One horse determines Huashan is a story that has been known to women and children since the Song Dynasty about Chen Tuan's clever play against Zhao Kuangyin. This well-known fairy tale has been passed down with this famous mountain.
The Western Peak, Mount Hua, is a mountain of towering peaks and dangerous terrain. There is an ancient temple on the mountain that worships the Western Emperor, and not far from there is a fairy cave called the “Xiyi Cave”. The cave is home to a Taoist immortal named Chen Tuan, who is also known as “Mr. Xiyi” and is often referred to as “Old Master Chen Tuan”.
One day, a young Taoist acolyte came to the foot of the mountain on the orders of Chen Tuan. He saw a big man with a red face lying unconscious. The acolyte revived him with pills and led him to see the old man. The big man with the red face was none other than the future Song Dynasty emperor, Zhao Kuangyin. Zhao Kuangyin and the acolyte soon arrived at the Xiyi Cave. They saw tall pine and cypress trees in front of the cave, their dense branches and leaves blocking out the sunlight and creating a beautiful scene. A white stone platform was placed next to the cypress tree, with Chen Tuan and a Taoist sitting opposite each other, discussing the outcome of a game using 32 white jade chess pieces. Looking closer, the game had just started.
Kuang Yin's chess game had once overwhelmed the city of Bianliang. At this moment, he could not help but become absorbed in it too, standing quietly behind the black piece watching. Kuang Yin knew nothing of the intricacies of the game, and saw only that the white player had placed his rook next to the black piece's mouth, tempting the black piece to eat it, so that the rook could be sacrificed to capture the general, and a great victory achieved. Just as the black piece fell for the trap, “You can't capture the rook!” Kuang Yin unknowingly whispered behind him, “You can't capture the rook and move!” A white player glanced at Kuang Yin, without saying a word, and just kept playing. The black player watched quietly, as if he had changed his mind after hearing what the other player said. At the same time, he discovered a flaw in the white player's game, so he didn't move his horse either, and came up with another plan to “attack Wei and save Zhao”. In just a few moves, he managed to turn the tables on the white pieces and win. The loser gave the other player two ingots of gold and said, “Talking too much. Can't you see the saying, ‘A true gentleman observes the game without speaking, while a villain is seen for his many words’?” They quickly set up the pieces for another game, and after a few moves, the white pieces were bombarding the pawn forest. The person in the know is clear-sighted, while the onlooker sees more. Kuang Yin tried every means to make the white pieces win back the game, hinting that “firing cannons cannot capture the general, but instead empties your own ranks.” The person playing white quickly turned the cannon's muzzle to block the horse's leg, averting the defeat of the two horses in the grooves. As the saying goes, “Setting up a trap to provoke anger, the trap lures Kuang Yin.”
The black player looked at Kuang Yin and felt that the time was right. He used the strategy of provoking the opponent and said, “Red-faced gentleman, you are in the wrong place. You should keep quiet, but you just can't help but talk. If you are such a famous player, you dare to play three games with me, then you can be called a man of integrity.” Hearing such words, naturally aroused Zhao Kuangyin's arrogance! “I'll play you three games, and you'll see that you can't underestimate me,“ said Kuangyin arrogantly.
“Good, that's exciting!” said the white-pawn elder, adding fuel to the flames, saying that there should be an offer: “I don't know if we're betting gold or silver, we need to agree first.” After some bargaining, it was decided that each game would be 50 taels of silver, and no one would be allowed to renege on the bet. Kuangyin took his seat at the white-pawn elder's position, and the white-pawn elder supervised the game as a witness. Zhao Kuangyin played with white pieces and moved first. He saw:
Starting with the king, he first promoted the pawns, and the old man moved his rook to try to capture the car. White played the spare cannon at the head, and black promoted the pawn to protect the rook. Kuangyin used the rook to turn the foot horse, and the old man drove the car to chase. He moved the cannon to prevent the flying elephant, and white ate the horse and lost the car. The game developed into a complex eighteen-move variation, which no one understood. When you meet a worthy opponent, it is hard to hide your tricks. The pawn attacked the screen horse. The old man abandoned his horse with a loud noise, and Kuangyin lost the first game. I advise the hero to take precautions early, for the world of red dust is as busy as a game of chess.
