Chapter 20 - 1#
“Please let the chess players draw lots—”#
The patrol officer’s voice rang like a bell, piercing the silence of Huiyang Gate, startling flocks of birds into flight, and also drawing everyone’s gaze down to the table.
The Observation Terrace was packed to overflowing today; nearly all court officials had come, their burning eyes fixed on the table, their very breaths tangled with the fate of the lots.
Wen Zhuo no longer remained seated. He gathered his robes and stood to one side.
Crown Prince Shen Zhen, representing Emperor Shunyuan, had come alongside Prince Xian to bolster the morale of the Great Qian chess players, but both men wore grim expressions.
Yesterday, Emperor Shunyuan had coughed up blood upon hearing that Nanping had won battle after battle. That very morning, he had insisted they must see Great Qian triumph and restore national prestige.
But the Crown Prince and Prince Xian knew in their hearts like a clear mirror: turning this contest around was now as difficult as scaling the heavens.
They had not personally meddled in those dirty affairs.
Such unsavory methods were always handled by their underlings, while they, as sovereigns, needed to maintain an appearance of virtue and righteousness to command the faith of the hundred officials.
If people learned that the heir apparent was the sort to sell the country for power, without any bottom line , wouldn’t the entire court descend into chaos?
Yet knowing and not speaking out was tacit approval. When the truth finally came to light, they could simply push those underlings forward to take the blame, preserving their own clean reputations.
Regardless, their own reputations must never be compromised.
Minister of the Transmission Xie’s heart leaped into his throat. He suddenly reached out and grabbed his son, who was about to step forward and draw the lot: “My son…”
Xie Qian was pulled off balance and couldn’t help but laugh: “Father, what are you worried about? The Xiao clan, the Yang clan, the Zhu clan, the Cheng clan, the Song clan—they lost. That doesn’t mean I will lose! Those Nanping rats are ugly and contemptible, nothing to fear. Let me slaughter them to the last man and spread the glory of the Xie clan!”
The Transmission Minister gnashed his teeth in rage, wishing he could beat his son into a hospital to spare him this game: “What time is it, and you’re still underestimating the enemy!”
Xie Qian was completely oblivious to the gravity of the situation and lowered his voice: “Father, those Nanping ghosts only got the chess manuals of the Eight Schools a few months ago. The mysteries of the Eight School chess games are profound—how much can they have learned? I’ve received the true transmission of the Xie clan since childhood, and I’ve already fully integrated it. Naturally, I will be invincible. I think Yu Shaoqing, Zhou Mingze, and the others lost precisely because they, like you, boosted the enemy’s morale!”
“…”
The Transmission Minister turned his hopeful gaze to Xie Langyang, who stood nearby: “Hengze, quickly advise your cousin—he absolutely must not underestimate the enemy!”
Xie Langyang was present as a member of the Xie clan to support Xie Qian. But now his face was full of exhaustion, his eyelids sunken, a few stubbles of beard protruding—a hint of disheveledness.
He looked at the self-conceited Xie Qian, his heart filled with nothing but unspeakable bitterness and resentment.
As a younger generation member of the Xie family, he couldn’t refuse marrying Gong Yuwen; he was powerless to stop the Xie clan from leaning towards the Crown Prince; and he was utterly helpless watching his elders toady to the enemy and sell out the country for factional struggles.
From childhood, his elders taught him the ways of Confucius and Mencius, speaking of ’establishing the heart for Heaven and Earth, establishing destiny for the people, continuing the lost teachings of the sages, and establishing peace for ten thousand generations.’ Following this path, he passed the imperial examinations, came first as the Zhuangyuan, and was just about to spread his wings in the court when he was told that the words of the sages were merely tools to bind and control the people.
The people endure hardship without complaint, suffer injustice without hatred, and die without regret—all relying on the teachings of the sages.
These words struck him too hard. Perhaps he was truly foolish, never able to learn.
