Super System in the Early Tang Dynasty

() The thirteenth year of Zhenguan.

That year, turmoil swept through Chang'an. First, the Eastern Palace was inexplicably engulfed in flames, an ominous sign from the heavens; then, the Zheng family's bride was abducted, prompting Li Shimin to revise the "Clan Records," intensifying conflicts between several families! Among them, the conflict was most intense between the Longxi Group, led by the Li family, and the Shandong (east of the Xiaoshan Mountains), led by the Cui and Lu families! The Li family, who dominated the world, was dissatisfied with the arrogance of the aristocratic class led by several families; while the aristocratic class hoped to further expand in other areas such as politics.

That year, border conflicts broke out again.

The Kingdom of Gaochang had failed to fulfill its vassal duties. Based on past historical experience, such failure was a harbinger of invasion. Therefore, the Tang Dynasty preemptively dispatched tens of thousands of elite armored soldiers, led by General Hou Junji, to attack the Kingdom of Gaochang!

Qu Wentai, the king of Gaochang, was arrogant and conceited because he lived in Yelang! He thought that Gaochang was a remote and desolate place with harsh mountains and rivers, cold winds like knives and hot winds like fire. He was arrogant and conceited, and had no fear of the elite troops of the Tang Dynasty!

Unexpectedly, within just a few days, the Tang army launched a single raid, striking directly at the heart of the enemy forces and reaching the gates of Gaochang!

Upon seeing this, Qu Wentai was both shocked and frightened, and fell seriously ill! Within a few days, he died! His son, Qu Zhisheng, opened the city gates wide to welcome the Tang army.

It is said: The troops of Gaochang are like frost and snow, the troops of the Han are like the sun and moon. The sun and moon shine on the frost and snow, and they will vanish in an instant!

Hou Junji conquered Gaochang in a short time, and was overjoyed, believing it was all due to his brilliant military strategy. He thought even a god of war couldn't have achieved such a feat! He became even more arrogant and unruly!

As he entered the imperial city gates, he saw a vast palace! Though far less magnificent than the Tang Dynasty's imperial palace, it was still imposing! His eyes lit up. He ordered a few trusted men to guard the entrance, and alone he entered the empty hall, ascended the jade steps, and gazed at the throne, high above yet so close, his heart burning with desire. He took two steps forward and sat down!

Hou Junji sat high above, looking down over the entire palace. His smugness and arrogance were impossible to conceal.

He saw the grand hall inlaid with jade and gold. His eyes lit up with envy, and he set his sights on it. Hou Junji summoned several guards and headed straight for the treasury of Gaochang Kingdom.

As soon as the gates of the national treasury were opened, a dazzling display of gold and jade dazzled the eyes! Hou Junji's eyes turned bloodshot, and his greed could no longer be concealed. He actually wanted to take this huge national treasury into his own pocket!

The massive commotion in the royal palace treasury naturally did not escape the notice of Hou Junji's Tang army. Seeing their general act in such a manner, the soldiers were immediately tempted. One by one, they transformed into bandits, committing murder, robbery, and plunder—doing whatever they pleased, greedily seizing money and supplies!

In an instant, millions of lives were lost in the Kingdom of Gaochang!

Logically, with the emperor far away and the entire army complicit, no one should have spoken of it. And so it should have been forgotten. But to everyone's surprise, the news spread throughout Chang'an in just one day! Li Shimin was utterly shocked!

Needless to say, what happened afterward was also a factor. All the generals, despite their meritorious service in the campaigns, received neither reward nor punishment. Hou Junji, unable to be ennobled or appointed prime minister, harbored resentment, thus sowing the seeds of future trouble!

As for the invisible hand that fueled this whole affair, it went largely unnoticed.

As summer draws to a close and autumn winds begin to blow, this is actually the hottest time of the year, known locally as "Autumn Tiger."

As usual, Li Xingzhi was dozing off in the pavilion in the middle of the lake. Suddenly, he felt a tickle on the tip of his nose. The chirping of cicadas around him faded away. He brushed his hand away from his nose, opened his eyes, and looked at the girl in front of him with a helpless yet indulgent expression. "Why can't you resist again? You're not a child anymore, yet you still like to play so much."

