Iron Powder and Spellcasters

  As the cathedral of the Archbishop of New Reclamation, the magnificence of the Maplestone Cathedral is far from that of the small churches in the countryside and towns.

   Even the Gervaudin Cathedral, which has been called the most sacred in the eyes of Houder, is obviously eclipsed compared with it.

  Standing on the square in front of the Cathedral of Maplestone City, Holder and other reserve officers didn't even dare to breathe.

   These young people should not be blamed for their instinctive reaction, because the reason why the Maplestone Cathedral was built so high and steep is to make the viewers dizzy and awed when they look up.

Of course, there are also academic officers who have been tortured by quizzes, major exams, class exams, end-of-month exams, midterm exams, and final exams. They intend to give Ye Luzi colleagues a little "surprise", so they deliberately did not inform the reserve officers " The written exam will be held at Maplestone Cathedral" reason.

  If it is said that the appearance of the Maplestone Cathedral was a blow to Houdl, then the next person who appeared on the stage made Houdir completely at a loss.

  Entering from the main entrance, which was somewhat small by the exterior of the cathedral, Holder saw several tables lined up under the altar at the end of the temple, and the blood wolf himself was obviously sitting behind the table.

   "What's going on?" Hou Deer panicked, and desperately asked the people around him: "Your Excellency is here too? Are you here to invigilate the exam?"

  The other reserve officers were equally unprepared for this, and everyone stopped at the entrance of the cathedral, not daring to go inside.

  The next moment, for Holder, something terrible happened—the blood wolf waved at him.

   "Is it for me?" Holder held Doug and Claude, and asked incredulously, "Is it for me?"

  Doug and Claude resolutely took Holder's hand away, and silently took a step aside. Holder, who was originally hiding in the crowd, was instantly isolated.

   Then, something more terrifying happened—the blood wolf waved again, this time obviously impatient than last time.

  There was no way to hide, so Holder had no choice but to bite the bullet and step under the dome of the Cathedral of Maplestone City first.

  Walking in the central aisle leading to the altar, the tiniest voice from Holder's body would be reflected back by the walls and vaults, becoming clear and loud, which made him unconsciously stand on tiptoe and tried his best not to make a sound of footsteps.

  On both sides of the aisle, there were originally rows of benches for ordinary believers to sit on when they participated in the ceremony.

  At this moment, all the benches have been removed, replaced by a set of marching tables and benches, far apart from each other, but neatly arranged.

  The servants of the cathedral were busy placing writing instruments on the marching table. When they heard someone walking in, they all turned their eyes to the door.

   Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Holder instantly felt that he couldn't even walk. Every step I took was like stepping on shaking gravel, and I felt awkward everywhere.

   Fortunately, the church servants only glanced at him for a short while, and soon immersed themselves in setting up the examination room.

  Holder walked to the altar like walking on thin ice, and raised his hand to the blood wolf to salute: "Your Excellency."

  Blood Wolf just glanced at him expressionlessly, and pointed at the gray-haired clerk beside him.

   "Soldier card." The old clerk held out his hand to Holder.

  Holder handed over the **** card.

   "Are you Holder?" the old clerk asked without looking up while registering.

  If it was normal, Houdel would definitely choke back with the sentence "I am not Houder who am I".

  However, at this moment, the blood wolf was sitting by the side watching, so Holder had no choice but to answer honestly: "Yes."

"age?"

   "One month to nineteen."

   "Age?" The old clerk asked again in a long voice.

"eighteen."

   "Native place?"

   "Huh?" Holder didn't understand.

   "Where is home?"

   "Ox Hoof Valley." Holder thought for a while and added: "Iron Peak County."

   The comparison was correct, the old clerk took out a number plate from the wooden box at hand, and handed it to Holder together with the soldier plate: "Wait by the side, someone will take you to your seat later."

  The next reserve officer to "verify his identity" was Doug, and Holder was bored watching his friend go through the same question and answer again.

  He actually didn't quite understand why he had to spend so much time, but it was obviously not a good time to ask questions.

  The reserve officers received their number plates one by one, and soon arrived at Claude.

  When Claude, who was still childish, took out his soldier card, the blood wolf who had been silent all this time said, "Claude Lee?"

