Meng Jianqing and Hu Jinyong brought back no heads at all, but Hu Jinyong publicly declared that he was completely convinced of his defeat.

The candidates from various prefectures at the drill ground were eager to know the details, but Hu Jinyong was not a good storyteller—turning it over and over, he said nothing more than the same few sentences. Meng Jianqing naturally spoke evasively.

Some still unconvinced candidates clamored that if Meng Jianqing truly had excellent blade skills, why didn’t he use them yesterday at the drill ground? This victory probably had something suspicious about it, too.

Hu Jinyong felt these words questioned not only Meng Jianqing but also himself, so he angrily said, “Brother Meng, give this fellow a lesson to see!”

Meng Jianchen at the side secretly sneered. After Meng Jianqing’s combination of striking and pulling tactics, Hu Jinyong seemed to have wholeheartedly become another follower.

Meng Jianqing glanced at that candidate and answered indifferently, “My blade is for killing enemies, not for sparring.”

The candidate was left speechless, his face alternating between green and white, unable to find words to respond.

Amid the commotion, the Earl of Nanxiang had already mounted the command platform, and the drill ground immediately fell silent.

This was the final examination. No one knew how many of the remaining twenty-one would be eliminated.

The Earl of Nanxiang’s aide brought out a large paper box with a small hole on top that allowed only one hand to reach inside.

The herald announced the rules: each of the twenty-one candidates must draw a question and answer it publicly, with one incense stick’s time limit.

Gongsun Yi drew: “How did the Hongwu Emperor take control of the realm?”

Such a simple question couldn’t stump Gongsun Yi. He immediately stood straight and recited passages from the Imperial Edict where the Hongwu Emperor recounted how the Mongol Yuan lost the realm, why various heroes failed to succeed, and how the Great Ming unified the realm. His words flowed like a rolling river, endless and unstoppable. If the incense hadn’t burned out and interrupted him, he probably could have continued reciting all day.

Gongsun Yi felt he had answered well and stood there with self-satisfied pride.

The Earl of Nanxiang’s stern, cold gaze swept over, and Gongsun Yi only felt a chill, involuntarily restraining his smug demeanor.

The Earl of Nanxiang said slowly, “How did the Hongwu Emperor take control of the realm? It was a realm carved out by the Great Ming’s army with blade and spear, understand?”

Not only Gongsun Yi, but everyone on the drill ground felt their blood boil and answered in unison, “This subordinate understands!”

The Earl of Nanxiang waved his hand, ordering Gongsun Yi to stand aside.

Gongsun Yi didn’t know whether he had passed or failed. Not daring to ask rashly, he stood below the platform in anxiety, watching as various candidates were directed by the herald either to his side or to the other side of the command platform—only relaxing when the Meng brothers were also directed to his side.

Meng Jianchen drew a question about evaluating the characteristics of Mongol Yuan cavalry.

Meng Jianqing listened to him eloquently discuss how Mongol Yuan cavalry came and went like the wind, fierce and brave, while secretly frowning.

Sure enough, the Earl of Nanxiang suddenly asked, “If Mongol Yuan cavalry were so skilled in battle, why did they still lose the realm?”

Meng Jianchen was momentarily stunned before answering, “There are always stronger among the strong.”

The Earl of Nanxiang half-closed his eyes, neither approving nor disapproving.

Meng Jianchen steadied himself and added, “In the water villages of Jiangnan, with dense forests and deep grass, cavalry has no place to display its prowess. As for the northern plains, if the Mongol Yuan could use cavalry, so could we.”

The Earl of Nanxiang pressed further: “Why did Han cavalry suffer defeats and lose territory a hundred years ago, yet a hundred years later could drive the barbarians from the Central Plains? Don’t give me flattering words!”

Meng Jianchen had intended to answer with something about the Hongwu Emperor’s divine wisdom, thinking no one would dare say such words were wrong. Blocked by the Earl of Nanxiang’s latter statement, in his urgency, he blurted out, “The enemy is both our foe and our teacher!”

Only then did the Earl of Nanxiang show a satisfied trace of approving smile, waving his hand to have him retreat to one side.

Meng Jianqing drew a question about briefly outlining the merits and flaws of military systems throughout the dynasties, quite complex. In one instant, he had to think while speaking, which was very difficult. Meng Jianqing secretly counted on his fingers how many sections he had covered while using his peripheral vision to gauge the burning speed of the incense candle. He simplified and condensed, finishing his evaluation of the Mongol Yuan military system just as the incense burned out.

Everyone thought the Earl of Nanxiang would ask Meng Jianqing how he evaluated the current military system.

