Chapter 453: Chapter 453. Top Three
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Qing’er, you also know these eight-legged writings?”
Xiao Zeyu smiled as he raised his head. He had been marking the exam papers the entire night, and Qing’er hadn’t said anything. It seemed that Qing’er had good taste. One must know that these eight-legged essays were very dull, and ordinary women couldn’t read them at all.
“1 think this writing is not bad and has a strong style. Presumably, the examinee should be a person with ambition.”
Su Qing smiled. She only spoke of her feelings. As for what the eight-part essay was? She had no idea.
“Ha, indeed, the words are like the person. Qing’er has seen this candidate before.”
Xiao Zeyu smiled and nodded. This was the Qing’er he was familiar with. He deliberately kept Su Qing guessing.
Xiao Zeyu thought that Su Qing would have to guess for a while. He didn’t expect her to be so bright that she could guess who it was.
“That Chen Qingzhou?”
“Qing’er is amazing. That’s right, it’s him.”
Xiao Zeyu stared at Su Qing in surprise. His Qing’er was the most intelligent woman in the world. His guess was correct.
“His handwriting is good, and his literary talent is also first-cla.s.s. He has great ambitions and a genius who can govern the country. 1 can rest a.s.sured if 1 hand Jin City over to him.”
Xiao Zeyu’s evaluation of Chen Qingzhou was high. It could be seen how much he liked this person.
“That’s good. Let him take care of Jin City and take down Luo City.”
Su Qing had always been thinking about attacking Luo City. During this time, she went to the iron mine. Xiao Zeyu’s traps were very good. The Wan Family Army had been wandering the mountains for many days but couldn’t find the iron mine. She happened to run into them and sent them to the King of h.e.l.l.
The iron mine was safe for now, but it was only temporary. They had to take down Luo City as soon as possible, then they would be completely secure.
“Qing’er, come here.”
Xiao Zeyu pulled Su Qing to sit on his lap, his arms wrapped around her soft and fragrant body. His face was filled with joy.
“1 have good news for you. Unlike the literature examination, the recruitment of the Xiao Family Army is unusually hot. In the past three days, more than a thousand people have signed up to join the army. I am still in the process of selecting suitable generals among these people. I believe that in a few days, there will be more than two thousand people who will come to sign up. Our team will be expanded, and it will be only a matter of time before we conquer Luo City.”
Xiao Zeyu was happy. He had obtained a peerless genius, and Chen Qingzhou’s result had exceeded his expectations. Everything was going too smoothly.
“Very good.”
Su Qing looked at the high-spirited and energetic Xiao Zeyu and was happy.
As expected, they couldn’t be beaten pa.s.sively. Only when they started fighting and defeated the Wan Family Army to let the commoners see the power of the Xiao Family Army would they dare to join the army.
“Out of the eleven candidates who came to take the winter test this time, three had mediocre apt.i.tudes, while the other eight were pretty good.”
Xiao Zeyu told Su Qing that he was in urgent need of talent. As long as there was courage and talent, he would want to keep them.
“You’re staying?”
Su Qing asked with a smile.
“That’s right. I’m planning to keep them. Jingshi Dao still has the Zhizhou sent by the imperial court. I’m planning to replace him. We can’t keep the officials of the imperial court in our territory. Also, we’re about to take down Luo City, so we need a new Zhizhou there.”
Xiao Zeyu pointed at Song Fu’s test paper. According to the imperial court’s examination system, this person should be the top candidate and could be sent to Luo City as the Zhizhou. The third place, Zhang Jinglin, could be sent to Jingshi Dao as the Zhizhou. Currently, he only has these three positions. The remaining few could first serve in the Yamen and be promoted when there was a position.
“You just have to do what you want.”
Su Qing was not interested in these official appointments. She was only interested in fighting. The sooner the Wan family army was defeated, the sooner she and Shui Sheng could realize their wishes.
The top three had been chosen. Xiao Zeyu was not the Emperor yet, so he could not use the names of the top three, which the royal family used. He used the names of Qingyun, Zhengzheng, and Yuyue to represent the first, second, and third places.