   Claude was stunned, and he didn't recover until he was stabbed in the back by his comrades behind him.

   "Yes!" Claude hurriedly stood at attention and saluted: "It's me."

   "How is your recovery from the arrow wound?"

   "It's all good." Although the wound sometimes itch, Claude replied subconsciously: "It's all good."

   "You have grown a lot taller than when I saw you last time."

  For some reason, Claude Lee's nose felt a little sore: "I've grown a lot taller, and I'm always hungry. The company commander said I wasn't full."

   Blood Wolf nodded.

  Seeing this, the old clerk on the side was unconsciously more amiable when talking to the middle-aged man in front of him.

  Claude successfully received the number plate and walked towards other reserve officers waiting to be seated. One didn't pay attention, and Hou Deer's elbow clamped his neck.

   "You know your Excellency." Holder asked, biting his ear.

   "This... it's a long story." Claude hadn't recovered from the conversation with the blood wolf, and he replied in a low voice: "It shouldn't be considered acquaintance."

   "Fuck you, don't you call this acquaintance?" Holder said angrily, "I've never... never seen such... such a gentle expression on your face."

   Soon, all reserve officers and commissioned officers got their number plates.

   Several church servants came over and led the subject to the seat corresponding to each number plate.

  The number on Holder's number plate is "198", and the corresponding seat is in the third row from the bottom of all seats.

  As soon as I sat on the simple bench marked No. 198, the world changed immediately.

  The dome of the church is so high, as if it is about to fall down and hit my eyes;

  The comrades-in-arms were obviously sitting a few meters away from him, but there seemed to be a vast ocean between them.

  Everyone, you look at me, I look at you, you can talk, but no one dares to speak.

  Holder's heart was pounding, and the sweat on his palms could not be wiped dry.

  Actually, just yesterday, he went to Company Commander Peter Burnier to inquire about the exam, and the news he got was that "the questions in this exam are very simple and not difficult at all."

  However, when he actually sat in the examination room, he still couldn't help becoming anxious.

  Holder had to find something to distract himself, and he began to study the number plate in his hand: it seems to be pine wood? It's so delicately done! The colors are so vibrant!

  Looking, watching, Holder suddenly became alarmed.

  No. 198?

   Doesn't that mean there are at least 198 people who came for the exam?

  However—Holder stretched his neck and looked around—all the comrades in arms and the boys in leather boots combined did not fill up half of the seats.

   Is there anyone else coming to take the exam?

   Soon, Holder knew—why is he only number 198?

  Shortly after the reserve officers took their seats, a small figure appeared at the main entrance of the cathedral, poked his head around, and was also called by the blood wolf from a distance, and reluctantly walked towards the altar.

   Recognizing who the visitor was, Houdel couldn't help being speechless.

   is the famous blood wolf champion - Captain Peter Bunier.

   Then more company-level officers filed into the Cathedral of Maplestone City: Li Wei, Shao Luoshi, Rolf...all of them are well-known figures in the Tiefeng County Army.

   This time, even the solemn and solemn atmosphere of the examination room could no longer suppress the curiosity of the candidates.

  The reserve officers began to ask each other with their eyes and lips: "What's going on? The company commander also needs to take an exam?"

  If the appearance of the company commanders has caught the reserve officers off guard, then the next characters on the stage can be said to have shocked Holder's jaw in a literal sense.

Tamas, Bart Shiring, and the hot new battalion commander Lannis, accompanied Sergeant Ish Sweetwater, whom Holder had just met this morning, walked into Maplestone City University talking and laughing. church.

   Then there were the commanders of the Wolf Cavalry Unit—Pierre Mitchell and Vashika Morozov.

  It was only then that Holder realized that this was not just an exam for reserve officers—it was for all officers who had never been to a military academy to take the exam.

  He immediately thought of it: If officers at the company level, battalion level, and even regiment level have to take the test, what about the troops stationed in other regions?

  I'm afraid that the same exam is being held in Wargney County, Iron Peak County, and even in areas controlled by friendly forces such as Baishan County.

   This is a unified examination covering the new reclamation provinces, and its scale is far beyond Houder's wildest imagination.

