Chen Caozhi and Jiang Sixuan played this game of chess for nearly an hour, and it was already twilight at the end of the game, and the waiters of Situ Mansion lit eight three-core headlights, and the Yayan tea room was brightly lit.

Lu Shi, Lu Na, Wang Biaozhi, Wang Ningzhi, Han Kangbo, Huan Mi and others had already said goodbye to Sima Yu and left, leaving behind to watch the chess are Go enthusiasts, including Yu Yun, although Yu Yun hates Chen Caozhi, but such a wonderful chess game is not to be missed.

During the Wei and Jin dynasties, the society was in turmoil, the pain of mourning awakened a strong sense of life of the scholar class, many people indulged in pleasure on the surface, but there was a deep sorrow hidden in their hearts, they drank all night, dispersed, feasted, had all kinds of strange words and deeds, they used short-term joy to hide or escape the eternal fear of death, Go was also in the Wei and Jin dynasties, and the status was elevated, becoming the three major arts along with calligraphy and music, Go's alias "hand talk", "forget worries" and "sit in hiding" appeared in this period, Ji Kangyun " Qin and chess are fun, far away can be cherished", Go played the same role of drinking and dispersing, a game of chess unconsciously half a day has passed, this is called to solve worries, often the master of Qing talk is also a master of Go, saying that Go is "hand talk" is the famous branch of Daolin, and when the game can show the elegance and demeanor of the player, Wang Dao used chess to test Jiang Sixuan is this reason, so, a person who is proficient in Go has no less influence among scholars than good at painting or good at talking.

Although Jiang Sixuan won Chen Caozhi in the back hand, he was greatly impressed by Chen Caozhi's chess skills, and said: "The advantage in the first half of the game is not small, but unfortunately the means of restraint in the second half of the game are a little weaker, and I am pulled back little by little. "Ask Chen Caozhi who learned Go from?

Chen Caozhi: "I once found a volume of ancient Eastern Han Dynasty books in Mr. Zhichuan's collection, written by Ban Gu, I don't know whether it is true or false. ”

Ge Hong's collection of books is a confused account, Chen Caozhi whenever he encounters something that is not easy to explain, he uses Ge Hong's collection of books as a statement, Ge Hong is as knowledgeable as the sea, but no one doubts it.

Jiang Sixuan was surprised: "Ban Gu is indeed a Go master, but he can achieve such chess skills with just one ancient book, and it is not an exaggeration to say that he is a genius in chess." He immediately asked, "Can you lend me the ancient score of Bangu?" ”

Chen Caozhi had expected such a question, and replied: "Because the chess game is on paper, it was accidentally destroyed in the rain, but I still remember some of the chess tricks in it." Immediately recited: "The way of the game, expensive and strict, the higher in the belly, the lower in the side, the middle occupies the corner, this chess player is common." The law says, 'It is better to lose a number of sons, not to lose a first', there are first and then first, to hit the left is to look to the right, and to attack the rear is to look forward; the two lives should not be broken, both should not be connected, the width should not be too sparse, and the dense should not be too urgent; and the lover of the son to survive, it is better to abandon it and take the momentum; instead of doing nothing, it is better to make up for itself; the others and I are the first to make a living, and we are all the few to show their strength; those who are good at defeating the enemy do not fight, those who are good at fighting do not fight, those who are good at fighting are not defeated, and those who are good at defeat are not chaotic -- this is a joint battle chapter, a total of 13 articles, and I will record a book to give to the Jiang Protector Army another day. ”

This is the Northern Song Dynasty Hanlin Zhi scholar Zhang Xi wrote the "Thirteen Chapters of the Book of Chess", Chen Cao was familiar with it when he was learning chess in his previous life, and put the classic works of Go in the Northern Song Dynasty in the Eastern Jin Dynasty, which was naturally invincible.

