Rebirth of the Great Power

There is a chess building that occupies a large area, and it is not like a general chess building where the entrance is a hall, but a large courtyard. The pavilions and pavilions in the courtyard are quite elegantly arranged, and many chess pieces are laid out in a scattered order. The table is for elegant chess players to play in the beautiful scenery.In the middle of the courtyard is the two-story main building, which is twice the size of the largest Wuhu Chess Building in Qiantang that Mu Yuan has ever seen.The layout inside is not much different, the lobby is on the first floor and private rooms are on the second floor.These three places are open on weekdays, and chess players can choose where to play and watch chess according to different prices, but every time it comes to the chess building, this chess building becomes a semi-closed place.

When Mu Yuan, Ji San and the others walked into the courtyard, no one stopped them, but when they were about to enter the main building, they were stopped by two big men in bunts guarding the door. Rather respectful: "Several people, only chess players participating in the discussion are allowed to enter here, and others can wait in the courtyard."

The two looked at each other, and Ji San smiled at Mu Yuan: "Brother Mu, we'll wait for you here."

"En." Mu Yuan nodded and walked in, but the two big men didn't stop him.

In the lobby, behind a long table sat a middle-aged scholar who looked like a clerk. In addition to pens, ink, paper and inkstones, there were more than a dozen signs on the table. The material was not obvious, and the style was a bit special. It should be specially made.

Mu Yuan stepped forward and was about to bow his hands in salute, when the scholar raised his head and asked, "Who is here?"

Mu Yuan said: "Qiantang, Mu Yunzhi."

The scholar looked Mu Yuan up and down, and then asked, "Do you have a certificate?"

Mu Yuan nodded, and handed over the letter of recommendation and identity document.

The scholar looked at it seriously, nodded and said, "Not bad."

After finishing speaking, he searched the dozen or so cards on the table, found one, and handed it back to Mu Yuan together with his identity document: "Please keep this famous card, it is necessary to rely on it during the debate. Enter and exit and participate in the game, must not be lost, cannot be lent to others, lost will not be replaced.”

Mu Yuan took a look, and found that the sign was dark red, with his birthplace and first name engraved on it, and it was cold to the touch, and it was cut extremely thin, obviously not made of ordinary wood.

Mu Yuan put it away properly, nodded and said, "Thank you for reminding me, I will be careful."

The scholar said again: "There's nothing else going on here. It's three quarters before noon. Please come to draw lots on time, my lord."

When Mu Yuan turned around and walked out, there was a young man in a Chinese shirt coming towards him, his brows were cold and serious, and he passed by without even looking at Mu Yuan.The moment Mu Yuan passed the threshold, he just heard his voice from behind, "Suzhou, Su Yuzhi."

When he went out, he saw Ji San and the others waiting outside, couldn't help showing a slight smile, and quickly walked up to them.

Seeing Mu Yuan coming out, Ji San also walked over and asked, "How?"

Mu Yuan took out the name tag and raised it, then said with a smile, "The name tag has been changed, and the lottery will be drawn soon."

After resting for a while, the few of them set off for a chess building.

At this moment, the courtyard of the chess building is already full of people. Chess players from various state capitals gather together with people they know in twos and threes, talking loudly.

Before entering the main building alone, Mu Yuan said to Ji San: "I don't know when this time will be, if Brother Ji feels bored, you might as well go to another place to play first."

Ji San smiled gently: "It's okay, I have been to Yangzhou many times, and I have seen the scenery everywhere. It is rare to meet such a grand event, so I will wait here for Brother Mu."

Mu Yuan nodded, and stopped talking.

Compared with the courtyard, the lobby is like two worlds, much quieter.Except for dozens of chess players who came to participate in the discussion, there was only one steward and a few waiters serving tea.

Mu Yuan sat in a corner, drinking tea quietly. The tea was good tea, with a tangy fragrance and sweet aftertaste. Even a person like Mu Yuan who didn't know much about tea could drink it well.

Mu Yuan watched silently while drinking tea. Most of the chess players present were between [-] and [-] years old. This was almost the heyday of a chess player.Most people are familiar with each other, but there are only one or two people who have met once.I met Lu Zijun and Yang Yiqian at the inn yesterday, and Su Yuzhi who passed by in the morning.

Yang Yiqian seemed to be quite sociable. After a short time, he made friends with several chess friends, and soon they called each other brothers. He quickly turned around indifferently.

Lu Zijun's slightly gorgeous appearance is very eye-catching, but his face is still full of arrogance, and the people who originally wanted to chat were quickly repelled by his too cold attitude.

As for Su Yuzhi, he even acted as if strangers should not get close to him.If it is said that everyone still wants to make friends with Lu Zijun, they respect Su Yuzhi at a respectful distance.

The chess players who can stand in this lobby at this moment will not be too weak in chess. They are more or less well-known in the state capital where they are, and they have some arrogance in themselves. Naturally, they will not make fun of themselves and lower their status thing.

"This brother is Lu Boren from Xuanzhou, if you dare to ask your name."

Mu Yuan raised his head upon hearing this, and saw a man standing in front of him with a smile on his face.

Although Mu Yuan would not take the initiative to chat with people, but he would not casually reject other people's kindness, so he put down his teacup and cupped his hands: "Mu Yunzhi is from Qiantang."

"It turned out to be Brother Mu." Lu Boren smiled and said: "Brother Mu looks very strange, this is the first time to participate in Yangzhou Lunping this year."

