As fireworks lit up Fujiwara Capital, not only commoners but even nobles rarely saw such things—some were seeing them for the first time. After all, fireworks had existed for less than a century.
The origins of fireworks dated back to the early Tang Dynasty, roughly ninety years ago, when a renowned daoist priest named Li Tian invented them. It was said that disasters had struck year after year and epidemics had spread widely. Li Tian filled small bamboo tubes with saltpeter and ignited them, using the smoke to disperse the mountain miasma and reduce the spread of disease. Firecrackers thus quickly became widespread.
In an ordinary world, Li Tian would merely have been a daoist priest gifted with invention. But in this world... Li Tian was an immortal.
No, Li Tian had long since become a celestial being. In the city of Liling, there was even a shrine dedicated to him.
Because of fireworks, many people worshipped him, allowing him to rapidly rise from a Daoist immortal to an undying celestial being.
Within mere decades, fireworks and firecrackers had continuously evolved and now became one of the indispensable things for Shenzhou's holidays and festivals.
And when those Kentōshi who had traveled to the Great Tang returned, they would more or less bring back some items unique to the Great Tang.
"Father, are you happy today?"
After seeing several important figures who had been chatting with his father leave, Fujiwara Maro seemed to think of something and immediately approached his father, Fujiwara no Fuhito.
"Not bad. This time, you truly brought honor to me!"
Fujiwara no Fuhito smiled at his son. Sending him into the Kentōshi delegation had indeed been a wise decision.
Fujiwara no Fuhito had stepped onto Japan's political stage by supporting Prince Kusakabe's son, Prince Toneri, to ascend