Chapter Twenty-Seven: Sun Wu’s Art of War in Battle Formations

Fang Guohuan, Bu Yuan, and Lü Zhufeng left Qujia Village and chose the road to Suzhou. As they traveled, Lü Zhufeng asked, “Brother Fang, where are we heading?” Fang Guohuan replied, “I once made an agreement with a friend in Suzhou. He promised to introduce me to an expert in chess. This time, I plan to seek guidance from this master, and also to warn him about the incident of the eunuch, Li Wusan, killing people with his Ghost Chess. I hope to discuss with him a way to resolve the matter. This is a grave issue in the world of chess; it is important to alert renowned masters so as to prevent further harm.” He sighed deeply as he finished.

Bu Yuan, seeing Fang Guohuan troubled, tried to steer the conversation away from chess to lighten his mood. He said, “Brother, is this friend of yours the famously greedy Young Master Zhao?” Fang Guohuan laughed, “Indeed, it is him.” Bu Yuan scoffed, “Of all people to befriend, why choose such a gluttonous and lazy fellow?” Fang Guohuan smiled, “Food and drink are also a form of knowledge; there is a vast and profound world within gastronomy.” Bu Yuan retorted, “That’s just idle talk for those with nothing better to do, concocting fancy titles to impress others. Starve him for two days and he’ll fight a dog for scraps.” Fang Guohuan shook his head and chuckled.

Lü Zhufeng suddenly asked, “Could someone become a champion just by eating?” Bu Yuan laughed, “If the imperial scholar were chosen for his eating prowess and made commander of the kitchens, the emperor would truly be out of his mind.” Lü Zhufeng sighed, “It seems that being too gluttonous is something people will mock.” Fang Guohuan and Bu Yuan paid little attention to this. Lü Zhufeng continued, “I’ve heard that in Guangdong, people eat the strangest things—cats, rats, moths, insects, anything goes. If one isn’t careful, a snake might crawl out of your own nostrils.” Bu Yuan burst out laughing. Fang Guohuan recalled the nauseating “three sounds” dish and “meat sprout” dish that Zhao Mingfeng described at the Eight Delicacies Banquet in Shiyan Village’s Immortal Hall, and couldn’t help but frown.

As noon approached, the three brothers felt hungry and spotted an isolated inn by the roadside named “Clear Breeze Tavern.” Bu Yuan remarked, “The owner is clever to set up shop here, far from any neighbors but right on the main road.” The three rode up, and several attendants came out to greet them and take their reins.

Upon entering, Lü Zhufeng still carried his bamboo pole and wanted to bring it inside. An attendant approached and said, “Sir, please leave the bamboo outside. I’ll watch it for you so it doesn’t inconvenience others. It won’t be lost.” Lü Zhufeng agreed and left it at the door, then entered. Inside, several travelers were resting and eating, all stopping here on their journeys. The brothers chose a table and sat.

Fang Guohuan asked Lü Zhufeng, “What would you like to eat?” Lü Zhufeng replied, “Two steamed buns. When I used to herd cattle, a single vegetable bun sufficed.” Bu Yuan laughed, “After all this time with us, you still can’t change your frugal ways? Two buns are enough for you?” Fang Guohuan smiled, “Brother is truly thrifty, but I am not short on silver for now. Eat your fill, and if you’re ever short, you can share half your bun with me.” He then ordered two large plates of beef, several side dishes, a jar of wine, and over a dozen buns. The three ate heartily.

Seeing the abundance of food, Lü Zhufeng was delighted. He alone ate seven or eight buns, a whole plate of beef, and slowed his pace only when the table was nearly empty, clearly still wanting more. Fang Guohuan and Bu Yuan watched his voracious eating in astonishment.

Bu Yuan exclaimed, “Brother, are you suffering from hunger today? You’re eating so much! Why was your appetite smaller before?” Lü Zhufeng replied shyly, “To be honest, I’ve almost never eaten my fill in my life.” “What?” Bu Yuan was shocked. “Never?”

Lü Zhufeng explained, “I have a large appetite, though I don’t know exactly how much I can eat. When I worked as a cattle herder, my employer only gave me one vegetable bun per meal. When hungry, I’d dig up sweet potatoes in the fields and help the landowners with chores to avoid being scolded. Sometimes villagers would give me leftovers, which barely sustained me. If luck was with me, I’d kill a tiger or leopard with my bamboo pole, or catch rabbits and pheasants, roast them, and eat for a few meals.” Bu Yuan listened wide-eyed, amazed, “How pitiful! So your strength comes from eating!”

