On the other hand, he was afraid that his mother and concubine would disapprove. If he rashly stepped forward, would his mother and concubine blame him afterwards?

The prince was troubled in his heart.

Seeing that most civil and military officials in the court had taken action, he might miss it if he didn't make a decision.

Therefore, the prince became cruel and decided not to care about his mother and concubine for now. If she was dissatisfied afterwards, he would just find a way to make amends.

After struggling for a long time, the prince made up his mind and prepared to go out and speak to Zhu Xiuyuan.

But!

The prince had just taken half a step when he heard Emperor Chen's voice coming from above: "My beloved ministers are right, let's see how Zhu Aiqing does his first test. All ministers return to their positions, and the martial arts competition will begin immediately!"

"I obey your orders!" the ministers responded.

The prince was shocked, it was over, it was really too late!

Seeing that all the ministers were bowing to worship, and saying "I obey my orders", the prince had no choice but to give up. He immediately took back the foot that took half a step, and followed the stream, bowing and worshiping together...

Following Emperor Chen's order, the martial arts competition officially began.

The first session is called "Preliminary Test".

The number of places to participate in the next game will be determined.

Boom, boom, boom!

The beating of drums resounded throughout the huge martial arts school, which indicated that the martial arts competition had begun.

Emperor Chen and other civil and military officials all looked at the huge school ground below.

On the other side of the general audience seats, the ordinary spectators above also stopped talking and stared quietly at the school field.

The martial arts competition that has been brewing across the country for several months has finally begun! The audience was really curious and stretched their necks, ready to watch it.

After returning to the city today, they will become "celebrities" in that teahouse and restaurant...

Soon, hundreds of people appeared in the huge school grounds. They were all candidates who came to take part in the martial arts examination.

When everyone looked around, they saw that these candidates all seemed to be wearing vests, with numbers written on their chests and backs...

In the VIP stand, Zhu Xiuyuan did not return to his seat, but stood under Emperor Chen's throne, explaining to Emperor Chen, Concubine You and other officials.

"Well... I wish Aiqing, I heard that there are more than 10,000 people who have successfully registered, but there are only a few hundred people on this campus..." Chen Huang's eyes were not very good, he squinted for a while and then asked

road.

"Your Majesty, ten thousand people are too many. I used the method of 'dividing and trying'. I divided the ten thousand people into twenty teams, with one team of five hundred people. What your majesty sees now are the candidates in the first team.

.”

"Oh I got it……"

Chen Huang suddenly understood and couldn't help but nodded.

Not only Chen Huang nodded, the rest of the people, such as Li Jiye, Zhao Pu, etc., who came specifically for the martial arts competition, were watching and listening carefully at this moment.

"Zhu Aiqing, from what I can see, every candidate seems to be wearing a vest with numbers written on them. What does this mean?" Concubine You asked again.

As soon as these words came out, everyone pricked up their ears because they were actually preparing to ask this question.

"Your Majesty, although the ten thousand people were divided into twenty teams, each team still had five hundred people. The method I used for the first trial was running. On this school field, the flow of people is chaotic and difficult to distinguish. If

Numbering it with numbers saves a lot of trouble and makes it easier to record who is running at the front..."

"I see, Uncle Jiang Cheng is really kind!"

Everyone praised.

However, the King of Jinling and the civil and military officials who had just objected to Zhu Xiuyuan did not agree. They just sat in their seats, motionless, with different expressions.

"Look, Your Majesty, the first preliminary test has officially begun!" Zhu Xiuyuan reminded.

Everyone looked around and saw five hundred candidates gathered in one place on the huge school field. Under their feet, white lime circled an oval-shaped "runway" along the entire school field.

Just like a school sports field.

White lime is sprinkled on the school ground. From a distance, it is very obvious that the oval "runway", like a jade belt, stretches across the school ground.

As soon as Zhu Xiuyuan finished speaking, a burst of drum beating suddenly sounded.

This is the signal to start running.

So, the five hundred candidates began to rush forward with all their strength...

The first session of the preliminary test has officially begun.

Emperor Chen, the officials of the imperial court, and the ordinary people sitting in the ordinary seats opposite all opened their eyes and watched carefully, fearing that they might miss something.

