Chapter 884: Martial Champion Side Story (03) Martial Champion_3

Who asked the Third Princess to have poor judgment and fancy a rural boy?

The rural boy doesn’t have much skill either.

He’s merely a drill instructor, leading soldiers in training.

Li Yuzhu wasn’t bothered by it, and Mu Yuanxiu remained calm as if nothing was said.

Instead, Li Boxuan and Wei Family became anxious and angry.

If directly appointed to a high post, there’s fear of being called a freeloader.

If Mu Yuanxiu were to take an academic exam, it wouldn’t work; it takes time, not to mention what if he didn’t pass as a scholar or an advanced scholar?

Later, Li Boxuan thought of something.

Where there is a civil exam, there is a military exam.

He had the Ministry of War host the military examination, which had been suspended for years.

The news made Lou Chengye the happiest; he practiced with sticks and knives at home every day.

Li Yu En accompanied the children watching, she laughed and said, "Husband, I think you shouldn’t expect too much. This Martial Champion certainly won’t be you."

"Wife, don’t dampen my spirits, alright? What if I do become the Martial Champion?" Lou Chengye continued his practice with the stick.

He dislikes studying; becoming a civil servant is like being roasted on a fire for him.

Li Boxuan arranged for him and Mu Yuanxiu to be together at the Ministry of War.

Mu Yuanxiu managed the barracks outside the city.

He took care of the Ministry’s weapons procurement and other matters.

The quality of military supplies rest on his approval; it’s a lucrative, yet crucial task.

Because the task was important, Lou Chengye didn’t dare neglect it. After more than a year on the job, he lost all his fat and gained muscle, grew taller, and looked no worse than his four elder brothers.

But his personality remained honest and lovable, prompting Li Yu En to tease him often.

"It’s not like I’m truly trying to dampen you, but I’ve heard that Father enrolled Yuanxiu. With him there, how could you ever get first place?" Li Yu En laughed.

Lou Chengye stopped swinging the stick, turned back to Li Yu En in surprise, "Yuanxiu is going too?"

"Yes, I personally heard Father say so."

"Oh well, can’t get first, second works too."

Lou Chengye walked over to his daughter, pinching the cheeks of his two-year-old chubby bundle, "Ah Xin, is it alright if dad only gets second place?"

Lou Wanxin, the spitting image of Li Yu En when she was little, shook her head, "Not good, third would be better."

Lou Chengye chuckled, "Why is third better?"

Lou Wanxin stretched out both of her chubby hands, showing Lou Chengye.

Her left hand had three fingers raised, her right hand had two.

"Dad, see, three is one more finger than two, so three is better than two."

Lou Chengye, "..." was stumped.

Li Yu En burst out laughing.

.

The military exam piqued the interest of many martial disciples in the capital, with nearly five hundred enrolling.

After a series of eliminations, seven days later, the two victors finally stood on the stage.

Mu Yuanxiu versus Lou Chengye.

Lou Chengye knew his own strength; at best he could defeat Li Xing’an, he couldn’t beat Li Xingsheng, let alone the deeply skilled Mu Yuanxiu praised even by Li Xingsheng.

Both had accomplished many things in the capital together, understanding each other’s abilities well.

Lou Chengye smiled, "Brother-in-law, don’t make me lose too badly, I still have to host a victory celebration for you."

Mu Yuanxiu smiled, "Second Brother-in-law, you’re too modest."

Amidst the audience’s cheers, Lou Chengye spectacularly lost.

Mu Yuanxiu, however, spared his dignity so he didn’t lose too badly.

.

However, despite Mu Yuanxiu winning the Martial Champion, the disdainful voices towards him in the capital didn’t dissipate.

Voices claimed it was merely the Crown Prince and Third Prince cheating, and that the Second Prince Consort deliberately held back.

Li Xingsheng, Li Xing’an, and Lou Chengye were all angry, vowing to find the rumor spreader.

Mu Yuanxiu, nonetheless, smiled calmly, "Ability isn’t revealed overnight; they will naturally know my capability in time."

Li Xingsheng reassured him, "Yuanxiu, don’t be upset. I promise to find an opportunity for you to distinguish yourself, making everyone see you in a new light."

.

The military officer’s ability is typically measured by military accomplishments.

Indeed, small matches often lead to mockery as mere armchair strategies and flowery techniques.

Ever since Mu Yuanxiu won the Martial Champion title, Li Boxuan was constantly seeking tasks for him.

By the end of the year, a truly important matter emerged.

He hoped Mu Yuanxiu would establish military achievements, shutting up certain people, yet he didn’t wish for it to be in that place.

—Liangzhou City

Liangzhou City received urgent reports from Baili Mansion eight hundred miles away that Beiyang troops invaded, occupying three adjacent city forts.

Liangzhou City, isolated and hard to defend, sounded the alarm for help.