In Weiyang lived a Go player named Wang Ben who was exceedingly proud of his abilities. He had traveled among nobles and senior officials in the capital region and once played several games in Wuqiao with a powerful military official. By flattering the man and keeping him in good spirits, Wang Ben received generous rewards.

Afterward, he began styling himself the “Go King” (qí wáng), but wrote the title with 汪 (Wāng), the character used for his surname, instead of 王 (wáng), the Chinese word for “king.” The name seemed to grow wings, spreading throughout the country.

Among Go enthusiasts, Wang Ben’s reputation became so formidable that many players lost their courage before they had even sat down across the board from him.

One year, Wang Ben traveled to Wuchang in Hubei Province. The local prefect, Zhang, was devoted to Go and had few interests outside the game. When he heard that a celebrated master had arrived, he immediately invited Wang Ben to his residence.

The results were disastrous.

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