Chapter 2: The Origins of the Great Tang Dynasty

Chapter 2: "The Great Tang Dynasty: Origins"

Ring, ring, ring!

Just then, his phone rang.

"Shan-zi, what’s the situation? Aren't you supposed to be back home for Tomb Sweeping Day? How do you have time to call me?"

Picking up the phone and checking the caller ID, Cheng Sheng answered.

"Brother Cheng, I have a buddy in Xishan who knows several coal bosses. These coal bosses want to invest in movies but don't have the channels. Since I happen to know you're writing a script, do you need funding? Should I have my buddy introduce you to them?"

A thick, honest voice came through the phone.

This person was Qiao Shan, a freshman in the acting department whom Cheng Sheng had met while helping the school welcome new students.

Qiao Shan was a smooth talker and got along well with Cheng Sheng. Through back-and-forth interactions, the two became friends.

When he started writing his script, he didn't hide it from Qiao Shan. Upon finding out, Qiao Shan had jokingly offered to help him pull in some investment.

At first, Cheng Sheng thought he was just talking, but he never expected him to actually pull it off.

"Thanks, Shan-zi. If this works out, there will definitely be something in it for you," Cheng Sheng said, pleasantly surprised.

"Haha, alright then. I'll give your number to my buddy and have him contact you."

"Sounds good."

The call ended.

Not long after, a call from an unknown number came in.

Cheng Sheng hurriedly answered.

It was indeed Qiao Shan’s buddy, Li Dazhuang, who ran a coal business in Xishan. No wonder he knew so many coal bosses.

Li Dazhuang was a very straightforward man. He told Cheng Sheng that if he had time, he should come to Xishan to talk with those coal bosses.

Cheng Sheng agreed immediately.

Without a moment's delay, Cheng Sheng grabbed his phone, wallet, and script, and headed straight for the station.

The next day.

Cheng Sheng returned to the Central Academy of Drama with a stack of contracts.

"A small goal achieved, a small goal achieved, hahaha."

In the dormitory, Cheng Sheng’s eyes were bloodshot as he shouted and laughed in a manic state.

Because of the time limit on his simulation panel, he had been worried sick yesterday.

Thinking back to last night, it felt like a dream.

Relying on his silver tongue, he had bamboozled those coal bosses until they were dazed, eventually securing 100 million in investment funds from them.

Of course, 100 million wasn't easy to get. Relying on bluffs was only temporary; the most important thing was the contract in his hand.

The contract had two main points.

First, make their women famous.

Second, give them face.

If he failed to do either of these, Cheng Sheng would have to compensate them for all their losses.

For those coal bosses in Xishan, money wasn't the priority; what mattered were the women they kept and their own prestige.

With the memories of another person and his "cheat," Cheng Sheng signed without a second thought.

This had nearly scared Li Dazhuang, the middleman, to death.

He didn't know where Cheng Sheng got the confidence to dare to take 100 million to make a movie and sign such a contract.

This was 100 million!

At first, he thought getting three or four million in investment would be a lot. He never expected his buddy's friend to be so bold as to trick people into putting up 100 million.

Although he had spent yesterday either traveling or bluffing coal bosses without a moment of rest, Cheng Sheng didn't feel a hint of fatigue; instead, he was full of energy.

Holding the script, Cheng Sheng planned to find his teachers for help. Time waits for no one!

After all, building a film crew requires people.

He left the dormitory and headed straight for the teaching building, which was reserved for the teachers of the acting and directing departments. Their offices were all located there.

He went up to the third floor.

Before he even reached the door, he could hear voices inside.

Although today was the last day of the Qingming Festival holiday, some teachers had returned early.

Cheng Sheng peeked at the doorway; two teachers were chatting inside.

Seeing Cheng Sheng peering in, one teacher looked up and said, "Cheng Sheng, why are you back at school so early?"

"Teacher Zhang, I didn't go home for the Qingming Festival."

The one speaking was Zhang Yang, a teacher from the directing department. The other, who remained silent, was Yang Chao, the director of the directing department's research office.

"Oh, and what are you doing here?"

Although curious about why Cheng Sheng hadn't gone home, Zhang Yang didn't intend to press him.

"It's like this: I've written a script and I'd like to ask for your help in reviewing it."

"A script? Come in! I'm free right now, so bring it over and let me take a look."

Teacher Zhang Yang gestured for Cheng Sheng to come in.

Cheng Sheng handed over the script with both hands.

Zhang Yang put on his gold-rimmed glasses and began to flip through it.

*The Great Tang Dynasty: Origins*!

The title clearly indicated a historical film. Historical films were not easy to make; they required vast historical knowledge and a deep sense of historical grounding.

Otherwise, one couldn't make a good historical film.

However, he didn't express an opinion immediately; Zhang Yang continued to read.

The power struggle at the end of the Sui Dynasty.

Yang Guang.

Young Li Shimin.

The founding of the Great Tang.

It really was a story about the early days of the Tang Dynasty.

Zhang Yang was slightly surprised, but he didn't stop, continuing to flip through the pages.

This...

This...

As he continued to read, Zhang Yang felt deeply shocked.

This script was written exceptionally well.

This was likely the best historical film script he had ever read.

Zhang Yang glanced at his student without being obvious. He was very curious about how Cheng Sheng had managed to write such a good script.

Starting from the power struggle at the end of the Sui Dynasty, with Yang Guang being cruel, foolish, and incompetent, to Li Shimin’s conquest of the world.

The descriptions of Yang Guang and Li Shimin were the most prominent; clearly, they were the protagonists of the film.

Dual protagonists.

After reading about the experiences of Yang Guang and Li Shimin, one was a foolish tyrant, and the other was like the protagonist of a "cool" web novel.

Power struggles, war, culture, emotions.

Everything could be found in the script.

This script was simply divine.

Zhang Yang was deeply drawn into the story. Without realizing it, he kept flipping pages, immersing himself as Li Shimin... In the blink of an eye, he reached the last page.

He took a deep breath.

The look Zhang Yang gave Cheng Sheng was filled with shock.

Honestly, at first, he hadn't taken the script seriously.

What kind of good script could a student who hadn't even graduated from the directing department write?

Especially a historical film, which required the most grounding.

But he hadn't expected that Cheng Sheng, only a sophomore, would write such a profound historical film.

Just how deep was his research into history? Even those history professors might not be as good as him!

The script was very complete. If it were actually filmed, it would definitely be a classic.

Zhang Yang closed his eyes to savor it; the imagery in the script was truly intense.

The power struggle of golden spears and iron horses—just thinking about it made his blood boil.

"Let me see."

Seeing Zhang Yang’s obsessed expression, Yang Chao snatched the script from his hands and began to read.

A while later.

Yang Chao closed the script, gave Cheng Sheng a thumbs up, and said, "This is the best historical film script I have ever read."

A genius!

He actually had such a genius student under his wing.

Yang Chao found it hard to believe.

"The script is great, but unfortunately..."

At this point, Zhang Yang sighed.

"Yes, it's a pity." Yang Chao seemed to realize something as well, shaking his head in regret.

"Teachers, you must be talking about the funding, right?" Cheng Sheng understood what the two teachers meant instantly and smiled.