There are more than 30 large and small courtyards in the Zhou Hou Mansion, when the housing was arranged before, Changshi left a courtyard called "Lotus Garden" for the three idiot couples, this courtyard has a small pond of several acres, the pond is full of lotus roots, when the flowers bloom, the lotus leaves are in the field, the flower branches are slim and elegant, Lingbo Cui Gai, the fragrance is far overflowing, the three idiots and Ning are very happy, there were originally two servants in the lotus garden, but Ning resigned, they and their husbands do not want others to take care of them, the ranger assassins, there are always a lot of secrets, do not want to be known by others.

The three idiots have Ning, and the four idiots are naturally not good to live in one place with their cousins, so they live in the "Chuyue Garden" adjacent to the "Lotus Garden", which is the same as a pool of water, and is crescent-shaped on the side of the "Chuyue Garden", with three embroidery houses, clean and elegant, and the four idiots are very satisfied.

That night, Zhou Xuan set up a banquet for the three idiots and his wife, and the four idiots whispered during the banquet: "Third brother, the fifth brother went to Hangzhou to find you, didn't you meet you on the road?" ”

The third idiot shook his head: "I haven't met the fifth brother, oh, the fifth brother of the Lantern Festival Chicken Club is still here, right?" ”

The fourth idiot responded: "Well, the fifth brother is the first playful person in the world, and he must have encountered something fun halfway." ”

Zhou Xuan didn't dare to drink more, and after the banquet, he went to the "Chuyue Garden" with Gu Liuquan and the three idiots, and the four idiots quickly boiled a pot of fragrant tea, poured one and Zhou Xuan first, and asked: "Does the master know what kind of water this is?" What tea? ”

Zhou Xuan smiled and said: "The fourth child tested me, this can't be difficult for me-"

Look at the tea first, clear and green, the tea leaves in the water are curled like snails, silver and green hidden green, and then smell the fragrance, the fragrance strikes, and there is the fragrance of peach and plum, and finally the product, the product again and again. But I can't taste what kind of water this is, but the tea knows that it is "Dongting tea", that is, "Biluochun" in later generations, which is produced in Dongting Mountain of Taihu Lake.

Zhou Xuan said: "March Dongting tea." It scares people. ”

"Where's the water?" The four idiots asked, their faces were colorful, and they seemed to know that Zhou Xuan couldn't answer.

Zhou Xuan said: "This water is not good, it is definitely not among the famous springs, don't be complacent, I can't taste it but I can guess it - the fourth child goes south and north, tea can be brought, but water can't be brought." You must be getting water nearby, the last time the two of us were in Baiyunguan tea, I couldn't taste the water of the stream in front of Baiyunguan, and said, 'A person who is really obsessed with tea ceremony, everywhere you go.' As soon as you see the river, the stream, and the spring water, you have to drink two sips to taste it, and you must know the taste of the water in the world, not just limited to some famous springs'. Hehe, if I'm not mistaken, this water is the Bixi water in our back garden. ”

The four idiots couldn't keep their tongues down, and stammered: "You, how did you guess so accurately?" ”

Zhou Xuan laughed and patted the shoulder of the four idiots, the four idiots forgot to hide this time, Zhou Xuan smiled: "I'll still be honest with you, lest you worship me too much." Two days ago, I was fishing in Bixi with Fairy Jingyi, and I saw you carrying a tank of water back from the upstream, do you still need to guess? Be observant. ”

The three idiots, Gu Liuquan, and later Di Ning all laughed.

The third idiot said: "Now in this world, only the master knows the fourth brother's mind best." ”

Zhou Xuan looked at the four idiots with a smile, and snorted, "The person who knows you best is me-"

The four idiots quickly turned around and said, "I'll go get the chess." "Go to the cubicle and get the wooden chessboard and jade chess pieces.

Gu Liuquan said: "Hou Ye and Huang Xingjian fought to a draw in the first two games, and tomorrow's third game is a single game, which is very important." Does Master Hou have a good plan? ”

Zhou Xuandao: "Counting it, I have played four games with Huang Xingjian, and each won two games. The two games I lost were complete defeats, and the two games I won were a big battle surrounded by a huge void in the middle of the belly, and the game the day before yesterday was the beginning of the game with a strange formula to take advantage, both of which were a bit tricky, on the real strength, Huang Xingjian is really above me, but I must win him tomorrow, and if I don't win, I can't implement my new rules of Go. ”

The three idiots said: "The master's game with Huang Xingjian today is too stable, and he can't be so stable with Huang Xingjian, he has to make a risky move to have a chance, and he must be knocked down in the middle game." ”

Zhou Xuan nodded and said: "The third child is right, it won't work like this today, tomorrow I will force both black and white to a dead end, either a mid-game win or a mid-game defeat, if I take white first, the situation will be easier to grasp." ”

The four idiots said: "It's hard to say what you guessed first, it's luck to rely on the ground." ”

Zhou Xuan said with a smile: "Tomorrow I will definitely take the lead in Zhibai, this does not need luck, luck is put in the time of killing." ”

The four idiots are curious, and they want to know why Zhou Xuan is so sure that he will be able to take the lead tomorrow? But looking at Zhou Xuan's grinning appearance, what he sang just now, "I am the person who knows you best", the four idiots don't want to ask.

