Super System in the Early Tang Dynasty

A group of dozens of men, all strong and muscular, dressed in thick furs, drove seventy or eighty fine horses down the western road to Chang'an.

The group stayed outside Chang'an City, except for one person in the middle who led three or five strong men out and headed straight for Chang'an City.

Looking at the high walls, imposing gates, and strong soldiers of Chang'an, Li Shun sighed repeatedly, puffing out his chest with pride that was palpable in his words; his speech revealed a strong sense of pride in being a citizen of the Tang Dynasty. Upon entering the city gates, he saw the main streets wide open and teeming with people—peddlers, laborers, foreigners, wandering knights, and scholars mingled among them, creating a bustling and lively scene!

"Three years without returning to Tang, I had no idea that my Great Tang had become so prosperous!" Immediately, a surge of emotion welled up in his chest, and tears welled up in his eyes. Since childhood, he had witnessed the rampant Turks, the subservience of the Tang emperor, and the hardships faced by Tang people abroad. How could he have imagined that things would turn out this way!

Li Shundong looked east and west, seeing strange buildings rising up and strange objects appearing one after another. There were even Kunlun slaves who could not be seen in the Western Regions and Persian beauties who were rarely seen... He didn't look like a well-traveled and knowledgeable merchant. He looked more like a country bumpkin from some remote mountain village who had never seen the world.

The burly men beside him, seemingly oblivious to the shame of being in charge, instead looked around as if they couldn't get enough of the sights. The two burly men inside, with their high noses and deep-set eyes, were even more so, occasionally glancing at their companions with a hint of envy—the Western Regions were desolate, and the barbarians lived on the edge of death, barely managing to earn a few bites of food. Where had they ever seen the richness of the Central Plains, or so many busy, peaceful, and prosperous people?

The happy and carefree smiles on the faces of those around them dazzled the eyes of these people who had returned from the Western Regions!

The group walked and stopped frequently, finally stopping in front of a mansion.

The heavy, dark gate exudes a solemn air, while the bustling courtyard reveals the family's prosperity and influence.

Looking at the bustling traffic in front of the gate, Li Shun felt surprised and uneasy—had they left the area? Or had something terrible happened to the Li family, causing the house to change owners?

He looked at the large plaque above the gate, which read: Li Residence. His unease gradually subsided, but he still asked the gatekeeper standing beside him with some uncertainty, "Is this the Li family, which is under the management of Old Master Li Gao?"

The gatekeeper had clearly seen his share of such incidents. Looking at the strong man and his entourage, covered in valuable furs, a smile appeared on his stiff face, and a hint of pride showed in his eyes. "This is the Li family!" he said, glancing at the strong man before adding, "Old Master Li Gao is no longer involved in affairs."

"They're not in charge anymore?" Li Shun's smile faded, and he asked in confusion, "Then who's in charge of important matters in the Li family now?" He knew that his uncle's children and grandchildren were all gone, and if his uncle didn't care about this large Li family, who else could? A surge of emotions welled up in his heart.

"Of course, he's my young master!" When the servant said "young master," his face showed admiration and respect. Passing guests also listened intently, hoping to hear some information about the most mysterious and rare young master of the Li family from the servant.

Looking at the servant's stiff face, Li Shun's expression suddenly became so rich, and his doubts deepened. "Who is this young master of the Li family?" He noticed the gatekeeper's somewhat displeased expression, as if he did not know that the young master of the Li family was a great sin, and quickly explained, "I have been traveling in the Western Regions for three years before returning, and I know nothing about the Central Plains."

"My son, Ah Lang, is naturally the old master's grandson! He was recognized by Uncle Zhang a couple of years ago and brought back. The Li family's success today is all thanks to Ah Lang." After saying this, which everyone already knew, the gatekeeper fell silent, much to the disappointment of those who had been eavesdropping.

Li Shun was overjoyed after hearing this!

"Heaven has not forsaken the Li family! Brother, your lineage will not end!" With that, the burly, tall man stood in front of the Li family gate and burst into tears, his eyes red and his face full of joy.

People passing by thought he was crazy and quickly moved away, while some who liked excitement stood by and watched.

Ignoring the strange looks from those around him, Li Shun wiped his face with the fur that others considered quite valuable, took out a business card from his pocket, and handed it to the gatekeeper.

The gatekeeper took the business card from Li Shun, and upon reading it, he was greatly surprised. His previously stiff face immediately broke into a friendly smile. Under the strange gazes of those around him, he respectfully invited several burly men dressed in fur coats into the hall and served them fragrant tea with utmost courtesy.

Li Shun looked at the furnishings in the hall. Most of them were not particularly eye-catching; but in his eyes, which had been honed by years of traveling all over the country, each and every one of them was extraordinary; in fact, he had only heard of many of them by name and was only seeing them in person today.

