CH 8

VIII Whereto

♚♔

♚♔

Murong Yu gives me a weird look and passes a cup of tea over before looking back down at theboard. I start feeling better only after taking a few gulps. 

“What’s the matter? You have been coughing nonstop the whole afternoon.” He picks up a white stone but lingers. 

Your fiancée is really on another level. Even the pastries that she makes are on another level. Not even the army rations can compare. 

Well, that’s what I almost said—but I made a promise of secrecy and I intend to keep it. 

I make some vague explanation and wait for his move, black stone in hand. He wanted to play Gowith me after finishing his business in the afternoon. I agreed since I was bored anyway. 

He’s white; I’m black. When the match began the stones were placed down at a feverish pace, capturing and removing the other colour fervently. It only slowed down after twenty or so turns each.

While I was taught by the old geezer to stick to turning defense into offense, Murong Yu’s strategy is the exact opposite. Swift and fierce, his stones swept across the field. 

Clunk. He looks up at me after placing his stone. I ruminate and place my stone down. His smile instantly disappears, a frown taking its place as he sits up straight.

Murong Yu has played aggressively, capturing many eyes, and showed signs of victory. I, on the other hand, have been seemingly retreating but really advancing, leaving plan B’s and C’s everywhere. After many turns, the white and black stones have started closing in on each other, interlocking and interweaving together. 

Murong Yu’s slanted brows furrow together, making him appear rather exquisite and smart. He knocks his knuckles gently against the edge of the table while I remain motionless, contemplating my next moves.

I was once a careless punk and the old geezer made me play Go to train my patience. When one plays Go, one must consider one’s moves seven moves in advance before placing a stone, he had said. Only after losing a katrillion times did I start becoming more patient and careful. 

I see Murong Yu placing his white stone on the board and immediately follow with my own. All of a sudden the playing field is full of weak points. A grin spreads on his face and he attacks relentlessly. I retreat every turn until he boldly plays a few stones. I see the chance before me and take it without hesitation, a black stone landing right on target. 

His eyes go wide, his lips purse tightly and his hand lingers in midair, not showing signs of lowering.

After a moment, he tosses his stone back and heaves a light sigh. “I have lost.” 

“You went easy on me, Your Highness.” I grin. 

He nods in my direction and then leans back on his chair. “I can tell, though your moves may seem light and weak, they are, in reality, fast and ferocious. The slightest mistake and your opponent falls right into your hands.” 

“Your tactics were sharp and precise with the dominating prowess and style of a king, Your Highness.” I toy around with a stone. Its soft texture emits gentle warmth into my palm. 

“Give me a break.” He shakes his head, amused. “I have heard enough from you to know better.” 

I’m clearing the board when he asks, “Han Xin, do you know what is the most essential of all military tactics?” 

“Thoroughly assessing the situation, the enemies’ and your own capabilities; that is the key to being victorious.” It slips out of my mouth before I realise. 

He lightly nods in approval. “Go is comparable to war. For every step you take, you must plan for the next ten and also be conscious of your opponent’s intentions. Only then can you rest assured and proceed. The art of Go is also the art of war. And you are a Deputy General.” 

Then he halts me and asks curiously. “So why have I never witnessed a display of your strategic skills on the battlefield before?” 

I pause. “Well, what can I say? I’m just a care-free spirit who dilly-dally my days away doing nothing. It’d be a miracle if I kept out of trouble so I can’t afford the luxury to ‘display my skills’.” 

His eyes shine as if he’s caught on to something. 

“I beg to differ. Since you were captured, you have been behaving just like your Go pieces. Your life rests in the enemy’s hands, yet you show no fear. You’re hiding your talent, biding your time. Suicide, arson, prison break, drowning and you’re still alive and kicking. I believe that whoever could perform such feats is far from average.”

“Thank you.” I grin. “But really I’m scared of dying, so all I do is try my best to stay alive.” 

He leans in, eyes narrowed. “Not how I see it. You’d wanted to die when you took my sword. Now, you’re imprisoned in enemy territory, serving under me without a word of complaint. I would argue that you are biding your time. 

“Biding my time? Oh please, Your Highness. I don’t hold any military power, what would I be biding my time for?” 

“Not necessarily. A spectator sees more of the game. I don’t know who taught you to play Go but I can tell there is more than meets the eye.” He grins, rapping on the board with his knuckles. “There is much relation. Whether it’s warfare or the administration of a nation.” 

It’s just Go. How could it possibly be related to so many other things? 

“It may seem like you are not concerned for your country but in reality that is not the case.” 

♚♔

The night grows silent as the moon rises to its highest point. 

I don’t know why but my legs take me to where Duke Yu Qing’s casket is placed before burial behind Murong Yu’s back. Maybe I just wanted to see him one last time. 

It’s icy cold tonight. Even with this cape wrapped tightly around me, the brisk wind still finds its way in, threatening to freeze off my fingertips. It’s pitch black all around. Dead silence. I have nothing to fear even if I prop myself against the casket. 

I actually don’t know what I should do now after the encounter with Murong Yu today. I might have thought it was nice living here before, but now I feel that I can’t stay here for long either. 

I bury my face in my hands, eyes tightly shut, mind a jumble. Great Rui, I can’t go back there. I can’t stay here long either. But neither is it going to be easy to leave. There’s got to be a place where I can stay in this big, wide world! 

I scoff. Han Xin, you pitiful thing, hanging on for so long, and what do you get? Abandoned by all those closest to you. That’s what you get. You’re just someone who gets left behind. 

I reach for my chest; the thing underneath the fabric seems to burn. 

Wind whooshes past my ears, over the trees and in between the branches and the foliage, stirring the moonlight. The leaves shake and shiver along with a miniscule turbulence. 

I shake my head and call out. 

“You came all the way here. Let’s not be shy now. Show your face regardless of whether you’re friend or foe.”