https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-270-He-Xiu-Muddies-the-Waters-Again/12536451/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-272-Su-Shaoying-a-Talented-Tactician/12536453/
Chapter 271: A Game of Go with He Tianqing
Chapter 271: A Game of Go with He Tianqing
Qingfeng Guan was headed by a Taoist named Qingfeng.
Unfortunately, the temple had cypress, locust, pine, and ginkgo trees, but not a single maple tree.
"I, Qingfeng, have met with the two heroes, Su, and the four female heroes." Qingfeng, the Taoist, bowed in greeting.
"Is Director He not here yet?" Su Shaoying asked politely in return.
"Did Mr. Su come specifically to see me?"
He Tianqing's voice rang out, and he emerged from a side courtyard.
Even now, Su Shaoying still addressed He Tianqing as Director, and He Tianqing continued to address Su Shaoying as Mister.
"Director He has already had his morning tea. I don't know if the five of you have eaten yet. If not, I can have our disciples prepare something," offered Taoist Qingfeng.
"That won't be necessary," Su Shaoying smiled. "Yesterday, the four junior sisters mentioned that this temple has beautiful scenery and a thousand-year-old ginkgo tree. So, I was suddenly inspired to come and admire it."
Taoist Qingfeng introduced, "It is said that this tree was personally planted by Wei Gong when he campaigned against Yuan Shao, and it has been over a thousand years since then."
"That's quite rare," Su Shaoying nodded. "However, times have changed. The ginkgo tree planted by Cao Gong still stands, but the empire he built has changed hands countless times."
Su Shaoying turned to Taoist Qingfeng and asked casually, "May I ask, Taoist Qingfeng, who does this temple belong to now?"
Taoist Qingfeng's cheeks twitched, and he replied naturally, "In terms of ownership, all under heaven is the land of the Son of Heaven. Naturally, it belongs to the current emperor. As for our intentions, it is to follow the way of nature and the teachings of the Three Pure Ones."
Su Shaoying nodded and smiled, "Your understanding of the Dao is profound, and I admire it."
Taoist Qingfeng managed a slight smile, "You flatter me, Sir Su."
Su Shaoying chuckled and glanced at He Tianqing beside him, but the latter showed no reaction.
Then, Ma Xiuzhen and Sun Xiuqing emerged from either side and shook their heads at Su Shaoying, indicating that there were no developments.
Su Shaoying nodded. The deed to Qingfeng Guan was in He Xiu's hands, and Taoist Qingfeng was his man. In the original story, he had helped He Xiu lie, but was killed by him for saying the wrong thing, and the temple was eventually burned down. He seemed to be just an ordinary minor character.
However, after Yan Tieshan's death, Su Shaoying had become more cautious. He asked Ma Xiuzhen and Sun Xiuqing, the two meticulous ones, to investigate and see if there were any hidden clues.
As for Ye Xiu Zhu, who was having an affair with He Tianqing, and Shi Xiuxue, who seemed quiet but was actually violent, Su Shaoying dared not use them.
He Tianqing glanced at Ye Xiu Zhu and looked at Su Shaoying with a fleeting shadow in his eyes. Then, he smiled and said, "Mr. Su, being well-versed in literature and having the position of a scholar, your residence in the Jewel Cabinet must mean that your skill in Go is also extraordinary. Since we have some free time today, how about a game?"
Su Shaoying nodded casually, "Sure!"
So, Taoist Qingfeng led them to the Go room in the temple, lit some agarwood incense, and served them fragrant tea.
He Tianqing invited Su Shaoying to make the first move, and Su Shaoying did not decline. He took the white stones and placed them in the Tianxing position.
The two played quickly, and the black and white stones were soon scattered across the board.
This scene left Ma Xiuzhen and the other three women bewildered. They had no idea that Su Shaoying could play Go.
"Snap!"
He Tianqing placed a black stone made of Mount Tai ink stone, blocking one of Su Shaoying's moves. He said calmly, "In Go, as in war, strategy comes first. Mere distractions are not enough."
Su Shaoying raised an eyebrow and glanced at He Tianqing, surprised that his skill in Go was not bad.
