Chapter 714: The World's Stirring, New Year's Eve (Part 2)

Xiangzhou, located at the border of Guangling Dao and Nanjiang Dao, is renowned for Apricot Lane, a street that is not very old. On both sides of this lane are Jiangnan-style courtyards; though not grand, they are exquisite. The residents are not high-ranking officials or nobles, but rather impoverished scholars who did not participate in the Hongjia Northern Exodus, including reclusive remnants of Western Chu and disheartened teachers from Shangyin Academy. When these scholars settled there, they were genuinely short of money and could not afford to build large mansions.

The Fan family mansion is located at the furthest end of Apricot Lane. The Fan clan was once an incredibly wealthy and powerful family in Southern Tang. When this branch of the Fan family divided their assets before the disaster, their ancestors chose to take an entire building full of books, which were the most difficult to transport, instead of treasures. For over twenty years, they have been struggling financially; if not for selling antique books from the new building, they would have been unable to make ends meet. Liyang flourished, its national fortunes prospered, and so did the fortunes of chess. Fortunately, the Fan family produced Fan Changhou, a chess enthusiast who cared little for fame, and who, along with Wu Congxian, the newly appointed third-place scholar (Tanhua) of the Liyang imperial court, was known as "the Twin Nines of Before and After." Both, still under thirty, were undefeated south of the Guangling River. Wu Congxian, in particular, later became one of the Eight Talents of the Capital; after passing the imperial examination, he was personally selected by His Majesty to play against four grandmasters of the Liyang Imperial Chess Academy, winning all four matches—an astonishing achievement. Fan Changhou, who had slightly surpassed Wu Congxian in their rivalry, naturally became the unofficial top player in the Liyang chess world, earning the new title of "Fan Ten-Dan." Apricot Lane, where Fan Changhou lived, became bustling with carriages and horses for a time, but this chess enthusiast consistently refused visitors. While on the chessboard Fan Changhou was "mild-mannered and upright," in real life, he seemed to keep people at a great distance.

The Fan family's collection of books is housed in the "Kuanxin" (Peace of Mind) and "Qiushu" (Seeking Forgiveness) pavilions. Qiushu Pavilion, with its three-story hard-gable roof, has six rooms on each floor, and corridors both front and back. In front of the pavilion, there is a perfectly square courtyard, covering three mu, paved with blue bricks, where not a single weed grows, used for sunning books in the summer. Fan Changhou, who had recently become the head of the Fan family, established several strict rules for the library. These included: books passed down through generations should not be separated from the collection; women, whether from outside the family or within, were not allowed to enter the pavilions; and the keys to the book cabinets were to be held by the eldest direct descendants of multiple branches of the family.

Today was a warm winter day, perfect for sunning books to remove dampness and mildew. A refined-looking man in a green robe carefully took armfuls of carved and copied editions from the pavilion and spread them out on the blue brick ground of the courtyard in front of Qiushu Pavilion, doing the work himself rather than having servants do it. A girl with sun-flushed cheeks squatted on the ground, casually flipping through the books, not with enjoyment but with a frown. The man glanced at her back, smiled faintly, and stretched. He then noticed a huge figure sitting silently on the steps at the edge of the courtyard, where sunlight and shadow intertwined. A shadow fell over the man's pleasant mood. This burly giant's visit to the Fan family had been extremely startling; he hadn't submitted a calling card or knocked on the door, but had instead fallen from the sky, crashing into the pond in the Fan family's backyard. At the time, Fan Changhou was deep in thought during a long chess game with someone, and his opponent asked him to bring the visitor over. Fan Changhou instructed the servants who had heard the commotion not to spread the word, and since then, this colossal figure, like a celestial deity, had been inseparable from the old man and the young girl, never speaking.

