The first stop in the Jin Region was Pingyang, where the Jin Shang specially arranged a guide along the official road to make Zhu Wencong's journey through the Jin Region more convenient.
Compared to the Huguang area, the Jin Region was relatively safer; on this journey, no bandits or thieves were encountered.
Perhaps the prosperity of the trade routes made them a key protection target for both the Government Office and the Jin Shang, and any bandits wishing to cause trouble could be dealt with directly by paying them off.
Additionally, the Jin Region had always been an important hub of the Central Plains dynasties; during the Ming Dynasty, Shanxi had 19 towns, which were military strongholds.
By holding the Jin Region, one could guard Yu region; if Yu region fell, it meant the entire Central Plains would fall, thus allowing forces to march into the Imperial Capital.
