Chapter 1121: An uproar at the press conference!
Translator: Legge Editor: Legge
Night had fallen.
His parents had just returned from their stroll. They opened the door and came back into the house.
"Why is there still no news?" his father complained.
His mother closed the door. "There are so many people in Asia, so there must definitely be someone who can step up to the challenge. Why are you so anxious about it?"
His father said angrily, "How can I not be anxious? They're bullying us to our doorsteps!"
"Eh? Where's Little Ye?" His mother went to look for him.
From his room, Zhang Ye's voice sounded out, "I'm in my room."
His mother asked, "Did someone come to our house? Why is it so messy?"
Zhang Ye said, "Yes, yes."
His father asked, "What are you doing?"
Zhang Ye said, "I'm busy with something. I'll talk about it later."
His father acknowledged, "Then go do whatever you need to do."
In Zhang Ye's room.
Zhang Ye faced his computer and studied the game records between Peter and Xiang Rong 9-dan, Shinji 9-dan, and the others. After China Qiyuan's people left his place, he had been reviewing the game records over and over again. As Sun Tzu said, if you know your enemy and yourself, you'll find naught in fear for a hundred battles 1 . He would definitely have to do his research before stepping into battle. But the more he studied the games, the more he discovered just how powerful Peter was. Every move that Xiang Rong and the others made seemed to have been predicted by the artificial intelligence. Some players could think ahead by two or three moves, while others could plan ahead by four or five moves. But it felt like Peter went far beyond that, simply because it was a computer!
How could he play against it then?
How the fuck was he going to play against it?
Zhang Ye was already pessimistic about the Go world's battle against Peter in the first place. He still felt the same way about it now and did not have any confidence in winning. This fellow had never liked fighting an unsure battle, but he could not avoid it this time. For those words that Wu Changhe had said to him, for Wu Zeqing, he had to do it no matter how difficult it was!
What should he do then?
Perhaps there was only one way to it!
Zhang Ye lowered his head and looked at the ring on his left pinky finger. The look in his eyes hardened as he immediately brought up the virtual screen to play the lottery! The last lottery draw hadn't been too ideal after he had drawn five Xiangqi Skill Experience Books. Even though they came in handy later, they were not items Zhang Ye needed urgently. For his lottery draw this time, Zhang Ye was hoping the Lucky Halo would work more effectively as he did not need anything else other than the Go Skill Experience Books!
He activated the Lucky Halo (Upgraded)!
Then tapped on Lottery Draw (Two).
He placed the additional stakes!
The lottery draw began!
Together with the usage of the Lucky Halo, over 100 million Reputation Points were spent!
Two minutes later, a loud laugh came from Zhang Ye's bedroom!
"Hahahaha!"
Even the Heavens are helping me!
The Heavens are helping me!
The prize was drawn!
It was the higher level Go Skill Experience Book, a total of ten of them!
Zhang Ye immediately studied them all!
Come on, PeterGo!
Let's see how this bro is gonna demolish you!
For this lottery draw, Zhang Ye's luck had exploded forth!
…
Meanwhile.
Something big happened online!
"Other than Master Xiang, who else is there from the Qiyuan?"
"Just Li Yi 9-dan!"
"Yeah, only Li Yi 9-dan is the next highest ranking player."
"But he's only the world number four! If even the top three ranking players in the world lost, then wouldn't it be more unlikely for the world number four to win?"
"What else can they do?"
"Yeah, who else can they send?"
"Surely they can't just admit defeat like that, right?"
"Of course not! They must not admit defeat no matter what!"
"I think Liu Hong 9-dan can do it!"
"No, they won't be able to. None of those people would be able to go against Peter!"
Just as everyone was crying with worry, China Qiyuan sent out a breaking news announcement. They unilaterally proposed to challenge Peter!
Everyone had been waiting for this news for a long time. When they saw that the Qiyuan had finally made a response, some people got extremely excited while others shook their heads pessimistically.
"They've responded!"
"The Qiyuan has responded!"
"They've finally said something!"
"Who is it?"
"Who's going to represent them and play?"
"Li Yi 9-dan?"
"Liu Hong 9-dan?"
"Why did they not say anything!"
"Quick, they're going to broadcast the press conference live!"
"Which channel is it on?"
"It's simultaneously broadcasting live on Central TV News Channel and Central TV Sports Channel!"
"Quickly turn on your TVs! Hurry, hurry, hurry!"
Many people went to turn their televisions on!
…
Back at home.
Zhang Ye's father slapped his thigh. "The Qiyuan has sent someone out as their representative!"
His mother took notice as well. "Turn on the TV!"
"It's on, it's on!" His father watched eagerly.
His mother said in anticipation, "Let's see who their so-called last line of defense is going to be."
