In the beginning, he was ranked alongside An Shigeng as a spoiled brat.

Page 703

"Yes, son!"

No one was surprised to hear Zhang Xiaoshan's instructions.

After all, Zhang Xiaoshan's next stop is a Miao village, and these are things that the Miao village desperately needs.

Needless to say, the price of sea salt often increases more than tenfold when it is transported to Miao villages.

In the south, official salt costs only twenty coins, but in Miao villages, at least one coin can buy a pound of inferior coarse salt, not to mention quinine.

This is a new species that the Zhang family specially brought from the New World. It can cure malaria and is a treasure that the caravans cultivate.

In Tiannan, the quinine cultivated by the Zhang family at that time was just enough for their needs.

Previously, most quinine was imported from the New World, and its value was comparable to gold, remaining consistently high.

It was precisely because of the base in Tiannan that the value of quinine rose from gold to silver.

Even so, for ordinary people, it is a medicinal herb comparable to ginseng.

After giving the orders, Zhang Xiaoshan began to deal with the issue of the caravan.

The main problem is that now that the caravan industry has grown so large, the quality of its members has become uneven.

Even if the Zhang family can suppress it, they are not fools. They need these underlings to flex their muscles and then help them deal with the mess.

Therefore, Zhang Xiaoshan established two law enforcement elders under the gang leader Qiu Long and above the branch leader and protectors. He will send two senior monks of the Jue generation to take charge of the overall situation.

This was of no significance to Qiu Long.

The high monks of the Jue generation are at least top-level experts, or even peerless experts.

Having stayed at the Zhang family's base, he naturally knew that many eminent monks of the Jue generation had cultivated the Wedding Dress Divine Skill, and it was the complete version of the Wedding Dress Divine Skill, whose strength far surpassed his and Gu Yang's.

In terms of compensation, Zhang Xiaoshan received a significant increase compared to his previous salary.

Only when the benefits are adequate can the caravan achieve the sense of honor of "the caravan is my home".

Especially for key personnel, the benefits are so generous that they are provided with housing and horses, making them true winners in life.

After all, the Tiannan base has gradually gotten back on track over the years.

Not only coffee, but also nuts, quinine, rubber, agarwood... it can be said that the entire Tiannan region has become a treasure trove for the Zhang family, and their status has become increasingly important.

Otherwise, Zhang Xiaoshan wouldn't have sent two eminent monks of the Jue generation to suppress the rebellion.

Because this location is becoming increasingly important, Zhang Xiaoshan might even send a Grandmaster to oversee it, if possible.

However, Tiannan is not like the Central Plains and has no major enemies. Therefore, unless necessary, Grandmaster Zhang Xiaoshan will not put a mountain on Qiu Long's head.

···

Three days later, the caravan of skilled warriors arrived at Dianchi Lake with supplies.

They stared in disbelief at the enormous creature that slowly emerged from Dianchi Lake—a giant python that was a full twenty-five zhang long.

Although the distance was far enough, at first glance, everyone could still clearly see the size of the enormous creature.

It was vaguely discernible, but it was probably at least twenty feet long.

Having eaten so many large fish on the plateau, the Poison Dragon's digestive system, aided by the Dragon Balls, caused its body to swell by several meters, becoming more than a size larger.

Not to mention the caravan disciples in the distance, even the helmsman and protectors in front of Zhang Xiaoshan, and even Qiu Long, who had witnessed the 'giant Kun' deep in the ocean, could not believe that such a terrifying monster existed in the world.

Even the two peerless masters trembled before the Poison Dragon, not daring to make the slightest move.

That kind of oppressive aura and physique would be seen as a world-destroying force by everyone.

"Alright, you can put the supplies down now."

Zhang Xiaoshan looked at the crowd in the distance. The horses were so restless that they would have run away long ago if they hadn't been forcibly suppressed by the skilled horsemen.

"Yes, son!"

