My Sims of the Eastern Jin Dynasty

The Bamboo Garden Pavilion is surrounded by water on all sides, accessible only by a winding corridor.

There was nothing else in the pavilion except a chessboard, a lamp, and a person.

Xie An did not wear a crown, but only tied his hair with a jade hairpin. He sat leaning against a table in a plain, wide robe.

The ebony chessboard in front of him was as smooth as a mirror, but it was not laid out with an ordinary chess game. Instead, five black cloud-shaped pieces were placed in five key positions: the center, the star position, and the corners.

No incense was burning inside the pavilion; only the cool night air and the soft rustling of bamboo leaves filled the space.

Xie Xuan stopped under the eaves, not daring to disturb them for a moment.

Xie An, however, seemed to have eyes in the back of his head and slowly spoke.

"You're back? Come and sit down."

Xie Xuan took a deep breath, walked into the pavilion, and knelt down opposite Xie An.

Under the lamplight, Xie Xuan could see his uncle's face clearly. He was still neither angry nor worried, but his eyes were fixed on the five glaring black pieces on the chessboard.

His gaze was involuntarily drawn to the chessboard.

The five black stones, seemingly randomly distributed, actually occupy key positions, subtly dividing the space and influence of the entire board, making it seem as if there is no chance of winning.

"What did you figure out?"

Xie An picked up the earthenware pot beside him and poured Xie Xuan a cup of tea that had already cooled slightly.

Xie Xuan stared at the chessboard and pondered.

"The black pieces are powerful and occupy a key position, forming an encirclement. The white pieces have not yet been placed, and it seems that there is no gap left."

"Tell me, what are these five things?"

Xie An pushed the teacup towards him.

Xie Xuan's fingertips trembled slightly as he stared at the chessboard. After a moment of contemplation, he pointed to the piece closest to him.

"This young man is approaching, and his ambition to invade and plunder is most obvious. He is probably the Prince of Langya (Sima Daozi). He is using the Mao An incident to collude with the imperial clan, hindering them from within, and eyeing power. This is a threat from within."

Xie An remained noncommittal, simply picking up his teacup and taking a small sip.

Xie Xuan moved his finger and resolutely pointed to the black piece located at the center of the chessboard.

"This young man occupies the central position, his power is overwhelming, and his influence can cover the entire situation. He must be the main force of the Qin army led by Peng Chao and Ju Nan, hanging over the Huai and Si rivers, watching us like a tiger eyeing the land. He is a major threat and the foremost external enemy!"

Xie An put down his teacup, his gaze still fixed on the chessboard, and did not answer.

Xie Xuan took a deep breath and continued to point to the other three sons.

"This young man is steadfast and has deep roots. He is from the Wang family of Taiyuan and the upright families he associates with. He has lost his parents and power and is filled with grief and indignation. His attacks are the most intense and direct, and he is determined to hold those responsible accountable. This is the sharp edge of accountability."

"This child may seem unremarkable, but he echoes the other powerful families in the court who are watching the outcome with ulterior motives. They are happy to see the Xie family fall so they can redistribute power. They are the ones who are waiting to devour us while we are on the sidelines."

Finally, his finger stopped on a black piece not far from the edge of the board, yet subtly threatening the path of a large dragon's return. He remained silent for a moment, his voice filled with doubt.

"This piece is a bit further away, yet its power is formidable, held back but not unleashed. Could it be Huan Chong, the cavalry commander of Jingzhou?"

After the five men finished speaking, the pavilion fell silent.

Xie An gently shook his head, and first tapped the black stone in the center of the compass that Xie Xuan had identified as "Peng Chao" with his fingertip.

"You're wrong, Xuan'er. Peng Chao isn't in Tianyuan, he's on Bianxing."

"Tianyuan represents the heart of the world and the central government. The one who occupies the central position and wants to take control is not a foreign invader, but the Prince of Langya, whom you just mentioned. He has risen up by taking advantage of the situation and wants to seize power amidst the chaos."

"And Peng Chao..."

Xie An slid his finger toward a heavy corner star position on the chessboard.

"A powerful enemy is on the outside, and although its momentum is fierce, at its core it is still a threat on one side. Even if it were to swallow up and occupy the territory like a whale or a tiger, it would be difficult to shake the righteous path of Tianyuan. You regard him as the central authority because you fear his military might, but you have not understood the essence of power."

Xie Xuan raised his head and looked at Xie An, his eyes filled with guilt.

"The stalemate in the Huaibei campaign is entirely due to Xuan's fault. Mao An's death has given others ammunition to use against him, leading to my uncle's predicament. I am ashamed to have failed my uncle's years of teaching and guidance!"

