Datang: Only by resisting the decree can we become stronger

Seeing Li Shimin like this, Changsun Wuji on the side hurriedly changed the subject.

"Li Qiu, I've been busy with the disaster and refugees a while ago."

"Your Majesty has been thinking about your four-nation army chess for a long time."

"Why don't you take out the chessboard and show it to His Majesty?"

"There's also girl Wu Jue, old rules, I'll leave it to you to be the arbitrator in a while."

Afterwards, Li Qiu took out the incomparably exquisite Four Kingdoms Army Chess as he said, and placed it on the table of the Eight Immortals Table.

Ever since Li Qiu came up with the Eight Immortals Table, the Eight Immortals Table has almost dominated the entire city of Chang'an.

Nowadays, even the big gentry families in Shandong, Guanlong, and Luoyang are using such tables.

Compared with the previous Hu table that sat on the ground, the advantages and benefits of this Eight Immortals table are too great.

And when I saw this exquisite flag box, chess pieces, and the arrangement of the marshal, deputy marshal, two generals, assassins, mechanism traps, and mechanism craftsmen.

Li Shimin's eyes lit up involuntarily, and he became interested immediately.

And when Li Qiu explained the very simple rules in detail, Li Shimin praised them even more.

At this time, Changsun Wuji smiled and said, "Among these people, His Majesty is the most proficient in military strategy."

"Your Majesty will join hands with Du Zhenglun."

"Li Qiu, there are only two of us left."

"Girl Wu Jue, she is in charge of pouring tea and acting as an arbitrator."

Hearing this, Li Qiu said with a smile: "Master Changsun, you and your majesty came down earlier, but you agreed to eat the peace of the world."

"This dish is not even served in the Furong Restaurant, and no one in the Furong Garden can cook it except me."

"Now that I see the mouth of the rice, I have to go and handle the spoon myself."

Seeing this, Changsun Wuji became anxious, "Huh?"

"You boy!"

"This four-nation army chess, without you, how can we play it?"

Li Qiu laughed loudly at this moment, "Master Changsun, please take it easy."

"I, I have already found you a chess player to accompany you."

"That's Ma Zhou."

With that said, Li Qiu introduced to Li Shimin emphatically, "Your Majesty, this Ma Zhou is a teacher in the Furong Academy."

"I'm also familiar with the Four Books and Five Classics, and I have some knowledge in my stomach."

"As for the four-nation army chess, we have played against us many times."

"Now that I'm going to cook, let Ma Zhou join the game and play a few games of chess with His Majesty?"

Hearing what Li Qiu said, Li Shimin nodded.

"Ma Zhou."

"I've heard the name several times."

"The famine in the pass this time was also coordinated by Ma Zhou, right?"

"Forget it, then let him join the game."

Immediately, Ma Zhou, who had already obeyed Li Qiu's order and prepared, turned out from behind the screen and paid respects to Li Shimin.

Then he called on Changsun Wuji and Du Zhenglun.

For Changsun Wuji, because of the disaster this time, he and Ma Zhou are already very familiar.

In his heart, he also liked and appreciated Ma Zhou very much.

Strong ability, extremely transparent handling, and extremely high administrative efficiency.

Of course, high work efficiency is also a feature of Furong Garden.

Changsun Wuji has seen it many times from other people.

If it wasn't for the consideration that Li Qiu wouldn't let him go, he really wanted to get Ma Zhou to work by his side.

But this Du Zhenglun is different, he is a rigid Confucian, a typical aristocratic family background.

Regarding the status and bloodlines, it is extremely important to see.

Back then, when Li Qiu had just made meritorious service and had already been made the Duke of Yue, he was still looked down upon and excluded by the court ministers.

Ashamed to be a minister in the same palace as Li Qiu.

Today's Ma Zhou is even more thoroughly despicable grassroots and merchants.

When Du Zhenglun heard that he was going to play chess with this kind of person, he felt like he was going to breathe fire!

But there was no way, even His Majesty and Changsun Wuji didn't object, and as a guest, he couldn't directly lift the table.

But at this time, anyone with a discerning eye could see that Du Zhenglun's complexion was extremely ugly.

Chapter 455 Ma Zhou, Come Die For Me

During the ensuing chess game, Du Zhenglun's face was always gloomy.

His own army on the chessboard was also like a tide, rushing desperately towards Ma Zhou's position.

It's just that Ma Zhou, who used to be extremely sophisticated both offensively and defensively when playing chess with Li Qiu, was in front of the Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty who had just learned military chess.

The chess skill is very bad, like a child playing for the first time.

Every time he was quickly killed by Du Zhenglun, on the other side Changsun Wuji wanted to come to the rescue, but was interfered by Li Shimin.

In this way, almost seven games were played, and Ma Zhou and Changsun Wuji lost seven games in a row.

Every time it started with Ma Zhou being blown away by Du Zhenglun.

As a result, Changsun Wuji blew his beard and stared angrily, while Li Shimin on the other side laughed.

Even Prime Minister Du Zhenglun's face softened a lot.

Even at the end, he put on airs to point out and educate Ma Zhou.

It probably means that this military chess also pays attention to strategy and wisdom, and it is not something that ordinary people can play.

Even though Du Zhenglun doesn't understand military strategies, he is quite knowledgeable about this simple game of military chess.

