Chapter 478 The Empire's Giant Ship Is Starting

February of the Hongzhi Dynasty was a busy month.

At dawn, Juren Mao Cheng got up early and began the final preparations before the exam.

Wearing a green cloth robe and a square scarf, he looked both simple and elegant, and his eyes were full of determination and perseverance.

Under the dim light, he carefully inspected the three treasures of his study: pen, ink, and inkstone, making sure that each one was in good condition.

His heart was full of expectations and tension at the moment. This exam was his hard study and pursuit for many years. Taking the exam now would determine his fate in this life.

Mao Cheng was a lone ranger. He led his old servant to carry a lantern and left the inn, carrying examination tools and a food basket on his back. Following the endless flow of people on the street, they slowly walked towards the gate of Sunchon Gongyuan.

There are already crowds of people in front of the gate of Shuntian Gongyuan. People from all over the world are either in groups or standing alone, waiting for the moment the door opens.

They were chatting in low voices or closing their eyes to meditate. The air was filled with tension and expectation.

"Isn't this Mao Shen's plan?"

"It's just a blind cat hitting a dead mouse!"

"This person is a bit clever, but he is really good at trying it out!"

…

There is a smell of gunpowder among students from all provinces. Facing Mao Cheng, a competitor, some proud Jiangxi students stood up and became angry.

Earlier, public opinion in the capital about the emperor's distress during his southern tour suddenly became heated in the capital. Mao Cheng keenly caught the fishy nature of it and reported the matter to his father-in-law.

His father-in-law Chen Kai also reported the matter to Liu Xuan, Minister of War. Liu Xuan reprimanded Chen Kai at the time, but later commended Chen Kai.

As Mao Cheng, who was the first to discover something unusual, this was regarded as a meritorious performance, so Mao Cheng also became popular in the capital because of this incident.

It’s just that he is famous for his reputation, and now he has become a thorn in Mao Cheng’s side for many self-respecting politicians. Facing Mao Cheng, who is already in his early thirties, they sarcastically said: “Looking at his face, I’m afraid he is already in his thirties, right? If this young master, I have already reported to the Ministry of Household Affairs and will be a good official!"

Mao Cheng maintains a consistent modest behavior. He usually bows to acquaintances on his own initiative, but turns a deaf ear to the gossip or ridicule around him.

Quite unexpectedly, the examiner this time was Liu Xuan, Minister of the Ministry of War.

Although it is no longer popular to be a protégé in the examination, he and Liu Xuan finally got in touch through his father-in-law, so he acts more low-key now.

Liu Xuan, Minister of the Ministry of War, was one of the famous people around the emperor. Now he appeared here with a group of examiners, and then performed a fixed pre-examination ceremony.

As the gate of Gongyuan slowly opened, people lined up to enter.

Mao Cheng followed the team forward, secretly praying that everything would go well, even if his life was shortened.

At the entrance, he underwent rigorous searches.

After the inspector carefully checked the test box, food and bedding he carried, he was asked to take off his clothes and only allowed him to enter the examination room after confirming that there were no prohibited items.

Mao Cheng walked along the wide corridor and first looked for the exam lane assigned to him. Then he found the assigned exam room No. 9, and began to put down his luggage and clean the exam room like other candidates.

When all the candidates entered, the gate of Gongyuan was slowly closed, and it would take the ninth day for this gate to be reopened. Even if a fire breaks out here, priority is given to putting out the fire yourself.

Three drums from Mingyuan Tower sounded, and the exam officially began.

Mao Cheng took a deep breath, saw the test questions that had just been distributed, picked up his pen and started to answer the questions.

His heart is full of longing for the future. The efforts at this moment will determine his future destiny, and he is very eager to devote himself to the construction of this thriving empire.

While the Liberal Arts Examination is in full swing, the Martial Arts Examination has quietly started.

Since the current emperor Hongzhi attaches great importance to military construction, the military science department has been reformed. On the basis of the martial arts examinations, a martial arts academy was established for potential martial arts examination candidates from all over the country to enter the academy for further studies.

Dawn had just broken, the morning glow reflected on the gate of the martial arts academy, and the copper nails shimmered.

The entrance to the academy is already bustling with people, as martial arts practitioners from all over the country gather here. They are either wearing cotton clothes or silk, and everyone's eyes are shining with love for military affairs and longing for the future.

As the bell rang, the college door slowly opened.

Young Qi Jingtong faced the morning sun falling on his cheeks and couldn't help but have a bright smile on his face when he saw this new world belonging to soldiers.

