Hundred.
Was once a surname of unparalleled glory.
Tuk.
Is the sound of a chess piece falling on the chessboard.
Here is a palace.
The palace is made entirely of an icy white mineral. From afar, it looks like pieces of profound ice, and this palace seems to be carved from countless ice blocks.
The royal palace in the capital of Shuangxue Country has the unique beauty of ice and snow found only in the north.
This beauty has lasted for a thousand years since the founding of Shuangxue Country.
However, today, this beauty may be about to fade away.
The north wind whistles by, beyond the palace gates, all is bleak.
Usually the main hall is where the monarch meets with his ministers, but with Wang Jue, the Grand General who Guards the North of Dawu Country, leading his troops to besiege the city for two months, everyone in the city is in danger, and there have even been cases of ministers defecting and so on. This main hall is deserted instead.
Usually the monarch and the generals all directly discuss affairs in the military camps within the city.
However, at this very moment, along the steps leading up to the main hall, on the throne that belongs to the monarch, sits a man. In front of him is a small table with a chessboard on it, and on either side are boxes with black and white chess pieces.
There is no one playing against him.
Clearly, he is playing chess against himself.
The man wears thick winter clothes. He looks ordinary, with scars extending down from the outer corners of his eyes, which appear somewhat terrifying at first glance.
But after looking at him for a while, he doesn't seem terrifying at all, and instead gives off an elegant and noble air.
Baijun Marquis.
Sitting upright on the throne of the Shuangxue Country's royal palace, occasionally glancing at the chessboard, occasionally gazing outside the hall.
Sitting alone in the royal palace of another country, not the slightest bit flustered. His gaze is as calm and plain as always, not revealing any joy or sorrow.
There is no trace of dust on him, his manners are perfect, even every strand of hair is neatly combed.
Therefore, Baijun Marquis sitting on the throne does not feel out of place at all.
It's as if Baijun Marquis is indeed a king, or rather, a king should have Baijun Marquis's current poise and bearing.
At this moment, a teenager suddenly walks into the palace.
He is the fourteen year old son of Shuangxue Country's Grand General, named 'Yan Xiaodao'.
Because his father and the monarch have been close friends since childhood, he has been arranged to stay in the royal palace along with other relatives of Shuangxue Country's top officials since the capital was besieged.
Supposedly for protection.
Or perhaps there are fears that more high-ranking officials will defect.
However, fourteen year old Yan Xiaodao doesn't know any of this, nor does he understand it. Ever since his father led three hundred elite troops into Dawu Country, only to eventually sacrifice himself, he has sworn to carry on his father's will.
He snuck out today to take a look - the capital has been under siege for two months, how will the monarch and his ministers defend the country and avenge this humiliation at today's morning court?!
Yet Yan Xiaodao did not expect the main hall of the royal palace, which should have held the morning court, to be completely empty.
And not only that, someone even dared to sit on the monarch's seat and leisurely play chess?!
Yan Xiaodao, raised as the son of a distinguished military family and taught loyalty to monarch and country since childhood, immediately became furious.
The youth angrily pointed at Baijun Marquis on the dais and scolded: "Who are you, to dare sit on the seat of my Shuangxue Country's monarch?!"
Baijun Marquis calmly said: "The throne? You're referring to the chair I'm sitting on?"
The youth angrily said: "Don't waste words!"
Baijun Marquis withdrew his gaze, placed a white chess piece on the board, and said: "Among the many islands in the Eastern Sea, there are twelve kings, in the fifteen northern countries, fifteen kings, and even more kings in the southern territories and Western Regions of Dawu Country."
Kings?
Is it so novel?
"In truth, there has never been a shortage of kings in this world. Young man, perhaps the word 'king' is not as supreme as you imagine."
The youth was surprised, this was the first time someone had said such words to him.
King.
Is not as supreme as you imagine!
The man's words undoubtedly challenged the values his father had taught him since childhood.
And since Baijun Marquis was waiting for someone, he didn't mind passing the time, continuing:
"Some sit on the throne and believe themselves kings, some wear dragon robes and golden clothes and believe themselves kings, some with thousands calling out to them behind them also believe themselves kings, but is this really so?"
"The world is a chessboard."
At this point, Baijun Marquis placed another black piece on the chessboard before him.
Playing against himself, whether black or white, all are pieces in my hands.
"I believe those who can maneuver the chess game of the world, who can hold power, are the true kings."
"But how can one chessboard accommodate several maneuverers?"
"There have been countless nominal kings from past to present, but in truth there has only ever been one true king."
The world has always belonged to us Bai.
Under heaven, nothing is not the king's land.
To the shores of the land, none are not the king's subjects.
My sitting on the throne of any place in the world is only natural.
The frigid wind in the hall stopped abruptly.
Everything became quiet.
Thud!
With Baijun Marquis placing the last piece on the chessboard, the game ended.
He had won against himself.
Baijun Marquis looked up to see shadows behind the youth.
The one he was waiting for, Shuangxue Country's monarch...had arrived.
The monarch of Shuangxue Country was about sixty years old. His hair and beard were all white, and he wore a white royal robe embroidered with many snowflakes. He was surrounded by armored warriors, among whom were masters.
He had never met Baijun Marquis before.
However, having interacted with the Bai clan for many years, from the impassive expression, ordinary appearance, scars under the eyes, everything matched the appearance described of the Bai clan leader.
In addition, Wang Jue had besieged the city for two months. The military encirclement outside the city was airtight, while inside the city imperial guards patrolled day and night. It would have been impossible for an ordinary person to appear in the royal palace unnoticed like this.
The monarch of Shuangxue Country slowly lowered his head, actually bowing and greeting, "Greetings...Great Emperor!"
A thousand years ago, the Bai dynasty's territory was vast, even surpassing present day Dawu Country, with practically nowhere in the realm not under its rule except the Eastern Sea islands and the fifteen northern countries.
Other countries coming to court back then had to address the Bai dynasty's monarch as "Great Emperor".
Baijun Marquis said: "The dynasty has already fallen, and I am not an emperor. Monarch, you are too courteous. You...should know my purpose in coming."
He spoke politely, but Baijun Marquis accepted the bowing and greeting of "Great Emperor" very calmly.
Since the other party had lowered himself to this extent, even humbly calling out the ancient title from a thousand years ago, he certainly knew what the aim was.
The monarch of Shuangxue Country immediately knelt and desperately pleaded: "Shuangxue Country is willing to offer up the 'Mirror Moon Spring Water', we only beg the Great Emperor to save our people and preserve our country!"