Gu Changming transmigrates, and the bad news is that he has become a lowly fifth-rank mountain dweller.
In this rigidly stratified dynasty, mountain dwellers are outcasts of unknown origins. Want to take the imperial examinations? He can’t even meet the most basic requirement of having others vouch for him! The haughty scholars from beyond the mountains are so afraid he’ll cheat and get them implicated that they treat him like a plague. Some even sneer, “A country bumpkin from the mountains wants to be an official? If you can find someone to vouch for you, I’ll swallow my brush!”
The good news is that Gu Changming has just happened to save the county magistrate from bandits.
The magistrate weeps with gratitude. “Thank you, hero! What reward would you like? Just say the word, and gold, silver, and treasure are yours!”
Gu Changming fixes his gaze on the magistrate. “Sir, I heard that if I become your son-in-law, you can vouch for me and secure my eligibility for the imperial examinations?”
The magistrate: ??? I told you to ask for money, and you’ve set your sights on my daughter and my official hat?!
After Gu Changming smoothly secures his eligibility to take the examinations, everyone laughs that he can’t even recite the Analects. They say he’ll be cannon fodder in the exam hall.
Gu Changming just smiles, because this dynasty’s examinations don’t test memorization of the classics or rigid poetry. They test interpretation of classical passages, essays, and policy papers!
“Compete in argumentative essays, official documents, and modern structured policy questions? Sorry, I’m the founding master!”
From topping the county exam to becoming the top scholar at the palace examination, Gu Changming pulls one clever stunt after another. The scholars and powerful clans who once looked down on his background can only gaze up at this “fifth-rank mountain dweller,” now all-powerful, from outside the Golden Hall!
