Chapter 69: The Results Are Out, A Poem Stuns the Audience

  Two days later was the day when the results were announced, but there was a rule for the exchange conference of Yingchuan Academy, that is, only the first place was announced, and the others didn't matter, the test papers were directly sent to individuals.

  If you want to know how others did, go ask yourself. And each test paper is marked with the ranking obtained, so it's said that one knows oneself, as for whether or not you are willing to let others know, that's entirely up to your own will.

  The method of Yingchuan Academy is not bad, when the first name is announced publicly, it can further enhance everyone's sense of competition, and everyone wants to be the first. And if you want to show off, you can take out the test paper for everyone to see, if your score is very poor, you don't have to let others know, you can also hide or destroy it, no problem, who else will know your score?

  Today is the day of announcing results, so everyone was waiting early in the academy for Xun Shuang and others. Before long, the five people including Xun Shuang took their seats, and the whole scene suddenly became quiet.

  "The results are out now, those whose names I call please come forward to collect your results. However, everyone should understand that this is not ranked according to the order of scores. Alright, let's start distributing the results... Yingchuan Guo Jia!" was all Xun Shuang read out.

  Guo Jia then walked forward and took away his own test paper, with an expressionless face. Ma Chao saw Guo Jia return and joked with him, "Brother Guo, I only realized that this is indeed not arranged in order of ranking when Mr. Ci Ming read out your name."

  Guo Jia gave Ma Chao a cold stare but said nothing, and after taking away the test paper, Xun Shuang continued to read out the next one, "Chen Liu Ruan Yu!" As soon as he finished speaking, someone from the first row also came forward to take his own test paper. From his expression, Ma Chao felt that Ruan Yu was very dissatisfied with his ranking, otherwise he wouldn't have had such an expression.

  "Xun Yu of Yingchuan!" Ma Chao's interest was piqued even more, and he wanted to see who Xun Yu really was. Again, someone emerged from the front row, about 16 or 17 years old, and indeed a talented young man. It turned out that he was Xun Yu, praised by He Yong as having the talent of a king's assistant. Ma Chao thought to himself that he was indeed not to be underestimated.

  However, he thought more of Xun Yu as a great talent in internal affairs, managing finance and taxation, governing states and counties, which is absolutely first-class. There are only a few talents like him, Cao Cao's side is naturally Xun Yu and Xun Wenruo, Sun Quan's side is Zhang Zhao and Zhang Zibu, Liu Bei's side is of course Zhuge Liang.

  When will I have such talents under my command? Ma Chao thought for a moment and couldn't help but laugh, he was thinking too much. Now that he didn't even have a place to settle down, he was already thinking about governing the state and counties. Even if Xiao He were reborn, it would be impossible, after all, a clever woman can't cook without rice. Let's take it one step at a time, it's not time for that yet.

  Next, Xun Shuang read out the names one by one, and they all went to retrieve their test papers. After everyone's name had been called, Ma Chao looked around and found that his own paper was not among them. Could it be lost? That would be no fun at all. If the test paper really got lost, what could he use to make a stunning debut? All his efforts to cheat would have been in vain.

  "Brother Guo, why don't I have one?" Ma Chao couldn't understand and could only go ask Guo Jia.

  "This is a bad thing, I forgot to tell Mengqi brother that every year the last place in the achievement must be named and criticized at the exchange meeting. So, in my opinion, Mengqi brother is likely to be unlucky! " Guo Jia said with an extremely regretful and painful expression, implying that Ma Chao was doomed."

  Guo Jia still remembered the joke he had with Ma Chao before, so now he was looking for an opportunity to strike back. He didn't mention the achievements at the exchange meeting to Ma Chao, so Ma Chao didn't understand the situation.

  But Ma Chao just laughed, he didn't understand the situation of the meeting, but he was clear about his own situation. "Brother Guo is joking, even if I lose face, it's not that serious. This first place should still be left to Brother Guo, I won't compete with you. Just now when Brother Guo took back the test paper, your expression was blank, and Mr. Ci Ming read out your name first, it seems that Brother Guo's score..."

  Ma Chao shook his head and said, "Although Brother Guo got a shameful first place, after all, it's still the first. There are only two first places in total, so Brother Guo should be content!"