But after listening with narrowed eyes, the Earl of Nanxiang suddenly said, “You two brothers could be called matched talents of your time. If someday you met as enemies on a narrow battlefield path, how would you conduct yourself?”

Meng Jianqing couldn’t help but be startled.

Was the Earl of Nanxiang setting a trap for him?

If his answer was righteously impartial, though theoretically correct, everyone—including the Earl of Nanxiang himself—would probably think he was too cold-hearted. Since ancient times, loyal ministers must come from filial sons; by the same logic, if one cannot show fraternal love to brothers, how can one show fraternal love to soldiers and colleagues?

But if his answer considered brotherly bonds, everyone would probably think he was not a qualified soldier.

In the Earl of Nanxiang’s narrowed eyes, no expression could be discerned.

Meng Jianchen could completely guess the various thoughts rapidly turning in Meng Jianqing’s mind, and a mocking smile unconsciously appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He wanted to see how Meng Jianqing would face this question that allowed absolutely no ambiguity.

After what seemed like a long time, Meng Jianqing finally answered, “Father often says there are no fathers and sons on the battlefield. If there are no fathers and sons on the battlefield, what more of brothers?”

Since it was father’s instruction, for a son to follow it carefully seemed not entirely wrong, did it?

The Earl of Nanxiang pondered for a while before waving his hand to dismiss him to one side.

Meng Jianqing and Meng Jianchen’s gazes met.

Meng Jianchen turned his gaze toward the command platform and said in a low voice, “Elder brother truly lives up to being the good son taught by that old fox at home. You’ve slipped through again this time!”

Meng Jianqing’s voice was even lower: “It’s fine for you to be so disrespectful at home, but outside, referring to your father in such a tone might draw unfavorable attention.”

Meng Jianchen snorted and turned his head away, no longer acknowledging him.

The Earl of Nanxiang’s gaze swept over the two brothers.

Last night, detailed information on all twenty-one candidates had been delivered to him. The Meng brothers were two whom he paid particular attention to.

Meng Jianqing, the eldest son of a concubine of Ninghai Garrison Battalion Commander Meng Zhiyuan. His mother was Yu Shi, a maid who came as dowry with Meng Zhiyuan’s legal wife, the daughter of Taizhou Battalion Commander Duan De. Meng Zhiyuan had no sons at thirty and took Yu Shi as a concubine because she had the physiognomy of bearing sons. She bore Meng Jianqing, but his mother remained a nameless, statusless kitchen servant to this day. That same year, Lady Duan bore Meng Jianchen. Duan De was skilled in martial arts with distinguished military achievements, but because he delayed important matters due to drinking, he had never been promoted. Meng Jianchen was taught by him from childhood, while Meng Jianqing was personally instructed by Meng Zhiyuan and only sent to Tiantai Temple to study martial arts at thirteen. These two brothers, not born of the same mother, had spent little time together since childhood and lacked deep affection. Additionally, Meng Zhiyuan was known for both fearing his wife and showing favoritism toward his eldest son, repeatedly causing disturbances over this matter. This made the relationship between the two brothers—already incompatible in personality and mutually disapproving—even worse.

The Earl of Nanxiang pondered silently.

Though Meng Jianchen was arrogant, he was relatively simple and easy to see through. Meng Jianqing, however, made him feel an inexplicable unease.

Tiantai Temple had always emphasized martial arts for physical strengthening. But last night, when Meng Jianqing and Hu Jinyong went to raid the bandits in Tonglu Mountain, though Hu Jinyong’s account of events was confused and contradictory, the Earl of Nanxiang was secretly amazed by Meng Jianqing’s achievements—this didn’t seem like a disciple that Tiantai Temple monks could have trained.

However, both brothers possessed a vigorous, ambitious spirit that looked down upon all others.

Meng Zhiyuan was merely an unknown minor soldier—how could he have taught two such sons?

Perhaps it simply confirmed that old saying: poverty produces talent. It was precisely such obscure, declining families that forced these two brothers to strive so vigorously for advancement. Just like the Earl of Nanxiang himself—hadn’t he also risen from the fields?

The Earl of Nanxiang sighed inwardly as his vermilion brush fell.

The Earl of Nanxiang’s selection for Zhejiang Province chose ten candidates in total. The Meng brothers were among them. After the New Year, they would be sent by Hangzhou Regional Military Commission to Yingtian’s Jiangwu Hall.

This group of successful young men was the pride of Hangzhou Prefecture and of their families.

Those seeing them off wished that none would return home during these three years—once entering Jiangwu Hall, unless injured or eliminated, even students from Yingtian Prefecture could not return home for three years.

Having pledged themselves to the nation, they could no longer speak of home.