Chapter Thirty: The Awe Inspired by the Terracotta Warriors

At the dinner table, after sending away all unnecessary people, the three of them once again carefully reviewed everything from the beginning.

Regarding the scheme designed by Yang Wancheng himself, Liu Qingshan had considered it beforehand, but his vision and abilities had limited his imagination. If Yang Wancheng were to personally oversee the plan, the methods available to him would far exceed anything Liu Qingshan had previously envisioned. Especially the worldwide casting of a net, that comprehensive approach was the key to keeping everything hidden and undetected. Furthermore, the solicitation of analysis from various countries on the difficulty of the movements in the videos was conducted under strict confidentiality. No matter how ingenious Liu Qingshan’s ideas might be, he could not match Yang Wancheng’s influence; if Liu Qingshan were to execute the plan himself, the results would be greatly diminished, and that was inevitable.

Nevertheless, he skillfully concealed the fact that he had thought of similar ideas before. After all, he was only twenty-one years old; it would not be wise to appear overly shrewd. Yang Wancheng quietly left before nightfall, meticulously controlling all news about his visit. After calling Chen Long, the two stayed at the hotel for the time being—after all, the whole crew would arrive in two days.

The issue of filming at the Terracotta Warriors site had already been negotiated months ago with the relevant departments in Chang’an. Of course, it was impossible to perform martial arts scenes inside the actual pits of the Terracotta Warriors. Instead, a large number of replicas had been custom-made, and a set was arranged in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of Chang’an.

The two went there the next day. The local county government had already arranged accommodations for the crew near the warehouse. The advance team from the crew had already arrived—an experienced, large-scale crew would have everything prepared in advance, a testament to their professionalism.

Thus, their arrival was not without purpose; on the contrary, there was a mountain of trivial tasks to organize and settle. Even among those who didn’t know Liu Qingshan personally, out of respect for Liang Jiahuai, no one dared to treat him lightly. Fortunately, Liu Qingshan kept a low profile, not displaying any special relationship with Chen Long. Dragging his still-healing body, he participated actively in every task like any ordinary staff member.

Liang Jiahuai did not deliberately intervene, and seemed to be quietly observing his behavior. There was no sense of assessment—just the attention of an elder toward a younger person he cared about.

On the afternoon of the third day, Jin Xishan, who had kept in touch, called. Liu Qingshan informed Liang Jiahuai, who relayed the message to the crew regarding the next schedule.

Chen Long’s filming plans were always extremely efficient, making full use of all available time. After all, running a large film crew required enormous funds, and finishing even a day earlier could save a significant amount. According to the schedule, the main team would head directly to the Terracotta Warriors, taking advantage of the site’s closure at night to film overnight.

So Liu Qingshan and Liang Jiahuai, with a small group, hurried to the filming location, while the majority stayed behind to prepare the sets for the next day’s shoot.

Apparently, word had leaked, for when they arrived, reporters were already waiting outside the site. Guided by the experienced Liang Jiahuai, their vehicle took a circuitous route to finally enter the filming area.

Since the site was still open to the public during the day, preparation for camera positions and other matters had to wait until it was cleared. During this brief window, Liu Qingshan and Liang Jiahuai toured the area outside the Terracotta Warrior pits.

It was impossible not to be impressed—no wonder the Terracotta Warriors were described as majestic and magnificent, a true national treasure. Even before they got close, the overwhelming sense of history stunned them deeply.

The accumulation of time had forged the profound cultural foundation of Chinese civilization, filling them with pride and stirring their hearts with emotion.

Liang Jiahuai sighed, “This isn’t my first time here, but it doesn’t lessen the feeling of awe. I could linger here forever. This is a paradise of art, a masterpiece of humanity, and it’s called the eighth wonder of the world for good reason!”

Compared to him, Liu Qingshan was even more overwhelmed, needing a long time to calm down. “The location must have been chosen by Director Tang, right? I admire him even more for it. At this moment, I feel wonder and reverence—he has the courage to film in such an environment, and I’m amazed by Director Tang’s boldness!”

“Yes, apart from Cheng Xiaodong, no one has dared to film the Terracotta Warriors for a movie. Even when he shot ‘A Tale of the Terracotta Warriors,’ only a few scenes here made it in!”

That film was completed fifteen years ago—not that it was a classic in terms of effects. The key was that two people appeared in it, and in the following years both became renowned: one an internationally acclaimed director, the other a superstar who won countless awards.

Those two were Zhang Yimou and Gong Li!

The movie version of “The Myth” is also adapted from “A Tale of the Terracotta Warriors,” but with considerable changes. The most notable similarity is the presence of Yu Rongguang in both films. In fact, his casting in “The Myth” was due to his experience in such roles.

Both the film and TV versions are based on the novel “Terracotta Warriors” by Hong Kong writer Li Bihua, considered a pioneer of time-travel stories.

The biggest difference is that Zhang Yimou, nicknamed “Old Mouzi,” in those days was far less handsome and famous than Chen Long in “The Myth,” even though Chen Long is fifty now. Fortunately, the captivating leading lady remained—Jin Xishan’s beauty is no less than Gong Li’s back then, and filming technology has advanced greatly in these fifteen years.

If the earlier film relied on the actors’ performances in an era of less sophisticated visuals and sound, “The Myth” adds exotic elements, another Indian heroine, and more spectacular fight scenes. Coupled with effective marketing, it’s certain to surpass the legendary dramas of the past.

This was the shared thought Liu Qingshan and Liang Jiahuai exchanged as they looked at each other.

Liu Qingshan smiled and voiced his opinion, “I watched that movie a couple of years ago—the scene of burning alive is still vivid in my memory. Will our ‘The Myth’ have similarly unforgettable moments?”

Liang Jiahuai nodded seriously. “I was involved from the early stages of the project, and the crew had special discussions about this topic. I believe there will be two such moments: one is when Meng Yi’s horse is pierced by arrows, and before dying, he says to the horse, ‘You have been loyal!’ According to the script, there will be a close-up of the horse’s eyes here. The other is Professor Gu—the tomb robber—entering the emperor’s tomb. That scene will be incredibly striking. Personally, I think these will be the brightest highlights of the film.”