Fang Guohuan was surprised too and asked, “Since you’ve been with us, you always put down your chopsticks first and said you were full. Why only now reveal your true appetite?” Lü Zhufeng answered honestly, “I was fortunate to be accepted by you both, escorting Master Qu home. I thought the expenses were paid by Master Qu, so I tried to save money for you two, hoping you’d get more when settling accounts. When I learned you two paid yourselves, I was deeply impressed. At Master Qu’s house, I was afraid of being laughed at if I ate too much, so I restrained myself. Now that I see you have some silver, I thought I’d finally eat my fill. I’ve been starving these days.” “Heavens!” Bu Yuan muttered. He and Fang Guohuan were both surprised and moved by Lü Zhufeng’s sincere explanation and unexpected appetite.

Bu Yuan patted Lü Zhufeng’s shoulder, saying emotionally, “So you were saving money for us, brother! That’s a crime. Today, eat your fill, don’t worry about silver. Your Brother Fang is a treasure bowl; money will come. From now on, you’ll always eat well, never go hungry.” Lü Zhufeng replied, “To follow you both is my fortune! I only ask to help you defeat villains; eating my fill is enough.” Bu Yuan and Fang Guohuan were deeply touched. Bu Yuan waved to the attendant, “Another five pounds of beef—no, eight pounds—and twenty more buns!”

An attendant asked, “Are you taking this for the road?” Bu Yuan replied, “You run an inn and fear a big eater?” The attendant looked at the three curiously, wondering who could eat so much, then went to the kitchen. Soon, eight pounds of beef and twenty buns were brought out. Bu Yuan pushed them all to Lü Zhufeng, saying, “Take your time, brother. If you need more, just ask.” Lü Zhufeng was overjoyed, “Let’s see if I can eat it!” Bu Yuan was surprised, “Let’s see indeed!” Lü Zhufeng thanked them, then dug in, eating like a whirlwind. In moments, most of the food was gone, his appetite undiminished. Bu Yuan and Fang Guohuan exchanged amazed glances; the attendants and other guests stared in disbelief. Bu Yuan worried, “Brother, stop when you’re full, don’t burst your belly, it’s frightening!”

Lü Zhufeng ate the last piece of beef, chewed and swallowed it, then looked at the empty table, satisfied, “That’s enough for today, I finally feel full.” The onlookers were dumbfounded. Bu Yuan poured tea, handing it to Lü Zhufeng, “Brother, wash it down.” Lü Zhufeng thanked him, drank the tea in one gulp, then picked up the teapot and drained it, patting his belly, looking utterly content. Bu Yuan and Fang Guohuan looked at each other, unable to believe he could eat so much.

Lü Zhufeng said, “I’m done eating. Shall we set off?” Fang Guohuan quickly replied, “No rush, sit for a while so your stomach won’t be upset from riding.” Bu Yuan agreed, “Good idea, let’s rest a bit.” Lü Zhufeng nodded, then expressed his gratitude, “Aside from the few times I ate a whole tiger or leopard, today is the fullest I’ve ever been. If I can eat well once a month, I’ll be satisfied.” Fang Guohuan marveled, “Brother, not only do you have great strength, you have a prodigious appetite. If you don’t eat your fill, it’s our fault.” Bu Yuan asked, “How long will this meal last you?” Lü Zhufeng replied, “Three days without food is no trouble, but next time I’ll want even more.” Bu Yuan clicked his tongue, “Every time you surprise us, this is another skill from your cattle-herding days!”

Just then, three other travelers came in, ordered food and wine, and began chatting. A fat man said, “Have you heard? In Kaifeng, Henan, there’s a famous chess player named Xu Dongzhou, called the Chess King of Kaifeng. Recently, after losing a game, he went mad, smashed things, and in despair, climbed the thirteen-story iron pagoda at the National Temple and jumped to his death. Tragic!” Fang Guohuan and Bu Yuan were shocked. Another said, “Winning and losing is normal, but to take it so badly and be mocked after death is foolish.” The fat man added, “It’s odd. Xu Dongzhou, though dominant in Kaifeng, had lost to several visiting masters before, but was always happy and respectful, even calling them brothers. Why take this loss so hard? Such a pity for his talent.” Another commented, “He must have been holding grudges from past defeats, finally unable to bear it and lost face.”

