Winter, 847 AD, Chang'an CityIn a tavern near White Horse Temple, two patrons drank wine while playing Go. Though taverns bustled with transient guests—ill-suited for focused games—these two contemplated the board so intently that they ignored chilled wine and cold dishes, revealing their obsession.
The white-stone player, appearing over forty, dressed like a hermit. Opposite him sat a young scholar with clear eyes and spirited demeanor, playing black.
The young scholar smiled: "Brother Li Yuan, what say you of my 'Phoenix Spread'? With this group alive, white cannot win."
Li Yuan, holding a white stone, sighed after a long pause: "Zhongjie's skill surpasses mine. Such a living move is truly unexpected." He conceded.
To their left sat a youth not yet twenty, attended by a Kunlun slave—dark as coal, fearsome-looking—a stark contrast to the youth's fair beauty. The youth raised his cup without drinking, watching the game. When white resigned, he chuckled.
The victorious scholar, noticing what seemed like mockery, clasped his hands: "Do you play, sir?""Modestly," replied the youth."What insight might you offer on this 'Phoenix Spread'?"The youth approached the board, sleeves folded, silent.
The menacing slave followed closely. Both players bowed: "We seek your counsel."As the youth picked up a white stone, chaos erupted downstairs—crashes, shouts, and the tavern owner scrambling up the stairs.
Li Yuan urgently asked what happened. Before the owner could speak, strange youths charged in, seizing and beating him.
The scholar shouted: "Halt!"The leader of the youths sneered: "Dare you meddle? Boys, thrash them too!"With a roar, the Kunlun slave surged forward, baring wolf-like fangs, nostrils flaring. The bullies recoiled, tumbling over each other.
"Is there no law under the Son of Heaven?!" the leader shrilled."You beat men as if lawfully!" retorted the scholar.The bully pointed at the owner: "This fool scared away the Emperor's songbird! What penalty deserves he?"The owner protested: "How so? You left an empty cage with me!""Lies!" the youth raised his fist.
The fair youth and scholar exchanged glances—these were the notorious "Five Workshops youths" (eunuchs). Emperor Muzong had established five workshops (falcons, goshawks, sparrowhawks, eagles, dogs) in Chang'an. These eunuchs extorted merchants, seizing goods at a tenth of their value or outright stealing—called "free shopping."
The tavern, near a "Goshawk Workshop," suffered frequent unpaid feasts. Today, the owner's request for payment earned him a beating and threats of arrest.
The lead eunuch screeched: "Know who we are? Step aside!" He signaled others to slap the owner until blood streamed from his nose.
Enraged, the fair youth commanded: "'Men'? Eunuchs dare claim manhood! A'luotuo, break their legs!"The slave leaped out, swiftly felling the eunuchs with howls of pain.
"Let's go," said the youth, stepping over the groaning eunuchs. Downstairs, the scholar laughed: "Satisfying!"But Li Yuan worried: "This is disaster. Flee while you can.""The new Emperor reigns," said the youth. "Eunuchs no longer dominate as under Wuzong."
The owner stumbled over, kowtowing.The youth sighed: "Your tavern is finished—my fault. Gather your family tomorrow at Baling Bridge. I'll fund your relocation." Mounting his mule, he departed with the slave.
"I am Mo Xuanqing of Lingnan," called the scholar. "Might I know your name?""Gu Xun, Gu Shiyan of Jiangdong," replied the youth, whip raised."So it's the young Go master Gu Shiyan," murmured Li Yuan. "A man of courage and resolve."
Gu Shiyan, from a wealthy Jiangdong family, was called "Mengchang of Jiangdong" for his generosity. Obsessed with Go, he traveled north to challenge masters. Unbeaten in Chang'an, his charm and lavish spending won noble favor. Emperor Xuanzong appointed him Court Go Master (a ninth-rank position since Emperor Xuanzong's reign).
That night, Gu visited Linghu Tao (Director of the Bureau of Evaluations), a rising star rumored to become chancellor.
