In the early morning of the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, it was Sui Hua who first came to visit Sima Yi at the military affairs yamen, which surprised Sima Yi. When Sima came out after tidying up his clothes, he learned that Sui Hua did not bring the local generals in Yangzhou, but only brought the woman who sent him yesterday, as if he was here to ask why he didn't accept beauty.

After seeing the ceremony, Sui Hua didn't talk nonsense, and said with a smile: "Last night, Xiangguo had a banquet in Taishou Mansion, and he never greeted him from afar, so he specially brought Bo Li here today to talk about his heart." ”

Saying a wave of his hand, there are guards in the courtyard to carry two boxes of things in, but when they are opened, they are some clothes and furnishings that are clear at a glance, not flashy, and there are no valuables, which is obviously intended to be seen by outsiders, since he has invited Sima Yu, he always has to give some gifts, and the brocade box that was sent yesterday is worth more than a thousand gold, and today he will send something that is not an eyesore, indicating that there is no money and money between him and Sima Yu.

Sima Yi thought to himself that this Sui Hua was also a person who was good at doing things on the scene, even if Sui Hua didn't expect it, the strategists under him would also take it into account for him, so yesterday's banquet and gifts, and today's gifts were all carefully planned. Thinking of this, Sima Yi nodded slightly and said, "After thanking Sui Taishou for his kindness, the things were left first." ”

Sui Hua smiled and nodded, as if he felt that Sima Yi was not as oily and salty as he imagined.

"Xiangguo came from afar, and there are always guards to guard him when he enters and exits Yangzhou City, and someone needs to take care of Xiangguo's daily life, so he brought a maid from the house to come, so that she can take care of Xiangguo in front of Xiangguo on behalf of the officials, and please Xiangguo, you don't refuse people thousands of miles away." Sui Hua smiled again and sent the woman who was sent yesterday again.

Sima looked at the woman, who still had her head down. She obviously didn't tell Sui Hua all the conversation in the carriage yesterday, otherwise Sui Hua wouldn't have said that this was the maid in his house. But it doesn't matter if it's or not, since this woman is giving it to him as a gift, don't you. has to be forced into him, which shows that this woman is not only a gift, but also may be Sui Hua carefully arranged the eyeliner that is ready to be placed next to him, and is still staring at his every move on weekdays.

Originally, Sima Yi could have refused, but he still had to leave room for doing things, and he couldn't have a head-on conflict with Sui Hua, just maintain the current perfunctory attitude towards each other. Sima Yi nodded slightly: "That's the case." People accept it, Sui Taishou takes care of it, and he keeps it in mind. ”

Sui Hua was completely relieved. smiled: "I'm afraid that I will snub you, Xiangguo, and it will be difficult to explain to Your Majesty and King Hui when you turn around." Come on, don't you want to help Xiangguo carry things inside? You also go in, Ben Taishou has something to talk to Xiangguo. Don't be disturbed. ”

Taishou discussed military affairs with Xiangguo. How dare others eavesdrop on the side? First, the things were carried in, and the people all exited outside, and when the people left, the door was closed, and Sui Hua said to Sima: "Xiangguo has been in Yangzhou for a while, and the errand that His Majesty and King Hui have explained should also have a settlement, otherwise it is really impossible to deal with the above." But I don't know how Xiangguo is going to arrange the defense of Yangzhou, so that the lower officials can know it. Can you also have a proper arrangement? ”

Sima borrowed only ten days from his appointment, and in these ten days. He didn't even find his own position, let alone get his errand done. If he doesn't do anything, Sui Hua and the generals in those places have no bottom in their hearts, for fear that he has a conspiracy and tricks that he hasn't used, and they are all guarding against him.

Sima excused himself: "Your Majesty has given an errand, but there is no deadline, and now the war between the north and the south may not be able to fight, so ...... Don't rush things. After I plan again and ask Your Majesty for instructions, I will inform Yu Sui Taishou of the arrangement. ”

In Sima Yi's words, there was no mention of King Hui, he had done it intentionally since he had contact with Sui Hua, he wanted to show that he only obeyed the empress's orders in this way, and Xiao Zhan was only responsible for it, as for King Hui's side, he would not think about it.