Zhao Kuangyin lost the first game and was not satisfied. He wanted to get back the money he lost and said, “How about betting 100 taels of silver for the second game?” The old man said with a smile, “100 taels of silver, as you wish.” The two men set up the chess pieces again. This time, the old man went first with black. He played brilliantly, making wonderful moves. We saw
The Taoist tricks the real dragon, the immortal points the way at the riverhead. Kuangyin didn't know there was a mystery, and he captured first with his rooks on both flanks. The yin-yang Tai Chi linked horses, and the white pieces set up their cannons and studied each other. The fog and scattered clouds suddenly changed the chess, and the two scholars laughed happily into the peach garden. The rooks drove the pawns to the center to attack the king, and the two immortals preached the Dao and won two games.
Zhao Kuangyin was known as the best player in Bianliang City, but now he has lost two games in a row in Guanzhong. Losing money is one thing, but being laughed at in the street is another. In order to get his money back, he is determined to win. He says to the old man, “In this game of chess, we will combine the 150 taels from the first two games. If I win, I will return it all to you; if you win, I will pay you back the same amount. Chen Tuan laughed and said, “Three hundred taels of silver is a lot of money, but I'm afraid I won't be able to pay it back, and I'll lose face.” Hearing this, Kuang Yin had to swallow his anger in order to win back his money.
In the third game, the winner should go first, but the old man deliberately let the other side go first. Kuang Yin was overjoyed, and as soon as he started, he wanted to overwhelm the other side in the game of chess. He used aggressive and fierce moves, while Chen Tuan was both offensive and defensive, using gentleness to overcome hardness. Amidst the fierce battle, it was like a war horse neighing and galloping, like raging waves, with each wave being more powerful than the last. Chen Tuan rode the wind and waves, making brilliant moves one after the other, and in the end cleverly used the strategy “a lone rider can outsmart the artillery, the pawns, the rook and the bishop” to pass on his legacy to future generations.
Kuang Yin was again defeated by the old man, and as he had no money on him, he was very frustrated. After a moment's thought, he said, “Old man, I should have won this game. I made a mistake, so it doesn't count. If we bet silver, let's start again.” The old man changed his face and said, “Ridiculous, trying to fool children's words, everything should be done openly and honestly, and besides, this is just a game of chess? If you want to bet, you have to accept the consequences, a gentleman does not change; since you have lost, let's give the 300 taels of silver to help others. Saying those words without any basis is not only a shame for yourself, but also a laughing stock for others.” Kuang Yin really had no valuables, so he could not lie or leave. “I am not worth 300 taels, what should I do?” The old man said, “Don't mention clothes, even the five-clawed dragon robe is not rare. If you really have no family property, you can either point to a road or a mountain and just sign a deed of sale and be done with it.” Kuangyin saw that the old man turned out to be a fool, so he decided to play a trick on him. Kuangyin picked up a stone at random and scratched on the steep rock:
“Zhao Kuangyin of the capital of Tokyo, because he has no money to pay for it, is willing to sell this mountain to the Chen family for the stated price of 300 pieces of silver, with no taxes ever again. For fear that there will be no proof in the future, I have written the deed of sale on the stone mountain as evidence.”
When Kuangyin made this stroke, the mountain gods and the earth spirits saw that the true dragon emperor had sold Mount Hua, which was a matter of eternal importance. No one disobeyed, and they hurriedly changed the white characters to black. Kuangyin was also very surprised.
Knowing that Chen Tuan was a highly accomplished immortal, Kuangyin insisted on paying him the disciple's respect when they parted ways. Chen Tuan refused many times, but was moved by Kuangyin's sincerity and agreed. He also passed on the “Dragon-Coiling Staff” and the staff technique that he had used for many years to Kuangyin, which would come in useful later. Kuangyin was extremely grateful and said, “Xianweng, you have honoured me, and I would like to ask you to tell me my fortune. Chen Tuan already knew, and handed him a letter, and with another old man, he turned into the breeze and disappeared. Kuang Yuin picked up the letter and read it carefully: “Chen Tuan's letter to Zhao Gongzi: Since I have nothing to do, I specially invited the Xiyue Huashan immortal to play chess for fun... The foundation of the Chenqiao army was the beginning of prosperity; the red flickering of the candles was the rising of the fire dragon.” Kuangyin repeatedly pondered the meaning of the first half of the message. In fact, the letter had predicted a period of peace that would last for 200 years after the Anshi Rebellion. As it turned out, the Chenqiao military coup resulted in the unification of the country. Kuangyin did not go back on his word and exempted the Huashan area from paying taxes for tens of miles.