Because this martial arts event was held for the first time, everyone watched it very carefully.

In addition, the King of Jinling, as well as the civil and military officials who had just supported him, looked at it more carefully.

They were preparing to find fault and cause trouble for Zhu Xiuyuan.

They firmly believed that it was just a matter of running. There was nothing difficult about it. They just waited here while everyone on the school field ran for three or two hours...

In fact, the King of Jinling and these ministers, including military attachés, were all pampered and rarely exercised. The idea that "everyone can run and can run for a long time" was just their imagination.

They had clothes to put on, food to eat, and mouth to open. They had horse-drawn carriages to travel, and they had never experienced the feeling of running for a long time.

If you were an ordinary soldier in the army, you probably wouldn't think this way.

This is how environment creates people!

King Jinling was high-spirited and confident. He stared directly at the school field below and secretly rubbed his hands.

He thought to himself: "Ten thousand people, divided into twenty teams... I think this first battle will take two or three hours. Even if it doesn't work, it can last for one or two hours... It's so long, and there will be more after that.

There are nineteen teams, how many hours will it take?"

The more King Jinling thought about it, the happier he became, and a smile appeared on his face unconsciously.

He rubbed his hands secretly, his eyes shining brightly.

He was imagining the scene where Chen Huang waited impatiently and then scolded Zhu Xiuyuan.

Hey, Zhu Xiuyuan, don’t you have so many people speaking for you? But facts speak louder than words, and child’s play is child’s play. It’s useless no matter how many people speak for you!

Until then, let’s see what else you have to say!

The more King Jinling thought about it, the happier he became. Even after Zhu Xiuyuan was scolded by Emperor Chen, he had already thought about what he should say in advance...

However--

Not long after the first preliminary test began, the situation on the school field exceeded King Jinling's expectations.

According to King Jinling's idea, these five hundred people should be competing to win the first place, and their speeds should be almost the same, and then they would run non-stop on the school field like machines that never get tired.

But what is the situation now?

I saw five hundred martial arts candidates on the school field. Not long after they started running, the distance gradually widened. Some people ran very fast, while others fell far behind. The distance became wider and wider.

King Jinling was a little dumbfounded. He couldn't help but stop rubbing his hands secretly. He leaned his neck forward slightly and stared with wide eyes as if he didn't believe it.

"Your Majesty, please see, this running sounds like a very simple thing, but in practice, it is very difficult. At the beginning, some people have fallen behind. As time goes by, some people will become more and more difficult."

After arriving in Etsuki, you may even be out of breath, unable to move, fall down and fall into coma..."

Zhu Xiuyuan's words came from under Emperor Chen's throne.

As soon as these words came out, most people nodded secretly in agreement, because the reality was right in front of them.

However, some people, led by King Jinling, scorned it.

His heart moved, and he found a reason for himself: "These slow runners must be trying to gain ground and attack later. They run slowly first to conserve their energy, and wait until the last moment to overtake the ones in front..."

With this thought in his mind, King Jinling relaxed again.

Those who are left behind are not what Zhu Xiuyuan said. They are exhausted. That is a strategy. Do you understand the strategy?

King Jinling was so proud that he began to rub his hands secretly again.

But……

As time passed by, the situation on the school grounds changed again.

I saw that among the five hundred martial arts candidates, the distance between those running in front and those falling behind was getting wider and wider.

Even the person running at the front surpassed the person running at the back...

King Jinling's eyes bulged, and there seemed to be bloodshot eyes in the whites. He secretly clenched his head, tensed his whole body, and shouted in his heart: "We've already passed one lap. You must exert your strength quickly. It's time to surpass them."

Hurry up and use your strength!"

However, under the silent shouts of King Jinling, the man running at the back suddenly... suddenly his legs gave way and he fell forward.

His whole body fell on the ground of the school ground, raising a circle of dust.

Huh……

King Jinling felt a kind of pain just looking at it.

However, his expression remained unchanged, he clenched his fists, and secretly shouted: "Get up, get up, and surpass him. If you can surpass him, I will definitely reward you..."
To be continued...