Sui Hua was obviously not satisfied with this, and his face was a little uncomfortable: "Xiangguo dragged on like this, I'm afraid it will be difficult for the lower officials to explain." More than 100,000 soldiers and civilians in Yangzhou are waiting for the government to make a move, if the imperial court soldiers and horses are not sent for a long time, there are refugees in Yangzhou City fleeing south every day, this does not need the northern soldiers and horses to come, Yangzhou City is almost an empty city. Xiangguo still needs to make arrangements for defense as soon as possible. ”

Sima got up and said, "Okay." ”

Sui Hua saw that Sima borrowed the intention of sending off guests, and did not want to stay longer, he did not pay much attention to Sima borrowed in the first place, but he just had to beware of Sima borrowing to seize his power, but unfortunately Sima borrowed the identity of the Jiangbei defense chief, and the imperial court did not send any helpers to assist, and the local people in Yangzhou were all his cronies, he was naturally not afraid of Sima borrowing to make a move, but he was afraid that Sima borrowing would be consumed like this, and the more he consumed, the more he felt that there might be a conspiracy behind his back.

After sending Sui Hua away, Sima returned to the hall to have a sip of tea, and was about to go back to the inner hall to continue to play against himself with nothing to do, when he felt as if there was a breath around him approaching, and with the sound of tiles above his head, he naturally looked up at the top of his head.

"Who?" Sima sighed.

But someone jumped down from above, and when he arrived at the door of the main hall, Xiao Yingying walked in was Li Shanye, a person from the rivers and lakes who had run to keep him in the Southern Dynasty. Li Shanye was still dressed in a wide robe and cloth as before, without any shelves, and even came with a little respect this time.

"Cao Min Li, I have seen Sima Youxiang." After Li Shanye entered the door, he saluted.

Sima waved his hand to signal the vigilant soldier next to him to step back, and then stepped forward and said with a wry smile: "Sir, is this sarcastic to me?" ”

Li Shanye said with a smile: "I thought that Brother Sima was in a high position, and I almost forgot that I was such a reckless person, but when I saw him today, I knew that Brother Sima was so cheerful and open-minded at any time, and Li really admired it." ”

Sima excused himself and said, "Sir has come to make fun of me again." ”

As soon as he said goodbye, Li Shanye sat in the place where Sui Hua had sat just now, and immediately someone looked at the tea, but Li Shanye also seemed to be thirsty, drank a cup of tea, as if he was not thirsty, and said to the attendant next to him: "Please send another cup of tea, this journey is hard, and the thirst is unbearable." ”

Sima waved his hand to let the attendant retreat, and then said, "Sir has something to come to discuss?" Why not choose after the night, but come in this blue sky and daylight. Not afraid of being noticed by people in Yangzhou? ”

Li Shanye said with a smile: "I'm here to drink and talk with Brother Sima, and by the way, let's see if I have a chance to play a game, if I even have to hide old friends." Is that the work of a gentleman? Brother Sima doesn't have to look at Li with such eyes, I'm telling the truth, after forcing you to stay in Yangzhou that day, I haven't seen Your Majesty and King Hui, so naturally there will be nothing special to bother you, Brother Sima. ”

"Oh?" Sima looked at Li Shanye, but he still didn't believe it in his heart. If Li Shanye didn't come to convey anything on behalf of King Hui or Xiao Zhan, it was that he had some insight to discuss with him. It can be seen that Li Shanye's posture is not like he wants to discuss a major matter with him, otherwise he would not have come during the day. I also deliberately wanted people to know the same.

Sima said: "Since Mr. came to ask for a glass of water and wine, he naturally wants to be entertained, and as for the game, I am afraid that Mr. will not give advice." ”

Li Shanye laughed and said, "I'm afraid that Brother Sima will blame him in his heart." Worried even before entering the door. Brother Sima said this, and Li was completely relieved in his heart. Let's go inside and talk? ”

Sima Yu accompanied Li Shanye to the inside, Huan'er was sorting out the things sent by Sui Hua just now in the inner hall, she didn't recognize Li Shanye, but when she saw someone coming, she wanted to retreat, but Sima Yu motioned for her to set up the chessboard. Huan'er moved the chessboard from the side, but Li Shanye shook his head with a smile and said, "I'm going to play against Brother Sima today." It's not between black and white, it's chess. I wonder if Brother Sima can be proficient in this? ”

Sima Yi is considered to be from a Jiangdu family, even if he has been running around in Jiangdu City with Han Jian since he was a child, he has always been involved in qin, chess, calligraphy and painting, but the "chess" he is involved in is only Go, for chess, Han Jian has some research, and he knows that it is a rule, which is a beginner. If you want to play against Li Shanye like this, you don't have the slightest chance of winning.

Sima told him the truth: "I am not good at chess. ”

"It's okay, it's okay, sometimes life experience is just for the growth of chess skills, Li also knows that Jiang has a chess player, and he has never had the opportunity to play against him, so today he will play against the Sima brothers first, as if he had a confrontation with him in advance." Li Shanye took out a small wooden box from his arms, which contained round chess pieces, as well as a chess board drawn on thick paper, placed on the original wooden chess board of Go, and then made a gesture of invitation to Sima Yi.

