"The sea of learning is open again. Although there are more than ten thousand students, the rules remain unchanged. After arriving at the seaside, each person will write a poem, and the poems will form a boat. The first round of poems today is titled 'Poems to Encourage Learning'. You will be given a quarter of an hour to think about it, and after a quarter of an hour, you will officially write!"
Some people hurried forward, thinking about poems to encourage learning as they walked. They did not want to get involved in the dispute between Fang Yun and Zong Lei. Catching the Wenxin fish was the top priority.
Some people walked and talked eloquently, expressing their determination.
"I have always supported Fang Xusheng, but I just don't want to participate in the race. I hope Fang Xusheng will forgive me. In addition, the Lei family is not worthy of being a scholar!"
"Master Fang Ban, please make sure you defeat the Zong Lei and his family. They are nothing! However, the barbarians have already invaded. I must do my best to lure Wen Xin. I cannot allow any accidents. I hope that Saint Fang Xu will forgive me!"
Many people explained, and most of them scolded the Zong and Lei families. Although they did not participate in the race, it made Fang Yun feel warm.
Fang Yun said with a swift tongue: "Thank you all. Since the crossing of the sea of learning has begun, we can't waste any more time. The fleet competition this time is very simple. You can choose to join my fleet or join the Lei family's fleet. If anyone in the Lei family's fleet beats me in the competition, then our fleet loses. In the end, if I surpass all the fleets of the Lei family, then our fleet wins. The winner will get all the Wenxin fish of the loser!"
Many people chose teams. Most of those who went to Fang Yun were from Jing. However, Jing was a small country with not particularly large population. Although some people supported Fang Yun, they did not participate in the race.
There are a lot of people from the saintly families who came to Xuehai this time, but the situation is unclear now. Fang Yun and the Zong family are already involved in the dispute over the Zong Saint's holy way, and the Lei family and Fang Yun are even more irreconcilable. They dare not make any decision before getting the order from the head of the family.
Almost all of the friends in Shengxu are from the Saint Family. They have a deep friendship with Fang Yun and have been instructed by the head of the family, so there is no need to care.
On the other hand, the Zongsheng family is a first-class emerging family, and the Lei family has been standing for many years and has won over a large number of people in a short period of time.
However, even though the Zong and Lei families are very powerful, Fang Yun has even more people behind him!
Lei Longkuo was anxious and shouted, "Dear scholars, if you are willing to join our Zong Lei Fleet, I promise you that you will not only become friends of our two families, but also receive great benefits! Our Lei family holds some places to enter the ancient land of the Dragon Clan. Even if Fang Yun is a Dragon Duke, he can only enter by himself. He cannot bring others! The places are scarce and first come first served. If you are late, there may be no more."
A scholar from the Jia Kingdom suddenly asked, "If I join now, would you be willing to give me a Longquan brand?"
Lei Longkuo was stunned. Although the number of Longquan cards was not particularly small, it was the Lei family's unique qualification to enter Longquan. The Lei family was willing to use Longquan cards to exchange for what they needed every ten years. And they only traded with a few aristocratic families.
The Longquan card can enter the dragon clan's spiritual spring and enhance a little spiritual intelligence, but only children under three years old can enter. This is one of the reasons why the Lei family has so many Hanlin and university scholars.
Lei Longkuo looked at several great scholars of the Lei family.
The Grand Scholars looked at each other, thought for a few breaths, and nodded one after another. Grand Scholar Lei Mo said loudly: "As long as we can beat Fang Yun, the elders of the Lei family will definitely not be stingy with Longquan cards! Grand Scholar Zuo, thank you for your help!"
The Grand Secretary Zuo was still hesitant, but when he heard the words "thank you for your help", he knew that if he refused the Lei family now, he would be in trouble. He thought that the Lei family was indeed smart. He sighed softly, clasped his fists towards Fang Yun, and said, "My son was born with impaired intelligence. Although he has been treated by a doctor, he still has hidden dangers. Only by entering Longquan can he be like a normal person. I hope Fang Xusheng will forgive me." After that, he walked towards the Lei family's main team.
Lei Longkuo showed a happy expression and said, "You all have seen that as long as you join my Lei family, there will definitely be benefits."
"My cousin has offended the Lei family. If I join the Lei family fleet, can the Lei family let my cousin go?" another university scholar asked.
Lei Mo asked: "Are you talking about Shu Cheng?"
"That's him."
"It's easy to deal with. As long as you join the Lei family fleet, regardless of victory or defeat, this matter will be written off! My Lei family welcomes cooperation!"
"Fang Xusheng, I'm sorry!" The university scholar lowered his head and walked towards the Lei family's team.
Afterwards, more and more Grand Secretaries joined the two teams of the Lei family and the Zong family, bringing the number of Grand Secretaries of the Zong and Lei families to twenty-two more in total, which is a very large number.
In the inland sea or even the center of the sea, although the effect of joining forces is not particularly great, it is definitely more advantageous than acting alone. At critical moments, these university scholars can sacrifice their own war poetry ships to help the Zong and Lei families.
In the end, there were 45 grand secretaries from the Zong and Lei families, while there were only 27 grand secretaries from the Fang Yun fleet.
"Fang Yun, why don't you make a promise as well?" Li Fanming asked in a low voice.
"No need." Fang Yun's answer was simple.
The Zong and Lei families were in high spirits. Lei Longkuo looked at the stupid scholar Tian Songshi who was walking towards the sea and said, "Mr. Songshi, are you willing to join our fleet? Regardless of victory or defeat, the Lei family will give you a satisfying gift!"