Jiang Sixuan listened to a few words of chess tips recited by Chen Caozhi, and was already fascinated, and heard that Chen Caozhi wanted to record the thirteen articles of Ban Gu's chess treatise, and he was overjoyed, but he didn't thank him, and only said to Fan Ning, who was sitting on the side: "Wuzi, Ling Zun's "Chess Product" should list Chen Caozhi as a product. ”

Fan Ning said to Chen Caozhi: "My father is now living in seclusion in Wu County, how about he have time to ask his son to come with me to see my father?" ”

Fan Wang was Yu Liang's assistant official back then, and he was deeply respected by Yu Liang, and he was appreciated by Xi, and he was an important figure in the Beijing Beifu Yu and Xi factions, and was deeply jealous of Huan Wen, and he was degraded as a concubine by taking advantage of the crime of missing the Northern Expedition, but Fan Wang was still very influential in the Jingkou area, Fan Wang was still the world's Go master, and the nine products of Go: into the gods, sitting photos, concrete, quiet, with wisdom, small, fighting power, if foolish, and clumsy, was put forward by Fan Wang.

Chen Caozhi said: "I am engaged to Brother Fan, and I should go to visit Uncle Fan." ”

Yu Yun on the side heard Chen Caozhi say this, he couldn't help but be a little surprised, he knew that Chen Caozhi and Xi Chao had a lot of friendship, and he had agreed to enter the West Mansion to work for Huan Wen, Chen Caozhi was no better than Wang Xie's children to maintain a transcendent status in the West Mansion, Chen Caozhi was either loyal to Huan Wen, or was abandoned by Huan Wen, and now Chen Caozhi is not afraid of Huan Wen's displeasure when he interacts with people who are jealous of Huan Wen? Xi Chao can see it all in his eyes-

Xi Chao did see Yu Yun's demeanor in his eyes, and couldn't help but smile slightly, although Xi Chao is a child of the Xi family, it is tantamount to betraying the family, following Huan Wen wholeheartedly, and Fan Wang has also made a bad relationship, but he is not a little displeased with Chen Caozhi and Fan Wuzi's relationship, but is happy to see it, Chen Caozhi is an outlier, can be appreciated by a poor disciple of the Gao Shi, make friends with celebrities, and become a scholar in just two years. Xu Miao of the Shu nationality and Liu Shangwei of the Hanmen, after entering Beijing, he made friends with Kong Wang and Fan Ning of Jingkou on art, and the monks and lay people were not praised; The woman he loves, Sanwu Lu Weirui, Chen Jun Xie Daoyun, these things are all gathered in Chen Cao's person, it is really amazing, Huan Da Sima is now lacking a character who can balance the forces of various factions, Wang Xie Gaomen and the Hanmen Shu clan, the Beidi Shi clan and the Jiangdong Shi clan, Jingxiang Xifu and Jingkou Beifu, Chen Caozhi is the best choice to deal with these complicated relationships in the future-

At this moment, Xi Chao suddenly had a feeling of being watched, when he raised his eyes, he didn't see anyone looking at him, only to see Xie Wan, who was sitting opposite, revealing the corner of his cyan shirt behind him, when he was arguing before, Xi Chao had already found the so-called Zhu Yingtai sitting behind Xie Wan, this is not Xie Daoyun, who else will know that Chen Caozhi is arguing today, Xie Daoyun is willing to miss it!

Xi Chao's smile deepened, Chen Caozhi wants to balance the forces of various factions, and this Xie girl is the key.

Sima Yu, the king of Huiji, stayed at the night banquet, Xie Wan knew that his niece Xie Daoyun was inconvenient to dine with everyone, so he said goodbye and returned to Wuyi Lane first. ”

Gu Kaizhi saw that Zhu Yingtai, who was following Xie Wan, didn't look at Chen Cao, Chen Caozhi, and didn't look at Zhu Yingtai, the two obviously had a tacit understanding, Gu Kaizhi couldn't help but be confused, and said in his heart: "It's strange, didn't Zizhong only see Brother Yingtai today, I didn't see Zizhong and Brother Yingtai talk before, why did the two pretend not to know each other, they haven't seen each other for three years, they won't be so calm, there must be a hidden secret, wait for me to ask Zizhong-" But I can't find a chance to ask about this in Situ Mansion."

After dinner, everyone said goodbye one by one, and Sima Yu, the king of Huiji, left Chen Shang and Chen Caozhi's brothers alone to talk at night, and Gu Kaizhi went back first.

