Chapter Thirty-Three: Resentment of Talent and Envy of Ability, Hong Xian is Removed from Office

  Yue Fei and others returned to their residence, seeing that it was still early, they discussed going to see the central army.

  "Big brother, this Central Army general is a friend of Mr. Xu's, he must also be a good official, why don't we go see him and feel out the situation first?" Tang Huai suggested.

  "It's better for us to go visit him and find out the situation rather than just staying idle here." Zhang Xian agreed. Wang Gui and Niu Gao also expressed their consent.

  Yue Fei saw his brothers' impatient look and had no choice but to agree.

  Five brothers rode horses to the gate of the camp, got off their horses, tied them to the wooden stakes at the gate of the camp, and walked into the central army account to see General Hong Xian.

  Hong Xian saw five handsome young men standing in front of him and thought, "They must be here to take the exam. Let me probe their intentions first before making a decision."

  "Where are you folks from? What brings you here?" Hong asked.

  "I report to Your Excellency, my four brothers and I are from Qilin Village, Neihuang County. Last year, we took part in the county's small examination and were fortunate enough to be admitted. Now, we have been ordered to come to Xiangzhou to take part in the imperial examination."

  Hong Xian first saw Yue Fei, a talented and extraordinary person with an impressive demeanor, whose conversation was not ordinary. In his heart, he thought: "If this man is allowed to take the imperial examination, his future achievements will certainly surpass mine."

  "What's your name? Who was your mentor?" Hong Xian asked further.

  "I report to Your Excellency, I am surnamed Yue, named Fei, and styled Pengju. The teacher who taught my five brothers and me is none other than the venerable Zhou Tong." said Yue Fei.

  "Where is your master now? Is he well?" Hong Xian asked.

  "Our mentor passed away last autumn, so my brothers and I can only rely on our master's will to self-criticize and diligently practice." As Yue Fei said this, a sorrowful expression appeared on his face.

  "They are Zhou Tong's disciples, and their kung fu skills are naturally impressive. It is truly a case of 'a good teacher produces outstanding students.' If they are allowed to fully display their abilities this time and make an exceptional impression, the Duke will be delighted and will look at them in a new light. At that point, my own future prospects will be worrisome, with no hope for advancement or fame." Hong pondered how to deal with this situation.

  "Sir, I don't know if the five of them have brought a gift for meeting. This is the usual practice in the Zhongjun Yamen, and rules cannot be broken." The strategist next to Hong Xian seemed to have seen through the adult's mind, and he whispered this sentence in the adult's ear.

  Hong Xian was enlightened after listening to his advisor's words.

  "Yue Fei, you several come to the central military account to see me, just so empty-handed? Is this official department a decoration, and you do whatever you want? Let me tell you! This official department has a convention, whoever comes to ask the official to handle affairs must first present silver ingots, only then can they handle affairs. The official uses these silver ingots to grease the wheels for those who come to handle affairs; you come to see me like this, wanting me to handle affairs for you, do I still need to pay out of my own pocket?" Hong Xian said with a displeased face.

  "Sir, my brothers and I left in a hurry and didn't know the rules here, so we didn't bring much silver. After we finish the exam, we'll go back home to gather more and send it over. Please, sir, be lenient and let us take the exam!" Yue Fei said with an almost pleading tone.

  "The old master won't be examining archery and horse riding today, you can come back in a few days." Hong Xian said.

  Yue Fei saw that Hong Xian had said his final words and could only lead his brothers out.

  "Big brother, stop for a few days and come back to take the exam, the cucumber dish has gone cold." Zhang Xian said.

  "In my opinion, this is the military commander's jealousy and fear of being surpassed. He intentionally made it difficult for us to participate in the exam because he's afraid that Big Brother will surpass him in the future." Wang Gui said.

  "Hong Xian is too detestable, let's go see Governor Xu and ask him to judge this matter." Niu Gao said loudly.

  Yue Fei remained silent all the way, quietly listening to his brothers' discussions. Niu Gao's words reminded him, and he decided to go find Xu Gong, the county magistrate of Tongyin.

  "Brothers, it's getting late today, let's go back to our lodgings and get a good rest. We'll go find Lord Xu early tomorrow morning and ask for his help in resolving this matter," said Yue Fei.

  The brothers had no choice but to agree.

  The next day, the five brothers got up early, washed and dressed, had breakfast, and rode their horses straight to the Tangyin County government office.

  Just halfway through, Mr. Xü was seen sitting in a sedan chair carried by four people, with many yamen runners surrounding him.

  Yue Fei saw Mr. Xu's sedan passing by, and his five brothers all dismounted their horses and stood by the side of the road.

  Xu Daoren saw Yue Fei and others hastily ordering the sedan bearers to stop.

  "Where are you going so early in the morning, sir?" Yue Fei asked.

  "I was just going to see Hong Zhongjun and ask him to take care of your exams. Have any of you seen Zhongjun before? Do you want to come with me?" asked Mr. Xu.

