Chapter Fifty: The Chess Gentleman (3)

Fang Guohuan replied, "Chess has no end; how could one dare to claim precedence? To find peace of mind through the game is enough." Upon hearing this, Yuchi Yunlu nodded to himself.

Yuchi Yunlu then ordered a banquet to be prepared, and he and Fang Guohuan drank wine and discussed chess. Yuchi Yunlu had several questions regarding the game that had puzzled him, and he sought Fang Guohuan’s guidance. Fang Guohuan resolved them with a single word, leaving Yuchi Yunlu not only astonished but filled with even greater admiration.

Just then, a servant who had finished serving the dishes did not leave, but stood staring at Fang Guohuan with a foolish, vacant smile. Fang Guohuan noticed the servant’s somewhat dull demeanor, yet sensed a kind of warmth toward him, so he asked with a smile, "Do you have something to say?" The servant, hearing this, beamed with joy, bashfully scratched his head, let out a couple of "hehe" sounds, bowed, and retreated.

Yuchi Yunlu laughed from the side, "He is in awe of the masterful moves you demonstrated at the chess match today—a single move that brought harmony to the board and stunned all the experts—and he simply wanted to catch another glimpse of you. This servant is named Ren Song; he is fond of playing 'slow chess' and is quite a formidable hand here at the manor."

"'Slow chess'?" Fang Guohuan asked, taken aback. Yuchi Yunlu chuckled, "It means slow and deliberate. He is the slowest player in the manor, perhaps due to his way of thinking; a single game can last eight or ten days. Impatient people rarely play against him, but once he gets going, very few can beat him. He is especially highly regarded by our two chess masters, Zhuang and Wang." Fang Guohuan exclaimed in surprise, "Though his thinking is slow, his chess is deep; he must not be a simple man."

After they had shared a few cups of wine, Yuchi Yunlu sighed, "Conversing with you is no less enjoyable than playing a brilliant game of chess! It is truly refreshing. Later, I would like to show you some of the chess collections kept in the manor."

Fang Guohuan replied happily, "I would be most grateful. I have heard that the Jade Chess Manor houses many rare treasures and is considered the finest in the world." Yuchi Yunlu smiled, "That is no exaggeration. The manor’s generations of ancestors have amassed a wealth of chess equipment and ancient manuals, some of which are peerless treasures rarely seen by common players. Furthermore, there is something else I wish for you to see; perhaps you might gain some inspiration from it."

After the meal, Yuchi Yunlu led Fang Guohuan to the back garden, to a two-story stone building set apart from fire and water, with a plaque above the door reading "Chess Treasury Pavilion." Two burly guards, seeing Yuchi Yunlu and Fang Guohuan approach, bowed and then stepped forward to unlock the iron gate of the pavilion. The security was tight, clearly marking this as the most important storage area for the Jade Chess Manor’s treasures.

Fang Guohuan followed Yuchi Yunlu into the pavilion, where shelves upon shelves of books met his eyes. He flipped through them casually; they were all ancient chess classics and manuals, ranging from the Qin and Han dynasties through the Sui and Tang, down to the Song and Yuan, covering every era. After looking through them, Fang Guohuan exclaimed in wonder, "The collection in this pavilion is truly a comprehensive gathering of all the classics from ancient and modern chess masters!"

Yuchi Yunlu laughed, "We treat these as treasures, though you might find them unremarkable." Yuchi Yunlu then pointed to a row of books and introduced them, "This is the 'Record of Fitting Pleasures' written by Lin Yinglong of our current dynasty, containing over a hundred diagrams of famous historical matches. It includes the 'Victory Diagrams' by the Japanese chess monk Xu. The diagrams are meticulously detailed, covering sections on advancing troops, surprise attacks, field battles, fierce combat, challenges, defending cities, surrendering cities, lifting sieges, winning glory, alliances, sword dances, and displays of martial power. Xu arrived in our country during the Hongzhi era and, after playing a game against the then-unrivaled Gu Xiangtong, was filled with such respect that he exclaimed our country was truly the 'Celestial Kingdom of Chess.' He settled in Yangzhou, dedicated himself to studying the styles of various masters, and eventually grasped the true essence of the game."

Fang Guohuan praised, "For Lin and Xu to compile such profound manuals for posterity allows future generations to understand the intricacies of ancient methods. To carry on the past and guide the present, and to promote the Way of Chess—this is truly a great merit!"

Yuchi Yunlu continued, "These ancient manuals are for our masters to study and draw wisdom from. Since we established the chess arena, every time a group of masters gathers to play, they bring new ideas; the fixed patterns themselves are constantly being updated. Whenever I discuss strategy with our masters, we evolve over a hundred variations for each formation, selecting seven or eight that are practical for real combat. This chess meeting was rushed, ending in only a day, but the brilliant records produced on the board are enough to keep me and the masters busy studying for quite some time."

