Rebirth of the Great Power

The next day, as soon as the master and servant approached the Qingyun Chess Club, they saw some chess players going out in twos and threes. The chess club was also very deserted, which was quite different from the usual situation.Although the Qingyun Chess Club is not a very famous big chess club, it is also the favorite place for nearby chess players to come to, not to mention that it is still early at this time, it should be the time to enter rather than leave.

Mu Yuan gestured with his eyes, and Tian Yuan went forward to inquire with understanding.

After a while, Tian Yuan ran back with an excited expression on his face: "Young Master, I heard that there are people fighting in the Wuhu Chess Building, and they have won ten games in a row. Today, it is Qin Jiuye from the Jiuyang Chess Building Everyone has gone there to watch chess, why don't we go too."

Group arena?That's kind of interesting.

Mu Yuan also became interested, nodded and said: "Okay, then go and have a look."

Wuhu chess building is located at the end of the East Street. There is only one chess building in the whole street. It has a rather large facade. There are more than a dozen chess tables on the first floor, and there are many private rooms on the second floor.The dozen or so tables on the first floor are often full, with people playing chess and watching chess.Dr. Tea shuttles among them, serving tea to the guests in need.In addition, there was a middle-aged man in a long gown with a serious face leading two young men who looked like thugs on patrol. When they encountered troublemakers or those who did not obey the rules, they would be dealt with according to the rules.

When Mu Yuan and Tian Yuan arrived, they happened to see a chess player who had lost a game but couldn't pay for it. He took off his clothes and knelt at the door with a chess board on his head. A group of spectators beside him were laughing and throwing chess pieces on the board.

Mu Yuan glanced lightly.

In the modern society where go has become an official competitive sport, there is no shortage of chess clubs in major cities that focus on go.Especially before the popularity of online Go, these chess clubs were the main places for amateur Go lovers to communicate and play chess.

Since Wang Zheng started learning chess, there is no shortage of people who can play against him.So even before he became a professional chess player, the Qilou Chess Club like this was never his place of activity.Occasionally, the few times I went there out of curiosity, I was not very interested because I didn't meet an opponent who could match it.

But in ancient society, Go was just a kind of entertainment most of the time, and there were no so-called professional players.It must be said that only the Hanlin Chess Edict set up by the imperial court can barely match it, but the number is very small.

In such an era background, if chess players want to find chess friends, basically they can only go to such a chess club.

Under the constraints of laws and regulations, the Qilou chess club in modern society is only operating a Go venue, and it is impossible to make a fortune.So generally those who open Go clubs are those who really love Go and even most of them have a certain level in the amateur chess world.

But in ancient society, chess building can carry much more functions.

It is the basic function to provide chess fans with a place to play chess.

Some chess buildings also function as casinos. Chess gambling was very popular in ancient times. In the era when there were no professional leagues and various game bonuses to provide living security for chess players, the income from chess gambling was often the income of many chess players. source of livelihood, so there are often a large number of professional color chess players among the people.If guests play chess privately, the chess building will charge a certain percentage of management fees.Some chess towers still have a few masters, and if you want to challenge the masters, you need to play the game, and the number of masters of different levels varies.In addition, if there is an eye-catching chess game, the chess building will also open a banker to bet, betting on winning or losing or gambling, all kinds.

Occasionally, in order to expand their influence, some powerful chess towers will hold group arenas.Of course, in this process, Qilou will never forget to make banker bets and earn various other fees.

This time, Wuhu Chess Building opened a group arena.

As soon as Mu Yuan entered, he saw an acquaintance.Speaking of acquaintances, to him, it was only a day since they met, but Yang Peng's help yesterday still left an excellent impression on him.

Yang Peng obviously also saw Mu Yuan, squeezed over from the crowd, and said hello: "Brother Mu, you are here too."

Mu Yuan replied, "Brother Yang."

Yang Peng is a person who can't hide his words, and when he saw acquaintances, he quickly started talking, "Brother Mu, you haven't been out of the house for a long time, and you probably don't know who the champion of this group arena is."

Mu Yuan nodded: "Brother Yang, please clarify."

Yang Peng lowered his voice, intending to create a mysterious atmosphere, "This challenger has a lot of background. It is said that he was a candidate chess player in Beijing. In the third year, he almost succeeded in the challenge. In the end, he was defeated by a single word. Then he was discouraged and left the capital to return to his hometown."

Some time ago, Mu Yuan had read history books and geographical annals all over the place, but he also knew what this alternative game was waiting for.

Since the former dynasty, the imperial court has set up imperial edicts for chess.Since the founding of the dynasty, the emperors of several generations have had a special liking for black and white matters, and the title of "waiting for edicts with chess" has gradually gained attention.

In this dynasty, there are only [-] incumbents waiting for chess, and there are also a certain number of candidates waiting for chess.The so-called alternative chess is to be filled by those who recommend or recommend chess masters from all over the country. There is no rank or level, and they only enjoy half of the chess salary.As an alternative chess game, there is an opportunity once a year to name a player to challenge and win two out of three games.The winner waits for the chess, and the loser continues to choose.The choice of chess is limited to three years, and if all three challenges are lost, the name will be removed.