Suppressing their trembling and fear, the caravan members unloaded the supplies they had brought to an open area about thirty feet away from the Poison Dragon, while also taking the opportunity to admire the dragon's enormous body up close.

Chapter 852 An Opportunity in Miao Territory

"Is that a poisonous dragon?"

Many of the legends surrounding the Zhang family of the Central Plains include accounts of a poisonous dragon.

When it first appeared twenty years ago, it was a colossal creature that grew to be ten feet long and became a dragon. It was restrained by the Dragon-Slaying Saber, and no blood was seen.

After all, Zhang Xiaoshan had slaughtered all the poisonous dragons in Ping Mountain in order to practice his swordsmanship. The poisonous dragon was one that Zhang Xiaoshan brought out of the mountain and kept in the depths of Ghost Street.

Therefore, the fact that the Poison Dragon was controlled by the Dragon-Slaying Blade has its origins.

But the sheer power of the ten-foot-tall poisonous dragon caused the 30,000 Imperial Guards of the Song Dynasty to halt and retreat.

It's easy to imagine how terrifying the venomous dragon was.

The second time the poisonous dragon was born, it went to the Western Regions to find the elixir of immortality at the tomb of the Queen Mother of the West.

That was the legendary tomb of the Queen Mother of the West. Although no one knew the specifics, they did know that the Zhang family's other Celestial Realm expert was a thousand-year-old monster who had awakened from the tomb of the Queen Mother of the West.

The third time was when the Western Regions Dragon Pearl was born, and Zhang Xiaoshan reappeared with the Poison Dragon.

The tremors caused at that time were no less than a magnitude 12 earthquake, and the venomous dragon had already reached a length of 20 zhang.

Now that everyone has witnessed this enormous venomous dragon with their own eyes, the shock they feel is unimaginable.

This is absolutely not something that can be defeated by human power.

With such a venomous dragon in charge of the Zhang family, even the empire would have to think twice before provoking them.

Moreover, the Zhang family's power is no less than that of the Poison Dragon.

"Get down!"

Zhang Xiaoshan made the Poison Dragon lie flat on the ground, as if training a monkey.

The supplies were then tied to both sides of the dragon's body, and reinforced with hemp rope to prevent them from slipping off during high-speed movement.

They then placed precious silk and quinine on top of the poison dagger.

This left a group of high-ranking members of the caravan completely dumbfounded.

At first, they thought they would need to personally escort them to the ancient Miao village, or at least to the border.

But seeing the enormous body of the dragon carrying all the cargo of their hundreds of horses at once, they were utterly shocked.

That's the cargo carried by hundreds of slow horses; even the large grains of salt weighed 100,000 jin (50,000 kg).

However, it only occupies a small portion of the back of the venomous dragon, which shows how enormous the venomous dragon was.

Even when the venomous dragon crawls, its speed is still terrifying.

"Young master, would you like to...?"

"This is enough. Miao territory lacks nothing now. This is just a matter of reciprocity."

Zhang Xiaoshan didn't have anyone prepare much.

The Zhang family now trades with the Miao region and is the largest exporter of herbs, leather, fruit wine, and more...

The purchase price of these items soared, and the Zhang family sold them a lot of smuggled salt at the price of official salt, so the Miao region had no shortage of these.

The Zhang family even opened workshops in Miao territory, and many Miao tribes joined the Zhang family's trading company.

Silkworm farming, winemaking, tea production... have already reached a considerable scale.

Therefore, Zhang Xiaoshan's main gift was still quinine.

This is a targeted drug for treating malaria.

Currently, only the southern part of Kyushu is suitable for cultivation, and the cultivation plan in Miao territory has ended in failure.

"Master, walk slowly!"

Amidst the watchful eyes of the caravan's high-ranking members and elite disciples, Zhang Xiaoshan sat atop the poisonous dragon and swiftly disappeared into the forest.

Only after the poisonous dragon disappeared did the horses that had been lying on the ground slowly rise, and the disciples' trembling hands and feet finally calmed down.

