"Xiaoqiang is here, I'm looking for you."

"Fang Lao ......"

Just when Li Xiaoqiang and reporter Zhang Da were still chatting, Fang Lao walked into reporter Zhang Da's office. Li Xiaoqiang was originally very happy to see Fang Lao, but after listening to what Fang Lao said after he came in, Li Xiaoqiang was not happy.

"Xiaoqiang, I'm retiring, this time it's really retired. Alas, there was still a lot of work to be done, but I really can't do it now. I'm dizzy now, and I feel like my mind isn't very bright, and although I like to do all kinds of research work, I'm really powerless now. Xiao Qiang and Xiao Zhang, the study of ancient Chinese chess in the future can only rely on you young people. ”

Li Xiaoqiang was silent when he heard this. Strictly speaking, Fang Lao has long passed the retirement age. It was only because he met Li Xiaoqiang in his life that his career seemed to have a "second spring". The "Study of Ancient Chinese Chess", which was mainly completed by Fang Lao and cooperated with Li Xiaoqiang and others, has been recognized as the most systematic, comprehensive and possibly the most objective work on the study of ancient Chinese chess.

Because of this work, Fang Lao has received high praise in the academic community. Although Fang Lao was already an expert in the study of ancient Chinese chess before this, by now, he has been recognized as an authority in this field. Just some time ago, Fang Lao fell ill with a serious illness, and after so many years of serialization in the magazine "Weiqi", "Research on Ancient Chinese Chess" has finally come to an end.

"This series of articles is over, but the study of ancient Chinese chess cannot be stopped. And for the magazine, this position cannot be lost. I'm here to discuss with you two about next year's topic. Let's see if we can continue this research? Xiao Zhang, let's talk about it first and see if you have any good ideas. ”

Hearing Elder Fang say this, Li Xiaoqiang laughed in his heart. In real history, Go magazine was almost out of publication by this time. And now, the magazine "Go" is not only alive. It seems to be living a relatively moist life.

For a magazine, especially that kind of professional magazine, when it competes with similar magazines, sometimes it cannot be perfect, and the most important thing is that it must have its own characteristics.

Obviously, for the current "Go" magazine, the study of medieval chess is its greatest feature. Compared with the "Go World" in Beijing or other similar Go magazines in Japan and South Korea, it can be said that "Go" magazine does not have any advantages in any other section. The Go Magazine is obviously aware of this, so it insists on its own characteristics, as Elder Fang said, "the position cannot be lost". That's what it means.

For such a thing as "topic selection", since Li Xiaoqiang is an outsider, it is naturally difficult to say anything at this time. However, reporter Zhang Da is different, he is not only a regular employee of the Shencheng Newspaper Group, but there is also gossip that reporter Zhang Da will soon become the deputy editor-in-chief of the "Go" magazine. He had apparently thought about this issue as well.

"Elder Fang, you came just in time, I just have an idea. Can you help me with a staff session and see if it works......"

After listening to reporter Zhang Da's thoughts, Fang Lao laughed heartily:

"Okay, Xiao Zhang, you have a good idea, wait for your topic to be made. I'm sure our readers will love it. ”

The method that reporter Zhang Da came up with is actually an opportunistic method. In the past, the "study of ancient Chinese chess" was the simple study of ancient Chinese chess. Although this research is very systematic, it can be regarded as relatively in-depth. But this series of articles does not mention modern Go.

Reporter Zhang Da's idea is to find a way to link ancient Chinese chess with modern Go, and the specific method he prepares is to select some actual combat examples from modern chess battles to make a comparison with ancient scores.

"Xiaoqiang. I have thought of the name of this topic, and it will be called "Wonderful Ancient and Modern - Li Xiaoqiang's Wonderful Hands". In the 12th issue of the magazine next year, I am going to make an album of your personal magic hands, and then through your magic hands, I will explain the ideas of ancient chess, what do you think? ”

So what else? Reporter Zhang Da is ready to do this, can Li Xiaoqiang still object? So Li Xiaoqiang rolled his eyes: "It's up to you, but you should be careful when you write articles." Otherwise, if there is any mistake at that time, it will be a trivial matter to lose my face, and it will affect the reputation of your magazine. ”

Reporter Zhang Da laughed and said: "No, definitely not." Since it's your magic set, can you still run? Don't you have to read it before it is serialized in a magazine? Besides......" At this time, reporter Zhang Da turned his gaze to Fang Lao again: "...... Although Elder Fang has retired, I can ask you to check at any time, right? ”

"I can't talk about gatekeeping, if I can come to see me often after retirement, then I will definitely not ask for it." Fang Lao said happily.