   "Please." Holder looked up at the unknown saint painted on the dome of the church, and prayed so devoutly for the first time in his life: "Don't ask too difficult questions."

  …

   Just as Holder was praying desperately, in front of the altar of the Maplestone City Cathedral, Winters took out a flat round silver box from his arms, opened the lid, and put it on the table.

   It was Winters' idea to use the cathedral as an examination room.

   On the one hand, I want to give the subjects a little psychological pressure to deter anyone who wants to cheat;

  The more important reason is actually: Searching all over Fengshi City, I can't find a place more suitable for the examination room than the Cathedral.

  Other public buildings that were considered, either did not have enough space—such as the Town Hall Auditorium;

  Either there is nothing but a large enough place—such as a playground in an urban barracks.

  Besides the Maplestone Cathedral, where else is there a good place where there is no wind, no sun, good ventilation, moderate lighting, spacious space, and enough tables, chairs, benches, pens, inks and papers?

  Using the cathedral as an examination room is a genius idea, and Winters couldn't help but want to applaud himself.

  The only obstacle lies in the mood of His Excellency the Archbishop.

   Fortunately, Father Kaman's face was big enough, and the Archbishop of New Clay quickly lent out his cathedral, and generously donated money to contract all the writing tools needed for the examination room in Maplestone City.

  The Nurem clock on the table was "clicking".

  When the pointer inlaid with luminous stone reaches the eighth scale, the big clock of Maplestone City Cathedral also rings.

  The examination room fell silent in an instant.

   "Go ahead." Winters ordered.

  The church servants, holding stacks of test papers, came out of the back hall, as if holding a relic of a saint in their arms.

   They marched hand in hand to the tables and chairs neatly arranged in the temple, and solemnly distributed the examination questions to the officers and quasi-military officers of the New Republic.

  Winters stood on the steps in front of the altar, watching the examination papers distributed from the first row to the last row.

   "Two hours." He announced solemnly: "Good luck."

  …

  Holder was completely dumbfounded.

   Bean-sized beads of sweat fell from his forehead one by one, but his fingertips and toes were cold.

  Except for the six folio exam questions, he can still do some arithmetic and geometry questions on the second sheet. He can't do any of the other five exam questions.

   It's not "can't" do it, but "can't" do it.

  Because he didn't understand what the test questions were at all.

   Before enlisting in the army, Holder never went to school. After formally joining the army, under the literal "whip" of Roussillon and other sergeants, he learned some characters and learned some knowledge other than shooting and riding a horse.

  Holder was quite complacent at first, because among the same batch of recruits, he was the fastest and most clever learner.

  However, when he faced a real exam, he suddenly found that what he had learned was not enough at all.

  He can recognize a few of the words in the title alone.

  But if it is put in a sentence, Holder can't understand it. Those whole lines, whole paragraphs, and whole paragraphs of sentences, in Houder's view, are tantamount to heavenly scriptures.

  The more Holder looked down, the more parched his mouth was and his eyes were staring.

  Suddenly, the crisp sound of boots hitting the stone slab came from the altar in front of him.

  In the silent examination room, this voice was especially harsh.

  Holder immediately recognized that this unique sound was the footsteps of the blood wolf.

  He didn't dare to raise his head, so he could only frantically pray that the blood wolf would not go to his side.

  But he came to whatever he was afraid of. The blood wolf's footsteps not only did not move away, but got closer and closer, and finally stopped in front of Holder's desk.

  The sun shines through the skylight of the cathedral, casting the shadow of the blood wolf on Holder's empty test paper.

  Time only passed a few seconds, but Holder felt as if a thousand years was as long.

  He wanted to hide the test paper, crumpled it, shredded it, and ate it, anyway, he just didn't want the blood wolf to see it.

   But he can't do anything, he can't move.

  Holder was very scared, afraid that the blood wolf would sigh, shake his head, or slap himself angrily.

   But in the end, the blood wolf didn't say anything, just walked away silently.

  Höder's dignity also crumbled.

   He cried out.

  …

  In the copying room in the back hall of the cathedral, Winters pushed the door and entered, awakening Senior Mason who was dozing off.

