Qin Dynasty: Who offended my frail and sickly minister?

Zhou Wenqing had been avoiding Han Fei for some time, and the story begins a few days ago.

Fusu, taking a rare break, played chess with Azhu in the corridor. They were using the same set of chess pieces given to them by General Mengwu. The black pieces were warm and smooth, while the white pieces were bright and clear. When they landed on the jujube wood chessboard, the sound was crisp and clear, and the sound lingered and spread around the corridor.

As the eldest son of the Qin Dynasty, Fusu had naturally begun learning the art of chess long ago. Although he was not yet proficient, he was still capable of teaching Azhu. When the two played chess, the black and white pieces on the board were scattered haphazardly and without any particular strategy.

After playing a few rounds, Ah Zhu frowned, his little face scrunched up, and his interest gradually waned. Seeing him like this, Fu Su couldn't help but chuckle and decided to play Go with him.

That was taught by the teacher. The rules were simple and easy to understand, yet full of fun. Even someone like Ah Zhu, who was new to chess, could get the hang of it.

Han Fei came out of his room, intending to borrow a book from Zhou Wenqing, but as he passed under the corridor, he involuntarily stopped.

He stood by the pillar, hands behind his back, watching the black and white pieces move back and forth on the chessboard. After a while, his brows furrowed slightly, then relaxed, and a hint of interest gradually appeared in his eyes.

"The rules of this game... are different from ordinary games." He spoke slowly, as if he were carefully choosing each word.

Ah Zhu looked up, his eyes sparkling: "This is Gomoku! The teacher taught us. Whoever connects five pieces in a row first wins. Simple, right?"

"Gomoku..." Han Fei repeated softly, his gaze falling on the chessboard, a slight smile playing on his lips. "It's quite novel."

He stood there for a while and carefully observed, and had already figured out the trick.

Although this game is simple, it is full of hidden tricks. It seems that as long as you connect five pieces, every move is actually a contest between blocking and counter-blocking. The speed of the offensive and defensive transitions is no less than that of chess.

Han Fei thought to himself that the person who created this way of chess must not only know the art of chess, but must also have a deep understanding of the principles and strategies of chess.

At that time, people called Go "Yi". Players used a wooden board and stone pieces, with seventeen lines in total. Two people sat facing each other and took turns placing pieces. This was not only a pastime to pass the time, but was also regarded as an extension of "rites" - it is a virtue of a gentleman to never take back a move; it is a virtue of a scholar to not push away the board or cheat.

Therefore, playing chess is an essential art for scholars and gentlemen. It can not only cultivate one's character, but also, in a sense, the chessboard is like a battlefield, and placing a piece is like setting up an army. Every move is a weighing of options, and every piece is a strategic move. Skilled chess players are often praised for "knowing when to advance and retreat and having strategies." Chess etiquette is like character. From a game of chess, one can often see a person's temperament and vision.

Coincidentally, Han Fei was a skilled chess player and a "fond of chess".

He was born with a speechless nature, his heart full of strategies and political views, but he could not speak freely. In addition to putting his thoughts into writing, he often used chess to discuss philosophy. In the game of chess, there was no need for many words. The battle of chess was more touching than verbal communication, and it was the best way to see through people's hearts.

Looking at the exquisite game of Gomoku, he felt a strong urge to learn from Zhou Wenqing's skills.

"Zicheng...is extremely proficient in this field," he said confidently.

"Of course!" Ah Zhu was even more certain than him, his face full of pride: "Master can do everything, he's incredibly skilled. My senior brother and I combined can't beat him!"

Han Fei didn't reply. He lowered his eyes, looking at the scattered chess pieces on the chessboard. His fingers unconsciously traced the edge of the book pages, and a burning intensity quietly welled up in his eyes.

That evening, Zhou Wenqing had just returned from the Zhisu Neishi Temple and hadn't even had time to change his clothes when he saw Han Fei sitting upright in the hall, with the chessboard in front of him. The black and white pieces were already arranged and neatly stacked on both sides, and the tea was already brewed, steaming hot, clearly having been waiting for a long time.

