Chapter Eighteen: The Idea of Soaring Through the Sky

  It's about the same whether he said it or not, Zhu Yongxing lowered his eyelids, paused for a moment, and then asked: "About the Mianpai Tusi wanting to open 'one thing', is it true or false? Why didn't I hear the head of the clan mention it?"

  "I've heard something about this before." Mengzhu furrowed her brow, a look of annoyance on her face. "The Mianpai Tusi and the Manmo Tu Guan have colluded with each other, dispersing and dividing our tribe, and also oppressing and exploiting us. It seems that there was such a proposal several years ago, but I don't know why it wasn't implemented at the time. Now that the great witch has brought it up again, I suppose something must have changed."

  Isn't it because they knew the Ming army was defeated, and didn't worry about the Mangshan Ke clan getting aid from the Ao? Zhu Yongxing guessed, but immediately shook his head again. The reason is no longer important, what's important is a solution. He buried his head in that tourist map that had been soaked in water, dried and wrinkled, and Zhu Yongxing fell into a long period of contemplation.

  Leading the Mangyuan Ke people out of Myanmar is easy, but from the historical events at that time, it can be seen that the military strength of the Burmese was limited and even low. It's probably because there had been no war for decades, so tens of thousands of troops couldn't even withstand a few thousand defeated Ming soldiers in a head-on confrontation, and they still needed Yongli's order to retreat. But finding a place to settle down is not that easy!

  "Are you willing to leave your hometown and wander around, seeking a place to settle down?" Zhu Yongxing asked Mengzhu with some uncertainty, "To fight and bleed, to rush through the pass and seize the narrow path, how many will die or be injured on the way!"

  "If you listen to the jackals, it's best to open the pigpen." Mengzhu's eyes became firm and she said in a crisp voice: "Since we can't bear the humiliation anymore, what does killing and bleeding mean? The journey is difficult, but our tribe also has the bravery and blood of 'the dragon is not afraid of deep water, the tiger is not afraid of high mountains'. Even if it's hundreds or thousands of miles away, with twists and turns, we are not afraid of cowardice. How ridiculous that the Burmese people have been hiding for decades and actually think our tribe is a pig to be slaughtered."

  Zhu Yongxing's eyes flashed with admiration, the Miao people of the Mengshan clan were not afraid of the long journey, the difficulties, and he himself had no worries. After a moment of contemplation, he asked: "How many warriors are there in your tribe? Are you confident in battle?"

  Mengzhu smiled proudly and said, "There are thousands of male and female warriors. Your Highness doesn't know that the women of our Miao ethnic group can not only sing and dance well, but also go into the mountains to hunt and fish in the water, which is different from Han women."

  Exercise more, the body is better. Zhu Yongxing believed in Mengzhu's words that a harsh environment creates a strong physique, and those Miao women looked healthy and agile, even if they were not as good as male warriors, but also not too cumbersome.

  Zhu Yongxing temporarily had no more questions, and his mind also became broader. After thinking for a long time, he had a bold idea in his heart. Although it almost overturned all his original plans, it was not a bad path to success.

  Of course, this does not mean that Zhu Yongxing is extremely intelligent and has a way to resolve it so quickly, but rather a new path of practice after accumulation. In fact, this also includes the thinking route he wrote in that book, supplementing the inside with the outside, competing for the world. Zhu Yongxing confirmed that this is a point of view, and it is also a brand-new step with practical significance.

  "Go, go see Da Wu." Zhu Yongxing suddenly stood up, his expression firm and confident, and his self-confidence returned to him.

  ……

  Returning to the desolate bamboo building of Dà Wū, I see that the lights have not gone out, but inside the bamboo building is no longer just Dà Wū. The clan leader Sī Wēi and several elderly men, as well as a young woman, all with solemn expressions.

  "Big sister." Mengzhu called out happily and ran to the young woman's side. The young woman seemed to dote on Mengzhu, pulling her down to sit, speaking softly and intimately.

  Si Wei stood up and introduced Zhu Yongxing to the others, saying that everyone present was a leader. The Burmese were afraid that if the Mengshan Ke clan gathered together, they would be difficult to control, so they divided them to rule them. Although the various tribes were far apart or near, the Mengshan Ke clan had strong cohesion and each tribe had connections with each other, and all of them regarded Si Wei as their leader.

  What surprised Zhu Yongxing was that the young woman named Yang was also a leader of a village, and he couldn't help but take a closer look at her.

  She was about twenty years old, of medium build, with a round face like a peach, eyes shining like black jade, and a mouth that seemed slightly large but not unattractive. Her skin, tanned to a dark red color, and her rough yet symmetrical hands and feet, revealed her robustness. The clear outline of her lips, as well as the tattoo on the left side of her face, gave off an air of wildness.

  "Your Highness has arrived at midnight, I suppose you have come up with a good plan to help our clan get out of trouble." Si Wei's eyes shone with hope, but also revealed a sharp glint.

  Zhu Yongxing nodded slightly and said, "It's easy to leave Myanmar, but it's hard to find a place to settle down. I thought of a place, the journey is very far, and we need to fight for it——" He paused for a moment, seeing that everyone was listening intently, before Zhu Yongxing continued to express his idea.

  An Nam, at this time in the second period of North-South Dynasty, but the actual situation is even more complicated than the North-South Dynasty. After the Le Dynasty defeated the Mac Dynasty, two powerful generals of the Le Dynasty, Nguyen Khac and Trinh Tung, rose to power and started a civil war for the right to rule. The Trinh family took control of the imperial court with Thang Long as its center; the Nguyen family went south to Thuan Hoa, developing their own separatist forces and opposing the Trinh family; while the remaining Mac forces occupied the northern highlands of Cao Bang, creating a situation similar to that of three kingdoms vying for power.

  From 1630 to 1672, the Zheng and Qing dynasties engaged in seven large-scale wars, lasting from one year to eight years. Both sides had victories and defeats, and were exhausted by the prolonged warfare. Zhu Yigui intended to take advantage of this situation, not only to find a safe haven for himself among the Kejia people in Guangping, but also to use this base to advance eastward into Guangxi and fight against the Qing army, seizing a port to access the sea.

  Of course, this idea of muddling through is somewhat fanciful and for the Mang people who are unfamiliar with foreign affairs, it's even more unrealistic and distant.

  Azhao acted as a translator, conveying Zhu Yongxing's words. The room suddenly fell silent, some people furrowed their brows, some narrowed their eyes, and others looked suspicious, although no one spoke out loud, but it was clear that what Zhu Yongxing said far exceeded their expectations.

  "Not Yunnan Province, but Annam?" After a long while, Si Wei finally let out a bitter laugh, clearly still harboring doubts.

  "Your Highness." The Grand Wizard sat in the shadows, his face and expression unclear, only his voice faintly emerged, "Can you elaborate, to dispel our confusion?"

  "Of course." Zhu Yongxing said in a low voice: "Annam is in a state of turmoil, the Ma family occupies Gaoping, the Zheng and Ruan families are at odds with each other, and the Ruan family is also fighting with Champa. This is exactly the opportunity to muddy the waters and take Gaoping as a place to survive. The land of Yunnan Province belongs to others, and the Ming army has not yet decided to fight against the Qing army, it is difficult to survive, let alone being from the same clan."