Chapter 858: Zu Dashou, Prepare to Die!
The two unassuming men stepped into the movie theater, treading cautiously, an almost endearing awkwardness about them.
"This ticket says '10-12,' what does that mean?"
"Mine says '10-11.' I get it now! These are the seat numbers: row ten, seat eleven, and row ten, seat twelve. Our seats are right next to each other, haha, how serendipitous!"
The two men quickly located their seats using the numbers on their tickets and settled in.
No sooner had they settled than two young men glared at them. "What's going on with you two? You're in our seats!"
Sun Chuanting blinked. "Huh? Isn't this 10-12? It's definitely my seat."
The young man took his ticket, then let out an amused grunt. "My friend, this is a VIP ticket. Your seats are right up front, the best ones in the house. Why would you grab cheap seats from us ordinary folk when you have a ticket like this?"
Sun Chuanting responded with a bewildered, "What?"
Gu Yanwu chimed in, "Oh, that's right! When I bought the tickets, I distinctly recall opting for the VIP seats. And I certainly paid a pretty penny for them."
Seeing their politeness, the young men's anger dissipated. They even kindly pointed to the VIP section. "Look, your seats are over there."
Sun Chuanting and Gu Yanwu sheepishly scurried into the VIP section and took their proper seats.
The section was quite empty!
The film, "A Minor Border Soldier by the Daling River," had already been shown so many times that the dignitaries and gentry of Puzhou City had grown weary of it. Now, the cinema mostly attracted audiences from surrounding villages and smaller towns, which meant the VIP section was typically deserted.
The two sat in the expansive, empty area. With no one nearby to stare, they felt considerably less self-conscious.
The movie officially began...
The credits flashed: Screenwriter: Sun Chuanting.
Gu Yanwu stared at Sun Chuanting, dumbfounded. "You wrote this?"
Sun Chuanting replied awkwardly, "I did!"
Gu Yanwu pressed, "Then why haven't you seen it before?"
Sun Chuanting stammered, "About that... *cough*... well..."
It was quite awkward indeed!
Fortunately, Gu Yanwu was immediately captivated by the unfolding plot, utterly enthralled, and ceased his questioning.
Although Sun Chuanting already knew the story's trajectory, witnessing the film's incredibly realistic visuals and the actors' passionate performances, he couldn't help but feel profoundly moved.
As the two watched, a shout erupted from the ordinary seats behind them: "Kill the Manchu dogs!"
Immediately, another voice echoed, "Kill the Manchu dogs!"
"Damn it, I'm joining the army!"
"Me too!"
"Let's slaughter these scoundrels!"
"They're killing our Great Ming people, it makes my blood boil!"
"Kill the traitors!"
People in this era had little concept of cinema etiquette. They roared and shouted freely, utterly ignorant of the rule "watch the movie quietly." Yet, strangely, everyone else seemed to embrace this boisterous atmosphere, cursing the Manchu invaders, corrupt officials, and traitors as the film played.
The crowd was stirred to indignation, the atmosphere crackling with passion.
Gu Yanwu turned to glance at the seething common seats behind him, sighing softly. "Every man has a share of responsibility for the fate of the world! I have tirelessly championed this maxim, yet most of the common people slept, difficult to awaken. But in these past few days, through practical observation, I have truly learned how to ignite the will of the populace."
Sun Chuanting also sighed. "No wonder a military academy is being established here. The common people's eagerness to join the army and fight the Manchu invaders is even stronger than that of the border residents."
Both were enlightened individuals, and they gleaned far more from the film than the average spectator.
As they exited the cinema, their hearts still pulsed with profound emotion.
Gu Yanwu bowed deeply to Sun Chuanting. "Brother, the story you penned is truly magnificent. Should the day come when our Great Ming Dynasty vanquishes the Manchu invaders, you shall certainly share in the glory."
Sun Chuanting's heroic spirit surged. "I won't just counter the Manchu invaders by writing stories. The military academy will officially open in a few days. I intend to diligently manage the Yellow Pole Military Academy, to train a great number of outstanding military commanders, and we *will* overthrow the Manchu invaders!"
Gu Yanwu blinked. "Oh? The Yellow Pole Military Academy? What is that?"
Sun Chuanting explained, "At Yellow Water Beach, north of the city, a military academy has been built to train military commanders. And I happen to be its headmaster."
Gu Yanwu immediately felt a surge of profound respect. "On the day the academy opens, I shall certainly come to learn and observe."
Sun Chuanting declared, "You are most welcome!" ---
After several days of preparation, the Yellow Pole Military Academy officially opened its doors.
The first batch of cadets was not large, all drawn from Lao Nanfeng's forces.
As for those from more distant regions, they would arrive gradually by train over the next few days.
Most of Lao Nanfeng's subordinates were seasoned border army soldiers. Of course, there were also many newly recruited men, a good number of whom were still in the "ideological training phase"; they couldn't be deployed to the battlefield until their political convictions had been solidified.
But this did not prevent them from coming to the military academy to study strategy.
As the saying goes, one must manage both aspects effectively.
Sun Chuanting stood at the academy entrance, watching his "students" stream in. As each passed him, they offered a salute and called out, "Hello, Headmaster!"
This filled him with a considerable sense of pride.
Gu Yanwu had naturally also arrived, standing nearby to observe the ceremony, his chest swelling with heroic fervor.
For some inexplicable reason, places teeming with soldiers always evoked a stirring, intense feeling that lingered, refusing to fade.
"Hello, Headmaster!" one student among the filing ranks called out with robust energy. Sun Chuanting turned his head, a smile gracing his lips. "Excellent, excellent! Do study hard..."
He hadn't even finished his sentence when he clearly recognized the student's face.
"ZU! DA! SHOU!" Sun Chuanting roared in fury. "Zu Dashou, you actually dared to come to my military academy? Are you here to court death?"
Gu Yanwu, standing nearby, quickly looked over and instantly flew into a rage. "Indeed, it's Zu Dashou! You audacious fellow, to come to Puzhou just to court death!"
The man they called "Zu Dashou" instantly panicked, waving his hands frantically. "No, no, no, I'm not Zu Dashou! My name is Chen, I'm a Qianhu under Brother Nanfeng. I'm one of us!"
Sun Chuanting scoffed, "Don't try to fool me. I recognize that face anywhere. You are Zu Dashou."
Gu Yanwu added, "I remember that face too; I've been dreaming of punching your face!"
Clenching their fists, the two advanced on "Zu Dashou."
Gu Yanwu, however, merely possessed the physique of a scholar. Sun Chuanting was a different matter entirely; he was proficient in both literary and martial arts, tall and skilled in combat beyond compare. The way he advanced, fists clenched, truly exuded killing intent, appearing even more ferocious than Chen Qianhu himself.
"Zu Dashou" was utterly terrified, his entire being overcome by panic, and he turned tail and ran. "Don't hit me! I'm Qianhu Chen, I'm not Zu Dashou! Hey, everyone, please back me up!"
The crowd burst into laughter. "Finally, someone not afraid of Qianhu Chen has appeared! Hahaha, the era of Qianhu Chen reigning supreme in Gao Family Village with *that* face has finally come to an end!"
Qianhu Chen shrieked, "Don't you dare come any closer!"
Sun Chuanting roared, "Zu Dashou, prepare to die!"
Gu Yanwu cried, "Brother, I'll help you!"
"Aahhhhh!"
The three of them dashed far into the distance, tearing along Yellow Water Beach by the Sushui River.
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