Chapter Forty: Unexpected Assault

The afternoon was designated for the grading of papers. Eight teaching assistants from the county school conducted the closed-door evaluation without the participation of any officials. That afternoon, Prefect Li Kui was scheduled to return to Anyang County, but prior to his departure, he needed to express his views regarding the Children's Association of Tangyin County.

In the main hall of the county yamen, five officials—the County Magistrate, the Vice-Magistrate, the County Defender, the Registrar, and the School Inspector—were listening with humble attention to the instructions of Prefect Li.

Prefect Li smiled warmly at the assembly and said, "On this occasion, I accepted the invitation of Magistrate Liu to observe your county's Children's Association competition. Although my stay has been brief, I have deeply appreciated the influence of the Children's Association in Tangyin County.

"Especially yesterday, when the Lushan Academy won the debate championship amidst a city-wide sound of firecrackers, I realized how flourishing the scholarly atmosphere is in Tangyin County. The subtle edification that such competitions provide to the common people is truly commendable. Therefore, first and foremost, I affirm the positive role of the Children's Association. Upon my return, I will promote Tangyin County's experience throughout the entire prefecture and also memorialize the imperial court. Of course, suggestions must also be offered. To make the Children's Association even better, I have only two proposals."

Hearing that the Prefect intended to report to the imperial court, Magistrate Liu Zhen was greatly encouraged. His primary purpose in organizing the Children's Association was to add favorable credentials to his official career. He hurriedly said, "Please, Prefect Li, do not spare your criticisms. We will take our lessons to heart and press on with redoubled efforts."

Prefect Li smiled faintly. "To speak of criticism is too severe; I merely offer two small suggestions. The first concerns the selection of participating scholars. I have found that most of the scholars have participated for several consecutive years, presenting the same old faces every year, which is not conducive to discovering new talents. I suggest that each scholar be allowed to participate a maximum of two times, while simultaneously expanding the number of participants. In this way, more scholars will obtain this precious opportunity for learning."

Prefect Li's suggestion hit the nail on the head. Limiting the number of participations for scholars would break the monopoly of the major clans over the quotas, allowing more students the opportunity to participate in the competition.

Prefect Li then immediately put forward his second suggestion: "During this Children's Association, I noticed a very wide age gap among the scholars. The youngest is only six years old, while the oldest is fourteen. I feel this is also somewhat inappropriate. I suggest slightly restricting the age of participating scholars, for instance, between twelve and fifteen years old, so that their academic levels are closer to one another. Alternatively, they could be grouped for competition: one group for ages six to eight, another for eight to twelve, and a separate group for those above twelve. As for the specific scheme to adopt, it should be deliberated by your esteemed county itself; I am merely offering a suggestion."

Both of Prefect Li's suggestions were extremely reasonable and struck right at the shortcomings of the Children's Association. Vice-Magistrate Ma Fu immediately seized the opportunity to attack Liu Zhen, chiming in, "Prefect Li's suggestions can be described as hitting the mark with a single blow. I have always said that a six-year-old scholar should not be allowed to participate in the competition. Such a scholar merely possesses talent, but lacks the process of study and accumulation, which is unfair to other scholars who study diligently by the window. Yet Magistrate Liu clung stubbornly to his own course, insisting on ceding the opportunity for victory to a six-year-old child. I do not understand why this is so. Could there be something unspeakable hidden within this?"

Liu Zhen, however, showed not the slightest sign of anger, and said coldly, "Assistant Magistrate Ma is speaking of Li Yanqing, I presume! His scholarship is obvious to all, and whether I have been partial is something everyone understands in their hearts. On the other hand, Assistant Magistrate Ma accepted five hundred taels of silver from someone and gave solemn assurances that another person would win the championship next time. I wonder if this counts as something that cannot bear the light of day?"

Ma Fu's expression changed drastically. He stood up angrily and shouted, "You... you are spouting blood! Clarify your words today: when did I ever accept five hundred taels of silver from anyone?"

Prefect Li's expression had already turned extremely grim, yet he remained silent, watching their vicious fight coldly. The other officials averted their gazes one after another, dreading lest they too be dragged into the affair.

Liu Zhen said unhurriedly, "Naturally, you will not admit it. It is just that you never expected the five hundred taels of silver to bear marks—they are official silver minted in the first year of Jianzhong Jingguo at the Hukeng Silver Mine in Shaozhou, twenty-five taels per ingot. Believe it or not, I can go search your residence right now and unearth those five hundred taels of silver on the spot."

A buzzing sound echoed in Ma Fu's brain. He understood instantly: the silver sent to him by He Zhen was actually a trap arranged by Liu Zhen, designed precisely to expose it on the spot before the Prefect. He had fallen for the scheme.

Filled with sudden anger and anxiety, trembling all over, Ma Fu pointed at Liu Zhen and cursed furiously, "You... you despicable and shameless wretch!"

