Lánzhōu

Lanzhou lies in the mountain country west of the Lancang River, where the Luo family held hereditary office under the Ming. In 1383 Luo Ke submitted to the new dynasty; the following year he received recognition as hereditary prefect. The family governed from Tue, while the salt well at Laji also served as a local seat of authority. Salt production and the routes serving the wells tied these mountain communities to the wider commerce of western Yunnan.