Linghu Tao pondered: "The Emperor fears eunuch power but hesitates to purge them. I advised: punish their crimes, leave vacancies unfilled—they'll fade naturally. By the way, His Majesty summoned you tomorrow. Perhaps he craves a game?"
Gu tensed: "Did the eunuchs accuse me?""No. It concerns Japanese envoys. Prince Minamoto leads them next year—Japan's top Go player. Why summon you? Unknown."
At noon, Gu sent his family to deliver silver to the tavern owner and donned his dark blue official robe.
In the inner study, the Emperor declared: "Prince Minamoto brings Japanese music and Buddhist treasures. He challenges Tang's Go masters. Though Go is small, national prestige hangs on victory."
Gu noticed rival Shan Zhanyuan present."Master Xuandong told me," said Gu, "that monk Kibi no Makibi studied 19 years in Chang'an under Wang Jixin. Xuandong split two games with him. Japan's skill rivals ours.""Nonsense!" countered Shan. "Go spread to Japan from China. Their top players still need handicaps against us.""Speculation is useless," said Gu. "We'll adapt when the time comes.""Well said!" praised the Emperor. "Your flexible style shines through."
Shan, jealous, asked: "Who shall face the prince?""One of you two," said the Emperor. "Who's stronger?"Both stayed silent. The Emperor laughed: "Each thinks himself supreme!""I claim no such title," said Gu. "Hidden masters exist. Wang Jixin once met two women in Sichuan who outplayed him utterly. I propose a national tournament to select our champion.""Excellent!" decreed the Emperor. "The Lantern Festival Go Contest begins next year."
As Gu departed with Shan, the Emperor added: "Visit Mingqian Palace. My girl complains you've neglected her lessons."Shan shot Gu an envious glare and left sulking.
The "girl" was Princess Wanshou, who preferred archery and horseback riding to quiet pursuits. After seeing Gu play the Emperor, she demanded Go lessons.
In the palace's back garden, the princess—in red robes on a red horse—swung her silver mallet, sending a ball toward Gu. He kicked it skyward. She stared upward, waiting.
"Little Gu! Why skip lessons?" she scolded imperiously."Does the princess recall if 'knife-five' is dead or alive?""You never taught me that!" (Her habit: denying forgotten things.)
Her cheeks flushed in the cold. A maid urged: "Princess, bathe before you chill."Dismounting, she tossed aside her mallet: "Wait here, Little Gu!"
Gu stood by her study's long window. Snowflakes drifted down."Ah! Snow!" cried the princess, entering.Gu turned—and froze. Beside her stood an ethereal girl whose ice-bright beauty seemed to light the room.
"Eyes wide, eh?" said the princess, jealous.Gu smiled, flushing.
"She's Wu Jie Shanluo," said the princess, taking the girl's hand. "Daughter of Uyghur Khagan. His chancellor killed him. She fled here with her brothers. She barely understands Chinese."
Shanluo gazed at Gu with innocent eyes, unsettling him—a master famed for composure.
"Let's play!" said the princess. "Shanluo learns with me!"
A maid brought a red sandalwood board and jade stones. Gu taught basic life-and-death shapes. Oddly, the princess concentrated fiercely—competitive before Shanluo.
Shanluo watched silently, occasionally blinking at Gu."Does she understand?" he asked.She nodded, then shook her head."She doesn't!" laughed the princess. "Don't waste your music on deaf ears!"
Zheng Hao (heir to a noble house) arrived. Favored by the Emperor as a potential son-in-law, he resented Gu's presence.
"What skill have you beyond Go?" challenged Zheng."I master music, Go, calligraphy, and painting," said Gu truthfully."Then why stoop to lowly Court Go Master?""Passions differ. I crave Go, not wealth.""Doubtful!" sneered Zheng.
"Stop bickering!" said the princess."Ci'en Temple has opera contests," said Zheng. "Come watch.""Yes! Let's all go!" She dragged Gu and Shanluo along.
In the carriage, Zheng spoke only to the princess, ignoring Gu—fearing her affection might shift despite his higher rank (third-grade official vs. Gu's ninth).
