Is a Billion Yuan at the Box Office That Hard?

The head of the Production Department overseeing content was stunned!

He sat up straight, even leaning forward slightly.

His face was frozen in shock, as though he'd been struck senseless.

As an old film professional who'd read countless scripts and heard endless scores, he understood all too well how weighty this song was.

The historical depth and national pride contained in the lyrics intertwined perfectly with the surging strength and desolate undertones of the melody, flawlessly interpreting the theme of "The Sun and Moon Reopen."

This song had practically been tailor-made for it. No—it elevated it!

He subconsciously raised a hand, as if to applaud, but halted halfway upon hearing Han Sanping's request.

The head of the market Production Department was stunned too!

The stern scrutiny on his face turned into undisguised shock.

This song was simply the best advertisement the film could have.

Zhou Qifeng was stunned as well!

Though he'd already heard the demo several times, hearing it here, before so many China Film Group executives, still deeply shook him!

His cheeks flushed with excitement as he looked at his senior brother Shen Shanden's back, his eyes filled with near-fanatical admiration.

Inside the room.

Han Sanping, who'd appeared the most relaxed, was equally stunned!

At that moment, his sharp eyes were wide open, churning with extremely complicated emotions.

Shock! Admiration! Disbelief!

It was as though a raging fire had been lit within him!

That was a slap in the face! A real slap in the face!

Before hearing the song, Han Sanping had been careless and unconcerned. Once the singing began, his pupils shook, and his body tensed up involuntarily.

Even after the song ended, he couldn't hide his shock.

Leaning back in his wooden chair, the fingers that had been tapping the table had long since stopped.

In one sentence: the theme was grand, and its vision lofty!

Using the sun and moon as eternal images throughout, it brilliantly linked the rise and fall of the Great Ming with the inheritance of the nation's spirit. It awakened his memories of historical glory and his deep yearning for a prosperous age to return.

It was immensely stirring!

Coupled with its rich imagery and powerful symbolism, an overwhelming wave of impact came crashing down.

The sun and moon were both rulers of nature and witnesses to time and space—Jinling frost, the Desert North Sky Wolf, Hongwu raising his sword;

They were also symbols of light, eternity, strength, and hope—radiance, Cast Iron Black Armor, Fire Dragon Spitting Flames, and the rising red sun.

Jinling, the ancient capital of the Great Ming;

The Desert North Sky Wolf, symbolizing frontier military prowess;

Hongwu raising his sword, representing the Ming Dynasty's Great Unification;

Shattered armor turning into a spring river after war, symbolizing peace;

The Yongle Encyclopedia for civil achievement, Zheng He's Treasure Ships for military glory;

Red banners, Kunpeng, the glorious sacred flame, black armor, Fire Dragon, Heavenly Palace, giant dragons, roosters, the Milky Way, Tiangang, Divine Land, rivers and mountains.

These images stood in dense, precise succession, slowly unfolding in Han Sanping's mind into a majestic canvas of history and spirit.

Nature and myth soared together.

Fire, frost, Kunpeng, Fire Dragon, Heavenly Palace, giant dragons, roosters, the Milky Way.

A mysterious aura and majestic force transcending time and space rushed straight at him.

Han Sanping was the biggest authority in the room, and he demanded another listen.

Zhou Qifeng played it again.

Even after hearing it a second time, Han Sanping was still stunned!

"Heavenly Questions" was the verse.

It opened with a children's chorus repeatedly asking parallel questions, like a sharp blade wrapped in powerful rhythm and operatic color.

From natural phenomena—hanging above rooftops, sending forth radiance, flowing fire and coolness, companionship and concealment—

It smoothly transitioned into historical witness: Jinling frost, the Desert North Sky Wolf, Hongwu restoring the nine regions.

Then it rose further into contemplation of civilization's achievements and spiritual origins.

Black armor and Fire Dragon, encyclopedia and treasure ships, the bloodline of Tang and Yu!