Fang Guohuan, troubled by a sense of foreboding, stood and politely asked the fat man, “Excuse me, who did Xu Dongzhou play before he died?” The fat man replied, “You like strange stories? I don’t know the details, but his wife said it was two outsiders, one an eccentric old man. After the game, he left—it wasn’t his fault.” Fang Guohuan was stunned, “It’s him! He’s spreading disaster in the chess world!”

He thanked the fat man, then turned to his companions, “Brother Bu, Brother Lü, we’re not going to Suzhou—let’s go to Henan immediately.” Bu Yuan understood, “Good, they can’t have gone far.” Fang Guohuan paid the bill, anxious, and the three left the Clear Breeze Tavern. Lü Zhufeng took his bamboo pole, and seeing the seriousness in his companions, especially Fang Guohuan’s displeasure at the counter, regretted, “I’ve eaten so much, surely spent a lot of silver. Over time, I’ll empty their purses. Why was I born with such an appetite, making things difficult for them? I shouldn’t eat so much anymore; enduring hunger is fine. If money runs out and they go hungry because of me, it’s unacceptable.” Lost in thought, Lü Zhufeng followed the others onto their horses.

The three brothers changed course toward Henan. Fang Guohuan was gloomy and silent. After a while, Lü Zhufeng apologetically said, “Brothers, I’ll eat less from now on. I feel so guilty seeing you so down.” Hearing this unexpected statement, Bu Yuan and Fang Guohuan were puzzled. Lü Zhufeng looked ashamed, and Fang Guohuan asked, “Why say that? Are we unable to feed you?” Lü Zhufeng earnestly replied, “It’s my greedy stomach. If I eat up your funds, you’ll suffer too.” Bu Yuan and Fang Guohuan finally understood his sincere heart. Bu Yuan half angry, half amused, said, “You think so little of us! Even if we go hungry, you’ll eat. If you lost your strength from hunger, we’d regret it forever. Now that you’ve shown your appetite, don’t hide it anymore.”

Fang Guohuan shook his head and smiled, “I was worried about the villain who harmed Master Qu, not about the silver. Eat your fill from now on, brother—not only will you be the strongest, you’ll also be the greatest eater.” Bu Yuan laughed, “Just don’t get sick from it. With your appetite, eat well, eat big, eat meat—the heavens made you. Don’t hold back because you’re with us.” Lü Zhufeng realized his mistake, blushed, “Ashamed! My eating is a joke to you.” Fang Guohuan laughed, “If this prodigious appetite belonged to Young Master Zhao Mingfeng, no chef could satisfy him, and Lady Han Xing’er would run away in fright.”

That day, the three brothers entered Anhui province. It was mid-summer, the heat oppressive, the sun hung overhead like a blazing ball, roasting everything. Their horses trudged slowly, exhausted. Bu Yuan worried, “After these delays, the eunuch and his guard could be anywhere. Even if we reach Kaifeng, all we can do is confirm the eunuch played Xu Dongzhou. Finding him will be difficult.” Fang Guohuan agreed, “Their movements are unpredictable—who knows where to search?”

Bu Yuan said, “That eunuch is addicted to harming chess masters. Wherever there’s a famous player, he’ll seek them out. Anhui borders Henan—he may have come here, looking for renowned chess masters. We should find out where the best players are, stake out the place, and wait for him.” Fang Guohuan was delighted, “Good idea! Brother Bu, you’re very clever.” Bu Yuan laughed, “When hunting, I’d leave big chunks of meat in the forest to lure beasts. It often worked. Treat the eunuch as a beast—let him walk into the trap.” Lü Zhufeng said, “He’s so wicked, I’ll skewer him with my bamboo pole when we meet.” Bu Yuan laughed, “Let Brother Fang handle the monster. You take care of his guard. As for me, if things look bad, I’ll shoot the eunuch before the game ends, so he can’t work his sorcery.” Fang Guohuan laughed, “Brother Bu’s plan is foolproof.”

As they traveled, Bu Yuan asked several people about famous chess masters in Anhui, but everyone shook their heads, saying they knew nothing, which frustrated him. Fang Guohuan laughed, “As the saying goes, ‘A flower is a world, a thousand leaves a thousand Buddhas; one trade is a mountain, skills differ greatly.’ Brother Bu, you’re asking merchants and farmers; chess is not their concern. Try asking scholars, perhaps you’ll learn something.” Bu Yuan slapped his forehead, “That’s right! No wonder asking them felt like playing music to a cow.”