After talking about business, Elder Fang seemed to be very interested in talking today. A few more people chatted a few more words, and Fang Lao suddenly threw a question to Li Xiaoqiang and Zhang Da. Since the question was asked by Fang Lao, it is naturally related to the ancient chess:

"In the middle and ancient chess, Huang, Fan, and Shi are naturally ranked in the top 3, and there should be no problem with this. So who can be in 4th place? This seems to be inconclusive. So what do you think? Xiao Qiang and Xiao Zhang both talk about it, in your mind, which chess player can rank 4th in the middle and middle chess? ”

After hearing this question, Li Xiaoqiang laughed. Indeed, Go is a very difficult thing to quantify, and just like modern Go, no matter which player you rank first, it will cause a lot of controversy. The same is true for second-hand chess, if you say which player can be ranked first? That's really hard to say. However, there should be no controversy about Huang Longshi, Fan Xiping, and Shi Xiangxia, the three chess saints, in the top 3. As for who will be ranked fourth......

"Cheng Lanru, I think it should be Cheng Lanru ranked fourth." Li Xiaoqiang has not yet spoken, and reporter Zhang Da took the lead in giving the answer. Indeed, it seems that after so many years, reporter Zhang Da can be regarded as having some understanding of ancient chess. Although it is not as good as an expert like Shang Lao, at least it is not a half-person like before. Hearing this answer given by reporter Zhang Da, Li Xiaoqiang was a little relieved of next year's "wonderful ancient and modern".

Zhang Da reporter chose Cheng Lanru, although this may not be the correct answer, but as one of the "Qing Four Families", Cheng Lanru's predecessors are indeed strong in chess, and they are recognized as the second only to Huang, Fan, and Shi, the three chess saints, who are ancient chess players. And that's not all. Cheng Lanru also has a characteristic, he is not only a national player of Go, but his Chinese chess level is also extremely high, and it is said that he has also reached the level of a "national player". It's not easy. Although there are many board games that have been figured out, generally one kind of chess is good, and it will not be bad to play another kind of chess. But it is really not easy for both kinds of chess to reach the level of "national players".

As far as Li Xiaoqiang knows, there may only be two "double gun generals" like Cheng Lanru at the national level throughout the ages, one is him, and the other is the other. It was a Dong Xing chess player from the Republic of China to the beginning of liberation.

"What about you? Who do you think will be ranked 4th? ”

"I can't say who comes in fourth, but I can make a list of candidates. I think that the 4 who can be ranked 4th in the Middle Chess, Guo Bailing, Zhou Donghou, Cheng Lanru, and Zhou Xiaosong should be the most powerful candidates. ”

After hearing Li Xiaoqiang's answer, reporter Zhang Da scolded with a smile:

"Xiaoqiang, you guy, you are getting more and more tactful now."

"Hehe, I'm not tactful. I really don't know who will be in fourth place. So I can only make a list of candidates, Fang Lao, do you say ......?"

Unexpectedly, Fang Lao looked at the list of candidates listed by Li Xiaoqiang, and he didn't seem to be satisfied.

"Xiaoqiang, I feel like you're on this list. Looks like someone is missing, right? ”

Missing someone? Li Xiaoqiang feels that his list is still relatively fair and objective.

"Elder Fang, who do you think you want to add?"

"Xu Xingyou."

Xu Xingyou? Li Xiaoqiang almost didn't laugh out loud, that middle-aged Xu Xingyou, who learns chess, Huang Longshi can make his 3 sons? Although he is also ranked as a "national player" later, it is in Li Xiaoqiang's mind. Anyway, he doesn't agree with Xu Xingyou's level very much.

"Xiaoqiang, don't laugh, I know you don't agree with Xu Xingyou's level. But you have to admit that if it's just about fame. In addition to Huang and Fan Shi 3, Xu Xingyou is the most famous in ancient chess. Why can't he be ranked No. 4? ”

Li Xiaoqiang thought about it carefully, and when he figured it out, he smiled, and he finally understood why Fang Lao wanted to mention Xu Xingyou today.

In second-hand chess, Xu Xingyou's fame is indeed very great. Why is he so famous? Li Xiaoqiang believes that there are two reasons. The first reason is that he and Huang Longshi did one thing after finishing the "Blood and Tears Chapter". At that time, Huang Longshi was nowhere to be found, and Xu Xingyou began to travel to the capital. A group of idle and boring dignitaries and nobles have won the treasure again, and Xu Xingyou replaced his predecessors and became their guests. For Xu Xingyou, the capital only means more opponents and opportunities, and his chess skills have a broader world of development. Soon after entering Beijing, Xu Xingyou heard that a Goryeo envoy claimed to be the best in the world in chess, Xu Xingyou went to know chess, and as a result, he won several games in a row, and the price was higher since then.

