The First National Preceptor of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 289

"Master Xu said that only with a healthy body can one go further on the path of knowledge. If you want to become the top scholar, then you need to play football."

Gu Zhihuai nodded and said, "And the Ministry of War! I imagine the sons of those in the Ministry of War are quite capable."

Soon, twelve people formed a team, divided into forwards, players, and goalkeepers, and entered the field in turn.

Xie Qing was usually gentle and weak, so everyone made him their goalkeeper.

"Our goalkeeper is Wang Chuanyu of the Langya Wang Clan." Xie Qing and Wang Chuanyu locked eyes, sparks flying between them.

Zhang Yunlie and Gu Zhihuai quickly won the match.

"This Master Xu is truly a genius. He actually invented this thing. Football is much more interesting than Cuju."

Some of the younger students chimed in, saying, "In the past, playing Cuju (ancient Chinese football) tested jumping ability. This football only tests endurance. Let's go, we still need to go back and review our lessons."

"Hey, don't leave yet! We're not done playing around. I knew you guys weren't loyal."

He then carried the football directly onto the field.

“Since they don’t want to play, I’ll find others to play with, such as the children of the Ministry of Works and other officials, or I’ll go to the Grand Tutor’s mansion to find the children of commoners to play football with.”

Seeing that Zhang Yunlie and Gu Zhihuai were getting so engrossed in the game, Xu Tian shook his head helplessly for a moment, but the two quickly mastered the rules of the game.

Every time get out of class ended, Zhang Yunlie would call Gu Zhihuai to go to the football field to play football together. In just one month, the two of them grew up like stalks being pulled up.

Gu Zhihuai, on the other hand, was like a bamboo shoot after a spring rain, his body covered with strong muscles, and both of them had tanned their skin quite a bit, which made everyone envious.

Zhang Yunlie said, "We've had enough of football. Why don't we go find Master Xu and ask him if he has any other fun things to do?"

Gu Zhihuai nodded and soon arrived at Feixue Pavilion.

Xu Tian, ​​who was grading students' homework, said, "What brings you two here?"

Zhang Yunlie and Gu Zhihuai exchanged a glance and asked, "Master Xu, what exactly is this badminton you mentioned earlier?"

Xu Tian immediately opened the drawer, took out a blueprint, and said, "This is badminton. As long as the shuttlecock doesn't touch the ground, you win. If the other side is weak and fails to catch the shuttlecock, or hits it far away, then they lose."

A glint of light flashed in the eyes of the two men, and they quickly made the racket.

Xu Tian stood in Feixue Pavilion and watched the two play tennis. He was surprised to find that the racket was made of gold, and the net racket was even woven with gold thread. The handle was also inlaid with emeralds.

Xu Tian was somewhat helpless. He hadn't expected that Zhang Yunlie and Gu Zhihuai's badminton game would quickly create a frenzy at Hongwen Academy.

Whether they are from wealthy families or high-ranking officials, they all started playing badminton. Even the female staff members from officials' families started playing badminton.

As soon as get out of class ended, there were quite a few people playing badminton in the training ground. When the Grand Tutors saw this, they exchanged glances and nodded.

"Grand Tutor Xu is right: when the youth are strong, the nation is strong."