Fang Guohuan said with admiration, "You are a true chess master! The development of the Way of Chess does not depend on winning or losing on the board, but on researching its essence and inner meaning. To innovate in the principles and methods of chess, rather than being bound by convention—that is the only way to reach the true realm of chess and achieve the Way."

***

After a brief overview of the manuals, Yuchi Yunlu led Fang Guohuan to the second floor. Upon arriving, Fang Guohuan could not help but gasp, for the room was filled with a dazzling array of chess equipment. There were boards made of ancient wood, single-trunk wood, jade carvings, stone engravings, and several boards of spotted bamboo—all simple, elegant, and of various sizes, neatly arranged. The four walls were lined with exquisite racks displaying hundreds of sets of chess pieces, stored in containers of bamboo, wood, jade, porcelain, stone, and pottery. Each had a unique shape and color, as elegant as antique ornaments. Inside were pieces of high-quality, lustrous stone, smooth and polished like pearls—Yunnan marble pieces, fine porcelain pieces, agate pieces, and, most notably, a multitude of pieces made from pleasant-hued jade.

As he admired them, Fang Guohuan sighed, "To house so many precious, high-quality pieces in one pavilion—the Jade Chess Manor truly lives up to its name!" He then added, "I have heard that the Jade Chess Manor possesses a treasure known as the 'Night-Shining Chess.' I wonder if it is true?"

Yuchi Yunlu smiled, walked to the wall, and opened a concealed cabinet. It held many items, clearly all of great value. He took out a delicate sandalwood box, returned, and placed it on the table. When he opened it, two jade containers were revealed. He removed the lids, and suddenly, a soft glow emitted from the jars—a halo two or three inches high, gentle in color and faintly lingering. Most remarkably, the black pieces, though ink-colored, emitted a green light, while the white pieces shone with a different luster. Fang Guohuan watched in utter amazement.

Yuchi Yunlu explained, "This set of Night-Shining Chess is an heirloom and a true treasure. When playing at night, the pieces provide their own light, requiring no candles. The wonder lies in the black pieces; though made of ink-jade, they emit a green light. When playing in the dark, they shine in contrast with the white pieces, making them perfectly distinguishable. It is endlessly fascinating."

Fang Guohuan exclaimed, "I never imagined such a wonder existed; it is truly priceless! For a chess enthusiast to possess such a treasure is a source of great pride." Yuchi Yunlu smiled, turned, and took out two colorful plastic jars from the cabinet, opening them. "I have another treasure to show you."

Fang Guohuan saw that these pieces were smooth and lustrous, appearing to possess a certain vitality. He reached out to take two white pieces, finding them warm and solid in his hand. At that moment, he felt a gentle heat emanating from the stones, and he was greatly astonished.

Yuchi Yunlu laughed, "This is 'Warm Chess.' It can warm the hands in winter; if placed outdoors, it will melt snow within a meter. Playing with these on a snowy day has a unique charm. It is another rarity. These pieces are made of a rare warm jade, mined from a site in Lantian. A jade worker once saw steam rising from a stone cave and discovered the black and white warm jade inside—a legendary story. Later, a merchant bought them for a high price, brought them to the Central Plains, and someone had the whimsical idea to grind them into chess pieces, creating this treasure. After changing hands, it came to my ancestors and is now kept as a family heirloom alongside the Night-Shining Chess." Fang Guohuan was speechless with wonder.

Yuchi Yunlu then showed him rare iron pieces, forged from refined and black iron, heavy and distinct; and pieces carved from aromatic wood, coated in black and white lacquer, which left a lingering fragrance on the hands. After viewing all these, Fang Guohuan sighed, "To see such treasures today is a great fortune! You are indeed the greatest lover of chess in the world, worthy of the title 'Chess Master,' and one that would make all students of the game sigh in admiration!" He continued, "Having been lucky enough to view this pavilion, I would like to show you a set I possess as well." With that, Fang Guohuan took out a single piece of "Heavenly Star" chess.

Yuchi Yunlu smiled, "What you hold must be no ordinary item," and reached out to take it. Feeling the piece suddenly weigh heavy in his hand, he was startled and carefully held it up. He saw that the piece was round, exquisite, and lustrous, with a hidden light flickering within. Yuchi Yunlu asked in astonishment, "Where did you obtain such a treasure? It is neither stone nor iron. In all my life, I have seen countless pieces, but this is the first of its kind. What is its substance? It is absolutely extraordinary!" His joy was evident in his words.

Fang Guohuan laughed, "This is called 'Heavenly Star' chess. It is not of this world, having fallen with a meteor shower from the heavens. Let us call it 'Heavenly Star.' There are only a hundred or so pure white pieces, gifted to me by a friend on the path of chess."

