Chapter 8 1. The Sima family’s preparations for a rainy day

As the sun sets, the bright afterglow sprinkles all over the place, and the vegetation on the mountains is covered with a dazzling golden red. In the ten-mile-long pavilion outside Luoyang City, beside the bluestone square table, was sitting quietly an elder with a beard and chest, with a dignified appearance.And on the bluestone table, there is a chessboard carved from boxwood. On the left and right sides of the chessboard are two bowls of chess pieces, one black and one white. Surprisingly, in this regard, the elder has been leaning slightly, watching the chess game on the chessboard in front of him intently, holding black stones in his left hand and white stones in his right hand, and he is actually playing against himself.

"Master! Your way of playing chess is really unimaginable..." The young attendant who had been standing by his side looked at the chess game for a long time, and then laughed out loud, "You want black pieces in this game. Win or white? However, from the point of view of the villain, whether it is black or white, it is the same anyway: both black and white are in your hands, and whichever side you want to win will win." "Hmm... Niu Heng! What you said is a bit wrong." On the other hand, the elder didn't raise his head, he was still staring at the chessboard, the white piece in his right hand was in the air, but he seemed hesitant. Where should I cast the ball, and said lightly, "The black and white sides, how can the old man win whichever side he wants to win? When the old man holds the black stones, he is focused on looking for the flaws in the white stones." , trying to eat the white pieces in every possible way; when the old man holds the white pieces, he first forgets all his plans for the black pieces, and then racks his brains to find out the loopholes in the black pieces from the beginning. Winning the black side... You may not know that every step of the old man is very difficult! As for whether black wins and white loses, or white wins and black loses, it is really not up to the old man to decide..."

"It's exactly what the master said. You and yourself are the real opponents... In this game of chess in front of you, the black and white pieces are all brilliant moves, and the villains are dazzled!" Niu Heng still looked at the man with a silly smile on his face. The elder said, "Xun Sikong and Wang Situ have both said that master's chess skills are astonishing as ever! No master in Luoyang city dares to stand up and play chess with you..." After hearing this, the elder couldn't help smiling, but didn't say much.Holding the white piece in his right hand, he lightly tapped the side of the boxwood chessboard, pondered for a while, raised his head and looked outside the gate of the Changting Pavilion, and said, "Oh! Niu Heng! Don't patronize me either. Just watching the old man play chess, you still have to pay attention to whether your eldest son and second son have come out of the city?"

When Niu Heng heard what the elder said, he quickly raised his eyes and looked towards the west outside the long pavilion for a while, then he bowed his head and replied to him: "Master, it seems that the two of them haven't come out of the city yet..." He hesitated After a while, he finally mustered up the courage and said again: "Master, I have reported to you just now. According to the old Wang who was waiting at the gate of the city, it seems that the eldest son and the second son were intercepted by the generals of Grand Master Dong this morning. Come down and take it away, I'm afraid it's not good..."

"Hmm...you have indeed reported this matter just now." The elder side put down the white coin with his right hand, stretched it out to his chest to stroke his beard, and said expressionlessly, "The old man also heard it just now. " "Then...then...Master, please forgive me for talking too much, you should quickly go to Xun Sikong, Wang Situ, Doctor Yang and the others to rescue them from Grand Master Dong." Niu Heng was stunned, but he didn't expect his master At this moment, he could still sit here like a mountain, so he persuaded anxiously, "Grand Master Dong is so cruel and cruel, you are here to wait for them to escape by themselves. If something happens, it will be too late for regret!"

"Hehehe... Niu Heng, you really care about your eldest son and second son! Alas! Don't mess up your position! Sima Lang and Sima Yi have learned to tie their hair since they were young, and they are not dumb or fools... Is it really like other people? Like those dudes from rich and powerful families, can they do nothing without the old man's protection?" At first, the elder looked at Niu Heng with a smile, and then his face became serious, and he said in a deep voice, "The old man just wants to Let's see if these two boys can rely on their wit and wit to escape from the Grand Master's Mansion. This experience will be of great benefit to the two of them in the troubled times in the future. !"

After hearing this, Niu Heng didn't say anything, but couldn't help but secretly frowned: If Dong Zhuo suddenly acted like a tiger and wolf, and really did something unfavorable to the two young masters, master, I'm afraid you won't get it at that time. It's time to travel leisurely for a while! However, he didn't know that his master, Sima Yi's father, Luoyang Jingzhaoyin Sima Fang, was secretly tightening his strings for his two precious sons in his heart at this time.Although he had already secretly greeted Situ Wang Yun in advance, and Wang Yun also promised to let his adopted daughter Diao Chan play tricks in the Taishi Mansion to protect the Sima Lang brothers, but now the end of the unitary hour has passed, Sima Lang The brother has not come out of the city yet, how can this not make him worry secretly?

