On the same day, Chu Tianya went to Taiyuan City.

After a long period of running-in, trimming, and organization, the Hedong Righteous Army finally returned to strict order from a relatively scattered state. In the final analysis, this change is due to the fact that the division of authority within the rebel army has become clear, so that everyone has a clear sense of belonging, and they are no longer confused and hesitant.

At present, the Hedong Righteous Army, which is composed of the three halls of Qingyun Fort, Monk Cave and Qixingzhai, has reached 1230,000 people, and the actual living force that can participate in the battle is no less than 100,000. If these 100,000 people are a towering cloud building, then the twelve leaders with Chu Tianya as the core constitute the skeleton of this building.

Back in the day, Qingyun Castle was once destroyed, and Qixingzhai was in full swing. Now it has been completely reshuffled and has a new pattern. The entire east of the Yellow River and west of Taihang were brought together as a group with common interests and goals.

Hedong's stubbornness and Chu Tianya's blockbuster shocked the world again and again.

But today, the leader of the general, the lord of Xishan, returned to Taiyuan, but it was no different from the past. He only took Xiaofei and an attendant, sitting in a simple carriage, neither ostentatious nor conspicuous, quietly appeared in front of the Taiyuan prefect's yamen, and naturally saw Zhang Xiaochun.

Regarding Chu Tianya's sudden arrival, Zhang Xiaochun was still a little surprised. In the eyes of the officials and officials of the Great Song Dynasty, even if they are traveling far away in the countryside, they must bring three or five followers with them. Chu Tianya was already the Lord of 100,000 but acted in such a low-key manner, it was simply abnormal.

"That's right! He must have an ulterior motive, so he deliberately sneaked into obedience! Zhang Xiaochun, who couldn't guess Chu Tianya's intentions, asked him cautiously - "The general is here, is there a confidential matter?" ”

"yes, it's confidential." Chu Tianya followed his meaning and said seriously, "Chu, there is something to ask for." ”

Zhang Xiaochun's heart tightened, "Dare to ask the lower officials, how should I serve?" ”

Chu Tianya laughed, "It's not a big deal, please ask Governor Zhang to help me find someone." ”

"Who?"

"My wife who didn't come through the door."

“…… Who is it? Zhang Xiaochun didn't react for a while.

"Of course it's Xiao Linglong, Lord Xiao."

Zhang Xiaochun kept his eyes on the balls, "No, won't you?" Lord Xiao is missing? How is this possible! Who would have the power to rob the county lord Xiao in the general's army of 100,000 tigers and wolves? Besides, if the general can't find someone else, how can the subordinate be deed? ”

"Hey, here's the thing......" Chu Tianya smiled bitterly, and could only tell the truth. Sue sù said that Xiao Linglong ran away on her own, probably to the west. Therefore, I would like to ask Zhang Xiaochun to send envoys to the Western Xia Kingdom in the name of the Hedong Xuanfu Division, and ask them to search for people on their behalf.

"This ...... I'm afraid it's hard to do! Zhang Xiaochun hesitated.

"What's the difficulty?" Chu Tianya's face was straight, "Xiao Linglong is not only my daughter-in-law who has not passed through the door, one of the twelve leaders of the Hedong Righteous Army, but also the Flying Fox County Lord canonized by the imperial court. The county lord of my Great Song Kingdom is missing, shouldn't the government make efforts to find it? ”

"That's right. But the general doesn't know anything......" Zhang Xiaochun said with a wry smile, "It involves diplomatic relations between the two countries, and I, the Taiyuan prefect, the yamen and the Hedong Xuanfu Division, have no right to be arbitrary." Besides, even if the lower officials dared to overstep their authority and send envoys to the Western Xia Kingdom, they would ......"

"What? Why does the prefect have to vomit? ”

"Ahem...... They don't pay much attention either. Zhang Xiaochun's face was extremely embarrassed.

Chu Tianya's brows furrowed, he didn't expect that Zhang Xiaochun would refuse to help for such a small matter. He didn't want to ask any more, so he got up and prepared to leave.

"General, please stay!" Zhang Xiaochun was anxious. Now within a thousand miles of Hedong, he Zhang Xiaochun is like the king of heaven and Laozi, no one has to be afraid, but this Chu Tianya, he will never dare to offend.

"What else does Governor Zhang's Mansion have to teach? Since you don't want to help, Chu has his own way. Chu Tianya said coldly.

