In the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era: I became Yang Guozhong's eldest son.

"You...can you guarantee that you'll have refined salt every month from now on?" Duomeng gritted his teeth, staring intently at Yang Xuan.

"My life, Yang Xuan's life, is now in the hands of this trade route," Yang Xuan said proudly. "As long as I live, the salt wells of Yaozhou will always be in my hands. As long as the salt wells exist, your salt supply will never run out."

"good!"

Domon suddenly drew the short knife from his waist and slashed his palm hard.

Blood gushed out, and he stretched out his bloodied hand toward Yang Xuan.

"We Nanzhao people recognize blood, not words! Tang officials, I swear this blood oath with you!"

Without hesitation, Yang Xuan also drew his short knife, cut his palm, and clasped his hands tightly with Duo Meng's.

Two streams of blood mingled.

A deal that could change the entire landscape of the southern part of Jiannan Road was made in this dark, miasma-filled primeval jungle, in the most primitive and bloody way.

"Thunder Tiger!" Yang Xuan withdrew his hand and shouted loudly.

"I'm here!" Lei Laohu rushed forward, his fear replaced by fervent excitement.

"Immediately inventory the goods and hand them over to the Duomeng chieftain." Yang Xuan turned to Pei Zhao, "Pei Zhao, take the brothers to select horses. Remember, only the best Yunnan horses."

"Here you go!"

The entire camp immediately sprang into action.

The local people happily carried bags of snow-white refined salt, their excitement resembling that of celebrating the New Year.

Meanwhile, Pei Zhao led the salt-protecting army to carefully select horses from the tribe's horse pen.

Although Yunnan horses are not as tall and magnificent as the Turkic horses of Longyou, they have strong bones, short and sturdy limbs, are exceptionally hardy, and their running ability and endurance in mountains and forests are unmatched by any warhorse.

As Yang Xuan watched the plump and strong Yunnan horses being led out, his gaze grew even more profound.

With these warhorses, Pei Zhao's three hundred well-equipped heavy infantrymen could be transformed into a highly mobile and terrifyingly powerful heavy cavalry force in the shortest possible time.

In the era of cold weapons, cavalry were the true kings of the battlefield.

He Lanjin thought that blocking the trade routes would trap him, but little did he know that his blockade would instead unleash a terrifying force capable of tearing apart the entire Yaozhou military town.

"My lord." Pei Zhao led a lead horse to Yang Xuan's side, a rare look of excitement appearing on his usually cold and stern face. "A total of eighty top-quality Yunnan horses are all here."

Yang Xuan flipped himself onto a warhorse, feeling the power coming from its back. He pulled hard on the reins, and the warhorse let out a high-pitched neigh.

Pei Zhao.

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Tell the brothers to treat these eighty horses like royalty and bring them back to Yaozhou alive." Yang Xuan's gaze was fixed on the direction of Yaozhou City in the north, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

"Once these horses enter the city, it will be time for us to settle accounts with the military governor's office!"

......

Later, the south gate of Yaozhou City.

The early winter wind, carrying fine dust, swirled outside the empty city gate.

The South Gate, which had become deserted due to the blockade of trade routes by the Zhechong Prefecture, was now crowded with onlookers and spies from various factions.

Because Magistrate Yang, who had disappeared for five whole days, had returned.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The dull, rapid sound of horses' hooves came from the direction of the ancient road, and even the ground trembled slightly.

A commotion broke out in the crowd, and everyone stood on tiptoe, craning their necks to look into the distance.

Amidst the thick dust, a large black flag embroidered with the character "Yao" was the first to emerge from the fog.

Immediately afterwards, a cavalry unit exuding a fierce and murderous aura rushed into everyone's sight like a black lightning bolt.

Leading the way was Yang Xuan, dressed in a scarlet official robe.

Behind him, Pei Zhao led twenty salt-protecting soldiers, mounted on strong Yunnan horses, forming a neat wedge formation.

Behind this elite squad, Lei Laohu's caravan was leading eighty unsaddled, top-quality Yunnan horses toward the city gate in a grand procession.

These eighty warhorses, with their glossy coats and muscular builds, were still full of energy despite their long journey, and occasionally let out high-pitched neighs.

The entire venue was deathly silent.

Everyone was so shocked by this sudden turn of events that they were speechless.

Warhorses!

Since the founding of the Tang Dynasty, warhorses have been the absolute exclusive property of the military and a vital national asset.

Apart from the Zhechong Prefecture, a key border town, and the Left and Right Imperial Guards, no other prefecture or county, not even the governor, would dare to privately raise warhorses on a large scale.

Now, a mere magistrate of Yanjing County has not only broken the absolute blockade of Zhechong Prefecture and returned alive from the perilous Nanzhao Ancient Road, but has even brought back a full eighty warhorses!

What does this mean?

This means that the three hundred fierce infantrymen of Yanjing County are about to grow wings and become an iron cavalry force capable of rampaging through Jiannan Road!

"My God..." In the crowd, a spy from the prefecture swallowed hard, his face deathly pale. "Is Magistrate Yang... is he planning a rebellion?"

"What kind of rebellion is this! They've been driven to desperation and are now fighting for their lives!" a merchant watching the commotion muttered in a low voice. "The military governor's office has blocked all the roads, preventing anyone from living, and they won't even let them buy horses to protect themselves? This is going to be good. Those soldiers from the military governor's office have really bitten off more than they can chew this time!"

Yang Xuan ignored the awe, shock, or fear in the eyes of those around him.

He rode on his horse, his posture upright, like a triumphant general.

"Open the city gates!" Pei Zhao rode forward and shouted at the guards on the city gates.

The soldiers on the city gate were terrified by the sight and dared not stop them. They frantically cranked the winch and slowly opened the heavy iron gate.

The cavalry roared in and drove straight into the Yanjing County Government Office.

……

The study in the backyard of the county government office.

Looking at the eighty strong warhorses in the courtyard, Cui Shen was so excited that his hands were trembling.

He strode into the study and knelt down in front of Yang Xuan with a thud.

"My lord, your might is divine! The journey to Nanzhao was like a divine army descending from the heavens!" Cui Shen's voice was filled with undisguised fervor. "With these warhorses, we'll never have to be beholden to anyone in Yaozhou again!"

Yang Xuan casually tossed his sand-covered cloak onto the chair, picked up the hot tea on the table, and drank it all in one gulp.

"How's things at home?" Yang Xuan put down his teacup and asked in a deep voice.

"Reporting to my lord, it is all thanks to Madam's swift and decisive actions." Cui Shen stood up, his eyes full of admiration. "Madam used the imperial treasures to stabilize the merchants, not only preventing a run on them, but also making them even more devoted to our county government. The military pay and wages for the past few days have been paid on time and in full, and the salt protection army and Qing'ao Well are now as stable as Mount Tai."

Yang Xuan nodded, then turned his gaze to Yan He, who had been standing quietly to the side.

Yanhe wore a simple ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) today. Although she lacked the elegance and nobility she displayed when suppressing the merchants that day, the determination in her eyes and brows was even more evident.

"You've worked hard," Yang Xuan said softly, a rare tenderness in his eyes.

"It's my duty." Yanhe lowered his head slightly, avoiding his somewhat burning gaze, his tone still calm. "However, you brought back eighty warhorses this time, which caused too much of a stir. Helan Jin will definitely not let this go."

"Of course he won't let this go." A chilling murderous intent flashed in Yang Xuan's eyes. "He covets my salt, and now he'll covet my horses even more. The warhorses entering the city will be my death warrant for him."