Rise of a Lonely City: From Exiled Prince to Ruler of the Nine Provinces

The threat from Mangyinglong was temporarily relieved, southern Yunnan was initially pacified, and copper mines began to produce a steady stream of copper.

But Xiao Chen's gaze had already crossed the towering mountains of Yunnan and turned to the snowy plateau further west—Tibet.

Tibet is rich in fine horses and medicinal herbs (especially musk, cordyceps, and saffron), and it is also a vital passage to India and the Western Regions.

Controlling Tibet not only meant acquiring high-quality warhorses and precious medicinal herbs, but also gaining control of a potential strategic passage and trade route.

However, since the previous dynasty, the connection between the Central Plains and Tibet has been intermittent, and the traditional "Tea Horse Road" was almost abandoned due to the separatist rule of Yunnan chieftains and wars.

"Your Majesty," the newly appointed Minister of Revenue, Zhang Juzheng, pointed to the winding route on the map that started from Yazhou in Sichuan, passed through Dajianlu, Litang, and Batang, and finally entered Lhasa, "This was the main route of the Tea Horse Road of the previous dynasty. However, the road was treacherous, bandits roamed freely, and it had to pass through many chieftain territories, with numerous checkpoints and heavy taxes, making it extremely difficult for merchants to travel."

"Therefore, I will open a new route." Xiao Chen drew a line further south on the map with his finger. "Instead of going through western Sichuan, we'll go through Yunnan!"

"Yunnan?"

Zhang Juzheng was taken aback. "The journey from Yunnan to Tibet is even more treacherous, and it requires passing through the Mu clan of Lijiang (a Naxi chieftain who has now submitted) and Zhongdian, among other places. The situation is complicated."

"It is precisely because it is complex that we must take control of it ourselves."

Xiao Chen declared resolutely, "The Mu clan of Lijiang has recently submitted, and we can leverage their strength. Shen Dong has already established his authority by implementing the 'abolition of native chieftainships and the replacement of local officials' with centrally appointed officials in Yunnan. I, in the name of the court, will rebuild this 'Yunnan-Tibet Tea Horse Road'! No, it should be called the 'Great Xia Southwest Trade Road'!"

"Rebuild?" Zhang Juzheng gasped. "Your Majesty, this project is enormous and extremely costly..."

"The cost is enormous, but the benefits are even greater!"

Xiao Chen interrupted him, "Tibetans are obsessed with tea, and Yunnan is famous for its Pu'er tea. Tibetan horses are exactly what our army needs. Tibetan medicinal herbs are priceless. More importantly, controlling this trade route will strengthen our ties with various sects in Tibet (especially the emerging Gelug school, also known as the Yellow Hat sect), and in the future, we might be able to 'govern according to local customs' and exert influence. This is killing three birds with one stone!"

Without further ado, Xiao Chen immediately issued an edict:

First, the Governor of Yunnan, Shen Dong, was appointed to oversee the construction of the "Yunnan-Tibet Trade Route." He ordered the mobilization of surrendered chieftains and displaced people as part of a labor-for-relief program to open and widen the road from Dali through Lijiang, Zhongdian, and Deqin into southeastern Tibet. Post stations and military outposts were to be established along the route, with troops assigned for protection.

Second, a "Tea and Horse Bureau" was established to oversee trade with Tibet. Yunnan Pu'er tea, Xiaguan Tuocha tea, Sichuan Ya'an Tibetan tea, as well as salt, cloth, and ironware (non-military), were exchanged for superior Tibetan horses, medicinal herbs, and furs. Official pricing was implemented, ensuring fair trade, and smuggling and the exploitation of Tibetan merchants were strictly prohibited.

Third, trade between Han and Tibetan peoples was encouraged. Merchants traveling between these regions were issued "travel permits" by the Tea and Horse Bureau, receiving protection and exemptions from some customs duties. "Mutual markets" were established in Lijiang, Zhongdian, and other places to allow private trade.

Fourth, a delegation was dispatched, carrying generous gifts, to Ü-Tsang to meet with the local religious leader (Sonam Gyatso of the Gelug school) and secular leader (Tsangpa Khan), to reaffirm the suzerainty of Bactria and to invite them to send representatives to the capital to pay tribute.

Once the decree was issued, Yunnan sprang into action once more. However, this time it wasn't amidst war, but in the clamor of construction.

