Tuman City, originally known as Tuman City.
The history of Yan State, if the most recent hundred years are removed, is largely a war chronicle of battles with the barbarians. During the war years, Tuman City was the frontline of the battle between Yan State and the barbarian tribes.
Countless times, men of Yan State marched from here to the desert.
Either they were wrapped in horse leather in death, or they triumphantly brought back the heads of the barbarians.
A significant reason the kingdoms of the Central Plains were such failures was that Yan State, using its own strength, blocked the Northern threat from the desert, giving the three major kingdoms of the Central Plains a chance to "sing and dance."
Of course, it is not to say that the successive monarchs of Yan State were so selflessly dedicated, willingly defending the border for the civilization of the Central Plains.
Who could blame them for their poor geographical location?
Unless the monarch of Yan State was tired of the dragon throne and wanted to go to the desert to trade it for a pastoral life of eating cheese and wearing sheepskin, it was absolutely impossible to bow down to the Desert Barbarians.
However, it has been nearly a hundred years since the smoke of war cleared from Tuman City. This former frontline military stronghold has now developed into the military, economic, political, and cultural center of the entire Beifeng Prefecture.
Compared to Tuman City, Hutou City is truly a little brother.
The trade economy that Hutou City prided itself on was really just catching a bit of the leftovers from Tuman City.
Here, there were exceptionally many foreign merchants. They regarded this place as their transit station. Trade caravans of the Desert Barbarian tribes, the Western Region, and even more distant western lands, all converged here.
At the same time, trade caravans from Yan State, Jin State, Qian State, Chu State, and a whole host of small eastern countries also lingered here year-round; saying it was the "Shenzhen" of this world would not be an exaggeration.
On the streets of Tuman City, a middle-aged man with a small mustache, wearing a white western-style robe, was leisurely walking a dog.
The dog leash was very thin—thin enough that a skilled woman could use it to weave clothing—but the dog on the leash was very large.
With black and white intermixed fur and a long tail, if it were to fully pounce, it would be much taller than an average adult man.
Even the well-traveled residents of Tuman City kept a respectful distance from this large dog. Some children, however, were fearless, chasing and playing around the big dog. Yet, if you asked them to get close enough to touch the dog’s head, these little ones wouldn’t dare.
To modern eyes, this giant dog looked a lot like a husky.
However, its size was comparable to a well-built adult Alaskan malamute.
The man and dog strolled the streets for half a day before returning to their mansion.
Though Tuman City is large, its style is extremely rugged. Unlike the capital of Qian State, Tuman City isn’t divided into many distinct wards or districts. However, the population naturally congregates into different areas; wealthy districts and commoner districts are quite distinctly demarcated by housing prices.
There are also mansions built by merchants from various nations. These mansions, if transported to later generations, would each be a tourist attraction perfect for photography.
The courtyards inside the mansions are very large. Although there isn’t a clear presence of embassy military attachés as one might see in later generations, private soldiers guarding the trade caravans are indispensable, and security is also quite stringent.
The Tuman City authorities permit this. Outside the city, there is a Beituo Army garrison of fifty thousand troops, so no one dares to act recklessly.
As for this giant Erha, when it was initially entering the city gate, the guards had refused its entry.
Demonic beasts exist in this world.
The Great Marshes of Chu State, Skybreak Mountain of Jin State, and the deep desert in the north of Yan State are all places where demonic beasts roam.
Some military units even have tamed demonic beasts assisting in battle. The special breeds of Pi Beasts equipped by Yan State’s own officials and generals also fall into this category, though these are artificially bred and raised.
If a demonic beast were to go berserk, especially in the city, the destruction and impact would be enormous.
However, when entering the city that day, this Erha put on a circus performance, proving that it was just a big dog trained for acrobatics, and was thus allowed into the city.
In a room warmed by a charcoal brazier, Wenter removed his outer robe.
Two blonde, blue-eyed maidservants came over with hot towels. Each squatted on either side of Erha, helping to wipe its feet.
After finishing these tasks, the two maidservants withdrew.
Wenter poured tea into two cups.
Erha stepped over to the table, sat upright in a chair, picked up a teacup with one paw, brought it to its mouth, and extended its long tongue to taste the tea.
"The tea from Qian State is indeed good," Wenter said in admiration.
"Indeed," Erha replied. "In the past, when tea leaves were transported to us, they lost their freshness after the long journey. After traversing the vast desert, even the tea water seemed permeated with the gritty, astringent taste of sand."
Erha articulated human speech.
Sipping his tea, Wenter sighed, "The best tea leaves, porcelain, silk, and even the most beautiful women are all in Qian State. This Qian State, it truly is enviable."
"Yan State has Desert Barbarians on its borders," Erha continued. "Chu State has the Great Marshes and the rebellious Shanyue people within. Jin State’s Skybreak Mountain range is not only infested with the Demonic Tribe but also has wild people settlements. Only Qian State, with all its dominions suitable for human habitation, possesses fertile land and abundant resources."
Wenter nodded and said, "Perhaps it’s due to these excellent geographical conditions that Qian State, conversely, is the weakest among the four major Eastern countries."