   "How is it?" Mason rubbed his sleepy eyes, wiped the drool from his mouth, and asked with a smile, "Did I make the question too easy?"

   "It's too simple." Winters said with a serious face, "But...it's too difficult."

  …

  Two hours passed quickly, and Holder didn't know how he survived.

   Only heard another bell, and the voice of the blood wolf came from the altar:

   "Those who have finished answering the test papers, leave your test papers on the table and leave the examination room."

  Holder wiped away his tears and tried his best to pretend that he hadn't cried.

  Blood Wolf then issued a second order:

   "People who can't read the test paper - stay where they are!"

  Höder was stunned.

"Those who leave the examination room, don't disband, line up in the square." The voice of the blood wolf came into everyone's ears clearly: "Have dinner at the city hall at noon, and set off to Maple Leaf Fort in the afternoon to participate in the military skill test—do you hear me clearly? ?”

   "Listen clearly." The buzzing voice echoed under the dome.

   "I didn't hear clearly." Winters frowned.

   "Listen clearly!"

  Winters waved his hand: "Execute the order."

  …

  People around him left one after another, Holder gritted his teeth and decided to stay where he was.

  When the Maplestone Cathedral returned to calm, all the "Boots" were gone, but most of the reserve officers of the Iron Peak Army did not leave the examination room.

  Winters walked up to the altar and said amazingly: "I apologize to you."

  Holder did not dare to look up.

   "If the test-taker can't even read the test paper, it's the test administrator's fault," Winters said guiltily, pausing. "You'll get an extra hour—don't waste it."

  Höder didn't know why at first, but soon, he was taken by a clerk to a prayer room in the monastery attached to the cathedral.

   Meanwhile, other reserve officers were led out of the cathedral by clerks, but each was taken to a separate room.

  The city hall clerk who was urgently summoned explained to Holder with a smile: "Your Excellency understands that you may not be able to 'understand' the test paper, so from now on, I will read the questions to you, and you only need to answer verbally."

"You have one hour." The city hall clerk put an hourglass on the table, and wrote a note of [no literacy] in red ink on Holder's test paper, and then scratched his head: "But it's best to hurry up Some, because I'm going to help other... misters."

  …

  With the help of the clerk, Holder finally finished the paper.

  At noon, Holder ate a big meal, swallowing his tears along with the stewed pork head.

  In the afternoon, he vented all his humiliation and anger on the target and the straw man.

  The subjects of the military skill test are simply child's play for "veterans" like Houder.

Whether it's riding horses, shooting, throwing bombs, or wearing armor, maintaining weapons, digging trenches and building fortifications, he has done everything very well, far better than those "boys in boots" who can't even shoot accurately. Bad breath.

  The only thing that made Holder a little confused was the last subject of the "Military Skills Test".

  Holder was taken to a quiet room, where a table was placed, and a pair of huge hollow glass **** were placed on the table.

  Holder swears that he has never seen such a big, transparent, and delicate glass ball in his life.

   There are some smoke-like things floating in the glass ball, which is really beautiful.

  Holder had never seen the officer who presided over the examination, but he was so handsome that even Holder couldn't help but look at him a few more times.

  The handsome officer asked Houder a few questions, and asked Houder to do some inexplicable things.

   After a few times down, the handsome officer obviously lost interest and sent Houder away directly.

   That night, when he returned to the barracks, Holder pondered until late at night, but he didn't figure out what the last test was about.

   But after thinking about it, he fell asleep.

  In the dream, he wrote the test paper to the brim.

  …

   At the same time, in the temporary marking room of Fengshi City Hall.

   "Damn it!" Andre jumped off the recliner, threw the test paper in his hand along with the red graphite strip on the table, and couldn't help cursing: "What kind of **** are these answers?!"

  …

   At the same time, in the officer's residence area of ​​Maplestone City, Winters' home.

  Winters looked at Claude Lee in front of him, and then at the other person beside Claude Lee, he couldn't laugh or cry: "Why...you too?"

  Standing beside Claude Lee, Vashika was grinning and giggling.

  [The oral answer sheet, from the materials I saw before about the literacy of the New Fourth Army]

  [Because many soldiers and cadres born in poverty are illiterate at all, so they can only take the cultural test in this way]

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