Industrialization

"These are the costume and weapon design drafts for the eunuchs and the Imperial Guards."

Shen Shanden introduced them to Han Sanping. "The eunuchs wear [Python Pattern Uniforms], equipped with the cold weapon [Hidden Scale Sword] and the firearm [Nine Yin Lotus Platform Musket]."

"The Imperial Guards wear [Feiyu uniforms], equipped with the cold weapon [Brotherhood of Blades] and the firearm [Heaven's Punishment Thunder Fire Gun]."

Han Sanping stared intently at the colored concept art.

[Python Pattern Uniform]

A yisa robe in brilliant red, made of heavy brocade satin with the sheen of woven gold patterns.

The upper body was tailored close to the figure, with crisp shoulder lines and a slightly cinched waist.

The front of the yisa was embroidered with couching and seed stitching, depicting a massive four-clawed golden python. Its head reared proudly from the chest, while its scales, coiled in golden thread, glittered under the light before vanishing into the folds of the hem.

The knee border and lower border featured broad golden patterns of ocean waves and mountain cliffs, interwoven with auspicious cloud motifs along the woven-gold satin trim.

The clean white edge of a crossed-collar inner garment showed beneath the round collar.

A broad gold-and-jade leather belt cinched the waist, its buckle engraved and gilded with a chì dragon motif. A white-jade Tally Plaque and a deep-red brocade pouch hung from it.

Upon the head sat a Black Gauze Hat with Rigid Forks, the metal prongs and central ornament on its crown gleaming with a cold light.

The overall impression was solemn and imposing, lacking the venomous, ruthless air traditionally associated with eunuchs and palace agents. The stark contrast between crimson and gold instead endowed it with an aura of nobility, composure, and power.

Han Sanping asked, "This style seems somewhat different from the version in the poster?"

"High-ranking eunuchs generally wore the proper colors, shades very close to those used by the emperor. The differences lay only in the patterns and the embroidered divine beasts. Proper colors meant bright red and dark crimson, displaying nobility. The Python Pattern Uniform in the poster was an early-stage outfit; only middle- and lower-ranking eunuchs wore navy blue or dark military attire."

Shen Shanden displayed several concept illustrations for Han Sanping in succession, creating a sense of motion.

The Mamian pleats of the crimson yisa flowed with the movement, the golden python appearing and disappearing, every detail revealing the dignity of a powerful court eunuch.

[Hidden Scale Sword]

The sword measured seventy centimeters in total, with a fifty-centimeter blade. Its narrow willow-leaf blade was 2.5 centimeters wide, with twin fullers running to the tip. The tempered tungsten steel had a bluish-gray matte finish, densely etched with python-scale patterns that surfaced as shadowy scales when the light struck from the side.

The black-ebony grip was wrapped in sharkskin, bound with silver wire set with mung-bean-sized green tourmalines, creating a subtle, palm-gripping texture for slip resistance.

The guard was shaped like a gilded chì dragon head, its mouth clutching a ruby and its eyes set with obsidian.

Inside the hollow golden pommel was a silver bell. It made no sound while moving, but when the sword was swung, it emitted a bee-like high-frequency tremor that disturbed the mind.

Shen Shanden said, "Weapons are divided into ranks: ordinary weapons, fine weapons, sharp weapons, and treasured weapons. The highest form of [Hidden Scale Sword] is the Dragon-Head Hidden Scale Sword, a first-rate treasured weapon. It grants the authority to execute first and report afterward, allowing its bearer to deal with officials and commoners as circumstances require."

[Nine Yin Lotus Platform Musket]

A single-soldier hand cannon, a single-barreled handheld firelock composed of an iron barrel and a relatively short wooden stock.

The barrel was around thirty centimeters long, with a caliber of roughly fifteen millimeters. A powder chamber at the rear held the propellant, and above it was the touch hole.

The wooden stock and grip were relatively short, around fifty centimeters, with a curved end for easier bracing.

The stock was covered in fine engraved lotus-platform patterns. The lotus petals layered over one another, with some extending upward to form a handguard.

The grip conformed to the shape of the hand, its surface covered in fine sharkskin or black velvet to improve the hold.

It used a slow match for ignition and came fitted with a touch-hole cover to keep out rainwater and debris, as well as a powder-chamber cover that served as a priming chamber, improving reliability and safety.

Its accessories included a powder flask for propellant, a pouch for shot, a small flask for priming powder, as well as a ramrod, cleaning rod, and slow match for loading and maintaining the barrel.

Its total length, including the rear grip, was approximately 0.8 meters. The main barrel section was around 0.3 meters long, while the rear grip and decorative section measured roughly 0.5 meters.

"This [Nine Yin Lotus Platform Musket] was artistically designed based on the form of the Divine Machine Musket, a firearm preserved as a historical and cultural legacy from the Ming Dynasty."

"Nine Yin is a symbolic reference to the identity of eunuchs, while the lotus platform reflects the Ming Dynasty eunuchs' habit of donating to build temples and their reverence for Buddhism and Daoism."

