In Tai 'an City, Sun Yin, the arrogant scholar who had once again found an excuse to ask for leave and not go to the yamen for the roll call, galloped madly out the door. He first found the small bookcase of the Imperial Astronomer, then pulled the youth with him and rushed straight to the Hanlin Academy. After finding the only "tenth dan" of the Liyang Dynasty, Fan Zhanghou, he asked for two boxes of chess pieces and picked a room near the window to store miscellaneous items. He pulled Fan Zhanghou and the youth supervisor to squat on the floor and began to review Cao Changqing's game. The supervisor was responsible for explaining where Cao Changqing's "pieces" were placed. Fan Zhanghou followed the order of placing the pieces and at the same time explained the mystery behind them. However, the further they went, especially after twenty moves, whether it was Fan Zhanghou or the youth supervisor, they all said that the "person" who played black first was mediocre. The first ten moves could be considered passable, but it was also because they were familiar with the exquisite moves of the older generation of West Chu players. According to this person's level, not to mention entering the Liyang Chessboard to await the imperial decree, even Sun Yin himself would be able to win. Ignoring Sun Yin, who was being mocked and ridiculed, he sank into deep thought. Fan Zhanghou grabbed a handful of black and white chess pieces with one hand and was ready to place them down at any time. His other hand held his chin and his brows were tightly furrowed.
Sun Yin muttered to himself, "Cao Changqing, as the number one official in the world, is this the last game of his life 'just like this'? Against such a mediocre player, he was able to tangle endlessly for a hundred moves? "
Fan Zhanghou didn't say anything.
The youth supervisor sneered, "What do you know? Can you see how many moves the black pieces have made? Cao Changqing's opponent was clearly a crappy chess player who only knew how to memorize. He was probably someone who frequently came into contact with West Chu players. From Li Mi, who was known to make West Chu players shout 'Heaven above!' to Wang Qingxin, who was publicly known to only let Li Mi go first, and then to Gu, who lost a piece to Wang Qingxin. All along the way, it could be said that all of the proud moves of the West Chu players had been forcefully used by the black player in this game. Coincidentally, with this hodgepodge of unreasonable moves, the black and white was actually a tie. Therefore, it could be said that Cao Changqing, who was playing white, did this on purpose. Otherwise, who in the world would dare to play Cao Changqing's first move? My Grandpa Jian Zheng can't, Huang Longshi can't, no one can! Even a thousand years later, no one could! "
Sun Yin looked at Fan Zhanghou. The latter nodded lightly.
Sun Yin slapped his forehead, speechless.
Great Peace City was still trembling.
After each earthquake, Fan Zhanghou would accurately place a piece under the direction of the youth from the Imperial Astronomer.
Fan Zhanghou suddenly raised his head and asked, "It's about to end. Are you not going to say hello?"
The youth pretended not to hear and muttered, "The mysteries of heaven cannot be revealed. I still want to live a few more years, and leave this city to go out and see."
Sun Yin's ears were sharp. Hearing this, he couldn't help but tease, "You brat, not only do you have a foul mouth, you're also very slippery."
The youth with the nickname 'Little Bookcase' mocked, "Little Cat, I don't even want to talk to you!"
Kid Cat was an unconventional nickname given to Sun Yin by the young man. He tore down the 'Sun' character and translated the 'Yin' character.
Fan Zhanghou messed up the game and said with a smile, "Let's not play this game. Mister Cao's chess skills can only be judged by Old Supervisor and … in any case, only two people can comment. As to how Mister Cao is outside of chess, it's not something we can comment on. "
Sun Yin stared at the youth who was not wearing the robes of an official but was dressed in white. The latter hesitated and glanced outside the window. In the end, he said, "The Zhao family of Li Yang has lost much of their destiny. If not for this, I would have gone to complain to Sister Empress long ago. Looking at the situation, that Cao Changqing is showing signs of losing all of his destiny to Guangling Path. So boring. If I knew this would happen, I wouldn't have revived the country … "
Sun Yin's eyes suddenly turned red as he shouted angrily, "Shut up!"
Fan Zhanghou sighed softly and said, "Little Bookcase, don't say anymore."
The youth became angry and left with a wave of his sleeve.
Sun Yin squatted there, his chin on his folded arm. He said to himself, "Cao Changqing wants to let Li Yang know that 'whoever wins Guangling wins the world.'"
Fan Zhanghou nodded. "It's a good thing. Guangling Path will have fewer deaths."