  Ma Chao gave Guo Jia a counterattack. If he had said that the topic was his own answer, perhaps he would have believed Guo Jia's words. But what he did was plagiarize other people's things, even if he didn't get first place, it was absolutely impossible to be last.

  "Meng Qi's brother is indeed not easy to deceive, but this is actually my fault for forgetting to mention it. The champion of each conference must be announced on the spot, so it won't be sent out temporarily!" Guo Jia laughed and said.

  At this moment, he was thinking that his vision had always been correct. Ma Chao Ma Mengqi was indeed a capable person, and it remained to be seen whether he could surpass others among the hundred people, which would be absolutely extraordinary. These hundred people were either students from the academy or people they had invited, and finally, they were talented scholars from various counties and states. Previously, Ma Chao had no great reputation, but after this grand assembly, Ma Chao Ma Mengqi would surely become famous throughout the land.

  "Finally, everyone should know that the first place of this conference's results is about to be announced!"

  Xun Yu's words interrupted Guo Jia's thoughts, and although he had already known it was Ma Chao, he still perked up his ears along with everyone else to listen to Xun Yu announce the final result.

  Xun Shuang said: "This time at the conference, after our five people's review, we finally unanimously agreed that this volume is the final first place!"

  As he said that, he picked up the test paper, "The first place in this conference is..."

  He suddenly stopped, Ma Chao looked at Xun Shuang, this scene made him think of the award ceremonies of his previous life, almost all of them were like this, "The winner of this time is, the final winner is, the person who finally won the award is", anyway, they all had to pause for a few seconds or even more. He didn't expect that ancient people would do the same, could it be that this was also passed down from our ancestors? Ma Chao suddenly felt why not pass down some good things, you know how many things have been lost.

  Xun Shuang looked down at the people below and loudly declared: "He is indeed Ma Chao, the Marquis of Fufeng!"

  Most of the people below were stunned, originally they thought the first place should be a student from Yingchuan Academy or a talented scholar from some county, but it was clearly not.

  None of the students from the academy seem to know him, and it's even more so for the talented scholars from various counties and states. The ones who came this time are all somewhat famous, but someone like Ma Chao from Fufeng has never been heard of before, and there isn't anyone with that name among the talented scholars from the counties and states. Furthermore, no talented scholars from Fufeng have come to participate in the conference this time, so it seems that he was brought here by the students from the academy.

  Xun Shuang continued, "I know that none of you may have heard of Ma Chao, the Marquis of Fufeng, but now you all have. I also know that none of you are convinced, why is he ranked first and not one of you? In that case, let's ask Mr. Ziyu to explain the first question!" After finishing speaking, Xun Shuang made a polite gesture with his hand towards Pang De.

  He whispered to Pongde beside him: "The fish is yours, I've said so much."

  Pang De looked at Xun Shuang and then at Sima Hui, "The topic was brought up by De Cao, it's only right that he should speak, I'm just the one who agreed first." Pang De didn't like to speak in front of many people, while Sima Hui deliberately let him speak instead of speaking himself.

  Simahui smiled after hearing this, and for once he didn't say anything good. There was no choice, so Pang Degong had to take the stage: "Everyone, this first question is from Mr. Shuijing." After finishing speaking, he looked at the people below.

  I knew it, who would have thought that this first question was actually from Sima Hui, that old fellow, Ma Chao thought to himself.

  "In the opinion of De Cao and myself, Ma Mengqi's insights are unique and almost all his own understanding and viewpoints. Most importantly, we both think that many of his views and opinions make a lot of sense. If you don't believe me, I can read them out loud to everyone, so that everyone can carefully evaluate them!"

  Then, Pongde Gong read out what Ma Chao had written in public. After finishing reading, the whole scene was silent as a ghost town. Not long after that, someone led the applause, and then the whole scene burst into a thunderous applause, which was no less than the applause when welcoming Zheng Xuan and others to arrive a few days ago.

  Guo Jia whispered to Ma Chao: "Brother Mengqi, how should you thank me?"

  Ma Chao saw that it was precisely Guo Jia this kid who led the applause, but he couldn't say anything to him either. "Let me treat you to a drink!"

  "I've been waiting for Mengqi brother to say this!"

  Ma Chao shook his head and smiled bitterly, thinking that Guo Jia had planned everything out long ago and was just waiting for him to fall into the trap.

