On May 15, the sun was shining in the city of Gusu, the temperature was comfortable, and the breeze blew through the river around the city, bringing out a moist atmosphere. The lotus leaves in the water pool are dotted with delicate lotus flowers, and groups of koi fish frolic and chase under the water, accidentally breaking the reflection of the lotus flowers, bringing out layers of ripples.

This day is the annual lotus lantern festival, which is the most important festival in the year of Wu Kingdom. In the afternoon, there is a lively market in the city, and in the evening, people drink wine and admire the moon, and put lotus lanterns into the river to let it drift, and the scenery is even more beautiful.

Zhang Xun and Gong Huangran have been in office for half a month, and Ji Zheng also followed Zhang Xun to seek a position as a strategist in the army. During this time, the three of them were busy with official business every day, and it was rare to breathe, but fortunately, the whole country was on vacation today, and everyone finally had time to gather and play.

After lunch, everyone went to the market to hang out, and the market was full of people. Zhang Xun and Yu frolicked and played, Ji Zheng and Hana were affectionate, Gong Wan was pulling the frost, and Dongya followed like a guard.

Zhang Xun exclaimed: "In the end, Gusu City, it's really lively, huh?" By the way, Xiao Ji, you are from Luoyang, how is this better than Luoyang? ”

Ji Zheng replied: "Naturally, it can't be compared with Luoyang City, but outside the Central Plains, this Gusu City can be regarded as one of the best big cities." ”

Hana scratched her head, "Luoyang? I think I've heard of it. ”

"If I have the opportunity in the future, I will definitely take Miss Hana to Luoyang to have a good time."

"I'm going too!" He Yu said very yearningly: "Luoyang City is where the Son of Heaven is, it must be the most prosperous place in the world, I really hope to have the opportunity to see it." ”

Zhang Xun also echoed: "That's it!" Take us both too! ”

Ji Zheng shook his hand and said impatiently: "Hmph, you two are playing together." ”

The two immediately grimaced at Ji Zheng, and then asked with Yu: "By the way, Brother Xiao Xun, which country are you from?" ”

"I ......" Zhang Xun suddenly felt a little sad, and paused for a moment before replying: "I'm from Shen Guo, but it's just ...... Shen Guo is no longer here......"

He Yu realized that he had said the wrong thing, and hurriedly apologized: "I'm sorry, Brother Xiao Xun, I didn't mean to......"

"It's okay...... It was more than 10 years ago......"

Zhang Xun said this, and suddenly pointed to the crowd in front of him and said, "Look! There are so many people there, what are they doing? Let's check it out! ”

He Yu looked around and replied, "It seems to be reading a notice." ”

"Let's go! Check it out! ”

So the people stepped forward. I saw that a group of people were gathering around a notice, and a man in shabby clothes was pointing to the crowd and shouting: "Disperse, disperse, there is nothing to do with you, you people don't know a single word, and you still know how to play chess?" Don't crowd here! ”

Someone in the crowd was not convinced, and said: "You poor scholar, let you read to the big guy what is written on the notice, why do you still look down on people?" ”

The scholar said unhappily: "It's not that I look down on you, the key is that it has nothing to do with you if you read it, or it's all about to disperse." ”

A disdainful voice came from the crowd, "You are really, I saw you begging for food on the street yesterday, but today is good, are you full of food, and you have the strength to go wild?" ”

The scholar was exposed, and he was angry, and said angrily: "Okay, okay, I don't have the same knowledge as you." Listen, let me tell you what is written on this notice. ”

The scholar pointed to the notice and read: "The king told the people that Gou Jian felt the grace of the king, and specially dedicated the two Yue women - Xi Shi and Zheng Dan to the king. On the occasion of the lotus lantern festival, the king took the two daughters to set up a banquet in the city and enjoy with the people. At the banquet, anyone who has dancing skills comparable to Xi Shi's concubine will receive a bounty of 100; Whoever beats Zheng Dan's concubine in a game will have a bounty of three hundred. ”

After reading, the scholar pointed to everyone and said, "Okay, look at each one, can you dance?" Do you know how to play chess? I said it has nothing to do with you, but I still don't believe it?! It's all gone! Let's disperse! ”

The crowd pointed and talked, and then they all dispersed.

He Yu suddenly realized: "Oh, so that's the case." No wonder my father has been busy with business all day lately, it turns out that the king wants to hold a banquet in the city to have fun with the people, but it's strange, why don't I have any news at all? ”

Zhang Xundao: "This kind of thing naturally can't be leaked, the county lieutenant is in charge of the security affairs of Gusu City, and he will definitely do a good job of keeping it secret." ”

"I can't even know my son......"

