Rebirth of the Great Power

Chapter 27

When I returned to my room after dinner, it was already dark, but it was still too early to rest.Ji San called Xiao Er to light the candles, and planned to talk to Mu Yuan about the matter of discussing the scales in Yangzhou.

"Brother Mu, do you know some anecdotes about this Yangzhou Lunping?"

Mu Yuan said bluntly, "I still need to ask Brother Ji for advice."

Ji San originally planned to talk to him, so he would not refuse: "Yangzhou has a long history of discussing Ping Ping. At first, it was completely spontaneous among the people. It is said that the first owner of a chess building was a chess fan, and his own chess skills were not high. , but he was keen on Go. He built a chess building with his wealth accumulated in business for most of his life, and held the first Yangzhou Lunping. There are seniors in the chess world, and there are young chess players who are full of spirit but unknown. It was really a grand event in the chess world.

"Before the first owner of the chess building passed away, several Lunping events were held one after another. The successor was not very interested in Go and had no intention of holding it, so it stopped for more than ten years. Later, the third owner of the chess building, That is to say, the grandson of the founder took over the chess building. Coincidentally, he is also a chess fan, so he wanted to continue the Yangzhou Lunping founded by his grandfather. This successor not only has certain attainments in chess skills, but also in business It is also a personal talent. He not only re-hosted the forum, but also created momentum for it and increased its influence. At the same time, combined with some commercial means, the benefits that can be gained from holding a forum are far greater than the cost of holding it This makes it so that after his death, just for the huge benefits, the successors will continue to hold this forum again and again. This Yuelai Inn is also one of the properties of Qilou."

Mu Yuan nodded, feeling clear.Coming from the modern society of economic globalization, he certainly knows better than anyone in this era the importance of financial support to a competitive career.The flourishing development of the modern Go competitive career is not also based on a strong economy.Those high game bonuses and game fees that allow professional chess players to live comfortably are not just the important reasons for chess players to concentrate on studying chess and promote the career of Go.It was Mu Yuan himself, one of the beneficiaries.As for the economic benefits that an event that can attract a lot of attention can bring, anyone with a little economic common sense can understand it.Not to mention those invisible influences, the consumption of food, clothing, housing and transportation brought about by the concentration of people alone is not a small amount; what's more, people's enthusiasm for gambling in this era is no less than that of football in modern society.

While Mu Yuan was thinking about this silently, Ji San had already continued: "Since the Taizu, all the kings of this dynasty have been quite enthusiastic about Yilin's way. What is good at the top will be bad at the bottom. Chess is popular throughout the country. Not only is there a chess waiting order in the court, but also more equipment to choose chess waiting orders. There is no fixed number of candidates for chess waiting orders, and they can be recommended by civil and military officials of the fourth rank or above, and they can take up the post after passing the assessment; In addition, the winners of major influential private competitions can also directly serve as the winners on the premise of their own willingness, without further assessment. Yangzhou Lunping is the first non-governmental competition to receive this honor. It is today's Hanlin Academy, just There are two chess players who were born in Yangzhou Lunping.

"So far, the influence of Yangzhou Lunping has become more and more far-reaching. It can be said that Jiangnan and Huainan are the two most important chess events that Yilin pays attention to. Every time, more and more chess players want to participate. In view of this, Qilou So they cooperated with the government and made a selection before participating. There is only one place in each state capital, and only those directly recommended by the governor are eligible to participate in the discussion. You can directly participate. Others who have not been recommended can only watch the game.

"Those who wait for the imperial edict for chess do not participate in political affairs, but they are also of high quality and rank, and they often have the opportunity to be gifted by the emperor, so they can be regarded as close ministers of the emperor. It has attracted much attention. The governors of the state capitals naturally do not want to miss an opportunity to recommend future chess orders, so as long as there is a Yilin master in the state capital who wants to ask for a recommendation letter, they will generally not be rejected, and it is the same state capital. If there is more than one chess player, the local governor will also try to help recommend other state capitals."

I see.Mu Yuan thought of the recommendation letter his father gave him before leaving the house, and only then did he understand the importance of this recommendation letter. No wonder his father repeatedly told him to keep it close to him.

Ji San silently poured a cup of tea, and when Mu Yuan figured out what was going on, he went on to say, "The number of people participating in the discussion is different each time. In recent years, most of them have been between twenty and thirty. Not equal. But each time the schedule is roughly the same, regardless of the number of people, they are divided into four groups, A, B, C, and D, and play against each other. In terms of the outcome of the game, two people who win the most games, a total of eight people will enter the next round. Eight people decide their opponents by drawing lots. The winner advances, and the loser retreats. By analogy, the top three and the top three are finally determined. The top three are all given bonuses, but only the top one can be selected as an alternative chess. Qualifications."

As soon as Mu Yuan heard it, he understood that this is the group stage and the knockout stage. Many events in modern competitive competitions adopt this type of competition system.

Mu Yuan waited for a while, and seeing that Ji San didn't speak again, he knew that he had finished speaking, so he cupped his hands and said, "Thank you Brother Ji for letting me know, I'm sorry."

