Chapter Thirty-One: Who Can Understand the Loneliness of a Master

Chapter Thirty-One: Who Can Understand the Solitude of a Master?

Rather than playing chess, Tie Xinyuan could be said to be collecting money.

He had anticipated that today’s business would be brisk, so Xiao Qiao’er had stayed up all night to craft five chessboards, each set up with the classic endgame of “Quiet Nation, Idle Soldiers.”

For now, Tie Xinyuan had no intention of presenting other endgames. He realized this could be a long-running enterprise: as long as he displayed that tattered banner, there would be a steady stream of bookish fools from the Academy eager to challenge him. It was wise to keep a few tricks in reserve.

"This is impossible!"

A student from the Academy, having lost his last usable piece, clutched his hair in fury and shouted at Tie Xinyuan.

“Thank you—five hundred coins!”

Shuizhu’er promptly approached the student with a wooden box, timidly, ready to burst into tears should the student try to shirk payment.

What Tie Xinyuan liked most about these students was that they were already eligible to use silver. Reluctantly, the student pulled out a piece of silver from his pouch and tossed it into the box, which was now layered with silver coins.

"If you still wish to understand, why not try again? Eventually, you’ll figure it out.”

The student’s face turned pale and then flushed, but in the end, he turned away. Even students from the Academy had no spare money to feed to dogs.

Ouyang Xiu watched from afar. When the chimes from the Academy sounded, he said to Wang Gongchen, "The students have been summoned by the headmaster. Now it’s our turn."

Wang Gongchen frowned deeply, biting his lip. "Something’s wrong. This isn’t right; it shouldn’t be happening like this.

The Academy’s students are the cream of our Song dynasty’s literary world. Both you and I emerged from the Academy, and we know the standard of these people. Yet, in such a short time, they’re being routed and humiliated. This isn’t just a matter of superior chess skill; I suspect there’s deception involved.

Three brothers, allow me to investigate further. You three can observe from the sidelines. If I can’t hold my own, then you may step in. I simply can’t stand to see that youngster so smug."

Noticing someone approaching from afar, Tie Xinyuan stopped counting money and handed the remainder to the flower-footed man—a plan he had discussed with Xiao Qiao’er the previous day. They needed to purchase essential tools, for only with steady finances could he support these eight children, large and small.

The man in black-and-white shoes saw Wang Gongchen coming and quickly said to Tie Xinyuan, "You focus on earning money, young master. I’ll watch over things here. With me around, those scoundrels from the Beggars’ Guild wouldn’t dare covet your silver."

Tie Xinyuan smiled, thanked him, and sat back at the chessboard, awaiting Wang Gongchen’s arrival.

When Wang Gongchen appeared, many who recognized the Song dynasty’s top scholar gasped. None expected that even the champion of the imperial examination would be so interested in this humble chess game.

Tangtang naturally knew Wang Gongchen. She nudged the girl beside her hard. The girl replied irritably, "You just complained about my chatter, and now you want to talk?"

"Wang Gongchen!"

"I see him!"

"The top scholar! If it weren’t for those useless servants at home, he’d be my eldest brother-in-law!"

"Pah! Only your family would arrange a marriage right after the exam results."

"Ouyang Xiu was tricked by his teacher into the house, plied with wine, and then had the teacher’s daughter sent to his room!"

"Pah! A girl talking about such things without shame. Stop it and watch how my cousin handles Wang Gongchen!"

Tangtang rolled her big eyes at her friend, then nervously watched Tie Xinyuan, wondering: could her father really have been right?

Wang Gongchen brushed his robe aside and sat across from Tie Xinyuan, suave as ever. "Why don’t I play Red, and you play Black?"

Tie Xinyuan spun the board, placed the black general before Wang Gongchen, and bowed. "Ten strings of coins! A draw!"

Wang Gongchen frowned. "Changing positions increases difficulty; asking for an extra five hundred coins is reasonable. If you lose, will you pay me ten strings?"

"Five hundred coins."

"Why? That’s unfair."

"I’m seven years old."

Wang Gongchen scrutinized Tie Xinyuan’s face. "You look older than seven, but let’s say you’re seven."

With that, Wang Gongchen made the first move with his chariot.

Tie Xinyuan pressed the board. "If Black wins, Red loses—twenty strings of coins!"

Wang Gongchen placed his purse on the edge of the board. "Agreed."

