The next day, a letter from Guan Shan's hand and a large number of gold, silver, and satin gifts given by Xu Han were brought to Qixingzhai by a team of sergeants.

After entertaining the envoys and sergeants, Jiao Wentong gathered together with Bai Xu Xue Yu and other leaders.

"How could the eldest brother write such a strange letter?" Jiao Wentong took the letter and looked at it horizontally and vertically, very puzzled. The content of the letter is actually simple, that is, to urge the people left in the Qixing Village to go down the mountain and return to the imperial court, and not to delay it again.

Although this handwriting is definitely from Guan Shan, it is true, but the tone and words are too strange, mother-in-law and mother nagging, where will it be Guan Shan's style?

Bai Xu, who was sitting next to him, sighed lightly, "Second brother, it's better to read the first word of the first line, the second word of the second line, and the third word of the third line." After eight lines, the cycle is changed again. This is the Tibetan letter writing method that Xiaosheng used to use to pass on military orders, and the second brother has forgotten it? ”

Jiao Wentong suddenly realized, and hurriedly read the letter again, and was shocked!

Sixteen words - "Don't descend to the government, you can vote for the West Mountain; Work together and respect Chu! ”

"Big brother, what does he mean by that?!" Jiao Wentong's eyes widened, and he was very excited.

Xue Yuye and Tang Ang were also a little stunned, and looked at Bai Xu together.

Bai Xu's expression was also grim, "Didn't the eldest brother make it very clear?" Tell us not to submit to the government, but to take refuge in the West Mountain. In addition, let us brothers respect Chu Tianya as the Lord, and we must work together to avoid disagreements and infighting. ”

"Huh?" Tang An, who was illiterate, heard Bai Xu say this, and only then did he come to his senses, and he jumped up on the spot and shouted, "Big brother must have had an accident, but he told us to go to Xishan and recognize that little white face as the master!" No, we have to go and rescue the big brother! ”

Jiao Wentong slapped the table and stood up suddenly, "Xu Han dog thief, really dare to harm my brother!" - Tang An, go and cut down all the messengers and sergeants just now, and sacrifice the flags with their heads; I'm going to send troops to attack the city and save my big brother! ”

"Second brother, don't do it!" Bai Xu hurriedly came out to stop it.

"Why?" Jiao Wentong asked sharply.

Bai Xu walked up to him and bowed his hand, and said, "According to Xiaosheng's opinion, the eldest brother is not in danger of his life now, and Xu Han doesn't dare to do anything to him." Because Xu Han still wants to take over all of our Qixingzhai people, and is also afraid that we will unite with Xishan to make enemies with it, he will definitely not dare to act rashly against the eldest brother. If the second brother killed the envoy at this time and raised troops to attack the city, it would be a vain army. If the teacher is unknown, he will inevitably be defeated. At the same time, it will really hurt the eldest brother into a desperate situation! ”

"How's that to be?" Jiao Wentong was really anxious, his voice was like thunder, and he was almost deafened.

Xue Yu stepped forward and said, "Second brother, don't be impatient, and listen to the military advisor's advice." ”

"Okay, you say." Jiao Wentong forcibly pressed the emotion, sat down, stroked his long hair and stared at Bai Xu.

Bai Xu pondered for a long time and said, "To tell the truth, now it is a dead end for our Qixingzhai. No matter what we do next, there will inevitably be sacrifices and trade-offs. ”

"You make it clear." Jiao Wentong was worried, and his tone was not so peaceful.

Bai Xu didn't care, and said patiently: "The worst thing to do is to raise troops to attack the city to rescue the eldest brother." In this way, we are a blatant rebellion, and the nameless rebellion of the teacher will only trap the eldest brother in a situation of unbelief and unrighteousness, and give Xu Han a sufficient reason to kill the eldest brother. ”

"What's the best thing to do?" Jiao Wentong asked naturally.

"There is no best. Only the losses are a little smaller. Bai Xu frowned deeply and said, "Fang Cai Xiaosheng said that no matter what kind of move we make, we will inevitably have some losses." Now, we can only take the small losses as the winners, and we have to make some trade-offs. ”

"Don't go around the bush, if you have something to say, please speak directly." Jiao Wentong was obviously a little impatient.

Bai Xu sighed lightly and arched his hand: "That is, do what the eldest brother says." ”

Jiao Wentong's Danfeng eyes, which were like martial saint Guan Yu, narrowed, "Let's go to Xishan and worship Chu Tianya?" ”

"That's right." Bai Xu nodded lightly and quietly.

Jiao Wentong sneered, "Would you like to?" ”

"Xiaosheng is willing." Bai Xu nodded lightly again.

Jiao Wentong was stunned for a moment, and looked at Xue Yu again, "What about you?" ”

"The younger brother has always been the only brother who looks to the horse. Since it is the order of the eldest brother, the younger brother naturally obeys. Xue Yu replied.

