Chapter 35 thirty five

The Ninth Chess Adventure Besides, when Fang Guohuan left Shiyan Village, because he had horses, his journey was much faster, and the road was less tiring.Every time I think of the three-flavored jade clear soup and tofu feast, there seems to be an aftertaste in my mouth, which lasts for several days. I sigh that no matter what kind of skill in the world, if it reaches the level of perfection, it will be a special realm.Time flies, and soon after entering Hubei and Hunan, Fang Guohuan inquired all the way, and knew that Dongting Lake was not far away, and Tianyuan Temple in Lianyun Mountain was just around the corner, so he was a little nervous while excited.

On this day, Fang Guohuan traveled to a large town called Fengtai, and seeing that it was getting late, he found an inn to stay.First put the package in the room, then went downstairs, chose a table, asked for food, and took it for myself.There were a few guests at the table who were talking about something, and they were very interested. Fang Guohuan ignored it at first, and heard someone say: "The tone of that surnamed Li is too loud. Although there is no opponent in the competition for more than ten days, it is just It's just that no one has come out to beat him, so what do you think you are the best in the world?" Fang Guohuan was startled when he heard this, he was sensitive to the word "chess", so he listened carefully, and at this time another person said: "Hey If you don't have great skills, dare to set up a chess competition? This person may be a national player, and it is unknown." "A chess competition?" Fang Guohuan heard it, and he was surprised: "There are people who set up a competition. I haven't heard that there is a set up For a chess fight, what is the purpose of this person setting up a chess competition?" Another said: "Now there is a bonus of one thousand taels of silver on the arena. It has been more than ten days, and no one has been able to take it away. The king in the east of the city Xiucai was originally the best chess player in Fengtai, but yesterday he was completely defeated by that surnamed Li on the chessboard in the arena, and he really complied with the saying, "Take all the board and leave no one behind." Fang Guohuan heard it. , Secretly surprised: "What kind of master would it be to surround and eat all the chess pieces of an opponent with a certain chess strength?" Fang Guohuan thought that he did not have this ability at this time, because it was almost impossible.

As a chess player by nature, Fang Guohuan couldn't bear his curiosity, so he got up and came to the table, bowed his hands and said, "Please, everyone." Several guests at the table saw that it was a strange boy, and one of them responded: "Little brother, what's the matter?" Fang Guohuan said: "Just now I heard you talking about something, I found it strange, I couldn't help but want to know what happened, so I came to bother you." The man said: "It seems that the little brother is a stranger passing by. I don’t know about this strange event in the local area. I want to hear it, so I’ll just tell you about it. There is a big family in our Fengtai city. The owner is Wang En. He has an older brother named Wang He who works in the capital. A high-ranking official, he went back to his hometown half a month ago to visit his relatives. On the way, he took in a chess master named Li Ruchuan. Set up a chess competition, let Li Ruchuan challenge all chess masters, and set a bonus of 1,000 taels of silver, the winner of a game is determined, if anyone beats Li Ruchuan, he can take the silver and leave. Unfortunately, after more than ten days, several chess players The best players come here when they are happy, and leave when they are disappointed, no one is the opponent of Li Ruchuan." Another person said: "This Li Ruchuan is very good at chess, and he often takes everything from the game without leaving a piece. It's a big trick. Because there is no opponent in the chess competition, it was released yesterday, saying that those who are on the chessboard but can save a few pieces to occupy a field will be rewarded with fifty taels of silver. If they occupy a place with a hundred pieces, they will be rewarded with five hundred taels. It is no longer based on victory or defeat, although the tone is louder, it still wants to attract an opponent in chess." Fang Guohuan was very surprised when he heard this, thanked the guests, and went back to his room to rest.Before Tianyuan Temple arrived, Fang Guohuan already had the intention of going to the chess competition tomorrow after meeting such masters first.

Early the next morning, Fang Guohuan left the inn and came to Tielong Temple after inquiring all the way.Because of the great influence of the chess competition, many people flocked to Tielong Temple as if rushing to a temple fair, and Fang Guohuan followed the spectators into the temple.At this time, the field in front of the main hall of Tielong Temple was already crowded with people, even the walls of the temple were covered with people. Although the chess competition was set up, it was even more lively than the martial arts competition.In front of the main entrance of the main hall, a platform more than one meter high was built with wooden piles, covered with a red carpet, and a high chess table was placed in the middle, with two cans of chess pieces beside it.A row of bamboo chairs was placed on the right side of the platform, and a table was covered with gold medals covered by a red cloth.Ten steps away, three sides are surrounded by short railings, and a dozen stout servants stand guard, and they have some momentum. Although the setting is a chess competition, it is really just a chess field.Fang Guohuan managed to squeeze through the gaps in the crowd to the front, watching the changes temporarily, and waiting for the opportunity to show up to play the game.

In the blink of an eye, the sun was halfway up.At this time, a man with the appearance of a housekeeper came up to the stage, bowed his hands towards the crowd, and then said grinningly: "Fathers and folks, there have been martial arts competitions since ancient times, and now my master is setting up an arena to fight chess for Mr. Li Ruchuan. Yes, in order to attract those good chess players to compete with Mr. Li, but unfortunately, it has been more than ten days, and none of them can match Mr. Li." At this time, someone in the crowd shouted: "Li Since Mr. Li is so powerful, why not set up a handicap? It will also make everyone watch the excitement, and more people will come to the stage to respond." The housekeeper shook his head and said: "The purpose of Mr. Li's chess set is to see this There are still players in the chess world who are incapable of playing like him. Handicap chess shows that there is a difference in chess strength between the two sides. If Mr. Li is not interested, he also disdains to play chess with such an opponent. Mr. Li's chess style is: full game Eat without leaving a single piece. If there are enough live chess pieces on the chessboard, there will be rewards. I wonder if there will be a master come to the stage today to compete?" At this time, a person under the stage suddenly sneered: "It's so big. He said in a tone, 'Take all the game and leave no one behind', if you really have such a great ability, what kind of competition, what kind of chess fight, will you be so high in the sky long ago? It is really deceiving me that there is no one in Hubei." During the speech , A scholar came onto the stage from the crowd.When the butler saw him, he couldn't help but said happily: "This young master is here to fight chess? Can you give me your name?" The scholar sneered and said, "I'm going to Lu Wenyi in Jingzhou, go and call the chess master Li Ruchuan. My young master will let him go first. The third son will be fine." As soon as the words came out, the crowd was in an uproar.Fang Guohuan was also startled, knowing that there was a master answering the chess.The housekeeper said happily at this time: "Mr. Lu came prepared, he must have great means, so very good, Mr. Li is eager for such an opponent to come, please wait a moment." After finishing speaking, he turned and went into the hall.