Rise from a Low-class Family to Martial Artist

Chapter 111: Chapter 16: May Every Liang Citizen Be as a Dragon

Raozhou Prefecture, Military Affairs Department!

Spanning over ten thousand mu of land, several grand halls were scattered thoughtfully, and in the square in front of the main hall, a gigantic statue of a man wielding a spear was carved.

As a bell rang throughout, Su Lingchuan and several figures stepped into the main hall.

Raozhou Prefecture governs eleven counties, and today is the day for the directors of each county’s Martial Affairs Office to present their reports.

Inside the main hall, eleven chairs were arranged, except for two directors who did not attend, the remaining nine sat in their respective seats.

Su Lingchuan sat in the lowest position.

The seating arrangement by the Military Affairs Department was related to the rankings of students in the prefecture examination, and Poyang County consistently ranked at the bottom for several years, thus it could only occupy the last position.

”Junior Brother Su, I heard you arrived in Poyang County and made reforms to the martial hall, introducing a tri-monthly competition for new students. Now that three months have passed, how is it going?”

Hearing the man to his left speak, Su Lingchuan said calmly, ”Not bad.”

This Senior Brother Zhang was the director of Yanshan County’s Martial Affairs Office. In past competitions, Poyang County ranked last, followed closely by Yanshan County. No wonder this Senior Brother Zhang was curious, fearing Poyang County’s rise, leaving Yanshan County at the bottom.

”I, on the other hand, did not organize a tri-monthly competition but am preparing for a half-yearly one. Three months is too short to see the difference. Since this cohort from Poyang County is good, I wonder if Junior Brother Su has any interest in organizing a friendly match between our two counties.”

Zhang Wangshan grinned at Su Lingchuan, ambitious as Junior Brother Su was, he too was not lacking.

This cohort from Yanshan County included a few promising ones, and he was confident in surpassing Poyang County.

Su Lingchuan’s eyes narrowed, looking at the smile on Zhang Wangshan’s face, he cursed inwardly, thinking, does he think he has Poyang County under his thumb?

The other county directors were also intrigued, the competitions between Poyang and Yanshan, the usual underperformers, were not exciting, but they were amused by the overt and subtle rivalry between Junior Brother Su and Junior Brother Zhang.

”A contest between the two counties is an event on the Martial Path, a good story indeed, it almost excites me. Does any Junior Brother want to organize such a match with my Guangxin County?”

”Senior Brother Chen, competing with Guangxin County’s martial hall students is seeking humiliation.”

The middle-aged man sitting foremost spoke, causing everyone else to look resigned.

For ten consecutive years, Guangxin County had topped the prefecture examination in overall students, and even for individual student rankings, Guangxin County had six students take the first place within ten years, markedly superior to other counties.

Among the eleven counties under Raozhou Prefecture, Guangxin County had the broadest region and the largest population. While other counties had populations around a million, Guangxin County boasted three million, naturally yielding more talents.

”Junior Brother Su, what have you considered?”

Zhang Wangshan saw Su Lingchuan remain silent, assuming he was hesitant, and thus pressed further.

”In the contest between the two counties, how should the rewards be determined?”

Su Lingchuan did not provide an answer but instead posed another question.

”Regarding rewards, you and I should...”

”The rewards will be set by the Military Affairs Department for you.”

A deep voice sounded, prompting Zhang Wangshan and Su Lingchuan to instantly halt their conversation and rise from their chairs, as did everyone else.

From behind a screen within the hall, a vigorous elder slowly emerged.

”Director!”

Qiu Rufeng nodded, took a seat at the main position, and swept a glance across the room, finally resting his gaze on Su Lingchuan and Zhang Wangshan.

”Since you two mentioned the contest between the counties, this official will announce a matter to you. This official decided that apart from Guangxin County, the other ten counties will be paired, and the new cohort of students will compete, with half of the rewards provided by the Military Affairs Department, and the other half by each county.”

Qiu Rufeng’s words left everyone present stunned, but Su Lingchuan’s eyes lit up, realizing his teacher highly valued this new cohort, implying a true breakthrough had been achieved.

This meant his upcoming report would be good news for his teacher.

He had been hesitant about whether to report this matter or not.

The response from the Shu Family was demanding, their conditions made his heart ache, causing his indecision.

But now, after hearing his teacher’s words, he had made a decision.

The directors present were also shrewd, gleaning much information from the attention the director had shown the county offices since the beginning of the year and today’s decision.

The director was very likely breaking through the Seventh Grade, stepping into the Sixth Grade.

Reaching Sixth Grade allowed one to rise further, but according to Liang’s law, the director of the Military Affairs Department needed not only a breakthrough in abilities but substantial political achievements to advance.

”You ten counties should form pairs based on last year’s prefecture examination rankings and compete against one another accordingly,”

Qiu Rufeng set the arrangements, and Su Lingchuan and others promptly agreed, realizing the director’s arrangement was fair, ensuring no strong county pitted against a weak one based on the last cohort’s rankings.

”Do any of you have further matters to discuss?”

The Military Affairs Department oversees Raozhou Prefecture’s martial matters, keeping it busy, but as the director, Qiu Rufeng did not need to intervene in those tedious matters personally.

Be it the director of the Military Affairs Department, or the director of a Martial Affairs Office, or even the head of various martial halls, most time was spent on training, while deputies managed the specifics.

”Director, I have a matter to report.”

Seeing no one else speak up, Su Lingchuan pondered briefly and said, ”In Poyang County’s Martial Affairs Office, there is a student and an instructor whose experiences can be considered models of Martial Arts Education. The student’s name is Lin Chen, and his Martial Hall instructor, Yu Yongnian...”