  Let's not talk about Ma Chao and his men, but rather the others below. At first, when Xun Shuang announced that Ma Chao was the first, some people below admired him, some did not believe it, some were jealous, and some envied him.

  When Pang Tong finished reading Ma Chao's answer to the first question, more people admired him because they really saw Ma Chao's "talent" and felt inferior. Those who were not convinced decreased, of course, there were still those who were not convinced, they thought Ma Chao's answer to the first question was good, but it didn't mean that the other two questions would be just as good, so they wanted to see how Ma Chao answered the next two questions and where he surpassed them.

  The jealous ones have increased, thinking that even a nobody can write something out, how come they can't? It's just one question, what's the big deal? As for those who admire Ma Chao in the end, they are all very self-aware, knowing that they can't write anything to reach his level, so they can only be envious.

  After Pongde finished reading, after a moment, Xun Shuang said: "I think everyone has heard Mr. Ziyu read Ma Mengqi's answer, and I believe everyone has a number in their hearts. People are precious to have self-knowledge, and I hope everyone can truly face themselves!"

  He stopped here and didn't continue, Xun Shuang hoped they would think carefully about it. After a while, he continued: "I know many people still have doubts in their hearts, thinking that Ma Mengqi shouldn't be the first, so I'll read out the second question, the poem written by Ma Mengqi! 'Spring River Flower Moon Night', Spring river tide connects with the sea level, Sea above bright moon...

  Xun Shuang read aloud in a loud voice, and the people below listened attentively, including Ma Chao. This was the original sound of the ancients, and it was rare to have the opportunity to hear it. Looking at Xun Shuang's level, he was different from those in his previous life. As Xun Shuang read "Spring River Flower Moon Night", Ma Chao felt as if he were on the scene, and indeed, listening to Xun Shuang was very refreshing.

  It's not just Ma Chao who feels this way, many people have the same feeling as him. It can be seen that this poem and the level of the poet are not ordinary. In fact, let alone them, even Zheng Xuan and his friends are also like this, rarely appreciating such a good poem, unknowingly indulging in it.

  When Xun Shuang finished reading the last word, everyone was still immersed in the poem. After a while, they all came out of their trance. Some people were still thinking about a few sentences in the poem, which made them savor endlessly.

  "Who first saw the moon by the river, what year did the river moon first shine on people? Mengqi's brother is a great talent, I admire him!" Guo Jia nodded his head and savored these two sentences, saying to Ma Chao.

  "Guo brothers really know how to appreciate!" Ma Chao laughed and said.

  Guo Jia heard this and puffed out his chest, as if to say "of course". He didn't even look at who was in front of him. Ma Chao saw this and quietly stretched out his leg and kicked Guo Jia's butt. Guo Jia was too busy showing off and didn't notice Ma Chao's sneak attack, almost falling over.

  He glanced at Ma Chao, who was secretly laughing beside him, "Brother Mengqi, a gentleman moves his mouth but not his legs!" As he spoke, he rubbed his own buttocks, with an extremely painful expression, as if he had suffered multiple injuries.

  "That's a gentleman who fights with his mouth and not his fists!"

  "Brother Mengqi, you know he's still kicking me!"

  "I'm fed up with you, I said you're fat and you started panting!"

  "No matter how fat I get, I'll never be as fat as you, Mengqi!"

  The two of them have become quite familiar with each other over these days, and occasionally making a small joke is no big deal.

  "Spring River Flower Moon Night" is a poem that has left many people in awe, and those who don't appreciate it are few. Such a masterpiece is not just a ordinary poem, but a rare treasure. Some people have even made up their minds that this poem will be passed down for thousands of years, becoming a classic piece of literature. If such a great poem cannot be passed down for thousands of years, then it would truly be unjust, and many people think so in their hearts.

  "What does everyone think of this poem?" Xun Shuang asked.

  And the response to him was another round of warm applause, many people were convinced by this poem and admired it. If you don't believe it, go write a "Spring River Flower Moon Night" yourself, if you can write something similar, others will admire you too.

  Everyone in the audience wrote a poem or a rhapsody, but indeed none of them could surpass "Spring River Flower Moon Night" or be on par with it, so "Spring River Flower Moon Night" is undoubtedly the first in the whole scene.