Chapter 83

Sima Yi watched the ongoing Tan-ki match between Chang-ran and Cao Biao, reflecting on recent events.

Cao Biao, who had just ascended the throne, sought Sima Yi’s advice on how to win over Chang-ran. Sima Yi analyzed Chang-ran based on what he had heard and investigated.

Chang-ran was different from ordinary women. She was more of a stern general than a woman.

“Do you wish to possess only Chang-ran’s body, or her heart as well?” Sima Yi asked.

“Merely possessing her body would be meaningless. I desire her true loyalty, to exchange poetry and fight for me on the battlefield,” Cao Biao replied.

“Then, Your Majesty must make Chang-ran understand and accept you willingly,” Sima Yi advised.

Forcing someone like Chang-ran would only make her resist more fiercely.

Threatening her into submission would be like keeping a wild beast by your side, ready to strike.

Thus, Sima Yi guided Chang-ran to seek out Cao Biao herself. Preventing her audience with the Emperor was part of this plan.

If Chang-ran hadn’t come to confront him, Sima Yi would have found another way to draw her in.

Even using Liu Bei’s two daughters as bait to make Chang-ran agree to the wager. Everything went according to Sima Yi’s plan.

“Smooth sailing,” Sima Yi thought.

The first match of Tan-ki was a game of aligning stones. Unlike modern Go, Tan-ki used a convex board, and each player started with eight stones.

In future Go, stones had to fall off the board to be considered dead, but in Tan-ki, simply hitting the opponent’s stone made it a dead stone.

Cao Biao was a master of Tan-ki, unmatched in Wei.

“I’ve only seen one person better at Tan-ki than Your Majesty,” Sima Yi remarked.

Cao Biao could flick stones with his fingers or even the corner of a handkerchief with perfect accuracy.

Except for a strange man who used the corner of his robe to flick stones, no one in Wei could defeat Cao Biao in Tan-ki.

Even if Chang-ran possessed divine martial talent, Tan-ki required precise control, unlike the broad movements of martial arts.

Tan-ki demanded caution, judgment, and finesse—a gentleman’s game.

“I acknowledge her unparalleled military achievements as a woman. I never dreamed there could be a heroine surpassing even Chunhua. But strength alone doesn’t solve everything,” Sima Yi mused.

Indeed, Chang-ran struggled against Cao Biao. She seemed to have some skill but repeatedly missed her chances.

Seeing the Tan-ki match conclude in Cao Biao’s victory, Sima Yi was certain.

“It’s over,” he thought.

The outcome of the wager was decided.

Chang-ran might win the second round, as she would choose a contest she was confident in.

But the final result wouldn’t change.

The third and final contest was already predetermined.

With the only variable—Chang-ran being a hidden Tan-ki master—eliminated, there was nothing left to see.

As Sima Yi relaxed, Cao Biao stretched, cracking his joints after focusing intensely on Tan-ki.

“Not bad. You have talent for using your body like a true general,” Cao Biao said.

No response came. The shock of defeat must have been great. Chang-ran had never experienced failure before.

She had always been victorious, basking in glory. It was no wonder she had no immunity to defeat.

“But I’m disappointed. To be shaken by just this,” Sima Yi clicked his tongue.

“Now, it’s your turn to choose the next contest,” Cao Biao said.

At this, Chang-ran finally looked up. Her eyes, far from defeated, showed no sign of giving up.

“Fine. Clear these away and end the banquet,” Cao Biao ordered.

“No, it’s fine. Leave them,” Chang-ran said, picking up the wooden box containing her stones.

There were many games one could play with Go stones, and Cao Biao wondered which she would choose.

“Hmm? Gekko or Go wouldn’t be bad. Bring the board,” Cao Biao said.

“That’s fine too,” Chang-ran replied.

Realizing Chang-ran’s intent, Sima Yi was shocked.