He followed the martial arts people in front and entered this sacred academy in order.

They stepped on the road paved with bluestones. On both sides were statues of soldiers standing solemnly. In the center was the famous Second Master of the Martial Saint Guan.

Like other martial arts examiners, Qi Jingtong followed an official from the martial arts academy to the spacious hall located on the central axis of the academy. There were several rows of tables and chairs in the hall.

Each student has a test paper, pen, ink, paper and inkstone in front of them. This is their first exam.

The content of the exam covers military art, strategy, historical allusions, etc. To many people’s surprise, this time the exam questions on maritime knowledge and geography account for the most weight.

Qi Jingtong has a heart that yearns for the new world. With the knowledge accumulated over the years, he immediately answered the test paper like other candidates.

There was silence in the hall, except for the rustling of the pen tip across the paper.

The current military examination retains two paths: the illiterate Wu Kui and the Wu Zhuang Yuan who knows military tactics. However, from the positions of the first Wu Kui Lin Yuanyang and Wu Zhuang Yuan Yu Yuanzan, we can see that the latter will have a higher achievement point.

Although the assessment of the military examination has been greatly relaxed, the military academy has been added. Now, only by further studying in the military academy can the military candidates obtain the title of Wu Jinshi and become the seed of the Ming Empire's reserve generals.

As long as they can enter the military academy and successfully complete the course, they can start from the deputy centurion or centurion, and will also enter the empire's important military talent training plan.

According to the current plan of the Ministry of War, future generals will give priority to generals with graduation certificates from the military academy.

Qi Jingtong could have obtained the hereditary military position of a centurion by being adopted by his uncle Qi Xuan, but he finally chose to give up being adopted by his uncle and decided to come to the capital alone to fight.

Although it would be more difficult to choose this path, he wanted to be a man of integrity, make contributions to the empire through his own efforts, and also obtain a hereditary military position for his family.

After finishing the written test, the candidates were taken to the large parade ground at the back, which was the most important pre-entry test.

Various weapon racks and shooting ranges have been arranged here. Candidates need to choose the weapons they are good at to demonstrate their martial arts, showing a solid foundation in martial arts.

When it came to the shooting session, they originally needed to shoot with bows and arrows, but now the assessment has been relaxed and candidates can also use firearms to shoot.

After seeing or hearing the power of flintlock rifles, everyone knows that firearms are the future of the military, so more and more candidates choose to shoot with firearms.

Qi Jingtong chose bows and arrows, not because he could not see the bright future of firearms, but because he always felt that only with a solid foundation can one become a real general.

"How did you do in the two exams just now?"

"I did OK. I think I still have a great chance of being admitted!"

"Try hard. We will be assigned to serve as officers overseas after graduation!"

...

After finishing the two exams, several familiar Shandong martial arts candidates gathered together. In fact, they had already planned their future and had clear goals and ideals in life.

Although the days of overseas garrison are more difficult, it is a recognized fact that overseas garrisons are well treated, especially more and more veterans returning home with Korean beauties to make others envious.

Although it is despicable to solicit prostitution overseas, the middle and lower-level sergeants are all young men with blood and blood. Now being able to serve overseas has become a place that many low-level sergeants are trying their best to go.

Especially the organization of the East China Military Region and the Nanyang Military Region is constantly expanding. Even if they enter the military academy for further study, they may want to use the military academy as a springboard to serve as officers in overseas military regions to live a good life?

Qi Jingtong just stood by and did not participate in this topic.

He had naturally heard about the overseas garrisons, and knew that more and more soldiers were yearning for overseas garrisons. Even a cousin of his Qi family was among the first to go to the island to garrison.

Originally, his uncle could have transferred his cousin back and promoted him by two ranks, but he was directly rejected by his cousin, on the grounds that he was more like a soldier overseas, and he was willing to stay in the new territory for His Majesty.

Qi Jingtong actually knew that his cousin was reluctant to part with his Korean lover, but from the expression of his cousin, he was indeed loyal to the Ming Dynasty and His Majesty.

He also went overseas in his heart, not because he was attracted by the Korean beauties described by his cousin, but because he wanted to become a real soldier and open up new territories for the Ming Empire and the emperor.

If firearms are the future of military warfare, then overseas is the future of their Ming soldiers.

In the afternoon, the last exam was a simulated combat exercise.

The candidates were divided into two teams, each team had to formulate tactics and fight on a virtual battlefield. This not only tested the students' martial arts, but also their wisdom and teamwork ability.

With the end of this last exam, the academy will comprehensively evaluate their performance in the three exams of military strategy, martial arts display and teamwork ability, and decide whether to admit them.

