The elite did not migrate south

Chapter 560 Is this promotion or exile?

Guo Tong came to Zhaoyang Palace very happily.

Since the emperor ascended the throne, many things have become different from before.

In the past, people like them only needed to stay at home and play with their friends. When the time was right, they would be directly recruited by the government and given high positions.

This position is generally determined by their father's position. If your father is only a county governor with a salary of two thousand stones, then you can start directly as a county magistrate after you enter the officialdom. For someone like Guo Tong, his father was a general of chariots and cavalry, so he also had to start with a salary of one thousand stones.

They don't even need to take up official positions. The longer they stay at home, the better. This is called cultivating one's prospects.

Just like Hua Yi in the past, he was still a commoner in his thirties, but he was promoted to a rank of two thousand stones as soon as he entered the officialdom.

But after the emperor took power, this invisible rule was ignored.

The imperial court had not recruited soldiers for a long time, and even those ministers in the imperial court who could establish their own offices no longer recruited their relatives and children at will.

Guo Tong had been waiting at home, year after year, but never received any news of conscription.

He had no choice but to put aside his arrogance as a wealthy family and sent people to the Ministry of Personnel to see when he would be given an important position. The answer he got was that if he wanted to become an official, he should take the exam.

This made Guo Tong very angry. What kind of person am I?
My father was a General of Chariots and Cavalry, and I've been raised at home for decades. And you're asking me to take the exam with those peasants?
Are you crazy?

Guo Tong was extremely angry and contacted his father's friends everywhere, hoping to find an official position for himself.

Unfortunately, this matter is difficult to handle at the moment.

Cao Mao had been using harsh laws and severe punishments to govern the world these days, especially in the area of official personnel, which he attached great importance to. Even Guo Huai's disciples and former officials did not dare to directly help him get to the top.

Guo Tong was angry and resentful, but he had no other choice but to seek help from the Empress Dowager.

Although Xiping Guo and Taiyuan Guo are not the same thing, it is generally believed that they are from the same family.

This is what Guo Tong believed to be the origin.

Guo Tong first sent someone to contact the Queen Mother, and then sent a letter and secretly sent gifts.

Anyway, his family is rich and powerful, so it's no problem for him to send some gifts.

After gaining the favor of the Queen Mother, he tactfully expressed his desire to become an official.

Sure enough, the Queen Mother soon sent someone to inform her to go to Zhaoyang Palace.

It seems that it has been done!
Guo Tong's face was filled with an unconcealable smile. How could a loyal minister like us be neglected?

Your Majesty will definitely use us!
Zheng Mao actually dared to ask me to take an exam with those young boys. He is really crazy!

Who are they and who am I?

Guo Tong dressed up carefully, got on the carriage, proudly left his mansion and headed towards the palace.

Thinking of how his father's old subordinates had ignored him these days, he felt a surge of anger in his heart. These bastards had long forgotten moral etiquette and treated the son of their former master in this way. The world is no longer the same as it used to be!
It was better in the past. In the blink of an eye, the world has changed. So much of my farmland has been confiscated, and they insist that it is public land that I have seized. I clearly bought it with money, so how can I say it is seized?
Not only did they confiscate his farmland, but they also punished so many of his relatives. After his father's death, the government completely disowned him.

The hard times we are living in now are all because of the treacherous villains in the government.

Now, whenever I go out in a carriage, I am stopped by soldiers and told not to trample on the farmland. Don’t you know that the farmland trampled by noble people will yield a good harvest?
I met a few good-looking women outside and wanted to chat with them out of kindness, but they dared to say they would report me to the police!

This world is really...
Guo Tong finally arrived at the palace with a different kind of emotion.

After getting off the carriage, he straightened his clothes again, and then walked towards Zhaoyang Palace under the guidance of several eunuchs.

During these years, the imperial palace had hardly changed, and the people in Luoyang had gone crazy for some reason, and they all started pretending to be poor.

It is said that this is a new trend in Luoyang.

No one was competing to see who was richer, but who was poorer. Luoyang, a prosperous city, was turned into a city of poor people.

All the horse-drawn carriages were replaced by donkey carts, and they had to be old and skinny donkeys. Some people even broke the donkey's legs and made it lame on purpose to show their poverty. I could only ride a lame donkey.

Guo Tong attended a banquet in Luoyang, a scene he had not seen in decades.

At the banquet, he saw that everyone was dressed in rags, and they all drank water. There was not much meat, just some wild vegetables. They soaked these things in water and then drank the water. Those people did not even take a bath, and the stench was so terrible that Guo Tong was completely numb.

Damn it, look at what these traitors in the temple have done to the people of Luoyang!

Guo Tong was taken to the outside of Zhaoyang Palace by the eunuchs, and after reporting, he was brought into the palace.

Empress Dowager Guo sat on the throne with great dignity. Guo Tong put away his chaotic thoughts and bowed respectfully to the Empress Dowager.

Seeing the tough-looking, well-dressed man in front of her, Empress Dowager Guo couldn't help but nod her head, "Yes, he is a good and virtuous man from a good family."