Take this large table in my hand, for example. It is dark and unremarkable, but it is smooth as satin to the touch and has a faint fragrance that is refreshing. Upon closer inspection, I found that there are specks of gold in the light. When I tap it lightly, it makes a clear and crisp sound, like gold and jade. If you are not observant, you will hardly notice its wonders.

This material is none other than the famous sandalwood of later generations, and even more so the precious golden sandalwood. Because of its clear and melodious sound, it can be used to make musical instruments; because of its fine grain, it can be used for fine carving; and if ground into powder, it is a valuable medicinal material! However, sandalwood grows in the south of Guangdong and India, and although it was famous in the Tang Dynasty, it had not yet been put to use.

Just as Li Shun was tapping on the table with great enthusiasm, an old man with white hair walked in.

"Ah Lang is back. I wonder how Da Lang is doing?"

Upon seeing the visitor, Li Shun quickly stood up, bowed slightly, and said, "Thank you for your concern, Uncle Zhang. My father still lives in Suyab. He has wanted to return many times, but unfortunately, he is too old to make the trip. This time, he specifically asked me to come back and visit."

……

In the backyard, a man, three women, and a child sat in the waterside pavilion. Li Xingzhi tapped the table occasionally, spittle flying from his mouth; the four women listened intently, completely absorbed in the story he was telling. The clear, melodious voice drifted out, even the servants nearby were captivated.

But then Li Xingzhi said, "The Great Sage said: 'Heaven and earth created the spirit and immortal, an old ape in Flower Fruit Mountain. He made his home in the Water Curtain Cave, sought out friends and masters to comprehend the profound mystery... The Lingxiao Palace has not been his for long, but has been passed down by generations of human kings. The strong are respected, and I, the hero, dare to be the first!'" Gao Yang listened intently, his face flushed, and he became even more excited! Little Li Zhi was also very interested; Li Linzhi, a woman of the martial world, didn't seem to care much, only knowing that the story was exciting. But Li Xueyan, listening to Li Xingzhi's story, gradually paled, her hand trembled, and she broke the thin white porcelain bowl on the table.

"Oh dear! Sister Xueyan—I was finding this very interesting!"

Li Xueyan's face turned even paler. She glanced around cautiously and said to Gao Yang, "It's better not to hear this story!" As she spoke, she looked at Li Xingzhi, her usually gentle and kind eyes now solemn and stern. "Li Dalang, it's better not to tell such stories! Don't you know that words can bring disaster?"

Li Xingzhi was slightly taken aback, suddenly realizing that in this feudal dynasty, Journey to the West was definitely not a good book. He glanced at the enthusiastic 'future emperor' Li Zhi and the excited and eager Princess Gaoyang, and felt a sense of unease.

Li Zhi is one thing, he was going to be emperor anyway. But this Gao Yang, historically speaking, did actually rebel against Emperor Gaozong, and even implicated that unfortunate cuckold to the point of death—did the idea of ​​rebellion originate from my reading of 'Journey to the West'?

Li Xingzhi shook his head, dismissing the absurd idea—there was no such person as Li Xingzhi in history; moreover, Journey to the West only appeared in the Ming Dynasty.

At this moment, a servant hurried over and called Li Xingzhi away.

As Li Xingzhi entered the hall, Old Master Li Gao was already seated in the center, with Uncle Zhang beside him, and a middle-aged strong man below him. The strong man said, "When I entered the city just now, I saw an inn that was magnificent and full of distinguished guests. I never expected that it was built by my nephew whom I have never met."

Hearing the burly man's praise of Li Xingzhi, Old Master Li Gao felt honored and stroked his beard with pride, clearly extremely satisfied with Li Xingzhi, his grandson whom he had finally recognized in his old age.

"Uncle, you flatter me. I was merely taking advantage of the situation; it's nothing."

The burly man also looked at Li Xingzhi, his eyes lighting up! All the way here, he had heard people around him talking about his little nephew, but he thought it was all an exaggeration; he never expected that he would have such a refined demeanor!

"Excellent! Truly worthy of being sons of the Li family!"

Upon hearing this, Li Xingzhi inwardly complained, "Why are these the same words my grandfather said when I first met him?"

The burly man, lost in thought, pulled Li Xingzhi close, his face beaming with warmth and friendliness, asking him all sorts of questions—from Li Xingzhi's difficult childhood to how he grew up and built his empire, finally discussing Li Xingzhi's marriage with sighs of relief; he then spoke of Li Xingzhi's father's past, but upon hearing that the great revenge had been achieved, he was filled with emotion and burst into tears. The old man standing nearby was also deeply moved.

Li Xingzhi looked at his uncle, who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, beside him. He was clearly a strong man, but this time he was crying and sniffling, which Li Xingzhi found rather overwhelming. Deep down, he was moved by this sincere kinship, even though it might be irrelevant to him as an outsider. At this moment, he couldn't help but put himself in the shoes of his uncle.