After some distance, they saw under the shade of trees an elderly gentleman with a servant, resting. Bu Yuan exclaimed, “There’s hope!” and led his horse over, greeting, “Excuse me, sir, is there a renowned chess master nearby?” The old man looked at the three and replied disdainfully, “You must be outsiders, so ignorant you haven’t heard of Anhui’s chess master Bai Guangjing.” Bu Yuan asked, “Where does Bai live? How skilled is he?” The old man boasted, “Bai Guangjing lives in Tongling, a day’s journey from here. He’s the best chess player I know. Sadly, when there was a national chess trial in the capital, Bai was ill and missed his chance, otherwise the champion would have been him. He teaches chess in Tongling, and visiting masters often come to challenge him. He’s never lost, sometimes gives opponents a head start and still wins, earning their admiration. There’s no equal for him. You young men should see him—your lives will not be wasted.” Fang Guohuan was secretly amazed, realizing there were indeed many masters in the world. Bu Yuan asked about the road to Tongling, thanked the old man, and the three brothers set out for Tongling.

On the road, Bu Yuan said, “If Bai Guangjing is so famous, the eunuch Li Wusan will surely seek him out. We’ll deal with him in Tongling, so Brother Fang won’t have to worry.” Fang Guohuan agreed, “Let’s hope so.” At noon, the heat was worse, the trees on the roadside looked wilted, and few travelers were seen. Fang Guohuan spotted a large straw pavilion ahead, with several people resting inside, and said, “Brother Bu, Brother Lü, let’s rest there from the heat.” Bu Yuan agreed, “Just what I wanted.”

The three dismounted, tied their horses in the woods to graze, and entered the pavilion, which was pleasantly cool. They found benches and sat in the breeze. The other people in the pavilion, mostly strong men in martial attire with swords at their waists, were resting quietly, too hot to speak. One slender man sat cross-legged, playing with something.

Fang Guohuan, sitting nearby, glanced over and was intrigued. The man had a silk cloth with a chessboard drawn on it and was arranging black and white pieces, apparently studying chess. Fang Guohuan thought, “This person is dedicated, not idle even in this heat.” Watching closer, he realized the man wasn’t replaying games, but arranging pieces into a pattern. Dissatisfied, the man scattered the pieces and tried again. Fang Guohuan wondered what kind of game he was playing. The man formed two long lines of black and white pieces, entwined, heads and tails connected, then transformed them into various patterns. Fang Guohuan was astonished, realizing the man wasn’t playing a game but simulating a profound formation, akin to a high-level chess scenario.

The man sighed, “Once I reach this point, I don’t know how to position the pieces. If the formation isn’t correct, both sides collapse.” Fang Guohuan observed, “Regardless of his intention, this is a rare double life-and-death chess scenario. He seems to regard the black and white dragons as one side, integrating them cleverly, much like a military formation.” Suddenly, Fang Guohuan was struck, “If trained men were arranged according to this chess pattern, the resulting battle formation would be invincible. There are truly experts in military formations.”

The man muttered, “Is this book missing a page? Can I really not find the key point of the Two Dragon Formation? Where should the general be placed to activate it, so the twin dragons are not headless and easily defeated? Difficult! Unless Sun Wu is reborn and fills in the gap, these dead dragons cannot be united.” Fang Guohuan was amazed, “Is this a diagram from Sun Wu? Only his Thirteen Chapters of Military Strategy are known, never any formation diagrams.”

Puzzled, Fang Guohuan decided, “This man looks refined, not a villain. His formation is brilliant but stumped him. If I use chess principles, perhaps I can help him resolve this double life scenario.” He stepped forward, greeting, “I am Fang Guohuan, well met, sir.” The man was surprised, seeing a young traveler seeking shelter, and asked, “How may I help you?” Fang Guohuan said, “I saw you arranging a wonderful formation with chess pieces. Whether for military or recreation, I believe it’s a rare double life-and-death chess scenario.” “Ah?” The man exclaimed, standing up, “So you’re a chess expert! My respects! Can you resolve this scenario?” Fang Guohuan smiled, “I know a bit about chess theory. If you permit, I can place a move to resolve the double life scenario.”

The man was delighted, “That’s exactly what I hoped for! If you can do this, you are not only a chess master but a genius in military strategy!” He handed Fang Guohuan a black and a white piece, “Please, choose either color.” Fang Guohuan replied, “Both colors belong to one side in this formation; whichever you choose, as long as a fierce general can anchor the corner and lead the formation, it will work.” The man was astonished, “Who is this young man, skilled in both chess and military formations?” He did not realize Fang Guohuan had deduced this from his arrangement.

