The Poor-Born Emperor

The moment Guo Chao opens his eyes, he finds himself a poor scholar on his way to the capital exams, nearly starved to death.

The ruined temple leaks, he has no money, and he can’t even scrape together enough for the journey to the capital.

But his mind holds an entire body of statecraft.

While others write empty words, he writes about grain reserves and tax revenue.

While others curry favor with the great families, he serves the emperor.

In the metropolitan examination, one policy essay of his astounds the examiners.

In the palace examination, his four proposals for bringing peace to the people outshine the scions of every great family.

The great families believe that the poor can only be their pawns.

That is, until Guo Chao enters the Hanlin Academy, audits the capital’s granaries, investigates military pay, and brings famine under control.

Then they realize.

This poor scholar who placed third in the palace examination did not come to beg for an official post.

He came to change the rules of the realm.