Jiao Wentong's expression suddenly became very wrong!

He never expected that Bai Xu and Xue Yu would be so "emotionless" for Qixingzhai. If you say you can go, you can change the master!

He's even a little angry!

Bai Xu has always been as careful as a hair, and when he saw Jiao Wentong's expression, he naturally understood his mood at this time, so he persuaded: "Second brother, Xiaosheng never thought of leaving Qixingzhai and going elsewhere. Just thinking about it carefully, Xiaosheng thinks that the sixteen words sent by the eldest brother are really well-intentioned. ”

Jiao Wentong let out a sullen breath, "What did you think of?" ”

"At the moment, my Qixingzhai is actually facing a great crisis. Xu Han is vicious with his intentions, and he wants to swallow and uproot my Qixing Village. Bai Xu said, "The reason why the eldest brother went to Taiyuan alone to be surrendered is that he doesn't want to miss the opportunity to really recruit peace; Second, I also wanted to find out Xu Han's motives in person. These days, the eldest brother has not sent a word, only Xu Han has kept sending people to urge. It can be seen that the eldest brother is observing Xu Han; Xu Han was helpless, presumably because he had a ghost in his heart. Today, the eldest brother finally has the only information coming, there is no doubt that the eldest brother has seen Xu Han's face clearly, and also realized the danger faced by Qixingzhai, which made us make a decision to evacuate temporarily. The purpose is just to preserve the strength of Qixingzhai. ”

Jiao Wentong was silent.

Bai Xu continued: "Xiao Sheng understands that Qixingzhai is the hard work of the second brother for half his life. Our brothers have also been deeply favored by the second brother and have walked through the ups and downs of many years side by side. People are not plants and trees, who can be ruthless. None of us want to leave our homes. But at the moment of the overall situation, only by making an immediate decision and enduring the pain can we preserve our strength and make a comeback! ”

"Could it be that we can't defend Qixingzhai? If the Jurchens can't beat the Heavenly Trench Pass, he Xu Han can beat it? Jiao Wentong couldn't help it, and shouted like a cannon, "The eighteen villages of Xishan in the past were extremely prosperous when Zhang Duyan was alive, but he trembled whenever he heard the name of Qixingzhai. Jiao Moufu was the pass, and he suppressed more than 10,000 soldiers and horses; Today's Qingyun Fort still relied on us to fund some soldiers, horses, money and food to develop, and Meng De, Chu Tianya and others were all protected by Qixingzhai. Speaking of which, it should be Xishan's order to honor Qixingzhai. Now he wants me to wait to take refuge and recognize Chu Tianya as the master...... Jiao Wentong, I can't tear off this face! ”

"Hey......" Bai Xu sighed.

Jiao Wentong finally said what was in his heart. At the end of the day, he's still so arrogant. looked down on Xishan and Qingyun Castle, and couldn't bear to respect Chu Tianya, a young descendant.

At this time, Xue Yu stepped forward and said: "Second brother, in terms of strength, Qixingzhai is certainly stronger than Xishan; In terms of ability, our brothers are not inferior to Meng Demakuo and others. But the eldest brother must have his deep meaning in arranging it like this. The younger brother thought that the eldest brother did not hesitate to risk his life to send us back these sixteen words. Even for the sake of brotherhood, and out of trust in the eldest brother, we must respect this decision of Brother Dà! ”

Jiao Wentong couldn't help but be a little disappointed, even a little discouraged. Today, Bai Xu and Xue Yu are really abnormal. In the past, in Qixingzhai, they rarely went against their views like this. Even if there is a dispute, it will be quickly reconciled and resolved. Unlike today, the two of them had no intention of compromising at all.

Although Guan Shan is no longer in the cottage, the ten six-character characters he sent are more influential than Jiao Wentong himself standing here. This made Jiao Wentong's heart very uncomfortable. It wasn't out of jealousy or resentment, but he clearly felt that his prestige in the eyes of his brothers was not as good as before. It made him feel a sense of ...... that he had never felt before Frustration!

"Am I really wrong?" Jiao Wentong couldn't help but question himself.

After waiting for Jiao Wentong to meditate and reflect for a while, Bai Xu said: "Second brother, when you keep interrupting, you will suffer from it. ”

"Okay, just do what Big Brother says." Jiao Wentong seemed to have compromised, and he said, "You are responsible for contacting Xishan to accept it, and Xue Yu will convey the order to organize people." Qixingzhai rises up...... Go and take refuge in the West Mountain! ”

"Yes." Bai Xu's heart was slightly calm, and he suddenly woke up, "Second brother, what about you?" ”

Jiao Wentong stood up, cut his back with one hand and stroked his hair with the other, "Jiao swears to live and die with his eldest brother!" - Qixingzhai, if you insist on not going to Xishan, you can go to Taiyuan with me! ”

"Huh?" Bai Xu almost went crazy on the spot!

