Chapter 55: The Local Official Shows Loyalty

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  "Thank you, Your Highness, for your care. I and my subordinates have not suffered any injuries." Bao Bailong bowed and replied: "It was just a small effort, I am ashamed."

  "It doesn't have to be like this." Zhu Yongxing pointed towards the direction of the canyon and said, "At least several hundred Qing soldiers were killed by the rolling rocks, which is also a great achievement!"

  Bai Long hesitated for a moment, then got to the point, "This humble official is not familiar with battle arrays and is really not suitable for commanding battles. Please, Your Highness, appoint a great general to command our tribal warriors."

  Zhu Yongxing's gaze condensed, staring at Baidao Long's face, somewhat unclear about his true intentions behind this sudden action.

  "Your Highness has the protection of the gods, and everything will surely be accomplished. I, your humble official, think that I should return to Tengchong and recruit several hundred more robust men from our ethnic group to come and fight for Your Highness."

  Diao Bailong thought that in order to gain Zhu Yongxing's trust, this might be the best way. The armed forces he could control were a double-edged sword, both a guarantee and the main reason for Zhu Yongxing's vigilance. Dismissing his military power and handing over all the strong men of his clan to Zhu Yongxing and Ming Jiang's command was undoubtedly the best way to show loyalty.

  Zhu Yongxing was deep in thought, a smile slowly spreading across his face. Being under the control of the Ming army and still thinking about being a turncoat, it's indeed very difficult to bear! Since he had made up his mind to surrender, he naturally wanted to win him over, and the role of the local snakehead was not small either. Moreover, Zhu Yongxing also had another long-term idea that could make Bao Weidong see a distant and bright future.

  The Dai people have been referred to by different names in various Chinese dynasties. Before the Qin Dynasty, they were called "Bo"; during the Han Dynasty, they were known as "Dian Bo", "Dian Yue", and "Sha" among others; during the Jin and Northern and Southern Dynasties, they were referred to as "Liao", "Ai Lao", and "Sha" among others; during the Sui and Tang Dynasties, they were called "Ai Lao", "Nanzhao", "Bai Man", and "Wu Man" among others; during the Song and Yuan Dynasties, they were known as "Jin Chi", "Hei Chi", "Hua Man", and "Bai Yi" among others. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, which is also the current name, they are referred to as "Bai Yi" or "Pai Yi".

  For Zhu Yongxing, the name is not important. What's important is that the Dai people are widely distributed. According to the national divisions of later generations, there are Dai people in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and even India. In each country, they are also called "Thai", "Lao", "Shan", "A'hong" and so on.

  Undoubtedly, if the scattered Dai people can be integrated, or even just connected with each other, it will make Zhu Yongxing gain a lot of attention in Southeast Asian countries and create favorable conditions for future actions. Especially Annan and Myanmar, these are the two small countries that Zhu Yongxing is most concerned about at present, and also the objects he wants to take action on as soon as possible.

  Zhu Yongxing's thoughts were in turmoil, while Bao Bailong was anxious and didn't know if his loyalty would be recognized by Zhu Yongxing. He remained bent at the waist, with beads of sweat dripping from his forehead.

  "There are those with a broad mind, who can accomplish extraordinary feats; there are those with great vision, who can establish remarkable achievements." Zhu Yongxing finally spoke slowly, and Bao Weidong secretly let out a sigh of relief, listening intently to these words that would be etched in his memory forever.

  "Dao Tu Guan, what you lack is not ability, but breadth of vision and boundaries. So when doing things, you often nitpick and worry about gains and losses." Zhu Yongxing first criticized him, then patted Dao Bai Long's shoulder with his hand, signaling him to get up. "I'm not afraid that you want too much, I'm afraid you don't have the ambition, and even more won't put in the effort. The Mangshan Ke clan is different, can a small high plain satisfy them? Being the Annan Duhu is not the final goal of the Siwei tribe leader."

  "Are they going to divide the land and establish vassal states?" Baidao Long stared with wide eyes, asking in astonishment.

