Chongli Pass, the Ning Dynasty's most formidable barrier.
Riding north from the Imperial Capital, one can reach it in three days at a fast gallop.
Further north, beyond the Dama Mountains, lies the Jing Dynasty's Western Capital Road in Fengsheng State. The nearest Jing Dynasty city is Baidadan City, about two hundred li away.
On the official road south of Chongli Pass, a caravan slowly emerged on the horizon, with copper bells hanging on the necks of the mules in the team, jingling incessantly.
Chen Ji rode Zaozao alongside the caravan and tossed a copper coin to the man leading a mule: "Old brother, are you all going to the Jing Dynasty for business?"
The man, with wind-swept wrinkles on his face, tossed the copper coin into a pouch slung over his shoulder: "How could that be? To leave Chongli Pass, you'd need travel documents, and that requires connections as high as the heavens."
Curious, Chen Ji asked, "Where are you transporting these goods then?"
The man fell silent.