Finally, it pointed toward hopes for the future: the answer in Heavenly Palace, the giant dragon returning to dust, the rooster singing loud!

The chorus, praising the Great Ming, was even more vibrant and energetic!

Completely unlike the atmosphere of today!

"Great Ming, Great Ming, continue the glorious chapter; glorious sacred flame, shine upon all eight lands" was its central refrain.

Repeatedly sung, it kept knocking at the theme.

It was supported by vivid, cinematic lines such as "red banners fly and billow," "summon Kunpeng," "rivers and mountains don new attire," and "the red sun shines upon Divine Land, ten thousand generations bathe in morning light."

Pushing its praise to a climax!

The final cry—"Great Ming! Great Ming!"—was especially explosive and infectious.

The language blended classical and vernacular styles.

It possessed both ancient elegance—"restore the nine regions," "turn into a spring river," "the golden vessel unscarred," "inherit Tiangang."

And the force of modern speech—"who is more formidable, more dazzling."

Together, they created a unique style where epic grandeur merged with the spirit of the times.

Phrases such as "Cast Iron Black Armor," "Fire Dragon Spitting Flames," and "ringing toward the Milky Way" were forceful and sonorous.

The emotions were intense and deeply infectious!

It overflowed with pride in historical glory, faith in cultural inheritance, and blazing anticipation for future revival.

Those powerful emotions burst forth through repeated calls, parallel phrasing, grand imagery, and impassioned language.

It was immensely infectious!

At the very least, Han Sanping resonated with it!

"Play it again."

Things never happened more than three times, yet Han Sanping made an exception this time and asked to hear it a third time.

The people in the room exchanged looks, and the way they looked at Shen Shanden changed completely.

He'd completely won Han Sanping over!

Listening again, Han Sanping noticed even more details.

"Summon the Kunpeng bird, spread its wings above the nine heavens" and "the rooster sings the unfinished poem" adapted verses by his idol, delighting him even more.

And then there was "ringing toward the Milky Way."

Using the clang of metal to symbolize an unyielding will piercing the heavens, it had both visual impact and a Sense of Power.

"The red sun shines upon Divine Land, ten thousand generations bathe in morning light"—the imagery was bright and brilliant, its meaning profound, carrying eternal good wishes for the future.

He still hadn't had enough.

Seeing Han Sanping still immersed in it, his secretary had no choice but to remind him.

Only then did Han Sanping come back to himself. Recalling the script for Brotherhood of Blades, even though the film hadn't been shot yet, scenes were already constantly flashing and emerging in his mind.

Seeing Han Sanping's reaction, everyone looked at Shen Shanden differently again, reassessing the project Embroidered Spring Blade: The Sun and Moon Reopen.

Han Sanping took a deep breath before finally speaking slowly, applauding as he praised, "Good! Excellent!"

Once he started clapping, everyone else in the room applauded too.

Han Sanping's secretary was already considering asking for the song after the meeting.

Shen Shanden had completely charmed the old man.

He found it absurd. He couldn't imagine someone possessing such charm.

Han Sanping asked, "This song has two titles, right?"

Shen Shanden replied, "One is Ode to the Great Ming: The Sun and Moon Reopen. It's also called Heavenly Questions."

"Same title as Qu Yuan's Heavenly Questions. You're awfully confident!" Han Sanping said loudly, but everyone could hear that he was teasing. His words were full of encouragement.

Han Sanping stared intensely at Shen Shanden and said word by word, "This song is the soul of 'The Sun and Moon Reopen'! Good! What a Heavenly Questions—questioning Heaven, questioning our ancestors, questioning history. What an Ode to the Great Ming: The Sun and Moon Reopen!"

"A grand historical narrative, profound feelings for home and country, splendid natural and mythological imagery, and fervent ideals of revival—all forged into one."

"The lyrics are tightly structured, the imagery rich and precise, the language full of tension and appeal, and the emotions overflowing with heat! You've made me see you in a new light. You were right: artists must possess culture! This is what a true artist is!"