Fang Guohuan casually picked a black piece and placed it on the board. The man was stunned, then overjoyed, “Yes, yes! This is the position—the true key of the Two Dragon Formation. You have solved it, are you Sun Wu reborn?” His shout startled everyone in the pavilion. The man bowed deeply, “I am Sun Qi. Today, you have resolved a puzzle I’ve struggled with for years. I am endlessly grateful. Please accept my bow.” Fang Guohuan hurriedly helped him up, “No need for ceremony, it was nothing. The formation is ingenious; though a double life-and-death scenario, it differs from ordinary chess. If you hadn’t demonstrated it with chess pieces, I wouldn’t have made the connection.”

Sun Qi said, “Chess is military strategy. Chess masters and military strategists are of the same path. Your solution is not surprising.” Fang Guohuan replied, “I’ve heard of applying chess tactics to military operations. It seems true.” Sun Qi affirmed, “Indeed, chess and military affairs have always been linked.” The others gathered around, all Sun Qi’s companions, and respectfully greeted Fang Guohuan, then sat to listen as Sun Qi and Fang Guohuan discussed chess and military theory.

Fang Guohuan asked, “What led you to apply chess principles to military affairs, creating such ingenious formations?” Sun Qi said, “Since childhood, I loved studying warfare and read many military classics—White Qi’s Art of War, Li Jing’s Debates, Zhuge Liang’s Strategies, but my favorite is Sun Wu’s Thirteen Chapters, the treasure of military theory. Twenty years ago, I discovered a book called ‘Sunzi’s Chess Formations’ in a friend’s ancestral library. I learned Sun Wu not only left strategies but also formations. My friend knew my passion and gave it to me. At first, I was confused, but soon realized it was a guide to transforming chess scenarios into military formations. Sadly, the book was missing pages, so some formations, like the Two Dragon Formation, lacked the key position.”

Fang Guohuan was amazed, “All things share a principle! Chess and military theory truly intersect. Sun Wu’s Art of War is revered, and this Chess Formations book complements it. That you possess it shows your destiny with military strategy.”

Sun Qi smiled, “Though I love military theory, I detest war and violence. My use of military tactics is only to protect. Years ago, bandits ravaged my hometown; even the authorities were helpless. To defend our people, I recruited three hundred strong villagers and trained them in formations. We fought two thousand bandits and, through clever tactics, defeated them. Since then, the bandits vanished. I learned then the power of formations, but each one needs a fierce general to lead it.” Sun Qi sighed, “An army is easy to find, a general is hard. Few can truly lead and unleash the full potential of the formation.” Fang Guohuan laughed, “My two brothers are both unmatched in courage—they could serve as generals.” Sun Qi looked at Bu Yuan and Lü Zhufeng in surprise, noting Bu Yuan’s powerful-looking crossbow, forged from black iron, indicating his strength and skill with archery. Sun Qi then examined Lü Zhufeng, seeing only a young man with a bamboo pole, resembling a country boy.

Lü Zhufeng, seeing Fang Guohuan smiling meaningfully at him, raised his bamboo pole and hurled it. It shot ten meters into a thick tree trunk, piercing halfway through without disturbing a single leaf. “What strength!” Sun Qi and his companions cried out. Sun Qi stood, “So you are all heroes with extraordinary skills—my respects!” Fang Guohuan smiled, “No need for formality. My brother has innate strength and wields bamboo; he simply wanted to show a little for friendship.” Sun Qi was delighted, “It’s wonderful to meet such men. I have a friend who is a master blacksmith and possesses rare steel and heavy iron—he can forge weapons. If you meet me again, I’ll ask him to make you a bamboo-shaped iron staff.” Lü Zhufeng was thrilled, “Thank you, Master Sun. I’m used to bamboo, but it’s too light and heavier ones are bulky. An iron bamboo would be perfect.” Sun Qi laughed, “Today you helped me greatly; I’ll repay you with a steel bamboo.” Fang Guohuan was pleased, “If my brother had an iron bamboo, he’d be unbeatable.” Sun Qi and his companions were secretly amazed.

Just then, two men emerged from the nearby woods, walked to the pavilion, and respectfully addressed Sun Qi, “Master Sun, the brothers have rested. Shall we set off?” Fang Guohuan, Bu Yuan, and Lü Zhufeng realized Sun Qi had more men hidden in the woods and were astonished, wondering what kind of person Sun Qi truly was.