The revival of the Han Dynasty must start with Dong Zhuo

Chapter 220 Volume Sima Yi

It was yet another eloquent policy essay, but time was running out for the imperial examination, with only the last question left.

Yang Xiu turned over the paper, and his confident expression suddenly collapsed.

"There is a 5-foot-thick wall. Two mice dig holes through the wall from opposite ends. The big mouse digs 1 foot on the first day, and doubles it every day thereafter. The small mouse also digs foot on the first day, and halves it every day thereafter. How many days later will the two mice meet and how many feet will each dig through the wall?"

This thing is...arithmetic?
Although arithmetic is considered one of the six arts for a gentleman, there are not many scholars who are proficient in it nowadays.

Yang Xiu had also looked through the Nine Chapters on the Mathematical Art, which was first completed in the Later Han Dynasty, but the question in front of him was obviously beyond the scope of his comprehension.

"This rat... is so annoying!"

The most important thing is that Yang Xiu couldn’t understand why in such an important exam, the final question was actually an arithmetic question?
What exactly was the court thinking?

Or...what on earth is the emperor thinking! ?
Apparently Yang Xiu was not the only one who was stumped by the last question.

After Liu Xie quickly glanced over the questions, he began to observe the conditions of the candidates around him.

Sitting on the right is Cai Yan.

Cai Yan kept her back straight, as if she was full of competitive spirit and wanted to prove that women are just as good as men, so she answered very carefully.

On the left is Dong Bai.

Well... at least I slept soundly.

However, most of the candidates in the examination room paused and started scratching their heads when they finished the last question.

Even Cai Yan frowned slightly and glanced at Liu Xie.

The last math test in the school exam was beyond everyone's expectations.

Fortunately, not everyone is at a loss.

Several candidates who were obviously from the military quickly started counting on their fingers.

Because this question can be written in another way——

"Today, the enemy and I are 500 miles apart. The two armies are heading towards each other to seize an important town. Our army advances 10 miles on the first day, and doubles its speed every day thereafter; the enemy army advances 1 mile on the first day, and halves its speed every day thereafter. How many days will it take for us to meet? How much has each army advanced?"

Arithmetic has never disappeared; it has simply become invisible in our daily lives.

These scholars who came from the military saw through the problem instantly, and directly turned it into an everyday marching problem and began to calculate.

……

The bell rings!

carry out an assignment!

Yang Xiu handed in the test paper helplessly.

Even though he tried hard to calculate, he could only solve one of the questions.

Arithmetic is different from things like policy essays.

If you can, you will, if you don't, you won't.

If you don't know how to do it, you won't even be able to fill in the test paper. You can only expose your level honestly, without any room for disguise.

Being suddenly tested on arithmetic was a heavy blow to Yang Xiu's proud and complacent mood, and he felt as if he had lost his parents.

At this moment, the papers have been handed in, and the exchanges among the scholars have become increasingly frequent.

Cai Yan came over and poked Liu Xie: "What's the answer to the last question? Why can't I figure it out no matter how hard I try?"

When Liu Xie saw that even Cai Yan was stumped, he knew that he had asked the right question in the last one.

"The two rats met after two days, one hour and three quarters. The distance between the rat and the mouse was three feet, four hundred and seven inches, and the distance between the rat and the mouse was one foot, five hundred and three inches."

Just hearing the answer makes one's scalp tingle.

Cai Yan's mouth puffed up into a bun, it was obvious that this answer was far different from the one she filled in.

But at this moment, a surprised voice came from the front of Liu Xie: "Brother, your answer is exactly the same as mine?"

Exactly the same?
What Liu Xie said is the absolute standard answer.

How could someone figure out the correct answer in such a short time?

In fact, this question is neither difficult nor easy.

If a genius like Yang Xiu were given a whole day, he would probably be able to easily come up with the correct answer.

But right now it’s the imperial examination.

It was also the final question in the imperial examination.

After finishing the first ten dictation questions and writing four essays, there is actually not much time left.

Anyone who can solve this math problem at this time must be a genius! A super genius!
Anyway, Liu Xie didn't believe that anyone could finish the answer.

especially……

Liu Xie looked over and found that the scholar was actually a young man about the same age as himself.

His appearance is handsome, even delicate and graceful, and he is obviously an upright and capable young man from aristocratic family.

Is there really such a young genius among the children of the noble families in Guanzhong?

Liu Xie bowed and said, "That's a coincidence. I don't know your face, but I wonder what your name is?"

The young man smiled shyly: "I am not from Guanzhong, but my father works in the court, so I took this opportunity to come and participate in the imperial examination."

"I am from Wen County, Henei. My surname is Sima, my given name is Yi, and my courtesy name is Zhongda. My father, Sima Fang, once served as the prefect of Jingzhao!"

Liu Xie: "Oh~it turns out to be Sima..."

wait?

Who do you say you are?
Sima Yi???
Liu Xie's pupils shrank and his brain froze for a moment.

He had long anticipated that this imperial examination would definitely catch some big fish.

For example, Yang Xiu, although he had a somewhat eccentric temperament, he was indeed a man of great talent.

