Zhu Yunwen also arrived at the main hall, and frowned as he looked at the Go table.

The Eastern Island Kingdom is too arrogant. After the Ming Dynasty established its capital there, the vassal kings were stationed on the frontiers, and the civil officials of the court gradually grew stronger.

Civil officials are least afraid of this kind of thing, and even if he wins this contest, it would be an unfair victory.

However, the envoy from the Eastern Island was somewhat unconvinced.

He calmly arranged the chess pieces, then looked at Zhu Yuanzhang.

"Your Excellency, Go is a specialty of our Central Plains. If we were to defeat you, wouldn't it be an unfair victory?"

"No, not at all. Some time ago, a small neighboring country unintentionally presented the Eastern Island Kingdom with a chess manual, which I found quite interesting and would like to discuss it with you all!"

Zhu Yunwen spat inwardly, "You call this a tribute? Why don't you just say it was a gift from the gods?"

It's highly likely that they searched for it specifically to make things difficult for the Ming Dynasty.

"I never expected that such a small island would have someone so eager to fawn over it. Which small country is so unambitious that it would be better to come and fawn over my Great Ming?"

The envoy from the Eastern Island didn't take it to heart, and just smiled faintly.

"Who from the Ming Dynasty will accept the challenge?"

"I'll do it!"

A loud voice rang out from the crowd, and everyone looked in the direction of the voice to see a fifth-rank official standing up from his seat.

Although he held only a fifth-rank official position, this man's chess skills were exceptional, and all the officials were waiting to see the envoy from the Eastern Island make a fool of himself.

The fifth-rank official sat at the Go table, listening quietly as the Dongdao people explained the rules.

Zhu Yunwen was taken aback. Wasn't this game just the so-called Gomoku (Five in a Row)?

Before I transmigrated, those were tricks only elementary school students would play. When I was a kid, I even studied how to play them in order to beat the chubby boy next door.

However, the officials of the Ming Dynasty did not know how to play this game, and they lost both rounds in a row.

Upon seeing this scene, a smile finally appeared on the princess's pale face.

The envoy from the Eastern Island also burst into laughter.

"I thought the Ming Dynasty was full of talented people, but it seems they are nothing special now. I wonder if Your Majesty has any better candidates?"

As he spoke, his eyes kept fixed on Zhu Yunwen, full of provocation.

Zhu Yunwen glared fiercely at the other person.

The princess straightened her clothes, then slowly stood up and walked to Zhu Yunwen's side with a smile.

"I wonder if this grandson would be interested in a challenge, and whether he will be as valiant as he was yesterday?"

The princess was incredibly rude from the moment she opened her mouth, even calling herself a grandson.

You're the grandson, your whole family are grandsons!

"Princess, you're just indulging in a moment of verbal sparring. You'll soon see what a true master is!"

Princess Dongdao snorted coldly.

She then sat down at the Go table, but today she was smarter and covered her legs with her skirt.

"It seems the princess is prepared to have a contest with me. In that case, I shall humbly accept!"

Zhu Yunwen plopped down on the table, briefly recalling the winning formulas he had seen.

He then gestured for them to proceed.

"Should the Crown Prince go first? After all, I'm familiar with how this works?"

"It's not that I can't leave first, but I'm afraid you'll lose too badly and I'll have to give you acupuncture to save you if you can't catch your breath again!"

"You...you look so smug now, but I'll show you just how badly you've lost!"

"Then I'll show you why flowers are so red!"

As he spoke, Zhu Yuntong placed the black chess piece in his hand, displaying an air of certain victory.

The difference between Gomoku and Go is that Gomoku basically doesn't require much thought; all you need is your hands.

Go emphasizes encirclement, pursuit, and blocking to ultimately defeat all opponents, while Gomoku is much simpler.

This is why Dongdao did not choose Go.

The brain is not very big to begin with, and it simply cannot hold so many schemes and strategies.

The princess gently placed the white chess piece on the board, her face displaying a smile that seemed to indicate she had already won.

Zhu Yunwen calmly placed his second chess piece.

The princess burst out laughing.

"I thought the Crown Prince had seen a lot of the world. Look at you, your two pieces aren't even next to any of our five pieces. You think you've won if they're even in a straight line?"

Zhu Yunwen snorted coldly, "You ignorant fool, I beat you because you look down on people."

The officials wiped the sweat from their brows, realizing that the Crown Prince was likely to perish this time as well.

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't really care about winning or losing, but losing this game would probably make him a laughing stock.

The morale of the people will likely plummet.

The envoy from the Eastern Island also showed a victorious smile. Zhu Yunwen placed the third chess piece and calmly raised his head.

The princess also placed her third chess piece.

"You've lost, Crown Prince!"

"I'm afraid the princess is celebrating too soon. It seems I've won this game!"

Everyone looked at the chessboard again, and sure enough, after the fourth piece was placed, the black pieces had formed a line.

The princess then realized that she had lost.

how so?

The princess looked on in disbelief, knowing that she had practiced Go for a long time, all to make the Ming Dynasty lose face.

But now, I've lost!

And they lost completely in a single move!

"Impossible! Try again!"

Princess Dongdao's face had turned a little pale, and she couldn't wait to put down the white chess piece in her hand.

"Princess, please take care of your health, lest you faint from anger again!"

"Enough with the nonsense!"

Zhu Yunwen won the game in a single move, leaving everyone in shock.

"I'll use black this time!"

Zhu Yunwen was quite magnanimous and handed the chess piece to the princess.

They played four or five games in a row, and no matter whether the opponent made the first move or used the opponent's pieces, they lost within one move.

Watching the princess's face turn from white to red, and then from red to black.

Finally, exhausted, he slumped into his chair.

"Impossible, this is impossible!"

Zhu Yunwen maintained his smile.

There are many impossible things, only things you haven't thought of!

Zhu Yunwen won this competition, and won decisively.

Soon the news spread among the people, and everyone praised the Crown Prince's wisdom and martial prowess.

Zhu Yuanzhang was also very pleased. That evening, he hosted a banquet for his ministers in the main hall. After a few drinks, a blush appeared on his face.

"Today's victory in the competition is entirely thanks to the Crown Prince; it is truly a stroke of good fortune for our Great Ming!"

"That's right, may Heaven bless the Ming Dynasty!"

May the Ming Dynasty last forever!

The main hall was filled with laughter and merriment, while on the other side of the Eastern Island Kingdom, the princess remained seated before the chessboard, shaking her head and sighing.

I never imagined that there would actually be someone in the Ming Dynasty who could play Gomoku so skillfully!

"Princess, the competition tomorrow..."

"Let's stick to our original plan. I don't believe that this bastard can be so lucky every time."

The envoy from the Eastern Island thought for a moment, then whispered a few words in the princess's ear, and an excited smile appeared on the princess's face.

"Are you sure no one can break this deadlock?"

"Princess, don't worry. If all else fails, we still have one last competition. Then we'll just take that bastard's life!"

Princess Dongdao nodded in satisfaction. Since things had come to this point, she had no choice but to take a gamble!