The martial arts lecture hall is located near the moat outside Xizhimen. It covers an area of ​​1,200 acres and is quite large in scale. It is the largest academy in the Ming Dynasty. However, the martial arts lecture hall is not an ordinary lecture academy, but the Ming version of the Huangpu Military Academy. It is a place to train military talents. It has been established for three years and the first batch of military talents trained will graduate in June.

The martial arts lecture hall was originally advocated by Xu Jin, aiming to establish a systematic and scientific military talent training mechanism to replace the traditional backward martial arts system and at the same time break the old and rigid hereditary system of military officers in the ward.

Just as all foods have a shelf life, a system, or even an empire, also has a shelf life, once the shelf life is up, the food will deteriorate, the system will become rigid and backward, and the empire will perish.

As we all know, adding preservatives can extend the shelf life of food, so can it extend the shelf life of the empire? The answer is yes, that is, constantly reform, cut off rigid and backward systems, and formulate more dynamic and more appropriate systems.

The Ming Dynasty has been established for more than 150 years. To put it bluntly, the shelf life has exceeded half, and many systems have become corrupt and rigid, and are no longer suitable for the current situation of the Ming Dynasty. For example, the pig-raising hereditary system of royal family has brought heavy burdens to the national finances, and the hereditary system of titles advocated by Xu Jin effectively alleviated this burden; for example, land annexation, military household hereditary system of military households, etc., have all become corrupt.

The hereditary system of military households in the garrison. This thing did ensure the stable supply of military sources in the early days of the founding of the country, but it is no longer suitable now, which seriously dragged down the combat effectiveness of the Ming army. Haven’t you seen that military households in various places have severely fled, and ten of them are seriously short of personnel, and their combat effectiveness is unbearable.

The hereditary system of military households has caused class solidification to a certain extent, just like the descendants of ordinary soldiers can only be soldiers all the time, and the sons of Qianhu can inherit my father and become Qianhu as Qianhu when they become adults.

As the saying goes, is this the case with my heroes? On the contrary, I have more heroes and sons. Just imagine that if military officers continue to be hereditary, over time, the entire empire's military leadership system will be filled with incompetent candids. Such an army can win battles, and there will be a ghost.

It was precisely because Xu Jin saw the problem that he strongly advocated the cultivation of military talents in the form of a martial arts lecture hall to break the class solidification created by this hereditary class.

The enrollment of martial arts lecture halls does not depend on background or qualifications. As long as you meet the age, physical, intellectual conditions, etc., you can register for admission. After successfully passing the assessment, you will be assigned to the local military forces as junior military officers, and you will get a fair chance of promotion based on military merit and qualifications.

Xu Jin and Jiajing's plan was that when the martial arts hall's energy source continued to cultivate talents, it gradually abolished the original hereditary system of the garrison, and at the same time combined with the military recruitment system to ensure the supply of troops.

Back to the topic, today is the tenth day of the first lunar month. The martial arts lecture hall was on the annual holiday, but on the eighth day of the lunar month, all the students near the capital received a notice that they must return to the martial arts lecture hall on the tenth day of the lunar month, because at that time, King Xi Jin of Beijing will personally visit the martial arts lecture hall to select generals. Those selected will be fortunate to follow King Beijing to march to the west to expedition.

For a moment, all the students near the capital were furious and couldn't sleep. They only hoped that the tenth day of the first lunar month would arrive soon. Fortunately, they showed their skills in front of King Beijing, and were honorably selected by him as the "old man" and became famous on the battlefield and won the favor of his wife and son.

There is no doubt that Xu Jin, who was a civil servant, is the first person in the army. Over the years, he has been on the battlefield and killed all directions, and has never been defeated. He is like a god of war. Whether in the eyes of various military generals or ordinary soldiers, Xu Jin is an idol who is like a high mountain, and naturally includes the young students in the martial arts lecture hall.

I heard that the idol was coming to recruit people in person, so how could these students not be excited? Some students and even specialists rushed hundreds of miles to inform classmates and friends who had returned home for the New Year to come back to participate in the assessment.

Early in the 11th day of the first lunar month, hundreds of students flocked into the martial arts lecture hall and set up a good team in front of the Wude Hall to look forward to it. However, King Beijing did not appear. Instead, the teacher in the martial arts lecture hall issued a written test for the policy topic. Only by passing the written test can you take the subsequent martial arts examination. It is said that the question was handled by Prince Beijing himself.

It took about half an hour to finish the written test, because Xu Jin didn't give many questions, and the main test was the students' ability to adapt to changes. They were different from fighting and were willing to be random. Soldiers were the most important. So if you had time, you would think about it slowly.

