People who get close to Bai Xu know that he has three hobbies: books, tea, and fans.

To say that these three things are nothing special, the current Great Song Dynasty Chongwen admired martial arts and Confucianism, but anyone who has been in the school for two years will use these three things, called Fengya. But Bai Xu's hobby is a little different.

Bai Xu loves books, but rarely finds chapters and excerpts or is devoted to Confucianism, but prefers the Wild History Notes, Tao Strategy Military Books and the legal ritual system of all dynasties. Moreover, he also writes "books", that is, after reading a book, he writes down his own thoughts and understandings, as well as what can be learned from this book and applied to reality, that is, his feelings after reading. It is often his impression after reading, which is longer than the length of the original book.

Bai Xu loves tea, he has already turned the essence of the former Tang Luyu's "Book of Tea" into his own use, and combined with his understanding of the tea ceremony to write a book "Tea Art", saying that it is to entertain himself, but many tea ceremony connoisseurs believe that "Tea Art" has been better than "Tea Classic". Moreover, Bai Xu must go to the tea mountain to pick tea every time he arrives in Qingming, process the tea with his own unique skills, and then use the snow water of the stream that snowed in the second snowfall that winter to brew it with a set of self-made tea sets. In this regard, he is an absolute connoisseur.

Bai Xu loves fans, and all the fans he uses are made by himself, and the strictness of the selection of materials from the fan bone to the paper is almost paranoid. The calligraphy and paintings on the fan are also inscribed by themselves, rather than being vassals to hire celebrities to write on behalf of celebrities or plagiarize famous poems and sentences. Previously, Xiao Linglong liked to dress up as a man, and once asked him to soak it for more than ten days before asking Bai Xu to make her a silver-faced folding fan. Later, it was accidentally lost during the Battle of Taiyuan, and it was regretted for a long time. With Xiao Linglong's background, he has seen a lot of rare treasures, but he regrets for an ordinary handmade folding fan, which shows Bai Xu's taste and attainment.

Books, tea, fans, Chu Tianya happened to be pure laymen in these three aspects, but this did not affect the tacit understanding between him and Bai Xu. In fact, in the current Xishan, the relationship between Meng De and Chu Tianya must be the most ironclad, and Xiao Linglong is the closest to him; But when it comes to Lingxi and tacit understanding, it must be the first to recommend Bai Xu.

The two invariably believe that the other party is a rare confidant and a wonderful person.

The military machine hall in Xishan was completed, and Chu Tianya personally nodded to the two thousand catties of stone at the gate. The iron wall of the main hall is a wall, impermeable, built tall and majestic, and the gate is covered with four huge copper locks, and Chu Tianya, Jiao Wentong, Meng De, and Bai Xu each hold a key. Only when four people arrive can the main hall be opened. All of Xishan's heavy military decisions are issued from here. Unless invited and summoned by the four major leaders, anyone who enters the military hall without permission will be killed!

In addition to the conference hall in the main hall, there are also four warehouses of Qinglong, Vermilion Bird, White Tiger and Xuanwu, each of which stores confidential items such as the Tiger Talisman and important registers; On the three walls outside the main hall, the military order of Xishan is engraved with large characters, and a blood-colored military flag of Xishan is hung high on the roof, and an angry-eyed unicorn is embroidered on the flag!

Around the core of the military aircraft hall, a high-walled courtyard was built, which was heavily guarded. There are also four other "offices" in the courtyard that resemble the Yamen Ban Office, which belong to the four major leaders.

This is the "forbidden land" of Xishan, and the periphery is the garrison of Chu Tianya's five thousand personal guards, which encloses this place like an iron bucket. The original Chu family army, that is, the Taiyuan military patrol, was directly divided into Chu Tianya's personal guards when the Xishan army was grouped and compiled, and was called "Tiger Ben". When choosing the two leaders, everyone was also painstaking. In the end, two candidates were determined - Tang Ang and Anu.

