Xie Shu was slightly surprised to hear the old man say that this was a game between him and his good friend. However, in his opinion, this man was indeed not like most old men of this era. He gave him a feeling of being talented and brilliant.
Therefore, there was no hesitation on Xie Shu's face.
His eyes were still on the chessboard. After a moment, Xie Shu's pupils focused on one point, and he said, "Thank you for not giving up. I will give it a try."
Hearing this, Jiang Hong put aside his thoughts for the moment. He narrowed his eyes and looked intently.
At this time, Xie Shu had already picked up a white piece, and his fingertips slowly moved towards a certain place: "Old sir, look, place this white piece here, West Nine and South Ten."
Jiang Hong frowned slightly, a little puzzled. You should know that there are several important rules in Go, such as suppressing the strong but not the weak. When the opponent is flanking you, you need to suppress the opponent's stronger piece, strengthen yourself, and attack the other weaker side. And when the game enters the opening, you should guard against the enemy's seizure of the position of the dragon in the middle, because both sides move their pieces to the middle, and the faster they come out, the better.
But Xie Shu's move was neither to break through to the top nor to resist the black pieces' attack on the dragon, but to continue moving downwards.
Isn't this ignoring the overall situation?
But at the moment when Xie Shu made his move, Jiang Hong's already old eyes suddenly lit up, and he said "good" several times. He never expected that there was such a wonderful point below. This move was just "one piece to fill two sides"!
In the attack and defense, when the black piece occupied several more routes in the middle according to the conventional method, the opponent's corners were also empty, so he was not without room for maneuver, but was restricted everywhere. However, Xie Shu actually found a point-corner conversion point, which not only connected the bottom, but also took into account the big dragon in the center. This chess is alive!
Jiang Hong couldn't help but sigh, "This chess is wonderful! If it weren't for you, my white chess piece would be stuck here. I just wonder if you can tell me why you thought of this move?"
Xie Shu smiled faintly upon hearing this and said, "I am only playing a finishing touch. In fact, the key lies in the foreshadowing you laid before. You placed white pieces in the corners one after another. The black pieces saw that they could not make any moves, so they attacked the center. However, the isolated pieces had already taken root. Even if the black pieces were in sight of the big dragon, the white pieces still had the power to fight back. So I thought of the word 'neutralization' at that time."
"Neutralization?"
Jiang Hong suddenly understood that when joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness is not expressed, it is called moderation; when it is expressed in moderation, it is called harmony. This is why Xie Shu could focus so calmly in such a situation.
At this moment, Jiang Hong's mind was full of thoughts, recalling everything that happened in the capital. If he had followed the path of moderation at that time, perhaps things would not have come to this.
But for Jiang Hong, he understood the principle, but the difficult part was how to put it into practice. However, Jiang Hong quickly put aside his distracting thoughts. The other party's words just now made him feel very good. He looked at Xie Shu with a little more appreciation.
Of course, this was not enough for Jiang Hong to accept him as his disciple. Besides, how could he be the first to suggest accepting a disciple?
Jiang Hong stared at Xie Shu and slowly said, "My friend, your chess skills are so exquisite that I admire you. Yesterday, you gave me a room, and today you gave me some chess pieces as a gift, but I don't know your name yet."
When Xie Shu heard this, he understood that the old man was a good friend of the abbot of Qixia Temple. He got there before him and his husband yesterday, so there was one less house.
Seeing the old gentleman speaking so politely, Xie Shu replied without any hesitation: "My surname is Xie and my given name is Shu. You can just call me Xie Shu."
Jiang Hong said with a smile: "I see that you are already twenty years old, but you haven't chosen a name yet?"
This was the first time Xie Shu was asked this question. In ancient times, there was a saying that men could be given a name when they turned 20, and only elders could take a name, so naturally, they did not have a name originally.
Xie Shu looked at Jiang Hong's eyes, which were clear and wise, as if he had seen through something. Xie Shu said naturally, "I have just come of age, and my parents have passed away. Now I am studying at home, without any teachers or friends, so I don't have a name yet."
Speaking of this, Xie Shu was actually a little helpless.
Previously, Xie Shu had told the prefect Wan Linming that he was studying at home. At that time, Wan Linming's reaction was the same as most people, thinking that Xie Shu was disrespecting the academy, so Xie Shu had to explain something.
