◇ Just read — no move neededNine points, one step
The general's realm is the nine points of the palace; he walks one orthogonal step at a time along its lines — slow, patient, unable to flee far. And he lives under one extra law, the flying rule (白脸将): the two generals may never face each other on an open file. Between this lesson and the next two you will meet both faces of the piece — the king as a fighting unit, and the king who dies the moment he wanders. Here, let the rule bite.