How so? If it is said that the "Zhenshen Head" of Gu Shiyan in the Tang Dynasty is the first "anti-Japanese" record recorded in ancient Chinese chess. Then Xu Xingyou, he should be the first person to record the Chinese Go "Anti-Korea". Although in recorded history, the names of Xu Xingyou's opponents have not been left. But don't underestimate it. This incident had a great impact on Xu Xingyou, because after the success of the "anti-Korean", Xu Xingyou obtained an official position at that time.

Li Xiaoqiang has always believed that Xu Xingyou's ability to claim to dominate the chess world for more than 40 years should have little to do with his chess ability, and it may have more to do with this matter. It is conceivable that since Xu Xingyou has an "official body", it is naturally inconvenient for other chess players of that era to challenge him. Since no one challenged him, he naturally achieved Xu Xingyou's prestige in the chess world for more than 40 years, giving him a great reputation.

Of course, it's not just because of this that Xu Xingyou is famous. If Xu Xingyou is ranked among the "national players" of ancient chess, his level should be debatable. Then his other impact is real.

It can be said that most of Xu Xingyou's fame comes from the huge work he wrote, "Jian Shan Tang Yi Score".

"Kanshantang Yipu" is a chess commentary, which is a famous chess review in ancient chess. Li Xiaoqiang even believes that even if all the chess commentaries from the past and present are put together, "Kanshantang Game Score" should be ranked in the top 3.

This book selects a total of 62 chess games from the early Qing Dynasty to the late Kangxi Dynasty, Zhou Laiyu, Sheng Dayou, Zhou Donghou, Huang Longshi, Xu Xingyou, Liang Weijin, Xie Youyu, Wu Laiyi, Lou Zien, Huang Jiashu and other famous players. Each game has a detailed commentary. Xu Xingyou combined his lifelong game experience, made a careful study and analysis of the gains and losses of each game, and made a profound summary of the chess style of each famous player.

Xu Xingyou's summary is very objective, and his book has been respected by all generations of national players. If there are any characteristics of Xu Xingyou's chess review, then it can be described in one word: "positive"! Xu Xingyou vividly interpreted the "positive" in ancient chess. As the junior national player Shi Xiangxia commented on this chess game:

"Xu's book "Jianshan Tang Spectrum", Cheng Yi learns the great sect, and the general purpose and general meaning of the soldiers can be ...... law"

Although it is said that playing Go pays attention to the "combination of Zhengqi and Qi", Xu Xingyou interprets the "Zheng" in Go so well with a "Kanshantang Game Book", which is already his great place and his contribution to Go.

In the Japanese chess world in the early years, they did not have a high evaluation of Huang Longshi and others, but on the contrary, they favored Xu Xingyou. You should know the reason by now, right? Because Xu Xingyou's "positive" is exactly the appetite for those "Benge streams" in Japan.

Li Xiaoqiang knew that when Fang Lao mentioned Xu Xingyou today, he didn't say it to himself, he said it to reporter Zhang Da. He wanted to tell reporter Zhang Da that if he wanted to contribute to Go, he really didn't have to be strong in chess. If you can leave a classic, it will be enough to make a name for yourself.

For example, it's like Xu Xingyou. For example......

At this time, Li Xiaoqiang suddenly remembered Yukari Umezawa.

After ending this chat, 1996 passed quickly. On the eve of New Year's Day in 1997, the last Go competition in China ended. Ma Xiaofei defeated Chang Rensheng with a score of 3-1 and defended the title of "celebrity". In this way, the current domestic chess scene is still showing a situation of two heroes.

In January 1997, the first Go event in China, "Tianyuan Zhan", began. However, at this time, Li Xiaoqiang still did not play chess. Because he holds the title of "Tian Yuan", he just needs to wait for the challenger to be produced.

On the first day of the "Tianyuan Competition", there was a big upset. Ma Xiaofei, the No. 1 person in the domestic rating, lost the chess, and he once again missed the opportunity to challenge Li Xiaoqiang. It was his apprentice Luo Shen Pig who defeated him this time.

Although a game of chess is nothing, everyone can now see that other young chess players of the same age as Li Xiaoqiang are growing rapidly. Although they may not be able to shake the status of Ma Xiaofei and Li Xiaoqiang for the time being. But they are influencing the Chinese Go landscape.

However, at this time, Li Xiaoqiang did not take all this to heart.

Because at this time, a brand new world competition, the first "Samsung Cup" has arrived.

In early January 1997, Li Xiaoqiang, Ma Xiaofei, Chang Rensheng and others went to Seoul, South Korea, to start a new World Series journey. (To be continued.) )

PS: Seeing that the pursuers are getting closer and closer, continue to ask for a monthly pass!

Please, please.