547: Chapter 547 Draw and Zero-Sum Thinking

The First Emperor stared intently at the chessboard, his eyes revealing a deep sense of interest. He couldn't help but exclaim, "This Xiangqi seems simple, nothing more than the crisscrossing of black and red pieces on the board, but it actually hides profound mysteries. Every move requires deep thought; the slightest mistake could lead to a predicament. Interesting, truly interesting!"

Upon hearing this, General Wang Jian hurriedly and respectfully agreed, "The Manor Master is absolutely right; this Xiangqi is by no means as simple as it appears on the surface."

"It not only exercises one's mind, allowing one to constantly hone their wisdom through contemplation, but it also allows one to grasp many subtle strategies and tactics from it."

General Wang Jian paused slightly, a glimmer in his eyes, and continued, "It is just like a real battlefield; the situation changes in an instant. Every decision concerns success or failure, and a single moment of carelessness can lead to total defeat."

The First Emperor listened to General Wang Jian's words, nodded slightly, and said thoughtfully, "Your insight is quite unique; you have analyzed the essence of this Xiangqi very thoroughly."

After a brief pause, a look of eagerness flashed in the First Emperor's eyes as he looked at General Wang Jian and said, "Another game?"

"Sure."

General Wang Jian nodded without hesitation, his eyes equally filled with anticipation.

Thus, the two took their places on either side of the chessboard once more, and a new match began.

On the board, the pieces seemed to transform into thousands of troops in their hands, moving back and forth, locked in an intense battle.

Every time the First Emperor placed a piece, it was only after deep consideration.

General Wang Jian responded steadily, every move concealing hidden mysteries. He skillfully neutralized the First Emperor's offensives while seeking opportunities to counterattack.

Before long, another game ended, and as expected, it once again resulted in a draw.

This is the unique charm of Chinese chess; it allows for the possibility of a draw, preserving harmony between the two sides.

Xiangqi is not like the playing cards invented by Westerners, where the rules dictate that a winner and a loser must be determined, and the concept of a draw does not exist at all.

As the saying goes, "When will the cycle of vengeance ever end?" The reason the West is so divided and finds it difficult to achieve great unification like China lies in the difference in habitual thinking.

The Chinese people uphold the philosophy of Great Unity, pursuing commonality while allowing for minor differences.

Just like Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism; although their philosophies differ, they can blend with each other, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and achieving a harmonious situation of coexistence and mutual integration.

However, Christianity and the Orthodox Church, which share the same origin, uphold an "either-or" concept, where only one sect can dominate. The countries belonging to these two sects have even fought over this to this day.

Harmony is a manifestation of the wisdom of the Chinese people.

A draw in Xiangqi allows both sides to tie, which is good for appearances, but the substance is equally important.

Of course, anyone who understands the game can tell from the flow of the match whether the other party is yielding.

Even if a winner and loser are not determined on the board, they know in their hearts whether they have lost.

This is completely different from the Western "right or wrong," "black or white" zero-sum thinking.

Zero-sum thinking posits that one side's gain must correspond to the other side's loss, and the sum of gains and losses for both sides is always zero. This way of thinking makes the West prone to falling into extremes when dealing with problems, making it difficult to achieve harmonious unity.

Meanwhile, a draw in Chinese chess embodies a more inclusive and wise philosophy of conduct; while pursuing victory, one also knows how to compromise and balance at the appropriate time to maintain overall harmony and stability.