I'll steal Gao Qiu's life and lead the Song Dynasty to prosperity.

Chapter 60 The Icebreaking Journey

The day after tomorrow, before dawn.

The east gate of Shanzhou City opened silently, and a troop of about two hundred cavalrymen, gagged and with their horses' bells removed, quietly poured out of the city gate and quickly disappeared into the night of the desolate wilderness outside the city.

The leader was none other than Wang Shan.

Following the agreed-upon strategy, he led his troops to the designated location to set up an ambush and guard the area.

The horses' hooves, wrapped in thick cloth, made only a dull "thump-thump" sound as they stepped on the frozen ground.

About half an hour later, the sky began to lighten, and the leaden-gray clouds hung low, as if they might bring snow at any moment.

Zhao Mingcheng and his entourage set off from the old residence.

He wore an official robe with a black fox fur coat over it, and rode a rather docile Hequ horse.

Liu Zhongwu was fully armed, with a long sword at his waist, and followed closely behind. Ten carefully selected guard knights stood on either side of him, each one spirited and sharp-eyed.

In the middle of the procession was a mule cart loaded with goods covered tightly with tarpaulins.

Tea bricks pressed from tea leaves, coarse-grained salt, several bolts of brightly colored Jiangning cloth, and a few small boxes of copper coins and loose silver for making change.

Xia Zheng also rode on horseback, accompanied by two interpreters, his expression a mixture of tension and anticipation.

Tong Guan saw him to the door and said in a low voice.

"Rest assured, sir, our men have already been dispatched. Within a ten-mile radius, any disturbance will be detected. Commander Wang will also be keeping an eye on things."

Zhao Mingcheng nodded.

"Thank you for your trouble. Proceed according to plan, and be flexible as needed." He glanced at the gloomy sky, flicked the reins, and said, "Let's go."

The group was small and moved swiftly, exiting through the east gate and turning south.

Their destination was the meeting place agreed upon by the messenger sent by Xia Zheng and Zaxi Duoji, the leader of the Baicao tribe.

This place is located in a wide, sheltered, and sunny valley on the edge of the current nomadic area of ​​the Baicao tribe, more than 30 li south of Qingtang City.

It is named "Yema River".

The view from this spot is relatively open, but it is surrounded by low hills, which is conducive to observation by both sides, as well as concealment and maneuverability.

As we traveled along, all we saw was desolation.

In late autumn, the grasslands of the Hehuang region are covered in withered, yellow grass.

The air was dry and cold, carrying the smell of livestock dung and some kind of wild wormwood.

Occasionally, startled marmots or rabbits would dart out from the roadside bushes and disappear in an instant.

Liu Zhongwu rode closer to Zhao Mingcheng and whispered.

"My lord, this place is open and easy to traverse, but it is also vulnerable to surprise attacks. We must be extra careful."

Zhao Mingcheng hummed in agreement, his gaze sweeping over the undulating hills on both sides.

He knew that Tong Guan's scouts and Wang Shan's men might be hiding behind some withered grass or on some mountain ridge.

This seemingly peaceful wasteland is actually a chessboard where hidden battles are waged.

Around noon, the group arrived at Yemachuan.

The valley was indeed wide open, with a frozen stream meandering through it, and flat meadows on both sides.

Zhao Mingcheng gestured for everyone to stop on the north bank of the stream, with their backs to a gentle slope in the direction they had come from.

Liu Zhongwu directed the guards to quickly disperse and occupy several positions that were convenient for observation and defense, surrounding the three trucks in the middle.

Xia Zheng and Tong Yi walked forward a few dozen steps together, stood in an open space, and anxiously looked south.

Before long, a troop of cavalry, about forty or fifty riders, emerged from behind the distant hills to the south and slowly approached the valley.

These cavalrymen were dressed very differently from the Song army, wearing heavy, plain leather robes and various leather hats, and riding small but extremely durable Tibetan horses.

Their formation was loose, and they stopped about a hundred paces away from the Song army, ceasing their advance.

They merely lingered and peered from afar, pointing and gesturing, clearly filled with vigilance and suspicion.

The leader looked to be quite old, short and stout, wrapped in a greasy sheepskin coat. His cheeks were tanned dark red and rough by the highland sun, and his small eyes darted around, constantly scrutinizing the small Song army squad of just over ten men.

Especially the young man in the striking scarlet official robe and black fox fur coat, and the tightly covered truck.