But who could have thought that Sima Yi would be lured out?
Sima Yi has been in Guanzhong all along?
He actually came to participate in the imperial examination held by the court?

hiss--

Liu Xie took a deep breath and looked at the young Sima Yi in disbelief. Young, sunny, and full of vigor!
This is definitely a sunny boy!
How did he become a treacherous minister with a wolf-like gaze and eagle-like eyes?
Liu Xie was unwilling to admit it.

But Sima Yi's introduction just now was very detailed.

From Hanoi!
The courtesy name is Zhongda!

The father is still Sima Fang!
It is indeed the Emperor Xuan of Jin in later generations!

Sima Yi looked at Liu Xie strangely, not knowing why the candidate in front of him turned blue and red in the face, and he stood there in a daze.

"His Majesty."

It was Cai Yan who came over, held Liu Xie's hand, and called softly in his ear, and only then did Liu Xie come back to his senses.

"Sima? Hello Sima!"

Liu Xie also recovered from the recent impact.

The main reason was that Sima Yi's appearance was so sudden that Liu Xie didn't have time to react.

"Zhongda, do you want to talk with me somewhere else?"

Liu Xie was extremely curious about Sima Yi in front of him and really wanted to cut open Sima Yi's chest to see what Sima Yi's heart looked like.

But Sima Yi's expression froze: "No, I have something important to do at home."

Sima Yi's refusal made Liu Xie somewhat dissatisfied.

"But it's just a casual chat. It won't delay important matters."

"It's really not possible!"

……

At this moment, Yang Xiu also came over. When he saw Liu Xie, he immediately greeted him warmly: "Would you like to go to Nvlu together?"

However, Yang Xiu's words were soon stuck in his throat, and he revealed an intriguing expression.

"You look young, why do you still have this habit?"

Only then did Liu Xie realize that Cai Yan was still holding his hand.

And Cai Yan’s current outfit...seems to be a men’s suit.

"Snapped!"

Cai Yan also realized something was wrong and quickly let go of Liu Xie's hand.

Liu Xie also waved his hands towards Yang Xiu and Sima Yi, "No! I'm not that kind! He, she is..."

However, Yang Xiu and Sima Yi's eyes were already full of vigilance when they looked at Liu Xie.

"Hmm? Have you finished the exam?"

Dong Bai, who finally woke up at this moment, got up in a daze, somewhat unsure where he was.

As soon as she saw Liu Xie, she came over and stuck to Liu Xie's back, wrapped her arms around Liu Xie's waist, and murmured, "I'm so sleepy, let's go back to sleep, okay..."

The expressions of Yang Xiu and Sima Yi turned completely purple!
"Farewell!"

The two of them fled away, and Liu Xie couldn't catch up with them!

Especially Sima Yi, his legs and feet turned into a trail of afterimages, and he quickly walked out of the Jianzhang Palace and headed towards his home in Chang'an City.

"Is Zhongda back?"

There was another old man in the room, who was Sima Fang, Sima Yi's father.

Sima Fang frowned slightly when he saw Sima Yi sweating profusely.

"What happened to Zhongda? Why did he lose his composure like this? Did he do poorly in the imperial examination?"

Sima Yi leaned against the door, and it took him a long time to catch his breath.

"Father, what are you talking about? Those questions are not difficult. I can answer them all."

"But the court is full of hidden talents. This time, I saw Yang Xiu, the son of Taiwei Yang Biao, also participate in the imperial examination. There was also a scholar younger than me who easily answered the last question. So I am not sure that I will pass."

Sima Fang twirled his beard and smiled, "My son is still so modest and prudent."

"But if it's not about the imperial examination, why are you so flustered? Did you offend someone?"

Sima Yi shook his head again: "When has father ever seen me offend anyone?"

"only……"

Thinking of the scene just now, Sima Yi couldn't help but feel a chill.

"Father, I've heard for a long time that some children of noble families have some unusual hobbies... Is this true?"

Sima Fang frowned: "What nonsense are you talking about again?"

"Remember, never mention this matter in Chang'an City. The former Shangshu Pushe Shisun Rui used this matter to slander the emperor and the Grand Tutor, which angered the emperor and brought him disaster! Who would dare to do such a thing in public now?"

Sima Yi then felt relieved, no longer having to worry about the other party pursuing him excessively or even coming to him to be friends with him.

Sima Fang asked again: "I will be returning to my hometown in Hanoi soon. Would Zhongda like to go with me?"

Originally, Sima Fang wanted to return to his hometown to live in seclusion early, but there were constant wars in Henei, while Guanzhong was always peaceful, so he chose to stay in Guanzhong.

Hanoi is now becoming more stable, and Sima Fang can't help but miss his hometown and wants to return.

"Don't go!"

Sima Yi rejected his father without hesitation.

"I am a minister of the Han Dynasty, and I will not accept salary from others!"

"Everyone knows what Yuan Shao and Cao Cao are up to! How can I serve these traitors?"

"Now that the imperial court has been reborn from the ashes, it is a time when everything needs to be rebuilt and talents are needed! How can I remain indifferent and turn a deaf ear to it?"

A gentle breeze blew, and Sima Yi's face was resolute.

"One day, I will kill all the Han thieves! Put an end to all the troubles! Make the world peaceful again!"

“The road ahead is difficult and dangerous, but I would rather die than change my mind!”

(End of this chapter)