The man, none other than Fan Changhou, Fan Ten-Dan, walked over to the old man. The old man was sitting on a small stool, with a golden nanmu chess board in front of him, and beside him a small dish of white salt, a plate of crisp white radishes, and a bowl of white rice. Ever since the arrival of the burly, golden-skinned guest, the old man had set up the current incomplete chess game, and then neither moved a piece nor spoke. Unless the young girl spoke to the old man, he would ignore everyone, even Fan Changhou. Fan Changhou now stood behind the old man, observing the endgame that seemed to be nearing its conclusion, filled with suspicion. The black and white pieces were intricately intertwined, a typical power struggle game, with little regard for standard chess formations. However, from Fan Changhou's perspective, this game was far from being worthy of such focused attention from the old man.

It should be known that Fan Changhou was considered by the world to be self-taught and of mediocre talent. In terms of innate ability, he was miles behind Wu Congxian, who had achieved fame in his youth. It was only through sheer tenacity that he eventually achieved success in later life, finally becoming an equal to Wu Congxian in recent years. However, Fan Changhou certainly had a master, and it was Huang Longshi, the top chess player of the Spring and Autumn period. Had it not been for this, Fan Changhou's "late blooming" would surely have been delayed by another two decades. In the present world, the highest rank in Go is nine-dan, and the several top national grandmasters serving as Imperial Chess Attendants beside the emperor are undeniably strong nine-dans. Some reclusive masters in the countryside also possess nine-dan strength, but may not necessarily be considered "strong." As for Xu Weixiong, the Princess of Beiliang who gained fame while studying at Shangyin Academy, there is a saying, "Xu Ten, and Thirteen." "Xu Ten" means that this woman's strength far surpasses that of a nine-dan master, making her a deserving ten-dan grandmaster. "Xu Thirteen" means she often plays brilliant, unfathomable moves, as if she were a thirteen-dan player. Thus, she is considered a Go sage on par with Cao Guanzi of Western Chu. Fan Changhou considered his own "Fan Ten-Dan" title barely fitting, but acknowledged he was still far inferior to Xu Weixiong and Cao Changqing, with a significant gap of one stone. As for comparison with the master before him, well, in this surprising reunion between master and disciple, his benevolent teacher gave him a handicap of two stones, yet Fan Changhou still lost all ten games.

The old man stared at the board, picked up a pinch of salt, sprinkled it on the radish, and asked, "Yuetian, do you remember what I said when we played our first game together?" Fan Changhou, whose courtesy name was Yuetian and who was known as the Buddhist Disciple of Chess, respectfully replied, "Master said two things: one, that true skill lies beyond the board; and two, that no matter how well one plays chess, it's just that—playing chess. There's a world of difference between playing chess well and being a good person."

Huang Longshi, the Spring and Autumn Period's foremost chess demon, grunted, chewing on the bland radish with only a hint of saltiness. "That's why, besides teaching you chess, I also insisted you not neglect your studies. Now Wu Congxian has made a name for himself in the capital, but you, without seeking anything, have become even more famous than him. In the future, no matter who sits on the Liyang throne, whether surnamed Zhao or otherwise, you will have your place."

Fan Changhou quietly asked, "Master, why did you want me to befriend His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince of Yan Chi? Was it because you were disappointed by the emperor's execution of Grand Chancellor Zhang Julu?"

Huang Longshi chuckled and retorted, "Yuetian, do you think the 'Green-Eyed One' should not have been killed?"

Fan Changhou dared not play coy with his master and candidly stated, "Even if the emperor wanted to pave the way for Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan, killing Zhang Julu alone would have been enough. Exterminating nine generations of his family was too much."

Huang Longshi smiled. "Let's not discuss the severity of the execution for now. First, tell me why the 'Green-Eyed One' was destined to die."