…
At a villa.
Fan Wenli said with a laugh, "I heard that someone has accepted to the challenge."
"Is that so?" Chen Guang immediately said, "Let's have look!"
…
At the Heavenly Queen's house.
Ning Lan was visiting today. "Eh, Sister Zhang? Are you following that matter regarding the Go world as well?"
Zhang Yuanqi smiled. "Surely I have to pay attention to some news and current affairs, don't I?"
…
At a Go club somewhere in Beijing.
"Aiyo, they're holding a press conference now!"
"Are they going to challenge the AI?"
"The Qiyuan didn't chicken out! Nicely done!"
"Who will they be sending?"
"Li Yi 9-dan?"
…
In Japan.
"The Chinese have responded?"
"What's the point of that!"
"Yeah, there's no one left!"
"There's no one else from the Go world who can do it!"
…
In Korea.
"The Chinese are still going for a last-ditch attempt?"
"Let's wish them luck, but I don't have high hopes."
"They're definitely going to send Li Yi 9-dan to try their luck, right?"
"But then how would they win?"
…
At China Qiyuan.
The venue of the press conference.
The place was so packed to the brim that there weren't enough chairs to seat everyone. The staff added another dozen chairs for the members of the media. Outside the door were some reporters from the smaller newspaper agencies and tabloids that had not been officially invited to attend. They were all stopped outside as the venue was getting too overcrowded!
The entire country had its attention on this press conference!
Go enthusiasts from all over Asia were watching with wide eyes!
Central TV began the live broadcast of the press conference!
The live signal was synchronized to the actual event!
On the stage, the Americans and members of China Qiyuan had all arrived. A few of the key personnel got seated, and there was a microphone attached to the front of each of their tables.
The Qiyuan's president, Dan Donghe, lowered his head slightly to speak into the microphone, "Dear members of the media, regarding the furor surrounding the 'war between humans and machines,' I believe that everyone already knows about it. Right now, I would like to officially announce on behalf of the Qiyuan that we will be issuing a challenge to Peter!"
Immediately, applause sounded from the audience!
The American representative chuckled for a bit before saying, "Alright, we accept the challenge. We will be returning to our country in three days' time since Peter has other, more important research to handle, and we won't be able to stay here indefinitely either. As the results have already proven, Peter's intelligence is much greater than humanity's since it has already won against three of the top players in the Go world. We'll still accept the challenge, but this will be the last time that Peter will accept a challenge from the Go world!"
Dan Donghe looked at him. "Peter's intelligence is greater than that of humanity's? Isn't it too early to make such a statement?"
The American representative said with a laugh, "Alright then, I'll wait until after the match is over before repeating that."
"I'm just afraid that you all won't have the chance to say it." Dan Donghe was at war of words with him.
That American said, "Then let's just wait and see."
Everyone from the American side was amused. This was because they were extremely confident about Peter and knew that no humans would be able to win against it!
The time for the challenge match was set!
It would happen tomorrow!
The venue would be China Qiyuan!
But as for who would be representing the Qiyuan, no one knew. This was the last chance to make a stand, so they really could not afford to lose. So everyone was very concerned about who would be sent into the ring this time!
A female reporter asked, "Can we know who you will be sending out as the representative for the match?"
A Beijing Television reporter asked, "Xiang Rong 9-dan is the strongest player in the international Go world. Do we really have someone we can send out?"
Dan Donghe said, "Of course!"
"Who is it?"
"Yeah, who is it?"
"Which Go master are we talking about?"
All the reporters were staring with wide eyes!
The television viewers pricked up their ears!
Dan Donghe calmly said, "The Americans have developed an AI that they claim surpasses humanity's wisdom and intelligence. Therefore, they used this world's most complex game, Go, to challenge all humans. But as everyone knows, Xiang Rong 9-dan's Go skill might be very advanced, but he is not the smartest person in the world. Coincidentally, the current smartest person in the world who only comes along once every hundred years lives in China. He even lives in Beijing!"
The Americans did not understand!
But when those words were said, the reporters in the audience reacted like they had their tails stepped on. Many of them reacted there and then with stunned expressions and stood up immediately!
The smartest person who only comes along once every hundred years?
Could it…
Could it…
Damn! Surely not, right?
Don't tell us it's that fellow!
Please don't tell us it's that fellow!
Then they heard Dan Donghe loudly announce, "The person we've chosen to represent the Go world and challenge Peter is the world famous mathematician—Zhang Ye!"
Zhang Ye?
Who?
The Americans snorted as they did not know who this person was.
However, the reporters in the audience were all greatly shocked!
The entire venue fell silent!!
1. https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Sun_Tzu#Chapter_III_%C2%B7_Strategic_Attack
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