In fact, in the eyes of Changsun Wuji, Li Qiu, and even Wu Jue, what he said was very artificial.

Obviously, Ma Zhou intended to give way.

And Du Zhenglun boasted about his own chess skills, which is only at the beginner level.

Compared with people like Ma Zhou and Changsun Wuji who often play the Four Kingdoms Army chess, there are too many fatal shortcomings and loopholes exposed.

If Ma Zhou had been more serious, Du Zhenglun's army would have suffered heavy losses.

This scene was naturally seen in the eyes of Li Qiu who had finished cooking and returned.

At this time, seeing Li Qiu coming back, Changsun Wuji hurriedly waved, "Li Qiu, since you are free, come quickly to take over from Ma Zhou."

"We have lost seven rounds in a row to His Majesty and Du Zhenglun. It's really annoying."

Seeing this, Ma Zhou had already stepped aside and made room for Li Qiu.

Li Qiu also sat down with a smile on his face, chatting with Li Shimin and others while fiddling with his chess pieces.

At this moment, Du Zhenglun was full of confidence.

I believe that Ma Zhou, who was boasted by Li Qiu and Changsun Wuji just now about his excellent chess skills, was killed by himself, and he was powerless to parry.

Presumably this merchant, Li Qiu, is not much better.

After a while, I can just find a place on the chessboard, vent my anger, and take revenge.

At the beginning of the first chess game, Du Zhenglun repeated his old tricks, and his army charged desperately towards Li Qiu's position.

But after only seven or eight rounds, Du Zhenglun's Marshal (Commander), Deputy Marshal (Army Commander), and a major general (Division Commander) have all been killed by Li Qiu's assassin (bomb) under Li Qiu's false resistance. ) to get rid of.

What happened immediately was Li Qiu's massacre of Du Zhenglun without a doubt.

Not long after, Li Qiu directly took away Du Zhenglun's lair, and Li Shimin, who was still stalemate with his elder Sun Wuji, had no choice but to throw in the towel.

In the second round, Du Zhenglun's memory grew, he put away his offense and began to defend.

But this time it was Li Qiu's turn to focus fire and attack Du Zhenglun full of anger.

Du Zhenglun, who was not very familiar with the rules and routines, was naturally helpless, and was defeated by Li Qiu again in embarrassment.

There is no doubt that Li Qiu's move was revenge for Ma Zhou just now.

He, Furongyuan, has never done such acts of tenderness and showing weakness. As long as you dare to provoke, I will subdue you and beat you once!

Facing Li Qiu's ruthlessness and these two consecutive disastrous defeats, Prime Minister Du Zhenglun's complexion became extremely ugly once again.

The hatred and anger towards Li Qiu in his heart was also extremely high.

If it weren't for Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji, he would have wanted to get up and stop playing.

Playing this kind of market game is simply insulting his status as a great Confucian!

Don't look at it on the chessboard, Li Qiu and Du Zhenglun compete with each other, and the battle is life and death.

But on the surface, they are still amiable, talking and laughing happily.

During this period, Li Qiu also deliberately took advantage of this good opportunity to recommend Ma Zhou in front of Li Shimin.

So he also mentioned the teaching of Four Books and Five Classics in Furong Academy, as well as Ma Zhou's talent.

As for Changsun Wuji, he naturally recommended him with the same intention, and also mentioned Ma Zhou's performance and achievements in this disaster relief process.

However, their words directly detonated Du Zhenglun, who was not in a good mood.

When he saw that Li Qiu actually boasted to His Majesty in front of him that he was the chief steward of the Furong Garden, that the merchants in the market were knowledgeable and talented?

His heart was filled with anger.

Immediately, like jumping beans, he quoted scriptures and conducted a series of soul tortures on Ma Zhou.

The questions given are also very difficult, and even suspected of making things difficult.

Anyway, Du Zhenglun vented all his anger on the chess game on Ma Zhou.

Faced with Prime Minister Du Zhenglun's aggression, this Ma Zhou actually lost his previous talent and arrogance.

Become obsequious, nod and bow, take the initiative to admit mistakes, saying that you have been taught and so on.

This scene nearly drove Li Qiu to death.

In the third round, under Changsun Wuji's deliberate manipulation and concessions, Li Qiu was finally defeated by Li Shimin and Du Zhenglun.

This also put Li Shimin in a good mood, and Du Zhenglun's expression softened too much.

Next, since the chess game was over, Li Qiu put it away and confronted each other, showing hospitality.

At least on the surface, he was very kind and warm to Du Zhenglun.

During this meal, due to the presence of Du Zhenglun, Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji felt restrained.

I didn't enjoy myself very much, and I tasted the wine very lightly, and I stopped drinking after two glasses.

The two of them secretly thought in their hearts, it's a pity that this table of delicious food and the atmosphere of the heavy snow today.

After lunch, Li Shimin, Changsun Wuji, Du Zhenglun and others stayed for a while, then got up and left.

At the same time, he took Princess Youle, who was extremely reluctant in his heart, away with him.

As soon as they left here, the anger that had been simmering in Li Qiu's heart also exploded.

He yelled at Ma Zhou, "Ma Zhou!"

"You die for me!"

Chapter 456

Hearing Li Qiu's greeting, Ma Zhou hurriedly laughed along with him, and stood respectfully in front of Li Qiu.