Fan Changhou walked to the opposite side of the chessboard, sat upright, and solemnly stated, "Grand Chancellor Zhang Julu greatly promoted the imperial examinations, opening the Dragon Gate for scholars from humble families. Furthermore, his protégés, such as Yin Maochun and Zhao Youling, emerged as officials during the Yonghui period. They were not only capable ministers but, under Zhang Julu's protection, also navigated the imperial court smoothly for years, becoming increasingly familiar with the emperor's thoughts and court rules. They knew how to protect themselves wisely and how to build their reputation and influence while also securing a place in history. Such officials were different from the 'loyal ministers' of the Spring and Autumn Period who, though unyielding, would willingly die if the ruler commanded it. Even if the ruler wanted them dead, they might not die, and deep down, they would not wish to take their own lives lightly. The continuously emerging high-ranking officials from humble backgrounds, originating from common society, would not mind losing decades of accumulated family wealth. At certain moments, unlike the deeply entrenched aristocratic scions, they would possess a greater spirit of sacrificing everything. Zhang Julu was the creator of the 'Spring of Yonghui' and the initiator of humble scholars filling the court in purple and yellow robes. This is one reason for his death."

Huang Longshi picked up a handful of white rice, put it into his mouth, and slowly smiled, "Far from enough."

"Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan is about to ascend the throne. Barring any surprises, he will be an emperor of a peaceful and prosperous era, lacking military accomplishments. However, if Zhang Julu controls the civilian bureaucracy and Gu Jiantang controls the military, it would be extremely difficult for the new emperor Zhao Zhuan to command respect. The current emperor has continuously made 'probing moves' against the Grand Chancellor: Jin Lanting's impeachment, Grand General Yang Shenxing bringing up the old case of the loyal Han family of Jizhou, the exceptional promotion of Chai Junwang's son-in-law Chen Wang, summoning Qi Yanglong to the capital, and re-establishing the Central Secretariat and Chancellery to counterbalance the Department of State Affairs. These numerous tactics have steadily pressured the Grand Chancellor. Zhang Julu appeared to consistently retreat, dismantling his own Zhanglu faction and successively abandoning Zhao Youling, Yin Maochun, and Bai Guo, leaving only Wang Xionggui, who was universally considered least suitable for a high ministerial role. Even when Wang Xionggui, the Minister of Revenue and the last pillar of the Zhanglu faction, was demoted to Administrative Commissioner of Guangling Dao and left the capital, Zhang Julu remained silent." Fan Changhou paused here. "However, as long as Zhang Julu remains alive, even if he 'resigned' due to fault and this civil official leader returned to his hometown to live in seclusion after losing his office, then Qi Yanglong, the Grand Libation, who was initially used as a transitional figure to counterbalance Zhang Julu, would find himself in an awkward position. Moreover, how old is Zhang Julu, and how old is Qi Yanglong? Should there be any unrest in the world, Zhang Julu, though no longer in court but in the jianghu, would instead have the opportunity to become the savior everyone looks to. The vast difference in treatment between Zhang Julu and Qi Yanglong today, as well as their standing in the hearts of the common people, would then be precisely reversed. How could His Majesty the Emperor not understand this principle? How could he leave such a mess for the Crown Prince? If this were the only argument, without the 'first death' of Zhang Julu that I mentioned earlier, it could still be seen as a balancing act by the monarch to control his subjects. However, since the future will be an era without major wars, and the court is becoming increasingly rich in talent, the Emperor's 'Spring of Xiangfu' is no worse than Zhang Julu's 'Spring of Yonghui.' Why would the Zhao family need to keep you, Zhang Julu, around?!"

Huang Longshi nodded. "For the past twenty years, Zhang Julu has been a helping hand in times of need; he couldn't be killed. In the future, he could only do things that add icing to the cake, and he would become too powerful to control. He could indeed be killed earlier. This is also a reason for his death. That's two deaths now, continue."

