Chapter Thirty-One: The Unheard Camel Bells and Horse Hooves Arrive

  "Is the royal flag?" The old man's gaze was fixed, staring into the distance, his voice trembling slightly. "I never thought that in my lifetime I would see the scene of the imperial family going to war. It seems a bit simple. But after all, the royal family has produced someone who is responsible and has spirit. When the great house is about to collapse, will it be the blessing of heaven for the Great Ming, or will it be a brief, fleeting moment?"

  The banners and flags were raised high, the army marched slowly forward. The young man saw this majestic scene, his heart was also shaken. After a pause, he supported his excited father down from the city wall.

  ………

  "Humble villager Zheng Yanbei (Zheng Zhaoda) respectfully welcomes Your Highness for a thousand years, ten thousand years."

  Zhu Yongxing looked at the group of people who were kowtowing on the ground near the gate, his mind racing. Was this the help in Yunnan Province that Da Wu had mentioned? He didn't know where they came from or what their abilities were.

  "Gentlemen, please rise." Although he was not quite sure in his heart, Zhu Yongxing still jumped off the horse and offered his hand to assist. This was not the time to show off or pretend to be strong, every bit of strength counted, and his own forces were too few. These were all Han people, which suited his intentions perfectly.

  "Thank you, Your Excellency." Zheng Yanbei led his men in a bow before rising to his feet, his face full of respect and humility. "The Guard Battalion's barracks have been cleaned up; please don't think it's too humble, but I invite you to rest for a while."

  "It's not the time for luxury when war is urgent." Zhu Yongxing waved his hand indifferently and followed Zheng Yanbei and others to the garrison headquarters.

  The Garrison Office had long been in disrepair, and although it was difficult to show its new look after Zheng Yanbei sent someone to clean and arrange it, it was still clean and tidy, slightly better than the humble abode of Mian Guan.

  Zhu Yongxing and Zheng Yanbei sat down in the hall, and two maidservants brought up tea, water, and fruit. Mengzhu saw Mingnu's attire and immediately fixed her gaze on it, looking very pleased.

  "What's the current situation in Yunnan Province?" Zhu Yongxing's gaze swept over the two maids with bright eyes and white teeth, then asked about important matters. To say that he had been delayed in Burma for more than ten days, but his mind was anxious, fearing that things would not go smoothly, and the plans he had thought out carefully were all in vain.

  "After Li Zicheng was defeated at the Battle of Mount Ma'anshan, the Qing army advanced victoriously and occupied Tengyue, then pursued westward to Nandian (now in Langhe County), and reached Mengcun, but stopped pursuing due to lack of supplies and returned to Kunming..."

  Not much different from history, Zhu Yongxing listened to Zheng Yanbei's narration, compared with the data in his memory, and had a more comprehensive understanding of the current situation.

  It is not accurate to say that Li Dingguo was defeated at the Battle of Mount Grindstone. From a comparison of the military strength of both sides, it should be considered a Pyrrhic victory instead. Although Li's forces suffered heavy casualties, the Qing army also suffered heavy losses, including two princes and eighteen generals (including Zhao Buxu's nephew Duobo Luo and Zu Dashou's eldest son Zu Zerun), which was the highest number of high-ranking officials killed in action since the Qing army fought against the Southern Ming.

  If there was no traitor's betrayal, this would likely be the turning point for the Southern Ming army to turn the tide. Zhu Yongxing sighed deeply, a famous general, having good luck is also very crucial!

  Zheng Yanbei narrated while secretly observing Zhu Yongxing's expression. The current situation can be said to be extremely unfavorable, with the major cities and strategic locations within the three rivers of Yunnan basically occupied by the Qing army. Although the remaining Ming troops were still numerous, they had retreated to remote border areas, losing contact with each other. In the face of this crisis, Zhu Yongxing's expression was remarkably calm, as if he had long expected it. The mountain collapses in front of him but his color does not change; this is something that ordinary people cannot do. Zheng Yanbei's evaluation of Zhu Yongxing increased significantly in his heart.

