao finished speaking, he turned and walked out of the main hall.

As he passed by Huang Chao, he nodded slightly to him.

Just then, a thought suddenly popped into my head.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, for completing the "Return to the Yellow Dynasty" mission and receiving an extra reward. Would you like to claim it?]

Eh?

Chen Shao thought to himself, Huang Chao is truly no ordinary person.

This can be done an extra time.

He didn't rush to draw the card, but instead looked at Huang Chao's panel.

Its ambition of 150 remains unchanged, but it has added one more.

Loyalty: 100!

Phew... Chen Shao finally breathed a sigh of relief; the great killing god had finally returned to his position.

"smoke!"

This scene depicts the story of Liu Bei's three visits to Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage.

Chen Shao became curious; it was a choice of four.

Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhuge Liang – whoever you draw seems pretty good.

Guan Yu was once a gold item.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have drawn a general card and obtained the entry: Brilliant Strategy! (Gold)]