Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

"Zhu Wu, how many people have come to participate in our imperial examinations recently?"

Ren Yuan is currently in the Military Affairs Department, and the strategist on duty today is Zhu Wu.

“Brother, although we’ve used our strength in reclaiming Yan and Yun to announce the imperial examinations to the whole country, the scholars in the world are still somewhat pessimistic about us. So far, only three or four hundred people have registered. Many people came and then backed out during registration, intending to just observe from the sidelines and not participate in this imperial examination. Based on this situation, even if we include those who are still on their way, I estimate that we’ll be lucky to get eight or nine hundred in the end.”

Zhu Wu was somewhat helpless. There was nothing he could do; scholars and warriors were different. Warriors across the land would have flocked to Dayi with their families if they could. But the Song Dynasty's long-standing emphasis on civil affairs over military matters had led scholars to look down on warriors. Dayi, a power that rose to prominence through military means, indeed found it difficult to recruit a large number of scholars at this time. Many who had come were only there out of curiosity; when it came time to register, they suddenly backed out.

Moreover, the Western Song Dynasty had recently announced the civil service examination and said that the number of candidates would be increased. This changed the minds of many undecided scholars, and many wanted to wait and see if the civil service examination in Dayi was a joke.

Therefore, although the imperial examination of Dayi did indeed attract scholars from all over the country to the east for a period of time, its effectiveness could not compare with that of the Western Song Dynasty.

"It's alright. Those who are not determined should not come, and those who want to watch can watch. We only need people who are genuinely willing to come. Besides, I think it's pretty good that there are close to a thousand people."

Ren Yuan waved his hand. Having experienced exams with millions of participants in his previous life, he didn't have much feeling about exams with thousands or hundreds of participants. If it weren't for the fact that Dayi was indeed short of grassroots officials, Ren Yuan wouldn't have brought forward the first imperial examination so much.

"My brother has a better attitude."

Zhu Wu also breathed a sigh of relief; he had been worried that Ren Yuan would think the number of people was too small.

"Zhu Wu, do you have a roster? Can I take a look?"

"Some of the brothers have already registered, and the brothers from Tianmu are also working hard to verify and see if there are any nails."

Zhu Wu handed several rosters to Ren Yuan.

"The people who came this time were mostly students from poor families who had repeatedly failed the imperial examinations during the Song Dynasty. There were also a few who had passed the examinations during the Song Dynasty but were frustrated and unsuccessful, or who were ostracized because they refused to compromise their principles."

“Oh, there are also some people who came from Cai Jing and Fang La. Many of them had already become officials there, but after learning that we had taken back Yanyun, they decisively resigned and came here. Brother, I think we should focus on investigating these people.”

What pleased Zhu Wu was that these people who had decisively resigned from their posts from other forces were, according to Tianmu's initial assessment, unlikely to be spies. Moreover, they were going to serve in Goryeo and Liao, so even if they were spies... it seemed pointless to spy...

"Sure, let me take a look."

Ren Yuan nodded in agreement. If there really was such a talent, he would definitely give him an important position.

"But Zhu Wu, you've never been so direct in telling me who you're going to promote. Now that you've said so, is there someone among these people that you particularly favor?"

"what?"

Zhu Wu was taken aback at first, then smiled and cupped his hands in greeting to Ren Yuan:

"No wonder you're born with such innate knowledge, you can't hide anything from me. How did you even guess my little thoughts?"

"Hehe, do you know what my master said about you guys back then?"

Ren Yuan looked at Zhu Wu and smiled:

"Master said that you know how to advance and retreat, how to be flexible and adaptable, and you are excellent at reading people. Even if you don't meet a wise ruler, you know how to protect yourself. You are the least likely to make a mistake among the strategists."

"The old gentleman actually gave me such high praise?"

Zhu Wu was somewhat surprised, then said with considerable emotion:

"I'm so grateful to have met my brother in this life, otherwise I don't know where I would be now. Without my brother, there would be no Zhu Wu today."

"Haha, let's not talk like that, just tell me, who have you taken a fancy to?"

Ren Yuan also wanted to know who could catch Zhu Wu's eye.

“Brother, this man comes from Fang La’s Ming Kingdom. His name is General Lü. He is very straightforward and often offends people because of his outspokenness. After he was ostracized and sent to Hangzhou, he seems to have received a meal from Fang La, so he stayed in the Ming Cult to advise them. However, Fang La does not seem to like his plans and has basically never adopted them.”

“I happened to be at the registration desk when he came that day. I chatted with him for a few minutes and thought he was a talented person, so I wanted to recommend him to my brother.”

Zhu Wu picked up one of the registers, quickly turned to the page with Lü Jiang's name on it, and then handed it to Ren Yuan.

"Lu Jiang from the former Imperial Academy? This guy is indeed a talent; he actually agreed to come here?"

Ren Yuan frowned, not in a hurry to look at the roster, but instead recalled Lü Jiang's information in his mind.

Others may not know General Lü, but he does. Although he has a sharp tongue, his strategic vision is among the best in Fang La's civil service team.

It is said that this person had told Fang La early on that he could not just focus on Suzhou and Hangzhou, but should take Nanjing as his base, seize the natural barrier of the Yangtze River for the Ming Cult's use, and then expand southeast, replicating the path taken by Sun Wu. This plan was actually very sound, but unfortunately Fang La did not take it to heart. He still clung to Suzhou and Hangzhou, trying to take over the entire southeast before attacking Nanjing and sharing the world with the Song Dynasty.

In Ren Yuan's previous life's history, without the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, Fang La's rebel army was in a very passive position in the later stages, especially after the Song Dynasty recovered from its northern retreat, various armies easily crossed the Yangtze River and marched south, leaving Fang La unable to cope.

At that time, General Lü clearly proposed to abandon the main city of Hangzhou and move the main force into the mountains to deal with the Song army, making use of the terrain advantage to preserve strength.

As a result, Fang La did not heed this advice. He was reluctant to give up the main city he had built up over many years, and in the end, his defeat was irreversible.

As for General Lü, some historical records say that he should have been captured by Han Shizhong along with Fang La, but later, it seems that because Xin Xingzong, that fool, came out to steal credit from Han Shizhong, General Lü actually took the opportunity to escape. He even led Fang La's remnants to fight against the government army for a period of time before being completely defeated. In the end, he did not surrender and committed suicide on the battlefield.

Such a principled scholar is indeed what Da Yi needs!

“Brother, you are indeed born with knowledge! I didn’t say that General Lü was from the Imperial Academy, and you haven’t even looked at the roster yet, so I can only say that you were born with knowledge.”

Zhu Wu looked at Ren Yuan and smiled:

"Indeed, there is no talented person in the world that my brother wouldn't know, as long as he gives his name!"

"You, you learned all of this from Shi Qian, didn't you?"

Ren Yuan opened the roster, carefully looked at the record of General Lü, and his brows gradually relaxed.

"Zhu Wu, this man is indeed a talent. I'll find an opportunity to meet him."

"If he's truly sincere, then his name will definitely be in the top ten, or even the top three..."