Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 837 The South Wind Blows Cool

After a journey of stops and starts, Emperor Jingtai finally arrived at the last stop of their trip, the Miao people's homeland surrounded by mountains.

He disembarked from the carriage at the large, round, plate-like spot, which marked the end of the road. Further ahead lay a more dangerous area. Although it was still his territory, the actual control was in the hands of the Nanzhao Kingdom.

"oops……"

Emperor Jingtai stretched and yawned: "What a wonderful place!"

After he finished speaking, he turned around and glanced at the business delegation and the accompanying groups of officials at all levels who were getting off the bus one after another.

Don't be fooled by how these high-ranking officials and ministers have always treated Xia Lin like dogs. That's because Xia Lin has been a national-level figure since he obtained the Burning Technique from his ancestor at the end of the Hongbao era. He's the Executive Vice Emperor and holds the Tiger Tally of the Twelve Generals. How could these people not be treated like dogs?

However, if these people were placed in local areas, any one of them could order around local officials like dogs. Except for a provincial governor or a big shot like Lao Guo, ordinary officials wouldn't dare to look them in the eye.

You've seen the TV series "Detective Dee," right? A mere third-rank official could silence the entire court. Imagine the sheer power and authority emanating from this vast array of officials, from the third to the fourth ranks.

At this moment, Emperor Jingtai took a deep breath of the crisp mountain air, and the fatigue from days of travel seemed to dissipate somewhat. He squinted, surveying this land so different from the Central Plains. The circular plaza was paved with large bluestone slabs, and the stilted houses built against the mountainside seemed to grow out of the mountain itself. Men and women dressed in colorful ethnic costumes curiously watched the large procession, while children peeked out from behind their parents, their bright black eyes peeking out.

"Where's Xu Shiji? Where's Daosheng? Damn, are they putting on airs?" Emperor Jingtai looked around and, not seeing the people he expected to greet him, couldn't help but curl his lip. "Are they all busier than me?"

The head guard of Xia Lin, who was in charge of receiving them, quickly bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, Lord Xu is preparing for a major event, which he said was instructed by Lord Xia and cannot be delayed for even a moment. Lord Xia should be in town at the moment, and someone has already been sent to summon him."

"A big deal?" Emperor Jingtai raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Bigger than welcoming the emperor? Let's go take a look. Don't make some kind of human head tower for me again. This place is so beautiful, that kind of thing would spoil the scenery."

No sooner had he finished speaking than a commotion arose from the other end of the square. Xu Shiji, leading several men, was directing some mountain villagers to carry strange objects to an open space. There were huge wooden frames covered in white cloth, black boxes with cranks and lenses, and several burly men laboriously pedaling something resembling a waterwheel, connected to cables that shone a beam of light from the box's opening onto the white cloth.

Emperor Jingtai leaned closer, hands behind his back, tilting his head to look: "Old Xu, what are you doing? Making such a big fuss, the lights don't look like lights, and the stage doesn't look like a stage."

Xu Shiji then realized it was Emperor Jingtai. He quickly bowed, his face showing some fatigue but more excitement: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was testing the new gadget that Xia Daosheng brought, called 'movie'."

"Movies? What are those?" Emperor Jingtai approached the white cloth, waved it in his hand, and cast a shadow on it. "Shadow puppetry? I've been in Fuliang for so long, and I didn't even know about it. You, in this remote corner of the world, have already taken a liking to this new contraption?"

"Your Majesty, you will see for yourself." Xu Shiji didn't bother to explain further, signaling the burly men to continue stepping on the black box, while he himself operated it.

Soon, a shimmering image appeared on the white cloth—a street scene of Fuliang County, bustling with traffic and noise. Next came a scene of the venerable Sun Simiao lecturing while stroking his beard; though silent, his kind and wise face was crystal clear.

"Hiss..." Emperor Jingtai gasped and took a step back. "Oh!!! I seem to have seen this before. It appeared during the last celebration. I thought it was a shadow puppet show. I didn't know it could be done like this?"

The officials accompanying him stared wide-eyed, gasping in astonishment. Some even rubbed their eyes unconsciously, wondering if they were seeing things. This was a thousand times more real than any shadow puppet show or revolving lantern!
Now it was Emperor Jingtai's turn to show off. He raised his head, coughed, and said arrogantly, "Don't be alarmed, this is not magic or sorcery, but the way of investigating things. It is to record the real scene and then project it with light and shadow. Xia Daosheng said that this thing can spread the knowledge of this place's landscape and culture to the world."

These wealthy merchants and high-ranking officials, having seen much of the world, quickly regained their composure after the initial shock, replaced by intense curiosity. They circled the projection equipment several times, marveling at it, while Emperor Jingtai crossed his arms and chuckled, "That lad Xia Lin always manages to come up with something new. This thing... is quite interesting. You just said it could help spread fame here?"

"Exactly!" Xu Shiji's spirits lifted even higher when he saw the emperor's interest. "Your Majesty, Xia Daosheng has already written a script for us, intending to use this 'movie' to make a feature film telling the story of the mountains. If it succeeds, it will surely attract tourists and merchants from all over the world to come here!"

At this moment, Xia Lin also arrived after hearing the news. Upon seeing Emperor Jingtai, he gave a simple bow and asked, "You've arrived?"

"We've arrived. I was almost scared by your movie. I thought you'd learned some kind of sorcery to try and steal my soul." Emperor Jingtai joked, pointing at the white cloth. "Can this thing really help you sell this poor mountain village?"

Xia Lin smiled and said, "Your Majesty, hearing is believing, seeing is believing. No matter how good the written description is, it is not as good as letting people see it with their own eyes. This movie is the best tool to let people thousands of miles away see the scenery, people and stories of this place with their own eyes."