He placed his hands on his knees and bowed deeply.

Xie An did not immediately help him up, but simply looked at his hunched back. After a moment, he spoke softly.

"In the game of chess, is there ever a permanent winner? Victory or defeat is not determined by the gain or loss of a single move."

"You only understand these five black stones, but you don't understand why the board is still empty."

Xie Xuan looked up after hearing this, and Xie An reached out and picked up a white chess piece from the chess jar.

"Although the black pieces are numerous and occupy key positions, forming an encirclement, this is also their weakness."

His finger hovered over the black piece representing Peng Chao.

"Peng Chao's army is stationed outside, and after a prolonged siege, they have failed to capture the city. His troops are exhausted and his strength is waning. He must be restless. Although this man is fierce, he has already revealed a weakness!"

The white piece was placed, creating a stalemate, and then another white piece was picked up.

"The Prince of Langya rose to power by taking advantage of the situation. Where did this power come from? It came from the death of Mao An and the fear in the court and among the people. However, his own foundation is not solid. He has plenty of scheming but not enough prestige. What he seeks is not to overthrow the world, but to divide power and seize profits. This boy is fierce in appearance but weak in reality. He can be kept at bay, he can be slowed down, or he can be sown away!"

White pieces landed again, but did not confront the opponent.

"The grief of losing a loved one and the indignation expressed are understandable and reasonable, but their sharpness must be met with sincerity and quelled with reality. If good news comes from Huaibei, this child's resentment may gradually dissipate."

"Those who stand by and watch are the best at weighing the options. Their inaction is not due to a lack of desire to act, but rather to await the winds of change. What are these winds of change? First, the emperor's will; second, the course of the war. The emperor's will is currently unknown, but the course of the war..."

He looked at Xie Xuan with intense gaze.

"I can decide!"

Finally, Xie An's white piece hovered above Huan Chong's black piece for the longest time.

"Jingzhou is a strategically important town. Although General Huan has his concerns, he bears the weight of the imperial cause and the responsibility to the court, and he has not forgotten the past merits of the Northern Expedition. His move will surely be a prelude to our defeat. If I am not defeated..."

Xie An immediately removed the black piece and placed the white piece on top.

"They are the bulwark of Jiangdong! They will be at our disposal!"

Having completed his analysis, Xie An took another white piece and finally placed it gently.

Instead of falling into a fierce battle among the five black pieces, it landed on the empty corner of the other side of the board, a seemingly remote position that subtly echoes the star points everywhere.

"Xuan'er!"

Xie An lifted his gaze from the chessboard and returned it to Xie Xuan's face.

"In a predicament, it is common for a general to see the enemy's numbers and his own danger. However, a commander must see the enemy's weaknesses, the shift in the situation, and the world beyond the chessboard."

He lightly tapped the white piece that had just been placed.

"Surrounded by black pieces, it seems like a losing situation, but their hearts are different, their strength is not united, and their momentum will decline. At this moment, we do not need to get entangled in a deadly battle with them in a small space."

"What should we do?"

Xie Xuan couldn't help but ask, his mind already captivated by that solitary yet infinitely possible white piece. Could this piece be Xiao Heng?

Xie An gazed out at the deep night outside the pavilion, looking northeast.

"When a single move occurs that is unexpected, affecting their momentum and disrupting their plans, leaving Peng Chao unable to attend to both ends, causing Jiankang to look on with alarm, making onlookers suspicious, and instilling fear in those with ulterior motives, the Battle of Huaibei will no longer be a matter of gaining or losing a single city or territory, but a pivotal moment in determining the hearts of the people in Jiangdong and the direction of the court and the public. Your uncle will surely find a good opportunity for you. In this battle, we do not seek complete victory, but only a great triumph!"

After this explanation of the chessboard and the words, Xie Xuan suddenly understood.

He bowed his head again, this time with a steady and firm voice.

"Xuan, I will accept your teachings with utmost respect and will certainly live up to your expectations, Uncle!"

Go!

Xie An waved his hand and turned his gaze back to the chessboard, as if that invisible game was far more worthy of immersion than real sword fights.

"It's almost dawn, I should place a few real pieces now."

Xie Xuan quietly withdrew.

After walking a long way, looking back at the elegant pavilion, I saw only a single lamp still burning.

The night wind grew stronger, stirring the bamboo groves in the courtyard like a vast sea.

The dawn of Jiankang City is about to arrive quietly amidst the invisible flashes of swords and the silent clatter of pieces.