After selecting the top three, he first ordered people to investigate the backgrounds of these people. After confirming that they were not spies of the Imperial Court, he sent people to deliver the good news.
When he summoned the three of them to the government office, Chen Qingzhou was so excited that he couldn’t sleep the entire night. He had been a scholar for ten years, and he had partic.i.p.ated in the autumn examinations three times, but he hadn’t even pa.s.sed the imperial examinations. He had always been unappreciated until he met Xiao Zeyu at the teahouse. He felt excited and thought the time had come for him to realize his ambition.
Xiao Zeyu saw the high-spirited Chen Qingzhou and Song Fu at the Yamen, but he didn’t see the third place, Zhang Jinglin.
Xiao Zeyu felt a little regretful. He was an ambitious person, but he was narrow-minded and capricious.
Since he didn’t care about the third place, he forgot it. He would promote Wu Xiangyang, who was in fourth place, to third place.
Xiao Zeyu didn’t dwell on Zhang Jinglin’s matter. He looked at Chen Qingzhou and asked,
“Chen Qingzhou, I want to appoint you as the Zhizhou of Jin City. Do you accept?”
He had talent and also had courage. Now that he wasn’t the Emperor, let’s see if he dared to be a Zhizhou.
“I accept. Thank you for your promotion, Young Master. I will do my best and not dare to slack off. 1 will prosper Jin City and benefit the people.”
He was very excited when Chen Qingzhou heard that Xiao Zeyu wanted him to be the Zhizhou of Jin City. He knelt to thank Xiao Zeyu and promised he would not disappoint.
Jin City was a rich land. To the imperial court, it was a lucrative job. Even the new top scorer was not qualified to be the Zhizhou.
Although it was not the Emperor’s appointment, Chen Qingzhou knew that the Imperial Court could not take Jin City. He believed in Xiao Zeyu and was confident he would not disappoint the Young Lord.
“Congratulations, congratulations, Brother Chen.” Song Fu was also happy for Chen Qingzhou and came over to congratulate him.
Su Qing observed Song Fu from the side and saw no jealousy or disappointment in his eyes. There were only sincere blessings. He was a broad-minded person.
Xiao Zeyu was also observing Song Fu. Luo City was more important than Jin City, and he could not use someone who was not brave and narrow-minded. Song Fu’s performance made him very satisfied. He smiled and said to him,
“Song Fu, you will a.s.sist Chen Qingzhou in managing the Jin City government office. 1 will put you in an important position soon.”
“Thank you, Young Master.” Song Fu did not expect to be entrusted with such an important task. He was so excited that he knelt on both knees to thank Xiao Zeyu.
Xiao Zeyu helped him up and pulled Chen Qingzhou and Song Fu to sit down. He spoke to them honestly,
“1 want to crusade against the usurper, Wan Shengchang, and return peace to the people. Are the two of you willing to follow me forever?”
“Chen Qingzhou is willing to follow you to the death.”
“Song Fu is willing to follow Young Master.”
The two of them were not afraid at all. They knelt to express their loyalty. This broken dynasty should have been overthrown long ago. They were willing to fight for peace with the young master for the people of the world.
Xiao Zeyu was very happy to receive the two talents. He held a banquet in the government office to entertain the two. According to the rules of the imperial court, the top three students in high school would be rewarded.
Xiao Zeyu rewarded the two according to the standard reward for the top three in the imperial court. The first place received loo taels of silver, and the second received 8o taels of silver. Chen Qingzhou came from a poor family, and this loo taels of silver was a great help to him. He stood up excitedly and thanked Xiao Zeyu. “Thank you, Young Master.”
Song Fu’s family was a businessman. They didn’t lack money, but they lacked status. He didn’t care about money. He just wanted to bring glory to his ancestors. However, he also thanked Xiao Zeyu for his reward along with Chen Qingzhou.
“Young Master, Zhang Jinglin requests an audience outside the residence..”