Chapter 57: A Game of Chess Startles Yellow Crane Tower – Part 1

Xie Guyan smiled slightly and said, "I accept your concession!" He then collected the stakes of silver that had been placed on the side. Someone nearby immediately chimed in, "Master Xie is truly a rare talent, seldom seen throughout history. You have won again; at this rate, all the silver in the world will soon belong to you, Master Xie." Another added, "That is about right. With Master Xie's skill, he should have entered the capital years ago to claim the title of Grandmaster." Hearing this, Xie Guyan could not hide a trace of smugness.

Jian Liang looked at the moves on the chessboard and, finding them rather mediocre, shook his head and smiled. Min Fengshan said, "Master Jian, it is your turn." With that, he parted the crowd and led Jian Liang forward. Someone recognized Min Fengshan and greeted him, "Second Master Min, what brings you here today? Have you come to challenge the board?"

Min Fengshan laughed and replied, "I lack the skill for such a game. I have simply brought a friend along to enjoy a match today." Xie Guyan, knowing that Min Fengshan was a local man of status, rose quickly to greet him, "So it is Second Master Min! My apologies for not welcoming you sooner." Min Fengshan said, "I have brought a challenger for you today, Master Xie. You must show your true abilities." He then introduced Jian Liang, saying, "This is Master Jian Liang, also a devotee of the game. He felt an itch to play and has come to spar with you."

Jian Liang bowed and said, "I look forward to your guidance, Master Xie." Seeing that he was brought by Min Fengshan, Xie Guyan returned the bow and replied, "I would not dare!"

Although Min Fengshan did not know the full extent of Jian Liang's ability, he took out fifty taels of silver and placed them on the table. "Following the rules, I shall stake these fifty taels for Master Jian." Jian Liang smiled gratefully, knowing he would not lose, and did not decline. Xie Guyan was startled to see such a high stake, realizing a real challenger had arrived. He matched the amount and said, "I appreciate your confidence in me. Let us make it a hundred taels." The onlookers, seeing the stakes rise, knew a spectacle was coming and began to discuss it excitedly.

Xie Guyan and Jian Liang sat down across from the board. Xie Guyan pushed the bowl of black stones toward Jian Liang and said, "As the host of this board, I invite you to play first, Master Jian." Jian Liang smiled, did not refuse, picked up a stone, and placed it on the central star point, the *tengen*.

Xie Guyan was taken aback. The onlookers, most of whom understood the game, let out a collective gasp of surprise. Min Fengshan thought to himself with concern, "Why did Master Jian make that move? That is far too arrogant." In reality, Jian Liang’s opening at the center was intended to soften his own momentum, as he did not wish to take unfair advantage of his opponent. Xie Guyan, however, remained composed and made his opening response. Jian Liang then pondered for a moment and followed the flow of Xie Guyan's game. Xie Guyan felt relieved, thinking, "These moves are ordinary. Opening at the center was just a bluff." His confidence returned in full.

After a dozen moves, Xie Guyan paused, then suppressed a laugh. Jian Liang’s moves were exactly the same as those of the previous challenger, Wu Ke from Hankou—the sequence was identical. Xie Guyan did not understand the reason, but feeling certain of his victory, he grew bold and played the exact same responses he had used against Wu Ke.

The onlookers murmured, "How strange! Why is he repeating the previous game? How can he hope to win like this?" Another whispered, "Perhaps he does not know how to play and is simply copying the previous record for amusement?" Min Fengshan was also bewildered. Jian Liang continued to play naturally, following Wu Ke’s original path. Xie Guyan was secretly delighted, knowing that he had already defeated Wu Ke on this very board; by following this path, victory was assured. He played with ease, not needing to think, while the onlookers shook their heads in disappointment.

Finally, Xie Guyan made a move with a smile—the very last move of the previous game. Wu Ke had seen the situation was hopeless and resigned. The spectators, seeing the game end just as the previous one had, felt sorry for the fifty taels Min Fengshan had staked and sighed.

Min Fengshan shook his head to himself. Xie Guyan sat upright, waiting for Jian Liang to resign, his eyes darting toward the hundred taels of silver with a look of greed. However, Jian Liang smiled slightly, picked up a stone, and placed it gently on the board. He said softly, "Master Xie, I still have one more move." Both Xie Guyan and the crowd were stunned, unable to believe that a settled game could hold any surprises. But when Xie Guyan looked closely at the board, his face changed instantly.

The final move played by Jian Liang was a brilliant stroke that turned the tide, pushing the white pieces—which had been in a winning position—into a desperate plight. It was truly unexpected. Xie Guyan, being a skilled player, understood the move and realized that he could not have conceived of such a brilliant, game-changing play in his entire life. He stared at the board in a daze. The onlookers, unable to grasp the genius of the move, were left stunned by Xie Guyan’s sudden loss of composure.