The girl before him was Li Linzhi. She was never one to stay still, and the summer heat only fueled her restless spirit. Every day she pondered and inquired about what fun things to do in Chang'an. She constantly pestered Li Xingzhi on her phone, telling him to go here and there, to buy and sell things, leaving him no peace and quiet!

At first, he was somewhat interested in playing and fooling around with the girl, but as time went on, he couldn't help but indulge in it more. Unexpectedly, he had just come to this pavilion to cool off today when the girl caught him.

"Tell me, what fun things are there to do in Chang'an today?" Li Xingzhi picked up a large, sweet pear with a reddish-brown hue, took a bite, wiped the juice from his mouth with a handkerchief, and then spoke.

"I heard that the Tibetans from the west have brought a team to play polo with our Great Tang! It'll be quite a show!" the girl said.

Listening to the girl's words, Li Xingzhi looked at the blazing sun overhead and said helplessly, "Look how hot the sun is, who plays polo at this time of day?"

"I don't care! Anyway, they said there's polo in the afternoon at the stadium. My brother Li is coming with me!"

Li Xingzhi rolled his eyes, glared at her irritably, then lazily lay back on the rattan chair, grabbed a large lotus leaf several feet in diameter, covered his head, and ignored the noisy girl in front of him.

Seeing Li Xingzhi looking lazy and lifeless again, the girl pursed her lips, grabbed Li Xingzhi's shoulders and shook him violently, not stopping even after shaking off the lotus leaves covering Li Xingzhi's head.

Seeing that things weren't going well, Li Xingzhi said, "Go and find out the time. We can go then, isn't that perfect? ​​Look how hot it is now. By the time the polo match starts, everyone will be dizzy!"

The girl's eyes lit up, and she added, "Sister Zhou hasn't been home for several years, and I think she misses it! Why don't we go visit her today?"

Hearing the girl's words, Li Xingzhi felt a pang of guilt. Because of past events, he held the Zhou family in extremely low regard, especially his father-in-law, and had never considered visiting them. Seeing that Li Xingzhi didn't bring it up, Zhou Rou'er dared not ask further. Thus, for several years, she hadn't returned home even once.

As for Li Linzhi, it wasn't entirely for Zhou Rou'er's sake as she claimed. It was simply that she herself was scheming and couldn't stand staying in this house.

Neither the Zhou nor the Li families were noble or aristocratic clans. Furthermore, Li Xingzhi did not particularly like his nominal father-in-law and did not have a good impression of the Zhou family. Therefore, he did not make many preparations. He simply sent someone to inform the Zhou family and then, along with two women and several strong servants, pulled a cart full of things such as fruit, tea, and silk, and headed to the Zhou family.

Since it was their first visit, even out of respect for Zhou Rou'er, the gift couldn't be too small. Of course, what Li Xingzhi considered ordinary and insignificant gifts were already quite impressive to others. Not to mention the fruits and fine teas that even the imperial palace couldn't find, just those few bolts of exquisite satin-patterned snow silk brocade alone would make countless noble ladies envious!

When the Zhou family saw that their son-in-law from the Li family, whom they hadn't visited in several years, was coming, they immediately busied themselves. Everyone's faces were beaming with joy, and they had no time to worry about whether the etiquette for this midday visit was adequate.

When Zhou's parents heard that Li Xingzhi was bringing their daughter home, they were overjoyed. The many wrinkles that had appeared on Zhou's mother's face in recent years seemed to fade away at that moment! All her past worries about her daughter transformed into happiness.

Father Zhou dared not be negligent, nor did he bother with any airs of seniority. He directly led his servants to stand at the Zhou family's gate to greet them. His actions were naturally deliberate. Ever since he learned through connections that the Li family had abducted the marriage between the prestigious Zheng and Cui families and remained standing in Chang'an, he had been greatly alarmed and eagerly hoped to reconnect with them. Now that Li Xing had come to his door, how could he dare to put on any airs?

Zhou's mother had no objection to Zhou's father's decision. As a woman, she was content as long as her children were well. As for other important matters, she believed the men would handle them.

As the Zhou family waited anxiously and expectantly, two oxcarts smoothly arrived. Upon reaching the Zhou family's gate, the driver gently flicked the reins, and the strong oxen came to a stop.

Upon seeing this, the Zhou couple went inside to greet them. The curtain of the first carriage was lifted, and without any assistance from servants, a handsome and refined young man jumped out. He glanced at the Zhou couple and gave a slight bow. Then he went to guide the two people inside the carriage down.

