Simulating a battlefield was one thing; mastering it and applying it to real war was another entirely. Yan Yin…
Simulating a battlefield was one thing; mastering it and applying it to real war was another entirely. Yan Ying never kept his knowledge to himself. He taught freely, to anyone who came seeking. And through teaching, his skill sharpened, each lesson honing his mastery a little more.
One day, as usual, a comrade came seeking a lesson. Yan Ying arranged a complex chessboard to demonstrate his strategies. After many rounds, the comrade was on the verge of conceding when a soft yet spirited voice cut in. It belonged to a young woman. Her eyes were clear and resolute, her brows sharply drawn, and her riding attire crisp and commanding. From the ornamentation on her gear, she seemed to be from the Qi family, known for supplying horses and fodder to the army. She appeared deeply fond of chess and had no small skill herself, stepping into her comrade's place without hesitation. Yet with Yan Ying's advantage already firmly established, how could she hope to turn the tide? Though she fought stubbornly, she lasted little more than twenty moves before admitting defeat. At once, her face fell, and a twinge of guilt stirred in Yan Ying's heart. He was just considering how to offer a few words of comfort when, unexpectedly, the young woman spoke first:
"Have you a marriage bond?"
"No," he answered.
The woman suddenly smiled, and in that instant, Yan Ying felt as if a flower had bloomed before his eyes, or as if he had drunk deep of sweet honeyed wine. His head spun lightly.