Later, Wen Zhuo told him: “If you can’t learn, don’t learn. I’ll learn enough for both of us. In times of chaos, we need strategists; in times of order, we need upright ministers. Just follow your heart and be your pure, untainted self.”
But now, with no Wen Zhuo by his side to rely on, he had to learn even if he couldn’t.
For the sake of Xie Qian before him, and for the grand cause of the man he assisted, he had to shatter his former self with his own hands, staining himself with sins he could never wash away in a lifetime.
“No need to persuade.” Xie Langyang uttered three bland words.
The Transmission Minister was stunned.
But Xie Qian was delighted: “See, my cousin said it! Father, you think too much!”
Xie Langyang’s eyes were hollow: “Whether he underestimates the enemy or not doesn’t matter. Go ahead.”
After all, someone else would bear the consequences; someone else would bear the sins. He had been dragged into this without rhyme or reason, and he didn’t even know who to blame.
Nanping? The Xie clan? The Crown Prince? Shen Chen? Or Wen Zhuo, who first proposed the plan? Or perhaps Jun Dingyuan, who provoked Nanping’s desire for revenge, and thereby caused Shen Zheng to escape the tiger’s mouth only to enter the wolf’s den?
Before leaving home today, Shen Chen had specifically gone to the prince’s residence to check and confirmed that Shen Zheng had been sleeping all along and hadn’t gone out.
Although Shen Chen said this generation’s Shen Zheng was different, everything seemed to be developing along the predetermined track, with not the slightest deviation.
“Hengze, this…” The Transmission Minister watched helplessly as Xie Langyang turned and walked towards the Observation Terrace.
Xie Qian smoothed his sleeves, raised his head, and strode proudly to the chess field, drawing the crucial lot at the table.
A streak of vermilion at the bottom of the lottery stick, like fresh blood, stabbed painfully into the eye.
Xie Qian raised the copper stick, and the patrol officer announced loudly: “Chess player Xie Qian, against Nanping’s Mu Yi.”
A clamor erupted from the Observation Terrace.
Perhaps Heaven enjoyed playing tricks on people. All the Great Qian chess players had drawn Nanping opponents, turning the contest into a real “three against three” death match.
Earlier, some had hoped the Nanping players would wear each other down, and even if Great Qian lost one or two games, they could barely explain it away. But now, if all three games were lost, it would be a complete loss of face.
It had rained last night, and today a wind had inexplicably risen, making the weather cold and bleak.
Wen Zhuo tucked his hands into his sleeves, looked up at the sky. The sun was obscured by thin clouds, leaving only a vague outline, giving no warmth at all. It seemed still early for the clouds to part and the sun to shine.
“It has begun.” A faint smile lingered in Wen Zhuo’s eyes.
Shen Chen didn’t know if he was too fixated on Wen Zhuo’s reaction, but seeing Wen Zhuo smile now made his heart skip a beat for no reason.
What could Wen Zhuo possibly have to smile about? The lots had been drawn, Great Qian’s defeat was irreversible, Shen Zheng was destined to be the scapegoat, the Yongning Marquis’s estate was fated to serve him, and Wen Zhuo was completely out of moves.
Could it be that Wen Zhuo this time planned to find someone else to blame, or let the Eight Schools bear the responsibility themselves?
But he had no evidence that the Eight Schools had secretly colluded with Nanping, and Nanping would never admit their victory depended on the chess manuals.
By then, the Three Judicial Offices would be filled with people from the Crown Prince, Prince Xian, and the Third Prince. Shen Zheng’s guilt was as good as sealed.
Shen Chen mentally reviewed every step of the Spring Terrace Chess Meeting, confirming there were no loopholes. Only then did his hanging heart slowly settle.
The players now stood on either side of the chess tables. According to Great Qian’s etiquette for games, the players bowed to each other before sitting down to begin.
As soon as Xie Qian bowed, he saw the Nanping player opposite move like a puppet: first lowering his head inch by inch, then slowly bending at the waist. His face was still dark and grey, expressionless, as if a corpse from an undertaker’s shop had come back to life.