Sun Yin said with a wooden expression, "Feelings naturally can't be eaten as rice. But without feelings, it's like cooking without seasoning. Every meal is plain white rice with tasteless vegetables. Over time, there really won't be anything to chew. Some tastes can make your eyes fill with tears, make your teeth chatter, and make your liver and gallbladder break. This is probably feelings. "
Fan Zhanghou silently began to pack up the chess pieces.
Sun Yin asked, "Why do you mock those who have feelings?"
Fan Zhanghou thought for a moment. "People who are too smart don't like to have feelings. People who are too simple and stupid can't have feelings. That's why both don't like this thing. "
Sun Yin grinned. "I should be the former."
Fan Zhanghou slowly put the chess pieces back into the box. He smiled. "I should be the latter."
Sun Yin's eyes suddenly became as sharp as knives. "Then Huang Longshi?"
Fan Zhanghou's expression was normal as he asked in response, "Then Hsu Fengnian?"
The two smiled at each other.
They did not overdo it. They were light.
The sky shook and the earth shook.
This time, the shaking was especially intense.
The two people in the room fell to the ground at the same time and then felt suffocated.
Dust poured down from the roof beams.
Sun Yin lay on the ground with his arms and legs spread out.
Fan Zhanghou continued to pack up the chess pieces.
– –
Outside Great Peace City, in front of Cao Changqing, in the black and white chess boxes, there was only one chess piece left.
Wu Jian of the Wu Family Sword Tomb and Chai Qingshan of the Dongyue Sword Pool could not break through that one zhang of distance.
Cao Changqing remained calm.
Great Peace City was shaken again and again.
There was no one in the cavalry outside the city who could ride on horseback. How could they charge and kill?
The archers outside the city had spasming arms. There were no arrows in their quiver, so how could they rain arrows?
Chai Qingshan was bathed in blood even though that indigo robe had not intentionally attacked him.
Wu Jian's palm was a bloody mess and white bone could be seen.
Chai Qingshan spat out a mouthful of blood and grimaced. "First, I saw Hsu Fengnian receive that sword, and then I saw you, Cao Changqing, being as immovable as a mountain. This life is almost over. Cao Changqing, if you get up and enter the city now, I cannot stop you. I will not block the way here. "
Chai Qingshan turned and slowly walked back to the city gates. His back was bent and he looked old.
Wu Jian, who had been standing between Cao Zhangqing and the city gate, made way for him. He sighed and said, "Although I still have the strength for one sword strike, I definitely won't be able to block it. My Wu family's Sword Tomb has been extremely benevolent to the Central Plains. It's time to stand aside and watch. After all, if we keep the last bit of power, it may be useful in the future. "
As Cao Changqing stopped playing chess.
Heaven and Earth fell silent.
Cao Changqing smiled as he looked across.
The last black chess piece finally jumped out of the box. It seemed that the person holding the black chess piece was somewhat hesitant. It swayed back and forth, unwilling to land. Or it could be said that it did not know where to land.
Cao Changqing leaned forward slightly. He held the chess piece with two fingers on one hand and extended a finger with the other to point at a certain spot on the chessboard. He said softly, "You might as well place it here."
Sure enough, the black stone landed on that spot.
Cao Changqing put down the hand holding the chess piece. He smiled but did not say anything, as if he had admitted defeat.
More than two hundred black and white chess pieces hovered in the air.
Cao Changqing closed his eyes.
You won.
But I, Cao Changqing, never felt that I had lost.
This game of chess was the proudest game of my life, Cao Changqing.
The corners of Cao Changqing's mouth curled up slightly. He suddenly waved the sleeve of the hand holding the chess piece.
The chess piece went from south to north. After entering the city, it charged along the long imperial road, smashing through the gates of the Imperial City, the gates of the Palace, and the gates of the Hall of Martial Heroes.
Only when it smashed through the dragon throne that the previous Emperors of Liyang had sat on did the chess piece turn to dust.
Cao Changqing opened his eyes. His face was covered in tears, but there was no sorrow on his face. He slowly extended a hand in front of him.
It was only at this moment that the old green robe was soaked in fresh blood.
A cool breeze blew through the world.
It blew away the stench of blood, and also blew away the wind.
Cao Changqing's fingers began to dissipate. Then his arm, and then his body.
The black and white chess pieces also vanished.
In the end, that blue robe could no longer be seen outside Great Peace City.
There was no more Cao Guanzi in the world.
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