Huayu97: Starting with Wu Song Fighting the Tiger

Ta Xue flicked its tail and snorted, but instead of kicking, it rubbed its head against Liu Xiang's hand, behaving as docilely as a big dog.

Everyone around was stunned. The stagehands couldn't help but gasp, almost dropping their shovels: "My God! Does Liu Xiang have some kind of magic? Even the wild horse Ta Xue listens to him!"

The horse herder also came over, his face full of admiration, and gave a thumbs up: "Brother Liu, you're amazing! These horses are so obedient all thanks to you! If you hadn't come to serve them and talk to them every day, how could they be so well-behaved!"

Liu Xiang smiled but didn't say anything. He knew that the horses' ability to adapt to the film set environment and cooperate obediently during filming was all thanks to his tireless efforts these past few days. Besides going into the stables before dawn to add hay and clean up manure, he also had to check at night to see if the horses had kicked over the feeding trough. This kind of patience wasn't something everyone possessed.

Liu Xiang solved the problem of taming the horses, and the landscaping project proceeded smoothly.

To recreate the appearance of the battlefield in the Northern Song Dynasty, the production team went to great lengths. First, they built a three-zhang-high (approximately 10 meters) camp wall around the wasteland using rammed earth. While ramming the earth, dozens of workers shouted slogans and swung ramming hammers, hammering the earth firmly with each strike.

The wall was covered with wolf-tooth flags bearing the characters "Song" and "Huyan". The flags were made of coarse linen and fluttered in the northwest wind, making them look particularly imposing.

In addition to the previous few watchtowers that have already been completed, more than a dozen more lookout towers have recently been built. They are all made of pine wood and are five zhang (approximately 10 meters) high. On the top of each tower is a leather drum used for relaying messages. The drumhead is covered with a thick layer of cowhide and makes a "dong dong" sound when struck, which can be heard for more than ten li (approximately 5 kilometers).

Next to the watchtower, there were hundreds of tents set up for Song Jiang, Huyan Zhuo and other troops to rest. The tents were made of coarse cloth and printed with their respective flags, with straw curtains hanging at the entrance to block the wind.

In the center of the battlefield, a three-zhang-wide assault road was paved with gravel, and trenches were dug beside it, filled with straw and wood chips, to be lit during filming to create the effect of billowing smoke.

The props team also made corresponding kits for the Chain Armor Horse, each set of which was carefully crafted from wood and sheet metal.

The horses were clad in armor, their legs connected by iron chains. From a distance, they looked quite real, a dark mass exuding a terrifying and murderous aura.

Next to the stable, there was a hay shed piled high with hay and black beans, which were the fine feed for the horses. Two big yellow dogs were tied to the entrance of the hay shed to prevent thieves from stealing the hay.

To ensure the success of this scene, the production team specially invited several main actors—Li Xuejian, who plays Song Jiang; Jia Shitou, who plays Huyan Zhuo; and Huang Haibing, who plays Xu Ning—to join the crew early on, familiarizing themselves with the horses and figuring out their roles alongside Liu Xiang.

Teacher Li Xuejian, dressed in Song Jiang's costume, wearing a turban, and sporting a full beard, held a folding fan in his hand, stroking his beard and laughing: "Liu Xiang, your horse-taming skills are even better than Wu Song's in the play!"

Liu Xiang quickly waved her hand, her face full of humility: "Teacher Li, you flatter me. I was just thinking about it randomly."

Teacher Jia Shitou also came over. He was a burly man, wearing Huyan Zhuo's armor and carrying a double whip. He patted Liu Xiang on the shoulder and said in a loud voice, "When we film the scene of charging into battle, we two brothers have to work well together! My character, Huyan Zhuo, will be chasing after you and beating you up!"

Teacher Huang Haibing stood to the side, wearing Xu Ning's Golden Spear Squad armor and holding a hook-and-sickle spear with a curved tip that gleamed coldly. He smiled and said, "Liu Xiang, you'd better be careful. The hook-and-sickle spear I taught you is specifically designed to counter linked cavalry formations. Don't let it hook you down too!"

Everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere on set became incredibly lively, even the cold wind seemed to soften a bit.

Lan Xiaoling wasn't idle either. Holding the script, she paced back and forth on set, occasionally squatting down to doodle in her notebook, the pen scratching across the paper. She needed to adjust the lines and scenes according to the actual situation on set, ensuring that every scene conformed to the essence of the original work.

In particular, the scenes where Xu Ning teaches how to use the spear should highlight the ingenuity of the hook-and-sickle spear and also demonstrate the diligence of the Liangshan soldiers.

Seeing Liu Xiang chatting enthusiastically with several teachers, Lan Xiaoling walked over with a smile and handed her a piece of paper with neat and tidy handwriting: "Liu Xiang, this is your line for that battle scene. I've revised it. Take a look and see if it's suitable."

Liu Xiang took a look and saw that the lines were even more powerful than before. The line, "Today we break through this chained horse formation, leaving not a single piece of armor for Huyan Zhuo!" was read with a resounding force, carrying the unique heroism of Wu Song. He couldn't help but give a thumbs up: "Sister Xiaoling, you revised it so well!"

Lan Xiaoling smiled faintly, like the warm sun in winter: "I was worried that the changes wouldn't suit your acting style."

Liu Xiang suddenly realized that Lan Xiaoling and Director Zhang had actually added some scenes to her originally minor role.

In just a few days, everything was ready, and filming was about to begin.

But no one expected that something inexplicable would happen on the first day of filming.

On the day filming began, it was just before dawn, and the northwest wind was so strong it stung people's faces. The crew marched into the wasteland in a grand procession.

The actors, after getting their makeup done and donning heavy armor covered in frost, shivered from the cold, yet remained spirited, their eyes shining as they awaited the filming of this crucial scene.

Liu Xiang wore Wu Song's battle robes, with a tiger-skin vest over them. The tiger skin was made of imitation leather by the prop team, but it still looked imposing. He rode Ta Xue, holding a heavy broadsword in his hand. The scabbard was made of cowhide and polished to a shine. Ta Xue's hooves were wrapped in cotton cloth to prevent slipping. It flicked its tail, snorted, and seemed particularly excited.

Director Zhang Shaolin, wrapped in a military overcoat and holding a megaphone, his lips turning purple from the cold, shouted at the top of his lungs: "Attention all departments! Scene one, Xu Ning teaches the use of the hook-and-sickle spear! Ready—Action!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of gongs and drums rang out, shaking the heavens and the earth. Huang Haibing, who played Xu Ning, stood on a high platform, holding a hook-and-sickle spear. Below the platform were hundreds of extras playing Liangshan soldiers, each holding a long spear and with a solemn expression.

Xu Ning cleared his throat and spoke in a loud voice: "Brothers! This hook-and-sickle spear is specially designed to break up linked cavalry formations! The spearhead is curved to hook the horse's leg, and the shaft is sturdy enough to knock down cavalry! Watch closely!"

As he spoke, Xu Ning brandished his hook-and-sickle spear. The tip of the spear sliced ​​through the air with a whooshing sound. His movements were fluid and graceful, with each move—picking, hooking, stabbing, and chopping—exquisite and skillful.

The extras were captivated, clapping and cheering, as if the cold wind had been driven away by the lively atmosphere.

Liu Xiang stood in the crowd, watching intently. Although he was playing Wu Song and didn't need to learn the hook and sickle spear, he still learned a lot of moves from it and secretly admired Huang Haibing's skills.

The scene was filmed smoothly and was completed in one take. Zhang Shaolin nodded in satisfaction, shouted "Good!", and instructed the stagehands to serve ginger soup to the actors.