Chapter 115: The Entrance Exam 2

The Martial Arts Academy was in the center of Xuanwu Street. On the street right to the gate, many participants were waiting to enter. On the street left to the gate, it was much quieter since it was the path for officials and aristocrats who were here to watch this event.

Fang Jie pulled his red horse and walked with Zhang Kuang and Mo Xidao, and many people rolled their eyes at him.

The tall red horse pushed many people to the side, especially those gongzi in fancy clothes; they were worried that the horse would make them dirty.

These members of big families all came here riding on their horse-drawn carriages, but the carriages were all parked on the side of the street before getting to Xuanwu Street.

Fang Jie was the only person who walked toward the Martial Arts Academy with a horse.

When Fang Jie was close to the gate of the academy, he suddenly heard noises upfront. He looked in the direction of the noises and realized that he was targeted. He thought, “These people are trying to cause trouble before I get through the gate.

A young gongzi in fancy clothes found a professor who was greeting guests at the gate and complained while pointing at Fang Jie, “How come there is someone who doesn’t know the rules? Everyone walks here to show respect toward the Martial Arts Academy, but that guy is bringing a beast with him, occupying the path for participants. How can this be allowed? Sir, I ask you to punish him!”

Although there were many people, Fang Jie clearly heard this. Zhang Kuang looked at him and said worryingly, “When we just reached this street, I tried to convince you to leave the horse there and ask someone to watch it for you, but you didn’t listen. Now, if that professor comes over to reprimand you, you couldn’t explain yourself. The worst thing is that you might leave a bad impression. If he remembers you and evaluates you during the…”

“Don’t worry,” Fang Jie said with a smile before walking forward with his red horse.

Hundreds of pairs of eyes looked over. Most young men in fancy clothes looked at Fang Jie with anger and disdain, but the participants from the military didn’t react this way. The noises caught their attention, and they all looked this way and saw Fang Jie. Then, they greeted him warmly.

Fang Jie cupped his hands and greeted all these participants as well, addressing them as his brothers intimately. Most of the soldiers were rough on the outside and cursed when they talked, making members of big families show more disdain toward them.

With all the soldiers walking over, Fang Jie was clearly becoming the leader.

The professor at the gate of the Martial Arts Academy squinted and looked this way, and his expression didn’t change. He nodded at the gongzi in fancy clothes who complained to him, and he told him to authenticate his identity first as a participant.

That gongzi in fancy clothes sneered at Fang Jie and didn’t leave; he stood on the side as if he wanted to see a show.

The professor in the moon-white long robe walked to Fang Jie and looked at him before asking, “I’m Professor Yan Ji of the Martial Arts Academy. Why did you come here with your horse? Someone made a complaint, saying that a beast occupied the space meant for participants of the entrance exam.”

Fang Jie stood still and bowed. “Greetings, professor.”

“Eh.” Yan Ji returned the greeting as a senior and waited for Fang Jie’s explanation.

Fang Jie straightened his body, pointed at his red horse, and said earnestly, “I will answer your second question first. If the beast you mentioned is this horse, I don’t dare to agree. I don’t know how others treat horses, but in my border city, my warhorse is like my brother. Warhorses are required for soldiers to inspect a region, chase after enemies, scout information, and pass military intelligence. Not only me, but all border soldiers see warhorses as their peers. When in battle, we would split our food into two potions, one of us and one of the horses.”

Fang Jie stared at Yan Ji and said seriously, “Perhaps warhorses are beasts in the eyes of the person who complained as they are lower than people on several levels. However, in the eyes of border soldiers, every warhorse is our brother that supports us through flames and chaos. Without this warhorse, I would have died in a battle. If someone is angry that my brother occupied the path, I will apologize on its behalf. On the battlefield, my brother and I walked on the same path to fight for glory. It doesn’t know the rules of Chang’an; it doesn’t know that after leaving the battlefield, it is only a beast and isn’t qualified to walk on the same path as people.”

Hearing this, Yan Ji took a good look at Fang Jie before turning toward that gongzi in fancy clothes who had an ugly expression. He asked, “What do you think of his explanation? Do you accept his apology?”

“I…” The gongzi in fancy clothes opened his mouth but didn’t know what to say.

Zhang Kuang looked at this person before getting close to Fang Jie and whispering, “He is Bi Yuntao, and he is from Yangtze-South. He is close to Wang Ding and others. Although he wasn’t at Guest-Prosper Dwell that day, he must know what had happened. He is probably targeting you.”

Fang Jie nodded with a smile. “What a nice name.”

Zhang Kuang froze for a second; he didn’t find this name that special.

[TL Note: Bi Yuntao is pronounced the same way as condom in Chinese.]

Bi Yuntao blushed a little, and he said to Yan Ji after a moment of hesitation, “I can let that go, but I can’t stand him disrespecting you, the Martial Arts Academy, and the central government!”

Yan Ji nodded and asked Fang Jie, “Now, you should answer my first question. Why did you bring your warhorse?”

Fang Jie explained, “I heard that in the entrance exam, there would be tests on riding horses and shooting arrows, so I took my horse here. Professor, is there a rule saying that the participants could only use the horses provided by the Martial Arts Academy?”

“Nonsense!” Bi Yuntao shouted, “If you get into the academy, you need to live here. Could you carry your house here and ask Professor if you can live in your own house?”

…

Fang Jie glanced at Bi Yuntao; it looked like he was too lazy to respond. He cupped his hand and bowed toward Yan Ji while saying, “Professor, please clear my mind on this.”

Yan Ji smiled and said, “According to tradition, the participants would all use the horses of the Martial Arts Academy during the tests. No one had brought their own horses, and no one asked me this question. First, warhorses are scarce in Great Sui. Second, the warhorses of the academy seem even better than the warhorses in the military.”