The scholar looked around, wanting to take down the notice while no one was paying attention, but when he turned around, he saw that Zhang Xun and a few people were still watching, so he shouted: "Why don't you guys leave?" ”

Zhang Xun was displeased and asked, "Why do we want to leave?" This road is not your home either. ”

The scholar turned around and took a closer look, and found that these people were extraordinary, obviously all of them were Miss Childe, he knew that he couldn't afford to provoke him, so he said stupidly: "Hmph, if you don't go, I'll go." ”

Zhang Xun asked: "This notice also said that the chess players who played against Concubine Zheng Dan in the afternoon in the north of the city, why didn't you tell everyone just now?" ”

The scholar was annoyed, "Even if I tell them, it's useless, if they are literate, won't they read for themselves?" Hum! I won't tell you, it's a delay! ”

"Haha, I see that you are in such a hurry to bombard people, just because you are afraid that there will be more people who know, and there will be more opponents, right? Then you should have taken the notice down. ”

"Humph! So what? If there were no guards, I would have taken the notice down, and I would have taken the three hundred gold anyway! If you are not convinced, we will see you in the north of the city! The scholar was angry and departed.

Zhang Xun looked at the scholar's distant figure and said, "Why are you so angry, what a strange person." ”

Ji Zheng said with interest: "Brother Gonghui, we might as well go to the north of the city to have a look, with my brother's chess skills, we should be able to win easily." ”

He Yu also said excitedly: "That's it! It is! Let's go, I've long wanted to see Brother Gonghui's chess skills! ”

Gong Wanran did not refuse, and said, "It's okay." ”

Ji Zheng asked Hana, "Miss Hanna, if you are bored, I can accompany you elsewhere." ”

"No, no, I also know a little bit about this game of Go, I can look at the fur, it's quite interesting, let's go, let's go together."

So everyone came to the qualifier in the north of the city, where more than 30 people were playing in pairs, and there were no less than 100 onlookers.

Since the qualifiers are a one-game elimination system, and the board is a nine-way small game, the single game time is also very short, so there are few people left to participate in the competition.

Zhang Xun won three sets in a row, and just stretched his waist to prepare for the next opponent, but when he lowered his head, he found that this opponent was the scholar just now.

Zhang Xun smiled: "Haha, what a coincidence, let's meet again." My name is Zhang Xun, may I ask my husband's surname? ”

"Humph! Stop talking nonsense, get started. ”

At this time, Ji Zheng walked to Zhang Xun's side, patted Zhang Xun's shoulder gently, and said: "Brother Xun, this nine-way small plate, what you pay attention to is local fighting, and you must not be controlled by others for the gains and losses of a son." ”

"You know, you know, huh? Are you eliminated? ”

"Well, I lost the fourth game, and there are still a lot of masters."

"Come on, Xiaoxun!" Hana slapped Zhang Xun on the back hard, and the force was really not small, and Zhang Xun almost knocked over the chessboard.

"Thank you...... Thank you, Sister Hana......" Zhang Xun said as he straightened the chessboard.

Subsequently, Zhang Xun began to play against the scholar, and just after more than 20 pieces, Zhang Xun found that this person was very good at chess, and he was probably not an opponent. Sure enough, it didn't take long for Zhang Xun to be defeated by the scholars.

Zhang Xun was convinced, and just wanted to say something, the scholar had already gotten up to participate in the next game.

Zhang Xun had no choice but to leave the table and said to Ji Zheng: "It seems that this person still has two hits, but since he is so powerful, why should he worry about meeting an opponent?" Isn't playing chess about meeting opponents? It's fun to be able to play chess against higher-level opponents. ”

Ji Zheng shook his head, "Maybe this person really needs money." ”

It didn't take long for only two players left in the pre-selection - Gong Wanran and the scholar.

This game no longer uses a nine-way small game, but a standard nine-way chessboard, and onlookers are waiting for this high-level matchup, layer after layer.

A man in the crowd scoffed, "Oh? Isn't this the scholar who asks for food? Haha, I don't have anything to eat, but I can play chess, haha. ”

"Humph! What do you know? The scholar ignored it, just responded disdainfully.