This man is Zaxi Dorje, the leader of the Baicao tribe.

Xia Zheng took a deep breath, urged his horse forward on his own, and took another ten steps. Then, with all his might, he shouted loudly in Tibetan.

"Chieftain Tashi Dorje! It is I, Xia Zheng! I have come here on the orders of His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty, the Pacification Commissioner of the Hehuang Region, Lord Zhao! Lord Zhao is benevolent and wishes to conduct fair trade with all tribes, exchanging tea, salt, and cloth for your grain, cattle, and sheep! There is absolutely no fraud, absolutely no malice! I guarantee this in the name of my ancestors! Please come forward, Chieftain, for a discussion!"

Xia Zheng's voice echoed across the empty valley.

In the distance, Tashi Dorje squinted, carefully examining Xia Zheng, then looked at the Song soldiers standing solemnly behind him, and became even more suspicious.

He certainly recognized Xia Zheng, but the former ruler of Qing Tang was now in such a sorry state, serving as a vanguard for the Song people. It was hard to say how much weight his guarantee carried.

His cavalrymen whispered amongst themselves, none daring to advance rashly.

The situation was somewhat tense.

Seeing this, Zhao Mingcheng remained calm and gave instructions to Liu Zhongwu.

"General Liu, prepare."

Liu Zhongwu nodded and directed two guards to unload a small clay stove, several pieces of dried cow dung, a small copper kettle, a bamboo tube of water, and a tea brick wrapped in oil paper from the truck.

Right there in this open field, in a sheltered spot, two guards skillfully started a fire and placed a copper kettle on the stove.

Then, guards unloaded several wooden trays from the cart, unfolded the oilcloth, and placed salt, tea bricks, and several neatly folded, brightly colored cloth samples on a flat rock by the stream.

Zhao Mingcheng was setting up a stall in front of this group of Tibetans.

After the water boils, the aroma of tea rises with the steam, spreading a strange and enticing warm scent across the desolate plain filled with the stench of livestock and the smell of sandstorms.

Zhao Mingcheng straightened his robes, walked to the stove, and found a clean stone to sit on.

He personally used wooden tongs to take a few tea leaves from the pot and put them into a prepared earthenware bowl, then poured in boiling water.

Then, Zhao Mingcheng picked up a bowl of tea, raised it to Zaxi Dorje and the others who were hesitating in the distance, and made a "please" gesture.

He spoke slowly and clearly in Tibetan, which he had been cramming for the past few days with Xia Zheng and which was still somewhat broken but sufficient to convey his meaning.

"The tea is ready. Salt and cloth are here. You are welcome to come and see, and to taste. Buying and selling is voluntary. It's cold, have some tea."

Zhao Mingcheng acted calmly and leisurely, as if he were entertaining an old friend.

His scarlet robe and fox fur coat were no longer symbols of ostentation or oppression, but rather became a peculiar...

Decorations that demonstrate sincerity and harmlessness.

The people of the Baicao tribe looked at each other in bewilderment.

If a high-ranking Song Dynasty official dressed and acted in such a manner truly intended to harm them, why would he personally risk his life, and why would he go to such great lengths?

Tashi Dorjee's initial surprise and uncertainty were gradually replaced by a deeper curiosity and weighing of options.

He stared intently at the few items that were extremely valuable on the grassland, and inhaled the increasingly strong aroma of tea in the air, his Adam's apple bobbing involuntarily.

Tea and salt are the lifeblood of the people on the plateau, more valuable than gold.

This Song Dynasty official seems to genuinely want to do business?

After hesitating for a long time, Tashi Dorje finally gave a wink to his two most trusted and boldest men and whispered a few instructions.

The two men nodded, took a deep breath, and slowly spurred their horses toward the Song army.

Their hands were always on the short swords or bows and arrows at their waists, their eyes wary like those of startled birds.

The two cavalrymen from the Baicao tribe reined in their horses and dismounted ten paces away from Zhao Mingcheng and his men, but their hands remained on their weapons.

They first looked suspiciously at Liu Zhongwu and his guards who were brewing tea, and then at the goods displayed on the stone.

Finally, their gaze fell upon Zhao Mingcheng, who was sitting peacefully on a rock, sipping hot tea.

Zhao Mingcheng put down his teacup and gestured to Liu Zhongwu.

Liu Zhongwu picked up another clean ceramic bowl, poured it full of hot tea, cut off a small piece of tea brick, grabbed a pinch of salt, and placed it, along with a few pieces of cloth, on a wooden tray. He then personally presented it to the two men.

