"I see the weather is so hot, there’s no need to wear too much." Ye Zhiqiu ca to Gu Chengyu’s room and saw that Gu Chengyu was still wearing three single garnts, just like the past few days, and said.
"Autumn weather is unpredictable, I think it’s better to dress appropriately. At most, it’s just a bit troubleso to put on or take off! If it rains and suddenly becos cold, without extra clothes, it would be unbearable! I don’t mind, I’m not afraid of the cold! But are you sure your body can handle it?"
Having been here for more than a month, Gu Chengyu felt that the Capital’s weather was particularly unpredictable, so it seed reliable to wear a few more layers. If it rained, it would definitely be cold. Just one small blanket on the wooden bed in the exam cell might not even cover his feet.
"Chengyu has a point, it’s better to wear a couple more layers! If it gets hot, you can just take them off." Sun Xian also agreed with Gu Chengyu. He was always steady and believed it’s better to prevent problems before they happen.
At the exam venue, amidst the looks from others as if they were fools, Sun Xian and his companions calmly went through the search process before entering their exam cells.
The second round of the examination involved the Five Classics and one proclamation, judgnt, morial, and decree, with essay requirents of over three hundred words. This was largely similar to the first round, involving analyzing and developing essay topics.
Gu Chengyu was already quite skilled with these. He looked at the subject on classic anings, "Gather the people of the world, accumulate the goods of the world, trade, and then retreat, each receiving what they desire."
This topic ca from the "Zhou Yi," discussing the phenonon of exchanging goods, where people set up markets for bartering, exchanging necessities, and engaging in simple trading activities.
These were not difficult tasks; the volu was quite large. Even with Gu Chengyu’s quick thinking, he had to speed up to submit by noon on the third day.
By noon, the heat was unusually oppressive, making people feel very irritable. Gu Chengyu looked through the small window at the sky outside, feeling it might rain. The sun was gone, and the sky had beco overcast.
Sure enough, by evening, the sky darkened, and it started pouring down rain. Before this happened, Gu Chengyu had already moved his test papers and draft paper to the inside, to prevent them from being spoiled by rain coming through the small window, which would render all his efforts useless. However, the exam cell was dim, and even if Gu Chengyu could see clearly, he still had to light a candle for show.
"Ah! My draft paper..." As the heavy rain began, a candidate opposite cried out loudly; perhaps they had been concentrating so much on writing answers that they didn’t notice the rain coming.
Gu Chengyu glanced outside and found only a corner was wet; it seed the previous work would need to be rethought. Luckily, it wasn’t the exam paper; otherwise, the candidate’s efforts would have been in vain, and they would have to wait another three years.
Gu Chengyu silently praised his wise actions. The rain lasted about an hour before it finally stopped. However, after the rain, the temperature cooled considerably, much colder in the Capital compared to the south. In mid-autumn, once it gets cold, temperatures can drop significantly at night.
Fortunately, his earlier advice to Ye Zhiqiu and the others to wear more clothes had paid off; otherwise, with Ye Zhiqiu’s build, he wouldn’t have been able to endure it.
In another exam cell, even though Ye Zhiqiu still felt a bit cold, he was very grateful at this mont for having listened to Gu Chengyu. Those who had laughed at them earlier were surely shivering now. Ye Zhiqiu wrapped the bed quilt around him and felt much warr.
The fifteenth was the third round, which tested five strategy essays, much harder compared to the previous two rounds.
Gu Chengyu looked at one of the strategy essay topics on how to resolve border issues.
Hmm? This topic is quite profound! They were just scholars; how could they possibly go to war? But since the topic was posed, solutions must be considered.
The Dayan Dynasty’s border had an area called Da Xing, inhabited by nomadic peoples; their agriculture and comrce were not as developed as in the Dayan, but Da Jin’s animal husbandry was very advanced.
Why did Da Xing repeatedly invade the borders? Because when winter ca, the grass and trees withered, and their lives beca hard. Thus, they frequently invaded during the winter; when the grass was plentiful and horses were strong, border invasions were rare.
Further into Da Xing was a desert; the climate there was harsher, and so land was very barren, making it difficult to grow crops. Fundantally, it was a lack of material resources.
To resolve this issue, it must be addressed at the root. The first thought is to open trade markets at the border for bartering; Da Xing could trade for necessities, and Dayan could acquire strong horses and other specialties.
As long as Da Xing had enough food for winter, the invasions would significantly decrease. Of course, Gu Chengyu absolutely disagreed with the practice of marrying off princesses to ensure peace. How could a country or dynasty sacrifice a woman’s happiness for its tranquility? How many years of peace could such a trade-off bring?
The Central Plains and nomadic tribes had different lifestyles; historically, how many princesses truly agreed to intermarriage?
To open trade markets, soldiers must be sent to guard, or else Da Xing’s warriors, trained in horseback life and robust in build, might resort to looting repeatedly.
As for strengthening equipnt and training soldiers, a few strokes can cover that in the later sections.
After writing two strategy essays, it was already evening. Gu Chengyu, feeling his stomach growling with hunger, had been writing diligently, unaware of the passage of ti. He found so noodles to cook from his supplies but dared not eat anything too tasty for fear of the aroma spreading.
On the third day, Gu Chengyu submitted his papers at noon and waited outside the exam hall for Sun Xian and others. The provincial examination ended today, having lasted nine days and six nights, leaving Gu Chengyu feeling relaxed all over.
Now, all he had to do was wait for the results to be posted. He wondered what ranking he would achieve this ti, although he felt quite confident about himself.
"Chengyu! You’re out so early!" Ye Zhiqiu exclaid upon exiting the gates and seeing Gu Chengyu waiting outside.
"Brother Ye seems quite confident!" With the exams over, Gu Chengyu was in the mood to joke.
"I’m not sure if I’ll pass, but I’ve done my best. If not, I’ll just co back in three years!" Perhaps because his family was doing better, Ye Zhiqiu felt less burdened and more open-minded.
"I’ve also done my best and leave the rest to fate. We’ve all finished the exams; there are at least fifteen days before the results are posted, so we can explore more of the Capital!" Gu Chengyu had heard of several famous spots in the Capital, and he hadn’t had ti to visit them yet because he was busy with his shop and exams.
"Sounds good! We’ve missed this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival again; when we go back, we can bring so Capital specialties. My mother and sisters can’t go out, and my eldest sister is of marriageable age," Ye Zhiqiu said sowhat wistfully.
Previously, their family was poor, and matchmakers didn’t visit, which he understood because they had to support him, the younger brother. Who would be so generous as to fund a brother-in-law’s education? But now he was a Scholar, and more people were proposing matches. Nevertheless, he was reluctant to part with his eldest sister; perhaps this ti when he returned, she would be engaged!
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