Sima Yu's study is simple and clean, with a product of agarwood burner cigarettes, a bright moon outside the window, and the night breeze of mid-spring brings the fragrance of flowers and trees in the back garden and the sparse croaking of frogs.

Sima Yu sat in the plain curtain, with the tail in his hand, closed his eyes and recuperated, an old servant waited on the side, and the brothers Chen Shang and Chen Caozhi knelt on the seat, waiting for Sima Yu to ask.

After a while, Sima Yu opened his eyes and smiled: "Listening to frogs singing at night is very flavorful. ”

Chen Shangxin said: "King Huiji is listening to the sound of frogs, I thought King Huiji was thinking about how to persuade the sixteenth brother not to go to Xifu and serve the court." ”

Chen Caozhi: "The king of Huiji is elegant, the high willow is singing, and the pond frog is singing, all of which are natural." ”

Sima Yu said: "Cao Zhi's argument is invincible, but I don't know how to do it? For example, this cicada singing frog sings, try to say a thing or two for this king's words to be like this ordinary and easy to obtain. ”

Chen Caozhi thought for a moment and said: "Art flowers invite butterflies, pine planting invites wind, water storage invites ping, building a platform invites the moon, planting bananas invites rain, and planting willows invites cicadas, all of which are ordinary and easy to obtain." ”

Sima Yu flicked his tail and said: "It can be said that people who understand the truth, but even if it is an ordinary and easy to obtain thing, it must be peaceful in the country to enjoy it, do you think it is true?" ”

Chen Caozhi bowed down and said: "Yes, the rise and fall of the country is the responsibility of the husband." ”

Sima Yu knocked the handle on the desk and praised: "Wonderful words, the rise and fall of the country, the husband is responsible, and I know the ambition of the man." Said to Chen Shang: "Your brother will enter the West Mansion, how about you stay in the Situ Mansion as a scribe?" ”

Situ Mansion Dianshu Cheng is a nine-grade official, an official in charge of Situ Mansion's scriptures and daily etiquette, although it is not a noble and idle position, but it is difficult to find a child of a second-class scholar clan who has just entered the official career, Chen Shang was overjoyed, bowed down and said: "Thank you King Huiji." ”

Sima Yu said to Chen Caozhi again: "Cao Zhi first entered the West Mansion to experience several years, and then returned to the court to assist the king." ”

Chen Caozhi responded: "Yes." ”

Sima Yu said: "Today's debate is difficult to dump the four, Han Kangbo and Sun Xinggong are willing to bow down, Jiang Sixuan also appreciates you very much, and Shen Gong understands Buddhism because of you-" The tail flickered, and said leisurely: "The day before yesterday, when Cao entered the city, all the people competed to see Jiang Zuo Weiju, thinking that it was a fifty-year event, and it was a victory with appearance; Today's argument is difficult to make a blockbuster, Fan Wuzi even more admired Cao as a generation of Confucianism, this is to win with talent, such talent is the blessing of the country, how can it not be promoted? Asked: "What is the number of products in the year before the?" ”

Chen Caozhi said: "The sixth grade." ”

Sima Yu said: "The sixth grade is the highest grade of the Hanmen, and now the Qian Tang Chen clan is already a scholar clan, and it is not unfair that it is still the sixth grade, and it is proposed to be promoted to the top grade, the second grade, I believe no one has any objections." ”

"The best!" Chen Shang was excited, looking at the sixteenth brother, the sixteenth brother was still calm and calm, and politely thanked the king of Huiji.