Tian Songshi did not stop and smiled, "I am a scholar and have always remembered the poems and articles of Fang Xusheng. Although I am old and have a high literary status, I am still Fang Xusheng's student and I dare not forget my roots. I see that you have also collected a lot of people, and the chances of success are very high. Just honestly cross the sea of learning. If you anger Fang Xusheng, once he opens his mouth, I can only go to help him."
The Zong and Lei families looked unhappy. This stupid scholar was not stupid at all. He was obviously saying that the quarrel between the two families was enough and they should not push their luck further. If they continued to win people over, Tian Songshi would go directly to help Fang Yun.
"Mr. Tian is absolutely right! Let's go to the river, write poems to encourage learning, turn the poems into boats, and cross the ocean of learning together!" Grand Secretary Zong Chengbing gave the final order.
Two large teams walked towards the seaside.
The number of grand secretaries from the Zong and Lei families is far greater than that behind Fang Yun, but in terms of total numbers, Fang Yun still has the upper hand!
Fang Yun took a look at the two teams. The Zong and Lei families' teams had more than 2,300 people, and the scholars behind him were as many as 3,500 people!
"Let's go!" Fang Yun shouted and led the team towards the beach.
The atmosphere of confrontation immediately dissipated, and was replaced by a tense atmosphere of crossing the sea of learning. Many people stood on the beach and whispered.
"There are four rounds of learning. The first three rounds are all about 'learning poems'. You can choose any three from encouraging learning, hard learning, diligent learning, clever learning and fun learning. Today's first poem is a poem encouraging learning. It looks like the same as in previous years. It's very simple. At the very least, you can get close to the open sea."
"Today, there are many talented people, many of whom are heading to the open sea or even the inland sea. I'll just stay near the sea. After all, once you enter the open sea, the boat may be broken by the wind and waves."
"I still want to go fishing in the inland sea again. I don't want to just fish in the open sea."
"The premise is that your poetry can allow you to reach the inner sea! If you can't reach it, no matter how much literary talent you have in the outer sea, it will be in vain."
An old scholar from Jing State who was following behind Fang Yun shouted, "Fang Xusheng, when we get to the inner sea, we may have to rely on you!"
"Yes! The seashore is calm, and the open sea is just a little windy and rough. The inland sea is different. There are strong winds and heavy rains, and only powerful warships can sail in it. It's easy for you to open up the inland sea channel, and we can also benefit from it."
Zong Shibing sneered, "Benefit from the good? You are benefiting from 'losing everything'! All the scholars who follow Fang Yun will be regarded as enemies by our Lei family and ours!"
Fang Yun said with a swift voice: "My fellow scholars, the barbarians are invading from the south, and the demon world is pressing on step by step. The human race should strengthen its strength. Although I am not very knowledgeable, I also wish the human race's literary fortune to prosper. No matter which country you are from, as long as you are willing, even if you don't want to participate in the race, you can follow our fleet."
After Fang Yun finished speaking, both the Zong and Lei families were stunned. For a moment, they forgot to think about how to write poems to encourage learning. Almost everyone regretted why they didn't think of saying this just now, which would definitely win the favor of many people.
Before the Zong and Lei families could come up with a counterattack, people started to speak out.
"Thank you for your righteousness, Saint Fang Xu. In this case, I will follow Saint Fang Xu's fleet."
"Fang Xusheng has a broad mind, no one can match him. Even if the Zong and Lei families copycats and let people follow them, we won't go there. We will follow Fang Xusheng!"
"Anyway, we have been learning Fang Xusheng's poems and articles. In a few years, we can say that we grew up reading Fang Xusheng's poems and articles. If we want to follow, we should follow Fang Xusheng. If we follow the Zong and Lei families, we will definitely be criticized!"
"It's always right to follow Fang Xusheng."
“Who has ever seen anyone who followed Fang Xusheng and suffered in the end? When they encountered the turtle demon general, Fang Xusheng saved everyone. Even if they lost an arm and shortened their lifespan, they were made up by Fang Xusheng afterwards. Not to mention those who followed to the Comet Corridor, reaching the Seventh Corridor was such a great fortune! At least they will all become great scholars in the future. As for those who went to the Jinshi Hunting Ground, let alone, if it weren’t for Fang Xusheng, they would have died long ago!”
"I originally didn't want to participate in the race, I just wanted to follow. After hearing what you said, I don't care. I will join Fang Xusheng's fleet and participate in the race!"
“I’m joining the race too!”
Soon, more than 8,000 people joined the race, and the number of scholars in Fang Yun's fleet soared to 12,000! If we include those who followed but did not compete, the total number exceeded 30,000!
Most of the scholars came under Fang Yun’s command!
On the other hand, the number of people in the Zong and Lei families has hardly changed.
Soon, Zong Chengbing spoke, saying the same thing as Fang Yun, allowing others to follow, even if they did not compete.
A few people expressed their intention to go, but in the end, the number of people who competed or followed was less than one-fifth of the Fangyun fleet.
Soon, everyone arrived at the beach.
When the quarter of an hour was almost over, people began to recite their own poems encouraging learning, and they transformed into various boats and appeared on the seashore.
The worst was the bamboo raft, which didn't even have oars, so you can imagine how slow it was. Among the tens of thousands of people, more than 300 people's poems were turned into bamboo rafts, and some of them blushed or sighed.
Slightly better than the bamboo raft is the canoe, which is the most primitive form of boat. There are thousands of them, and these people also feel ashamed.
Better than canoes are various small boats, such as wupeng boats, small fishing boats, etc. The common feature of these boats is that they have no sails. There are more small boats, more than three thousand.
Better than small boats are small sailboats, which are faster and more powerful. There are more than 30,000 of them, making them the most numerous ships.
(To be continued…)