Flat Rabbit went to accept his punishment obediently. Sun Chuanting shook his head, then re-explained the essence of the points he had just made. Packing up his copy of The Art of War, he walked out of the classroom.
He had only taken a couple of steps when Gu Yanwu ran up to him, bowing deeply.
"Brother Sun!"
Sun Chuanting chuckled.
"Ah, Brother Gu, what perfect timing! I've just finished class and have a moment to spare."
Gu Yanwu smiled.
"I sought you out, Brother Sun, to discuss a matter."
Sun Chuanting raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Gu Yanwu said,
"I believe the art of cinema can greatly help enlighten the masses. Especially since most common folk are illiterate—films can awaken their concern for national affairs far faster than books ever could. The saying 'Every man bears responsibility for the nation's rise and fall' can only truly take root once public awareness is stirred."
"Oh?" Sun Chuanting mused.
"So… Brother Gu plans to make films?"
Gu Yanwu nodded.
"My family has some wealth. Our ancestors left us eight hundred mu of ancestral land. Funding a film would not be difficult."
Sun Chuanting laughed.
"You should be looking for Lao Nanfeng, not me!"
Gu Yanwu chuckled.
"That's because you, Brother Sun, once wrote A Small Soldier of the Daling River Border Army. I hoped to learn from you—what truly matters when crafting such a story."
Sun Chuanting smiled and shook his head.
"I wouldn't call myself experienced—just dabbling. But… how about the two of us writing another film together?"
Gu Yanwu's eyes lit up.
"Wonderful! What story shall we write, Brother Sun?"
Sun Chuanting said,
"The recent fighting in Xuanfu and Datong—the Manchu invasion that devastated those regions—wouldn't that make a powerful subject?"
Gu Yanwu brightened.
"A Small Soldier of Xuanfu and Datong?"
Sun Chuanting smiled wryly.
"We can't just reuse the same idea. We need something fresh. Come, let's think it through together."
As they talked, they noticed Lao Nanfeng strolling in through the academy gates, with Chen Qianhu following behind him, whispering eagerly:
"Brother Nanfeng, this time you must give me a heroic role!"
Lao Nanfeng laughed and shook his head.
"Where would a heroic role come from? We haven't even written the story yet."
Chen Qianhu persisted.
"Then hurry and find someone to write it! Make me righteous, noble, saving the wounded, overflowing with heroic spirit—"
Lao Nanfeng ignored him. Looking up, he spotted Sun Chuanting and exclaimed happily:
"Mr. Sun! I came specifically to ask you to write a story!"
Sun Chuanting chuckled.
"Everyone wants stories from me now. Do I really look like someone who enjoys writing all the time?"
Lao Nanfeng laughed.
"Who doesn't know Mr. Sun enjoys writing little tales?"
Sun Chuanting was momentarily speechless.
"So—about Xuanfu and Datong…" Lao Nanfeng began.
"Oh? You're interested too?" Gu Yanwu exclaimed excitedly.
"We were just discussing it!"
The three of them burst out laughing together.
"It's a great subject," Sun Chuanting said,
"but we haven't decided on the angle or the structure yet."
Chen Qianhu raised his hand eagerly.
"I've got one! I've got a story!"
All three turned to look at him.
Chen Qianhu launched into it:
"The protagonist is a man surnamed Chen from Datong. As a child, he was sent to Shaolin Temple to study martial arts. Twenty years later, he returns as a true master. Hearing that the Manchus have invaded Xuanfu and Datong, he rushes home. Alone, he kills more than a dozen Manchu scouts, saving every old man, woman, and child in his village. Then he organizes the villagers into a militia, holding off wave after wave of Manchu attacks. Just as the village is about to fall, reinforcements from Gao Family Village arrive. The village is saved, and he is recognized by Gao Family Village's leadership, recruited into their army, and appointed a Centurion."
He finished proudly.
"And that's how he becomes known as Centurion Chen!"
Lao Nanfeng, Sun Chuanting, and Gu Yanwu exchanged glances, then nodded together.
"The framework is quite good," Sun Chuanting said.
"Add more detail, maybe a romantic thread, and it'll be very effective."
Chen Qianhu was overjoyed.
"Really? You can actually use it?"
"Of course," Sun Chuanting said.
"I'll write it. We'll give Centurion Chen a childhood sweetheart—his fiancée waiting in the village. She'll be tragically killed by the Manchus, raising the emotional stakes."
Gu Yanwu added,
"We also can't rely solely on Gao Family Village's reinforcements. That would weaken the tension. Government troops should arrive first, be defeated, plunge the villagers into despair—then Gao Family Village arrives as the second wave."
"Excellent," Sun Chuanting agreed.
"That gives the story two emotional climaxes."
Hearing them refine the plot, Chen Qianhu was beside himself with joy.
Hahaha!
This time I finally get to be the hero—and the protagonist at that! My reputation is saved!
Just as he was laughing internally, Lao Nanfeng said:
"Perfect. Last time there was an actor named Zheng Dazhuang—his performance was excellent. I think I'll have him play Centurion Chen."
"What?!" Chen Qianhu froze.
"Then… what about me?"
Lao Nanfeng slowly circled him, looking him up and down, then nodded.
"We'll dress you in furs, darken your skin, braid your hair a bit. You can play Huang Taiji."
"What?!"
Chen Qianhu howled.
"No! I refuse to play Huang Taiji! I won't!"
Sun Chuanting commented calmly,
"He'd actually be perfect for Huang Taiji."
Gu Yanwu nodded.
"Even Huang Taiji himself might not play Huang Taiji as well as he would."
Chen Qianhu threw his head back and roared:
"Nooooo—!"
Snowflakes drifted down as the north wind wailed.
In the blink of an eye, snow piled up on Chen Qianhu's despairing figure.
As they were still laughing, a carriage rolled in and stopped abruptly. On it was a storage card nearly half a man tall.
The driver called out,
"Mr. Sun! The News Department has sent a special film for you to review. Oh—General Nanfeng is here as well? Perfect. You're also instructed to watch it. This is a direct order from the Dao Xuan Tianzun."
Sun Chuanting and Lao Nanfeng both grew serious. A "special film" from the Dao Xuan Tianzun was no small matter.
They lifted the heavy storage card and hurried to the academy's screening room.
The Huangpu Military Academy held a special status. Inside was a large, dedicated screening hall equipped with Celestial Treasure Mirrors personally bestowed by the Dao Xuan Tianzun, allowing students to view combat footage at any time.
Lao Nanfeng, most familiar with the equipment, quickly inserted the storage card into the tablet device, fixed it in place, and tapped the screen.
The film began.
"A naval battle?" Sun Chuanting exclaimed.
"Where did this happen?"
"That's not the key point," Lao Nanfeng said quickly.
"Look closely—those are Gao Family Village ships. But the other vessel… its origin is unknown."
"They've engaged!" Sun Chuanting said sharply.
"What? Their tactics—our flintlocks are being blocked, even the grenades are ineffective. Incredible… to think someone could counter our weapons like this. If we can think of it, the Manchus certainly can as well. We must be extremely cautious."