Fan Changhou was clearly confident, having prepared his well-thought-out arguments beforehand, and he expounded on them without hesitation. "The first two deaths concerned the current emperor's posthumous concerns. At present, the imminent war between Liang and Mang, and the pacification of Guangling, are immediate matters. During his life, Zhang Julu made enemies on all four sides. Three of his mortal enemies were the imperial nobility, aristocratic civil officials, and local military commanders. These three groups had always harbored immense resentment towards the Grand Chancellor. The imperial relatives had lived a miserable life for twenty years, like rats scurrying across the street. They had initially thought that after Emperor Zhaodun of Liyang unified the realm, they, as meritorious subjects and members of the Zhao clan, would naturally share the empire with the emperor. Unexpectedly, Xu Xiao and Zhang Julu, one a military figure and the other a civilian, had taken all the credit. How could they tolerate this? As long as Zhang Julu, this stumbling block, remained in court for a day, how could those officials from aristocratic families ever rise to prominence? The more selfless Zhang Julu was, the harder it was for this group to secure benefits for their families. At that time, Zhang Julu was determined to reform the three matters of scribes, salt administration, and water transport. There were constant obstacles; the old Minister of Works did not hesitate to risk offending the Grand Chancellor to intervene on behalf of others. For whom did the old Minister stand up? Naturally, it was for the large group of civil officials whose families dominated local affairs. The conflict between civil and military officials was a common occurrence throughout history. Zhang Julu could use his political skill to curb factional arrogance, but by openly strategizing during the Guangling Pacification, he used the opportunity to continuously reduce the power of regional lords and suppress the military. Yan Zhenchun, Yang Shenxing, and several major vassal kings all became weakened pawns. Those generals holding military power were also unable to tolerate this. The emperor killing the 'villain' Zhang Julu allowed these three factions to vent their immense resentment, achieving two birds with one stone. Afterward, the new emperor could pacify everyone, thus achieving three objectives."

Huang Longshi said calmly, "This is also a reason for his death. However, there's something you didn't fully explain. The certainty of this death lies in this: if Zhang Julu had been dismissed from office at the height of his power, then the deep-seated resentment of his three mortal enemies would have largely been vented. Resentment, once released, is difficult to gather again. In the future, if they wished to contend with the 'Green-Eyed One' again, they would find it hard to possess the same unrelenting determination. Fighting the 'Green-Eyed One' with such a mindset, even with the new emperor's backing, they would certainly be divided and conquered by Zhang Julu, just as he easily dismantled the Green Faction."

Fan Changhou replied solemnly and respectfully, "Your disciple has learned much!"

Huang Longshi reached for the last remaining radish, glanced at his disciple who had earned the title of "Buddhist Disciple of Chess," and asked, "Is that all? That's far less impressive than your junior disciple in Xiangfan City."

Fan Changhou smiled faintly, "It's one thing for Zhang Julu not to form factions and thus clip his own wings, but he even deliberately parted ways with Tantan Weng, his greatest supporter, thereby completely isolating himself. Had it not been for this, how would those ignorant scholars have dared to throw accusations at Zhang Julu's door to gain fame? This scene is exactly like when any scholar with a bit of renown in those days would have to curse Xu Xiao, the Butcher. If Huan Wen had firmly stood by the Grand Chancellor's side, let alone those passionate scholars, even Jin Sanlang wouldn't have had the audacity. Without Huan Wen, Zhang Julu faced another death."

Huang Longshi made no comment, merely changed the subject. Squinting at the salt and the bowl of rice, he chuckled, "Famous scholars are full of interesting anecdotes. These anecdotes, circulating throughout court and countryside, are like salt to scholars; eating plain rice without them is tasteless. It won't kill anyone, but it certainly lacks that vital spirit. Earlier, in the Liyang dynasty, when it was fragmented with numerous regional governors, scholars were constantly bullied half to death by military men, so naturally, there were no interesting anecdotes worth mentioning. The 'Green-Eyed One' was indeed extraordinary. In just the brief Yonghui period, there were anecdotes of a Hanlin Academy attendant, a Huangmen official, falling asleep drunk, with the Emperor himself draping a fur cloak over him, and of Tantan Weng warming a pot of wine in the imperial palace to discuss the affairs of the realm. Therefore, while the knees of scholars throughout the land may still be bent, their spines have finally straightened."

Fan Changhou looked up at the books laid out in the sunlight and sighed with emotion, "The upheaval of being a 'stray dog' in my childhood is still fresh in my memory. The military commanders guarding the passes only cared for gold and silver, and their constant bullying was one thing. What I find most unforgettable is how they would use their spears to overturn book cases, spilling unique and precious editions—the very lifeblood of scholars—all over the ground to be wantonly trampled. I suppose a world where books can safely bask in the sun is a good world for us scholars."