Three days later, Qi Jingtong came to the gate of the Martial Arts Academy with his companions. When he saw his name on the list, he was so excited that tears fell.

He was not the only one who cried. Almost all the admitted martial arts candidates cried. This was not only an opportunity for them to change their fate, but also a chance to fulfill their dream of serving the empire.

The great ship of the Ming Dynasty was slowly moving forward, and they were lucky enough to board this ship. As for where the great ship of the Ming Dynasty would sail, I am afraid only Emperor Hongzhi could know it?

Just when the nine-day joint examination was in full swing, and just when the admission work of the Martial Arts Academy had just ended, a new type of graduation ceremony had been held grandly.

Imperial College, Engineering College.

This newly opened branch was not in the city of Beijing, where every inch of land was worth a lot of money, but was located on the canal in the eastern suburbs, a large institution covering hundreds of acres.

The ceremony was held in front of the meeting hall of the School of Engineering, which is usually the venue for important ceremonies and lectures.

The square in front of the meeting hall is wide enough to accommodate many teachers, students and guests who come to watch the ceremony. The square is surrounded by green pines and cypresses, full of ancient charm.

The front hall of the meeting hall serves as a high platform, on which there are rows of exquisite tables, on which are placed the four treasures of the study, as well as scriptures and models that symbolize wisdom and knowledge.

On both sides of the high platform, flags fluttered, with school mottos such as "Virtue, truth, unity of knowledge and action" written on them.

The Imperial College had already added engineering majors three years ago, and students were admitted from all over the country. This time, many children of craftsmen were favored, and many children of craftsmen with meritorious performance could enter the engineering college for free.

Zhang Wei was a very ordinary member, his father was just an ordinary craftsman at the bottom.

Because his father was transferred to Tianjin Shipbuilding and had a meritorious performance, he was arranged to enter the newly established engineering college for free.

After three years of intensive study, this group of students participated in the internship of the construction of the Beijing-Tianjin Canal, and the teenagers who were once muddleheaded have become talents.

The graduates wore uniform black clothes and small bamboo hats that had been modified. Their skin was already dark, and they were both elegant and capable.

With three salutes, the ceremony officially began.

Wang Hua, the chief priest of the Imperial College, Xinjianbo, came to the high platform to give a speech and asked the students below loudly: "We are a brick of the Ming Dynasty!"

"We will move wherever we are needed!" The students had already decided to devote themselves to the vigorous construction of the motherland, and they immediately responded loudly.

The voice was high, as if it would break through the sky.

Among the guests watching the ceremony in front, in addition to the parents of the students, there were also officials of the court and local officials and gentry, who were also shocked by this momentum.

After delivering a speech, Wang Hua, the chief priest of the Imperial College, Xinjianbo, began to issue graduation certificates to this batch of graduates and encouraged them.

This batch of graduates is mainly majoring in roads and bridges. They will be assigned to various positions as junior bridge engineers, quality inspectors, safety inspectors, standard inspectors, material inspectors, mechanics, laborers, and data inspectors. These personnel will be important talents for the great infrastructure of the Hongzhi Dynasty.

Not only the Ming-Myanmar Highway to be built, but also various domestic infrastructures, as well as the overseas foundations that will exist in the future, all require a large amount of talent investment.

Of course, the initial monthly salary of these graduates is one silver dollar, which quickly makes them middle-income people in the Ming Empire.

With the current military capabilities of the Ming Dynasty, it can actually dominate the world. It is not difficult to include 70% of the world's unowned land into the territory of the Ming Dynasty.

If you want long-term peace and stability, you need the support of a large base. Even as strong as the Yuan Dynasty, they finally gave up autonomy after conquering Myanmar due to transportation factors and other reasons.

Looking at the entire Greater China map, it is precisely because of this smooth road that King Ning rebelled in Jiangxi, even if he could leave Nanchang Prefecture, he could not dominate one side.

The Ming Empire in February of Hongzhi showed a prosperous scene.

But the Ming Dynasty was, after all, a huge empire with an unimaginable territory. Since Zhu Youtang ascended the throne, it was impossible for every year to be too peaceful.

In addition to facing the provocations of Mongolia, the Le Dynasty and the Jurchens, it also encountered disasters such as the Yellow River bursting, locust plagues and plagues in Shandong, and this year it is probably impossible to be lucky.

Just as the people of the capital were enjoying the last warm spring day of February, turmoil broke out in the north, and a piece of military intelligence was sent over from the north by express riders. (End of this chapter)