No less magnificent than the eunuchs' Costume, Makeup, and Props, the Imperial Guards were equally grand and imposing.

[Feiyu Uniform]

It likewise used proper colors such as brilliant red and dark crimson, symbolizing nobility.

Its form was a yisa-style robe with upper and lower sections joined together, its main body consisting of a connected top and skirt.

Its pattern was the flying fish, its core emblem: an auspicious winged beast with a dragon's head, a fish's body, and four claws, resembling a python robe.

Woven or embroidered in gold or colored threads, the main motifs were arranged across the chest, back, and shoulders, while the hem was decorated with patterns of mountain cliffs and ocean waves, signifying "rivers and mountains enduring forever."

The waist was tightly cinched and secured with a broad, heavy gold-and-jade leather belt.

Below the waist, it spread into Mamian skirt-style pleats, divided into panels and folded for ease of movement while riding.

The Mamian pleats on the lower half used stiff, heavy satin or brocade with excellent drape, making every fold sharp and distinct as a blade.

It had a traditional Han-style crossed collar, with the right lapel overlapping the left, and dark edging along the collar and cuffs.

The sleeves were broad while the cuffs were narrowed, also known as "arrow sleeves," combining ceremonial dignity with practicality.

A Tally Plaque serving as proof of identity and a pouch hung at the waist, while black official boots covered the feet.

At first glance, it resembled a bird of prey soaring through the heavens, yet also an illusory beast leaping from the depths of the sea.

The crimson yisa tightly wrapped a lean, capable body, its fabric flowing with a noble sheen as its wearer walked.

The gold-and-silver flying fish patterns flickered in and out of sight, radiating heart-stopping majesty and lethal splendor.

"Majestic beauty. Lavish elegance."

Han Sanping looked it over again and again, praising it highly and clearly loving it.

Compared with [Python pattern uniform], the [Feiyu uniform] concept art had far more detail. After all, Shen Shanden had initially wanted to make Brotherhood of Blades.

He then fixed his gaze on the design sketches for the embroidered spring saber.

[Brotherhood of Blades]

A single-handed curved saber, patterned with fine cloud-and-thunder motifs. The blade was gold-green, the hilt white.

The hilt was wrapped in deep teal python hide, with dark-gold spiral grooves and twisted filigree showing through the seams.

The scabbard was made of pitch-black rhinoceros hide, three sharp ridgelines pressed vertically along its length like the spine of a colossal dragon.

The throat and chape were secured with gilded chi-dragon fittings. Red agate was set into the dragons' eyes, while their fangs clamped tightly around the saber's guard, as though they might bite through an enemy's throat at any moment.

Han Sanping asked, "Brotherhood of Blades is a story centered on the Imperial Guards, isn't it?"

It was a rather foolish question, which showed just how thoroughly Han Sanping had been stunned.

Naturally, Shen Shanden would not tell his superior that his question was stupid. Instead, he nodded with high emotional intelligence. "After The Grand Director is released, we'll make minor adjustments based on the feedback."

"The embroidered spring saber draws inspiration from the Imperial Guards' swords in the Ming Dynasty's Imperial Procession and Guard Departure Scroll. Of course, we'll distinguish between ceremonial blades and blades meant for actual combat."

Han Sanping stared at the concept art and several storyboard sheets for a long while, reluctant to put them down.

[Heaven's Punishment Thunder Fire Gun]

Three separate iron gun barrels, cast and fixed together in a triangular arrangement onto a shared long wooden shaft.

The stock was carved with cloud-and-thunder patterns, inlaid with silver studs representing the Big Dipper's seven stars, and etched with reliefs of flying fish chasing the sun.

At the front was a thick triple-barreled gunhead, with a long shaft at the rear. The whole weapon looked powerful, magnificent, rugged, and solid.

Each barrel had its own touch hole—that is, its own ignition port. The barrels were roughly forty-five centimeters long, with a relatively large caliber of about eighteen millimeters and thick walls.

The wooden shaft was over one and a half meters long.

It was both the part used to hold and fire the weapon, and, once the ammunition was spent, a weapon for close combat—similar to an iron hammer or a wolf-toothed mace.

It was generally ignited with a matchcord. When firing, it could be discharged one barrel at a time by lighting the touch holes in sequence, or fired in a volley by linking the three touch holes with a fuse and igniting them simultaneously.

Shen Shanden explained the design details. "[Heaven's Punishment Thunder Fire Gun] was designed based on the form of the Ming Dynasty's classic Three-Eyed Musket, balancing firepower with cold-weapon combat. At range, its three barrels can fire multiple times or unleash a dense simultaneous volley. In close quarters, the heavy gunhead and long shaft become effective striking weapons."

"If the enemy thinks it loses all combat capability once its ammunition is spent, that would truly be seeking their own death."

Han Sanping remained silent for a long time.