  "General, to be honest with you, we brothers went to the central army tent yesterday and met General Hong." said Yue Fei.

  "Did you guys go yesterday? How was the exam? Did Hong Zhongjun give you a hard time?" Xu Ren asked eagerly.

  Yue Fei then told the specific situation of the central army in detail.

  Xu Ren listened and was furious: "Good Hong Xian, how dare he be so bold and unscrupulous, openly asking for bribes. I'll go see the Duke of Du and tell him all about it. Can't you take the exam without him, Hong Zhongjun? It's really chaotic!"

  "General, look at us..." Yue Fei wanted to speak but stopped.

  "You several ride horses and follow me to see Lord Du, let's go and reason together." said Mr. Xue.

  Yue Fei and others listened, feeling extremely moved. They mounted their horses and followed Mr. Xu to the Xuanmen Gate.

  Arrived at the gate of the courtyard, Mr. Xu got out of his sedan chair and handed in his visiting card. The five brothers dismounted their horses and tied them up.

  After a while, the herald announced that Xu Ren had an audience with Liu Du. Xu Ren hastily walked in and came to the main hall, where he suddenly knelt down. Liu Du was surprised: "Mr. Xu, what's going on? Please get up quickly."

  Xu Ren stood up and bowed his hands again to Liu Du, saying: "I report to your lordship, today there are five martial artists from Neihuang County who request that you test their archery and horsemanship skills."

  Liu Du heard this and ordered them to be brought in. The flag officer led the way, bringing the five brothers of Yue Fei to the main hall.

  Liu Douyuan saw the appearance of the five people, majestic and robust, and was very fond of them in his heart.

  Just then, a middle-ranking military officer walked in and reported: "Your Honor, the bows and horses of these five men are quite ordinary. They were examined yesterday. I told them to go back and review, and take the exam again next time. How dare they come here again to offend Your Honor, it's really hateful!"

  "Hong Xian, I've known you for so long, but I never thought you were such a despicable person. I was really mistaken about you. You're good, the victim hasn't even spoken up yet, and you're already playing the villain." Xu Ren said angrily.

  Liu Du saw Xu Ren scolding Hong Zhongjun and was bewildered.

  "Director Xü, what's going on here? You've got me completely confused." Liu Du asked curiously.

  "Reporting to Your Excellency, it's like this..." Yue Fei walked forward and knelt down with a thud, recounting the details of what he had seen in Hongzhong Military.

  Liu Douyuan was furious when he heard this.

  "Hong Xian, you've been boasting that they're no match for your archery skills. Are you daring enough to have a contest with them? It would be great for me to witness your true abilities." Liu Du said.

  Hong Xian was delighted when he heard this, it was exactly what he had been hoping for.

  "As long as the old master nods, I am of course willing. Who among them dares to come out and fight?" Hong Xian said.

  "General Liu, I, Yue Fei, wish to compete with Hong Zhongjun in a contest of strength." Yue Fei stood up abruptly and said.

  "Then you can have a try in the arena, just a point and no more, don't hurt each other's lives." Liu Du said.

  The two of them took their orders and left.

  Hong Xian called his family members to bring a three-pronged pitchfork, held it with both hands and swung it around for a while, stirring up the wind.

  "Yue Fei, dare you come?" Hong Xian asked.

  Yue Fei took the gun from Li Springs, shook his spirits and exchanged several rounds with Hong E. He then bowed to Hong E and said: "Sir, whatever tricks you have, bring them on! Yue Fei will accompany you to the end."

  Hong Xian listened, his face turned iron blue with rage, and swung the three-pronged Heaven-supporting Fork to launch a move called Starving Tiger Pouncing on Prey, charging straight at Yue Fei. Yue Fei remained calm and composed, using a move called Red Phoenix Facing the Sun, effortlessly neutralizing it.

  Hong Xian made a move that didn't work, and in his anger, he raised the Tianya spear to strike down at Yue Fei's head. Yue Fei nimbly dodged to the side, avoiding it.

  "Hong Zhongjun, you and I have no grudges or grievances, why must it be like this?" Yue Fei asked.

  Hong Xian didn't say a word and struck again towards Yue Fei's face with his fork, Yue Fei dodged to the side and countered with a thrust of his spear at Hong Xian.

  Hong Xian was about to make a fatal blow when Yue Fei suddenly counterattacked with his spear, catching him off guard and striking him down.

  "He and I have no feud, why should I harm his life?" Yue Fei thought to this point, the gun lightly swept across Hong Xian's body and then pulled back.

  Hong Xian's spear slipped from his grasp and he fell to the ground. The three-pronged spear flew out of his hand and was discarded nearby.

  Everyone saw Yue Fei's great skill and applauded endlessly.

  "Hong Xian, someone like you with such skills, where did you serve as a mid-ranking officer? You've lost all face for our official. Get out! I don't want to see you again." Liu Duanyu scolded.

  Hong Xian listened and was so ashamed that her face turned bright red, and she walked away with a dejected look.