Reborn in Liangshan: I built the strongest lineup

At the foot of Liangshan Mountain, in a tavern, the six scholars did not stay in their rooms, but instead ate and chatted together in the hall.

"How was your policy essay just now, senior? I couldn't write anything at all; I could only quote classics."

"Senior, you can still quote classics, while I can only compose a few poems."

"You're all good. I didn't have any particular ideas; I just wrote something down casually."

……

It's clear that, apart from Qiu Yu, the other six scholars were not very capable.

"Senior, senior, how are you?"

At this moment, a young man next to Qiu Yu suddenly nudged Qiu Yu's shoulder gently.

"Ah, what's wrong?"

Qiu Yu snapped out of his daze and realized that the remaining five people were staring at him.

Clearly, Qiu Yu, who hadn't participated in the discussion earlier, had attracted everyone's attention.

Why is this senior student not saying a word?

Could it be that you have a plan in mind?

"This senior student, regarding the policy essay just now..."

Seeing Qiu Yu's bewildered expression, someone spoke softly, while also feeling somewhat surprised.

What's wrong with this student? Why is he so unconcerned about how well he wrote his policy essay?

"Ah, policy essay, I... I don't know how well I wrote it, I've never written one before..."

Qiu Yu then realized what was happening and immediately stammered a reply.

Everyone looked at it and thought, "That makes sense! You didn't say anything earlier, so we thought you wrote something really good!"

"Alas, we are all people who have no hope of passing the imperial examinations in the Song Dynasty! It is already very difficult for Liangshan to give us this opportunity."

The oldest middle-aged scholar chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"It's a pity that we were simply too lacking in talent and failed to seize the opportunity."

The middle-aged scholar's words resonated with everyone.

"Yes, I wonder if the chieftain will be disappointed in us."

"Sigh, if we had made a name for ourselves in the imperial examinations of the Song Dynasty, would we be here now?"

"What this senior is saying is true. I have taken the exam twice and failed both times."

"You're lucky, it's only twice. I've done it three times."

"I've also done it three times, senior. You're the oldest, what about you?"

Someone asked the middle-aged scholar, because he was the oldest among them.

"I?"

The middle-aged man was taken aback by the question, and his expression changed rapidly, as if he had remembered something very bad.

"Ah, senior, I was rude and shouldn't have asked."

Everyone realized what was going on. "Yeah, we shouldn't have asked that question. It's like reopening old wounds!"

"Oh, it's nothing, it's all in the past. To be honest, I took the exam six times and failed every time."

The middle-aged man chuckled self-deprecatingly, revealing his true colors.

For a moment, everyone was at a loss for words. Six times and he still hadn't passed? Dude, isn't this... a bit outrageous?

"What is your surname, senior?"

"No need for formalities, my surname is Kong, Kong Yijin."

The middle-aged man announced his name, saying, "I have failed the imperial examination six times. I am truly ashamed and have failed to live up to the name of the sage."

"No, no, Brother Kong is a late bloomer."

"Yes, yes, yes! In the future, Brother Kong might just be able to achieve great success in Liangshan!"

"That's it."

……

Everyone was chatting animatedly, but Qiu Yu felt no sense of participation whatsoever.

He's even gone mad.

No, was the imperial examination really that difficult? And why were there so many attempts?

No, I passed it very easily back then.

Although I wasn't in the top three, I was still in the top ten, so I didn't find it that difficult.

How can someone fail six times?

Just as his mind was in turmoil, the person next to him asked him another question.

"Hey, senior? How many times have you taken the exam?"

Qiu Yu was startled awake again and blurted out:

"once."

"Oh, junior, it's okay if you didn't pass the first time. Look at me, I failed three times; Brother Kong failed six times, but we are still full of confidence. You can't underestimate yourself and get discouraged! Let's keep trying!"

The unknown scholar patted Qiu Yu on the shoulder in encouragement.

For a moment, Qiu Yu really didn't know what to say.

No, I already passed! Why would I need to keep trying?

They continued their conversation, but Qiu Yu felt extremely uncomfortable, as he realized he couldn't join in their conversation at all.

This is so difficult!

"Which one of you is Mr. Kong Yijin?"

Just when Qiu Yu was feeling particularly tormented, a junior officer suddenly entered and respectfully asked him something.

"I am... I am."

The middle-aged scholar was taken aback, then quickly stood up and stammered, "..."

"This, Your Majesty, what brings you here?"

The feeling was as if they were afraid of hearing bad news at any moment.

"Don't panic, sir. I'm not some king. Just call me brother."

The junior officer said with a smile.

"The strategists have read your article and think it's quite good, so they asked me to invite you over to discuss the matters you will be in charge of in the future."

"Clang~"

After hearing what the junior officer said, Kong Yijin swayed a few times, lost his balance, and knocked over the chair next to him.

The two scholars who were near him quickly got up and helped him up.

With the help of two men, Kong Yijin finally managed to steady himself, then looked at the junior officer and asked in a trembling voice:

"Young man, you mean, I, I won?"

"Yes, you could say that. Your article, sir, was indeed selected by the strategists."

The junior officer thought about it and realized that although it wasn't a formal imperial examination, it was still an exam for Liangshan to select civil officials, and Kong Yijin had indeed passed.

"Hey, I won!"

After receiving confirmation from the junior officer, Kong Yijin was stunned. He looked at the envious glances cast his way by the people around him and didn't know what to say for a moment.

Congratulations, Brother Kong!

Congratulations, Brother Kong, on passing the exam!

"Brother Kong, what did I just say? Things are finally turning around!"

……

Everyone congratulated Kong Yijin, and even Qiu Yu sincerely congratulated him.

After all, for someone who has failed the exam six times in a row, Liangshan's affirmation of him this time will give him tremendous confidence! It might even change his fate!

Congratulations!

Thinking about this, Qiu Yu suddenly felt that Liangshan opening the imperial examination might not be such a bad thing after all. At least, it could satisfy some people!

"I won! I really won!"

Kong Yijin stood there dumbfounded. For a moment, his mind was completely blank except for joy. He had no idea what he was thinking and could only repeat, "I won."

Everyone sighed with pity at his appearance.

If it were me, I probably would have behaved much like Kong Yijin.

"Mr. Kong, please come with me."

The junior officer gestured for Kong Yijin to come with him. After realizing what was happening, Kong Yijin bowed to the people present.

"Fellow students, I will go ahead first. I believe you will all catch up soon!"

Everyone returned the greeting, expressing their desire to benefit from Kong Yijin's fame.

Qiu Yu returned the greeting while thinking.

Kong Yijin was the first one called out? It seems his writing isn't too bad?

Even better than what you achieve by deliberately suppressing it?

As expected of someone who took the test six times! He's quite capable; he probably wasn't entirely telling the truth just now.

Subsequently, two more people were called out, which made Qiu Yu even more convinced that some of the people who were just playing the victim must not be telling the truth!

Otherwise, how could three people write something better than me?

I was a genuine Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) back in the day, one of the top ten in the entire Song Dynasty!

Even if you deliberately made random changes, it shouldn't be this bad.

"Which one of you is Mr. Qiu Yu?"

Well, it wasn't until fourth place that Qiu Yu's name was called.

"it's me."

Qiu Yu quickly stood up.

"Mr. Qiu, please come with me."

The junior officer still treated the person with utmost respect, asking them to leave.

"Brother Qiu, congratulations!"

"Brother Qiu, you've won too!"

The remaining two people also offered their blessings to Qiu Yu.

Qiu Yu returned the greetings one by one, and then followed the junior officer out.

He was very curious about where someone like him would be assigned.

……