It was not until the test paper was submitted that King Beijing never appeared. It was estimated that he would not be there in person until the next day's martial arts test, so the students dispersed in disappointment and returned to their dormitories to wait for the results to be released in the afternoon.

At this time, in Wude Hall, Xu Jin was wearing a jade-colored shirt and a four-character puff scarf on his head. He sat behind the table and savored the tea calmly.

"Report to the prince, the plan for the exam is over!" The invigilator walked in and reported respectfully, and the five teachers behind him each held a large stack of test papers.

Xu Jin nodded, signaled to put the test paper on the desk, and smiled and said, "Thank you all, but the matter has happened suddenly, so we will not follow the rules this time, but the graduation assessment of the martial arts lecture hall must be strictly followed by the process in the future."

"Yes, yes, yes, it's not hard for the officials to wait. But the prince has worked hard and will produce the result in the afternoon. It's too hasty. Otherwise, the prince will produce the result tomorrow, so there's more time." The invigilator said considerately.

Xu Jin waved his hand and said, "No need, time is enough. You can go down and rest. Don't come in and disturb me before the time comes."

The invigilator and a group of teachers quickly turned back, and Xu Jin began to read the test papers with a glance. If he thought it was OK, he would tick it and make a fork aside if he couldn't. The efficiency was quite high.

When a person is fully focused, no matter what he does, he will be very efficient. Xu Jin is the kind of person who can concentrate at any time and anywhere, and hates a competition-type "player". The more challenging things are, the more excited they are.

As time passed by minute by minute, five stacks of test papers gradually disappeared from the left side, and two stacks of reviewed test papers were added to the right side of the table, one was nearly half a meter high, but the other was only a thin two or three centimeters.

Before three o'clock in the afternoon, Xu Jin finally revised and read all the test papers, with nearly 400 copies, but only 76 copies were selected.

Xu Jin stretched, rubbed his slightly sore wrist, and then ordered someone to call the invigilator and several teachers in.

The invigilator was a doctor in the Ministry of War’s Military Selection Department, named Jiang Tong. When he saw Xu Jinzhen reviewing all the test papers before the time of the time, he couldn’t help but look admiring.

Xu Jin handed the 76 selected test papers to Jiang Tong and ordered: "Cross the name and then put it on the list. All selected candidates will be on the school day at Mao day tomorrow, and those who are late will be disqualified from the martial arts examination."

"Yes, I'll do it now." Jiang Tong took the test paper and withdrew with several teachers.

Xu Jin stretched again, and only heard the sound of drums in his belly. He felt hungry. Then he woke up and only ate one piece of pastry at noon. He called Song Dayan, Zhao Datou and other personal soldiers to prepare to leave the martial arts lecture hall. As a result, as soon as he left the Wude Hall, he saw two students looking at them, looking at them with anxiety and nervous expressions.

"Hey, you two guys are sneaking, what are you doing?" Zhao Datou glared at him and asked fiercely.

The two students were about seventeen or eighteen years old. One of them was probably 1.89 meters tall, and the other was nearly shorter, probably not enough to be less than Miqi, but they had a strong and well-proportioned figure and dark skin.

When the two saw Zhao Datou asking, they were obviously a little timid. Finally, the shorter gritted their teeth, pulled the tall one over, and curtsy said: "Student Li Guangqi (Liu Xian), see Prince Beijing."

Xu Jin looked at the two young men quietly and asked, "Are you students in the martial arts lecture hall?"

“That’s right!”

"Oh, what's the matter with you?"

"The student is late and missed the literary test. I beg the prince to ask us to give us a supplementary test." The short young man said loudly.

Zhao Datou couldn't help but be happy and cursed, "You are not tall, but you are quite angry. You are late, why should you give me a retrieval? It's a blessing in school. If you arrive at the military camp, you dare to be late. The thirty military sticks must hit you with your butt. Hehe, I still want to give you a retrieval. Have a dream, get out of here!"

The two young men couldn't help but blushed, but Xu Jin showed a thoughtful look at this time.

"This literary test is unfair. If the prince is not allowed to give a supplementary test, the students will not leave." The short young man said stubbornly, but the tall young man next to him looked frightened. He secretly poked the short young man and signaled him not to Meng Lang.

Seeing this, Xu Jin became interested and said indifferently: "How is it unfair? If you can't tell me why, I will not only beat you up the military stick, but also cut off your academic status."

