The Second Year of Yong'an, August 5th.
Outside Xiangyang City, pedestrians and merchants moved shoulder to shoulder, with literati chatting and laughing among themselves. They queued up and walked towards the city. Some vendors even set up their stalls outside the city, creating a lively atmosphere.
The guarding soldiers at the city gate strictly inspected those entering the city.
The provincial examination was imminent.
This was the first time the "Chen Mo Regime" held a civil service examination, and all Four States took it extremely seriously, not allowing for any mistakes.
The Great Song dynasty did not prohibit swords and spears, but forbade armor, so it wasn't uncommon for civilians to carry swords and spears, even in the Four States.
But since August began, all state city Government Offices in the Four States issued prohibitions, banning outsiders from bringing swords into the city during the provincial examination period.