"Zicheng," Han Fei looked up at him, his gaze intense, "I've heard that you're skilled at chess. I'm not unworthy, but I'd like to ask you for a game."

Zhou Wenqing: "..."

I didn't! I'm not! Don't talk nonsense!

Upon learning that it was Ah Zhu who had made such a boastful claim without thinking, Zhou Wenqing wished he could grab the kid and give him a good spanking.

This kid, praising his teacher on ordinary days is one thing, but how can he be so unhumble in front of Han Fei?!

Is playing chess with Han Fei comparable to defeating two children?

Han Fei was a renowned scholar of his time, full of strategic acumen. His mastery of chess must have been unparalleled, making him a true national-level expert.

The original owner might have some knowledge of chess, but he was too busy visiting friends and building his reputation to know much. Even if he did know it, he would only have a superficial understanding and barely grasp the basics. As for Zhou Wenqing himself, there was no need to mention him.

Not to mention that the rules of Go in later generations are vastly different from those at this time, the Go board has changed from seventeen lines to nineteen lines, and the system of setting up positions has long been abolished. Moreover, he was not good at Go to begin with, at best an amateur enthusiast. If he were to play against Han Fei, he would probably be utterly defeated and completely humiliated within half a game.

Losing isn't scary; what's scary is losing too badly.

What will happen then? Will all the hard work he put into building up be for nothing? Where will he put his pride?!

So Zhou Wenqing used the excuse of being busy with official business to hurriedly say goodbye and slip away.

The more he tried to dodge, the stronger the fighting spirit in Han Fei's eyes became.

In Han Fei’s view, with Zhou Wenqing’s talent and vision, it was impossible for him to be ignorant of the way of chess. His repeated refusals were not because he was too bad to accept the challenge, but because he was hiding his skills and unwilling to make a move. Was this attitude because he was worried that Han Fei could not afford to lose?

These things did not deter him; on the contrary, they aroused the competitive spirit hidden deep in the heart of this Legalist scholar.

From then on, Han Fei began a "24/7" campaign to ambush Zhou Wenqing—inviting him to court in the corridor after court; waiting quietly in the hall of his official residence; and even squeezing in opportunities to ambush him after dinner in the evening.

Zhou Wenqing was forced to hide and run, and he found shortcuts through both the front and back gates of the mansion. Li Yi and A Zhu were also on high alert because of his instructions, and they would immediately inform Han Fei as soon as they saw him.

Unfortunately... I still couldn't escape it.

At this moment, the carriage curtain fell and the carriage had already set off. Fusu huddled in the corner, pulling the curtain over half of his face, looking like he was burying his head in the sand, clearly indicating that he couldn't be counted on.

Han Fei sat upright opposite him, with black and white chess pieces arranged neatly on both sides. He looked up at Zhou Wenqing, a faint smile playing on his lips.

This time, you can't escape now!

Zhou Wenqing looked at him, her lips twitching, her heart filled with bitterness.

It was too late to jump out of the car now, so he braced himself and tried to find a reason for himself:

"Well... Han Zi, look at this carriage, the space is cramped and the ride is bumpy, it's really not suitable for playing chess. How about we talk about something else?"

Han Fei looked down at the large armchair in front of him, where two cups of tea were placed steadily, with ripples but no spillage.

This carriage was commissioned by the King to be made overnight by the Imperial Household Department. It was specially designed for long-distance travel and aimed to ensure comfort. It was absolutely forbidden for it to be shaken to pieces during a single trip.

Chen Shaofu was so worried that his hair turned white. He kept an eye on the work day and night and barely managed to deliver the car before departure. The car was spacious and bright, with soft and thick seats—it had nothing to do with the words "narrow and bumpy" at all.

Zhou Wenqing gritted his teeth: "My heart is in turmoil, I can't play chess."

Han Fei: "..."

"Really!" Zhou Wenqing's eyes darted around, then he suddenly asked seriously, "Does Han Zi know our route?"

Han Fei looked up in confusion: "Isn't the plan to take the northern route first, then head south?"

Seeing that his attention had finally been diverted, Zhou Wenqing clapped his hands excitedly and said:

No, that's not it!