The man scolded: "You bastard, believe it or not, Lao Tzu beat you? ”

The scholar glanced at him, and then saw a man waving his fist, and the scholar couldn't be provoked, so he had to plead: "This big brother, you don't care about villains, don't be like me, you still watch me play chess." ”

"Humph! Spineless thing! ”

The scholar didn't respond, but the grape fell on the plate.

Gong Wanran smiled and shook his head, and also threw himself into the mountains and rivers.

At the beginning, the two were equal, each based on mountains and rivers. But soon, the situation began to burn, within the latitude and longitude, the dog's teeth were staggered, between black and white, and the short-handed battles were connected.

At this time, sweat oozed from the scholar's forehead, and he was always hesitant before he fell, suffering from gains and losses, but he was always calm.

Soon, the situation began to tilt towards the public, and the scholar made mistakes one after another, and in the blink of an eye, the defeat was decided, and he was powerless to return to the sky.

"Empty hands." Gong Wanran said.

The scholar didn't respond, just stood up silently, lowered his head and left the chess table. He squeezed through the layers of the crowd, letting their sarcastic words echo in his ears. The scholar's expression was gloomy, and he knew that in the eyes of the people, he was nothing more than an ugly wild dog, and he would eventually die in a corner where no one cared about him.

Gong Wanran stuffed some coins into Zhang Xun's hand and whispered, "Xiao Xun, go see him." ”

"Hmm!" Zhang Xun took the coin and chased it in the direction where the scholar left.

The scholar walked into an uninhabited alley and suddenly heard a familiar voice behind him.

"You played very well, and if it weren't for the fact that you were upset and indecided, you still had a chance to win."

The scholar turned around and saw Zhang Xun, and scolded angrily: "Hmph, what are you doing here!" Do you pity me by saying this? I don't care about you! I don't need anyone to be pitiful! ”

"Then you're still begging for food?"

"You!" The scholar was choked up and speechless, snorted, and walked away.

Zhang Xun hurriedly caught up and said kindly, "What's your name?" ”

"Humph!" The scholar ignored him and continued to move on.

"Are you short of money?"

The scholar glanced at Zhang Xun with slanted eyes, tugged at his tattered clothes and said, "Are you blind?!" ”

"Here you go." Zhang Xun grabbed the scholar's dirty and shabby sleeve and stuffed the coin into his hand.

The scholar was stunned, almost unable to believe his eyes, he held the coins in his hand, and was so moved that he didn't know what to say.

Zhang Xun saw that the scholar was so excited, but he was a little embarrassed and said: "I think you don't want this bonus to eat well or dress well, but to have something else." It's not a lot of coins, but I hope it helps. ”

"Enough! Enough is enough! Thank you! Thank you! ”

"Don't thank me, it's my brother Xiaoran, the person who played chess with you just now, and he asked me to send you this money."

"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much, boys! Under the people who lost the country, they fled here, and their parents had starved to death on the way here, and when they first arrived in Gusu, their sons also starved to death. Now only his dying wife is left in the family. I wanted to get an errand, but it was useless to be a scholar, and I had nowhere to live, so I could only beg for food on the street so that my wife could live a few more days......" At this, the scholar could not stop crying.

is also a person who has lost his country, and Zhang Xun empathizes with the pain of the scholar. However, human life is different, but fortunately, he has a good home, and a group of good friends, he knows that he is happy, even if the death of the country still comes to his memory from time to time, even if the tragic images at that time are still vivid.

Zhang Xun sighed sadly, took out some coins from his cuffs, and gave them to the scholar, "I still have a little money here, and I'll give it to you, you can use it to buy some food." ”

The scholar nodded vigorously.

"Oh, by the way, if you don't dislike it, I'll report to the Zuo military camp tomorrow, I still lack a food division here."

"My lord? You...... Who are you? ”

Zhang Xun looked a little embarrassed, scratched his head and said: "I don't need an adult, I have just taken office, and I am a little Zuojun Sima, not an adult." ”

The scholar knelt down and thanked him: "Thank you, Lord Sima!" Thank you, Lord Sima! Adults are virtuous, and they are unforgettable! ”

Zhang Xun hurriedly picked up the scholar and asked with a smile: "Now, you can tell me what your name is, right?" ”

"Oh, oh, in the lower Jieyin, I hope that the adult will not care about the past suspicions!"

"Jieyin. Okay, then we'll see you tomorrow, you can buy some food and go home, your wife is still waiting for you. ”

"Thank you, Lord Sima! Thank you, Lord Sima! Jieyin saluted again and again, and only waved goodbye and left for a long time.