Xie Qian watched helplessly as a lock of hair fell from Mu Yi’s thinning scalp onto the chess table, then was blown away by the wind.
Mu Yi instantly had a bald patch, but seemed completely unaware.
Xie Qian’s skin crawled.
What kind of bizarre thing was this!
The players sat down one after another, the games began, and the clerks from the various chess houses stationed at Huiyang Gate got busy.
With eyes as sharp as eagles and steps as swift as flying, they mounted fast horses, shuttling back and forth to announce the moves made on the field.
“Board One, black stone, upper right star point!”
“Board Two, white stone, upper right star point!”
“Board Three, black stone, lower right komoku!”
…
Within the imperial palace, special recorders noted each move. Through carrier pigeons, the chess games observed by Emperor Shunyuan lagged behind the actual site by only half a moment.
The officials on the Observation Terrace couldn’t help commenting on the games—
“Hey, why did Xie Qian place a stone at Tengen?”
“Exactly. Tengen is the center of the board. Although it doesn’t directly claim territory, it can radiate in all directions and control the overall situation. This is the Xie clan’s chess technique.”
“Indeed! Black plays a small knight’s move to guard the corner, securing the upper right territory while echoing Tengen, forming a pincer formation! Looks like Xie Qian has the advantage in the opening.”
“Xie Qian has, after all, immersed himself in the Way of Go for six more years than the Nanping player. Naturally, his play is more solid.”
“Look! Black extends from Tengen, connecting with the upper right force while limiting White’s expansion towards the center—killing two birds with one stone!”
“As expected of the Xie clan! Purposeful, forming formations slowly, storing energy for the attack. This move is truly exquisite!”
…
The expressions of the Xie clan officials relaxed slightly, silently praying that Xie Qian could maintain the initiative and secure victory.
Xie Langyang ascended the Observation Terrace and, without meaning to, drifted closer to Wen Zhuo. He had a thousand words to say, but in the end, they condensed into a heavy, silent stare.
Wen Zhuo leaned casually against the railing, his posture carefree. Suddenly, he clapped his hands: “Xie Qian’s chess is truly wonderful. It makes me, this Director, look at him with new eyes.”
The Transmission Minister, who had been walking halfway, was jolted. He pushed through the crowd and squeezed to Wen Zhuo’s side, asking earnestly: “Director Wen truly thinks so?”
Wen Zhuo turned his head, and the ripple in his gaze seemed to perfume the very air.
He smiled easily, his teeth white as jade, possessing the natural grace of a celestial being, always carrying a hint of enchanting charm.
“Yes, I think Xie Qian, a talented youth like that, will surely win the match. You needn’t worry, sir. Just watch.”
The Transmission Minister seemed to swallow a calming pill. He clasped his hands and smiled: “I borrow the Director’s auspicious words.”
Xie Langyang stood a few steps behind Wen Zhuo, his heart churning. In this world, only he, Wen Zhuo, and Shen Chen knew the true outcome of today’s chess games. How could Wen Zhuo say such a thing?
Seeing that sinister plan from the previous life about to be reenacted, did he feel no shame or remorse at all?
If Wen Zhuo hadn’t proposed framing Shen Zheng in exchange for the Yongning Marquis’s support, how could Shen Chen have thought of it?
If Shen Chen hadn’t thought of it, then Xie Langyang today wouldn’t be in such an embarrassing position.
“The talented youth of the Xie clan plays chess well, but why does Secretary Xie look so gloomy?”
Xie Langyang turned at the voice and found the speaker was the Yongning Marquis, who had been idle at home.
Years ago, the Yongning Marquis had dominated the northern deserts with such merit that he overshadowed his sovereign. Emperor Shunyuan, uneasy, had recalled him from the north and confined him to the prosperous capital to ’enjoy his twilight years in peace.'
The Yongning Marquis knew his place. To avoid the emperor’s suspicion, he voluntarily surrendered his military authority and never again concerned himself with battlefield matters.