Hearing this, Bu Yuntao couldn’t help but sneer.

Yan Ji took a pause and continued, “However, there isn’t a rule saying that the participants couldn’t ride on their own horses to do the tests. If you want, you probably can even ride a cow. The Martial Arts Academy emphasizes rules. Since there isn’t such a rule, you should be able to bring your own horse.”

“Thank you!” Fang Jie bowed again.

Bi Yuntao’s expression instantly darkened, and he clenched his fists with veins bulging. Since he didn’t dare to target this professor of the academy, he could only glare at Fang Jie viciously.

Yan Ji waved his hand and said, “There is no need to thank me; I’m only acting according to the rules. However, someone did say that you are disrespecting the Martial Arts Academy by bringing your horse. As a professor here, I need to ask you if you are truly disrespectful toward the academy.”

Fang Jie straightened his body and said loudly, “I earned 21 counts of military merit in my border city. First, I’m loyal to Great Sui. Second, I admire and hope to enter the Martial Arts Academy. If it weren’t for these two principles, I wouldn’t fight to the death in battles and travel more than 5,000 kilometers to get here.”

After Fang Jie said that, all the soldiers in the area couldn’t help but clap. “You said it well!”

Fang Jie added with an earnest expression, “Respect only exists in the mind. Some people say they are respectful but are indeed cursing in their minds.”

Bi Yuntao’s face paled, and he pointed at Fang Jie and shouted, “Who are you talking about!”

Fang Jie said with a smile, “I don’t need to tell you who I’m referring to. I will tell whoever I want! Besides, you blocked the path into the academy; does this count as disrespect? This professor told you to go and authenticate your identity, but you are still standing here. Are you being disrespectful toward this professor? Also, you should be glad that you are a member of Great Sui. The enemies who dared to point at me were all turned into corpses.”

Bi Yuntao’s body shook violently. If he lowered his finger that was pointing at Fang Jie, it would seem like he was turning soft. However, even if he didn’t lower his finger, he had lost his presence.

With a smile, Yan Ji looked at Fang Jie and said, “All of you need to go inside; you will see the professor who will authenticate your identities. If you guys block the path and delay the entrance exam, none of you could bear the consequences.

“As you wish!” Fang Jie bowed and then walked forward with his horse. When he saw Bi Yuntao fuming by the gate, he asked politely, “Can you move out of the way? My horse and I need to go through.”

Bi Yuntao’s hands shivered under rage, and he glared at Fang Jie in anger before swinging his sleeves and walking away.

Zhang Kuang quickly caught up with Fang Jie and said with a smile, “Aren’t you afraid of attracting troubles?”

Fang Jie shook his head helplessly and said, “If I kneel, beg for forgiveness, and lick his boots, do you think I would experience fewer troubles?”

…

-To the left of the gate-

A few people stood by a horse-drawn carriage. They were chatting with smiles, but the commotion on the side caught their attention.

After the noises died down, a man in a purple official’s uniform and a ridged hat asked curiously, “Who is that young border soldier? His mouth sure is lethal.”

“That little guy is quite popular right now. Grand Scholar Niu Huilun and Grand Scholar Zhuang Chuyu are fighting because of him. When His Majesty asked us old guys to stay for dinner in Smooth Spring Garden, the two of them fought again. However, Principal Zhou said something that made them choke. He said that if this little guy makes it into the Martial Arts Academy, none of them could get him. If this little guy doesn’t make it, the two of them could fight then.”

The senior who answered the question was also in a purple official’s uniform, and he wore a six-ridged hat. Everyone in the group seemed respectful toward him.

“Huh?” the person who asked the question froze for a bit and asked again, “Is he Fang Jie, the one who shared the Pinyin Annotation and Basic Math Operations with His Majesty?”

The senior was Huai Qiugong, the Head of the Ministry of Rites who served three emperors. He had a high status in Great Sui, and he and Zhou Banchuan were known as the Two Seniors; even the Emperor was respectful toward them.

“Mr. Mou, you need to remember this little guy. He is a border soldier, and you are the Head of the Ministry of War. Regardless of what happens, he brought glory to the ministry. In Smooth Spring Garden, I saw this little guy’s abilities with my own eyes. Those old guys like Niu Huilun and Zhuang Chuyu were stunned, and even His Majesty praised him.”

“I got it.” The person who asked the questions was Mou Liangbi, the new leader of the Ministry of War. After hearing what Huai Qiugong had said, he couldn’t help but look at Fang Jie several times.

Not only him, but Zong Lianghu, the Deputy of the Ministry of War, also looked at Fang Jie.

At this moment, someone walked over and said, “Even though he is talented, shouldn’t he be humble? It is ungentlemanly to argue like this. Since he is so haughty, I think he isn’t stable enough and needs more experience.”

Everyone looked over and saw that it was Yang Yin, Royal King Yi of Great Sui.

Huai Qiugong and others quickly bowed, and Yang Yin walked over and helped Huai Qiugong stand.

After greeting Yang Yin, Mou Liangbi shook his head and said, “Since soldiers are responsible for protecting the nation and expanding the territory, how could they not be proud and haughty? I don’t dare to agree with Your Highness’ words. If the soldiers of Great Sui are all humble, how could they be called the army of tigers and wolves?”

Yang Yin was surprised, and he took a good look at Mou Liangbi and smiled. Without saying anything else, he gestured and walked into the Martial Arts Academy.

Huai Qiugong also looked at Mou Liangbi with a meaningful gaze. Mou Liangbi didn’t know what it meant, but he didn’t regret saying those words.

In his eyes, soldiers should be proud!