Chapter Six: Reform!

The next day, with the sun already high in the sky, Hao Yun awoke from a deep sleep. Upon opening his eyes, he saw elegantly dressed palace maids quietly standing inside the hall, holding his toiletries.

Stretching lazily, Hao Yun turned his head shyly... Hehe, this extravagant life in ancient times really took some getting used to.

He got up, washed, relieved himself, bathed... and even pulled out a couple of expensive sheets of paper to wipe himself—too rough! He decided to stick with modern toilet paper instead.

From his system backpack, he took out a toothbrush and toothpaste. After a chaotic scuffle with what he suspected was vitiligo, he finally tidied himself up and, dressed in a loose T-shirt and jeans, prepared to meet the Tang Emperor.

“How did Lord Hao rest? Are you accustomed to sleeping in the Tang Dynasty?”

Upon meeting, Li Shimin greeted him warmly—yes, he had descended from the Dragon Throne where the court was in session!

Indeed, the little eunuch had brought him again to the great hall where the imperial court was underway.

"Li Er, you don’t need to be so formal with me," Hao Yun said without a flicker of hesitation. Was the mighty Taizong so easily swayed by a few historical records? Was he the fool, or was Hao Yun?

“Whatever you want, I can give it to you! But you must help me accomplish what I intend.”

“No problem!” Li Shimin agreed immediately. All he wanted was to conquer Japan! Simple! Just teach me how to make firearms and cannons!

With such earth-shattering weapons, forget about Japan—he could conquer the entire world!

“Then let’s start the reforms immediately!”

...

In the days that followed, Hao Yun was appointed as the Imperial Advisor of the Tang Dynasty. With Li Er and the Tang court’s full support, along with backing from the great families, the entire empire embarked on comprehensive reform.

First came the invention of papermaking and printing. Then, supported by the noble clans, the imperial examination system was implemented, spreading quality education nationwide with compulsory schooling, and establishing major institutions such as academies of science, mathematics, and astronomy.

The four social classes were redefined. The status of merchants and craftsmen was elevated, and scholars were designated as officials serving the common people. Even the royal family agreed to the newly promulgated first article of the Tang constitution: the nation above all, the law supreme, no one may infringe upon national interests or violate treaties. Simply put, the emperor is subject to the law just like any commoner.

The Ministry of Works was reformed and made independent, founding the Imperial Research Institute. Skilled artisans from across the land were gathered as the foundation to develop all the technologies Hao Yun brought.

The Ministry of Agriculture was separated from the old Agricultural Department. Land was nationalized; no family, not even the royal household, possessed ownership—only usage rights, capped at seventy years. The ministry swiftly promoted crops like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and chili peppers introduced by Hao Yun, commissioning the research department to develop pesticides and fertilizers.

The Imperial Medical Office was formed into the Ministry of Medicine, devoting itself to studying pre-Ming traditional Chinese medical texts. They instituted policies raising the legal marriage age to eighteen, mandated girls attend female academies, advocated for free love, and opened the first female official position. Gao Yang became the inaugural female officer, serving in the Textile Department.

Everything marched rapidly toward a better future.

Of course, not everyone welcomed change. The noble families especially resisted sharing their precious knowledge and technologies with the common folk. But under the mounting technological threats Hao Yun introduced and the tide of history, they ultimately relented and agreed to enlighten the populace.

More importantly, the noble families’ heirs possessed higher education and were more receptive to new knowledge, confident in their own strength. Even after reforms, they maintained majority control in court.

The surge of knowledge and awakening of the people transformed the Tang Dynasty completely within just fifty years.

The use of steam engines, wind, and hydropower was already underway, ushering in the steam age automatically. Population had multiplied tenfold but, thanks to better and more abundant food, no panic arose. Instead, countless geniuses emerged, accelerating Tang’s development.

By the time the story of the Immortal Sword began, the Tang Dynasty was approaching the Western Renaissance—becoming the strongest nation on Earth, possessing technological advances nearly a millennium ahead of others.

One day, Hao Yun stepped out of the Imperial Advisor’s residence—his first time entering the palace in five years.

The plot was about to unfold. He couldn’t remain a shut-in any longer. Besides, he wanted to see how the Kingdom of Nanzhao had developed.

Could it compete with Tang in the realm of immortality cultivation?

After all, while Nanzhao had Shi Jieren, the scientist and Moon Worship Sect leader, Tang had already scientifically systemized cultivation twenty years ago, thanks to Hao Yun.

Indeed, in the Immortal Sword universe, cultivation does not extend lifespan. So with Hao Yun’s scientific path, Tang pursued a dual strategy of cultivation and technology, strengthening both.

Twenty years prior, the aging Yuan Tiangang, aided by self-made microscopes, magnifying glasses, and beakers, combined Daoist classics with science to initiate the concept of nationwide cultivation.

Thus, not only did the noble families gain a new developmental path, but Tang’s technological progress accelerated, leaping from high-speed rail to airplanes, achieving a steam age within fifty years.

“Hmph, after nearly fifty years here, I feel mentally much older. System, can you extract my emotions and memories from these fifty years in advance?”

Last time, when returning from the Naruto world, the system’s extraction of emotions had let those ten years pass like a movie, helping him maintain a youthful mindset upon return.

This time, after fifty years, if he couldn’t extract them, he guessed he’d come back to Marvel as an old man.

“No problem. Host can extract emotions and memories anytime upon completing a mission to prevent mental gaps.”

The system immediately initiated memory and emotion extraction. Instantly, Hao Yun felt as if he had returned to the Immortal Sword’s beginning, regaining his twenty-year-old vitality.

“Ah, much better. Hey, little eunuch over there, who’s the emperor now? Where does the cabinet meet? Take me there!”

“Ah? Imperial Advisor?”

The little fellow in yellow robes scampered over excitedly. “Imperial Advisor, His Majesty and the cabinet ministers are currently discussing the eighth revision of the laws in the office building. I’ll take you there right away.”

As they walked, he explained his status:

“Three years ago, when Prime Minister Wu Zetian rose to power, the castration laws and eunuch positions were abolished. I’m now a commoner employed by the royal household—not a eunuch!”

“Oh? Looks like your prime minister is quite bold. I always pushed for that, but that scoundrel Li Shimin refused... Wu Zetian, truly a queen for the ages...”