Tie Xinyuan was delighted. He hadn’t expected Wang Gongchen to make a non-threatening move, instead of aggressively pressing Black as he would have. In an endgame, victory or defeat hangs by a thread. Now, with Red forfeiting the last chance for a draw, as soon as Black retreats a guard, there’s no turning back. With the absolute advantage, Black could use the remaining pieces to corner Red, who was left with only a cannon and a knight.

Indeed, after just eleven moves, Wang Gongchen lost. He was always gracious, left his purse, and returned to Ouyang Xiu and the others at the teahouse.

Brother Mei quickly asked, "How was it?"

Wang Gongchen smiled. "I lost, but I found the chessboard curious. I deliberately chose Red and made a careless move. The original route would have finished Red in six moves, but he took eleven."

Ouyang Xiu was astonished. "Are his aggressive moves a facade? If he could win in six moves but took eleven, isn’t he just a novice at chess?"

Wang Gongchen laughed. "A big novice!"

Mei Yaochen laughed. "Now that we know his true ability, let me go and deal with him easily."

Without waiting for Wang Gongchen or Ouyang Xiu’s reply, he strode up to Tie Xinyuan, tossed a piece of silver, and waited for the game to begin.

"Rear Cannon to Four"—an old move.

Mei Yaochen found he had no choice but to return his chariot. When his black pieces were reduced to three veteran soldiers, a general, and a guard, Red still had a marshal and an elephant—a certain draw.

"Thank you, truly!" Tie Xinyuan politely collected Mei Yaochen’s silver, then praised him courteously, hoping this dignitary would continue playing. Xiao Qiao’er’s tools were frightfully expensive.

Returning to the teahouse, Mei Yaochen glanced at Wang Gongchen. "His offense remains sharp; I barely had a chance to breathe."

Yin Zhu chuckled. "You lacked every advantage—timing, terrain, and harmony. How could you win? Every move you made was within his expectations. The only thing you had more of were seemingly useful, but ultimately useless pieces. That boy doesn’t need great skill; he just needs to know where to place his pieces."

Ouyang Xiu frowned. "Exactly. The rules are his, Red moves first, which is the advantage, then every step is a trap. Without the need to checkmate, we have no space to think. If we don’t lose, it would be a miracle."

Wang Gongchen pointed at Tie Xinyuan. "Damn, he’s just a little trickster!"

Mei Yaochen smiled wryly. "He’s no trickster. He plays by the rules and wins fair and square. At least he’s not making illegal moves—how can you call him a cheat?"

Ouyang Xiu glared at Tie Xinyuan. "That boy is truly detestable, putting us in a dilemma—advancing is impossible, retreating is impossible..."

Tangtang craned her neck, watching Wang Gongchen admit defeat and leave. Soon after, another man, older than Wang Gongchen, also conceded. She nudged her friend again. "Looks like that rascal won."

The girl hesitated, then nodded. "He collected all the money, so naturally he won."

"How could he beat Wang Gongchen? My father said that man is an elite of the Song scholarly world."

"Wearing Ouyang Xiu’s clothes to achieve fame is a bit underhanded."

"That’s just a joke; Ouyang Xiu doesn’t mind, so why are you upset?"

"He couldn’t even handle my seven-year-old cousin—what kind of hero is he?"

Tie Xinyuan had no time for such idle chatter. After settling the accounts with the flower-footed man and agreeing on where to deliver the tools, he eagerly hoped Ouyang Xiu and his group would come over to tally the money. But after waiting a while, nobody came, and he felt a little disappointed.

Just then, the Academy’s main gate opened, and a large group emerged. Tie Xinyuan’s eye twitched; he sighed and said to Shuizhu’er, "Let’s go!"

He left promptly, not even bothering to collect the chessboards, and took the fox with him.

His departure was decisive, for the next events were beyond his control. The leaders of the group were clearly dignitaries, not mere newly appointed officials like Ouyang Xiu, nor students who could be casually humiliated.

Once they were offended, Tie Xinyuan knew he would never have another teacher.

Abandoning a lucrative trade, Tie Xinyuan could not feel happy deep inside.

The elderly men leaving the Academy paid no mind to Tie Xinyuan’s departure. Instead, they stood beneath the tattered banner, carefully examining the chessboard; two elders even tried a few moves themselves.

One white-bearded elder, looking at the banner reading, "Academy Fools—Who Dares Challenge Me?" turned back to the students and said, "Indeed, a bunch of fools. Throwing themselves into a game they’re bound to lose, eager to hand over their money. Rare, indeed."

PS: Another chapter will be delivered soon. Writing slower to fit with what follows—please bear with me. Sincerely, Jie Yu.