Another who had been stripped of military power along with him was Duke Liu of the State, who had rendered meritorious service in supporting the emperor’s ascension.
But Emperor Shunyuan soon paid the price for his paranoia. Nanping seized the opportunity, conquering seven cities of Great Qian in one fell swoop. Great Qian had no generals to deploy, so they had to swallow the humiliation and send a prince to Nanping as a hostage.
The Yongning Marquis witnessed his eight-year-old grandson being sent away, his heart turned to ashes, and he resigned from office. No matter how Emperor Shunyuan summoned him, he declined reinstatement, citing old age and infirmity.
But his son, Jun Dingyuan, couldn’t swallow that insult.
Jun Dingyuan traveled alone to the southern frontier, starting as a trial company commander. With his exceptional courage and strategy, he swiftly grew into a commander formidable enough to shake a region.
In the twenty-second year of Shunyuan, Nanping invaded again. Emperor Shunyuan wanted to settle the matter peacefully, but a general in the field may refuse the sovereign’s orders. Jun Dingyuan acted with lightning speed, not giving Emperor Shunyuan time to react, and directly launched an attack.
By the time the capital received the news, Jun Dingyuan had already driven the Nanping people back more than a hundred li, achieving a great victory.
The Yongning Marquis’s family had always been loyal and valiant, born to be generals.
Xie Langyang looked at this kind-eyed old general, feeling deeply ashamed. He forced himself to reply: “I’m mourning a crane.”
“Oh, what does that mean?” The Yongning Marquis had a good impression of Xie Langyang, as he was the only member of the Xie clan who hadn’t sided with the Crown Prince, and he had always been of an upright disposition.
The current Crown Prince was incompetent, just like the emperor. An incompetent emperor was insecure; insecurity bred suspicion of meritorious ministers and good generals; suspicion of meritorious ministers corrupted the court; a corrupted court led to national decline.
Xie Langyang glanced towards Wen Zhuo. At their distance, he was sure Wen Zhuo could hear him.
Driven by some unknown emotion, he desperately wanted Wen Zhuo to know his thoughts and feelings.
“I happened upon a crane. Both its eyes were blind. It strayed into a farmyard. But in the front yard were jackals, and in the back yard were dogs, all baring their fangs, ready to spring. The crane wandered alone, completely unaware of the approaching danger. But the farmer stood in the doorway with folded arms, watching coldly, showing not a trace of compassion.”
Wen Zhuo did hear him. There was still a smile in his eyes, and he cast a glance backward, catching sight of Xie Langyang’s familiar, pedantic, yet conceited gaze.
He understood clearly. In Xie Langyang’s story, Shen Zheng was that crane, currently trapped in a snare without knowing it, while only Xie Langyang offered useless pity.
Wen Zhuo was the indifferent farmer, devoid of any compassion.
“Oh?” The Yongning Marquis sensed there was more to the words but didn’t realize they pertained to his own grandson. But after a moment’s thought, he replied: “Or perhaps one could throw a stone to startle the crane.”
“What?” Xie Langyang withdrew his gaze from Wen Zhuo’s back and stared straight at the Yongning Marquis.
The Yongning Marquis smiled: “Since Secretary Xie is present and pities that blind crane, why not throw a stone into the yard to scare the crane away? The jackals and dogs may be fierce, but how can they harm a crane that spreads its wings and flies?”
“This, I cannot…” Xie Langyang stood frozen on the spot. “I mean, the farmer—”
The Yongning Marquis was puzzled: “The farmer is the master of the jackals and dogs, so naturally he wouldn’t rescue it. But why is Secretary Xie hesitating?”
Xie Langyang hurriedly defended himself: “The farmer’s heart is as cold as iron; he sees death and does nothing. I have unspeakable difficulties and cannot rescue it. How can these two be conflated!”
