Mengtsz

1889, the opening of Mengtsz and relaxation of fiscal restrictions in Tonkin restored the Red River to its natural use as a trade route to Yunnan.

Two lines of travel lead south and east from Yunnanfu. One is the route of the railway through Mengtsz to French Indo-China, with a caravan trail which branches off to Szemao in the southwest. The other road is the big east highway to Kwangtung. This road goes overland to Poseh at the head of navigation on the Si Kiang in western Kiangsi^([sic – meaning Kwangsi]), 355 miles distant, and requires twenty days of travel. From Poseh boats go down stream to Canton.

Upon arriving in Hokow, Huang Hsing found that the revolutionary forces there lacked fighting spirit. His strategy was to attack Mengtsz, the gateway to Kunming, the provincial capital of Yunnan, but he found the soldiers very reluctant to move.