Recovering from his shock, Xie Guyan seemed to realize something. He stood up, bowed deeply to Jian Liang, and said with profound respect, "I was ignorant of the vastness of the world and dared to challenge you. Please, forgive my arrogance!" Jian Liang stepped forward to help him up, saying, "You are too kind, Master Xie. Your skill is already quite remarkable." Just then, an elderly man in the crowd suddenly grasped the brilliance of the move and exclaimed, "Marvelous! Simply marvelous! Even the gods would find it hard to respond to such a move. Quickly! Copy down this game record!" His words shocked everyone present.

Xie Guyan pushed the hundred taels of silver toward Jian Liang and said shamefully, "I was blind and did not recognize a master. I am thoroughly humbled today and shall never dare to set up a gambling board again."

Jian Liang said, "There is no need for that, Master Xie. My actions were driven by a request I have for you." "A request?" Xie Guyan asked in surprise. "What could you possibly need from me?" Min Fengshan, seeing that Jian Liang had turned a losing game into a victory and brought a dead game back to life, realized Jian Liang was no ordinary person. Filled with excitement, he said to them, "This is not the place for such a conversation. Please, let us go upstairs to a private room to talk."

Jian Liang nodded, "Very well. Lead the way, Master Xie." Xie Guyan was flattered and flustered, "This... how could I?" Jian Liang smiled, "Do not be so formal. I have an important matter I wish to discuss with you." He wrapped the silver in a cloth, took Xie Guyan by the arm, and followed Min Fengshan through the crowd toward the upper floor. The onlookers rushed to the table, scrambling to copy the game record.

Once in the private room, Xie Guyan stood by, not daring to sit. Jian Liang gestured, "Please sit, Master Xie. Do not be so formal." Xie Guyan replied anxiously, "How could I sit with a master of your stature? It would surely shorten my life."

Jian Liang laughed, "We have already played a game together; why worry about sharing a few cups of wine?" He pulled Xie Guyan down to sit.

Xie Guyan said hesitantly, "Your skill is unfathomable. Why did Second Master Min bring you here to challenge me?" Jian Liang replied, "There is no hidden meaning, nor do I wish to win your money. I simply wish to discuss a matter with you." He pushed the fifty taels of silver back to Xie Guyan and said, "This is yours; please take it back." Xie Guyan waved his hands frantically, "I cannot, I cannot! It is my great fortune to have played a game with you, Master Jian. Even if it were five hundred taels, I would gladly lose it to you."

Jian Liang insisted, "Do not be so formal. Take it for now, I have more to say." Realizing Jian Liang had not come to win his silver, Xie Guyan accepted it, saying sheepishly, "For a person of your divine status, this small amount is nothing. I shall obey your command and take it back."

Min Fengshan ordered a table of food and wine. Xie Guyan toasted Jian Liang first and said, "My skills are poor, but I have no other talents, so I set up this stall at the Yellow Crane Tower to earn a few taels to support my family and keep my wife from nagging me about being idle and not doing proper work. It is the blessing of my thirty years of devotion to the game that I met you, Master Jian. I am truly honored!"

Min Fengshan thought to himself, "Xie Guyan is a man of talent to be able to set up a board at the Yellow Crane Tower, yet Master Jian only defeated him in a game. Why does he show such deep respect? It seems this is a delight only those in the world of Go can understand."

Xie Guyan then asked timidly, "I am a nobody in the world of Go. May I ask why you have honored me with your presence?" Jian Liang smiled, "I wish to borrow the spot where you set up your board. I intend to do as you do—challenge others and gamble."

Xie Guyan was startled, "With your level of mastery, why would you lower yourself to stand by a street stall and waste time playing against common players?" Jian Liang smiled, "I wish to use your prime location to set up a board and challenge the masters of the world."

Xie Guyan was moved, but then shook his head, "Your skill is unfathomable. In my eyes, you are already invincible. There is no one who could catch your eye, so there is no need for such methods."

Jian Liang said, "There is always someone better, and a sky beyond the sky. I dare not claim to be the greatest." He continued with a serious expression, "To tell you the truth, Master Xie, my purpose in setting up a board at the Yellow Crane Tower is to lure out the eunuch Grandmaster Li Ruchuan. I hope to defeat him at the board so that no other master will suffer from his murderous 'ghostly' style, and to restore the integrity and elegance of the game."

Xie Guyan was shocked, "Master Jian, you intend to lure out that murderous eunuch and challenge him to a fight to the death on the board?" Jian Liang nodded, "Indeed. The eunuch Grandmaster is elusive and rarely seen. Only by setting up a board can I draw him out and have the chance to eliminate this scourge of the Go world." Min Fengshan exclaimed, "Setting up a board at the Yellow Crane Tower was all to eradicate that legendary monster of the Go world! This is truly a chivalrous act!"