Sima Yu said: "As for the Mingsheng Lake, this king ordered the governor of Situ Mansion to discuss with the officials of the Zuo Minshang Department and the Ancestral Department, and then the following Yangzhou and Wu County will give the Mingsheng Lake to the Qiantang Chen family, and in addition, the king will give twenty shade households to the Chen family, just to Cao Zhi's eight characters of 'the rise and fall of the country is responsible', no need to thank each other, just hope that Cao Zhi will live up to the high expectations of this king." ”

Chen Caozhi: "Cao Zhi must do his best to show what he has learned in his life and serve the country." ”

Sima Yu nodded with satisfaction, and said with a smile: "Cao Zhi wants to talk and stop today, let the mainland Shangshu say those words by himself, the mainland Shangshu is extremely embarrassed, haha, even this king thought that Cao Zhi would propose to marry the Lu girl!" ”

Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "I didn't deliberately embarrass the mainland Shangshu, although the Lu girl is what I want to marry, but bringing it up at this time is enough to provoke the mainland Shangshu, so I can't do it." ”

Sima Yu said: "This king can't help it, the mainland Shangshu is resolute and stubborn, it's hard to change his mind!" In fact, with Cao's appearance and prestige, it should not be difficult to find another big girl to marry, if this king still has a girl of appropriate age, he also wants to accept Cao as a son-in-law, haha. ”

This is naturally Sima Yu's joke, in addition to the county lord of Xin'an, his other two daughters are not yet ten years old, just talking, to show his favor to Chen Caozhi.

……

Coming out of Situ Mansion, the moon is in the heart of the sky, the night is as cool as water, Chen Shang feels dizzy, everything is like a dream, he was opened as the Situ Mansion Dictionary Cheng, the sixteenth brother jumped from the lower grade to the upper grade, the Ming Shenghu with thousands of acres of blue waves will belong to the Chen family, and there will be twenty shade households, and the Qian Tang Chen family will have forty shade households, which is second only to the whole family in the number of shade households among the eight great scholars of the Qian and Tang Dynasties, which is all obtained in one afternoon-

Since entering Jiankang on the twelfth, Chen Shang has been worried about the Dazhongzheng assessment, for fear of twists and turns, but this afternoon, great joy came to his face, the sixteenth brother in the Dazhongzheng assessment with outstanding demeanor, profound learning poured four, the king of Huiji rewarded, promoted, given the lake, opened the official, rewarded the shade, completely he didn't dare to think before, Chen Shang today really realized how important it is to be appreciated by the person in power, look at the sixteenth brother, is still pampered and not surprised.

Chen Caozhi thinks much more deeply than his brother Chen Shang, and Sima Yu, the king of Huiji, naturally does this to show his favor, so that he can be loyal to the royal family between the Huan family and the royal family, which is not costly to Sima Yu, but for the Qian Tang Chen family, it is a grace to meet Longwu, so Chen Caozhi said that he wants to serve the country, in Sima Yu's view, the country is the imperial court, that is, the Sima royal family, but of course Chen Caozhi doesn't think so, this can be regarded as a little treacherous Chen Caozhi who has melted through the soul.

It was the end of the time for the Chen brothers to return to the Gu Mansion, and they went straight back to the small courtyard where they lived, where Ran Sheng, Xiaochan, and one of Chen Shang's servants were waiting for them to come back.

Xiaochan served Chen Caozhi in the bath and asked, "Xiao Langjun, how is the assessment of Dazhong today?" Hee-hee, looking at the way San Langjun's eyebrows are flying, you know that Xiao Langjun is famous again. ”

Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "Of course, the third brother's eyebrows are dancing, he has to promise King Ji that he will enter the Situ Mansion as a bookkeeper, and he is a quality official, and he will take his wife and children to Jiankang in a while." ”

Xiaochan screamed in surprise and hurriedly asked, "What official position did Xiaolangjun get?" ”

Chen Caozhi said: "I still have to go to Guxifu, and when the third sister-in-law and little nephew arrive in Jiankang, Sister Xiaochan will stay in Jiankang." ”

Xiaochan was gently massaging the back of Chen Caozhi's neck, and when she heard this, her hands stiffened, and she asked astringently: "Does Xiao Langjun not want me?" ”

Chen Caozhi hurriedly said: "Sister Xiaochan, I didn't mean that-"

Xiaochan listened to Gillian's instigation that day, and was having some resentment, at this time, seeing that Xiaolangjun had the intention of abandoning her, she couldn't help but feel sad, cried, and didn't listen to Chen Caozhi's explanation, and said while crying: "Xiaolangjun doesn't want me, I will go back to Qian Tang and accompany the young lady, the young lady will always want me, woo woo-"

