May, sixth year of Chongzhen.May, sixth year of Chongzhen.
Zijing Liang, also known as Wang Ziyong, succumbed to the compounded effects of wounds and illness after being struck by a stray arrow during a battle in Henan against Deng Qi, the Grand General of Sichuan.Zijing Liang, also known as Wang Ziyong, succumbed to the compounded effects of wounds and illness after being struck by a stray arrow during a battle in Henan against Deng Qi, the Grand General of Sichuan.
With Zijing Liang's death, the rebel forces once again lost their leader.With Zijing Liang's death, the rebel forces once again lost their leader.
After brief internal wrangling, command of the rebel army fell into the hands of Chuang Wang, Gao Yingxiang.After brief internal wrangling, command of the rebel army fell into the hands of Chuang Wang, Gao Yingxiang.
Once Gao Yingxiang assumed leadership, he immediately adopted the strategy proposed by Chuang Jiang, Li Zicheng.Once Gao Yingxiang assumed leadership, he immediately adopted the strategy proposed by Chuang Jiang, Li Zicheng.
The plan was simple in concept, yet ruthless in execution: cross the Yellow River.The plan was simple in concept, yet ruthless in execution: cross the Yellow River.
The rebels first staged a feint, spreading rumors and movements suggesting a withdrawal toward Shanxi. Imperial forces took the bait, reinforcing western defenses and shifting troops accordingly.The rebels first staged a feint, spreading rumors and movements suggesting a withdrawal toward Shanxi. Imperial forces took the bait, reinforcing western defenses and shifting troops accordingly.
Then, without warning, the rebels revealed boats and bamboo rafts that had been prepared long in advance. At a ferry north of Kaifeng, they crossed the Yellow River en masse.Then, without warning, the rebels revealed boats and bamboo rafts that had been prepared long in advance. At a ferry north of Kaifeng, they crossed the Yellow River en masse.
In one decisive maneuver, the strategic balance shifted.In one decisive maneuver, the strategic balance shifted.
Early that same morning.Early that same morning.
Li Daoxuan rose with the sun.Li Daoxuan rose with the sun.
After stretching lazily, he ordered breakfast through a food delivery app: fried dough twists soaked in soup.After stretching lazily, he ordered breakfast through a food delivery app: fried dough twists soaked in soup.
Sitting at his table, he ate while scrolling idly through his phone, feeling rather content.Sitting at his table, he ate while scrolling idly through his phone, feeling rather content.
Just then, QQ Messenger flashed.Just then, QQ Messenger flashed.
Queen of a Thousand Faces M:Queen of a Thousand Faces M:
"Xuanzi! We made money! Hahahaha! We really made money!""Xuanzi! We made money! Hahahaha! We really made money!"
Li Daoxuan paused mid-bite and replied:Li Daoxuan paused mid-bite and replied:
"Huh? I haven't checked on that short series in days. Was it successful?""Huh? I haven't checked on that short series in days. Was it successful?"
Queen of a Thousand Faces M was practically vibrating through the screen.Queen of a Thousand Faces M was practically vibrating through the screen.
"A massive hit! Not number one overall, but in our niche we exploded! Excellent reviews, strong ticket sales. After settling accounts with the platform, the total profit comes to 3.32 million yuan!""A massive hit! Not number one overall, but in our niche we exploded! Excellent reviews, strong ticket sales. After settling accounts with the platform, the total profit comes to 3.32 million yuan!"
Li Daoxuan nodded.Li Daoxuan nodded.
"Mm. Not bad.""Mm. Not bad."
Having seen far larger sums flow through his diorama projects, three million didn't particularly move him.Having seen far larger sums flow through his diorama projects, three million didn't particularly move him.
For Queen of a Thousand Faces M, however, it was a historic victory.For Queen of a Thousand Faces M, however, it was a historic victory.
"As per the contract," she said quickly, "I take twenty percent, you take eighty. I'll transfer 2.656 million to you shortly. Remember to declare it for tax on your phone!""As per the contract," she said quickly, "I take twenty percent, you take eighty. I'll transfer 2.656 million to you shortly. Remember to declare it for tax on your phone!"
"Alright," Li Daoxuan replied casually."Alright," Li Daoxuan replied casually.
There was a pause.There was a pause.