"General, please listen to the explanation." Zhang Xiaochun finally coaxed Chu Tianya to sit down again, and said bitterly, "Western Xia has always been at odds with my Great Song Dynasty, and there have been many battles. In order to protect the livelihood of the people, the Great Song Dynasty also called the New Year's coin to the Western Xia. Since the Jurchen invasion of the south last year, the Western Xia has also followed the well, repeatedly taking advantage of the fire to rob our border, and now the relationship between the two countries is very tense. The imperial court did not dare to carry out diplomacy against Western Xia lightly, let alone the prefect of Xiaguan District? Although the lower officials hold authority, they are also subject to the imperial court, and they hope that the general will understand. ”

"Governor Zhang said so much, didn't he just want to sue me for a word, that is, the Western Xia Kingdom didn't take the Great Song Dynasty in his eyes at all, even if you sent an envoy, the other party would ignore it, and it was possible to bring humiliation on yourself?" Chu Tianya said.

Zhang Xiaochun smiled bitterly, "Only the general dares to say this kind of thing, how can the lower official say it?" ”

"Okay, then don't bother Governor Zhang. Chu sent three or two brothers to take a trip. It's not that we haven't cleaned up the military forts on the border of Western Xia. If he doesn't comply, I'll use my muscles and bones to take him two more forts!" If you don't agree to help me find someone, I won't stop attacking the Western Xia border for a day, and it just so happens that I have an army of 100,000 under my command and is in urgent need of actual combat training. Chu Tianya snorted coldly and stood up, "Weak countries have no diplomacy, this is really right!" ”

"Think twice, this may affect the diplomatic relations between the two countries! …… Ay! Zhang Xiaochun was anxious, but he also knew that he couldn't persuade Chu Tianya at all, so he had to clap his hands and stomp his feet helplessly, shaking his head and sighing with a wry smile.

Chu Tianya smiled instead, "Governor Zhang, the monarchs and ministers in the court are weak and incompetent in diplomacy and war because they look ahead and backward, and suffer from gains and losses. During the previous Battle of Taiyuan, Zhang Zhifu was also enthusiastic and daring, why is it that he is now promoted to become a Hedong Xuanfu envoy, and he has this bad problem of being timid and afraid of death? -- As the saying goes, people are good at being bullied, no matter what kind of enemy they are, as long as they can show desperate courage, the other party will be in awe of me. Whether you are a man or a country, how can you lose your blood? ”

Zhang Xiaochun was speechless, silently took off the black gauze hat on his head and held it in his hand, and said: "If the general goes, the lower officials have nothing to stop him, so he can only put on this black gauze official hat and the head of the neck, and sacrifice his life to compensate for each other." But the lower official wanted to say more, if the general fought with the Western Xia at this time, it would inevitably affect the diplomatic relations between the two countries. The general has always looked at the overall situation with a clear view, and knows that the Jurchens are bound to invade the south again. At that time, whether the Western Xia Kingdom is our ally or an accomplice of the Jurchen will all be in the general's thoughts. ”

"Thanks for reminding me, I'm in my own hands." Chu Tianya smiled easily, took the black gauze hat in Zhang Xiaochun's hand, put it on his head in a dignified manner, and said, "You can be your Xuanfu envoy with peace of mind!" Even if this place in Hedong is changed to sit in the town today, I Chu someone will not buy his account. Therefore, as long as Chu is alive one day, you can't throw away this black gauze hat even if you want to--that, Chu has taken his leave! ”

Zhang Xiaochun watched Chu Tianya walk away, and then slumped on the chair with a long sigh.

"Weak countries have no diplomacy? I think that the country of the Great Song Dynasty would let a thief carry out diplomacy; My dignified court official actually has to live by his snort! ――What kind of world is this!! ”

When he went out of the city, Chu Tianya was calm and relaxed, but Xiao Fei, who was following him, was annoyed, and said hatefully: "This Zhang Xiaochun used to be quite righteous, but now he has become so timid and treacherous!" He was afraid that he would lose the black yarn on his top, and he refused to help the lord find Lord Xiao! ”

"He is also responsible for abiding by his duty, and he can't be blamed." Chu Tianya said indifferently, "Actually, I didn't have much hope for him, and I came here to run it just out of a courtesy need." Don't let him complain about me when the time comes, and don't say hello to him. How to say, now our hundreds of thousands of people still have to be supported by Taiyuan Mansion's money and food, and it is not good to turn against him. ”

"Lord, what should we do next? Do you want to send troops directly to the Western Xia Kingdom to ask for people? ”

"You're sick in the head!" Chu Tianya was all angry, "It's not that the Western Xia Kingdom robbed our Xiao County Lord, the teacher is unknown, why should he go to the other party to ask for someone?" Besides, it is difficult to say whether Lord Xiao went to the Western Xia Kingdom or not. ”

"What then?"

