CLS-Chapter 436

Chapter 436:

That gentleman must have had his own confidence.

Isn’t that the truth?

The Zhuge Family, the Zhuge Family.

Isn’t the Zhuge Family the place where only those with the finest minds in all of the Central Plains gather?

Even among the Zhuge Family, Zhuge Yan was considered to have the greatest intellect, so naturally he would have had confidence.

Hm?

No.

You don’t understand strategists very well. Strategists have that kind of pride.

Isn’t that what strategists are originally like?

They accomplish things that others can’t even imagine, and break through bad situations with clever schemes. Even if it’s nearly impossible in reality, believing that if I were in that situation, I could pull it off—that’s what makes a strategist. And naturally, they have to be that way.

Yes, that’s right.

To put it nicely, it’s confidence.

But the problem is that usually that confidence has no basis. Because for strategists to devise schemes that will astonish the world, they need to experience situations worthy of that, but in reality, it’s not easy to encounter such situations in a lifetime.

So they end up thinking that way.

It’s not that I haven’t met the right times, but if the proper opportunity were given to me, I wouldn’t be inferior to those ancestors of the past.

Yes, they suffer from that kind of pride. I call this strategist’s disease.

Actually, this isn’t entirely wrong either.

Hm? Why isn’t it wrong?

Think about it.

Throughout all of history, how many people do you think were more outstanding than Zhuge Kongming? Do you think there weren’t any who could toy with Zhuge Kongming in terms of strategy?

There must have been.

I’m telling you, there definitely were.

How many people live in the Central Plains? How many people have been born and died since the Central Plains came into being—there’s no way there weren’t talents of that caliber.

But what happens if no great calamity occurs during that person’s lifetime?

Right.

They get buried.

If people don’t know they have such ability, how would they become famous? They just get talked about a bit in their local area as ‘that person is wise’ and that’s the end of it.

If Liu Bei hadn’t sought out Zhuge Kongming, would Zhuge Kongming be remembered today? It would just end with ‘there was some smart gentleman back then.’

When Han Xin was under Xiang Yu, if he had gone to battle and died from a sword wound, that gentleman wouldn’t exist in history either.

That’s why timing and fortune are important for people.

Perhaps even in this era, talents who could shake the world are rotting away.

And they’re the same way.

Until they actually experience it themselves, they can’t know how great a talent they really are. They can compare themselves with people of the same era, but it’s difficult to compare with people from other eras.

So thinking that if only the opportunity were given, I too could leave my name in history—that’s not necessarily wrong.

Moreover…

It’s quite strange, but Wei Yan-ho has that kind of quality.

Everyone who meets him thinks they could somehow handle Wei Yan-ho.

Me?

I gave up that thought early on. What business do I have trying to handle Wei Yan-ho when even Wei San-ho couldn’t handle him properly? The reason I’ve survived this long and can make a living in Jianghu is because I’m good at knowing my place.

Hm?

Stop the pointless talk and get to the main point?

…You’ve become quite harsh.

Right. Well, even calling it the main point, it’s about that gentleman…

It’s really pitiful.

Yes. If that gentleman had been born in a different era, he would have received proper recognition, but he was unlucky enough to be born in the same era as Wei Yan-ho.

Wei Yan-ho is like a graveyard for strategists.

Unfortunately.

***

‘Go stones?’

Tang Cheon-gun turned his head with a bewildered expression to look at the Go stone embedded in the ceiling.

It was embedded quite deeply, making it difficult to recognize under normal circumstances, but Tang Cheon-gun’s trained dynamic vision made it possible.

‘So… what just flew by was a Go stone?’

Coins can be used as projectiles, feathers can be used as projectiles, so there’s no law saying Go stones can’t be used as projectiles. The problem is why that Go stone is flying through the air right now.

Tang Cheon-gun slowly turned his head back to look inside the room.

There, Wei Yan-ho and the small girl he’d seen before were sitting with a Go board between them.

‘Are they playing Go?’

But then why are Go stones flying around?

Anyway, no matter what that guy does, it’s strange—everything!

“What’s the matter?”

“…What kind of Go are you playing that has Go stones flying through the air?”

“It’s not Go.”

“Hm?”

“It’s alkkagi (stone flicking). She said she doesn’t know how to play Go.”

Wei Yan-ho pointed at So Ryeo-gun with a dissatisfied expression. But So Ryeo-gun was concentrating only on the Go board, uninterested in whatever Wei Yan-ho was saying.

“I see.”

He wanted to ask why he was playing alkkagi with that child, but was there anything Wei Yan-ho did that made sense conventionally? He could just let it be.

“Go…”

Zhuge Yan entered with a smile.

“It seems you know how to play Go.”

“Who are you?”

“I am called Zhuge Yan. I’m the head of the Zhuge Family.”

“Oh, um…”

Wei Yan-ho’s posture became awkward. He seemed to be wondering whether he should greet the adult who had come, or whether he should just continue with what he was doing.

“Greetings are fine. More than that, if you know how to play Go, how about playing a game with me?”

“I need to finish this alkkagi…”

“…”

“And I don’t like Go because it takes too long.”

“Weren’t you going to play Go with that child?”

“Kids are easy to deal with. I can take a break for a bit after making one move, then make another move and take another break. I suggested it because it seemed like it would be good for taking breaks here and there without paying attention.”

“…I see.”

Zhuge Yan’s expression became ambiguous.

‘He’s more eccentric than I heard.’