However, Sima Fang's heart was flustered and worried, but the expression on his face was as still as water, without showing the slightest disturbance.Just as he was thinking about how to go back to the city to respond, a sound of wheels grinding the ground approached from a distance, and it gradually became clear in his ears!He looked sideways——it was the vehicle that Sima Lang and Sima Yi were riding in when they left the mansion this morning! "Ha! Master—the eldest son and the second son are here! They are finally here!" Niu Heng was overjoyed when he saw it, and couldn't help cheering.

The corner of Sima Fang's brow faintly flashed a touch of happiness, which was fleeting, and then returned to the calmness of a deep pool.He withdrew his gaze, picked up the white piece from the chess bowl with his right hand, stared at the chess game in front of him, and stopped looking up. The line of carriages and servants came to a stop three feet away from the long pavilion.The curtain of the leading carriage lifted suddenly, brothers Sima Lang and Sima Yi jumped down one after another and stood still. "Father..." When they saw that the elder who was sitting upright in the long pavilion and playing chess alone was his father, they couldn't help but whispered in unison, and hurriedly straightened their clothes, as if they were approaching Bin, restraining his face and holding his breath, bowed respectfully and walked up the steps of the pavilion, and stopped outside the gate of the pavilion with his sleeves arched.

"Come in, both of you!" Sima Fang didn't lift his head, still holding the white piece and looking at the chessboard, without looking at them, he just ordered a word with a calm expression. "Yes." The two brothers Sima Lang and Sima Yi walked lightly to the side of Sima Fang and stood on the left and right sides as if following an imperial order, continuing to wait for him to speak. After a while, Sima Fang slowly dropped the white piece in his hand onto the chessboard, as if he had finally withdrawn from a long and tragic war, the expression between his brows relaxed at this moment.