"Empress Dowager, I have been in Luoyang for a long time, but I have never come to see you. Please forgive me."

"No need. Didn't you send gifts? There aren't many people in the imperial court today who are as filial as you." Empress Dowager Guo sighed and asked, "What brings you here this time?"

This was obviously an attempt to show off, but Guo Tong cooperated very well. This was the correct procedure for the legitimate sons of big families like them to take up official positions!

He said hurriedly, "I am already old, but I cannot assist the Holy King and accomplish great things. I am truly troubled. Before my father passed away, he told me to contribute to the country and not bring disgrace to our family. However, I have been living at home all these days, without any relatives or friends."

"It's just that I can't rest in peace because I can't fulfill my father's wishes."

When Guo Tong talked about his father, his eyes turned red and he couldn't help but shed tears.

As a descendant of a wealthy family, he may not have other skills, but his acting skills must be up to par.

Empress Dowager Guo was indeed deeply moved. Seeing Guo Tong crying in front of her, she was immediately moved and hurriedly said, "Okay, don't be sad, sit down."

Only then did Guo Tong take his seat.

Empress Dowager Guo sighed and said, "Where in the world can one find a child as filial as you?"

Hearing this, Guo Tong suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He was merely incapable, but he was no fool. He hurriedly said, "Your Majesty's filial piety is known to everyone in the world. We are only filial in a minor way. When it comes to the ultimate filial piety, who in the world, no, since ancient times, can compare to Your Majesty?"

The Queen Mother smiled and nodded, "What you said makes sense, it is indeed so."

Guo Tong was shocked. How could you dig a hole like this?
If I don't respond well to the sentence just now, let alone becoming an official after leaving home, I'm afraid I will go directly to see my father after leaving home.

Guo Tong looked at the Queen Mother in surprise and doubt. He hadn't offended her, so was she trying to warn him?
Empress Dowager Guo said confidently, "I have already approved your request."

"You want to contribute to the country, that's a good thing. Don't worry, I'll just tell His Majesty a few things. Where do you want to go?"

"Shuzhong is fine!"

"With your talent, you are more than qualified to be a provincial governor. Unfortunately, the provincial governor position has already been filled, so I cannot let you take it. I will let you be a prefect."

Guo Tong was delighted. He thought, "Is it possible to be a prefect?" He thought, "Everyone knows that there is gold everywhere in Shu. If I serve as a prefect there for three years, I don't know how much benefit I can get."
"How about this? I'll have His Majesty appoint you as the Governor of Yunnan!"

The Queen Mother issued an edict.

Guo Tong was overjoyed and quickly stood up and bowed to the Queen Mother, "Thank you, Queen Mother. I will definitely do it."

"Yunnan Governor??!!"

Guo Tong reacted suddenly.

He widened his eyes and looked at the Queen Mother in astonishment.

Are you promoting or exiling?

Yunnan County?! Oh my god! What kind of place is that?!
There were mountains and forests everywhere, wild beasts roamed around, and barbarians and foreigners lived together. There were three rebellions in a month. The county town was dilapidated and even the government office was a temporary building.

I said I wanted to go to Bashu, but you asked me to go to Nanzhong?
Looking at the suddenly dazed Guo Tong, Empress Dowager Guo was somewhat dissatisfied. "Why? You seem a little dissatisfied?"

"Ah, it's not that I'm dissatisfied, Queen Mother. It's just that I lack the ability. How can someone like me govern Yunnan County well? Queen Mother, I'm afraid that if I go there, I will disappoint your high hopes."

Empress Dowager Guo shook her head. "You are the son of the General of Chariots and Cavalry. How could I let you down? Don't worry, go ahead."

Guo Tong almost cried.

If you go there alone, you will die.

He hurriedly said, "Queen Dowager, let's change the place. I really don't dare to disappoint you. The situation over there is too serious. It is not something that a mediocre person like me can handle. We need the most sage people sent by the court."

Guo Tong chattered incessantly.

Empress Dowager Guo was very dissatisfied with this. She had even lowered her dignity to help you get an official position, so why were you still reluctant and wanted to change your job?

Do you think you are easy to bully?

She had a dark face, but Guo Tong did not dare to lower his head. If he really went, he would die. He couldn't go even if it would offend the empress dowager!

Empress Dowager Guo helplessly called the eunuch and asked him a few questions in a low voice.

She continued, "Well, since you insist on changing places, then let's do it. His Majesty once told me to choose, and I even picked Yunnan County for you. It's such a nice name, why wouldn't you want to go?"

"Since you don't want to, I won't force you. Then go to Yongchang County and become a prefect!"

Guo Tong almost burst into tears.

This is even worse than Yunnan County!!
He wanted to say something more, but the Queen Mother was unwilling. She simply waved her hand and had him sent out.

After walking out of Zhaoyang Palace, Guo Tong was silent for a long time, and then he slapped himself twice in the face.

Let you go and ask for help from the officials again! !
This is great, my life is at stake!!
(End of this chapter)