Zhao Defang's road to the virtuous king

"Recently, the Ministry of Rites is discussing whether to revise the title of the sacrificial temple. The Taichang Ritual Court ordered His Majesty to revise the title of the sacrificial temple below Emperor Xizu. Your Majesty does not know what to do about this matter."

"It's nothing to look for! Two months ago, Zongzheng Temple discussed who the late empress deserved to be the first emperor. Now the Ministry of Rites has come to ask whether the title of the temple should be changed. Do they think that His Majesty is not tired enough, and they have to make troubles?" OK!"

"Your Majesty calm down, the Ministry of Rites has already played, and His Majesty would like to ask your Majesty to take care of this matter."

"Well, this matter will be temporarily postponed to the Ministry of Finance. I believe that Mr. Zhang Qixian and Mr. Zhang can block it first, and discuss it later after His Majesty prays for rain." Defang thought for a while and said, "Baili, prepare paper and pen."

Defang wrote a letter, "Eunuch Li, hand this letter to Your Majesty, and Your Majesty won't be so troubled."

"Yes, thank you, my lord, the little one will go back to the palace first."

"Please, Eunuch Li."

After Li Shenfu left, Baili asked, "My lord, this is the first time Your Majesty has asked you to play chess, why don't you go?"

"Your Majesty has something on his mind. Playing chess at this time not only can't solve the problem, but also makes you more upset." Defang picked up the tea bowl. "Besides, playing chess with the emperor is not fun. The lonely king would rather play with himself."

"Is your Majesty's chess skill bad?"

"That's not true, it's just that His Majesty is the emperor, the Son of Heaven of the Song Dynasty, and the lonely king has to think for a long time every step he takes."

"Didn't the late emperor always call you into the palace to play chess?"

"That's right, the first emperor was a master at chess. It's not easy for the lonely king to be able to make a draw. What's more, there is a national player with excellent chess skills, Jia Xuan, who is waiting for His Majesty's chess. This Jia Xuan's chess skills are unrivaled. Whether he wins or loses, or draws, or even wins or loses by only one or two pieces, he can be very accurate. Since he became the first emperor's chess master, the first emperor's chess skills have become more and more superb, and he has also controlled three battles: facing thousands of miles, flying alone The swan, the potential of fetching pearls from the bottom of the sea, the lonely king doesn’t have to worry about anything, as long as he doesn’t lose too badly. But His Majesty, he is not very proficient in chess. Jia Xuan was also sent out of the palace. His Majesty only has his heart When you have something to do, you can find other chess players to play chess, you can’t lose, you can’t win, and you can’t even draw, so those who play chess with His Majesty have to be punished.”

"Ah? Why can't it work? Then what should I do?"

"What should I do? Just hide and stay away." Defang smiled, "Your Majesty believes in Buddhism and loves Taoism, and he is eager to win in his heart. He is just eager for success, and it is difficult to achieve the best. The lonely king is not afraid of playing this game of chess. To relieve His Majesty, so it is best not to go, and save the time to think about how to persuade His Majesty."

"Hey, isn't it just playing chess, there are so many things to do."

"Playing chess depends on who you play with. In all dynasties, how many people dare to play chess with the emperor? But do you know that since the Han Dynasty, how many chess masters have been bestowed by the emperor to die, even if they are not chess masters, Some people can be killed by this small chessboard, and princes and generals are no exception."

"Really? Playing chess can kill you?"

"Yeah, this chessboard is a pastime in the hands of ordinary people, but if it is placed in front of the emperor, then the black and white pieces will become the world of yin and yang."

"It's really prudent. It's not worth losing your life playing a game of chess."

"Yeah, but if you were given death because of your high chess skills, you would know why, but someone was killed before he finished playing chess, and the person who killed him was his cousin, so it's not worth it. "

"Ah? Just because of playing chess? Who is so unlucky?"