Governing the country, enriching the people, an unparalleled imperial tutor

A notice from the Imperial Preceptor's office, "Imperial Preceptor Recruiting Generals," was posted throughout the four gates of the capital. The rules were simple and straightforward: no matter one's background or family history, as long as one had the ability and dared to fight, anyone could apply.

As soon as the news broke, the drill ground in the north of the city was packed to capacity, resembling a bustling market. Returning veterans, hunters from the deep mountains, wandering swordsmen, and retired border generals were all present, and even a few richly dressed young masters from noble families had slipped in, hoping to join the fun and gain some prestige by acquiring military officer status. In no time, the ground was a melting pot of all sorts of people.

Zhao Lingxi sat atop the command platform, her armor sharp and imposing, her face devoid of any smile, her coldness unapproachable. She oversaw the preliminary examination, her rules rigidly defined, showing no leniency: "First, we'll test archery. Anyone who misses the bullseye is immediately eliminated. On the battlefield, the enemy won't wait for you to warm up, nor will they give you a second chance."

This preliminary test, ostensibly a martial arts competition to select generals, was actually a non-stop laugh-out-loud affair, with one major blunder after another unfolding.

The first to step up was the hunter Meng Shan, a burly and muscular man with a rugged appearance, but whose skill was truly exceptional. He drew his homemade longbow and fired three arrows in quick succession, each hitting the bullseye. The final arrow, in particular, precisely pierced the gap between the first two arrows, striking the bullseye. This display of skill immediately stunned the entire audience, and he passed the challenge without a doubt.

The second young master in brocade robes was far more outrageous. Dressed in a long silk robe and carrying a sword inlaid with gold and jade, he put on an air of importance, even striking a pose while drawing his bow, like a theatrical performer putting on a show. However, despite his elaborate posture, the arrow flew off course, barely landing on the wooden frame outside the target, without even touching the edge.

The young master, utterly humiliated, hurriedly protested, "I haven't even warmed up yet, it doesn't count!"

Zhao Lingxi didn't even look up, her calm retort leaving him speechless: "In a battle between two armies, do you think the enemy will wait for you to finish warming up before making their move? Next."

"My uncle is a respected elder in the previous village; please, give me another chance!"

The onlookers all lowered their heads, trying not to laugh, their shoulders shaking uncontrollably. The young master in brocade robes blushed crimson, and amidst the mocking gazes of the crowd, he slunk away, making a pathetic exit.

The third fighter, a seasoned swordsman, boasted of twenty years of experience, claiming to be adept at bandit suppression and robbery. He immediately drew his swords and demonstrated his skills, his blade flashing with power, cleaving a straw dummy in two with a single blow, sending wood chips flying. He seemed to be at the peak of his fighting prowess. But his impressive display lasted only a moment; once he mounted his horse, his true abilities were completely exposed.

His horsemanship was abysmal; he had absolutely no idea how to control a horse, managing to make a docile warhorse buck and kick wildly, nearly throwing him to the ground. Zhao Lingxi immediately questioned his shortcomings, but the man remained completely unfazed, simply resigning himself to his fate: "I don't ride horses! Foot combat is my forte; riding a horse would only hinder my fighting!"

Zhao Lingxi had never seen such a bizarre general before, one who was "good at fighting but bad at controlling a horse." His lips twitched involuntarily, and he shook his head helplessly to let him pass. The crowd below the stage laughed so hard they couldn't stand up straight, secretly thinking that this wasn't recruiting a border general, but rather a group of good-for-nothing martial arts masters.

After two days of preliminary testing, more than two hundred applicants were narrowed down to just over thirty skilled individuals. These people each possessed unique strengths in martial arts, but their character and moral integrity remained completely unreadable. Zhao Lingxi excelled at battlefield combat and assessing skill, but was less adept at understanding human nature. She simply handed the roster to Lin Yanzhou: "These people are all capable fighters, but their hearts are hard to fathom. You'll be in charge of the final test."

The rules for the final examination at the Imperial Preceptor's Mansion were exceptionally humane; no kneeling was required, and interviews could begin immediately upon sitting down. What appeared to be a casual conversation was, in reality, the most ruthless selection process—Lin Yanzhou's mind-reading ability allowed him to see through everyone's selfish thoughts and desires.

