Chapter Twelve: The Arrangement of Fate

  Zhu Yongxing blinked his eyes and thought to himself: We Hans also have an old saying: No trouble offering kindness, either treacherous or thieving. Why is this old man helping me? I must figure it out.

  "You want to know why we should help Your Highness, don't you?" The old man seemed to see through Zhu Yongxing's thoughts, let out a soft sigh, took out a very old book, and began to narrate slowly.

  In the late Ming Dynasty, from Jiajing to Wanli, the army of the Eastern Hsenwi dynasty of Myanmar invaded the border areas of Yunnan Province, triggering a war that lasted for decades. After the 34th year of Wanli, the Sino-Burmese War basically stopped. This was because on the Chinese side, the Ming Dynasty's rule had fallen into crisis and was powerless to recover the vast areas occupied by Myanmar.

  As a result, the Ming dynasty lost control over Mengyang Military-Civilian Pacification Commissioner (governing the area equivalent to today's Bhamo and Katha northwards, west of the Ayeyarwady River and east of the Naga Mountains, with its seat in modern-day Mohnyin) and Mobang Military-Civilian Pacification Commissioner (governing the area equivalent to today's northeastern Shan State, with its seat in modern-day Hsipaw).

  The Mangshan Miao are indeed a branch of the Miao people. If we were to divide the Miao into different branches, just in the four provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan and Guangxi, there would be dozens of varieties. The term "Miao" is simply a general designation. As for this elderly man, he was not an ordinary tribal leader. His name should be Meng Ningsiwei, whose ancestors were appointed by the Ming dynasty as the hereditary military commander of the Meng Ningsiwei Prefecture. When the Burmese army attacked Meng Ningsiwei, the last hereditary military commander, Meng Ningsihong, led his troops in resistance and sought aid from the Ming court. However, no reinforcements arrived, and Sihong was defeated and killed, and the Mangshan Miao fell under Burmese rule.

  They are not of our kin, their hearts must be different. This ancient saying comes from China, but the Burmese also deeply believe it. They suppress the residents of the original Xuanwei Si, including the Mangshan Kezu, in every way, and do not hesitate to use extremely violent means.

  "The king of Burma was extremely cruel, and whenever someone committed a crime, they would be buried alive in the ground with only their head exposed, then trampled by cattle, covered again with hay, and finally burned to death. The people around would watch and find it entertaining. Outside the city of Jiangtou (some say it's now Bhamo, some say it's now Kyethi), there was a big street called Daming Street where tens of thousands of merchants and performers from Fujian, Guangdong, Jiangxi, and Sichuan lived and did business. However, when they heard that the heavenly army (referring to the Ming dynasty army) was going to launch a southern campaign, they were afraid that these people would become internal spies, so they took all the prisoners to the riverbank, set them on fire, and burned them to death, leaving their bodies scattered all over the fields and blocking the river..." Meng Yang closed the old book, his face filled with deep sorrow, his fists clenched tightly, and his facial muscles tensed up.

  Zhu Yongxing really knew this history, originally all the land here belonged to China, and the residents were once subjects of China. This old man hated the Burmese government, was he thinking of using his own strength to restore the glory of his ancestors?

  After a moment of indignation, he slowly regained his composure and continued: "The Burmese are cruel and greedy, not only did they drive my tribe to this remote area, but also divided the large tribe into several small tribes, separating them from each other. The Burmese officials were even more sinister, often using various excuses to make things difficult for us. When they heard that there was a golden-haired bear king in the mountains, they ordered my tribe to hunt and kill it, and present its skin as an offering. As a result, my tribe suffered dozens of casualties, but returned without success. Just as the deadline was approaching, fortunately, Your Excellency killed the bear, allowing my tribe to escape disaster."

  So it was. Zhu Yongxing nodded and asked, "Old man, why did you think I was a divine messenger and gave me this?" He raised his hand, revealing the ring.

  Si Wei smiled slightly and said, "My tribe has a shaman who can divine good or bad fortune. Since we've been repeatedly frustrated in our attempts to hunt the bear king, the shaman prayed to our ancestors and gods, and received an omen: a divine messenger will arrive to save us from this calamity and restore my tribe's former prosperity. Doesn't that match your arrival?"

  It was just a coincidence that the wizard's nonsense happened to hit the nail on the head. Zhu Yongxing, of course, didn't believe it, but during his time of intense contemplation, he had clarified many thoughts and also realized that returning to Yunnan would be extremely difficult, requiring external help to achieve. And this external force, looking at it now, was likely to fall on the shoulders of the Mangshan Ke ethnic group.

  After Yongli fled to Myanmar, he was afraid that the Qing army would follow and it would be difficult for him to protect himself. When he left Mengmao, he ordered the local officials to cut down trees and block the roads. After receiving this order, Si Xian searched the mountains inside and outside the pass for three days after the emperor's carriage departed. He arrested all the Ming officials who were hastily pursuing the emperor, confiscated their property, killed those who were strong and powerful at the front of the pass, scattered the old and weak to various stockades to be forced to grind rice, and threw those who died from torture into the river to destroy their bodies and eliminate any trace.

  Because he knew this, Zhu Yongxing did not dare to travel alone. Unfamiliar roads were one reason, and fear of being killed by Burmese soldiers was another important reason. Moreover, today's events also gave him a wake-up call: the mighty tiger was shocked, and the arrogant king's aura immediately made everyone bow down, which is not the reality. To achieve something, you still have to rely on yourself, step by step, and strive hard.

  Furthermore, even if I were to enter Yunnan, as a distant relative of the imperial family, what right do I have to command the remaining Ming troops? Li Jing and Wang are loyal and righteous, but they are also renowned generals who are resolute and self-assured. It's possible that they may show deference in their attitude, but listening to my commands would be nothing short of a pipe dream. As for other Ming military leaders, which one doesn't view the army as their private property, something to be used for personal advancement? Even if they were to fail and surrender, having troops at their disposal would give them capital to negotiate with the Qing court, allowing them to secure wealth and glory for the rest of their lives.

  Watching Zhu Yongxing lower his eyelids and fall into deep thought, Si Wei didn't urge him on, but instead half-closed her eyes, waiting for his response as if in meditation.

  It's hard, really hard, whether it's helping the Miao people escape from the brutal rule of the Burmese or repeating the mistakes of the past. But I seem to have no choice, can only endure the ugliness of the money-grabbing officials or the brutality of the Manchu rulers, waiting for the happiness of the so-called "Prosperous Age". Or like a lowly mouse, hiding in this village, occasionally helping them solve their difficulties, and living out my life in obscurity until my hair turns white. In fact, when I made that vow on the riverbank, what I said was not just empty boasts, but a sincere call from the bottom of my heart.

  "Old man——" Zhu Yongxing made a decision, actually he had already instinctively made the decision, but didn't think that Si Wei would bring up old matters and add another burden to him. "The prosperity of the Mangshan Ke clan is closely linked to my desire to drive out the stench and restore the divine state. However, things must be prioritized, and the prosperity of the Mangshan Ke clan may have to wait for a while."

  "How long." A sharp glint flashed in Si Wei's eyes.

  Zhu Yongxing hesitated for a moment and sighed: "Three years, five years, or even ten years, maybe I've already died in battle, then your wish will never come true."