  "The land is not accurately divided, it should be said that it is a re-division." Zhu Yongxing corrected: "Annam and Burma were once under the rule of our great Ming dynasty. To recover them again, what's strange about that? Although the Mangshan Ke clan has fewer people, Annan has the 'He Meng' tribe, which belongs to the same branch as them, so they can be united to strengthen their momentum. Adding the Ming army's assistance, taking High Ping first and then nibbling at other lands, with time, it is not impossible to take over the country of the Tr?nh lords in Annan. You have many branches of the Pai tribe, living in Annam, Siam, Burma and other places. If they can be united, their momentum should be stronger than that of the Mangshan Ke clan."

  Bai Long blinked his eyes, with excitement and surprise on his face. Zhu Yongxing's meaning seemed very clear, he wanted him to learn from the Miao Shan Ke clan and also establish a fiefdom by reclaiming land. But where was this land that needed to be reclaimed? Could he succeed with just his small tribe?

  "The Burmese are treacherous and have bullied the Emperor and the court, they will be punished sooner or later." Zhu Yongxing's gaze turned southward, his eyes narrowing slightly with a hint of coldness. "The Shan people are a branch of the Pai tribe, living in the northern part of Burma, with a large population. If they ever want to return to the Great Ming, I will lead the Ming army to assist them."

  In the Tang and Song dynasties, Xishuangbanna was known as "Miaoxiang Guo" in Sanskrit. At that time, it was an inseparable region with southern Yunnan and parts of Thailand and Laos. It wasn't until the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties that Xishuangbanna separated from Yunnan, but there were no fixed borders, and people came and went freely, maintaining close ties. Among the various ethnic groups in Xishuangbanna, the Dai (Thai) ethnic group accounts for more than 60%, which is a very favorable condition.

  Inciting and supporting the local border tusi to launch external attacks and plundering was not Zhu Yongxing's original idea, as this trick had been used by the Ming Dynasty before, and Burma had also used it. Along with this came the tactic of colluding with foreign tusi, using internal and external responses. Of course, this was first a means of probing and weakening the opponent, followed by large-scale invasion.

  Dao Ba Long was very interested in Zhu Yongxing's idea, one reason being the temptation of returning to their fief and another being the deep-seated hatred between the Dao clan and Burma. During the Wanli era, Burmese troops invaded Yunnan on a large scale, burning and looting Shidian, capturing the stronghold of Shun Ning, raiding Menglin Stockade, and later breaking through Pan Da, killing Vice Magistrate Dao Si Ding of Pan Da and his clansmen, which led to decades of large-scale war between the Ming dynasty and Burma.

  "Your Highness has this intention, I dare not spare my heart and soul." Although Baidelong had not thought it through carefully, since he had already made up his mind to take sides, he could only follow Zhu Yongxing all the way.

  "Five or six years, ten or more years can also wait?" Zhu Yongxing smiled as if teasing and testing.

  "Bai Long took a deep breath and said, 'Your Highness is wise and brave, great things will surely be accomplished. I, your humble officer, have no regrets, nor do my children, we are all willing to die following you.'"

  I'm not afraid of your ambition, I'm afraid you don't have the ability and are unwilling to put in effort. Zhu Yongxing's eyes flashed for a moment, and he patted Qī Báilóng's shoulder with force. At this time, there was no need for excessive words, each had their own understanding. But one blank check had exchanged for the support of another tribe, and Zhu Yongxing's heart was naturally pleased.

  "If the rainy season comes, can we hide a troop in this mountain?" Zhu Yongxing turned around, his eyes moving over the undulating mountains, and said thoughtfully: "No need for many, 500 people will be enough."

  Bai Long hesitated, unsure whether to respond. After a moment of silence, he ventured to say: "Although it's difficult, it's not impossible. As long as there is a place to take shelter from the rain, enough dry rations, and strong bodies, it should be possible to gather 500 people."

  Zhu Yongxing narrowed his eyes and stopped talking, even Bai Long thought he was just a temporary idea, asking casually.