At first, Tang Ang was still unhappy, and Anu has always been Xiao Linglong's follower, and he is unwilling to leave the old master. As a result, it took a lot of words from Bai Xu, Jiao Wentong and others, and these two tiger commanders took office. Now no matter where Chu Tianya goes, there are two god-like iron tower giants who are fully dressed and entourage, and the ironclad guards in front of him and behind him finally have a little bit of "lord" style.

Every day when he arrives at the Military Aircraft Hall, Chu Tianya will meet Bai Xu. Many of Xishan's decrees and measures took shape when the two of them were making tea and talking.

After the morning discussion in Qingyuntang today, the two returned to the Military Aircraft Hall to make tea and talk together as usual, but Bai Xu proposed a proposal that made Chu Tianya feel a little surprised--the marriage of Kuài and Xiao Linglong!

Bai Xu is not the kind of person who is "thirty-eight", and he will never care about anyone's private affairs, let alone directly intervene in the marriage of the lord. So Chu Tianya wanted to know what he thought.

Bai Xu replied: "The fall of the Liao State is only a year or two. Now, most of the original Liao people and troops were enslaved by the Jin State, and a small number of them were exiled to the Central Plains or fled to the northern grasslands. It is reported that Yelu Dashi, the original general of the Liao State, led a tribe to flee, and had set foot in the Western Regions through the northern prairies, and had frequent activities there. If Yelu Dashi had gained a firm foothold in the Western Regions and then ascended to the heights and shouted, the remnants of the Liao Kingdom would inevitably flock to it. ”

Bai Xu stopped talking at the right time, but Chu Tianya understood his extraneous voice.

He was hinting that Xiao Linglong once had an unforgettable, love-hate "old relationship" with Yelu Dashi. If Yelu Dashi sends any "signal" to Xiao Linglong at this juncture, especially if he summons her in the name of recovering the country from the standpoint of the nation, it is really difficult to guarantee that something will happen. Moreover, Bai Xu wanted Chu Tianya to take the lead in erecting the banner of "Liao Imperial Family" to recruit the power of the remnants of Liao to expand the strength of Xishan. In the area of Hedong and Hebei, there are still tens of thousands of Liao refugees. Many of them are naturally good riders and fierce warriors. Now Xishankong has many good horses that he has snatched from Wanyan Zonghan, but there is a lack of good riders. The cavalry that Qingyun Fort can handle are only the 3,000 Xiao cavalry under Jiao Wentong and the 500 Khitan cavalry led by the Yelu brothers. To confront the Jurchens, this is obviously not enough.

In the age of cold weapons, what could be more combative and deterrent than the highly mobile cavalry?

Therefore, Bai Xu means that in public and private, Chu Tianya must do his best to marry Xiao Linglong.

After listening to Bai Xu's short words, Chu Tianya pondered for a long time. There was already a tacit understanding between the two, and Bai Xu was not worried that Chu Tianya would not be able to figure out the twists and turns, so he waited patiently.

"Jingqian, I can't do this now." Chu Tianya said suddenly.

Bai Xu couldn't help but be a little surprised. This should be the first time that Chu Tianya has rejected his mention so decisively, so he asked: "My lord, in public and private, your marriage with Lord Xiao should be held as soon as possible." The subordinates don't understand, why did the lord refuse so decisively? ”

"I understand your thoughts, but I have other considerations." Chu Tianya said, "First of all, what is the purpose of our Xishan? ”

"Resist gold to save the country, protect the territory and the people." Bai Xu replied.