The Yongning Marquis: “Whether a heart is made of stone and iron, or whether one has unspeakable difficulties, to the crane it is ultimately the same: not rescued. The sage often says we judge by actions, not by intentions. What meaning is there in harboring ten thousand thoughts but never putting them into action? One cannot invoke the sage’s words when needed and discard them when not.”
Xie Langyang’s figure trembled as if struck by a heavy blow. He stood dumbfounded, speechless.
The Yongning Marquis’s words were too sharp. For the first time in his life, Xie Langyang glimpsed the ugliness within his own heart—so shameful, so dark and base.
In the previous life, he had known Shen Chen and Wen Zhuo would do this but hadn’t stopped them, deceiving himself into believing that as long as he didn’t participate, he was still innocent.
In this life, the matter had fallen to him to carry out, and he could still excuse himself: he had unspeakable difficulties, he had no choice.
But in others’ eyes, what difference was there?
Wen Zhuo couldn’t help thinking: it was most fitting for the Yongning Marquis to say these words.
The blow Xie Langyang suffered today was probably even heavier than the day he returned to the Qingliang Hall.
Wen Zhuo turned around, half-smiling: “This story is interesting. The farmer is shameless and naturally cold-blooded. But Secretary Xie, filled with compassion, must surely plan to throw a stone to startle the crane, as the Yongning Marquis suggested?”
Xie Langyang dared not look Wen Zhuo in the eye.
Wen Zhuo took a step closer, his gaze icy: “If Secretary Xie can truly follow his heart, then you are truly the best among the pure and upright. I, this Director, am unworthy to compare. I imagine the crane is still trapped. If Secretary Xie steps forward to save it, it is not too late.”
Xie Langyang couldn’t help retreating a step, whispering: “Wanshan… I know I have many faults.”
Just then, someone suddenly cried out—
“Not good! White forcibly breaks through, breaking Black’s blockade!”
“Xie Qian’s Black ko threats are unfavorable. He wants to consolidate his external influence, but White plays a diagonal move, preventing Black from taking root!”
“Xie Qian wants to split White and open a new battlefield, but White captures a Black stone!”
“Disaster! Xie Qian has fallen for the trap! This is a feint to the east and an attack to the west! White is about to break into Black’s right-side territory and reduce it to nothing!”
“Xie Qian panics! He wants to abandon this formation, expand his lower-side territory, and open another battlefield. But now White has the advantage!”
In just half an hour, the game had taken a sudden turn. The Nanping player displayed no emotion, showing neither discouragement when losing momentum nor impatience when gaining it. Xie Qian, in contrast, looked much inferior. Though he was six years older, he was far less composed than Mu Yi.
“The Shi clan’s game isn’t going well either! Mu Er counterattacks Shi Qingjiu, forcing him to split his attention to respond, leaving him no time to encircle!”
“The Helian clan’s game is even more precarious! Helian Qiao is entangled in a wrestle in the corner, the game already in chaotic disarray. He shouldn’t have played that overhanging net move on the upper side last turn!”
Seeing the Xie, Shi, and Helian clans all fall into difficult positions one after another, the light in the Crown Prince’s and Prince Xian’s eyes gradually faded.
The sky grew darker. The bone-chilling cold after the rain was hardly an auspicious omen. Could today truly become Great Qian’s calamity?
Perhaps they could only hope the Emperor would be lenient, gloss over the matter, and not investigate too deeply. After all, His Majesty was in poor health; he probably didn’t have the energy for a thorough inquiry.
But Shen Zheng was determined to shatter that hope.
He threw himself out of bed, dressed neatly, and headed straight for the Hall of Mental Cultivation, to pay his respects to Emperor Shunyuan, who was staring gloomily at the chess board.
Eunuch Liu Quan saw Shen Zheng striding towards him and was about to bow when Shen Zheng grabbed him by the shoulder.
“Eunuch, listen to me. I have urgent news for His Majesty concerning the outcome of today’s chess games. His Majesty must hear it!” Shen Zheng’s expression was grave, his tone so urgent it seemed Great Qian would fall tomorrow.