Clearwater Cliff

In the early years of the Jiaqing reign, in Qingxi County, north of Nanlong Prefecture in Guizhou, eighteen-year-old Zheng Tianyou is forced into the illicit salt trade to pay for his gravely ill sister Zheng Xiaofeng's treatment. Starting as a lowly salt peddler, he climbs the ranks step by step, seizes Black Wind Ridge and builds a stronghold, takes control of three smuggling routes, bribes County Magistrate Hao Ren, and navigates between Miao bandits and Green Standard Army troops. Before long, he has established a salt and opium empire spanning Guizhou, Guangxi, and Yunnan.

As his power grows, Zheng Tianyou sinks ever deeper into trouble. His sister breaks with him after suffering humiliation because of his identity. His strategist, Jia Ren, is falsely accused and leaves to surrender to the authorities, while his cousin Jia Mei secretly betrays him out of jealousy. By imperial command, Governor Fuxing and Supreme Commander Delengtai amass a huge force to crush him. Black Wind Ridge is engulfed in a bloody battle that lasts through the night. His sworn brother Ma Liujin falls to his death from a cliff, and Yang Xiong is captured.

Zheng Tianyou is arrested at the ferry crossing on the Qingshui River.