"These are our goods," Liu Zhongwu said in simple Tibetan.

The two men exchanged a glance.

One of them carefully dipped his finger in salt, put it in his mouth, smacked his lips, and his eyes lit up.

This is top-quality salt, without any sand added!

The other person picked up the small piece of tea brick, brought it to his nose and smelled it again and again, then carefully broke off a tiny bit of the crumb and put it in his mouth to chew, with an expression of ecstasy on his face.

As for the cloth, they rubbed it repeatedly with their hands, feeling its softness and fineness, which was completely different from the rough felt.

"How is it? Is it pleasing to the eye?"

Zhao Mingcheng smiled and asked in Tibetan, his tone gentle.

The two men nodded, then shook their heads, seemingly unsure how to express themselves.

One of them was a bit bolder. He pointed to the salt and tea, then to the direction he had come from, gesturing to the shapes of cattle and sheep, while speaking a long string of Tibetan words.

Xia Zheng quickly stepped forward and translated in a low voice.

"Sir, he says the goods are good and he's willing to trade them for a fat sheep. He wants to know how much salt, tea, and cloth a fat sheep can be exchanged for?"

Zhao Mingcheng felt somewhat relieved.

If the other party is willing to ask about the price, it means that half the battle is won.

He was about to ask Xia Zheng to answer the approximate proportion agreed upon beforehand, so that they could negotiate the price.

Suddenly, Liu Zhongwu, who had been on high alert, twitched his ears slightly and his gaze sharpened as he looked towards a low hill covered with withered yellow shrubs in the northeast.

Almost simultaneously, a man dressed as a herdsman, yet quick in his movements, approached Liu Zhongwu and whispered a few words in his ear.

This person was one of the hidden sentries planted by Tong Guan.

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhongwu's expression changed slightly, and he immediately leaned close to Zhao Mingcheng's ear and whispered something in a very low voice.

"My lord, the servants have discovered five or six suspicious riders spying from behind a low hill three miles to the northeast. Judging from their attire and movements, they seem to be scouts from Xisheluosa!"

Zhao Mingcheng's pupils contracted, but his expression remained unchanged as he continued to hold his teacup, as if savoring it carefully.

Sure enough, the men of Cisherossa came!

Whether these people intend to disrupt the deal or are merely conducting reconnaissance, they must not be allowed to succeed, and we must not show weakness in front of the Baicao tribe.

Zhao Mingcheng whispered to Liu Zhongwu.

"Tell Wang Shan to drive them away immediately, quickly and ruthlessly, but don't chase them too far."

"Yes!" Liu Zhongwu understood and immediately gave a few instructions to the sentry. The sentry nodded and, just as he had come, silently disappeared into the withered grass, obviously to deliver a message.

When the two men from the Baicao tribe saw the Song people suddenly whispering to each other and looking strange, they immediately became nervous and gripped their knife hilts tightly again.

Zhao Mingcheng, however, acted as if nothing had happened and took a sip of hot tea.

He continued to smile and wave at them, pointing to the teacups and goods, indicating that they didn't need to be nervous and could continue discussing the business.

He also asked Liu Zhongwu to pour them two bowls of hot tea.

Just as the atmosphere became delicate again, several short and sharp whistles suddenly came from behind the low hills in the northeast.

Then came the "thump-thump" sound of the bowstring vibrating.

The two men from the Baicao tribe were horrified and jumped up, looking towards the source of the sound.

Behind the low hill, dust rose slightly.

Several cavalry scouts emerged from behind the hill in a panic, fleeing desperately towards a more remote area. One of the riders had already been shot dead and fell from his horse.

On the hilltop, dozens of Song cavalrymen appeared out of nowhere, bows drawn and arrows nocked. One of them was particularly burly, holding a powerful bow; it was Wang Shan!

He coldly watched the fleeing scouts, but did not order a pursuit. He simply waved his hand, and his cavalry quickly dispersed, disappearing back into the hilly terrain as if they had never been there.

The entire skirmish, from start to finish, lasted only a dozen or so breaths, as fast as lightning.

The Wild Horse River was deathly silent.

The only sounds were the whistling of the cold wind and the bubbling of the tea in the copper kettle, which was just about to boil.

The two men from the Baicao tribe stood frozen in place, their faces pale and cold sweat beading on their foreheads.

