After being demoted, my 300,000-strong army trampled the imperial city!

"The students of the Northern Frontier have learned a wide range of subjects. In order to test their foundation, I hope you will not hesitate to offer your guidance," Chen Futu said solemnly as he returned to the hall.

"Yes, you are all learned scholars who have read extensively in the classics and historical texts. You are all very knowledgeable. Surely you would be willing to guide the younger generation?"

Gan Ning and others made sarcastic and mocking noises.

Zhou Qingzhi hesitated for a moment; he could tell that the young master intended to retaliate.

However, since the Crown Prince had already spoken, they had no right to refuse.

Next, Yu Qian introduced what the students were learning, such as agriculture, medicine, mathematics, astronomy, law, and so on.

The intellectuals were completely baffled after hearing this.

What did they study? Poetry, classical Chinese texts, and other essential knowledge; they knew nothing else.

Yu Qian would not give them a chance to refuse. He said with a smile, "Gentlemen, this knowledge is very important and concerns the well-being of the world. For example, the combination of agronomy and calendar, when to cultivate and irrigate, when to remove pests and weeds, or how to deal with seedlings that have fallen over."

Yu Qian said a lot, but the scholars couldn't understand it at all. They were lazy and ignorant of farming, spending their days studying writing and poetry, but they wouldn't do anything that involved physical labor.

Chen Futu's intention today is to embarrass them, then drag them into the newspapers for severe criticism, so that the world can see what kind of people these intellectuals really are.

The following competition was led by Qian.

The scholars reluctantly selected a few people, and unsurprisingly, even in terms of agricultural and calendar systems, they couldn't talk about it theoretically, let alone common physics, mathematics, or medical knowledge.

Throughout the entire contest, this group of people resembled clowns, or even worse than elementary school students from that world.

The funniest thing was that when Yu Qian had ordinary medicinal herbs and plants brought to them, they stared wide-eyed and stammered, unable to recognize them at all.

Ma Chao scoffed, "They probably only recognize plum blossoms, peaches, chrysanthemums, and bamboo, and things like that."

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter.

The girls hiding behind the curtain couldn't help but laugh.

It should be noted that among these literati, there were many scholars they admired, and some they had even read excerpts from their masterpieces. But at this moment, they realized that the people they admired were not all that great.

This group of people are good at studying, but they're really bad at getting things done.

In the words of the Crown Prince, these people are useless; he wouldn't even take them if they were given to him for free.

This contest was a complete joke.

Zhou Qingzhi lowered his head, looking ashamed, but he wasn't about to argue.

But some intellectuals couldn't sit still and said indignantly, "We are the hands that wield the pen, how can we do such despicable things!"

Chen Futu was displeased: "Disgusting? Who grew the food you eat? Where did you get the clothes you wear? You eat your food and then curse your mother, is this the refinement of you scholars?"

The other party was speechless, then said quite bluntly, "We don't understand these things. If it's a contest of poetry and songs, why would we be afraid?"

"Is that so? Xian'er, teach them the principles of being a good person."

Chen Futu looked at Dong Xian'er, who smiled slightly and stepped forward.

Yu Qian immediately had them compose poems and lyrics to test each other.

Dong Xian'er had been helping Chen Futu organize the books. Chen Futu had written many poems and songs from the original world, which she had already memorized by heart. She could easily outshine these literary figures with any of them.

As expected, the literary contest went smoothly, with Dong Xian'er bringing out her poetry collection and utterly defeating the opposing group.

Apart from Zhou Qing, Ji Wendao, Cui Shanwu, and the others were all stunned.

They can't understand it. It's one thing if they're not good at other subjects, but why can't they even understand poetry and songs?

Just who is this woman?!

Ye Mo watched with a grimace, "These scholars of the Great Qian Dynasty are utterly disgraceful. I shouldn't have partnered with these idiots."

Today, he originally wanted to use these scholars to sow discord among Liu Longyue, but Chen Futu interrupted him. Well, that's fine too. These useless people will only ruin things. It's better for him to find an opportunity to handle things personally.

The banquet was noisy and chaotic. After the students left with their heads held high, the scholars were all dejected, having lost all the energy they had when they arrived.

Chen Futu asked Zhou Qingzhi, "Does the old gentleman have anything to say?"

The latter smiled wryly, “Your Highness is truly talented. I am ashamed. The students of the Northern Frontier Academy study the art of governing the world, which is far beyond our reach.”

"Sir, there's no need for you to be modest. I've heard that you have countless students and a vast body of writings, making you a great scholar of our time. Would you be interested in teaching at the academy?"

"Your Highness is too kind; I am old and frail and I am afraid I cannot obey your command."

Zhou Qingzhi refused, and even felt somewhat ashamed.

He came to make things difficult for Chen Futu, but Chen Futu actually put aside past grievances and extended an olive branch to him. In comparison, it seems that the character of this great Confucian scholar is not as magnanimous as that of a young man.

Chen Futu smiled and asked Yu Qian to bring the book over.

Yu Qian immediately sent someone to deliver a book, which was the Analects of Confucius that Chen Futu had commissioned to be printed.

Zhou Qingzhi initially didn't take it seriously, but once he got his hands on the book and started reading, he couldn't take his eyes off it. In the end, he seemed to be possessed, or as if he had fallen into a strange state, with his eyes staring straight ahead and muttering to himself, which was somewhat frightening.

There is no Confucius in this world, nor are there any disciples who compiled his words and deeds.

Therefore, this book is nothing short of a divine book for Zhou Qingzhi, perfectly expressing many of his thoughts and ideas.

"Mr. Zhou!"

"Mr. Zhou, what's wrong?"

Seeing that Zhou Qingzhi was in a bad mood, the group of scholars were shocked and hurriedly stepped forward to offer their concern and comfort.

Zhou Qingzhi ignored them, abruptly closed the book, and then, as if in a final burst of energy, strode to the front of the hall, bowed deeply to Chen Futu, and instantly the entire hall was filled with gasps of astonishment.

Chen Futu asked solemnly, "What are you doing, sir?"

"Your Highness, this time it was my fault. I have only just realized that Your Highness is a man of profound learning."

"Uh……"

Chen Futu was so embarrassed by the praise that he could only look to Zhuge Liang and the others.

Zhuge Liang and Zhang Liang, the civil officials, could easily understand that the old man had mistaken the book for one written by the Crown Prince. So Liu Bowen chuckled and said, "That's right, this book was written by the Crown Prince. Why don't you leave it in the northern frontier and study it carefully, sir?"

The reason why Chen Futu was always polite to Zhou Qingzhi was very simple: if he could bind Deng to the Northern Frontier, it would be legitimate. If Zhou Qingzhi was willing to endorse the succession of the Northern Frontier King, the Emperor of Daqian would probably die of anger.

Zhou Qingzhi pondered for a moment, then flipped through the book again before nodding resolutely, "Very well, since the young master is so kind, I will stay in the Northern Frontier and serve as an instructor at the academy."

"Sir, you can't!"

"Yes, sir, what are you doing!"

The literati collectively erupted in disarray, which was as ridiculous as a commander suddenly defecting to the enemy halfway through a northern expedition.