He spoke loudly, partly as if explaining to Emperor Jingtai, but more so as if explaining to the emperor's team. Emperor Jingtai stroked his chin, pondering for a moment. Though often unreliable, his political acumen and business acumen were not lacking, and he immediately understood the enormous potential. This was tantamount to erecting a vibrant and irresistible billboard for this land before the entire world.

"What do you need me to do?" Emperor Jingtai asked directly.

"Your Majesty's presence here today is the best support." Xia Lin spread his hands and smiled. "After the merchant group has finished its inspection, Your Majesty only needs to express your appreciation for this matter, or even write a word, saying 'This is a magnificent sight in this prosperous age, which I yearn for,' which is better than a thousand words."

"That's simple," Emperor Jingtai waved his hand dismissively. "However, filming this must have been quite expensive, right?"

Xia Lin held up two fingers.

"Two hundred thousand taels?" Emperor Jingtai guessed.

"Two million taels. That's the starting price." Xia Lin said without changing his expression.

A collective gasp filled the air. Even Emperor Jingtai's eyes widened: "How...how much? Two million taels?! Are you robbing me? The Ministry of Revenue will eat you alive!"

“Your Majesty, this is a long-term investment.” Xia Lin interrupted him, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable authority. “These two million taels, once invested, could bring prosperity to this region for the next hundred years or even longer. With roads open, people will come, and business opportunities will spring up. Tax revenue, employment, stability, public morale… aren’t all of these worth two million taels? Moreover, technological research and development inherently requires investment, and if this venture succeeds, subsequent costs will naturally decrease. This money will not come from the national treasury; it will be spearheaded by my Fuliang Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with several major merchants in Jiangnan, to jointly fund it.”

Emperor Jingtai looked at Xia Lin, then at Xu Shiji beside him with burning eyes, and then surveyed the vibrant yet underdeveloped land. Finally, he clicked his tongue and said, "Fine, you always manage to make money. I'll wait and see if your movie is worth the two million taels!"

The emperor's tacit approval and support undoubtedly gave Xu Shiji and the entire preparation team a huge boost. In the following days, this area surrounded by mountains became extremely lively.

Guided by local elders, the merchant delegation conducted an in-depth investigation of the local mountain products, medicinal herbs, distinctive handicrafts, and the "tourism potential" that Xia Lin emphasized. Although still skeptical about the "movie" concept, the emperor's attitude and the determination shown by Xia Lin and Xu Shiji convinced them of the area's immense investment value. Amidst enthusiastic singing, dancing, and fine wine, cooperation agreements were signed, and the flow of funds and resources began to subtly shift.

Xu Shiji, meanwhile, was completely immersed in the film's preparations. Following Xia Lin's script, he began selecting suitable actors from across the region. The casting of "Mountain Spirit" was particularly crucial; he needed a face that could embody both the wild beauty of a mountain girl and a delicate, refined air. The actor for Liang Wenhan needed to have a scholarly air, yet not be too frail. He traveled to almost every village, observing every young man and woman of suitable age.

While assisting Xu Shiji, Xia Lin also used his influence to urgently dispatch more professional technicians and more advanced equipment from Fuliang. He also took the time to communicate with several Hanlin Academy scholars and literary figures with refined tastes who accompanied Emperor Jingtai, spreading the outline of the "Mountain Liang Zhu" story in advance to generate buzz and whet people's appetites.

Emperor Jingtai was not idle either. He enjoyed the exotic customs and spent his days either tasting local delicacies or watching ethnic song and dance performances. Occasionally, he would follow Xu Shiji to the casting call to join in the fun and offer his "wise opinions" such as "this girl has bright eyes" or "that young man has a good physique." He was quite pleased with himself.

On this day, Xu Shiji finally found the "mountain spirit" he had been searching for, a girl named Aji from the most remote village. She had eyes as clear as mountain springs, healthy wheat-colored skin, a smile as radiant as wildflowers, and a resilience beyond her years when silent. Most importantly, she knew some characters, taught by a scholar who had previously been sent to the countryside, and her comprehension far surpassed that of her peers.

When Xu Shiji brought Aji to meet Xia Lin and Emperor Jingtai, even Emperor Jingtai nodded in approval: "Hmm, this girl has the right spirit. I've also read the script and was wondering who could play the mountain spirit. This little sister is quite good. How old is she, little sister?"

"Sixteen already." Sister Aji looked at the emperor in front of her, who had a somewhat lewd air about him, and although she was a little scared, she still said with neither humility nor arrogance, "I will be seventeen next month."

Looking at Aji's eyes, which were full of curiosity and a little shyness, yet he was trying his best to straighten his spine, Xia Lin gave Xu Shiji a thumbs up and smiled, "Third Brother, you have a sharp eye."

Knowing what kind of person Emperor Jingtai was, he was not about to let such a fun thing go by. So, for the next few days, he neglected his important matters and piled them all on Xia Lin. He and Xu Shiji, arm in arm, began to work on the preparations for the movie.

"How about this, I think half of the movie should be set in the mountains and half in the city. We can choose the male lead from my side, and each of us can film our own scenes. Besides, I can play the male lead's father. What do you think? I'll fight tooth and nail to stop him from marrying that girl from the mountains, forcing him to marry a lady of equal social standing." Emperor Jingtai clenched his fist: "If even the emperor is involved, won't the influence skyrocket?"

"I will follow Your Majesty's arrangements, but this document is too long, and the money..."

“He has money, Daosheng has money, I’ll just tell him to make some more investments.”

(End of this chapter)