Chapter 94: Song Lian

Zhu Gaoxu's way of playing chess is different from Zhu Yuanzhang's.

Most of his moves focus on balance, taking advantage of the four-stone handicap to advance gradually, playing steadily; though he lacks a bit of dominance, he gains a bit of security.

Just like that, Zhu Gaoxu and Song Lian played for half an hour, and seeing that Zhu Gaoxu was gradually falling into a disadvantage, Song Lian leisurely picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Yet, Zhu Gaoxu took this opportunity to play a move that seemed useless.

Not to mention Song Lian, even Lao Zhu frowned secretly upon seeing it, wondering what kind of madness had seized Zhu Gaoxu; he was already at a disadvantage, yet he played such an idle move.

Even Song Lian was a bit confused, but Song Lian did not overthink it and continued with his previous strategy, wanting to slowly swallow up Zhu Gaoxu.

But after this idle move was played, Zhu Gaoxu actually changed his previous timid style and began to fight Song Lian head-on.

Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's brows furrowed even tighter.

Previously, when Zhu Gaoxu had the advantage, he was timid, but now that he had fallen into a disadvantage, he had actually started to become tough.

It could only be said that it was too late; Zhu Gaoxu would undoubtedly lose this game.

But next, as the game deepened, the two officially entered a white-hot stage, and Zhu Gaoxu refused to yield even an inch of ground.

His style of play was simply more overbearing than Zhu Yuanzhang's.

It could even be called crazy.

With Zhu Gaoxu's sudden reversal, it was Song Lian who was at a loss for how to respond for a moment.

And when it reached the most critical moment, as Zhu Gaoxu placed a stone, it actually echoed the seemingly idle move from before from across the board, directly forcing Song Lian into a dead end.

Only then did Zhu Yuanzhang completely understand.

His grandson knew when to endure and when to be overbearing; that fighting spirit of his was not a bit weaker than his own, and could even be said to be a cut above.

And Song Lian no longer had his previous leisurely state; he held a stone in his hand, his eyes fixed firmly on the chessboard.

But this stone seemed to weigh a thousand catties, and he could not bring himself to place it.

"Not bad, not bad. Your Highness truly has great methods; this old subject has lost..."

After a long while, Song Lian placed the stone in his hand on the side of the board and conceded the game.

Thus, Zhu Gaoxu had luckily won this game of chess.

"Teacher, you overpraise me. This student only won by luck, and besides, you gave me a four-stone handicap."

Hearing Zhu Gaoxu's words, Song Lian waved his hand and said, "A loss is a loss; this old subject still has that much breadth of mind. Your Highness's thinking is active; you are truly no ordinary person."

Lao Zhu, whose chess skill was inferior to the two, looked at the board in silence.

In Lao Zhu's view, although Zhu Gaoxu had turned defeat into victory in this game, stopping the decline and gaining the initiative, Song Lian clearly could have resisted further; why did Song Lian concede so directly?

Song Lian seemed to have understood Lao Zhu's confusion, knowing that Lao Zhu cared about his face and could not ask in detail, so he said to Zhu Gaoxu on the surface: "Your Highness is truly a young prodigy. At the beginning, you played deliberately steadily, making this old subject think your style was just cautious. Who knew that after that final move, which seemed like an idle stone, you completely changed your style, forcing this old subject to have to fight you, with no time to attend to that previous idle stone."

"And in the end, Your Highness used that idle stone to echo from afar and cut off my main dragon; I suppose that even if I continued to fight Your Highness head-on, there would be no point in resisting further without the advantage."

Song Lian was speaking to Zhu Gaoxu on the surface, but in reality, he was explaining it to Lao Zhu.

And when Lao Zhu heard Song Lian's words, and combined them with the game, it was indeed as Song Lian had said.

Turning his head to look at his grandson, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded secretly. This idle move was indeed a brilliant stroke; to have started laying the groundwork in secret dozens of moves in advance, to have such depth of character at such a young age—he could truly rest easy handing the Great Ming over to this little monkey...

Unconsciously, Zhu Yuanzhang's thoughts began to wander.

Song Lian had accompanied Zhu Yuanzhang for many years, and just by looking at his expression, he guessed what Zhu Yuanzhang was thinking, so he immediately said, "With such a talent as Your Highness, the Great Ming will surely be able to assist the future monarch in taking our Great Ming's strength to the next level."

Hearing these words from Song Lian, Zhu Yuanzhang knew that Song Lian was reminding him, and he immediately came back to his senses.

First, he gave a laugh, and then Zhu Yuanzhang said to Song Lian, "The chess game is over. How about it? Do you want to take on this little monkey of mine?"

Zhu Yuanzhang's words were clearly also speaking on behalf of Zhu Gaoxu.

Song Lian already found Zhu Gaoxu pleasing to the eye, and now that Zhu Gaoxu had beaten him at chess, plus with Zhu Yuanzhang speaking, he immediately nodded and said, "Your Highness is so intelligent; it is this subject's honor to teach Your Highness, but I have a few requirements, and I ask for Your Majesty's permission."

Hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang frowned slightly, but he decided to give his old companion some face, so he nodded and said, "Speak freely."

"First, this old subject is advanced in years. I can teach the Little Prince, but Your Majesty must never grant me any official post or title."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded. He did indeed have the thought of using this opportunity to have Song Lian return to office, but since he had promised Song Lian when he resigned, he would naturally not refuse this request now.

It would be best if he could return, but it didn't matter if he couldn't; Song Lian's ability was great, and the most important thing was to have him teach Zhu Gaoxu well.

Seeing that Zhu Yuanzhang had agreed to the first requirement, Song Lian continued, "Second, when I teach the Little Prince, no one else may interfere. Regardless of whether I beat or scold the Little Prince, no one is allowed to question it."