He stretched out his right hand silently, just halfway there, Sima Lang, who was standing beside him, had already picked up the teacup resting on the corner of the green table, held it with both hands, and placed it on his right palm. Sima Fang took the cup in his hand, without saying a word, took a sip of the warm tea in the cup, and asked slowly: "Did you handle the battle in the Grand Master's Mansion smoothly?" "My lord father, that battle was really thrilling! But luckily, the boy and the second brother never insulted our Sima family tradition in front of Grand Master Dong!" Sima Lang replied respectfully, "When we parted, Grand Master Dong returned Full of praise to my second brother!" "Oh? Huh!" Sima Fang's right hand holding the teacup suddenly confirmed, his face fluctuated slightly, "Why do my Sima family's children need praise from a reckless man like him? The reward is nothing in our eyes! However, as a father, I still have to ask: Why did Yier get his appreciation?" When Sima Lang heard this, he glanced at Sima Yi, and then told Sima Fang in detail what his brothers had encountered in the Grand Master's Mansion. After listening, Sima Fang did not speak immediately, but pondered for a long time, slowly put down his teacup, and turned his head to look deeply at Sima Yi.Sima Yi thought that his father was going to blame him for his mistakes in the Grand Master's residence just now, so his heartstrings tightened in fright, he lowered his head, not daring to speak out. After a long while, Sima Fang looked at his eyes gradually softened, and a slight smile appeared on his face, and said slowly: "Yi'er has always respected morality and acted according to reason in everything, even though she is young and immature, But he has cultivated an awe-inspiring spirit that cannot be insulted lightly. This level of cultivation has never insulted the Sima clan's style of "establishing ourselves with righteousness and practicing virtue with benevolence", which is already very rare..." "Thank you father for the compliment, I really don't dare to be a child." Sima Yi's cheeks flushed a little shyly, and he hurriedly bowed down to express his gratitude. Sima Fangfu smiled, waved his hand lightly, and stopped him. Only then did Sima Lang interject, and said to his father, "My lord, my boy is going to buy food with the box of jewels presented by Miss Diaochan, and transport them back to his hometown in Xiaojingli, Wen County to store them just in case. I don't know my father. What do adults think?" "Lang'er's words are very good." Sima Fang listened, nodded slightly, and said with deep sympathy, "In the past, Emperor Jing of the Han Dynasty once said: 'Gold, pearls and jade, cannot be eaten when hungry, and cannot be clothed when cold. They are used as currency, but they are not good. Know the end and the beginning." In this world where chaos is approaching, accumulating treasures is not as good as accumulating food. Langer, after you return to Xiaojing, you must publicize this great plan of consolidating the foundation and protecting yourself to the elders, brothers, and nephews of the clan. Plan ahead, act on the spot, and take precautions against the invisible.” "My son has remembered my father's advice." Sima Lang quickly nodded in agreement. Sima Fang raised his eyes and stared deeply at Sima Lang for a moment.With a stretch of his left hand, he picked up another black stone from the chess bowl, handed it to Sima Yi, looked straight at him and said, "Yi'er... this game of chess for my father is at a critical juncture where the two sides are entangled and confronted. For a while, I fought with my hands and played self-defense for my father. I am a little tired for my father, how about letting your elder brother accompany you to go out for a refreshment?" "I obey." Sima Yi raised his hands and took the sunspot handed over by his father. He immediately stood beside the bluestone and stared at the chess game, immersing himself in thinking about the strategy of the game. Sima Lang followed his father slowly out of the long pavilion. The two of them were covered with the bright golden light of the setting sun, and walked slowly on the green grass for twenty or thirty steps.Along the way, Sima Fang was silent.It wasn't until he walked fifteen or sixty feet away that he suddenly stopped, raised his head slightly to look at the sky where the sunset glowed like a curtain, half-closed his eyes, as if he was talking to himself in the depths of the dark sky. He said: "Now that Dong Bandit is in power, the government is chaotic, the world is uneasy, and the flames of war are about to rise. It is the time when all the heroes are competing to compete in the Central Plains. I wonder what Lang'er's opinion is on this?" "I'm a dull boy, how dare I make a fool of myself in front of my lord father?" Sima Lang stood respectfully behind him and replied, "I'll listen to my lord father's advice respectfully." Sima Fang didn't intend to ask Sima Lang to answer the question just now. Hearing what he said, he took up the previous conversation and talked eloquently: "In my father's opinion, when the troubled times are approaching, , My Sima family in Hanoi was originally a pillar of the Han Dynasty and a prominent family in the Celestial Dynasty. It has always been famous in the world for its literary and martial arts. Fenwu General Cao Cao led the Peijun Cao family, and the Jiangdong Sun family headed by the Changsha prefect Sun Jian and other wealthy families have already risen in the wind, trying to make meritorious deeds and start a business in the world... I, the Hanoi Sima family, must not be left behind. , You have to establish your own foundation and move with the times!" "My lord father has a clear understanding of the current situation and foresight, the child has been educated." Sima Lang flattered.But after the flattery, Sima Lang still had many question marks in his heart that were difficult to solve: My Sima family was only from a famous Confucian family. , Powerful?How easy is it to rule the world and compete in the Central Plains? ! Although Sima Fang didn't turn around, a pair of eyes appeared on the back of his head, clearly seeing through his son's doubts.He was still talking to himself, and his long beard was blown away by the evening wind, showing an inexplicable mystery and depth: "Our Sima family must not underestimate ourselves. Lang Er , let’s do it according to the secret instructions that my father gave you before leaving last night! After returning to Hanoi County, don’t be in a hurry to seek refuge with any of the princes in the Kanto region, but to dive down immediately, secretly stockpile food and equipment, recruit soldiers and horses , Raise dead soldiers, and when the situation in the world is clear, take advantage of the opportunity to rise up! ——As a