During the reign of Emperor Zhenzong, the emperor repeatedly sent envoys to summon him, offering him titles and rewards. Chen Tuan claimed to be ill and did not respond. Emperor Zhenzong felt slighted and angrily said, “The country belongs to the imperial court, and you are not allowed to let the old mountain and the old road sleep.” Chen Tuan laughed heartily and told the emissary to take him to say: “I am willing to let the country and the mountains belong to the imperial court, and sell them to the old mountain and the old road to sleep.” Chen Tuan showed the emissary the contract of selling the mountain by Emperor Taizu, and the emissary told Emperor Zhen Zong, who had to comply. The emperor never disturbed him again. Chen Tuan slept for a thousand years without being disturbed by the world, and the story of “a horse fixing Huashan” has been passed down.
一马定华山是宋代以后妇孺皆知的陈抟巧弈赵匡胤的故事，这段脍炙人口的仙话，伴随这座名山一直流传下来。
西岳华山奇峰高耸，山势险要，山上有座供奉西岳大帝的古庙，不远处有一个仙洞，称之为“希夷洞”，洞中住着一位修道的仙翁，名叫陈抟，道号“希夷先生”，人们常称为‘陈抟老祖"。
这一天，一位小道童奉陈抟老祖之命来到山下，见一红脸大汉昏迷不醒，道童用丹药救醒他后，引他来见老祖。而这红脸大汉正是后来的宋太祖赵匡胤。赵匡胤与道童不一会来到希夷洞前，见那洞前松柏参天，密密麻麻的枝叶遮蔽日光，甚为优美。一座白石台摆靠柏树旁，陈抟老祖与一位道人对面而坐，用三十二个白玉石棋子论输赢，近看，开局不久。
匡胤的象棋曾压倒汴梁城，此时，他不由自主也入了迷，静悄悄立于黑棋的身后观看。匡胤那晓得其中奥秘，只见执白棋者将车放在黑马嘴边，诱惑黑棋来吃，以便舍车捉将，准备大获全胜。正待黑棋上当，“吃车走不得!”匡胤在身后不知不觉暗打出口，一执白棋者将匡胤用眼扫了一下，没有言辞，只顾走棋。执黑棋者静观思谋，好象听了对方的话改变了主意，同时发现了白棋的破绽，也不行马，另出一计“围魏救赵”之策。不出几个回合，反赢了白棋；输家给对方两锭金子，开口道：“多嘴。瞅不见上面的‘观棋不语真君子，看着多言是小人"吗?”很快摆布再战，兵卒暗调，行不多时，只见使白棋的老者用炮轰卒林，当局者迷，旁观者清。匡胤想方设法欲使白棋夺回一局，暗示“发炮不能擒将，反倒自家空虚。”执白棋者炮口急转，挡住马腿，化解了双马卧槽的败局。有道是“设局激性那知计，圈套引诱匡胤来”。