Having traveled far and wide and weathered many storms, Li Shun didn't say much. With a flick of his sleeve, the tears on his face disappeared.

"I came back this time not only to sell a batch of horses, but also to bring back some fine tea bricks. However, my father specifically instructed me to go to the ancestral hall of the Longxi clan on his behalf to pay my respects."

"You're going to the clan's ancestral home?" The old man turned to look at Li Xingzhi and said, "It's been many years since I've been back. I'm going this time too. It'll be a good opportunity for Qing'er to be recognized as a member of the clan!" Actually, the old man had been thinking about this for a long time, but the Li family had expanded rapidly in the past two years and couldn't leave. That's why he waited until today.

"That's perfect!"

With the decision made, they packed their belongings and soon boarded a boat to travel down the Wei River to Qin Prefecture, and then by land to Chengji.

The Li clan of Chengji is a large and powerful clan. Its greatest achievements began with General Li Guang, and continued through the late Sui and early Tang dynasties, with Li Yuan seizing power and ascending the throne, and then to Emperor Taizong Li Shimin. All of them were outstanding figures in this clan.

Li Gao's branch is a distant collateral line. However, their ancestors were once illustrious, namely Li Gao, the Prince Zhao of the Liang Dynasty. Their forefathers had offended the Tang Emperor and were demoted to criminals, forced to turn to business, but ultimately managed to leave their mark on the family genealogy. This is something the old man has always been proud of.

As Li Yuan and his son seized the throne and wielded the imperial power, the Li family of Chengji also gained great prestige, almost dominating the entire county. Since the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, people have been constantly coming and going in Chengji, compiling family genealogies and recognizing their ancestors, with people arriving daily.

As the Qingming Festival approached, spring arrived and the cold receded, bringing with it an even greater influx of people. Li Xingzhi and his entourage followed this crowd, making their way in a grand procession towards the Li family's ancestral home.

Along the way, apart from the crowds, all that could be seen was green mountains and clear waters, with streams winding around them and cultivated farmland stretching out on either side, truly a paradise on earth.

Rounding the bend, a breathtaking view unfolded before us—clusters of brownish-yellow wooden houses clustered together. The eaves of the houses were upturned, and mythical beasts stood guard, their faces radiating auspiciousness. Surrounded by these houses was a massive ancestral hall built of black tiles and stones, its roof lavishly covered with golden glazed tiles that shone dazzlingly in the sunlight!

Then, a heavy, solemn, and grand aura pressed down! The crowd that had been whispering around them fell silent instantly, and as if on a pilgrimage, they looked at the magnificent building before them, many with tears in their eyes.

Looking at the building before him, even though he was used to the towering skyscrapers of later generations, Li Xingzhi couldn't help but ponder deeply. He had no resistance to this matter of tracing his ancestry. In his previous life, he had heard from the elders of his family that they came from the Li clan of Chengji; they told him to go and see for himself when he grew up.

Unexpectedly, fate played a cruel trick on him. In his previous life, he didn't have time to visit the Chengji Ancestral Hall, but in this world, a thousand years ago, he found himself standing before it.

The Li family was merely a merchant household. Although their ancestors were distinguished, their status within the clan was lower than that of ordinary families. Therefore, their residence was arranged in a remote corner.

On the day before Qingming Festival, all the lights in the houses are turned off. People eat cold porridge and noodles, and drink spring wine, clear tea, or sweet spring water to cleanse their stomachs. They then bathe and clean the ancestral land. After all these tasks are completed, they break off willow branches and insert them into the door to show their respect for Qingming.

In front, children play "willow branches drooping green, swings hanging in the trees." Behind them, dozens of teenagers play "bamboo gates with nets strung on top," kicking a ball to determine the winner.

Indeed: This year's Cold Food Festival is in Shangshan, and the scenery in the mountains is also pitiful.

Children pluck butterflies from the flowers, while people hang swings from the trees.

The next day, Qingming Festival arrived.

When the air was filled with ghost money and yellow paper, Li Xingzhi and his party were notified to attend the clan's sacrificial ceremony.

Li Xingzhi stood on a large, flat area in front of the ancestral hall, where a large crowd had gathered. A wide path was cleared in the middle, and as soon as the bells and ceremonial music rang out, six large platters were laid out with silk and offerings. The first person to emerge, wearing a jade talisman, chanted incessantly. Once someone's name was called, they would bow in reverence, whether laughing or crying, with heartfelt joy...

After the grand ceremony, it wasn't until nightfall that someone called out Li Xingzhi's name.

As the atmosphere grew, Li Xingzhi's inner peace was inexplicably stirred. He even felt something stirring within his blood, creating a strange resonance with the people around him. Somewhere deep within his heart, a sense of longing began to grow...