Firmament

There is no stone in front of the spear that cannot be pierced.

- Naxi proverb

Another descendant of Hassan is named Han Ismaili. When he saw that the king had settled the common people of the south in Jishi, he feared that his homeland would be invaded by outsiders, and he could not help but have doubts in his heart.

On the one hand, the southern countries organized the migration of ordinary people from all over the country to the border areas, and on the other hand, they adopted various measures to stabilize the residents of the border areas. Among them, the tea and horse market is an effective measure.

The tea and horse exchange market is a traditional trade between the kingdom and the Tibetan people centered on tea for horses or horses for tea. The Eastern Kingdom was the first to use copper coins to buy horses from ethnic minorities in the frontiers. However, the herdsmen of the ethnic minorities gradually used the copper coins obtained from selling horses to forge weapons, which to some extent threatened the security of the frontier. Therefore, the king forbade the purchase of horses with copper coins, and instead exchanged horses with the border ethnic minorities in kind, such as cloth, tea, and medicinal herbs.

Tea can detoxify and remove diseases, relieve oiliness and help digestion. The diet of the Tibetan people is mainly meat, and the oil is fishy and greasy, so they rely heavily on tea. Controlling the supply of tea is equivalent to controlling the lives of the Tibetan people. Therefore, tea not only became a bulk trade commodity between the kingdoms and the Tubo people in the northwest and southwest regions, but also became a material means to maintain friendly relations with the Tubo people.

The tea and horse markets played an important role in maintaining the security and stability of the border areas, and was a border policy of great strategic significance for the king. The tea and horse trade also satisfied the kingdom's need for war horses, providing the country with a large amount of tea income and covering huge military expenditures.

Historically, there were 19 tribes that traded tea and horses with the kingdom. They are the Pearl Tribe, the Honghua Tribe, the Lingzang Tribe, the Hui Tibetan Tribe, the Shama Tribe, the Green Tan Tribe, the Lao Crow Tribe, the Salur Tribe, the Yatang Tribe, the Chuansa Tribe, the Dala Tribe, the Xianghua Tribe, the Gudu Tribe, the Bawe Tribe, the Hongya Tribe, the Duanyan Tribe, the Hui Tribe, the Diegu Tribe, and the Yanghua Tribe. Among them, the vast majority of the tribes are the tribes of the Tibetan people.

After the establishment of the southern state, the tea and horse exchange market in the frontier was quickly restored, firstly, to establish contact with ethnic minorities and stabilize the frontier, and secondly, to obtain fat and strong horses, which were used to strengthen the strength of the army. In 1374, the king ordered the establishment of tea and horse divisions in Qinzhou, Taozhou, Hezhou and Yazhou, which were adjacent to the Tibetans, and were responsible for exchanging tea from the interior for locally produced horses, so as to improve the market system of tea and horse exchange.

Since ancient times, Hezhou has been a multi-ethnic area, a hub connecting agricultural areas and nomadic areas, and connecting Oriental people and ethnic minorities. There are fertile land, large pastures, agriculture and animal husbandry, and animal husbandry is relatively developed. These advantages have created unique conditions for the development of the tea and horse market in Hezhou.

Starting from Xiguan in Hezhou City, walking more than 200 miles west is Jishizhou, where the Salur people live, and it is an excellent location for the tea and horse market. The Salur people were thus designated by the king as one of the 19 tribes of the horses in the river state.

In 1393, the kingdom established a system of gold medal symbols. The gold medal is made of copper. The sigil is made of iron. The two are used together to get the name gold medal symbol. When the kingdom needed to collect horses and other supplies, it would send officials with gold medal symbols to the designated frontier areas to collect the goods. The tribes of the frontier also showed their gold medals when they paid horses to the kingdom. The two sides surveyed half of the gold medal symbols in their respective hands, so that the tribe could be compensated for the tea that was discounted from the price of the horse.

The Salurians surrendered a certain number of horses to the kingdom each year in exchange for tea, a necessity of life. Han Ismaili was the top official in charge of the tea and horse market.

Han Ismaili was 30 years old, tall and stout, with black hair, bright eyes, brass-colored skin, and a thick beard.

At first, Han Ismaili had only one gold medal symbol in his hand, and he paid about 360 horses to the kingdom every year. He was conscientious, honest and trustworthy, and his horses were healthy and strong, and he was highly trusted and praised by the kingdom. The kingdom decided to give them another gold medal token, doubling the number of horses paid by the Salur and doubling the amount of tea exchanged. The Jishi Prefecture and the Salur tribe have become famous in the government and are known and familiar to ordinary people.

Jishi Prefecture gets its name from the Jishi Mountain in the territory.