Sima Yi didn't know anything about what kind of chess player Jiang Du had, and now listening to the meaning of Li Shanye's words, it seems that he has a lot of connections with this person, and he has dealt with him first, as if he has made a move with this chess player. Sima Yu thought to himself, could it be that this national player was his father's disciple?

Li Shanye didn't wait for Sima to borrow, first set up the chess pieces, and said to Sima Yu: "Please." ”

Sima Yi also sat down, but he really had no experience and didn't get started. Li Shanye suddenly withdrew his carriage and horse artillery, and said with a smile: "You can start now." ”

As soon as the words fell, the horse came out, so that he would not be excused by Sima to eat another horse.

Although Sima Yi is not good at chess, he also knows the importance of this cart horse cannon in the chess game, in the past, he played chess with Han Jian, it was also nonsense, and later Han Jian also lost the interest in training him to become a chess master, and would rather go to Ruan Pingxia than look for him. Because of this, his knowledge of chess is only scratching the surface.

Since Sima Yi couldn't guess Li Shanye's intentions, he had to play against Li Shanye first. After only a few moves, Sima Yi looked powerless, and looked up at Li Shanye, who was full of interest at this time.

"Brother Sima, it's your turn." Li Shanye smiled and looked at Sima Yudao, who was still there.

Sima frowned without stretching his eyebrows, and said: "Mr. came from afar, not to play chess, and he knew that he knew that he didn't know anything about chess. ”

Li Shanye said with a smile: "Some things are not as complicated as Brother Sima thought, or maybe someone Li is a little bored, and you want to talk to Brother Sima about the world, and try your chess skills by the way?" ”

Li Shanye refused to say his true purpose, and Sima Yi had no choice but to play against him first. Sima Yi has known Li Shanye for a long time, and he also knows that this old friend likes to go around in circles, and he was also secretive with him in the Qinglou Chu Pavilion a few years ago, and asked him to send money to those girls, and finally said the matter roughly, but in the end it was still a little unclear, but he knew that now everyone in the south is in danger, and the Cao Gang and some local schools have begun to become the talisman of ordinary people.

didn't say much, Sima Yu almost didn't have to think about every move, anyway, he lost anyway, and it didn't make much sense to resist stubbornly. When the chess game reached the middle game, he lost too many pieces because of carelessness, and even Li Shanye seemed a little embarrassed to continue the game with him.

"It seems that Brother Sima is really not good at this." Li Shanye finally sighed.

Sima said: "I have already made it clear in Xiadu, and Mr. should have known it a long time ago. If you have something to say, it's always good to say it directly. ”

Li Shanye smiled, and did not ask Sima Yi to finish the final endgame, but said with deep meaning: "But I don't know that the national player will continue this endgame, who will kill the deer?" ”

Sima Yi didn't know what he meant, he had studied a lot of the endgame of Go, and it was also the result of passing the boredom in the past two years, and as for the endgame of chess, he didn't understand it at all. I don't even know who this "national player" in Li Shanyekou's mouth is, where can I know the hidden purpose behind it?

Li Shanye seemed to be chatting with emotion, but in the end he sighed lightly: "Brother Sima doesn't have to mind too much, some things are indeed beyond his power." It's as if you came to Yangzhou and now live here, this is not a stage for you to display your talents, but it is precisely because the Sima brothers are here that Yangzhou will continue to be stable. ”

finally got to the point, but Sima Yi couldn't understand the meaning of Li Shanye's words.

"Sir, do you think that with just one person, I can stop the thousands of troops in the north?"

Li Shanye shook his head with a smile and said, "Definitely." The reason why Yangzhou is stable is not that the soldiers will be able to block, but that the soldiers will not come, and there is no problem of blocking and not blocking. If I Li were to play this game of chess between the north and the south, I might choose to use the land on the left side of the river as the direction of the main attack in the north, so that I could restrain the forces of the southern dynasty and get twice the result with half the effort. But I just can't figure out the psychology of some people, but he will always surprise and surprise. ”

In the end, Li Shanye's emotion, Sima Yi roughly understood. Because he is in Yangzhou, Han Jian will choose to avoid Yangzhou, and take the Jiangjiang region as the main direction of the southern invasion, although the south of Yangzhou is Jinling, so there is a kind of meaning of giving up the near and far, but this is also a steady and steady way.

Originally, His Majesty and King Hui let the Sima brothers guard Yangzhou, but also to ensure the stability of Jinling, but this made the north gradually encroach on the power of the Southern Dynasties, which is not a long-term solution." On the contrary, it is better to use Jinling as the key to determining victory or defeat than in the battle between the north and the south 20 years ago, and the success or defeat of a battle always gives people a chance to breathe. (To be continued......)