"Exactly." Mu Yuan nodded.

Lu Boren was an acquaintance, so before Mu Yuan asked him, he continued on his own: "This is the second time I've come here. And at the moment, half of the people in the hall are familiar faces."

This Mu Yuan understands.After all, cultivating a chess player with superb chess skills is not about growing Chinese cabbage, which can be planted every three years. If there is no better chess player in the state capital where the chess player is located, if I am willing to fight again, the governor Will not refuse.Therefore, it is not surprising that half of the three-year Yangzhou Lunping are re-fighters.

Lu Boren was very interested in talking, and saw that Mu Yuan was still a novice with a modest attitude, so he introduced him enthusiastically: "That is Su Yuzhi from Suzhou. He came from a wealthy family in Suzhou. Don't look at him like this." He looks difficult to get along with, but his chess ability should not be underestimated. He was one of the top three in the last Yangzhou Lunping. It is said that in the past three years, he has devoted himself to studying and his chess ability has made great progress.

"That guy over there with a simple face, don't look at him as a good old man, his chess is extremely fierce, and he was also one of the top three last time. His name is Fan Yanxian, from Yuezhou."

Mu Yuan looked in the direction of his finger, and it was indeed as he said, he was a very simple-looking man.

Then Lu Boren pointed out a few people one by one, said their names and places of origin and the results of the last round, and finally smiled: "But speaking of it, they are not the most popular candidates to win the competition this time."

"Oh, who else is an expert?" Mu Yuan couldn't help but ask the other party's interest.

"Huan Zhanxuan in Yangzhou, Brother Mu, have you ever heard of it?"

Mu Yuan shook his head: "I'm ashamed, I've been sitting at home for a long time, and I'm ignorant, I've never heard of it."

Lu Boren looked at him regretfully, as if it was a great loss for him not to know this person, "Huan Zhanxuan is well-known in our Huaijiang River, but anyone who loves to play chess has never heard of him." "If he hadn't happened to be ill and unable to participate in the last round of discussions, it is still unknown who will end up with the head armor."

Just as Mu Yuan was about to ask who is Huan Zhanxuan, Lu Boren tugged at his sleeves, pointed at the rich man with an honest smile who was walking in and said, "That is Huan Zhanxuan .”

Mu Yuan was a little surprised. He has never judged people by their appearance, but this person in front of him is more like a big businessman who is friendly and makes money compared to Yilin. greet you.The steward, who was standing motionless in the hall, immediately put on a smile when he saw this person, came over and waved his hands and said, "Master Huan, I haven't seen you in a few days, so you're all right."

Huan Zhanxuan cupped his hands and said with a smile, "I'm fine, I'm fine, thank you for caring."

The two exchanged a few words.

The people beside him who didn't know Huan Zhanxuan were obviously a little surprised, and they discussed in a low voice: "This is Huan Zhanxuan?"

"He is Huan Zhanxuan? I can't tell."

……

As soon as the three o'clock arrived, the owner of the chess building appeared, a middle-aged man with a refined air.

The landlord stood in front of the hall and raised his voice: "Everyone, everyone is welcome to take the time to participate in this Yangzhou Ping Ping event. Since the ancestors founded the Qilou, this grand event has continued from generation to generation, and many Yilin masters have won fame here. Today, stand All of you here are Yilin masters from Jianghuai and Huaihe. Your presence makes the chess building full of glory. In the next few days, I also hope that you can have a hearty battle and use chess Membership."

Next, the steward of the chess building announced the rules for this discussion, which was indeed consistent with what Ji San and Mu Yuan said yesterday.

Then there is the drawing of lots.

The procedure of drawing lots was not much different from ancient times to the present. The lottery drawn by Mu Yuan was the first in Group B. When he saw the middle-aged scholar in the morning, he wrote the word "B" on his name tag with a special cinnabar pen.

After the lottery is drawn, today's affairs will be considered over. After half an hour, the chess building will announce the order of each next game.There are a total of 20 chess players participating in this time. If they are divided into four groups, there will be exactly five players in each group.In two-two games, one player will have a bye in each round. Two games a day will take three days to end.

After the lottery was drawn, Mu Yuan looked around suspiciously, frowned and thought for a while.

Seeing this, Lu Boren leaned over and asked in a low voice, "Brother Mu, what's the matter?"

Mu Yuan said, "Didn't you say that there were 20 people participating this time? Why are there only 19 people present?"

Lu Boren calculated carefully after hearing the words, and suddenly said: "Yes, there are indeed only 19 people. Stay down and ask the steward."

After a while, Lu Boren came back and said: "All the people recommended by the state capitals have arrived, but the person recommended by Master Jingkong of Lingyin Temple has not been reported yet. The steward said that if he has not come before tomorrow's match, It can only be disqualified."

Mu Yuan asked again: "Brother Lu, can you find out his name?"

Lu Boren nodded and said, "Fan Shixuan is written on the nameplate, from Haining."

Lu Boren went on to say: "Although this Fan Shixuan is not well-known, the person recommended by Master Jing Kong should have good chess skills. If he doesn't come, he will lose a strong opponent."

Mu Yuan was really looking forward to his coming. He participated in Lunping this time because he wanted to experience the highest level of Jianghuai two chess skills. Of course, he hoped that as many masters as possible would come.

This is the self-confidence that he should have as a super-class chess player.