After sighing, Fan Changhou took a deep breath and said, "Zhang Julu committed examination fraud, his eldest son embezzled fertile land, and his family colluded with local officials to seize profits from the common people—the evidence is conclusive..." At this point, Fan Changhou gave a wry smile. "What 'conclusive evidence' it is, truly laughable. The latter two accusations are likely true, but if one were to say Zhang Julu leaked examination questions, I imagine everyone would find it absurd. Regardless of the truth, adding the Han family tragedy, which implicated the old Grand Chancellor, this is yet another reason for his death."

Fan Changhou clenched his fists and rested them on his knees, a hint of anger in his tone. "And that's not all. Among the ten charges, there's even one of colluding with border armies. Colluding with whom? Diverting half the nation's taxes to build the eastern front to defend against Beiliang was a national strategy set by the former emperor. What crime could Zhang Julu have committed?"

Huang Longshi shook his head. "That charge is the most obscurely worded. You've guessed wrong; it's not about Gu Jiantang, it's about Beiliang. Of course, it also implicitly includes a warning to the hundreds of thousands of border soldiers under Gu Jiantang in the north. After Zhang Julu came to power, he seemingly tried step by step to suppress the Xu family of Beiliang. But in reality, those were mere appearances; the benefits that Beiliang's border garrisons were supposed to receive were not reduced. If anyone else had been Grand Chancellor, the court might have been chaotic, but at least Beiliang would have suffered even more. Zhang Julu was sacrificing the relationship between monarch and minister to secure a hidden stability for the dynasty's northwest. This, of course, is a reason for his death."

Fan Changhou was stunned, then stood up and bowed deeply towards the north.

Huang Longshi sneered, "Are you increasingly thinking the 'Green-Eyed One' shouldn't have died? Don't be fooled by the countless people currently secretly applauding the Grand Chancellor's downfall. In truth, true insightful individuals, especially scholars like you who genuinely believe 'the people are paramount, the ruler is secondary,' are all gritting their teeth in silence. Did you think that just because everyone seemed to be cursing Xu the Cripple back then, everyone genuinely hated Beiliang? The 'Green-Eyed One,' Tantan Weng, Gu Jiantang, Yan Zhenchun, Lu Baixie, Lu Shengxiang, Xu Gong, and others—did they truly only harbor animosity without any genuine admiration? You must remember that when Xu Xiao, armored and on horseback, led the Beiliang cavalry southward, Cai Nan, Gu Jiantang's trusted general, who commanded a full sixty thousand troops to intercept Xu Fengnian at the border, faced that old cripple. Not only did he not fight him, but he immediately knelt down in utter admiration, simply saying, 'Your humble general greets the King of Beiliang'—a phrase many soldiers clearly heard. Not only Cai Nan, the Grand General whom the court had high hopes for to reduce Beiliang's influence, but all sixty thousand armored soldiers shared the same sentiment, considering it a great honor to merely glimpse Grand General Xu Xiao from afar. In the end, Xu Xiao ended up inspecting Gu Jiantang's Iron Cavalry on his behalf. While civil officials in court privately expressed outrage, military officers and soldiers across Liyang did not find it shameful in the slightest. Xu Xiao's arrogance and dominance were his due. For Zhang Julu to be quietly remembered by scholars like you, that too is what the 'Green-Eyed One' deserved. Therefore, this is yet another reason for the 'Green-Eyed One's' death!"

Huang Longshi emotionlessly picked up a chess piece from the box and softly said, "Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan had never had a good impression of this Grand Chancellor. He once tried to befriend Zhang Bian Pass, Zhang Julu's youngest son, but to no avail. In times of chaos, military generals are fostered; in times of peace, civil officials are valued. This person is destined to be an emperor who favors civilian rule. However, to maintain a balance between civil and military power, he will inevitably continue the system left by Emperor Zhaodun, where the Department of State Affairs, the Central Secretariat, and the Chancellery mutually restrain each other. There will be more cabinet ministers than at present, but there must absolutely be no single leader of the civil officials. For Zhao Zhuan to secure his throne, Zhang Julu had to die yet again."