Yuchi Yunlu marveled, "A piece from the heavens—it is truly a supreme treasure. The sensation in the hand is unlike anything on earth! Playing with this would surely lead one to a realm of brilliance and subtly enhance one’s skill. Every move made with such a piece would surely be a masterpiece."

Fang Guohuan nodded, "True, everyone who has touched these pieces feels the same. Marvelous objects possess marvelous qualities." Seeing Yuchi Yunlu’s deep admiration, Fang Guohuan smiled, "Since you like it so much, please accept this piece to satisfy your love for the game."

Yuchi Yunlu was overjoyed, "This is a priceless treasure; how can I ever thank you?" Fang Guohuan laughed, "Treasures belong with those who appreciate them. Keep it and let it be a new addition to your collection." Yuchi Yunlu accepted with delight, thanking him profusely. He then took two Night-Shining pieces—one black and one white—and two Warm Chess pieces, offering them to Fang Guohuan, "These four are not as rare as the Heavenly Star, but they are still fine pieces. Please accept them as a token of my appreciation." Fang Guohuan, seeing his sincerity, accepted them happily, and both were filled with joy.

***

After viewing the equipment in the pavilion, Fang Guohuan sighed in admiration, "The collection here is so rich; there is no chess enthusiast in history who matches your grandeur, Yuchi!"

Yuchi Yunlu smiled, "The joy of chess is infinite, and so is the joy of collecting! Each brings its own delight."

Just then, Fang Guohuan noticed over a dozen chess boards stacked together that seemed to differ in size. Upon closer inspection, he was startled. These were not the standard ten-line boards, but rather boards with seventeen, fifteen, thirteen, ten, nine, or even seven lines.

Fang Guohuan exclaimed, "I had heard that in ancient times, boards existed with fewer lines than the ten-line boards used today, but to see them now confirms it. What is the reasoning behind these varying numbers of lines?"

Yuchi Yunlu explained, "Before the Han dynasty, boards with various numbers of lines were used concurrently. After the Han, the ten-line board became the standard, and those with fewer fell out of use." Fang Guohuan asked, "Does this mean that before the Han, or even earlier, boards with seventeen lines or fewer were the norm?"

Yuchi Yunlu replied, "Not exactly. When I was young, I accompanied my grandfather to explore an ancient tomb of a Chu person from the Spring and Autumn period. The deceased was a lover of chess, and among the burial goods were five stone boards, including ten-line and smaller ones. However, the ten-line boards were placed in the position of honor, while the fifteen and twelve-line boards were placed to the side, suggesting a hierarchy. Perhaps the ancients believed that the more lines on a board, the higher its status, or perhaps the choice of board depended on the skill level and the difficulty of the game."

Fang Guohuan nodded, "Your words make great sense. I can play the game, but I know little of its origins and history. I am truly unworthy of being called a chess master. Today, I have been given a rare opportunity to learn from you." Yuchi Yunlu replied, "You are too modest. I have a vast collection of ancient manuals and have researched the history of the game, so I can share a little."

Yuchi Yunlu then said, "The art of chess began in ancient times, rose in the Spring and Autumn period, flourished in the Sui and Tang, and developed in the Song and Yuan. The pre-Qin book 'Shiben' mentions the name 'Weiqi.' The 'Analects,' 'Zuo Zhuan,' and the works of Mencius all record events involving chess. As the 'Book of Yin' says: 'To seek with intelligence is like playing chess; advancing and retreating, taking and giving, attacking and defending—it all lies within oneself.' This discusses the philosophy of the game. When playing, the ancients used terms like 'Hand-Talk,' 'He-Luo,' 'Wu Diagrams,' 'Square and Round,' 'Crows and Egrets,' 'Sitting in Seclusion,' 'Rotten Axe-Handle,' 'Sitting and Defending,' and 'Deploying Troops,' all descriptive of the game’s essence. The Jin dynasty’s 'New Account of Tales of the World' also records chess events. High-level players are called 'National Masters,' such as Yi Qiu from the Spring and Autumn period or Gu Sansi from the Tang. As for those honored by the court, several masters were given the title of 'Chess Saint' in ancient times, and in our dynasty, there is the National Master and top scholar, Qu Liangyi. The earliest manual seems to have been composed in Eastern Wu, hence the name 'Wu Diagrams,' though in truth, manuals existed before the Han. Later, the Northern Song’s 'Forget-Worry Pure Joy Collection' and the Yuan dynasty’s 'Xuanxuan Chess Classic' became famous. Ancient emperors, generals, scholars, and poets were all fond of chess, though they were often limited to the technical aspects. It is said that the Sui Emperor won the empire with a single game, though I do not know if that is true. As for the spread of chess, it reached India around the Han dynasty and spread to Korea and Japan in the early Tang." Fang Guohuan listened intently, nodding in respect.