According to legend, in ancient times, all things rejoiced and grew on the earth. Suddenly, with a deafening loud bang, a piece of the sky at the junction of Longyuan and the West Sea collapsed, scattering the joyous crowd and scaring away the beasts that were leisurely foraging.

People have asked the gods and fairies to make up for heaven and earth and save all people.

Nuwa agreed to the people's request to make up the sky with blue-blue stones. After 7749 days, Nuwa finally mended the sky. The stones left over from the mending heaven were piled up into a tall mountain.

People call this mountain Jishi Mountain. The Tibetan name of Jishi Mountain is Anima Qing Mountain, which means the ancestor of the great river. The great river flows out of the hill and clarifies to the bottom. When you arrive at the city of Mado, you are confronted by a crimson mountain range. This mountain range is the Stone Mountain.

Jishi Mountain extends from the southeast of the West Sea to the south of Longyuan, rich in precious snow lotus, snow pheasant, snow leopard, lynx, deer antler, musk, cordyceps and fritillary, etc., the water and grass are luxuriant, the pasture is vast, the spring water is staggered, the stream is meandering, the flowers are like brocade, the fragrance is fragrant, just like a beautiful paradise.

In the summer of that year, a Southern official led his entourage to Jishi Prefecture to receive horses from the Salulians.

This official is different from previous officials. With a thick beard on his cheeks, fair skin, and pale yellow eyes, he is not an authentic southerner.

When the official saw Han Ismaili, he first said "Seran" to him, and then introduced himself: "Lord Han, I am Han Boke who has come to receive the horses. "

Seeing that Han Bok looked very similar to the Salurians, and his name and greetings were the same as those of the Saluls, Han Ismaili replied to Seran and asked curiously, "Is Lord Han also a Sarul?"

Han Burke replied, "I am now a Huihui. However, my ancestors were Salurians. "

Han Ismaili suddenly felt very cordial, as if she had met a long-lost relative. He invited Humboff to a seat, ordered Salur refreshments to be served, and warmly entertained the distant relative.

Han Ismaili saw Han Boke take a sip of tea, and couldn't help but ask: "Lord Han, what is the matter with Amen (Salur language, what's the matter?, can you tell me the ins and outs, enlighten the chaos and increase my knowledge?'"

Han Burke stroked the dark beard on his chin and said slowly

"Enlightenment is really undaring. I have heard the legend of the old people that in the early years of the Northern Kingdom, a Salur tribe of Jiseok was requisitioned by the king and migrated eastward to Jinju. Later, all the people of this tribe changed their surnames to Han along with the chief. They stayed away from the core streets of Salur for a long time, mixed with various people around them, and gradually abandoned the use of Salur language, and switched to the language of the southern country, blending into the local Hui people.

Later, they set out from the big locust tree in Jinju and immigrated to Xibaizhuang in Yucheng, Luzhou. When it was passed to the fourth generation, the eldest of the three brothers moved to Hanzhai Village, Yucheng, the second moved to Gejiadian, Guide Mansion, Yuzhou, and the third moved to Hanjia Shiqiao, Jizhou. I am the descendant of Boss Han. "

Han Ismayi said: "I only know that Han Gui, a descendant of the ancestor Gale Mang, has made meritorious contributions to the war, and was awarded the official position of deputy Qianhu by the king and transferred to Liangzhou to guard the border. I never dreamed that there would be our relatives in the distant Jinzhou, Luzhou, Yuzhou and Jizhou!".

Han Burke nodded and agreed, "Yes." Dear relatives. "

Han Ismaili then asked, "What is the difference between your people there and the Salurs?"

Han Burke's expression was slightly embarrassed, and he replied shyly, "The people of Salur have preserved their language and writing. We used to speak the languages of the Western Regions, but now we have changed to the southern dialect. Moreover, our population is larger than that of the Saluls, and it is increasing in large numbers. "。

Han Ismaili asked puzzledly, "Why is that?"

Han Boke replied: "After the situation in the country stabilized, more and more foreigners came to visit and do business in our country. In order to deal with foreign guests from all directions, the kingdom set up academy halls in the grassland, Nüzhi, Xifan, Xitian, Western Regions, Baiyi, Gaochang, Bagan, and 800 countries, and assigned officials to translate various Chinese languages and documents. Among them, a large proportion of Hui people from foreign countries are returned, especially in the Arab, Iranian and Western Regions. "

Han Ismaili said: "It seems that the gate cannot be closed for a while. "

Han Boke nodded and said: "The country remains open and smooth, foreign things are brought in, our things are shipped out, the market is prosperous, and the country is rich and the people are strong." I think you're more concerned about the Hui people. Let me introduce you to a few special types of returnees. "

Han Ismaili said, "Great. I'm listening. "

Han Boke took two sips of tea, and then said slowly:

"In order to escape the war, the parishioners of Champa and Malaya in Nanyang moved to Qiongzhou on the island, and now they are Hui people in the southern country. Their skin is dark, their noses are wide and flat, and their lips are thick, which is very different from the Hui people in the northwest.