Xue Yu was also completely speechless, and his head was twisted to the side.

"I've made up my mind." Jiao Wentong waved his hand, which was irrefutable.

Tang Ang jumped up, "Second brother, I'll go with you!" Where the eldest brother is, I will be there! To die is to die together! ”

"That's it......" Bai Xu sighed leisurely, "This may be the fate of Qixingzhai!" ”

In the early morning of the next day, Chu Tianya had just woken up and hadn't gotten up yet, when the door was slammed.

"Brother, hurry—big thing!" Meng De himself came.

Chu Tianya hurriedly got up and opened the door, "Seventh brother, what's so alarming?" ”

"It's not a panic, it's a great event!" A letter in Meng Deyang's hand, with a look of ecstasy, "Qixingzhai wants to come to the village!" This is the handwritten letter from Bai Xu that I just received! ”

"Oh? Show me! Chu Tianya took the letter extremely unexpectedly, and hurriedly spread it out and read it carefully.

After reading the letter, Chu Tianya's face did not show the joy that Meng De expected, but a solemn face.

Meng De couldn't laugh anymore, and wondered: "Brother, what's wrong?" ”

"Qixingzhai is indeed rising up and coming to Xishan, which is a good thing." Chu Tianya said, "But Jiao Wentong refused to come, and Tang An." The two of them brought more than 3,000 horses and horses to Taiyuan to find Guanshan! ”

"Then let him go!" Meng De didn't care, and said, "Although I respect Jiao Wentong very much, his temperament is indeed a little too arrogant. It's not that Meng doesn't have the capacity to tolerate people, but I'm afraid that he will be reluctant to come to Xishan, and he won't be convinced by our brothers, which will affect the atmosphere inside the whole castle. In the long run, it is not a good thing. I don't want Xishan to end up in a seven-star village! ”

"Brother Qi's worries are not unreasonable. But...... If you receive the grace of a drop of water, you should repay it with a spring. Couldn't the seventh brother have forgotten who helped us solve the siege of Zhang One-Eyed in the first place? When you and I were in trouble and took refuge in Qixingzhai, although Jiao Wentong did not accept us to settle down there, he also waited for me. Chu Tianya said, "Moreover, Qingyun Fort is growing day by day, and the number of soldiers and horses is rising, but what is lacking is a general like Jiao Wentong. Thousands of troops are easy to get, and one will be hard to find! No one is perfect, Jiao Wentong has shortcomings, but the flaws are not hidden, he is a rare talent! ”

"The brother's vision is more long-term, and he also has more bearing and demeanor for the lord." Meng De smiled and said, "Since my brother thinks that Jiao Wentong is worthy of acceptance, let's find a way to invite him too!" I think that if there is another person in this world who can tame Jiao Wentong's rebellious horse, it must be your brother! ”

"Don't say that, I just don't want to watch a good man like Jiao Wentong kill himself as a moth to the fire." Chu Tianya said, "On the surface, it seems that he took some people and horses to Taiyuan to join Guanshan, even if he accepted Zhao'an and returned to the government, he should be rewarded and treated." But if you think about it, he has come to a dead end in this step! ”

"Oh? Why? Meng De said in surprise, "Didn't Xu Han wear out his mouth and want to recruit the people of Qixingzhai, Jiao Wentong went, he should be happy?" ”

"Guan Shan, Jiao Wentong, these two big leaders of Qixingzhai have all returned to the government, and it stands to reason that Xu Han should be happy. However, most of the people of Qixingzhai came to Xishan, and the three leaders of Bai Xu, Xue Yu, and Xiao Linglong also came to us. Chu Tianya said, "We are in Xishan now, but Xu Han is a thorn in his eye and a thorn in his flesh." Anyone who came to join us was Xu Han's enemy, and the people of Qixingzhai were no exception. When Xu Han knew that this time Jiao Wentong only brought 3,000 men and horses to return to Shun, most of them were led by Bai Xu and Xue Yu to take refuge in Xishan...... Seventh brother, if you were Xu Han, what would you think? ”

Meng De thought for a moment and said, "I would think that Jiao Wentong is the enemy!" He didn't have the sincerity to return to the government at all, but instead went to Taiyuan to make an internal response to Xishan! ”

"That's it!" Chu Tianya's face became even more grim, "And with Jiao Wentong's character, how could he accept a small official position given by Zhao An, and then endure the arrogance of Xu Han and others?" He did this because he wanted to fulfill his brotherhood, and to live and die with Guan Shan in the end! ”

Meng De couldn't help but take a breath, "In this way, Jiao Wentong didn't care about any tricks or not, but went to Taiyuan after rushing to Guanshan and reporting the heart of martyrdom?" ”

Chu Tianya nodded with his eyebrows tightly locked, "Very likely!" ”