The pressure from the poisonous dragon was too great.

Its sheer size and terrifying body were enough to deter even the most skilled martial artists from offering any resistance.

“Hiss, hiss, hiss…”

Many people exhaled and then inhaled deeply, celebrating their new life.

"Young master is giving us a warning, telling us not to have any improper thoughts!"

Gu Yang, being the former gang leader, was a shrewd and experienced man who quickly saw through Zhang Xiaoshan's intentions.

But he had no complaints about Zhang Xiaoshan's methods.

He knew that only by always maintaining a sense of awe could one go far.

Otherwise, not to mention rebelling against the Zhang family, the mere fact that the Zhang family suddenly withdrew would pose a huge challenge to the caravan.

The Empire, the Biao Kingdom, and the Miao Territory are all eyeing this lucrative prize.

If the Zhang family hadn't been behind the scenes, the caravan wouldn't have been able to hold onto this lucrative prize.

"That's good. Apart from us old hands, most people have forgotten how terrifying the Zhang family is, and don't even know who gave them this opportunity."

"If we leave, I'm truly afraid that those fearless younger generations will lead the caravan into the abyss."

Upon hearing this, the caravan's leaders nodded in agreement.

With the support of the Zhang family, some of the younger members of the caravan felt that the emperor was far away and began to have second thoughts.

Today's warning is merely a deterrent from the Poison Dragon; even the core disciples probably wouldn't dare to harbor any ill intentions.

···

Miao territory, Chiyou Village!

Chi Xue quickly received the message from the Tiannan caravan, informing him of Zhang Xiaoshan's departure time to the south.

The purpose of detouring from the Daxueshan Mountains to Dali and then to the Miao region is very clear.

Although an agreement was made with Zhang Xiaoshan back then that no one from Miao territory should emerge to contend for supremacy.

However, this was a "leaving the mountains" within the Miao region, which intimidated southern Hunan, and even Tiannan was under the influence of the Miao region.

After all, the Miao region covers a vast area, even including the Baiyue people of southern Xinjiang.

"A message just came from Tiannan that one of the Zhang family members has returned from the Great Snow Mountain, detouring through Tiannan before heading to Miao territory!"

Inside the main hall, the white-haired elders' previously cloudy eyes suddenly shone with an astonishing light.

This is an opportunity for the Miao region to rise. Due to the suppression and agreements with the Zhang family, the Miao region cannot contend for the Central Plains even if it emerges, but developing southward is not a problem.

Especially the Baiyue region in southern Xinjiang!

The empire is now in a precarious state and could collapse at any moment. Miao Jiang could seize this opportunity to establish a new kingdom.

In any case, the agreement with Zhang Xiaoshan was that they could not contend for supremacy in the Central Plains, and the Baiyue region was not within the Nine Provinces.

"Chief, this is an opportunity."

The Central Plains are vast, mostly plains, which is actually disadvantageous to us Miao warriors.

On the contrary, the southern Xinjiang region is not only densely forested, but also rainy and mountainous.

Besides growing a large quantity of grains each year, they can also cultivate some specialty products, such as cinchona trees, a rare medicinal herb, which the Zhang family transplanted from the New World!

The elders had long coveted quinine.

It's important to know that while the northern plains are relatively safe, the southern regions, especially the Miao areas, are plagued by malaria due to their dense forests.

In the vast Miao region, nearly 10,000 people used to die from malaria every year, and there was no cure.

It wasn't until the Zhang family brought quinine from the New World that a way to control it was found.

Initially, quinine was extremely expensive, as it came from overseas and was priced similarly to gold.

It wasn't until the Zhang family successfully cultivated it that the price dropped from exorbitant to high, making it affordable.

However, due to geographical issues, they tried every year in the Miao region, but failed every year.

“Not bad, chieftain.”

Since the world is divided among five major powers, why shouldn't we, the Miao people, who have the strength, get a share?