Because of such a strict selection system, no matter whether it is an alternative chess or a chess to be ordered, its chess strength should not be underestimated.And those who can maintain the chess and wait for the edict are definitely the contemporary national players.

Yang Peng went on to say: "This time, I don't know what kind of benefits Wuhu Chess Building has promised to invite this master. The arena has only been set up for seven days, and ten masters have been killed in a row. Those who are here Our Qiantang is well-known. These days, all those who can play chess go here to join in the fun. Yesterday, when the arena was resting here for a day, there are only a few people in the Qingyun Chess Club. I wanted to know Brother, let me say, I don't think you will leave after playing chess."

After hearing these words, Mu Yuan thought in his heart that it's no wonder.

Yang Peng said again: "The one who came to challenge today is Master Qin Jiu of Jiuyang Chess Building. This Master Qin Jiu is one of the best players here. If even he can't beat this challenge, I'm afraid there will be no one in the whole Qiantang. If we win, then our Qiantang Chess world will lose all face."

At this time, Tian Yuan pointed to the front and whispered: "Look, young master, it's such a big chessboard."

Mu Yuan followed the trend, and saw a big wooden chessboard hanging on the wall in the middle of the first floor, with a short wooden thorn standing up at each intersection point, and the chess pieces were also made of wood, with a big round center A small hole was dug, just enough for the wood to pierce through, so that the chess pieces could stand on the board without falling.The chessboard is huge, and the pieces are black and white, even the farthest corners can clearly see the board.

Mu Yuan couldn't help but smile knowingly, this is probably the most primitive market.Although there was no lodestone that could be used universally at this time, the wisdom of the ancients was truly astonishing.

Mu Yuan asked casually, "I don't know who will explain the chess game?"

Yang Peng said: "There is no explanation."

"Oh?" Mu Yuan was a little puzzled. It's rare to have a big offer but no explanation.

Yang Peng explained: "The purpose of setting up the chessboard in the chess building is not only to facilitate chess players to watch the game, but also to allow people to bet again when the game is halfway down. However, the amount of raising is limited and the odds are limited. Halved. Look there, it’s a game set up by Qilou itself. The one who guards the ring has played ten games in a row, and the odds are already very low. Even if he wins, he doesn’t have much money. But it’s Qin Jiuye , although the odds are not high because of the great name, at least one loses one. I think most people have beaten Qin Jiuye today."

Mu Yuan nodded silently, and he could understand a little bit about it.I'm afraid that most people bet on Qin Jiuye. In addition to the higher odds, they also have more local affection.Probably everyone was looking forward to Master Qin Jiu being able to take this challenge and bring back some face for the Qiantang chess world.

"How about it, brother Mu, do you want to try pressing it a little?" Yang Peng asked.

Mu Yuan smiled lightly and shook his head. He was just here to watch chess, and he was not interested in such gambling.

Mu Yuan suddenly thought of something, and asked again: "It is said that there are such masters coming to challenge, there should be many people who want to try their skills, why are there so few people fighting?"

"Hey, it's not hard to understand. It's just because if you want to attack, you don't have to have the guts to not be afraid of embarrassment. You have to have this," Yang Peng said, stretching out a palm to compare, "Attack once. , five taels of silver."

"Oh, no wonder." Mu Yuan's heart moved, five taels of silver was not a small sum.

Mu Yuan doesn't value money very much. In the past, in any important competition, the championship bonus was worth tens of millions. Although he had to pay various fees and ended up getting far less money, it was not a small sum, so he never Lack of money.But it doesn't mean that he has no concept of money.

As a newcomer, in this strange era, it is still necessary to understand the economy.

The value of silver at this time was far from what modern silver can compare. Now one tael of gold can only be exchanged for ten taels of silver. Unlike modern times, the price of gold is far higher than that of silver.One tael of silver can be exchanged for one thousand cash, which is one thousand cash, and one stone of rice can be bought with regular money, so the purchasing power is quite strong.

In a big family like the Mu family, the top-notch maids and servants only get one tael of silver a month, while the young masters and misses get five taels of silver a month.But Mu Yuan is now an adult, besides the monthly money, Mr. Mu also allowed him to withdraw a certain amount of money, plus the original Mu Yuan did not have the habit of spending money randomly, so the money he saved over the years was several hundred taels , so Mu Yuan is not short of money.

But for ordinary people, this is already a lot of money.Even if ordinary chess players want to add some color to increase the excitement and enthusiasm of the game, it is only a few pennies or ten pennies.Even those professional chess players who make a living from gambling occasionally encounter a few fat sheep, and it is seldom more than consistent.Therefore, five taels of silver is indeed a lot.

"However," Yang Peng saw Mu Yuan was silent, and continued, "If you can capture this challenge, there is a bounty of 100 taels of silver."

Mu Yuan thought to himself, Wuhu Chess Building is not a big deal, no wonder it attracted so many people.

The two were talking, and the chess game over there was ready to start.