Shen Dong is based in Kunming, overseeing the overall situation.

On the one hand, he organized manpower to use gunpowder to break rocks and widen dangerous sections of the road; on the other hand, he dispatched eloquent officials to Lijiang to discuss cooperation with the Mu clan chieftain.

The Mu clan of Lijiang was originally a major power in northwestern Yunnan. They had previously changed their allegiance to the imperial court, but were somewhat uneasy about it.

Now that the court not only did not pursue the matter, but also entrusted him with the lucrative task of building trade routes and establishing markets, he was overjoyed and expressed his willingness to fully cooperate and contribute manpower and resources.

In Tibet, the arrival of the Bactrian mission also caused quite a stir.

At this time, Tibet was in the midst of a fierce struggle between the Tsangpa Khanate and the emerging Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect. Both sides were in dire need of external support and resources.

The Great Xia delegation brought exquisite silks, porcelains, tea, and—a letter of friendship personally written by Xiao Chen and stamped with the imperial seal.

In his letter, Xiao Chen acknowledged the religious status of the Gelugpa sect and expressed his willingness to provide protection and trade facilitation. At the same time, he did not deny the secular power of the Zangba Khan, but only requested that the Khan recognize the status of the Great Xia as its suzerain state.

This impartial yet powerful attitude has forced all factions in Tibet to treat it with caution.

Especially when the delegation displayed the flintlock muskets and mountain guns (for training purposes) of the accompanying Shenwu Army soldiers, their destructive power shocked all the Tibetan chieftains who witnessed it.

A year later, the Yunnan-Tibet trade route (southern route) was initially opened.

The first caravan of mules and horses, fully loaded with Pu'er tea, slowly entered Lhasa under the escort of imperial soldiers.

At the same time, the first batch of high-quality Hequ horses, medicinal herbs, and furs from Tibet were also transported back to Yunnan along the same route.

The border trade in Lijiang flourished rapidly.

Cloth, iron pots, and salt from Han China, and horses, medicinal herbs, and yak butter from Tibet, all converge here.

The Tea and Horse Bureau established by the imperial court was fair in its trade and had an excellent reputation, which quickly won the trust of Tibetan and Han merchants.

What surprised Xiao Chen even more was that through this trade route, he not only obtained valuable warhorses and medicinal herbs, but also brought back news about the Western Regions and even more distant Central Asia and Persia.

Some daring merchants even began to attempt to traverse northern Tibet and explore new routes to India.

"Your Majesty," Zhang Juzheng said, beaming with delight as he held up the latest accounts, "the Yunnan-Tibet trade route has only been open for six months, yet the Tea and Horse Bureau has already acquired over three thousand top-quality Tibetan horses and countless medicinal herbs. The profits from the sale of tea and salt are even more substantial. More importantly, the leader of the Gelugpa sect in Ü-Tsang has sent a high-ranking monk to the capital to pay tribute, and the Tsangpa Khan has also submitted a memorial acknowledging their submission. The southwestern border is now secure!"

Xiao Chen stood before the huge map, looking at the thin line that meandered from Yunnan to the snowy plateau, a satisfied smile on his face.

Copper mines, silver, trade routes, warhorses, medicinal herbs... the empire's southwestern frontier is transforming from a chronic problem requiring constant financial support into a treasure trove of wealth and strategic resources.

"The Ancient Tea Horse Road is no longer the narrow, dangerous path of the previous dynasty, rife with danger and exploitation."

Xiao Chen said softly, "It is now my blood vessels, transporting the nutrients of the snowy region into the body of the empire."

"Tell Shen Dong that the trade routes must be maintained and the border markets must be managed well. The policy toward Tibet should be based on appeasement, but the bottom line must be clear. Anyone who dares to block this trade route is cutting off the lifeblood of the empire, and my flintlock pistol will not hesitate to go to the plateau again."

"Furthermore," he turned to Mo Qi and instructed, "have the people from the Academy of Sciences study those Tibetan medicines, especially the prescriptions for treating typhoid fever and knife wounds. Also, see if those Tibetan horses can be crossbred with Mongolian horses to breed even better warhorses."

The new Tea Horse Road not only brought wealth, but also depth in information, technology and strategy.

Xiao Chen knew that only by controlling the southwest could his empire truly have a stable rear.

His gaze has now turned to a much wider world.