Everyone said the same thing.

They said the Wei Yan-ho you hear about and the Wei Yan-ho you meet in person are completely different people.

“Then how about this.”

“Yes?”

“How about we make a wager so it won’t be boring? If you win, I’ll grant you anything you want. But if you lose, you’ll withdraw all the demands you made to the family.”

Even though Tang Cheon-gun was right next to him, Zhuge Yan spoke as if he didn’t care at all.

A slight gleam appeared in Wei Yan-ho’s eyes too.

“Uncle Dang.”

“Kkeung.”

“If you like kids, could you take her out for a walk? She seems frustrated being cooped up in the room.”

“Kids? Did you just ask me if I like kids?”

“Don’t you?”

“Of course not! Who would like kids?”

“That’s a relief. I’m the same way. Then I’ll ask you to do it.”

“Kkeueung.”

Tang Cheon-gun frowned.

The idea of daring to use the head of the Tang Family as something like a babysitter was insufferably presumptuous, but now was the time to obediently listen to those words.

Wouldn’t it be troublesome if Wei Yan-ho got distracted because of that child and couldn’t properly face Zhuge Yan?

“Don’t worry. Disliking something and being good at it are separate matters. I’m good at taking care of children.”

He could just take her out and leave her with a servant. Tang Cheon-gun grabbed So Ryeo-gun’s hand and pulled. So Ryeo-gun also seemed to have some sense, understanding that she should make way. Without protest, she got up from her seat and followed Tang Cheon-gun out.

After So Ryeo-gun and Tang Cheon-gun went outside, Zhuge Yan sat across from Wei Yan-ho. The two sitting with the Go board between them faced each other.

“Why should I listen to what you said?”

“Why shouldn’t you? Don’t you want money?”

“If you don’t give it, I’ll report it to higher authorities.”

“Hahaha, what a foolish talk.”

Zhuge Yan spoke as if he knew all about such schemes.

“That wouldn’t benefit you. Because you’d gain nothing from doing that.”

“Why wouldn’t I gain anything?”

“Then what would you gain?”

“…”

“Would you gain the trust of the Provincial Inspector? Or are you trying to feel good watching the Provincial Military Commissioner struggle? No. You’re not the kind of person who wants such things. Right?”

“You speak as if you know me well.”

“It’s difficult for a person to know another person well. There are countless cases of people having their heads cut off by the lord they served their entire lives. I’m not someone who has the arrogant thought that I know someone well. I just think that’s how it looks to me. Tell me, am I wrong?”

“No. You seem accurate. You even know parts I hadn’t thought of myself. You’re amazing.”

Zhuge Yan smiled.

‘This is why everyone gets fooled.’

There was no pretense in his tone. Just listening to him gave the feeling of dealing with a truly innocent young child.

Of course, Wei Yan-ho couldn’t possibly be an innocent young child. Everyone gets deceived by that subtle difference.

“Still, it wouldn’t be good for your side either, would it?”

“Of course not. But it’s better than losing a large sum of money.”

“Is that a large sum of money even from the Zhuge Family’s perspective?”

“Listen here. It’s not that there’s nothing more important than money in the world, but there aren’t many things as important as money either. Without that money, it becomes difficult to educate children and difficult to make a living—how could we easily give up such precious money?”

“But you said you’d give it up if you lose at Go.”

“I’m saying this because I won’t lose.”

“…I’m really strong though.”

“No. Hanlin giseong (Go master).”

Zhuge Yan stroked his beard and said.

“I’m probably the first person in the current Jianghu to pay attention to you. When I heard that a giseong had appeared at Hanlin Grand Academy, I almost rushed all the way to that distant place.”

“There’s another Go fanatic here too.”

“In the end, that’s what wise men are like. When there’s nothing particular to handle, we have no choice but to pass time fishing or playing Go. How about it, will you humor my pastime?”

Wei Yan-ho shrugged his shoulders.

“Then if I win, the money I mentioned will be paid, right?”

“I stake my name on that promise.”

“If I lose? It just ends with not giving me money?”

“That’s right.”

“No matter how I look at it, it seems like a wager where your side loses out.”

“Is the cat worrying about the mouse? This side also has something to gain, so don’t worry about it.”

“Hmm…”

Wei Yan-ho scratched his cheek.

“You’re different from the young family head, old sir. Dealing with you makes me feel like I’m getting indigestion.”

“Oh my.”

Zhuge Yan covered his mouth with his fan as if troubled.

“I was trying to be comfortable for you, but if it was uncomfortable, I apologize.”

“It’s not that. Um, how should I put it…”

Wei Yan-ho shook his head as if it was difficult to explain.

“No. Let’s just play Go. But I’ll tell you in advance—you won’t be able to beat me.”

“I’m also someone who takes pride in being the best in the world at Go. Even the Grand Scholar called Guksu (National Go Master) would have to give me a handicap.”

“You still won’t be able to beat me though.”

Wei Yan-ho said matter-of-factly.

“I learned Go from someone who’s truly the greatest of all time. Plus, right now I’m in a situation where it would actually be inconvenient for me if I finish quickly, so I’ll play slowly while thinking. Then naturally I’ll win.”

“Good. Try to win then. Then you’ll get what you want.”

Zhuge Yan calmly offered the black stones to Wei Yan-ho.

“Will you take white?”

“Even so, since I’m the elder, I can’t take black. Here, let’s begin. I hope it will be an interesting game.”

Zhuge Yan smiled meaningfully.