Chen Caozhi grabbed Xiaochan's hand from his shoulder with his backhand, held it in the palm of his hand, and said with a raised face: "Sister Xiaochan, I'm afraid that you will follow me too hard, I shouldn't be so idle when I go to Xifu, okay, don't cry, the tears are dripping on my face, okay if I say the wrong thing." ”

Xiaochan was emotionally agitated and said: "The old housemother told Xiaochan on her deathbed to let Xiaochan serve Xiaolangjun for a lifetime, Xiaochan is also willing to serve Xiaolangjun, Xiaochan is not envious of Qingzhi, Xiaochan is only willing to stay by Xiaolangjun's side, Xiaolangjun don't think about marrying me off, unless Xiaolangjun kicks me with his foot, but I know that Xiaolangjun will not beat people-" Speaking of this, Xiaochan herself laughed out loud, she was originally a cheerful and optimistic woman, but because of something on her mind, she occasionally resented.

Chen Caozhi said with a smile: "It's hard to say, hateful people also have to be beaten, but it's not Sister Xiaochan." ”

Xiaochan looked at Chen Cao's upturned face, her eyebrows, eyes, mouth and nose were all upside down, she couldn't help but look a little weird, but her lips were red and her teeth were white, she was still so good-looking, Xiaochan's heart was "pounding", and she strongly wanted to kiss Xiao Langjun on the face, but she didn't dare, she Xiaochan was not bold, why didn't she dare, it was really useless, Gillian also instigated her to quietly go to Xiao Langjun's bed, and she couldn't do that kind of shameful thing to kill-

Xiaochan hugged Chen Caozhi's head on her chest, and let go: "Okay, my clothes are wet, change my clothes, and Xiaolangjun will wash them by himself." He panicked and went to the cubicle.

Chen Caozhi shook his head, the back of his head seemed to have a soft feeling, and he was distracted, when he suddenly heard Gu Kaizhi's voice in the courtyard shouting: "Zizhong-Zizhong-"

Chen Caozhi hurriedly jumped out of the bath bucket, quickly wiped off the water droplets on his body, and while wearing a shirt, he responded: "Changkang, wait a minute, I'm taking a bath, and I'll come out soon." The heart said: "Bitter, isn't it Changkang Shixing, and you want to chant poetry all night?" ”

Gu Kai's heart was confused, and he couldn't sleep without asking clearly, so he stood outside the door and said, "Zizhong, did you see Zhu Yingtai today?" ”

Chen Caozhi knew that he couldn't hide it, so he responded: "I saw it." ”

Gu Kaizhi said: "Then why don't you meet him, the two of them pretend not to know each other?" ”

Chen Caozhi's reply was like a stream: "Brother Yingtai signaled me not to see him for the time being, I don't know why?" ”

Gu Kaizhi suddenly said: "I see, I know what the reason is, Brother Yingtai said that the Xie family looked down on him Zhu, and he didn't want to meet us in front of Xie Wan, saying that he would meet us privately when he had time." ”

Chen Caozhi said: "I'm also wondering, it turns out that for this reason, the British and Taiwanese brothers are talented, and they are inevitably burdened by the family." ”

Gu Kaizhi said: "Shangyu Zhu clan is also a scholar family, not a poor family, Zizhong, King Huiji appreciates you so much, why don't you recommend Zhu Yingtai to him, just say that Zhu Yingtai's talent is not under you." ”

Gu Kaizhi is really a warm-hearted person, Chen Caozhi had no choice but to lie again: "Changkang, everyone has their own ambitions, Brother Yingtai is a first-class figure in Dai Andao, and he doesn't like the reputation of the world, otherwise, with her talent, she has already been famous in Jiangzuo, and we must not go against her wishes." ”

Gu Kaizhi nodded and said: "That's right, Zizhong, then I'll go back, you have a good rest, you have to recuperate, and you have to go to Lufu tomorrow, but unfortunately I can't go with me." ”

Chen Caozhi heard Gu Kaizhi's footsteps getting farther and farther away, thinking about Xie Daoyun's way of dealing with Gu Kaizhi, and couldn't help laughing.