Transmigration begins with archery training

"Yeah."

"Work hard under the guidance of the adults."

"Your title of Crouching Dragon is a bit too high, it's on par with the commander of the Azure Dragon Camp, so I can't get it for now, but a lower-ranking official position is definitely no problem!"

"..."

"Just an empty reputation!"

Xu Wencai stubbornly replied, "I, Xu, have never cared about these empty titles. Whether I hold an official position or receive rewards is irrelevant; these are all external things. I focus on my work and don't seek personal gain..."

"The imperial edict arrives——"

A loud shout commanded respect from everyone.

Zhao Kang covered his mouth and muttered under his breath, "The highest-ranking official living around here is only a Qianzong (a military officer), how could an imperial edict end up here? Whose is it?"

"Bang bang bang!"

The old wooden door was knocked on heavily.

Urgent voices came from outside.

"How dare you! The imperial edict has arrived! What are you all whispering about? Come out and receive it at once!"

"Ours?!"

The group looked at each other in bewilderment and hurriedly got up.

They came to the door.

In the middle of the alley stood a eunuch in a python robe, holding a golden imperial edict in his hands, followed by several guards with swords.

"Why aren't you kneeling down to receive the imperial decree?!"

"Crash, lala, lala -"

Not knowing what was happening, everyone quickly knelt down to listen to the proclamation, and even secretly observed each other, wondering if someone among them had committed some serious crime and was about to be executed along with their entire family.

"Xu Wencai, receive the imperial decree!"

The eunuch slowly opened the imperial edict and read it aloud clearly: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Xu Wencai, a soldier in the reserve battalion, is knowledgeable in astronomy and geography, understands celestial phenomena, and is proficient in military strategy. During the suppression of the rebellion in Mingzhou, he risked his life several times to block pursuing troops, making indelible contributions to the subsequent crossing of Hongze and the capture of Meishan Prefecture. I greatly admire him and have decided to entrust him with an important task. Therefore, I hereby bestow upon him civil and military honors, promoting him to the rank of Assistant Commander of the Youzhou Military Command, a third-rank official, and granting him the title of Senior Administrator of the Third Rank. He is also granted the title 'Master Crouching Dragon'. Xu Wencai is ordered to go to Youzhou to assist Commander Du Shiguang of the Youzhou Military Command in suppressing the rebellion and bandits. He shall depart within ten days. This is the imperial decree!"

After the words "钦此" were uttered.

While everyone was still pondering the contents of the imperial edict, they all forgot to kowtow.

This……

what is this? !!

What rank was Xu Wencai bestowed upon him by the Emperor?

Third rank?!

If they remember correctly.

General Chen is currently only a third-rank Huaiyuan General.

Although everyone knows that the official will eventually have an audience with the emperor and will receive a higher reward, and that this is just a temporary position, even so...

A third rank is way too high!

The Commandery of a prefecture was an agency that managed all the guard posts in the entire prefecture, totaling tens of thousands of people!

He served as the deputy commander, responsible for training, management, and tactical planning. Essentially, he was at the highest level and could participate in command during battles.

This……

It was an incredible leap forward!

And then there's the title of Crouching Dragon...

What's going on?!

Isn't he on par with Fang Qingyun?

Although it's just a nominal title without any actual rank, can Xu Wencai really handle it?!

Who begged for this?

Did Lord Chen request it?

Such a huge favor?!

"minister--"

"Xu Wencai!!"

Before anyone could react, Xu Wencai, weeping and trembling, shouted, "I accept the imperial decree and thank you! Long live the Emperor ...

Forty-eight!

He is forty-eight years old this year!

He started taking the imperial examinations at the age of sixteen, but remained a mere student for his entire life!

Today, we've finally made it through!

only……

There seems to be something strange about it.

'Why is Old Xu being transferred...?'

Wang Zhi was the first to realize it.

But that's not their place to interrupt.

At the signal from the chief eunuch.

Apart from Xu Wencai, everyone else wisely left.

"Master Xu."

Eunuch Hou personally stepped forward to help him up, saying, "Don't kneel, please get up quickly."

"Thank you, sir. You've worked hard."

Xu Wencai wiped away his tears and stood up. He knew the rules and tremblingly took out a silver note from his pocket. This was all the wealth he had obtained in the Mingzhou battle, totaling only one hundred taels.

"This~"

Eunuch Hou didn't show any disgust. He accepted the gift without batting an eye, then took Xu's sleeve and led him into the courtyard. He sighed, "Lord Xu has had a tough time. He's been taking the imperial examinations for thirty years without any recognition. His family was so poor that his mother even starved to death. Alas, thankfully, he's finally made it through."

"Yeah yeah."

Xu Wencai gestured for the eunuch to sit down, picked up the broken bowl, wiped it clean with his sleeve, and then poured himself a bowl of wine: "I, Xu, am an unfilial son. I spent most of my life buried in books. Once, I was lucky enough to copy a few rare books and became so engrossed in them that I didn't look up for months. We ran out of food, and my mother didn't even tell me. She gave me the last of our food and went hungry herself... By the time I found out, my mother had already passed away..."

"Tsk tsk~"

With a hint of sympathy, Eunuch Hou said, "Lord Xu has always been obsessed with the title of Crouching Dragon, which must be related to his family, right?"

"When I was young, I boasted that I would make the whole world call me 'Sleeping Dragon,' and that I would bring a good life to my parents and elder sister, but..."

Xu Wencai did not continue to recount the unbearable past. All his thoughts eventually turned into a long sigh: "Fortunately, I have now received a proper reward. When I burn paper money for them on their death anniversary next year, I will have the face to talk to them."

"The boat has passed the Ten Thousand Mountains!"

Eunuch Hou gently patted his back: "Lord Xu, your good days have begun."

Xu Wencai nodded repeatedly: "Thank you, Your Majesty, thank you, sir..."

"My lord? Are you perhaps referring to General Chen, Lord Xu?"

Eunuch Hou curled his lips: "Lord Chen didn't mention the title of Crouching Dragon in his memorial. It's entirely because His Majesty appreciates you. Does Lord Xu understand what I mean?"

Xu Wencai, who had been wiping away tears with his head down, suddenly cleared his eyes upon hearing these words. He narrowed his eyes slightly, but quickly adjusted them again, showing no sign of distress. He knelt down and said with tears of gratitude, "Your subject Xu Wencai kowtows to thank Heaven for its grace."

"As long as you know what's going on."

Eunuch Hou held the wine bowl, smelled the wine, and asked a question, then put it down with some disdain: "As long as Lord Xu always knows his place, he will naturally have the opportunity to realize his ambitions in the future!"

"Don't worry, Father-in-law!"

Xu Wencai patted his chest confidently, then tentatively asked, "Could you tell me what Lord Chen said about me in his memorial?"

"Well, in short, they didn't mention anything about banning the account."

Eunuch Hou said in a high-pitched voice, "After all, who wouldn't want a talent like Lord Xu to stay under their command forever?"

"That makes no sense."

Xu Wencai gritted his teeth and muttered under his breath, "How could he treat me like this? If I hadn't risked my life, that brainless Bai Tingzhi would have been..."