"It has both deep cultural foundations and surging creative passion. It is not merely a hymn to the Ming Dynasty, but a heartfelt tribute and passionate call to the Chinese Nation's unyielding spirit, glorious civilization, and bright future!"

Everyone was numb.

No, wasn't that appraisal way too high?

This was going to heaven!

Han Sanping had been moved—in every possible way.

"It truly is Chinese costume carrying the Chinese soul. This song strikes directly at the core concept of Embroidered Spring Blade: The Sun and Moon Reopen—the grand historical narrative of the sun and moon reopening, and the return of the Chinese soul."

"It also perfectly interweaves with what you said: 'a soaring bullish candlestick rebounding from the bottom,' 'stopping the decline and rising,' and 'returning to the prime of life.' It creates a historical tapestry brimming with strength."

"Cast Iron Black Armor, Fire Dragon Spitting Flames, Zheng He's Treasure Ships, mountains and rivers reforged—together, they form a mighty force. They give the Chinese soul concrete form and provide a clearer direction for turning a costume blockbuster into a historical blockbuster."

"This isn't merely a song. This is the soul of the film. It's a manifesto!"

"Comrade Xiao Shen, your ambition is huge! Huge! But it's also very good! Very good!"

By the end, Han Sanping was unconsciously tapping the table. He hadn't even noticed that his hand had clenched into a fist.

At that moment, he saw the possibility of an industrial upgrade through the Blockbuster Strategy, and faintly glimpsed an opportunity to go even further.

This song made Han Sanping want to get Embroidered Spring Blade: The Sun and Moon Reopen made immediately.

Everyone was numb.

Holy shit, what kind of godlike appraisal was that?

Shen Shanden's smile nearly split his face, and his heart was blooming with joy.

One song, and the old man would spend a hundred million on him!

A leader was indeed a leader—well-read and quick-witted, even tying all his own words together. What a level!

His elaborate efforts hadn't been wasted.

Nothing more needed to be said.

Once Han Sanping praised him, the leader overseeing content also praised him: "With this song, Shen Shanden has made an abstract blueprint concrete, expressing it through such majestic, specific melodies and lyrics that strike directly at the soul!"

The leader overseeing marketing also praised him: "It offers the current market a unique experience. I feel as though I've been washed over by the torrent of history and ignited by lofty ambition. I feel a solemn yet burning atmosphere, as well as fresh, majestic vitality."

Hearing this, Shen Shanden was even happier.

Leaders really did speak at a high level—and it sounded nice too.

Han Sanping asked again, "You found a children's choir for this, didn't you?"

Shen Shanden nodded. "My version is still a little rough. Once we refine it further, it'll only get better."

Han Sanping checked the time. An hour had passed without him noticing, and it was nearly noon.

There was nothing urgent, so he had his secretary cancel the rest of his schedule and clear his lunch hour.

They would eat together at the China Film Group cafeteria.

The private kitchen.

Then continue talking.

Han Sanping said, "If this project starts, there will definitely be pressure. You need to withstand it."

Shen Shanden assured him, "I'm very confident, and I hope the leaders will have confidence too. Brotherhood of Blades making one billion at the box office shouldn't be a problem."

The moment he said that, Han Sanping nearly lost it, and so did the other leaders.

But leaders were leaders. They held it together.

Only Han Sanping's secretary failed to hold back and started coughing.

Han Sanping felt it was necessary to make Shen Shanden settle down. "Don't set your sights too high."

Shen Shanden asked in return, "Is one billion really that hard?"

This chapter is three thousand words.

There was a common-sense mistake earlier. The Great Ming should have been established first, then unified.

Sorry, I was rushing, and I was sick too, so my head wasn't clear. I even got basic common sense wrong. Originally, I planned to properly develop Brotherhood of Blades only after The Grand Director, but I'm bringing it out early now, and all kinds of preparation have been insufficient.

I tested twice today, and sure enough, I tested positive. Everyone, please take care of your health too.