Wang Bing was taken aback and discreetly glanced around before musing:

"Nowadays, the Imperial Guard Officers study military books authored by Mr. Le Zheng, specifically the 'Essential Military Classics', which primarily focuses on strategy and planning, while body techniques emphasize the 'Boge Spear Technique'.

If the infantry can master the 'Boge Spear Technique', they can roughly contend with two to three elite warriors from the Western Xia Tixu Tribe.

As for the cavalry, that's another story.

After all, on the battlefield, the impact of armor and warhorses might be even greater than that of cultivation techniques."

"With a good horse and robust armor, even a pig butcher could take down quite a few foes on the battlefield."

Xu Yun nodded thoughtfully.

Mr. Le Zheng, mentioned by Wang Bing, refers to Zeng Gongliang, who has been deceased for over 20 years now.

Back in the day, Zeng Gongliang and Ding Du collaborated to write the military treatise 'Essential Military Classics', which is the first comprehensive state-sponsored military compendium in the region.

Now, the 'Essential Military Classics' has become the official military book for the Song Army, considered as a sort of encyclopedic reference for military strategists.

Comparatively, it can be seen as akin to a major university textbook in later generations, meant to be studied at the collegiate level.

Regarding the Tixu Tribe mentioned by Wang Bing, it is an elite clan on the western front.

The tribe has approximately over forty thousand members, formidable in strength, and is one of the main foes on the western frontline.

Xu Yun pondered further and asked:

"So, what about unarmed combat between a soldier and civilians?"

Wang Bing blinked:

"Civilians?"

Xu Yun nodded, eager not to miss this chance to understand ancient military prowess:

"I mean ordinary adult males, both sides bare-handed."

This time, Wang Bing took much longer to contemplate and slowly said:

"There would be a significant difference, like Old Zhong under the command of the Minister of Strategy who leads the Hundred Battle Camp, where all soldiers practice 'Boge Strength'.

If they confronted ordinary farmers and had space to maneuver, handling seven or eight individuals would be no issue."

Xu Yun nodded slightly:

"That's intriguing."

Xu Yun had a real-life friend who had won a provincial-level boxing medal and been interviewed on television.

Currently, in Shanghai, he runs a boxing club, doing quite well.

This person has been practicing boxing for about ten years. Back in the early 2000s when public safety was less assured, Xu Yun witnessed him solo four thugs at a BBQ stand in his hometown.

Later he told Xu Yun.

If there were no blades involved, and the opponent hadn't trained much in boxing nor been hit directly by a kick aimed to the groin, theoretically he could hold his own against six or seven people.

Of course.

The cost would be that he'd inevitably sustain some injuries himself.

This friend also frankly said.\p>

The special forces in the military, when it comes to combat, might not be that much more formidable than him.

Considering the project variety and training diversity among special forces.

Some elite units might hold an edge, but ordinary special forces wouldn't necessarily outmatch the top three provincial fighters in combat.

Particularly, some reconnaissance-focused special forces members have quite average physiques, maybe even shorter than typical people.

As for whether special forces possess any alleged lethal skills, Xu Yun's friend wasn't sure.

In any case, if such skills existed, they'd likely not be encountered in everyday life.

Given this is true for modern times, it's even more so for the Northern Song.

Both are regular people.

But modern adults and Song Dynasty adults are clearly two very different concepts.

Additionally, with the soldiers of the Western Army having consistent meat supplementation for nutrition, it's not outlandish for a soldier from the elite camp to deal with seven or eight ordinary people.

Even to Xu Yun, this seems somewhat weak.

He then directed his gaze to the stone table, starting to sift through the martial arts techniques.

"'Liu's Saber Technique'..."

"'Yellow Cloud Eagle Claw Technique'..."

"'Fairy Meow Meow Fist'..."

"'Otherworld Conquest Manual'..."

"'Songchuan Pushing Hands'..."

"'Red Whip Leg'"

Wang Bing provided names for the techniques that were straightforward and clear, where the category was evident just from the name.

In terms of imagery, they weren't as enigmatic as the names one would find in martial arts novels, like the 'Exorcism Sword Manual' or the 'Jade Sea Tide-Rising Skill'.

Though this is actually quite normal.

If something like the 'Azure Sky Qi Refining Technique' appeared, Xu Yun would suspect he's transmigrated into a mythical Great Song.

While he continued looking.

Xu Yun suddenly locked his gaze, exclaimed softly, and focused on a book on the left side.

On the cover of this book, engraved in large typeface, were four characters:

'Heaven-Peace Sword Technique'!

Growing up as a modern person raised on martial arts films, Xu Yun's preferred weapon among all is the sword.

This fascination even extends into games.

In games like League of Legends, Xu Yun's favorite champion is Master Yi the Sword Saint, while on various platforms he favors stories featuring Raven.

Not to mention how the name of this technique book perfectly strikes a chord with Xu Yun.

The word "Heaven-Peace" exudes an overwhelming sense of grandeur.

As if a white-robed Sword Immortal stands atop a mountain, gracefully wielding his sword against the sky!

No idea why a technique as distinct in style as this would be grouped with the others.

Then Xu Yun shook his head.

No matter.

Wang Bing must have meticulously reviewed these techniques before arriving, it's unlikely that any unrelated books got mixed in by accident.

Plus, as he mentioned earlier.

These techniques are genuinely selected works with a low entry barrier.

Perhaps after a few months or one or two years of practice, one could begin to gain mastery.

With this thought.

Xu Yun took a deep breath, pointed to the 'Heaven-Peace Sword Technique', and said:

"Captain, I'll learn this sword manual."

Wang Bing followed Xu Yun's gesture, took a clear look at the book, and nodded in strong agreement:

"This sword manual isn't difficult to start with, it trains the use of a light sword, which doesn't demand particularly high strength, suited for a beginner like you.

So, Xiaowang, should we settle on this one?"

Xu Yun eagerly nodded, decisively affirming:

"This one it is!"

Seeing this, Wang Bing refrained from further comments and placed the sword manual in front of Xu Yun.

Then, he collected the rest of the thread-bound books.

Xu Yun picked up the book, his left hand brushed over the somewhat yellowed cover, flipping through a few pages lightly.

Then, impatiently, he asked Wang Bing:

"Captain, when can I start practicing this 'Heaven-Peace Sword Technique'?"

"Brother has now escaped danger and has servants attending to him, so if Xiaowang has time, we can start now."

Wang Bing first answered Xu Yun's question about timing, then noted oddly:

"Besides, Xiaowang, there's something you should know..."

"What's the matter? Do I need to change into training clothes first, or prepare a wooden sword?"

"That's not necessary, it's just Xiaowang, you might not be aware..."

"These books passed down from my father's generation have been around for a while, so some of the text might be difficult to make out.

"Especially at the book cover spot, like the one you mentioned..."

"Its original name actually is..."

"'Lai Fu Sword Technique'"

Xu Yun's eyes widened instantly:

"What???????"

....

Note:

I've looked into several Song Dynasty books, and the Song Dynasty's standard script for Lai, Ping, Fu, and Tian is no different from modern times, sourced from Mi Fu's calligraphy 'Elegy for Empress Dowager Xiang'.

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