They could see clearly that the spying people had been cleanly and efficiently driven away by the Song army, and one of them had even died. These Song people not only brought the tea, salt, and cloth that they longed for, but they also deployed such an elite force in a place where they could not see, instantly eliminating the potential threat!

For the timid and cautious people of the Baicao tribe.

This means that the Song people took this transaction seriously and were genuinely willing to protect its security.

These Song people were genuinely there to do business.

Tashi Dorje saw this scene from a distance. His fat body swayed on the horse, and his small eyes widened in shock and fear.

He understood many things in an instant.

After a brief silence, Zhao Mingcheng coughed lightly, drawing everyone's attention back.

He seemed completely unconcerned about the little incident that had just occurred, and continued speaking in broken Tibetan to the two still-shocked men from the Baicao tribe.

"The few thieves have been driven away. Now, let's make a deal."

The two men came to their senses, and the way they looked at Zhao Mingcheng had completely changed.

Without further hesitation, they immediately began speaking rapidly in Tibetan, which Xia Zheng quickly translated.

"My lord! They say their chieftain believes in your sincerity and is willing to trade. They offer five fat sheep in exchange for salt, tea, and some cloth!"

Zhao Mingcheng felt a great weight lifted from his heart, and a genuine smile appeared on his face.

"Very well! A fair trade: one fat sheep for six catties of salt, or three catties of tea bricks, or two bolts of cloth. You may choose your preferred combination."

This price is slightly higher than the average price in the usual trade between Han and non-Han peoples, but considering the special circumstances at the time and the quality of the goods, it is fair and shows goodwill.

The two men were overjoyed upon hearing this and turned around to shout a few words to Tashi Dorje in the distance.

Tashi Dorje waved his hand, and several people immediately broke away from the group behind him and ran backward.

Before long, five plump, strong sheep with glossy coats came over.

Liu Zhongwu led his men forward to inspect the sheep and confirmed that they were fat and healthy.

Then, according to the proportion chosen by the other party.

Three sheep were exchanged for eighteen catties of salt, two sheep were exchanged for three catties of tea bricks, and two bolts of cloth were exchanged. The corresponding amount of salt was weighed out of the truck, the tea bricks were unloaded, and the cloth was taken out, and the transaction was completed on the spot.

The transaction was completed quickly.

The people of the Baicao tribe held the green salt, the dark, lustrous tea bricks, and the soft cloth with beaming smiles, rubbing them repeatedly as if they had found priceless treasures.

The reins of the five fat sheep were handed over to the Song army guards.

With the mission accomplished, Zhao Mingcheng didn't linger.

He stood up, bowed in the direction of Tashi Dorje, and then spoke in Tibetan.

"The deal is done. Please contact me again if needed. It's cold outside, so goodbye."

After saying that, Zhao Mingcheng stopped looking at the other party's reaction and mounted his horse.

Liu Zhongwu directed the guards to tie the five sheep to the back of the truck, then lined up and headed back the way they came.

The entire team moved swiftly and decisively, without any hesitation or slackness.

Tashi Dorje watched from afar as the Song people swiftly departed and disappeared into the wilderness. He then looked at the tangible goods in the hands of his tribesmen and reflected on the brief yet awe-inspiring battle of expulsion. He remained silent for a long time.

Tashi Dorje suddenly realized that the Song people were actually capable of being communicated with.

On the way back, the sky grew increasingly gloomy, and small snowflakes began to fall sporadically.

Zhao Mingcheng wrapped his fox fur tighter around himself and glanced back in the direction of Yemachuan.

The first time, I met Cai.

Although it was only five sheep that were exchanged, it seemed insignificant.

But what it broke was the ice that had frozen relations between the two sides in the Hehuang region for months or even longer, which is of great significance.

"My lord, after we return to the city, this sheep—"

Liu Zhongwu rode closer and asked Zhao Mingcheng in a low voice.

-

"Send two sheep to Wang Shan and say that the success of this transaction is all thanks to the soldiers' valor in defending the city. This is a reward. Give two sheep to Tong Gongfeng to give to his men. We will keep the other one for ourselves, so that our brothers can also have some meat."

Zhao Mingcheng's instructions took into account everyone's needs, and everyone contributed their efforts today.

With so many people eating such a small amount of lamb, they certainly won't be satisfied.

However, given the current difficult conditions, being able to eat some meat and drink a bowl of hot mutton soup on a cold day is quite nice.