On the same day, Emperor Zhao Ji's decree was issued to the officials.
After receiving the imperial edict, Gao Qiu, the commander-in-chief of the Palace Guard, immediately sent someone to deliver the supplies Zhang Shixun requested to the First Army.
Standing on the parade grounds of the First Army, Zhang Shixun addressed the officers and soldiers, saying, "Brothers, I'm calling you back to the barracks during this important festival, not for any other reason, but because it's time for you to get promoted and make a fortune."
Upon hearing about promotion and wealth, all the officers and soldiers looked at the military leader with wide eyes.
"His Majesty the Emperor will personally visit the First Army in a few days..."
As soon as these words were spoken, the team immediately became agitated, some people were whispering to each other, and some were talking to each other.
The military judge shouted loudly: "Silence!"
"His Majesty the Emperor will review the drills and formations of our First Army. He will also take a photo with the officers and soldiers, and have the photo sent up to Heaven... Boys! It's time for you to show yourselves."
"I declare that, effective immediately, the rations and salaries of all officers and soldiers of the First Army will be doubled. At the same time, training will also be doubled. Everyone must obey orders strictly. Anyone who dares to disobey military orders will be punished by military law... Disband!"
Afterwards, Zhang Shixun convened a meeting of officers above the rank of commander.
At the meeting, he briefed the officers on the details of the mission, emphasizing the significance of the Emperor's personal presence in the First Army. He then said, "This exercise is of great significance. The entire process will be recorded, and I will upload it to the Heavenly Palace for archiving."
Han Shizhong asked, "General, I don't understand what a video is."
"Video recording, that is..." Zhang Shixun took out his PDA, filmed Han Shizhong for a few seconds, and then let him watch it.
"This..." Han Shizhong jumped up from his stool when he saw the image on the screen, "Is this my family in here?"
"Of course it's you, absolutely."
"You mean, our video will go up to the sky?"
"It's not about going up to the sky, but about spreading it to the Heavenly Palace."
"I don't quite understand." Han Shizhong scratched his head. "The military commander wants to put our souls into the heavenly book and then transmit them to the heavenly court."
"Commander Han, you're overthinking it. No one can take your soul away. The so-called video recording is just a record of your appearance."
"How do I record it? I still don't understand."
It’s terrible to be uneducated.
Of course, to someone who traveled from a thousand years later, the people of the Song Dynasty were uneducated.
Zhang Shixun changed his approach and tried to explain in language he could understand: "Let me put it this way. Just think of me as a painter. I will copy your painting and then show it to others... Do you understand now?"
Han Shizhong smiled innocently, "Now that you put it that way, I think I understand."
Zhang Shixun looked at He Ji and said, "Brother He, you are the chief officer of this activity and are fully responsible for the training."
He Ji stood up and said, "Yes, sir!"
"Gao Chengzong, you are responsible for logistics support."
"Understood!" Gao Yanei also stood up.
"This campaign has received strong support from the government and Prime Minister Cai. They have specially allocated new uniforms to our First Army, along with a full set of weapons and equipment. You will take the brothers from the logistics battalion to collect them shortly."
Gao Yanei nodded excitedly.
"Commanders of all camps, listen to my orders."
Everyone stood up.
"This mission is time-sensitive. You must strictly discipline your officers and soldiers and intensify their training. In five days, the emperor will come to inspect the First Army. If anyone messes up, you will be the ones to be disgraced. As for the punishment, hmph! You can figure it out yourself."
The officers stood up straight, excited and nervous.
"Of course, if this exercise is successful, everyone will benefit. At least most of you will be promoted to a higher rank."
After the meeting, Zhang Shixun asked He Ji and Gao Yanei to stay and emphasized the matters that needed attention before leaving the military camp.
He had so many things to do, and he also had to gather the performers.
It is extremely difficult to organize a high-standard performing arts event in less than ten days.
Fortunately, Zhao Ji gave the green light to this matter, fully supported it in terms of manpower and material resources, and gave him great power. Otherwise, he would not have been able to accomplish it in such a short time even if he was beaten to death.
I rode a horse to Li Shishi's house, and Ding Dusai happened to be there.
Ding Dusai came forward happily, "Sir, why are you here?"
Zhang Shixun smiled and said, "Of course I'm here for something. To make a long story short, the Lantern Festival performance has been decided, and the emperor has given me, the deputy envoy of the Jiaofang, full responsibility."
"Congratulations, Mr. Zhang." Li Shishi was also happy for him.
"Don't rush to congratulate me yet. You'll be busy in the next few days."
"What do you mean?"
"The scale of this Lantern Festival performance is unprecedented." Zhang Shixun handed over a piece of paper. "Madam Li, I have hastily drawn up a list of performances for you to take a look at."
Li Shishi took it and looked at it carefully, then looked up and said with a smile: "From this list, it can be seen that Mr. Zhang is quite courageous."
"But it's not ordinary difficult. I'm not familiar with the various performing arts talents in the capital, so I'm going to rely on you and Madam Ding."
Li Shishi smoothed a strand of hair that fell from her temples and asked with a smile, "What do you want us to do?"
"Based on this program, would it be difficult to draft the artists to be recruited and then gather them together at Fanlou under the name of the Jiaofangsi?"
Li Shishi handed the program to Ding Dusai and said, "If we gather people in the name of the Jiaofangsi, it won't be a problem, but time is very tight. The Lantern Festival is approaching, and rehearsing the program in such a short time is not easy."
"This requires our joint efforts. After the artists are gathered at Fanlou, they will be under closed management. They will eat and live there and rehearse day and night... Oh, and I have a lot of things you may not expect. I will bring them out during rehearsal, which will help us get twice the result with half the effort."
"Sir, what is the unexpected thing?" Ding Dusai asked, her face flushed as if she had applied rouge.
Zhang Shixun smiled mysteriously: "Keep it secret for now, you will know when the time comes."
"Sir, please tell me." Ding Dusai grabbed his arm and begged, "Just tell me and my sister quietly. We won't tell anyone else."
"Yes, Mr. Zhang, please reveal some information first so that we can be prepared."
Zhang Shixun paused for a moment before uttering three words: "Sound, light, and electricity."
"Sound, light, electricity?"
"Sound is about amplifying the sound, amplifying it, and amplifying it again, so that tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of people can hear it."
After hearing this, the two girls looked at each other with sparkling eyes.
When they participate in performing arts activities, what they worry about most is that the sound is too low. When there are many people, often only the people in the front can hear their singing, and the people in the back can only watch the fun.
Ding Dusai asked, "Sir, are you going to use some magic?"
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