As soon as these words left his mouth, it was tantamount to admitting that he had accepted the five hundred taels of silver. Everyone inwardly sighed; Liu Zhen's stroke was far too ruthless, and Ma Fu would probably not survive this ordeal intact.

Prefect Li's face was ashen. He stood up and rebuked them with a roar, "Simply foul and noxious!"

With a flick of his sleeves, he turned and left the county yamen. A moment later, a yamen runner came running in to report, "The Prefect has already departed."

Ma Fu, who had been glaring furiously at the Magistrate, only then came to his senses. Stamping his foot in anxiety, he chased out after him. Watching Ma Fu's panicked and flustered back, Liu Zhen wore a cold smile inward. Although Prefect Li had not expressed his stance on the spot, Ma Fu would find it impossible to easily pass this hurdle this time.

The internal strife in the official circles of Tangyin County did not affect the Children's Association. That very evening, news spread that Lushan Academy had ranked third in the examinations, and combined with first place in the debates, ultimately secured the championship of the current Children's Association with the highest overall score.

Although Tangbei Township Academy did not enter the finals in the debates, it still ranked second with an overall score of third in debates and first in examinations. Tangyin County Primary School ranked third.

Unexpectedly, Weinanzhen Academy actually ranked fourth in the overall score with fifth place in debates and second in examinations.

As for Yanglizhen Academy, which placed second in debates, they ran into a major trouble. Someone reported that the "Partridge Sky" poem they wrote for the third debate question had been written by their master three years ago and was still inscribed in the Tanchun Pavilion in Yanglizhen. The evidence of cheating was conclusive, and Yanglizhen Academy was stripped of its ranking, while also being suspended from competition for the next year.

When the news spread, the sound of firecrackers echoed through the night for a full hour, various emotions mingling amid the crackling din.

On the following morning, after attending the award ceremony, the scholars began their respective journeys back to their hometowns. The Wang family's spacious carriage was already waiting before the inn, adorned with red silks and green decorations, bearing somewhat the festive air of welcoming a bride.

Amidst a flurry of firecrackers, Li Yanqing and his three companions bade a reluctant farewell to the villagers who had come to see them off, and embarked on the road home.

"I wonder what my grandfather will reward me with upon our return home this time?"

Wang Gui had not slept all night, his emotions too agitated to settle, and he kept reaching out to fiddle with a small bronze plum blossom pinned to his chest. Engraved upon it were four tiny characters: "Crown of Scholars." This was the individual medal he had won, and moreover, their names would be written into this year's county gazetteer.

Li Yanqing leaned lazily against a soft cushion, holding a copy of his own authored *Great Sage Capturing Demons*. He was perusing his own magnum opus simply from the perspective of a reader.

Hearing Wang Gui's words, he poked half his face out from behind the book and said with a beaming smile, "Ask your grandfather for a real suit of armor."

"That thing is too heavy, I don't want it! I want a horse."

"Horseback riding won't do; your legs are too short!" Tang Haigang pointedly remarked.

"Go on with you!"

Wang Gui stretched out his short leg to nudge Tang Huai's donkey-like ear, then asked Yue Fei, "Fifth Brother, what do you think I should ask for?"

Yue Fei was also reading *Capturing Demons*. He used the book to shield his face, and a spoiler-like remark leaped out from behind the cover, "If I were you, I would study diligently from this moment on, otherwise I truly wouldn't live up to the title of 'Crown of Scholars'."

Wang Gui's face reddened as he muttered, "I knew you would say that."

Just at that moment, the sound of galloping horses suddenly thundered forth, swift as a lightning bolt from afar to near, coming from behind them. Everyone looked at each other in dismay. Li Yanqing reacted the fastest, sitting up straight and thrusting his head out of the carriage window to look back. He saw a squad of fierce cavalry kicking up sprays of black mud with their hooves behind them.

It was morning, and the sunlight was bright and warm. The official road heading south from Tangyin County was quite bustling. Apart from the local residents, there were quite a few travelers and merchants passing through Tangyin County. This happened to be the intersection of two official roads, where roadside stalls sold hot ginger tea, hunters sold game, old folks sold snacks, and peddlers carried poles laden with hardware and sundries. Many nearby villagers crowded in front of the peddlers' stalls to select the items they needed.

Yet as the thunder of hooves arose, the official road instantly dissolved into shouts of mothers calling to their children and utter chaos, with everyone stumbling and scrambling to take refuge in the snowbanks beside the road.

The carriage driver's expression changed drastically, and he shouted, "Sit tight, everyone!"

Without even time to examine the terrain closely, he directly whipped the horses and charged sideways into the snowbank. The carriage jolted violently and almost overturned, throwing the four youths into a tangled heap inside the carriage compartment, while Yao Ding bit his lip and tightly hugged a transverse beam.

"What on earth is going on?" Li Yanqing asked urgently.

"It's the Khitan barbarians!" Wang Gui's face turned pale, terror flashing in his eyes.

A chill ran through Li Yanqing's heart, and he hurriedly climbed up to look out of the carriage window.