On February 27th, the final battle began, Zhou Xuan and Huang Xingjian's odds were ten to eight and ten to seven, the odds were close, Zhou Xuan asked Laifu not to bet today, today's outcome is unpredictable, don't export all the money earned in the previous two days.

This is a game to decide, and you have to guess first, the convention is to catch the older ones, the younger ones guess, Huang Xingjian was about to catch the children, Zhou Xuan said: "Slow, there is a new rule for guessing first——"

Huang Xingjian sneered: "There are so many new rules for the Marquis of Xinzhou! ”

Zhou Xuan said: "These three games of chess were originally a game to try out the new rules, and the people of Huangshan can rest assured that this rule is beneficial to you." ”

Huang Xingjian stopped talking, and listened to Zhou Xuan's new rules.

Zhou Xuandao: "

I have the right to decide whether to be white or black, and I don't necessarily have to be white

Huang Xingjian hurriedly said: "If you guess wrong, I also have the right to decide whether to stick to white or black." ”

Zhou Xuan was waiting for his words, nodded and said, "Of course, fair play-Huangshan people, please." ”

Huang Xingjian grabbed a handful of white seeds, Zhou Xuan guessed the single, counted, twelve, Zhou Xuan guessed wrong.

Huang Xingjian said: "The mountain people want to carry out the black and then walk. ”

Zhou Xuan pretended to be annoyed and said: "I'm really cocooning myself, and I have to pay back two and a half sons first, which is a heavy burden." ”

Huang Xingjian really had a look on his face and said, "Fair play." ”

Zhou Xuan smiled secretly in his heart: "Fool, you really think that you have taken advantage, in the future, the Chinese Chess Academy will post three and three-quarters of the sons first, and I only need to post two and a half now." It's equal to a quarter of a cheaper for nothing, hehe, spare you like a ghost, and drink the old lady, uh.

No, I also drink Benhou foot washing water. ”

—

Zhou Xuan expected that with this new rule of guessing first, he would definitely be able to go to the first white chess place, he guessed correctly, needless to say, if he guessed wrong, Huang Xingjian would also choose black chess, because the first two games were who held white first and who lost, Huang Xingjian naturally thought that it was a loss to stick two and a half sons first. The choice of the latter hand has become inevitable.

This is calculation, taking advantage of people is invisible, and selling well to show good behavior, Zhou Xuan loves to do this thing the most.

At the end of the day, Zhou Xuan's front two hands occupied the upper left and lower right eyes respectively. Huang Xingjian should be a diagonal star, Zhou Xuan's fifth hand in the upper left small eye to guard the corner, in the shape of a worry-free angle, the worry-free angle is very solid, the corner is basically guarded on the ground, and Ma Xiaochun likes the worry-free angle the most in later generations.

It stands to reason. Huang Xingjian should hang the corner in the small eye at the bottom right of the white chess to prevent it from forming a worry-free angle again, but Huang Xingjian is a little afraid of being entangled with Zhou Xuan in the corner, and he doesn't know what powerful moves Zhou Xuan has waiting for him.

Zhou Xuan guarded another worry-free corner, and then began to fight for the ground. Let Huang Xingjian manage the external situation, Huang Xingjian's last game of chess is to take the momentum, and the results are remarkable, so Zhou Xuan is in his arms like this, the higher one is in the belly, and the black chess is walking outside, strong and thick.

Zhou Xuan grabbed the ground too fiercely, and continuously clicked into the black horn star position to go to the ground "three.3", and took the two corners of the black chess piece as his own. Huang Xingjian sneered in his heart: "If you live one more, you will have to pay back one more, and I will let you live." I'm going all out to manage the middle belly, and the whole game is a piece of chess, and if you have four or five pieces, you have to stick four to five pieces, and see how you win? ”

The three idiots, four idiots and Gu Liuquan in the stands were also playing chess, looking for a way to win for Zhou Xuan.