Chu Tianya nodded, "Which country to save, which people to save?" ”

Bai Xu was stunned for a moment, and nodded suddenly in realization, "My subordinates understand!" …… The lord is wise, but his subordinates are stupid, and he ignores this layer! ”

Chu Tianya smiled slightly, and said: "You think very far-reaching, and you are also very thoughtful, all of them are for the purpose of strengthening Xishan, which is not wrong." But we can't afford to make mistakes in the big picture. No matter how we expand our strength, we must not forget that we are the people of the Great Song Dynasty, so we must not use the banner of the Khitan royal family to recruit troops. In that way, the nature of our West Mountain will change! …… However, we can do this secretly! ”

Bai Xu's brows furrowed slightly, and he whispered: "Lord, please forgive your subordinates for being too bold...... Lord Xiao has always wanted to recover the Liao Kingdom. This time, the soldiers and horses of Xishan were reorganized, and the men and horses assigned to her were only 800 Yasha and 500 Khitan cavalry, which was the least number of soldiers and horses among the twelve leaders. Although Lord Xiao didn't say it, he was inevitably unconvinced. ”

"I know." Chu Tianya smiled slightly and said, "In the past few days, she has been dissatisfied with me with her nose and eyes. It's just that they want me to give her a little more people, or invite her to settle in the Military Aircraft Hall. But these two things are not negotiable. ”

"The lord can distinguish between public and private, and his subordinates both feel and admire!" Bai Xu secretly sighed in his heart, and bowed his hand and said, "Then, the marriage between the lord and the county lord ......"

"Not yet." Chu Tianya replied categorically.

"Uh...... That Xiao County Lord's side ......" Bai Xu was a little worried, smiled awkwardly and said, "The subordinates are guilty, this is the lord's private matter, and the subordinates should not intervene." ”

"You and my brother, what can't you say?" Chu Tianya smiled and said, "If I were still that Taiyuan Chu Tianya, I would definitely try my best to marry Lord Xiao by now." But now, I have to stand in the position of the great leader of the West Mountain and think about it more. My marriage is no longer my private affair alone, especially in this sensitive period, it will definitely affect the overall situation, including attracting the attention of the imperial court and the government, attracting the military and civilian people in Hedong and the wind on the green forest road, and finally directly affecting the interior of Xishan. Lord Xiao, after all, is a Khitan and a royal family of Liao. Although she has integrated into our big family, in the eyes of the outside world, she still can't get rid of this identity...... Wait a little longer! I'll find a way to solve this contradiction! ”

"Good. The subordinates believe that with the wisdom of the lord, they will be able to achieve both public and private interests, and have both the country and the beauty! Bai Xu smiled and said: "As for the private recruitment of Liao refugees and the formation of new cavalry......

Chu Tianya frowned slightly and pondered for a moment, and said, "You will preside over it, and let Liang Xing, Fu Xuan and others secretly conduct it in the area of Taihang Mountain." For the time being, don't announce the news in West Hill. ”

Bai Xu responded to the promise and said: "It's just that Second Brother Jiao has always been very concerned about Taihang Mountain, and his relationship with Lord Xiao is not ordinary. In case the two of them hear the wind......"

"I've got my own way to deal with it." Chu Tianya smiled confidently.

Bai Xu breathed a sigh of relief, nodded and smiled with a relaxed look, and said in his heart: This is the real lord! For those in power, there is nothing more courageous and charming than 'self-confidence and decisiveness'!

Later, Chu Tianya went to the Huben camp to find He Bo and Xue Yu, and asked him about the one thing he was most concerned about as usual.

Today, I finally heard the good news - these two great sword experts have finally developed a set of excellent 'civilian knife techniques'. Even if it is an ordinary sergeant who has no martial arts foundation, as long as he is strong and brave, and with more than a month of hard training, he can effectively rely on the special "Qingyun Chopping Horse Knife" made by Qingyun Fort to confront the Jurchen Tiefutu and the kidnapping horse on the battlefield.

There are only eight types of knife techniques, which are simple and practical, and clumsy; The shape of Qingyun's slashing saber is simple and ordinary, and the heavy sword is not sharp. The combination of the two is extraordinarily powerful and domineering!

Chu Tianya gave this set of knife techniques a popular but powerful name - "Eight Swords Breaking the Formation Slash".