Su Shaoying's original body came from the Su family of Meizhou. Although he had read many books due to his family background, he usually focused on martial arts, and even those books he had not delved into deeply. So, he certainly wouldn't have time for "trivial" skills like Go.
However, just because Su Shaoying didn't know how to play Go didn't mean Jiang Feng didn't!
The Jiang family had been merchants for three generations, but by his generation, they had already accumulated significant capital. His father had hired several teachers for him, and he had dabbled in poetry, music, Go, and painting. He had learned well, hence earning the title of "Jade Prince."
He Tianqing's eyes flickered, and after a few more exchanges, he said, "Once the overall strategy is in place and the crucial passes are secured, a few inconsequential moves here and there won't make much of a difference."
Su Shaoying waved his hand dismissively. "As you said, playing Go is like waging war. Unless the battle ends in a decisive victory or a crushing defeat, who can truly determine the ultimate winner? Moreover..."
"Moreover, what?" He Tianqing asked, his eyes flashing.
"Moreover, people have different interpretations of the overall situation," Su Shaoying continued with a smile. "Many desire more even after gaining a strategic advantage, and the overall situation can only adapt to the changing circumstances."
He Tianqing shook his head. "Zhuge Liang's Longzhong Plan divided the country into three, and that was a decisive strategy."
Su Shaoying also shook his head. "He also advised Emperor Zhaolie to venture into Hanzhong and Jingzhou. It's easy to make judgments during the process, but predicting the outcome is difficult."
He Tianqing's eyes darkened as he placed a black stone with force, "Ordinary people can't compare to Marquis Wu, but they also don't need to make judgments about the affairs of the world."
"That's true," Su Shaoying nodded with a smile. "What's truly frightening is when someone compares themselves to Marquis Wu, but they have an overinflated ego and a fragile life. They think their plans are foolproof, but in reality, they are full of gaps and loopholes."
He Tianqing's jaw clenched, but he reached into the Go box and took out another black stone, "However, gaps can be mended, and loopholes can be plugged..."
He Tianqing held the black stone, about to complete his final strategic move and capture all of Su Shaoying's pieces.
However, just as he was about to place the last stone, he realized that Su Shaoying had counter-encircled him.
He Tianqing's hand froze in mid-air.
Toying with the white stone in his hand, Su Shaoying said, "Sometimes, a surprise isn't just a surprise, and an inconsequential move isn't always so insignificant. Also..."
Su Shaoying's smile was full of deep meaning, "Sometimes, what you see may be what someone wants you to see."
He Tianqing looked up abruptly, scrutinizing Su Shaoying once more.
His opinion of Su Shaoying had already improved significantly the night before, but at that time, he had merely thought that Su Shaoying was hiding his martial arts skills.
However, their conversation today revealed that Su Shaoying could counter his every argument and even put him at a subtle disadvantage.
He Tianqing coldly hmphed, "Playing Go and dealing with matters are still different."
"Of course, they're different," Su Shaoying agreed. "Playing Go is much simpler than dealing with matters. Only Zhao Kuo would think that playing Go and dealing with matters are the same, believing that his well-planned strategies would work perfectly in practice, only to end up in complete disarray."
Su Shaoying continued with a smile, "Moreover, in Go, there are only two players, black and white. But in dealing with matters, it's not always a confrontation between two sides. Can you truly be certain who your friends and enemies are?"
"What you see and know, is it what you witnessed with your own eyes, or is it what someone told you?"
Su Shaoying winked at He Tianqing, "Have you ever thought about why Yan Tieshan died so quickly, and why Lu Xiaofeng didn't make a move against my master?"
Su Shaoying didn't know what Shangguan Feiyan had told He Tianqing or how much she had revealed, but he was certain that she must have hidden something. Otherwise, He Tianqing wouldn't have agreed to let Lu Xiaofeng go find He Xiu.
So, Su Shaoying decided to give He Tianqing a reminder, hoping to stir up some trouble between Tianqin Sect and Qingyi House.
Upon hearing this, He Tianqing's face turned ashen, his eyes filled with uncertainty.
Ma Xiuzhen and the other women looked at Su Shaoying with astonishment.
(End of Chapter)
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