Mr. Zhou was repeatedly amazed by the young man's overall demeanor. Mrs. Zhou, however, frowned slightly, looking at the carriage with a mixture of worry and anticipation, as if trying to see through the thick curtains.

"Brother Li, we're almost here!" At that moment, a clear and melodious voice came from inside the carriage. At the same time, a young girl took Li Xingzhi's arm and gently jumped down from the carriage.

Seeing the bright and beautiful young girl before her, Zhou's mother felt a pang of worry for her daughter's situation. She then craned her neck expectantly, trying to get a clear look inside the carriage. Unfortunately, the thin beaded curtain obscured her view, preventing her from seeing what was happening inside.

As Zhou's mother waited anxiously, a slender white jade hand reached out and gently touched Li Xingzhi's arm. A figure made of jade stepped out of the carriage.

When everyone saw this woman, she was clearly not the most beautiful woman they had ever seen, but just one glance made them feel a cool sensation all over their bodies. The heat of the summer afternoon dissipated at that moment, and their restless hearts were gradually soothed!

The Zhou family felt that the woman in front of them looked very familiar, but after thinking about it carefully, they couldn't remember where they had seen her before.

Zhou's mother stared blankly at the woman in front of her, her mouth moved as if she wanted to step forward, but she didn't dare to recognize her.

Zhou Rou'er stepped off the carriage and met her mother's excited, affectionate gaze, tinged with a hint of doubt and expectation. She trembled slightly and softly called out, "Mother~"

"Good daughter! It really is our Zhou family's daughter who has returned!" Zhou's mother was also trembling, and two lines of tears streamed down her face. As she spoke, she took a few steps forward, hugged her daughter tightly in her arms, and wouldn't let go!

Normally, the mother and daughter wouldn't be so emotional upon seeing each other; it's all Li Xingzhi's fault. If he hadn't kept them apart for years, causing Zhou's mother to worry about her daughter's condition every day, she wouldn't have lost her composure today.

Watching the mother and daughter's deep affection and tears welling up in their eyes, Li Xingzhi felt even more ashamed. He had truly been a terrible person these past few years!

The mother and daughter embraced and wept, and then talked for a while.

At this moment, Mr. Zhou smiled and said, "We've been waiting for the two of you. You two can talk later." Looking at his daughter, Mr. Zhou knew she was doing very well in the Li family, and he felt somewhat relieved. Although he was a businessman driven by profit, who would sell their children if they had no other choice? Who wouldn't hope that their daughter would have a better life after marriage? Of course, the more important his daughter's position was in the Li family, the more opportunities he would have to rely on the Li family again, which would undoubtedly benefit the Zhou family.

At this moment, Zhou's mother was all smiles. She took her daughter's hand and walked towards the gate of the Zhou family.

Li Xingzhi and his entourage had some afternoon snacks at the Zhou family's house and stayed for another hour. Soon, Li Linzhi became bored and wanted to go watch the polo match. Li Xingzhi was also feeling quite stifled. Everywhere he went, he was watched over by people with obsequious smiles. They were afraid he would make a mistake here or there. From the Zhou family members to the Zhou family's servants, everyone was careful and attentive at all times. Even someone as lazy and easygoing as Li Xingzhi felt somewhat constrained, let alone the restless Li Linzhi.

The two went to watch the game, but Zhou Rou'er stayed behind.

With Li Xingzhi gone, the Zhou family breathed a sigh of relief. They all gathered around Zhou Rou'er, eager to hear about the Li family's life. After all, although they were all merchant families, the Zhou family was still curious and intrigued by the Li family's sudden rise to power.

But when Zhou Rou'er talked about the things the Li family ate and used, most of them were things they had never seen or heard of before, such as soft toilet paper and goose down blankets for sleeping, not to mention other food items, the Zhou family members were speechless.

The more Zhou's father listened, the more curious he became. Even the lives of the high-ranking officials and nobles in Chang'an paled in comparison to what he heard. Having seen much of the world through his years of hard work and experience, he was still extremely curious about the Li family's possessions, wanting to see if they were truly as his daughter described.

Zhou Rou'er continued talking to herself, completely unaware of the shock, curiosity, and envy felt by the Zhou family members.