father, stay with His Majesty, keep abreast of the situation of the world's warring heroes, and send someone to contact you whenever there is trouble..." "Baby must obey." Sima Lang's voice suddenly choked up, "Harry and my second brother left your side this time, which violates my Confucian motto of 'When parents are alive, don't travel far away', and I can't fulfill my filial piety for the time being— ——I also hope that my father will cherish it in the future!" Sima Fang just stood silently in the evening wind, like a stone statue, after a long while, and then slowly replied: "Well, you all have to take care of this too! In this chaotic world, the situation is changing, success or failure It's hard to predict the sharpness, and we have to fight hard for the long-term prosperity of the Sima clan in Hanoi. I hope you don't live up to the ardent expectations of being a father..." After finishing speaking, he turned around, stopped talking, and walked slowly into the long pavilion.Sima Lang hastily wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, following closely behind. "My lord... Your painstaking efforts will be deeply missed by my son and younger brothers." Halfway through the walk, Sima Lang still couldn't hold back and said again, "Then, my second brother and my son will also go back to Wen County to do these things together." something?" "Well... Yi'er is not yet fifteen years old this year. She is still young and has little experience." Sima Fang suddenly eased his feet, but looked up at the sunset glow in the sky in front of him, which was glowing red with the setting sun. Said, "For the time being, it is not appropriate for him to participate too much in the great things you have done, because my father has other arrangements for him..." Hearing what his father said, Sima Lang remained silent. After entering the long pavilion, Sima Fang walked lightly behind Sima Yi who was contemplating the chess game with his head bowed, looked over from his neck, and carefully observed the two or three moves he made on the chessboard just now. "Hehehe...Yi'er...Your move of the white piece is not clever enough!" Sima Fang stared at it for a moment, and couldn't help laughing, "In my father's opinion, this move of the white piece is a little bit good. A little aggressive. Don’t look at the sunspots who seem to be on the defensive for a while, but their backs are coming closely... You! The few moves that took over for Weifu just now are not sophisticated and tactful." Hearing his father's sudden words behind him, Sima Yi hurriedly got up and left the stool, stepped aside and lowered his head and raised his eyebrows, and replied respectfully: "Father, you can have two purposes in your heart and combine things with you, and my child is ashamed of himself. " "Hehehe... You praised my father as 'the mind has two purposes, and things and me are one', which is a bit pretentious." Sima Fang caressed his chest with a long smile, "He said: 'Knowing others is wise, and oneself is wise. Those who know know.' Being a father is actually just because of rich experience and knowledge. He is a little wiser than Yi'er, and he is more able to 'consider each other and adapt to the situation'. You are still young, and now you have this Waiting for the realm - as long as Yi'er is willing to concentrate on learning, in the future, your attainments in knowing people and predicting things, judging the situation, and measuring the enemy will be far superior to that of a father." Hearing this, Sima Yi was about to salute and thank him, but his father stopped him with a wave of his hand.There was a flash of light in the depths of his eyes, he looked straight at his son, and said slowly: "My Confucian school has the five virtues of 'benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and faith'. From my father's point of view, Yi'er, among the five virtues of 'benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom and trustworthiness', you probably still have to work hard on the word 'wisdom'...'Governing the world should be virtuous, and in troubled times, strategy is important.' Now the world is in chaos. , in order to be able to establish, achieve, advance and communicate, Yi'er must pay more attention to the art of resourcefulness and strategy!" "Father taught you the right thing, my child will remember it." Sima Yi bowed deeply and replied. Sima Fang sat down on the wooden bench across from the blue stone table, took out a black stone from the chess bowl, held it in his palm and played with it for a while, before he said leisurely, "I heard that recently, in the Linglong Valley of Luhun Mountain in Henan Province, There was a great Confucian from Shandong called 'Xuantongzi' who founded a Ziyuan academy, and Xun Sikong had visited that academy in that academy. "According to what Xun Sikong said, that Xuantongzi is actually a hermit master who is rare in a hundred years. Ziyuan Academy is a good place for you to practice great wisdom and great strategy. Yi'er, you should also want to seek this resource of helping the world and peace of the people, right? Maybe that Mr. Xuan Tongzi can teach you?" As he spoke, he took out a piece of silk from his sleeve, handed it to Sima Yi, and said, "This is a letter of recommendation written by Xun Sikong for my father, recommending you to go to Ziyuan Academy to learn from a teacher." Moreover, my father has ordered Luhun county magistrate to donate a lot of money, food, materials and utensils to Ziyuan Academy, and to express to that Mr. Xuantongzi that my Sima family respects Confucianism and education. Father should accept you as a disciple because of the kindness and courtesy of my father." Sima Yi didn't expect his father to arrange for him so carefully while visiting a teacher, his face changed slightly, and his eyes immediately became wet. Sima Fang ignored him, but picked up a wooden box on the bluestone table, held it in his palm, glanced at Niu Heng, handed it to Sima Lang, and said with a smile: "This wooden box is His Majesty's As a reward to my father, a thousand-year-old ginseng that came as a tribute from Goguryeo. Langer, you can take it back for my father and give it to you, Uncle Niu De Niu. Thank you for my father, who has been serving Sima in Wenxian Xiaojingli for the past few years. After returning home, you have to discuss everything with your uncle Niu, and you must respect your uncle Niu as if you were a father..." Niu Heng heard it clearly from the side, and couldn't help being moved to tears, fell to the ground with a plop, and thanked in a trembling voice: "Master... Niu Heng thanked you for this on behalf of my father... You and all the young masters are very grateful to our Niu family. The great kindness and great virtue of the family, our Niu family can only repay it wholeheartedly and wholeheartedly..."