  In fact, Zhu Yongxing knew that he would face a bad situation, so he didn't make a big fuss or change his expression. However, he had doubts in his heart. According to the current information dissemination channels, word of mouth, and rumors, how did Zheng Yanbei know so many situations, and they were relatively accurate and reliable?

  "What profession does Mr. Zheng engage in?" As he wanted to rely on them, Zhu Yongxing naturally had to ask clearly about the details, and after Zheng Yanbei finished speaking, he opened his mouth to inquire.

  "I dare not be called a master, I am just a humble merchant." Zheng Yanbei replied respectfully with a bow: "My ancestors were not afraid of danger, they traveled through the stars and moon, climbed mountains and crossed rivers, braved wind and rain, frost and snow, to earn our small family business today."

  Zhu Yongxing blinked his eyes, pondering the adjectives used by Zheng Yanbei. Suddenly, a few words jumped into his mind, and he tentatively said: "Tea-Horse Ancient Road, Horse Caravan..."

  Zheng Yanbei was taken aback for a moment, his expression even more respectful, "Your Highness is wise, one guess and it's correct."

  So it was, Zhu Yongxing slowly let out a long breath, relaxed his body and leaned back.

  The Ancient Tea-Horse Road originated from the tea-horse trade in the southwestern and northwestern border areas of ancient China, prospered during the Tang and Song dynasties, flourished during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and reached its peak during World War II. During the Anti-Japanese War, when the fate of the Chinese nation hung in the balance, it also played an important role.

  Due to the high altitude of the Tibetan Plateau, where elevations are mostly above 3,000-4,000 meters, tsampa, dairy products, butter, and mutton are staples in the Tibetan diet. In such a high-altitude region, it is necessary to consume foods with high caloric content, but vegetables are scarce, and tsampa is dry and hot. Excessive fat intake is difficult for the body to digest, while tea leaves can both dissolve fats and prevent dryness. Thus, Tibetans have developed the habit of drinking butter tea as a way of life in the highlands over time, despite tea not being native to the region.

  In the mainland, folk labor and military conquests required a large number of mules and horses, which were in short supply. However, the Tibetan region and the border areas of Sichuan and Yunnan produced high-quality horses. As a result, the complementary trade of tea and horses, known as "Tea-Horse Trade", emerged. Mules, furs, medicinal materials, and other products from Tibet and the border regions of Sichuan and Yunnan were traded with tea leaves, cloth, salt, and daily utensils from Sichuan, Yunnan, and other parts of China. These goods flowed back and forth through the high mountains and deep valleys of the Hengduan Mountains, never ceasing to move, and prospered along with the development of society and economy, forming a "Tea-Horse Ancient Road" that continues to this day.

  The "Tea-Horse Road" is a historical concept with specific connotations, referring to the transportation route formed between Han and Tibetan regions since the Tang and Song dynasties until the Republican era for tea-horse exchange. Specifically, the Tea-Horse Road is mainly divided into two routes: the Yunnan-Tibet Road and the Sichuan-Tibet Road.

  However, it should be noted that the above-mentioned is only the main trunk line of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road, and also a conventional understanding and recognition of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road by people for a long time. In fact, in addition to the above main trunk lines, the Ancient Tea-Horse Road also includes several branch lines, forming a vast transportation network. It spans Sichuan, Yunnan, Qinghai, Tibet, extending outward to South Asia, West Asia, Central Asia and Southeast Asia, reaching as far as Europe.

  When he was a donkey guest, he had visited the Tea-Horse Ancient Road and listened to the tour guide's explanation. Zhu Yongxing also roughly guessed the reason why Zheng Yanbei was so well-informed. He smiled and praised: "The secret realm of Yunnan Tea-Horse Road, the lingering fragrance of Pu'er tea on the Tea-Horse Road! Your ancestors were able to fearlessly resist bandits and overcome hardships with a brave and straightforward spirit to establish their family business. I am truly envious and admire them!"