Just then, a little girl suddenly ran in, pointed at the several large boxes that the Li family had brought down, and said in a soft, sweet voice, "Xiangxiang! Your Highness wants to eat Xiangxiang."

Everyone understood what the child meant: he was asking his mother to give him something delicious to eat.

Upon hearing this, the Zhou family members twitched their noses a few times, sniffing carefully. They then noticed a delicate, silky, fresh fruity scent wafting from a large box, captivating their attention.

Everyone looked at Zhou's father, as if asking for his opinion.

"If the child wants to eat, then let him eat! I also want to see what the fruits from the Li family look like."

As soon as the box was opened, a rich aroma of various fruits wafted out, permeating everyone's senses. They felt instantly refreshed, their mouths watering uncontrollably. The Zhou family members, gazing at the dazzling array of familiar and unfamiliar translucent fruits, were far more astonished than they had just heard from Zhou Rou'er.

At that moment, the little baby ran over and grabbed a large watermelon weighing several tens of kilograms, refusing to let go.

"Okay. We'll listen to the child and eat watermelon!" Mr. Zhou said happily.

Several people brought out two watermelons and a kitchen knife. Mr. Zhou, in high spirits, took the knife and prepared to cut the watermelon himself. He gestured a few times with the large watermelon, then began to slice the rind. Unexpectedly, just as the knife broke through the rind a little, a loud "pop" was heard, and the watermelon exploded as if a small bomb had been hidden inside! The red flesh and the dark green pulp splattered everywhere, covering everyone's faces and heads! The refreshing aroma of watermelon immediately filled the air!

Mr. Zhou was taken aback, looking at the large watermelon that had burst open in his hand. For some reason, he suddenly burst into hearty laughter, took a piece of the rotten watermelon, took a bite, and immediately felt a cool sensation penetrate to his heart, feeling extremely comfortable. The little girl next to him didn't care whether the watermelon looked pretty or not, and hurriedly pinched the flesh and put it in her mouth, getting her head, face, and body covered in red watermelon juice.

"Father, let me cut it!" Zhou Rou'er said as she stepped out from the side.

Looking at Zhou Rou'er's slender figure, which seemed as if she could be blown away by a gust of wind, Zhou's father shook his head and said, "Just call a servant to cut it up." He was even worried that his daughter couldn't hold a kitchen knife, and besides, if she hurt herself, the young master of the Li family would probably be unhappy.

The people around her echoed, saying, "Sister, let the servants cut it! Your body is very precious right now!"

At this moment, Zhou Rou'er pulled a short sword from her bosom. The hilt and scabbard were pitch black and dull, looking extremely inconspicuous. Suddenly, with a "whoosh," a flash of silver light stung everyone's eyes! Everyone looked closely and saw that the short sword had been drawn. The blade was sharp and its cold aura was terrifying. Even from a distance, it felt as if it would cut through a person's flesh.

Everyone was startled and took a small step back before realizing that the person holding the sword was just a 'weak' woman, and they couldn't help but feel embarrassed.

"Let me cut it! I often cut my own food at home," Zhou Rou'er said softly.

As soon as she finished speaking, Zhou Rou'er stepped forward and swung her short sword. Everyone saw a blinding flash of silver light and heard a "whoosh" as the short sword was sheathed!

Everyone looked at the big watermelon and saw that its appearance had not changed. They felt strange and amused at the same time, thinking that this older sister was always playing tricks.

Just then, Zhou Rou'er reached out and gently nudged the watermelon. The entire watermelon, like a flower in full bloom, split open, its bud splitting into petals that scattered and blossomed!

Everyone was stunned when they saw this, and their gazes toward Zhou Rou'er became even more different.

Zhou Rou'er picked up two pieces of watermelon, handed them to her parents, and then invited everyone to eat. Only then did everyone come to their senses.

After eating the watermelon, everyone looked at the various items brought by the Li family with great curiosity, marveling at them repeatedly, until Zhou's father treasured them and put them away, at which point they stopped.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Li Xingzhi and Li Linzhi had already arrived at the billiards pavilion.

The central area of ​​the stadium is a large field of several acres. To the north is a high platform with many tables, chairs, and fans, clearly a place for dignitaries to watch the games.

At this time, there were only a few people on the platform, but the crowd below was already surging.

Thank you "reamaker" for the donation and continued support! (To be continued.)

...