Chapter Forty-Three: Student Selection

Fang Han acted somewhat indifferently toward Wang Shi because he feared the man might be a spy.

What if he was dispatched by some faction, or bought off by other forces?

In that case, if Fang Han showed that his usual demeanor was all an act, it would likely arouse suspicion and wariness.

That was why he had Wang Shi follow Fang Da instead—keeping him at a distance on one hand, while allowing him to undergo training within the military camp on the other.

Although Wang Shi got his wish and was recruited under Fang Han's command, he was not particularly happy.

He was still unsure whether Fang Han's behavior was a facade; if it turned out to be just like the rumors outside, wouldn't his scholarship go to waste?

After sending Wang Shi away, Fang Han resumed reviewing the test papers.

With the experience from the previous batch, he carefully examined every single question on every paper this time.

He wanted to make sure he did not miss any promising young talents worth cultivating.

The next day, a crowd of scholars gathered at the prefectural office, waiting for the results to be announced.

Some of them had taken the imperial examinations before, while others had never participated.

Yet at this very moment, everyone felt exactly the same.

Apprehensive and uneasy.

Perhaps the questions concerning the southern frontier had touched something deep within their hearts.

Everyone wished to stay in the southern frontier, yet they also wanted to receive the silver to take the real imperial examinations.

Such contradictory feelings filled the mind of every scholar.

Su Zihuan walked out holding a name list, swept his gaze over the crowd, and slowly began to speak.

"The results of your examinations are out now. Step forward, anyone who wishes to head to the capital for the examinations."

"For those who wish to leave, I have ten taels of silver to send you off, to assist you in traveling to the capital for the examinations."

When Su Zihuan finished speaking, the scholars looked at one another in dismay.

In the end, not a single person stepped forward.

Perhaps it was because they wanted to stay in the southern frontier, or perhaps they were afraid of being ridiculed by others.

Seeing that no one stepped forward, Su Zihuan nodded and said, "Very well, you truly live up to the name of scholars of the southern frontier."

"Next, everyone whose name I call, step over to the left."

"Starting today, you will follow us in helping the southern frontier restore its production. At the same time, the two commandery governors and I will frequently be available to answer your questions and clear up your doubts."

"In the future, once the southern frontier is stabilized, you may travel to the capital to take the imperial examinations once again."

Upon hearing this, the scholars could hardly believe their ears.

Three commandery governors serving as their teachers?

This was an incomparable honor.

One must realize that every imperial official was a top-tier scholar selected layer by layer through the imperial examinations.

They were simply incomparable to people like themselves who had only bitterly studied the books of sages.

Not to mention that these officials had served for many years and possessed a profound understanding of the livelihood of the common people.

With such teachers guiding them, being immersed in their environment day in and day out, and occasionally putting knowledge into practice—

Taking the imperial examinations in the future would be nothing short of a dimensional reduction strike.

Looking down at the name list, Su Zihuan slowly called out, "Zhang Si."

There was silence in the crowd for a moment, and then a man suddenly squeezed his way out, laughing up to the sky.

"It's me, it's me! Zhang Si, I am Zhang Si!"

The man pointed at himself while swaggering back and forth in front of the others.

As if he were afraid someone might not know his name was Zhang Si.

Immediately afterward, Zhang Si abruptly dropped to his knees before Su Zihuan.

"Many thanks, Lord Su! Many thanks, Lord Su!"

After all, Su Zihuan had seen the world and witnessed plenty of such scenes.

Many people studied for the imperial examinations their entire lives, only to finally pass as a mere budding talent, and even that was enough to drive them mad.

It was already quite good that this Zhang Si hadn't rolled around on the ground in excitement; at the very least, his psychological resilience was sufficient.

Su Zihuan continued calling out names, rattling off several in succession.

As those few squeezed out from the crowd, one of them instantly collapsed onto the ground and wailed bitterly.

"Father! Mother! I passed! I passed!"

Su Zihuan wore an awkward expression; after all, this wasn't an official imperial examination—at best, it was a private recruitment.

He cleared his throat and continued calling names.

Having witnessed the intense reactions of the previous few, those whose names were called this time managed to maintain their composure.

Even if they were excited inside, they tried hard to restrain it on the outside.

As Su Zihuan put down the name list in his hand, there were still more than a dozen people present whose names had not been called.

Seeing that the governor had no intention of continuing, one person anxiously asked, "My Lord, is... is that all?"

Su Zihuan nodded.

Disappointment showed on the faces of the remaining scholars. They had already tried their absolute best to answer the questions.

Never had they expected this to be the outcome.

After a dozen years of bitterly studying the books of sages, they couldn't even pass a recruitment screening in the southern frontier.

Was there even any point in taking the imperial examinations with such a standard?

For a moment, this question arose in the hearts of everyone.

Seeing their expressions, Su Zihuan smiled and decided to stop hiding the truth.

"Do not worry, I haven't finished speaking yet."

Hearing this, the scholars all raised their heads.

Even those who had already been selected looked at Su Zihuan with puzzled expressions.

"Listen well: those on the right, heed the instructions of the Protector-General. In the future, you will assist the Protector-General in administering Southern Frontier City."

Southern Frontier City?

The scholars understood the first half of the sentence, but not the second.

Where was Southern Frontier City? Did such a place even exist?

Yet, knowing they had been chosen by the Protector-General, they were still overjoyed.

So it wasn't that they had failed, but rather that they were being entrusted with a heavy responsibility.

Though they had no idea where Southern Frontier City was, the weight of the phrase "assist the Protector-General in administering" was already heavy enough.

After the matter concluded, the scholars were divided into two groups. One group remained at the prefectural office to await Su Zihuan's instructions.

The other group was led by Fang Zheng to the Protector-General's Manor.

Fang Han had been waiting here all along; the reason he hadn't shown up earlier was precisely to see if anyone wanted to leave the southern frontier.

If anyone had chosen to take the silver and participate in the imperial examinations, he would not have blamed them.

Seeing that not a single one of the dozen or so designated individuals had dropped out, Fang Han felt a great sense of relief.

"Starting today, your task is to follow this official in jointly governing Southern Frontier City!"

With that, Fang Han singled out four people.

The ones called out stepped forward, bewildered, awaiting Fang Han's instructions.

"The four of you, plus Wang Shi—a total of five people. Head to the City Defense Camp to experience military life."

Hearing that they were going to the City Defense Camp, the four of them instantly beamed with joy.

These individuals were all people who had answered the military-related questions on their test papers.

Though their answers varied, they had all been products of their own independent thinking.

They possessed the potential to be military strategists.

Now that Fang Han was assigning them to the City Defense Camp, it could be considered getting their wish.

The remaining people, upon hearing that they did not need to go to the military camp, also breathed a sigh of relief.

"My Lord, where is this Southern Frontier City?"

At that moment, a scholar asked.

Fang Han pointed downward at the ground and said with an air of arrogance, "Right here. This official has long intended to expand and build a new city—at least twenty li in circumference."

Hearing of a city twenty li long, the crowd was utterly dumbfounded.

They had never heard of a city of such staggering scale.

One scholar cautiously said, "My Lord, I once traveled to the capital for the examinations, and it is said that the capital city is only eighteen li long."

"Can a city twenty li long really be built?"

"Of course it can. This official has already made the arrangements. We only await sufficient troops and abundant grain to begin construction," Fang Han said proudly.

He still could not be entirely certain of the loyalty of these people, so he had to keep certain things concealed for now.