"…That's it?" Queen of a Thousand Faces M said. "You don't sound excited at all.""…That's it?" Queen of a Thousand Faces M said. "You don't sound excited at all."
Li Daoxuan sighed.Li Daoxuan sighed.
"I see other short dramas. 'Revenge fantasy,' 'soldier king returns,' 'domineering CEO falls in love with me.' They pull in hundreds of millions. We only made a little over three million. What's there to celebrate?""I see other short dramas. 'Revenge fantasy,' 'soldier king returns,' 'domineering CEO falls in love with me.' They pull in hundreds of millions. We only made a little over three million. What's there to celebrate?"
"That's completely different!" she protested. "Our Mu Guiying project is based on an old story. Everyone already knows the plot. The only reason it made money at all was because of how realistic the fight scenes were.""That's completely different!" she protested. "Our Mu Guiying project is based on an old story. Everyone already knows the plot. The only reason it made money at all was because of how realistic the fight scenes were."
"Oh," Li Daoxuan said."Oh," Li Daoxuan said.
"If we want bigger money," she continued, "we need a better script. Let me give you an example.""If we want bigger money," she continued, "we need a better script. Let me give you an example."
Li Daoxuan felt a bad premonition.Li Daoxuan felt a bad premonition.
"You're actually the son of the world's richest man. One day, you decide to experience life as a commoner, so you go work as a car washer at a car wash that's a sub-sub-subsidiary of your family's conglomerate. Then—""You're actually the son of the world's richest man. One day, you decide to experience life as a commoner, so you go work as a car washer at a car wash that's a sub-sub-subsidiary of your family's conglomerate. Then—"
"What kind of lunatic rich kid does that?" Li Daoxuan interrupted."What kind of lunatic rich kid does that?" Li Daoxuan interrupted.
"Listen first!" she said impatiently. "A stunning heiress drives up in a Ferrari. While you're washing the car, she gets a call. Her parents are pressuring her to marry. They tell her that if she doesn't get married within a month, her inheritance goes to her cousin.""Listen first!" she said impatiently. "A stunning heiress drives up in a Ferrari. While you're washing the car, she gets a call. Her parents are pressuring her to marry. They tell her that if she doesn't get married within a month, her inheritance goes to her cousin."
"What kind of parents are those?" Li Daoxuan muttered."What kind of parents are those?" Li Daoxuan muttered.
"So she looks at you," Queen of a Thousand Faces M continued, unfazed, "and suddenly gets an idea. She grabs your arm and says, 'Handsome, want to make some quick money?'""So she looks at you," Queen of a Thousand Faces M continued, unfazed, "and suddenly gets an idea. She grabs your arm and says, 'Handsome, want to make some quick money?'"
"No," Li Daoxuan said flatly."No," Li Daoxuan said flatly.
"That's not your line!" she snapped. "You're supposed to look confused and ask, 'How do I make money?' Then she says, 'Let's get married! But we'll sign a prenup—my money is mine, yours is yours.'""That's not your line!" she snapped. "You're supposed to look confused and ask, 'How do I make money?' Then she says, 'Let's get married! But we'll sign a prenup—my money is mine, yours is yours.'"
"…Are you insulting the audience's intelligence?" Li Daoxuan asked."…Are you insulting the audience's intelligence?" Li Daoxuan asked.
"Anyway," she barreled on, "you get married. She thinks you're poor. She brings you into high society. Then her cousin shows up—furious because you stole his inheritance. He pressures the car wash to fire you.""Anyway," she barreled on, "you get married. She thinks you're poor. She brings you into high society. Then her cousin shows up—furious because you stole his inheritance. He pressures the car wash to fire you."
Li Daoxuan raised a hand.Li Daoxuan raised a hand.
"Stop. I know the rest.""Stop. I know the rest."
"I reveal I'm insanely rich. I humiliate him. She's shocked. Then she worships me. I teach her how to run a company. Her business skyrockets. She becomes obedient and devoted. End of story.""I reveal I'm insanely rich. I humiliate him. She's shocked. Then she worships me. I teach her how to run a company. Her business skyrockets. She becomes obedient and devoted. End of story."
Queen of a Thousand Faces M cheered.Queen of a Thousand Faces M cheered.