Meng Shan, the first to be interviewed, appeared honest and taciturn, but his heart was even purer and more innocent. He joined the army not for fame or salary, but for his father, who had been killed by bandits two years prior. He only wanted to hone his skills, guard the border, wipe out the invading bandits, and protect the peace of the local people. With his sincere heart and top-notch archery skills, Lin Yanzhou immediately appointed him as his deputy general, tasked with training an elite archer unit.

Then came the lame Zhao Jiu, whose resume was unremarkable, and who had even been imprisoned for fighting. Seemingly unremarkable, he possessed a unique skill—analyzing military intelligence by observing horse hoof prints. Simply by examining the wear and tear on a horse's hooves, he could accurately determine the distance a horse had traveled, the road conditions it had encountered, and even detect hidden ailments. He was an extremely rare logistical talent in the army. His past imprisonment was solely for protecting the caravan's goods; he was principled, upright, and honest. Lin Yanzhou greatly appreciated him and directly appointed him to oversee the entire army's horse deployment.

Qian Dayong, the martial arts instructor, was honest and steady, with an exceptionally clear understanding of how to lead troops. In his view, the new recruits' fear of battle was never due to cowardice, but rather a lack of understanding of why they were fighting. As long as the soldiers understood that going into battle to fight the enemy was to protect their families and homeland, everyone was ready to fight to the death. He had no intention of taking shortcuts; he only wanted to steadily train a new army of soldiers who could fight and were willing to risk their lives. Lin Yanzhou then appointed him as the chief training instructor for the entire army.

The veterans of the beacon towers, the horseback archers, and the silent scouts who were interviewed later were all skilled, pure-hearted, and pragmatic individuals. In contrast, the few scions of noble families who had managed to make it to the final exam were restless and sweaty throughout the process, afraid of saying too much and making a mistake that would expose their shortcomings. Their restrained and comical appearance was particularly noticeable.

The biggest reversal of the day came with Sun Hongyi, a border general with a flawless resume. He had guarded the pass for six years, winning all three battles. His resume was impressive, his speech was proper, and his demeanor was loyal. Everyone was certain that he would be given an important position.

Lin Yanzhou saw it all clearly: this man was a bureaucrat at heart. For six years, he guarded the pass, only daring to defend passively, never daring to actively pursue and wipe out the remaining enemy forces. He only sought to avoid mistakes, not to achieve merit. His mind was never on protecting the country, but entirely on cultivating connections and scheming for promotion.

Lin Yanzhou immediately declared him eliminated. Sun Hongyi was stunned, his face filled with disbelief. He couldn't understand how he, a dignified border general with a perfect resume, could be inferior to a grassroots soldier who had only worked in hunting grounds, horse racing fields, and martial arts schools. Filled with resentment and unable to refute, he could only leave dejectedly, his back view an indescribably comical and awkward sight.

Cao Mo, the scout interviewed last, was the most ruthless and unique person among this group. His resume was unremarkable, and he had even been demoted and dismissed for contradicting his superior. Despite his apparent flaws, he was actually upright, insightful, and far-sighted. Earlier, he had discovered the planned ambush of two thousand Northern Di cavalry and risked his life to warn them, only to have his superiors ignore the warning, ultimately leading to the burning of the border supply lines and the destruction of military provisions. Even after being unjustly demoted and taking the blame for others, his heart remained with the safety of the border, without a trace of resentment or bitterness.

Lin Yanzhou recognized his talent and promoted him to the position of head of the scouts, granting him special authority: all reconnaissance intelligence could be reported directly to him without any intermediaries or interception.

The day's final exams concluded, and all the talented individuals from humble backgrounds returned to their positions. Looking at the list of successful candidates in her hand, Zhao Lingxi sighed sincerely, "You never look at resumes or backgrounds when selecting people; I truly cannot understand your selection criteria."

Lin Yanzhou smiled faintly: "On the battlefield, those who are clever only know how to protect themselves, while only honest people who have their country and people in their hearts are willing to fight to the death. What I want is someone who can protect the land of Xuan Shuo."

The news of the Imperial Advisor's recruitment drive caused a sensation in the capital. The news that the first day would see the selection of capable officials from humble backgrounds while weeding out those with gilded credentials spread far and wide, and the number of applicants doubled on the second day. Some shrewd individuals, like foxes, had already learned the rules: the Imperial Advisor didn't consider family background or resume, and despised hypocrisy, only treating those with genuine sincerity. This led to the change in the number of applicants on the second day.