The old man said as if it was a matter of course: "So that's the case. However, your Jinling Prefecture School is indeed inferior and has the suspicion of misleading students. Of course, most prefecture schools are like this, specializing in studying the meaning of scriptures and calligraphy, but you don't know that although the meaning of scriptures and calligraphy is based on the Four Books and Five Classics, it is ultimately a minor branch. Therefore, even if people from the prefecture can pass the local provincial examination, they will fail when they enter the imperial examination in Beijing.
Nowadays, the examination strategy is no longer like the previous dynasties, which was "only seeking the text, not the reason", "only discussing the chapters and sentences, not the way of governing". Only by knowing the past and the present, and being familiar with the chaos, can one be the pillar needed for the stability of the country and the governance of the state. Haven't you heard the words of the sage, the truth of the four words "Jingshi Zhiyong"? Only by studying the root of politics and education can one reach the source of ritual and music..."
How could Xie Shu have expected to hear such penetrating words from the old man? Not only did the old man seem to be very knowledgeable about the imperial examinations and the current political situation, but what shocked Xie Shu even more was that when he mentioned the word "Your Majesty", he still had a calm and composed demeanor.
You have to know that the ancients had a lot of awe for the imperial power, but this old man was different. This shows that he was either well-read and had foresight, or he had held a high position and was at an extraordinary level.
But it is also possible that both are true.
Xie Shu looked respectful and bowed, saying, "Sir, your elegant words are like a revelation to my ears. Please enlighten me."
Seeing Xie Shu like this, Jiang Hong couldn't help showing a bit of satisfaction in his eyes, but Jiang Hong didn't speak directly. He pondered for a moment and said, "I don't deserve your advice. I only know a little bit, but I can help you solve your doubts."
At this time, Jiang Hong changed the subject and said, "But I have an appointment with a good friend today. How about this? Let's meet here at dawn tomorrow. Are you free?"
At dawn?
The dawn time that Xie Shu refers to is the time when the sky is just getting light, that is, the Yin hour, 3-5 in the morning. Getting up at this time is a bit too early for Xie Shu.
However, Xie Shu did not ask anything, but bowed again and said: "Junior will remember your words."
Jiang Hong waved his hand casually, and waited until Xie Shu's back disappeared before looking at the chessboard again with a smile on his face.
When Xie Shu came down from the mountain, it was already dawn, and he returned along the same route.
When he was coming down, he happened to meet an old monk wearing a bright red cassock. Most of the monks here were wearing khaki robes, but he was the only one dressed differently. Xie Shu guessed that he was Xuanzhen, the abbot of Qixia Temple.
Xuan Zhen saw him smile, put his palms together and said, "Thank you, benefactor. Did you just come down from this cliff?"
Seeing Xie Shu nod, Xuan Zhen asked again: "Then have you seen an old man up there?"
Xie Shu knew exactly why he asked this question, so he could only say, "Are you talking about an old gentleman? He is studying the chess board, and I dare not disturb him."
Xuan Zhen got the answer and said no more. He said goodbye and laughed in his heart. How come Jiang Hong's chess skills haven't improved much in the past twenty years? Instead, he has become better at cheating. Yesterday he used the excuse that it was late, but this morning he came here secretly to play chess.
I don’t know what solution he came up with tonight!
Xie Shu did not go to other places in Qixia Temple and went straight back to his previous meditation room.
Several maids in the yard were gone, and the entire side yard was extremely quiet, even the birds singing in the early morning had disappeared.
Xie Shu guessed that her husband probably wanted to rest alone, so he sent them away and quietly pushed open the tightly closed door.
The door made a slight creaking sound which was covered by the rustling sound of clothes. After Xie Shu closed the door, he walked into the inner room and saw the man half-sitting in the plain curtain. His clothes were loose and untied.
His trouser legs were rolled up high, exposing his pair of snow-white calves. He applied the medicine to himself bit by bit with a frown on his face.
He felt someone coming and immediately raised his head, his black hair sliding down his shoulders.
His eyes were wet, and the red mole at the corner of his eye was charming and tempting.
Xie Shu remained silent for a long while.
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