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

The camel bells of the Yunnan-Tibet trade route still echoed through the snow-capped mountains and valleys, and the ink of the Treaty of Pu'er had just dried, but on Xiao Chen's chessboard, the weight of the Southwest piece was already extraordinary.

Copper, silver, tea, horses, medicine... each one is vital to the empire's survival.

However, Xiao Chen knew that military conquest was like surgery, removing the lesions, while true digestion and integration required more precise "internal medicine conditioning".

It is time to establish a stable military and political center capable of effectively governing the southwest in the long term.

The Forbidden City, Wenhua Hall.

Xiao Chen, Zhang Juzheng, and Shen Dong, who had just returned to Beijing from reporting on his duties in Yunnan, gathered around a huge map of the southwest.

"Your Majesty," Shen Dong pointed to the location of Kunming on the map, "Although Yunnan has been pacified, it is a vast territory with many ethnic groups, high mountains and dense forests. The implementation of government orders will still take time. In particular, the remote chieftains, although they appear to be submissive, may still harbor rebellious intentions. I believe that a strong and powerful institution should be established to oversee the entire situation."

"What you say, Minister Shen, is absolutely right."

Xiao Chen nodded, his finger sliding from Kunming westward and northward, across Sichuan, Guizhou, and the newly established southeastern part of Tibet. "My mind is made up. The 'Southwest Protectorate' will be established!"

"The Protectorate General?"

Zhang Juzheng's eyes lit up. "According to the old system of the Han and Tang dynasties, the Protector-General governs the frontiers and exercises unified military and political power. Your Majesty's proposal is timely!"

"good."

Xiao Chen picked up his vermilion brush and drew a heavy circle on the map. "The Southwest Protectorate is headquartered in Kunming. It governs the entire territory of Yunnan and Guizhou, as well as the Jianchang and Yanjing garrisons under the Sichuan Provincial Military Command, and the Changdu and Zayu areas in southeastern Tibet, which are also under its control and pacification."

"The Protectorate shall be headed by a Grand Protector who shall oversee both military and political affairs and be directly subordinate to the Emperor and the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue. Under him shall be civil officials such as the Chief Clerk, the Military Advisor, and the Registrar, who shall handle civil affairs, judicial matters, and finance. In addition, there shall be a Commander-in-Chief who shall command the garrisoned New Army and the reorganized Tusi troops."

"The first Grand Protector," Xiao Chen looked at Shen Dong, "will be appointed as Minister Shen. You have been promoting the reform of replacing native chieftains with centrally appointed officials in Yunnan, and you are familiar with the border situation, which has won my favor."

Shen Dong immediately knelt down: "Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail your trust!"

"stand up."

Xiao Chen offered a slight gesture of support and continued, "The primary responsibility of the Protectorate is to garrison and defend key areas. We must reorganize Mu Tianbo's former troops and the soldiers of the surrendered chieftains, weeding out the weak and keeping the strong, and integrate them with the Divine Martial Army to guard important locations. The four major trade routes of Yunnan-Tibet, Yunnan-Burma, Sichuan-Yunnan, and Guizhou-Yunnan must be firmly controlled, with checkpoints set up and troops patrolling to ensure the safety of merchants and travelers."

"Secondly, it is about pacifying the people. The policy of replacing local chieftains with centrally appointed officials cannot be implemented by force alone. The land survey must be fair; the promotion of new crops and agricultural tools must be patient; and the establishment of prefectural and county schools to teach Chinese language and literature must be sustained. I want the people on the borders, especially the chieftains and their followers, to see the benefits of becoming citizens of the Great Xia—land to cultivate, education, official positions, and a better life than before!"

"Finally, and most importantly," Xiao Chen emphasized, "immigration to the border areas!"

Zhang Juzheng and Shen Dong both held their breath. This was a major move.

"The southwest is vast and sparsely populated, with few Han Chinese, making it difficult to maintain long-term stability. I have ordered the recruitment of poor people, refugees, and even prisoners from densely populated and land-scarce areas such as Huguang, Jiangxi, and Sichuan. They will be provided with seeds, farming tools, and oxen, and exempted from taxes for three years. They will be encouraged to move their families to Yunnan and Guizhou, especially to the newly developed border areas in southwestern Yunnan and northwestern Guizhou."

"The imperial court will fund the construction of houses, the reclamation of wasteland, and the development of water conservancy projects. For each household relocated, fifty mu of land will be granted as a perpetual inheritance. The reclaimed land will be exempt from taxes for ten years."

"At the same time, intermarriage between Han people and local ethnic groups is encouraged. Those who intermarry with other ethnic groups will receive additional rewards. Their offspring will have priority in entering the prefectural school and participating in the imperial examinations!"

Shen Dong was deeply moved. This was not merely military occupation; it was a fundamental change to the demographic structure and cultural identity of the Southwest! "Your Majesty is wise! If this strategy succeeds, the Southwest will be secure forever!"

"Furthermore," Xiao Chen added, "we will establish the 'Southwest Military Academy' in Kunming to train local military talent; establish the 'Southwest Mandarin School' to promote Mandarin; and establish the 'Southwest Medical College' to research malaria prevention and control and promote smallpox vaccination (Xiao Chen pointed this out in advance)... I want Kunming to become the true center of the Southwest, not just a frontier."

One after another, government decrees were sent southwest on fast horses.

In Kunming, the former luxurious mansion of Mu Tianbo was transformed into the solemn and majestic "Southwest Protectorate".

Upon assuming office, Shen Dong's first task was to integrate the military and political affairs. He reorganized the mountain warfare elites under Ma Qiancheng, the reorganized chieftain soldiers, and some of the Shenwu Army that were subsequently transferred into the "Southwest Garrison Army," which was divided into several "garrisons" and stationed in various strategic locations.

Immediately following, large-scale migration began. Imperial proclamations were posted throughout the towns and villages of Huguang and Jiangxi: "Yunnan and Guizhou are fertile lands; the Imperial Court invites you to cultivate them, granting land and exempting you from taxes—a bright future awaits!"

Initially, few responded. After all, "it's hard to leave one's poor home and one's native land," let alone go to that legendary "malaria-ridden land."

But soon, as the first group of "pioneers" (mostly destitute refugees and pardoned minor offenders) arrived in Yunnan with their belongings along the newly built post road under the proper organization of the government, they were indeed allocated fertile land, sturdy houses and brand-new farming tools. When the news spread, it immediately triggered a wave of migration.

Groups of immigrants, dressed in rags but with hope in their eyes, helped the elderly and children, and embarked on their journey westward.

The Protectorate set up soup kitchens and medical stations along the route and dispatched troops for protection.

Upon arrival at their destination, local officials (most of whom were capable clerks promoted by Shen Dong from among the outgoing officials) had already designated the fields, built houses, and distributed seeds and oxen.

The arrival of Han Chinese brought more advanced farming techniques and prosperity.

Wasteland was reclaimed into fertile fields, and new villages sprang up like mushrooms after rain.

Although there were some initial barriers between the Han people and the local Dai, Yi, Bai and other ethnic groups, their exchanges gradually increased due to their shared labor and the government's encouragement of "rewards for intermarriage".

At the market, Mandarin Chinese began to mix with various ethnic languages, and a new, merging frontier culture was quietly taking shape.

The establishment of the Southwest Protectorate and the implementation of immigration to the border regions acted like two giant rivets, firmly anchoring the vast and unruly land of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau onto the map of the Great Xia Empire.

Behind the blade of military might lies a gentle stream of culture and economy, which is permeating this ancient land and changing its underlying character.