The sixteen people were all well-dressed and full of vigor, except for a servant wearing a green cap and with plaster all over his face.
Su Linglong looked at Huo Chenan, who was out of place on the stage, and couldn't help but want to cover her face: I don't know this guy, he is not my Su family's servant.
You Zizai saw that the time was almost up, so he announced: "The time has come, the poetry competition finals officially began, the first round of the finals will be a poem on the theme of "agriculture", and the time limit is one stick of incense. Please, talented people, the timer begins!"
After that, a serving eunuch lit a stick of incense.
The sixteen people walked to their respective desks and began to think hard.
In fact, it is not difficult to guess the emperor's mind. The current country is in internal and external troubles, and the emperor is unlikely to come up with some clichés under the moonlight. It must be based on people's livelihood and national affairs as the topic, one is to test the true talents of these so-called talents, and the other is to show that he is worried about national affairs and win a good reputation.
But in this way, the poetry competition loses its entertainment and has more political purposes.
Huo Chen'an didn't have the energy to guess the emperor's intention of setting the question. He just wanted to do some paddling so that he could be eliminated and go home quickly.
Although it was paddling, the old emperor had said in advance that he couldn't do it too obviously, so it was difficult to find the right degree.
Huo Chen'an thought about it and started writing on the paper.
After a stick of incense, all the talented people had completed their poems. Some were confident, while others were nervous.
You Zizai announced that everyone should present their poems one by one, and Huo Chen was arranged at the end.
"Lu Renjia, Lu of Dongwu, "Harvest" The rice piles are round and pointed, and the farmers pile the rice up to the sky. Pull a piece of white cloud to wipe the sweat, and get close to the sun to smoke a pack of cigarettes."
"Puff~" Hearing this gentleman's poem, Huo Chen'an felt that he was still too conservative.
After listening to it for a while, Huo Chen'an felt cold in his heart. I really don't want to advance! But the opponent is not strong! I am going to be promoted.
Finally, it was Huo Chenan's turn.
As soon as he stepped onto the stage, the crowd began to whisper.
"Why is this guy dressed like a servant? Is he just a fake?"
"Why does he have so many plasters on his face?"
"He must not be able to write poetry. He is afraid of losing face, so he covers his face."
"Do you think there is something fishy about this poetry meeting? How can such a person make it to the finals?"
Just as everyone was whispering, Huo Chenan stepped forward and said, "Jinling Su family, Huo Chenan."
At this time, the sisters who knew Su Linglong in the audience whispered, "Is this your family's servant?"
Su Linglong covered her face with her hands and said, "Really? Why don't I know him?"
The man rolled his eyes and said, "How many Su families are there in Jinling?"
"Haha!" Su Linglong smiled awkwardly, and cursed Huo Chenan in her heart before saying, "Who can recognize him with so many plasters on him!"
While everyone was discussing, Huo Chenan continued to read, "The sun is high in the sky while I hoe the field. Sweat drips on the ground. Who knows that every grain of rice on the plate is the result of hard work."
When Huo Chenan finished reading the poem, the wind direction in the audience immediately changed 180 degrees.
"This little servant is quite good!"
"Yes, this is a classic poem of exhortation, the main idea is to cherish food, it should be a classic for all ages."
"Brother, you have a high opinion of this poem, but I also think this poem should be a classic for all ages."
Everyone who has some knowledge in the audience has a high opinion of this poem.
After hearing the comments from everyone, Su Linglong couldn't help but feel happy. She didn't expect that this unreliable guy was really good.
Soon the poem was sent to the dragon boat for the emperor to decide. After reading it, the old emperor specially took out Huo Chenan's "Mercy for the Peasants" and read it repeatedly. The more he read, the more he felt that although the words of this poem were simple, the truth it described was very profound.
"This Huo Chenan can enter the Hanlin Academy as a bachelor."
To be honest, the old emperor admired Huo Chenan's talent very much. Everything he wrote was a classic.
If such a talent cannot be used by me... Thinking of this, the old emperor couldn't help but flash a cold light in his eyes.
...
Soon the eight places for promotion were decided, and Huo Chenan was among them.
Helplessly, Huo Chenan could only follow everyone to the next platform.
After arriving at the next platform, You Zizai announced: "The topic of the eight to four is "war."
Everyone was stunned. This old emperor was not playing by the rules. How could these students who read books all day write the word "war"? Apart from studying, where have they ever been to the battlefield?
You Zizai continued: "The time is still one stick of incense, and the countdown begins."
Everyone was scratching their heads anxiously.
Huo Chenan was also anxious, but he was anxious about how to be eliminated?
Just as Huo Chenan was thinking, You Zizai walked up to him and whispered, "His Majesty said that roasted sweet potatoes are delicious. His Majesty doesn't want you to deliberately let him win. If you dare, you will be executed immediately."
With a buzz, Huo Chenan's mind went blank. Damn, the old emperor knew it was me, but it seemed that the old emperor didn't want to kill him. He didn't know what the old emperor was thinking, but deliberately hiding his shortcomings would definitely not work.
Huo Chenan no longer hid his shortcomings, and wrote down quickly, and soon wrote a poem.
This time Huo Chenan read first: "Black clouds pressed down on the city and the city was about to be destroyed, and the armor shone towards the sun and the golden scales opened. The horn sounded in the autumn sky, and the rouge on the frontier was condensed into purple at night. The half-rolled red flag was facing the Yishui River, and the frost was heavy and the drums were cold. I will report your intention on the golden platform, and I will help you die with Yulong."
After listening to Huo Chenan's poem, everyone saw a scene of the battlefield outside the frontier, with black clouds, yellow sand, horn sounds, and blood spilled in the camp. Everyone was immersed in the heavy atmosphere of the battlefield, and a feeling of serving the country rose in their hearts.
"Good!" I don't know who took the lead, and soon the cheers became one.
At this moment, the old emperor sitting on the dragon boat was also laughing from ear to ear.
"Hahaha, interesting little guy."
"Report your kindness on the golden platform, and support the Jade Dragon to die for you." The old emperor was very satisfied with these two sentences, which proved that Huo Chenan still had a heart to serve the country. He could be used by him. He immediately got the hang of it after two tips. The young man is teachable.
"This boy can be of great use." The old emperor commented in his heart.
Compared with Huo Chenan, the poems of others were like fireflies competing with the bright moon, not at the same level at all.
In the end, Huo Chenan undoubtedly advanced to the top four. Several people boarded the last platform, where there was only the last gangway left from the dragon boat.
On the table of this platform, in addition to pens, ink, paper and inkstone, there were also wine and food.
You Zizai said to everyone: "It's getting late. The emperor has specially prepared wine and cakes for the four talented scholars. You can enjoy them while writing poems. The last question is "No Title". The time is still one stick of incense, and the timer starts."
"No Title?" Everyone was stunned. What the hell is this "No Title"?
When everyone was at a loss, only Huo Chenan was drinking. It is said that wine makes cowards brave. Huo Chenan urgently needs courage now. He even regards this wine as the last farewell wine.
"Hey, I don't know if there will be another meal after this one!"