How do people who take exams in Beijing protect themselves on the way?

Most of them don't know martial arts. People who go to Beijing to take the exam usually walk together in their hometown and county, with enough dry food and travel expenses to take care of each other and cooperate with each other. Moreover, scholars, farmers and businessmen held a high position in ancient times. On the way to Beijing to catch the exam, some scholars learned their own martial arts, then walked together to help each other and went to Beijing to catch the exam together.