With the rise of short-distance shipping, Tianjin became the largest international seaport in northern Zhili. Merchants, keen on finding their niche, flocked to establish shops and warehouses here, with the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, in particular, having the largest membership base.
This greatly promoted the development of Tianjin. Although its prosperity was not as great as that of the capital and the famous cities in the south of the Yangtze River, it had already dazzled the three people like country people entering the city.
"There are so many people in the Ming Dynasty!" Bumbutai didn't know how to describe it. The population density of the prairie was often so high that there was no human habitation within a hundred miles. This was what impressed her the most at first.
"People in the Ming Dynasty wear clothes made of cloth and even silk." After lamenting the dense population, Bumbutai thought that the Ming people were very wealthy. On the grasslands, silk, let alone cotton, was rare.
"It seems like every family has an iron pot—"
"They often drink tea—"
The Ming Dynasty is really rich. The precious things on the grassland, which only the nobles could enjoy, are common things for ordinary people in the Ming Dynasty.
Compared with Tianjin, the difference between Khorchin's Gelezhuergen City is like the difference between a small courtyard and a big mansion. I heard that the capital of the Ming Dynasty is many times larger than Tianjin!
Bumbutai stopped muttering. She just wondered why the Khorchin tribe wanted to be an enemy of such a big empire and ally with the Later Jin.
What was going on in Chief Oba's mind? Wouldn't his father, as the governor, have tried to dissuade him? If he hadn't angered the Ming Kingdom, how could the castle have been breached and destroyed?
Hailanzhu doesn't talk much. Most of the time she just observes and listens quietly.
On the way, she and Dalhan learned some Chinese, and used the excuse that she was abducted by the Mongols when she was young and obtained official documents, so she seemed to get away with it.
Of course, she didn't know that the Ming court was not very worried about spies sneaking in, but that it was easy for them to get in but difficult for them to get out, so as not to give the spies a chance to go back and report.
Silence did not mean that Hailanzhu was shocked. She and Bumbutai had the same doubts. Why was such a huge empire with a large population, wearing cloth clothes and drinking tea from iron pots, repeatedly defeated by the Later Jin in Liaodong?
Even Darhan couldn't answer this question accurately. After all, he was just a frequent visitor to the horse market, and his understanding of the Ming Dynasty from what others had heard was superficial.
"After coming to the Ming Dynasty, I'm afraid I can't go back to the grassland." Darhan sighed more than once. This is the truth. If they reveal their identities, they may become part of the captive offering ceremony and be beheaded as a warning to the public!
"Once you arrive at the capital of the Ming Dynasty, you can leave!" Hailanzhu had told Dalhan more than once, and her expression did not seem to be false. At her age and experience, she would not lie.
In response, Darhan just smiled bitterly and did not give a clear answer. However, he exchanged the gold and silver he carried with him for silver coins in several installments and divided them into three bags, one for each person.
The uncertain and unknown future made the three of them talk less and less, but they could only move forward. This is the helplessness of being human!
It was not until they were resting at an inn on the road that an acquaintance came over to say hello, which forced the three of them to cheer up.
"Why are you walking so slowly?" It was the middle-aged man who was traveling with them outside Tuanshan Fort. He was still as enthusiastic and generous as ever.
Daerhan quickly bowed and forced a smile as he explained, "Xiaotai was seasick, so we rested in Tianjin for two days. I didn't expect to meet him again. What a coincidence!"
The middle-aged man laughed and said, "We had agreed to go to the capital together, but we didn't expect to take different boats. It still came true. This is God's will."
"Yes, yes, it's God's will!" Darhan offered his hand. "Please sit down, please sit down, let's eat together."
The middle-aged man didn't hesitate, sat down, and said, "The government has given me enough money to settle me in the capital. I'm here to ask for your help."
Daerhan hurriedly said, "I'm sorry to trouble you to take care of me on the way. How can I ask you to pay for it?"
The middle-aged man waved his hand and said, "I met an acquaintance in Tianjin and learned that my relatives and friends in the capital are safe. This reassures me. I'm afraid you don't know what will happen in the future, so don't fight with me."
Dalhan quickly expressed his gratitude without being too polite.
"Although the food is average, it is much better than what we had in Liaodong and on the grassland." The middle-aged man ordered two more dishes and a pot of wine, and chatted with Dalhan while drinking.
"That's right, that's right." Dalhan didn't think much of anything else, but this wine was much cheaper than in the horse market, and it was even rarer to find on the grassland.
Bumbutai complained inwardly, it was just a dish with a few pieces of meat, it was all vegetables, how could it be as generous as eating meat on the grassland.
Hailanzhu enjoyed the meal very much. There were a lot of fruits and vegetables on the grassland, and the vegetables she picked were all wild vegetables. The taste of the cooked ones was not as good as the ones here.
"The food in the restaurant in the capital is even more delicious." The middle-aged man paused, as if savoring the taste, and then laughed bitterly, "It's been more than ten years. I didn't expect to be able to return to my hometown and see my relatives..."
Once I reach the capital of the Ming Dynasty, I wonder if I'll ever see my father, mother, and brother again? Will I die with my family, or will there be another chance? Perhaps that Nuke can help me?
Hailanzhu also stopped, but was thinking about something else.
………………
This is the Ming Dynasty, with a vast territory and a population of billions. It is so prosperous, so prosperous...
Nuk had just entered the towering capital city. The tall city walls, the spacious city gates, the pedestrians coming and going, the smooth roads... his limited vocabulary made it difficult to find a suitable description.
He swallowed hard, thinking that he couldn't lose his composure. After all, he was the son of the leader of the Zalantu tribe, the future leader of the Zalantu tribe, and the emperor of the Ming Dynasty had invited him. He was the guest!
Although self-comfort made him feel a little better, the dizzy feeling still existed. He couldn't say that he felt ashamed, but he also felt a little inferior.
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com