"Zhang Julu saw things further than anyone else. He deliberately tarnished his own reputation, leaving no retreat, to serve as a warning to future generations. The 'Green-Eyed One' was acutely aware that once the pattern of civilian rule was established, the 'propriety' of 'punishment not extending to officials' would be repeatedly invoked by civil officials. Since the first year of Yonghui, the Department of State Affairs had grown dominant. Not only were none of the Six Ministers executed, but not even a single vice-minister was beheaded. If this trend continued, it would become even harder for 'scholar-officials' to be put to death in Liyang in the future. One emerging trend here is quite interesting: the corruption among imperial relatives and aristocratic scions still maintains some semblance of decorum. However, civil officials from humble backgrounds, once they shake off the mud from their origins, become even more shameless, and their methods more concealed. The 'Green-Eyed One' was clearly aware of this, which is why this death was self-sought. However, in my opinion, the death of one Grand Chancellor is of little use in addressing the 'declining moral standards' of future generations."

"But precisely because of this, Zhang Julu's death is what I, Huang Longshi, admire most."

"Emperor Zhaodun wanted him dead, and Zhang Julu was willing to die—another death. This death is the most helpless fate for a scholar serving the imperial family, but also the most admirable for a scholar with a clear conscience."

Huang Longshi, holding a chess piece between two fingers without placing it on the board, fell silent. The salt, rice, and radish had long since been eaten completely.

Fan Changhou quietly said, "Zhang Julu has had nine 'deaths'."

Huang Longshi looked down at the chessboard and asked with a smile, "They say 'nine deaths, one life.' Do you think the 'Green-Eyed One' still has that one thread of hope?"

Fan Changhou shook his head. "Everyone wanted him dead, and he didn't want to live. How could he survive?"

Huang Longshi tapped a white piece onto a spot in the northeastern part of the board, and then deliberately adjusted its position. Fan Changhou was astonished; his master always placed pieces swiftly when they played, let alone intentionally repositioning one that had already been placed. This was because Huang Longshi had said that once a piece is placed, it takes root, and worldly affairs are always so merciless; even if there were an elixir of immortality in the world, there could be no medicine for regret. This reignited Fan Changhou's curiosity, who had previously lost interest in the game. As the ten-dan master intently searched for an answer, Huang Longshi bent down, reached into the chess box, picked up a black piece, and looked towards a position slightly to the west on the board. With the two fingers holding the piece, he traced a circle there and said calmly, "Earlier, I set up this entire game in one go. Don't be fooled by how this section seems to be in the midst of an intense battle, with both black and white sides fighting with immense force. In reality, it's quite laughable and very likely irrelevant to the grand scheme of things."

Fan Changhou, sitting face to face with Huang Longshi, felt a jolt in his heart. Looking down at the board, he asked repeatedly, "Is this the Liyang-Beiliang confrontation?! Is this Beiliang? Beiliang has three hundred thousand iron cavalry; how could it be irrelevant to the grand scheme? Master, I truly don't understand. Can you enlighten your disciple?"

Huang Longshi tossed the black piece back into the box and chuckled, "How could you, a Fan Ten-Dan, guess the next move of Beiliang's Grand Marshal of Peace? Don't bother racking your brain; you couldn't figure it out in a hundred years. Having your level of skill in chess is quite sufficient. From now on, just focus on how to gain fame and power in the new political landscape. The higher one's chess skill, the more vain one becomes as a person."

Fan Changhou cautiously glanced at his master.

Huang Longshi smiled, "I'm talking about you ordinary mortals. Your master and that Beiliang Imperial Tutor are not among them."

Fan Changhou asked, "What about Cao Changqing of Western Chu?"