At Ci'en Temple, crowds surrounded a stage where actors performed The White Gate Tower. Zheng explained roles to the princess. Gu stayed with Shanluo, who seemed to understand Chinese though silent.
Gu sensed unseen watchers. Scanning the crowd—Persians, Tibetans, Han Chinese—he spotted two turbaned Western Hu men by a stone pagoda. One glanced back, hawk-eyed, then turned away.
"Know them?" Gu whispered. Shanluo looked and shook her head.
"The Arhat Hall's plum tree blooms!" cried the princess.
In the deserted hall's courtyard, an ancient plum tree stood—twenty feet high, red blossoms against snow.
Suddenly, the tree shook violently. Snow blinded them.A dark figure dropped from the branches. Shanluo screamed—snatched in an instant!
Gu drew his sword. The kidnapper dodged his thrust, whistled, and tossed Shanluo upward. Another figure caught her from the roof and vanished.
The kidnapper leaped for the wall. Gu thrust. Mid-air, the man drew a scimitar. Blades clashed—clang!—and he escaped.
Gu, lacking lightness skill, watched helplessly.
"Why take her?!" wept the princess."D*mn! Forgot guards!" fretted Zheng."Escort the princess back," said Gu. "I'll find her brothers."
The Emperor, enraged, ordered city-wide manhunts.
Shanluo's brothers—Generals Wenn Mosi and Na Jiechuai (twin Uyghur commanders)—rushed over. Wenn ranted furiously.
Zhang Jia (Minister of State Ceremonies) translated: "He curses Yinyin Chuo—the chancellor who murdered their father and installed a puppet khagan."
"Why abduct Shanluo?" asked Gu.Na Jiechuai calmly explained: "Shanluo is 'Pearl of Xining.' Tibetan warlord Lun Kongre—cruel and lecherous—demanded her. Our father refused. Lun Kongre bribed Yinyin Chuo to kill him. Now Yinyin Chuo hunts her to appease Lun Kongre."
"He sends her to Tibet!" said Gu. "Seal western routes!"
Guards reported two Turkic carriages leaving via West Gate at dusk.
With thirty-seven elite Uyghur horsemen, Gu and the brothers gave chase. Guards at Dasan Pass were alerted to block exits.
Snow blanketed the land. They rode hard, tracking through the night.
At Bian Family Village, an inn boy had seen two carriages hours earlier."Their carriages are slow! Pursue!" roared Wenn.
Dawn cleared the snow. At Hancheng, guards admitted releasing the carriages earlier with "emergency orders" from the defunct Protectorate of the Western Regions.
"The Qirghiz destroyed that Protectorate years ago!" Gu fumed.
They ate beef hastily and rode on. Hancheng to Dasan Pass: 160 li of rugged terrain.
Dark clouds gathered. Wind howled. Snow fell again, slowing progress. Wenn cursed impatiently."Tracking is easy in snow," Gu reassured.
"Found the carriages!" shouted a rider.
Swords drawn, they charged.Two Turkic carriages stood abandoned before a shrine—horseless, silent.
A Uyghur rider slashed their felt window-covers open.Empty.
Wenn and Na stared blankly."They took horses," said Gu. "Split forces: Na searches nearby; Wenn and I dash to Dasan Pass. They won't escape."
Afternoon: Dasan Pass in sight. No traces found. Unease gripped Gu.
The fort commander, heavily garrisoned, swore: "No one passed!"He showed them the strategic pass—flanked by mountains, guarded by rivers.
"Any bypasses?" asked Gu."None in this snow. Even in autumn, crossing the Qinling Range requires ropes."
Soldiers reported Sichuan merchants seeking entry."Admit them!" bellowed Wenn. "They might know something!"
Two hundred silk traders bound for the Shatuo Kingdom entered. Their leader, in thick Sichuan dialect, revealed stunning news:"Ten li west, a Turkic carriage passed us. A woman wept inside."
The commander paled: "Impossible! Utterly impossible!"