These concept designs were beautiful, yet full of power. Just looking at them filled one with delight.

Compared to the refugee outfits in The Warlords.

Sigh!

Comparisons were enough to make a person die of anger!

Han Sanping wanted to ask Chen Kaige where all the money had gone.

You said you wanted realism, but realism didn't mean it had to look ugly.

Of course, perhaps it also had something to do with the Qing Dynasty setting. The costumes did feel a bit low-grade.

With that thought, Han Sanping quickly reined in his wild imagination.

Shen Shanden had influenced him too much; he had subconsciously started putting one down to praise the other.

Han Sanping wished The Grand Director could be completed immediately, then Brotherhood of Blades shot and wrapped in an instant. "Concept art is only concept art, after all. Will there be any difficulties bringing it to life? Is the budget enough?"

Shen Shanden said, "Costume, Makeup, and Props won't be much of a problem. Whether for films or television dramas, period productions are a major category, and there's already a well-developed Industry Chain in place. I'm simply building on that Industry Chain and doing some integration."

"Our team is currently discussing things with several factories in the south. We can license these costumes to them, and we can also thank them in the film's end credits, reducing production costs as much as possible."

"My idea is to combine two things: one, to integrate with the Industry Chain of the film and television industry; the other, to integrate with our existing industrial chains and industrial clusters."

Back in 2007, domestic Industry Chains were not as monstrously developed as they would be in later years, but they were not bad either.

Traditional industries in particular already had very mature Industry Chains.

In the southern villages where industries were concentrated, some clothing designs could be revised within a week. That level of efficiency was downright monstrous.

Shen Shanden had no intention of skimming money from the project budget, nor did he have any petty schemes involving cooked books. He was definitely going to make full use of domestic advantages.

Best of all would be to fleece the wolf with empty hands, then have the other side thank him for it.

He could have some manufacturers take care of the Costume, Makeup, and Props, then give them a dedicated exhibition hall and a place in the acknowledgments afterward.

So long as it did not cost too much, Shen Shanden could give anything and negotiate anything.

"Building on the Industry Chain, combining two things—good. Young people really do have ideas."

Han Sanping froze for a moment, nearly moved to tears.

After spending so many years in the company of vermin, he had finally encountered a normal person—and he was almost too stunned to react.

Mainland directors talked about expression and art, but privately, they never lacked money or women.

Hong Kong Island directors opened their mouths and talked about imported props, foreign companies, and foreign equipment. Even when domestic suppliers could provide the same things, they would refuse to use them because it was harder to cook the books. Their hearts were set solely on taking money out of the project.

At last, he had met someone normal.

Think about it—if the money was truly being spent on the project, what Shen Shanden said was merely standard procedure.

Placing orders through the civilian market would definitely cost less than designing everything from scratch.

Yet this perfectly ordinary line of thinking was something Han Sanping had heard for the first time.

Han Sanping advised, "Once the follow-up funding comes in, I'll have China Film Group transfer the two million as soon as possible."

"The Grand Director already has a budget of twelve million. That counts as a mid-range production. Save where you should save, spend where you should spend—you can't only think about saving money."

Shen Shanden had been waiting for those words. "I can't help it. One-third of the budget has to be poured into the manifestation of Internal Qi—the physiological-level presentation."

"Physiological presentation of manifested Internal Qi?" This time, Han Sanping truly did not understand.

If not for the sake of his dignity, he would already have pulled out a notebook to jot it down.

He glanced at his secretary.

Scratch, scratch, scratch!

Liao Yun hurriedly took out a small notebook and began recording.

Shen Shanden explained, "Something like the liquid-metal robot in The Terminator—I want to create the effect of 'Internal Qi, Blood, and Flesh.'"

"Simply put, once one's Internal Qi cultivation reaches a certain level, Internal Qi flows through the meridians. If a slash cuts a huge gash, the Internal Qi can then act like threads, drawing the flesh and blood back together."

"There may even be situations where two kinds of Internal Qi fight and tear at each other, damaging the wound."

"And those who cultivate to the grandmaster realm can even use intent, something above qi, to unify their entire body. Even if they are hit by a shell, reduced to a bloody blur, even if half their head is gone or their heart has been blown apart, they can still use the Internal Qi system—use intent—to briefly sustain their life, even displaying their peak state for a short time."

"Just like the liquid-metal robot in The Terminator, I want the mystical inner power of wuxia to have the tangible realism of a science-fiction film."

"I want our kung fu, our wuxia, to shake our audiences' hearts on the big screen just like Hollywood films do, so that young viewers can also establish dreams of working in wuxia film through The Grand Director."

"Good, good."

Listening to Shen Shanden's concept design, Han Sanping became absorbed in thought, no longer knowing what words could express how he felt.

Originally, I wanted to write about the common traits of Social Darwinism, Buddhist detachment, and lying flat—trends of thought whose meanings before and after were completely opposite. But I realized that even touching on them a little was dangerous, so I'd better not write it. Safety first.