"The East King of the Sulu Kingdom of Nanyang paid tribute to our country. On the way back to Sulu, the king of the east was unfortunate and impermanent (euphemism, death) in Luzhou and was buried on the spot. His family and attendants stayed there to guard the grave, generation after generation, and finally became a Beiying Hui. They look very similar to the Hui people in Qiongzhou Prefecture, but the language is different.

"During the period of the Northern Kingdom, some Miles Return, Green Eye Return, and Beshu Return came from the Western Regions and Europa. They slowly integrated into the Hui and Oriental people. "

Han Ismaili said with emotion: "As the saying goes, a tree with lush foliage can attract birds and birds. How much our country is like a towering tree that attracts talents from all over the world!"

Han Boke said proudly: "You are so right! The southern country is inclusive, eclectic, mighty, and magnificent. "

Han Ismaili smiled, "Compared to those people, the Salur people are the most traditional. "

"Yes," said Hanbock. However, there are also the Sartas of Dongxiang and the security guards of Longwu who stick to the tradition. They have little contact with the outside world and are less affected. "

Han Ismaili looked at Han Boke with admiration, and admired in his heart: Han Boke is really worthy of being an official on the official side, and he knows the humanities of Hezhou Wei well.

Every year, Han Ismaili traveled out to trade goods, collect horses to pay to the kingdom, and often travel between the steppe pastoral areas and towns. However, he never went to the place where the security guards lived.

Soon after Han Boke drove the horses paid by the Salurians out of River State, Han Ismaili set out with a few young and strong retinues, all the way west, over the mountains, to the Longwu grassland, which had a pleasant climate.

In that year, after the northern country occupied the Longwu grassland, it sent a Tanma Red Army to garrison it. Most of the soldiers of this army were recruited from the ruins of Khorezm to recruit the Caimu people from the east. They guarded the Longwu Temple City, guarded the Tiecheng Mountain Pass, and guarded the border fortress for the king.

After the northern country withdrew to the Mobei grassland, the southern country began to govern Longwu and set up security posts and security forts. The king set up security camps in the area of Xiazhuang (also known as Saltazhuang) and Gasar in Longwu, and expanded it into a security city of a certain scale, which was subordinate to Hezhou Wei.

In order to stabilize the western frontier, the southern country continued to recruit and transfer Caimu people from all over the country and arranged for them to garrison the border in Longwu Tuntian. They coexisted side by side with the Hui people, the grassland people, and the Tubo people, and married each other, gradually forming an independent group of self-proclaimed security guards.

There are 4 multi-ethnic villages in Longwu. Among them, the security guards mainly lived in Baoan City, Xiazhuang and Gasar on the banks of the Longwu River, which were called Baoan Sanzhuang at the time. There are about 100 security guards in the city. There are about 1,000 security guards outside the city.

In the early days, the security guards lived next to the grassland people, so their clothing was very similar to that of the grassland people. In the later period, they were influenced by the Tibetans and natives, and new changes appeared in their costumes. Men and women like to wear long shirts and top hats. Some men also wore short white coats with high necks and black shoulders. The woman wears a bright long skirt and embroidered shoes on her feet, which are very brightly colored.

Han Ismaili came to Longwu and asked around about the situation of the head of the security guard, Reis.

It is said that the house with the highest eaves is the home of the headman.

Han Ismaili and his entourage find the house with the highest eaves and pay an official visit to Reis.

Han Ismaili respectfully said "Seran" to Lacey, intending to show that his faith was the same as that of the security guards, and then asked his entourage to send gifts such as tea, rock sugar, and dried fruits.

Lacey saw Han Ismaili wearing the garb of the Salur people, and heard him say "Seran" to himself, and understood that Han Ismaili and himself were Duosi, so he let down his guard and replied "Seran", and then arranged for his subordinates to slaughter sheep and chickens to entertain guests from afar.

After a while, the next person brought mellow milk tea and golden and attractive oil cakes.

As Han Ismaili and Lacey drank milk tea, they alternated between Salur and Baoan to discuss the purchase of horses for the kingdom.

Han Ismaili's trip to Longwu was very fruitful. He and Lacey became good friends who talked about everything, and he and his retinue bought 100 fat and sturdy horses, as well as five carts full of cowhide and wool.

What

made Han Ismaili happiest was that he married a young and beautiful security woman from Longwu and became his fourth wife.