Huang Longshi laughed, "Half and half. To know something is impossible yet still pursue it, he is a fool. Cao Changqing's entire latter half of his life was spent fighting for a lost cause, utterly meaningless."

A scoff was heard from a distance.

It seemed to be mocking the old man for boasting and lecturing about the world. Huang Longshi looked a bit awkward, while Fan Changhou, seeing his master at a disadvantage, wanted to laugh but dared not.

Huang Longshi stood up, walked over to the young girl who was still flipping through books, patted her head, and sighed with great pity, "My girl, don't bother that bronze figure anymore. You can't kill him."

The old man picked up a book and walked to sit beside the Beiliang Bronze Figure Ancestor, who had been thrown here to Guangling Dao by Qi Xuanzhen. However, he was quickly squeezed between the bronze figure and Haha Girl. Huang Longshi had to shift his position, placing his palm on the book to feel the lingering warmth of the sunlight, and said, "When I was young, I visited Qi Xuanzhen at the Demon-Slaying Platform. That great Daoist said that writing one's own book with a brush is not as good as someone reading a book turned by the gentle breeze. I, Huang Longshi, neither believe nor agree with that. Otherwise, this journey would have been in vain."

The Bronze Figure Ancestor remained silent.

Huang Longshi turned his head and asked, "How much longer?"

The Bronze Figure Ancestor still gazed straight ahead, his eyes empty.

The courtyard of Qiushu Pavilion returned to utter silence.

Day after day, the whole world finally learned that Grand Chancellor Zhang Julu had died, in prison.

It was then that people remembered an old scoundrel who should have died but hadn't, who seemed to have given a grim prophecy to the then-flourishing Grand Chancellor long ago.

"It'll be hard to get through New Year's Eve."

It was then that everyone suddenly realized that all the predictions of Huang Sanjia, the great chess demon, had come true.

New Year's Eve marks the end of the month and the year, thus it links the old year to the new spring.

The old year is removed at this point, replaced by the new.

On New Year's Eve of the first year of Xiangfu, everyone in Apricot Lane, old and young, lit lamps and stayed up late to welcome the new year, and the Fan family was no exception.

In front of Kuanxin Pavilion, the Bronze Figure Ancestor stood in the center of the courtyard, looking up at the sky.

The young girl and Fan Changhou sat on the stone steps.

The young girl's face was expressionless.

Fan Changhou, meanwhile, sobbed with his head bowed, like a child.

During the day, his master, uncharacteristically patient, had told him many things and explained many principles: the respective plans and arrangements of several grand strategists still alive, the strengths and weaknesses of Crown Prince Zhao Zhuan of Liyang and Prince Zhao Zhuan of Yan Chi, how he should support his junior disciple Lu Xu, how to emerge victorious from the brutal struggle between major powers, and even how to successfully withdraw after achieving his goals. Finally, his master said something very perplexing to him, almost like a definitive historical verdict for Fan Changhou from later generations: "Fan Changhou, fond of fame and power, skilled in political maneuvering, brilliantly eloquent, fierce internally but gentle externally, one of the Six Ministers of Liyang's Restoration, died peacefully, posthumously honored as Wenzhen."

Inside the pavilion, the old man who had monopolized the top three ranks in the Spring and Autumn Period held an oil lamp, quietly walking between the bookshelves. The wick burned shorter and shorter, and as the New Year approached, it became even shorter.

The lamplight flickered, on the verge of going out.

Huang Longshi walked to the window, looked at the night sky, a free-spirited smile on his face, and murmured, "I was very happy to have met you all: Ye Baikui, Xu Xiao, Zhang Julu, Yuan Benxi, Li Yishan, Zhao Changling, Gu Jiantang, Nalan Youci, Huan Wen, Qi Yanglong, Cao Changqing, Li Dangxin."

The old man raised the oil lamp, "To you all, to the Spring and Autumn Period, to your valiant struggles and noble spirit!"

The old man opened the window and casually tossed the oil lamp, now depleted of oil and flickering out, outside. He burst into laughter, exclaiming, "What a magnificent life I have lived!"