"Yes! Exactly!""Yes! Exactly!"
"Please give me ten minutes," Li Daoxuan said calmly, "to recover from that.""Please give me ten minutes," Li Daoxuan said calmly, "to recover from that."
"Hey, don't be like that," she said. "Cringe doesn't matter. What matters is money. If you want hits, you have to embrace it!""Hey, don't be like that," she said. "Cringe doesn't matter. What matters is money. If you want hits, you have to embrace it!"
"No," Li Daoxuan replied firmly. "I'll stick with action films.""No," Li Daoxuan replied firmly. "I'll stick with action films."
"Fine, fine," she conceded. "Honestly, I'm already thrilled. My twenty percent is over six hundred thousand. I haven't made that much in twenty years. Xuanzi, please film something else. I'll handle editing, effects, marketing. We're a perfect team.""Fine, fine," she conceded. "Honestly, I'm already thrilled. My twenty percent is over six hundred thousand. I haven't made that much in twenty years. Xuanzi, please film something else. I'll handle editing, effects, marketing. We're a perfect team."
"Alright," Li Daoxuan said. "I'll contact you once I've shot something.""Alright," Li Daoxuan said. "I'll contact you once I've shot something."
He closed QQ.He closed QQ.
Leaning back, he felt equal parts amusement and despair.Leaning back, he felt equal parts amusement and despair.
Are all popular short dramas like this now?Are all popular short dramas like this now?
This is truly horrifying.This is truly horrifying.
Thinking about short dramas inevitably made him think of the Stars Performing Arts Agency.Thinking about short dramas inevitably made him think of the Stars Performing Arts Agency.
While finishing his soup, he opened the interface and switched his view to Puzhou.While finishing his soup, he opened the interface and switched his view to Puzhou.
The perspective descended.The perspective descended.
He activated the focus function.He activated the focus function.
Inside the Stars Performing Arts Agency.Inside the Stars Performing Arts Agency.
Tie Niaofei stood respectfully before Lao Nanfeng, holding a thick stack of papers with both hands.Tie Niaofei stood respectfully before Lao Nanfeng, holding a thick stack of papers with both hands.
"Lao Nanfeng," Tie Niaofei said, "these are the scripts Master Sun Chuanting has prepared.""Lao Nanfeng," Tie Niaofei said, "these are the scripts Master Sun Chuanting has prepared."
Lao Nanfeng chuckled.Lao Nanfeng chuckled.
"Sun Chuanting? The scholar from Daizhou who likes writing stories? You've mentioned him before.""Sun Chuanting? The scholar from Daizhou who likes writing stories? You've mentioned him before."
Tie Niaofei smiled.Tie Niaofei smiled.
"Although Master Sun currently writes at home, his grasp of military matters is excellent.""Although Master Sun currently writes at home, his grasp of military matters is excellent."
Lao Nanfeng smiled faintly but said nothing.Lao Nanfeng smiled faintly but said nothing.
As a frontline commander, he had no interest in debating military talent with civilian scholars.As a frontline commander, he had no interest in debating military talent with civilian scholars.
He took the papers, flipped open the first page, and read the title:He took the papers, flipped open the first page, and read the title:
"A Junior Soldier of the Dalinghe Border Army""A Junior Soldier of the Dalinghe Border Army"
After skimming several pages, the smile on his face slowly faded.After skimming several pages, the smile on his face slowly faded.
"This story…" he said, "…is about events from two years ago. Zu Dashou's surrender. He Kegang's death. And the protagonist is a low-ranking soldier under He Kegang.""This story…" he said, "…is about events from two years ago. Zu Dashou's surrender. He Kegang's death. And the protagonist is a low-ranking soldier under He Kegang."
Tie Niaofei nodded eagerly.Tie Niaofei nodded eagerly.
"Yes. The Battle of Dalinghe, two years past.""Yes. The Battle of Dalinghe, two years past."
"The Dao Xuan Tianzun said that this time, the story should be closer to the present," Tie Niaofei continued. "Only then will it truly resonate with the common people.""The Dao Xuan Tianzun said that this time, the story should be closer to the present," Tie Niaofei continued. "Only then will it truly resonate with the common people."
Lao Nanfeng closed the script.Lao Nanfeng closed the script.
"…Interesting."