The three idiots said: "The master's purpose is very clear, that is, to take the land, let Huang Xingjian encircle the middle abdomen, and then the master will break into the middle abdomen and carry out a death battle to break the fish and the net." ”

Gu Liuquan said worriedly: "Hou Ye Shikong is a lot ahead, but Huang Xingjian has a strong external strength and huge potential in the middle abdomen, so it is not easy to go down." ”

The three idiots said: "The master's chess, every time there is a good hand in times of crisis, this chess is about to evolve into a difficult situation where both sides are bound to ride a tiger, and the master needs such persecution." ”

The three idiots were very confident in Zhou Xuan, and he was defeated by Zhou Xuan in Shimenjian in Lushan that day.

The chess game is as the three idiots said, Zhou Xuan's white chess occupies the four corners, forming a four-corner piercing heart, Huang Xingjian's black chess is even the side with the corner is magnificent, if this is empty, then Zhou Xuan will be defeated, so Zhou Xuan must go deep alone, Huang Xingjian can not retreat half a step, must annihilate the enemy, this chess is no longer the chess of the official's victory, Zhou Xuan can live in the middle of the belly to win, if he can't live, he will lose.

Zhou Xuan didn't make that move for a long time, he was choosing a point, at this time, the noon sealing time came, and Zhou Xuan had enough time to think about it.

An hour passed quickly at noon, and when the game resumed in the afternoon, Zhou Xuan's first move was volleyed into the black chess sky, and a battle of life and death began.

Wu Weinan and Chen Xingyuan, who were talking about chess on the field, said in unison: "The victory or defeat in this battle is really a game of life and death!" ”

Zhou Xuan touched left and right, moved in the black chess space, and quickly made an eye, but where was the other eye?

The black space in the middle of the abdomen is really big, Zhou Xuandi White Dragon began to run, towards him towards the weak point of the black chess that he has been optimistic about, as long as the black chess makes up a hand, the white dragon's chance of survival will be greatly increased.

After a long examination, Huang Xingjian decided to make up for himself, and this hand was also a remote attack on the white dragon, not a complete detachment.

Both sides made their own strange moves, and the wonderful attack and defense made Wu Weinan and Chen Xingyuan sigh again and again that this is a rare famous game, and the hearts of chess fans who watched the game were hung up, and thousands of people were quiet, as long as the game room passed out the chess score, Wu and Chen only let out an exclamation when they explained the wonderful moves of both sides.

At the end of the day, Yu Linwei and Jin Wuwei opened the way, and Emperor Li personally came to the cockfighting hall to watch the battle, accompanied by Xiao Zhouhou, Donggong and Princess Qingle.

Xu Mian, the king of Wei, was informed and hurried out.

Li Dao: "There is no need to alarm the two opponents, I will wait for the end of the game in the side room." ”

There is a wooden window between the side room and the game room, with carved panes, under which Li and Xiao Zhouhou stand side by side, watching Zhou Xuan play chess through the window lattice.

At this time, Zhou Xuan had entered the realm of selflessness, and his expression was rarely serious, with only black and white chess pieces intertwined in his mind, and there was a strong idea: to do

Live!

Xiao Zhouhou looked at Zhou Xuan carefully, and said in a low voice: "Your Majesty, Xuan's nephew is very fascinated in chess." ”

Li smiled and said: "Entering the gods is the highest level of chess quality. This chess is to be edicted by Zhou Xuan. ”

Princess Qingle stood beside Xiao Zhouhou, looked out from the shoulders of the queen mother, saw Zhou Xuan twisting his thick eyebrows and thinking hard, and said in her heart: "Today's chess game is over, tomorrow he must enter the palace to paint my portrait." Wait a minute, tell the queen mother, the queen mother will dare to disobey the order! ”

The hourglasses of both players leaked, and King Wei motioned for the boy to be silent and quietly withdraw, allowing them to continue.

The sunset is obliquely shining, a ray of red light shines on the chess, and the black and white chess pieces are shining, really like stars. A withered yellow hand was trembling, and the index and middle fingers were holding a sunspot, which did not fall for a long time, and suddenly, the fingers trembled. The sunspot between the fingers slipped on the chessboard—

Zhou Xuan looked up at Huang Xingjian and said, "You lost." ”

Huang Xingjian sat still, and said for a while: "I lost, and the mountain people will never play chess again for the rest of their lives." He stood up with a sad expression.

Zhou Xuan hurriedly said: "Why should the mountain people be like this, the original agreement was only to not play chess for three years." Shanren is a big chess player in my Tang Kingdom, and it is just a fluke to be able to win Shanren this time, and it is also because Shanren is not adapted to the new rules. ”

Li in the side room sighed: "Xuan's nephew's character is better than chess. ”

Xiao Zhou nodded in agreement.