Ji San smiled: "Everyone in Yangzhou knows all these anecdotes, and Brother Mu only needs to ask a little bit to find out. I just say too much, how can I get credit for it, let alone thank Brother Mu. Besides, with Brother Mu's chess skills , Knowing or not knowing has no effect on victory or defeat.”

Mu Yuan smiled lightly and said nothing more.

Ji Sandao: "Tomorrow is the first day of this debate. According to the convention, the first day is only a draw, not a game. Even so, Brother Mu, it's better to rest early and recharge your spirits."

"En." Mu Yuan nodded, and suddenly remembered that Ji San said that he came to Yangzhou because he had something to do, but he didn't know what to do, how many days it would take, and when he would leave.Before arriving in Yangzhou, Ji San never mentioned it, nor did he think about it.At this moment, I suddenly thought of it, but I felt that tomorrow I would say to Convenience that the matter is over, so I bid farewell, and I couldn't help but feel a little entangled.In the past half a month, we have been together every day, and I often feel happy and satisfied. I just wish that this kind of life will continue for a long time.But where in the world is there a banquet that will last forever, thinking of the imminent parting, I feel a little bit reluctant.

Mu Yuan struggled for a while, he is not a deep-minded person, especially in front of Ji San, and he was unwilling to hide it, so he simply asked: "Brother Ji said that he came to Yangzhou to do something, when will it be finished? "

Ji San was stunned for a moment when he heard the words, and then remembered the excuse he used to say that he wanted to come to Yangzhou. He couldn't help but lowered his eyes and smiled, then raised his eyes to look at Mu Yuan, and said narrowly: "The things I have to do when I come to Yangzhou are I saw Brother Mu's elegant demeanor when he was discussing the balance in Yangzhou. I'm still waiting for Brother Mu to ask for a glass of wine when he wins the prize. Why, isn't Brother Mu welcome?"

Mu Yuan raised his eyebrows, and realized that Ji San came to Yangzhou all the way for himself, and was speechless for a while.

Seeing the surprised look on Mu Yuan's face, Ji San smiled again and said, "Actually, I'm going back to Beijing next time, so it's the same if I go from here. Now that the triennial Lunping event has happened, there's absolutely no reason to miss it." What's more, I'm deeply impressed that this trip was worthwhile with Brother Mu."

Ji San spoke sincerely, and Mu Yuan was even more moved, not to mention he also felt the same way, the warmth in his eyes deepened, and he said: "Then let's rest earlier."

After the two washed up, they rested one after another.

Even in the upper room, there is only one bed in the room, although this bed is bigger and softer.However, it was not the first time for the two of them to sleep together in the same bed. They were both men, so there was nothing awkward about it.After lying down, I soon fell asleep.

After getting up early the next day, Mu Yuan and the others did not rush to Youjian chess building.One story only started to be reported in the early afternoon, and the lottery had to be scheduled until the afternoon, so there was still time; besides, Yuelai Inn was only a few steps away from Youjian Chess Building, so there was no need to go early and wait.

It's just that Mu Yuan and Ji San were not in a hurry, but they were in a hurry to damage Tian Yuan and Mo Yan.Seeing the crowds over there, the two boys wanted to go over there to watch the fun, but the masters couldn't get up, and they couldn't go ahead, so they stretched their necks and kept poking over there.

Seeing this, Mu Yuan couldn't help but smiled, and said to Tian Yuan: "Tian Yuan, the time is approaching now, why don't you go there to find out the situation for the young master first."

Tian Yuan's eyes lit up immediately, and he replied loudly: "Your order, young master."

Seeing Mo Yan's eager eyes, Ji San couldn't help shaking his head slightly, and said with a smile: "Mo Yan, why don't you go and have a look too."

"Yes, Lord." Mo Yan nodded vigorously, and happily ran over holding hands with Tian Yuan.

Mu Yuan and Ji San looked at each other helplessly, smiled and continued to drink slowly. There were not many people in the inn at the moment, and most of them rushed to the chess building, but they were happy and quiet.

After a while, Tian Yuan and Mo Yan turned back.The two didn't expect them to find out anything at first, they just let them join in the fun, but looking at the appearance of the two young men, it seems that they really found out something.

Tian Yuan came before him and said: "Master, we just found out that there are exactly twenty chess players participating in the Ping Ping this time, and nineteen of them are recommended by various states, and one is recommended by Master Jing Kong."

"Oh," Ji San asked with interest, "Do you know which state capitals have recommended people?"

"Well, there are Yangzhou, Luzhou, Yuezhou, Yongzhou, Suzhou, Xuanzhou, Taizhou, Jianzhou..." Tian Yuan read one by one with his fingers, and finally said: "There is also our Qiantang. The others are not there yet. Find out."

"Then, do you know the name of the person recommended by Master Jingkong?"

"I don't know yet." Tian Yuan shook his head, and then said: "However, it is said that after the lottery is drawn in the afternoon, all the lists will be drawn out, and then we will know."

Mu Yuan couldn't help asking: "Why is Brother Ji so interested in the person recommended by Master Jing Kong?"

Ji San smiled slightly: "Because I have a hunch, if there is anyone who can become your opponent, Brother Mu, this time, it will be this person."