The short young man said unafraid: "The student is a child of Jingluwei. He lives in Datong Town. It is the New Year Festival now. The students are back home for the New Year. The prince only informed him to choose the generals on the eighth day of the lunar month. It would be great that the students could come back on the tenth day of the lunar month. Some classmates who are far away from Beijing have not even received the news that the prince is choosing the generals in the martial arts hall. Is this fair?"

Xu Jin nodded and said indifferently: "It's indeed unfair, but there are so many unfair things in this world. If I make an exception for you two, what if a student asks for a retrial test in a few days? I don't have time to waste it."

The tall young man quickly said apologetically: "What the prince said is very true. The student will not give up the test. Brother Xianzhi, let's go."

The short young man said anxiously: "Brother Weiming, you missed the literary exam because you rode a horse to the Jinglu Guard and informed me. I may not take the retake, but I beg the prince to allow Liu Xian to take the retake."

Xu Jin's heart moved and asked, "Your name is Liu Xian, and your name is Weiming?"

The tall young man was stunned for a moment and nodded, "The student is Liu Xian, a native of Hongdu, Jiangxi Province."

Xu Jin's mind flashed, and he woke up a person. Liu Xian, all of them were Liu Jing. Liu Jing was known as the number one general in the late Ming Dynasty. He shined during the Wanli period. He experienced hundreds of battles in his life and participated in two Korean Wars. He fought head-on with the Japanese army that invaded Korea. He finally died of a strong battle in the middle of the slums. He was very famous at that time.

Of course, although Liu Zhen was a little worse, he was also very famous. He even served as the governor of the Five Army Governor's Office. Xu Jin was not a specialist in history, so he was not very familiar with him, but had a little impression.

"Okay, since you two are so loyal, I will make an exception and ask you two to take the supplementary test. However, if you fail the exam, each of them will have objections!" Xu Jin said in the end and said coldly.

Liu Xian and Li Guangqi looked at each other in surprise and quickly expressed no objection. So Xu Jin asked the invigilator Jiang Tong to arrange for the two to take the test, and after the test, the test paper was sent directly to the Beijing Palace.

After the arrangements, Xu Jin walked straight out of the martial arts hall and took a carriage to the restaurant under the city to find food. He was almost starving to death.

"Big Eyes, why did the Grandmaster ask those two boys to make up for the test? Is it because they are loyal?" Zhao Datou asked Song Da's eyes next to him while riding a horse.

Song Dayan had some eyesight and said indifferently: "The two boys have bright eyes, their skills, physical strength and riding skills are quite good. The coach asked them to take the make-up exam, so he might not be interested in them."

Zhao Datou stared at the bull's eyes and said, "Big Eyes, how do you know that their skills, physical strength and riding are good?"

Song Dayan pointed to his head, Zhao Dayan rolled his eyes and said, "Dayan, you know that my brain has never been easy to use, so don't keep it in your pocket."

"Then Li Guangqi said he was from Jinglu Guards, where is Jinglu Guards?" Zhao Datou asked back.

"This... seems to be in Datong!"

"Isn't this going to end? Datong has at least six or seven hundred miles to the capital. It takes one day to change horses and no one to change horses. Liu Xian set out to Jinglu Guard on the 8th day of the lunar month, and then brought Li Guangqi back on the 10th day of the lunar month. Although he didn't make the literary test in the end, he ran thousands of miles in less than three days. He still had the energy to take the exam. If his skills, physical strength and riding skills were not possible, then could he do it?" Song Dayan said coldly.

Zhao Datou couldn't help but realize it suddenly, scratched the bald head and said, "Master is indeed very insightful. Well, you are not bad at big eyes. If I hadn't imagined this level."

Song Dayan curled his lips and said, "I thought about it later. Our brains are not as good as the general in the future."

"That's it!" The personal soldiers nodded in agreement with deep consent.

Xu Jin in the carriage couldn't help but laugh. He didn't expect so much. He just thought that Liu Xian's name sounded familiar and seemed to be a great man, so he made an exception and asked them to take the make-up exam.

In fact, Liu Xian and Li Guangqi were indeed famous anti-Japanese generals during the Jiajing period. They both worked with Yu Dayou and Qi Jiguang, so Xu Jin picked up the treasure this time.

Let’s talk about Xu Jin’s restaurant after returning to the city, and then returned home. Under the service of Meibi Yue’er, he took a comfortable bath. Just as he was about to take a nap, the invigilator sent back the test papers of Liu Xian and Li Guangqi.

When Xu Jin opened it, his eyes lit up. Li Guangqi's test paper was answered well, while Liu Xian's test paper was even better, and it was the most satisfying one at present.
Chapter completed!