执黑棋者看了看匡胤，甚觉火候已到，以激将法言道：“红面君子，您在这场所，也太没有棋规，要你不要多嘴，你偏要多嘴。既是这等名手，敢与我下上三盘，才能称得上顶天立地的汉子”。听了这般言语，自然激起赵匡胤的傲性!“我与你下上三盘，看你再小视于我，”匡胤傲慢地说道。
“好，痛快!”白棋老者火上加油，说应该有个要约：“不知是赌金子，还是赌银子，先要讲好。”经过一番的讨价，决定每盘彩银五十两，不准赖账。匡胤在白棋老者的位置就座，白棋老者于旁监局作证。赵匡胤执白棋先行，只见得：
起手保主先上士，老祖移炮想出车。白棋备用当头炮，黑棋上马把卒保。匡胤使出转脚马，老祖驱车便来追。调炮过来防飞象，白棋吃马掉了车。演成梅花十八变，非常奥妙无人知。棋逢对手难藏巧，中炮卒攻屏风马。老祖弃车一声雷，匡胤失利首局中。劝告英雄早预防，红尘世界似棋忙。
赵匡胤首局先行失利，心中甚为不服，想夺回所失银两，言道：“第二局赌一百两，如何?”老祖笑嘻嘻地说：“一百两，好就依君之言”。二人又把棋子摆好，这盘该老祖执黑先行，所下精彩之处，妙着迭出。只见得：
道人谲戏降真龙，仙人指路在河头。匡胤那知有玄机，两肋出车抢占先。阴阳太极连环马，白棋摆炮便相研。雾琐层岚棋突变，二士喜笑入桃园。撵车居中卒攻将，二仙传道赢两盘。
赵匡胤在汴梁城号称魁首，今到关西连败两局，输掉财帛事小，反被人街头取笑；为了翻本，狠心一博。对老者道：“这盘相赌，将前两局一百五十两合并，我若赢了一同退掉；若您赢了，我照数还您如何?”陈抟笑着说：“三百两彩银也不少，只怕拿不出来，那是脸面着羞”。匡胤听了这等话，为了反本，只得忍着气。
第三盘本该赢者先行，老祖却有意让给对方，匡胤心中欢喜，起步就想在棋势上压倒对方，使出咄咄逼人的凶悍招势，陈抟是攻守兼备，用柔克刚；激烈之间，宛如战马奔嘶叫，有似惊涛骇浪，一浪胜似一浪。陈抟乘风破浪，连出妙手，至残局巧妙地运用“千里单骑马巧胜炮马卒士象全”，传于后世。
匡胤这盘又被老者赢去，身边无有财帛，好不懊悔，寻思片刻说道：“老人家，刚才这盘本该我赢，错失一着，不算，若赌银子，重来。”老者变了脸说：“荒唐，想出哄骗孩童之语，什么事皆应光明磊落，况且这只不过是棋乎?愿赌服输，君子无更；既然输了，让我们将三百两彩银救济他人，说那无行之语，自己蒙羞不说，反被人家笑谈。”匡胤实无贵重物品，赖也不成，走也不成，“我全身上下不值三百两，咋办?”老者说：“别说衣服，五爪龙袍也不稀罕；实在没有家产的话，或指一条路，或指一座山，立一张卖契就作罢。”匡胤见老者原来是个痴人，待我混他一混，匡胤随意拿起一块石片，就在峻峭岩石上划道：
“东京赵匡胤，因无钱使用，愿将这华山一座，言定价银三百，卖与陈姓之业，永无租税，恐后无凭，亲笔卖契于石山为证。”
匡胤这一划，山神土地见真龙天子卖掉了华山，这可是万古千秋之事，谁个不依，忙将白印字变黑。匡胤也甚感惊疑。
匡胤知陈抟老祖道行高深，临别时执意行弟子礼，陈抟多次拒之，后被诚意感而应允，并将身边多年的‘蟠龙棍"与棍法传于匡胤，后自有用处。匡胤感激不尽，说：“仙翁，相理推尊，弟子敢恳一观，今后前程吉凶何如，则不才幸甚”。陈抟早已知，递一封函帖于他，与另一老者化清风而去，匡胤捧起函帖细看：“陈抟书奉赵公子足下：适因清闲无事，特邀西岳华山仙翁遣兴下棋，……陈桥始基，才得天下兴隆；烛影摇红，便是火龙升运”。匡胤反复思阅，解意前半。其实，函帖已预言了自安史之乱200年后的一大治。后果真如此，陈桥兵变，江山一统。匡胤不失前言，免收华山数十里的地税钱粮。
到了真宗时代，皇帝多次遣中使宣召，欲降以爵禄，陈抟称疾不应，真宗皇帝认为不给赏脸，怒曰：“江山尽属皇朝管，不许荒山老道眠。”陈抟哈哈大笑，叫中使带去话：“江山愿属皇朝管，卖与荒山老道眠。”陈抟引中使观看了太祖匡胤的卖山契约，中使转告真宗，皇帝只好依此，再也没有惊扰他。陈抟睡千年少人间及，而一马定华山的故事一直流传下来。