Just moments ago, his assessment of Chang-ran had been dimming, but now it surged back like a small flame turning into a wildfire.

“After seeing Your Majesty’s skill, surely she wouldn’t…” Sima Yi thought.

He could guess what Chang-ran would say next, but it seemed like suicide. Yet, her eyes showed no hesitation.

It wasn’t bravado. It was confidence.

As if to prove it, her clear voice rang out.

“Let’s play Tan-ki again.”

§

Tan-ki was slightly different from the Go I knew.

First, the stones were different. Both black and white stones were made of jade, flatter than modern ones, and the black stones weren’t larger to account for visual differences.

I had played Go in the modern era. Having completed military service before smartphones were allowed, I had explored various board games.

I was decent at Go, so I chose the black stones, thinking of their advantage, but it didn’t matter much.

The convex board was different, and being rusty, I struggled at first, but I soon got the hang of it.

It wasn’t entirely unfamiliar. Compared to playing on a folding board with hinges facing up, this felt easier despite the larger size.

‘Of course, the stones were bigger too.’

The biggest issue was the difference in stone size, but I found a solution.

Cao Biao had suggested Tan-ki out of confidence in his skill, so winning was unlikely. Instead, I focused on his hand during the game.

Observing the point of contact, the angle of his fingers, and the speed of his flicks, I adjusted my strikes and by the end of the first game, I had a good grasp.

It was a combination of past life experience and innate physical talent.

Surprisingly, Cao Biao conscientiously followed the verification process.

“…You know that once we start, there’s no turning back, right?”

“I have no intention of making excuses. Let’s decide with Tan-ki.”

“Good for me. Shall we start now?”

“Let’s.”

The second Tan-ki match was tense. Whenever Cao Biao hit one of my stones, I immediately removed one of his, keeping the score even.

The relaxed demeanor from the first game was gone. Cao Biao focused intently, not even breathing as he played.

If he had poured this concentration into politics, he might have unified the Three Kingdoms.

Cao Biao, proud of his Tan-ki skills, gave his all, and I, pushed to the brink, played with equal seriousness.

Frankly, Cao Biao still had the edge in pure skill.

Despite my body’s incredible fine control, Cao Biao’s talent in Tan-ki was exceptional.

But I had something he didn’t.

“This is…!” Cao Biao exclaimed in dismay for the first time.

My unique advantage was thinking outside the box.

Unlike modern Go, where stones had to fall off the board to be considered dead, Tan-ki treated any contact as a dead stone. In the first game, Cao Biao focused on precise hits.

But being more familiar with Go, I was more comfortable knocking stones off the board.

In modern Go, hitting one stone to knock out another was common, and I applied that here.

After calibrating, I not only hit Cao Biao’s stone but also struck another, eliciting gasps from the onlookers.

“Since I hit two stones, I’ve captured both, right?”

“…Fine. I concede.”

Surprisingly, Cao Biao accepted the result without argument. In his next turn, he tried to hit two stones at once but missed narrowly.

“Damn it…”

Calculating the rebound was tricky without experience.

Cao Biao’s talent was evident, but it wasn’t enough.

Once shaken, Cao Biao couldn’t close the gap and lost the second game.

“You have talent. Absorbing so quickly,” I praised, unable to resist gloating.

As if a master teaching a novice, my praise infuriated Cao Biao, who glared at me.

“Let’s proceed to the third game. Bring the bamboo slips.”

Servants brought bamboo slips for drawing lots. The third contest would be chosen by drawing a slip with the event written on it.

To prevent preparation, Cao Biao secretly wrote the event, but I declared openly.

“Write Tan-ki on my slip.”

Both Cao Biao and Sima Yi turned to me, startled. I repeated clearly.

“I will write Tan-ki on my slip.”

A provocation.

The event Cao Biao had been so confident in, I chose to continue with Tan-ki.

“Your Majesty, I heard you’re the best in Wei at Tan-ki. Could it be…you’re not confident?”