Li walked into the game room, and Zhou Xuan and Huang Xingjian hurriedly knelt down to greet him.

Li Dao: "The two of you are flat, Zhou Aiqing and Huangshan people have played a famous game, and I am also thrilled to watch, both of you are the top chess players in my Tang Kingdom." They should both enter the Hanlin Academy to be edicted. ”

Huang Xingjian's face was ashamed, and he said: "Thank you for your grace, the grass people did lose to Marquis Zhou in the three-way chess confrontation, and the grass people can't break their promises." ”

Zhou Xuan said: "Your Majesty, the people of Huangshan are unwilling to wait for the edict of chess, and the minister wants to hire him to be the Go Qingke of my Hou Mansion, but I am afraid that the people of Huangshan will not give in."

”

Li Dao: "A native of Huangshan, the Marquis of Xinzhou is humble and Huairugu, and Corporal Lixian." Don't go against his will, so be it. I enshrined you as a nominal chess edict, Zheng Eight Pins, Yu Lu according to the leader, no need to enter the palace, just listen to the errand in the Xinzhou Hou Mansion. ”

Huang Xingjian was originally a very arrogant and obedient person, but now he was frustrated by Zhou Xuan and arrogant, the strong can always be admired, and now that the emperor has opened the golden mouth, how can he not know how to lift, and immediately thank him.

Li looked at Zhou Xuan and said with a smile: "Zhou Aiqing is a talent, but I am a little at a loss for you, you are a second-grade scholar, and you are a seventh-grade chess scholar, which rank is good?" ”

Zhou Xuandao: "When the minister accompanies His Majesty to play the game, it is a chess edict, and when he discusses the national policy in the temple, he is a scholar." ”

Li laughed: "Xuan's nephew has great talents, and small ones have small talents." He turned his head to the crown prince Li Jian and said, "Jian'er, I left Zhou Xuan to you." ”

Li Jian hurriedly said: "Erchen remember the teachings of his father. ”

Xiao Zhouhou smiled and said, "Nephew Xuan, you haven't entered the palace for many days, and you don't come to visit your aunt?" ”

Zhou Xuanxin said: "You said that you didn't let me enter the palace without a summons." He immediately said, "My nephew will come to greet my aunt the day after tomorrow." ”

Xiao Zhouhou nodded and said: "Xuan's nephew has played chess for three days in a row, and he must have worked hard, so he will have a good rest tomorrow." ”

King Wei and Zhou Xuan and others sent His Majesty, the Empress, the Crown Prince, and the Princess out of the cockfighting hall.

Xu Mian, the king of Wei, said to Zhou: "Hou Ye Zhou, Xiao Wang will hold a banquet tonight to invite Hou Ye, and Hou Ye must appreciate the light." ”

Zhou Xuan also intended to befriend the King of Wei, and immediately asked the four idiots to accompany Huang Xingjian back to the Hou Mansion and settle them properly, and he took the three idiots to the Wei Palace.

The luxury of the Wei Wangfu is no less than that of the Wei General Mansion of the Emperor Fu Jixun, with dozens of courtesans, singing in a low voice, and the King of Wei frequently persuades him to drink, talk and laugh, but he never talks about the affairs of the court, and only talks about Go, cockfighting, vase flowers, crickets, and beauty with Zhou Xuan...... It is very reasonable to say that we will meet the day after tomorrow to go to the Hou Mansion of Shinshu for a friendly match.

After three rounds of drinking, King Wei asked people to take out two large silver boxes and said with a smile: "Master Hou, this is your land of 10,000 taels of silver." ”

Zhou Xuan was surprised and said: "Don't laugh at the prince, Xiaohou, uh, Xiaohou is not good, let's call it down, when will there be this ten thousand taels of silver?" ”

King Wei said: "Don't hide it from Hou Ye, these three games of chess collected more than 200,000 taels of gambling silver, most of the gamblers in the first two games were wrong, Xiao Wang made a lot of money, haha, this 10,000 taels of silver is even if Hou Ye won the lottery, don't push it back." ”

Zhou Xuan used to fight insects and chess, and this time he played three chess games so hard, but he fought for the seven-grade chess with a second-grade university scholar, and he couldn't draw it when he thought about it, and this time he dropped 10,000 taels of silver out of thin air, and he was overjoyed, and he arched his hand and said: "The prince's affection is remembered, but it is too vulgar, and he is laughing." ”

King Wei smiled: "Master Hou is bold, Xiao Wang likes this." ”

Zhou Xuanxin said: "I will accept you 10,000 taels of silver, but you say that I am bold, these years, there are really a lot of strange things." ”