Chapter 32: Testing for Trickery (Please add to favorites and follow for updates)

"Wei Tu?" Magistrate Chen stroked the three-inch beard beneath his chin, pondering for a long while before instructing a clerk to bring the roster of this martial examination's candidates to his desk.

The current Zheng Dynasty had enjoyed two hundred and sixty-three years of reign, and the atmosphere of officialdom had become corrupt, far inferior to the previous dynasty.

Instances of cheating in the imperial examinations occurred frequently across various provinces, prefectures, and counties.

It was not limited to Qingshan County alone.

"However, if Wei Tu's performance is poor, I can simply find another excuse to deflect. The risk of doing otherwise is too great..." Magistrate Chen thought privately as he flipped through the roster.

In literature, there is no first place.

In martial arts, there is no second.

The martial examination differed from the literary examination; unlike the deep waters of literary composition, the skill level of a martial candidate could be seen clearly even by a layman.

Among the three categories—technique, courage, and skill—results in horse archery and foot archery could not be faked.

"To think he is actually in the upper tier of Grade A, and his scores in other categories are also Grade A. Only his saber dancing score is slightly lower, at upper Grade B..."

After flipping to Wei Tu's results, Magistrate Chen was momentarily surprised. With these scores, Wei Tu was a top contender for the title of champion.

From this, it was evident that the Huang family's gift-giving was not intended to ensure Wei Tu made the list or gained eligibility for the prefectural exam, but rather to have him personally designated as the county's martial champion.

"Now, only the external combat trials and the internal military strategy exams remain..."

"I can manipulate both."

Magistrate Chen tapped the roster on his wooden desk and ordered the clerk to summon the examiners for this county martial examination's "combat trials."

...

In the afternoon.

The external "combat trials" began.

The combat trial was the only practical assessment in the martial examination. Candidates competed in pairs; those who successfully advanced into the top ten were considered Grade A.

As for the relative skill levels among the top ten, they were not specifically compared during the county or prefectural exams. After all, blows can be blind, and it was unnecessary for candidates to suffer serious injuries during these stages.

Aside from the martial champion, who earned the right to bypass certain requirements for the prefectural exam, there was no difference in treatment among the other successful candidates on the list.

The second place and the last place received the same treatment.

There was no need to distinguish between them.

It was only during the provincial examination that the status of the "Martial Scholar" would vary, and that was when true rankings and honors would be decided.

"I hope I don't run into those dozen or so saber dancers who scored Grade A during the combat trials, otherwise..."

As the examiners began grouping the candidates and calling out names, Wei Tu prayed silently.

At most, he had been practicing saber techniques for less than six months, and he had no practical combat experience during that time.

Therefore, whether it was the "saber dancing" performance or the actual combat trials, there was a significant gap between him and the martial instructors from wealthy families who had practiced since childhood.

Soon.

The combat trial examiner assigned the martial instructor Wei Tu would fight.

"I don't recognize this instructor; it seems he didn't make the Grade A list," Wei Tu thought, glancing at the man and cross-referencing him with the list of instructors in his mind.

Before the trials began, vendors at the City God Temple would purchase the scores of every instructor across all categories from the clerks, compiled into booklets for sale.

Among them, an instructor who scored Grade A in a specific category was called a "Grade A Instructor" and was considered a top candidate for the list.

"Ma Hong from Wangdu Village. Please, Martial Candidate Wei, show some restraint."

Soon, Wei Tu and his opponent stepped onto the arena, exchanging names.

However, Ma Hong clearly recognized Wei Tu. As Wei Tu stepped onto the stage, his expression shifted slightly, and he cupped his fists in greeting.

"Wei Tu of Changming Village."

Wei Tu also returned the salute.

After the greeting.

The two immediately engaged in combat.

A short while later.

After a dozen exchanges, Wei Tu forced Ma Hong off the stage, securing his first victory.

—An upper Grade B in saber dancing was not a weak score; what he feared were the dozen or so instructors who had achieved Grade A.

Next.

Several more bouts followed.

To Wei Tu's slight surprise, every time a combat trial began, the examiner assigned him opponents from the same group of relatively weak instructors.

"Could it be..." After the fifth bout, Wei Tu seemed to realize something. He paused on the stone steps of the arena, his gaze instinctively drifting toward Master Huang among the gathered gentry.

When things are abnormal, there is usually something afoot.

In participating in this county martial exam, Wei Tu had revealed to the Huang residence that he was a disciple of the Single Martial Scholar, but he had not disclosed this identity to the public.

—He was not confident in securing the championship in the county exam, so there was no need to mention his background.

From this, it was clear that the examiner was not changing his opponents based on the Single Martial Scholar's connections, but rather that someone else was helping him from behind the scenes.

Someone with the power to influence the county martial examiners and the willingness to help him...

His identity was obvious.

Aside from Master Huang, who had claimed kinship with him, no one else fit these criteria.

"Cheating in the imperial examinations?" Wei Tu frowned.

—It wasn't that he couldn't stand such filth, but rather that he worried someone might use this to harm him.

For a martial instructor of his caliber, such petty schemes carried more risk than reward.

"I have acknowledged kinship with Master Huang. Even if I haven't accepted his patronage, he shouldn't want to harm me..."

Thinking this, Wei Tu shook his head and suppressed these stray thoughts.

Soon.

Several more matches began.

Without encountering any high-level experts from the county exam, Wei Tu faced no pressure in his victories, easily crushing his opponents and securing a spot in the final top ten of the combat trials.

As for the "petty schemes" Wei Tu had noticed, few of the instructors present or the watching commoners noticed them.

After all, Wei Tu's scores prior to the combat trials were already strong, making him a favorite for the championship; defeating other instructors was naturally easy for him.

"Wei Tu?"

Among the top ten, a young man with sharp, slanted eyebrows cast a deep, somewhat contemptuous glance at Wei Tu standing beside him.

Others had not noticed the manipulation in the combat trials, but he had.

Because he was wary of Wei Tu's strength, he had been watching Wei Tu closely, observing his moves to formulate a tactic...

Unexpectedly...

During this time, he had perceived that Wei Tu might be cheating in the matches.

"Forget it. Making too much noise wouldn't be good for me either." Wei Wei shook his head and withdrew his gaze from Wei Tu.

Reporting exam fraud.

It wouldn't just target Wei Tu, but all the officials, large and small, in Qingshan County.

He did not have the courage to attempt such a thing during an examination.

Furthermore, even if he were successful in reporting it.

His future would be ruined from then on.

Officials protecting their own.

That was no empty saying.

...

After the event concluded.

Wei Tu sought out Master Huang to confirm his suspicions regarding the combat trials.

The result was as expected.

For this martial examination, Master Huang had indeed spoken to Magistrate Chen.

"The title of County Champion may seem useless, serving only to guarantee your entry into the provincial exam, but... in reality, when you enter official service, the government will see you were the County Champion and may, at their discretion, arrange better martial positions for you..."

"Furthermore, even if I, your uncle, did not do this, other gentry would do the same for their own kin."

"Giving Magistrate Chen a heads-up was simply to ensure that your deserved results wouldn't fall through just because there was no bribe..."

Inside the carriage, Master Huang and Wei Tu sat facing each other as he explained calmly.