Chu Tianya thought for a while and said, "When Meng De rebuilt Qingyun Fort before, he had sacked the military fort of the Western Xia Kingdom, so we still have a grudge. This time, I came to salute first and then soldiers, first make a small compensation to the Western Xia Kingdom, show goodwill, and ask them to help find people. At the same time, let Jiao Wentong, Ma Kuo and Liang Xing pull the men and horses of Qingyunbao to the border of the Yellow River to practice and drill, so that they can see our military might. It would be best if the Western Xia Kingdom agreed, how to say that we are also neighbors, and we should rely on each other to fight against the Jurchen foreign enemy. ”

"And what if they don't say yes?" Xiao Fei asked stunned.

"Ninety percent chance I would say yes." Chu Tianya said, "They won't understand the truth of cold lips and teeth. Only those faint kings and courtiers in our court will do such a stupid thing as destroying the Great Wall by destroying Liao. ”

"Then, what if they offer some excessive conditions to threaten them, or simply donkey donkeys, or refuse to agree?"

Chu Tianya laughed, "Then beat him hard and force him to agree!" ”

"Haha, I'll see it!" Xiao Fei suddenly laughed heartily, "My lord, if you let you sit on that dragon chair in the Tokyo Imperial City, our Da Song will definitely not be bullied again!" ”

"It's as simple as you say." Chu Tianya chuckled, as if talking to himself, "The matter of finding the county lord Xiao is actually my private matter in the final analysis, but now it has risen to the level of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This is a good opportunity, first, to practice and train soldiers, second, to make a name for themselves, and third, to seek the ...... of the alliance."

"What did you say, lord, the villain didn't hear clearly?"

"It's none of your business! - You go first and ask Mende to prepare the food and drinks, and I will have dinner with him. Remember, it's just me and him, two people! ”

"Yes!"

That night, Chu Tianya returned directly to Qingyun Castle. For this lord who came and went without a trace, the people of Qingyun Castle seemed to be used to it, and they were not surprised by his sudden arrival.

Dinner was settled at Mende's residence, and the two brothers sat down and drank together. After three rounds of drinking, Chu Tianya explained to Meng De his actions against Xiao Linglong and the Western Xia Kingdom.

Meng De pondered for a while and said, "Brother, can you be sure that Lord Xiao is really going to the Western Xia Kingdom?" Even if she is, she has been walking for a long time, and now it is estimated that she has crossed the territory of the Western Xia Kingdom. ”

"Yes and no, does it matter?" Chu Tianya smiled meaningfully, "For Lord Xiao, whether you can find it or not is one thing, and whether you find it or not is another concept. Even if she runs to the ends of the earth, I must find her back. If you don't find it for a day, you can't stop for a day. Moreover, our Qingyun Fort once had a grudge against Western Xia. Seeing that the Jurchens are about to go south, it will not be comfortable if the Western Xia Kingdom takes advantage of the fire to rob us in the back and waist. We must take this opportunity to resolve this old enmity and forge an alliance with it. ”

"I'm afraid it's not that easy." Meng De frowned and said, "Previously, I fought two military forts in Western Xia in order to borrow grain and horses, and I was very ruthless. The Tangut people wanted to peel off my skin. ”

"It doesn't matter. There are never eternal enemies and friends, only eternal interests. Chu Tianya said, "Now the Jurchens are the strongest, and the Song and Western Xia are both weak and dangerous. At this moment, we can only unite the weak to resist the strong, otherwise, once Hedong is finished and the Great Song Dynasty is finished, the next one will be the turn of Western Xia. Such a simple truth, they will not not understand. I don't expect the Western Xia ally to be so sincere to us. Just make sure they don't come and take advantage of the fire. In addition, the Qingbai Pond salt and cattle, sheep and horses in Western Xia are all things that we urgently need. If we reconcile with it, it will be very beneficial to us in terms of resources and trade. If we can control the trade between Hedong and Western Xia, the profits brought by salt, horses, tea, and livestock alone will be enough for our Hedong rebels to be self-sufficient. Being financially independent is the foundation for true growth. At that time, our food, clothing, and food will not have to be completely parasitic on the imperial court. If something happens, it won't cut off your livelihood and starve to death. ”

Meng De suddenly brightened up and clapped his hands in praise, "Brother, you are still thoughtful and far-sighted!" I didn't say it, that's it! -- I offended the Western Xia, so Meng De himself went out to make peace. Even if you sacrifice my seven-pound head, if you can change it to a Western Xia ally, it will not be a loss! ”