Huayu: From charlatan to great entertainer

Chapter 597 Gu Nan's Destiny, Liu Yifei's Destiny! (Bonus Chapter for Brother R)
The screen went completely dark, leaving only the ancient and powerful title of the film "The Book of Peace" and the slowly scrolling credits, accompanied by the distant and mournful melody of the end credits, echoing in the empty conference room of LeTV Culture's headquarters.

Yang Mi, Xu Duojin, and Liu Shishi sat in their chairs for a long time without anyone speaking first.

A complex emotion, difficult to describe, permeated the air.

They originally had their own agendas, but at this moment all their preconceived notions were swept away by the magnificent historical atmosphere, profound performing arts, and heart-wrenching tragic aesthetics of those 90 minutes.

Even if they are unaware that the premiere data of "The Book of Peace" is breaking records at an astonishing speed on Zhijie Video and Netflix, unaware of the storm of discussion sweeping global social media, and even less aware that this series has quietly etched a brand-new standard of "Chinese epic" into the minds of countless viewers.

But as someone in the industry, a direct, instinctive shock and impact has weighed heavily on my heart.

Finally, Yang Mi let out a soft breath, as if to dispel the shock that had been suffocating in her chest for so long.

She stood up, her voice slightly hoarse, breaking the silence: "It's getting late, let's go back."

Her gaze wasn't directed at President Xu or Shishi, but rather she stared blankly at the now-darkened screen, as if the last images still lingered there. In Da Mimi's mind, the face of Gu Nan, played by Liu Yifei, in the drama kept replaying uncontrollably.

That face in "The Book of Peace" was almost bare-faced, even deliberately downplaying its feminine beauty, and covered in dust, sweat, and a confused yet stubborn expression because it portrayed a "male soul in a female body".

There is no otherworldly ethereal beauty like Xiaolongnu in "The Return of the Condor Heroes," nor the exquisite makeup of any previous role. Instead, there is a raw, primal sense of struggle for survival in dire circumstances, and in the final close-up, a complex gaze that blends the pain of a prophet, the powerlessness of the individual, and a glimmer of light that refuses to be extinguished.

Yang Mi felt a sense of helplessness and clarity that she dared not face or even acknowledge.

Regardless of external opinions, she always told herself that she had personally witnessed Liu Yifei's performance when they were both in the same production team of "The Return of the Condor Heroes". She believed that she was no less talented than Liu Yifei in terms of acting talent and versatility, and was even more gifted.

But who could have imagined that her first work after her comeback, just the first episode, would reach such a... such a chilling level.

This cannot be simply summarized as "good acting skills." It is a performance realm that is completely integrated with a top-notch team, a profound script, and a grand theme. It strips away all the halos of stars, leaving only the soul of the character that is deeply moving.

Liu Yifei, along with veteran actors Li Xuejian, You Zhiyong, Yu Chenghui, and Chen Daoming, who only made a brief appearance as King Zhaoxiang of Qin, delivered outstanding performances.

Liu Shishi quietly packed her things. She was thinking about the inner tearing feeling of "male soul in female body". How did Liu Yifei manage to present that male thought habit and female physical reaction so accurately and without leaving a trace?
This is a level of performance that she, a fallen actress, wouldn't even dare to dream of.

Or rather, what does it have to do with me?

One flew higher and higher, making everyone look up in awe;

He was once casually pushed into the dust by those in power, and he finally managed to escape Tangren Media through his relationship with Yang Mi. This is how his life is going to end.

The three of them left the meeting room one after another, their footsteps echoing in the empty corridor.

They were just a tiny, insignificant group of people who were deeply moved by the show.

Within 24 hours of the series' release, as of the evening of August 26th (Beijing time), internal reports from within the game world were frequent.
The data curve soared, and its popularity completely overwhelmed all competitors in the same period, showing a phenomenal explosive growth.

At that time, Netflix had not yet begun producing large-scale original content in the streaming market, and its internal production of "House of Cards" was scheduled for off-peak releases. The sudden emergence of "The Book of Peace" was like throwing a boulder into a still pond.

The mainland market is a showcase for Zhijie Video's record-breaking innovations and phenomenal community celebrations:

The number of effective views of the full-length video exceeded 9000 million in the first 24 hours. This figure was astronomical in the Chinese streaming media market in 2010 and completely refreshed the industry's understanding.

It not only crushed all prime-time dramas on satellite TV during the same period, but even surpassed the total viewership of some key dramas on first-tier satellite TV throughout the year.

The number of new VIP members surged within 24 hours of the broadcast, with a year-on-year increase of over 400%, and the powerful paid conversion ability has left the industry in awe.

It's worth mentioning that the paid portion of "The Book of Peace" only includes behind-the-scenes footage at the end of each episode. The paid portion for the main series will be available after this season ends. At that time, viewers will have to pay to watch the reruns, or wait for Travel Channel's rebroadcast schedule.

But what surprised all the marketing departments was that the behind-the-scenes footage of Xiao Liu, Li Xuejian, Chen Daoming, and others at the end of the first episode also received an extremely high number of bullet comments and interactions.

It's basically a conversation between Liu Yifei and Lu Kuan, who's visiting the set for the first time. They discuss the performance of this gender-swapped character, as well as the interactions and clashes between the performances of many veteran actors. You can see many different ways of acting compared to the first episode, which is very interesting.

On Netflix, the most popular shows are still those currently airing on cable channels, such as "Breaking Bad," "Mad Men," and "Dexter," as well as reruns of classic shows like "Friends" and "The Office."

However, the premiere of "The Book of Peace" managed to squeeze into the top five, and the number of unique viewers worldwide reached an astonishing 820 million in the first 24 hours, a figure that is considered phenomenal on the current Netflix platform.

Not only did it dominate the "Foreign Language Drama" category, but in major English-speaking markets such as North America and the UK, its immediate popularity surpassed that of the currently airing season 2 of "Breaking Bad" and season 4 of "Mad Men," debuting at number 1 on Netflix's daily global drama popularity chart, only to be surpassed thereafter.

A brief period of glory signifies successful marketing and a high rate of market exposure. At least in terms of promoting Chinese culture, Wenjie has managed to make itself known to the world first.

This is unprecedented for a non-English story that tells an ancient Eastern history.

Among the more than 40 countries and regions where the service is available, The Book of Peace has successfully topped Netflix's daily trending charts in 28 countries/regions and remains among the top in the remaining markets.

Especially in Japan and South Korea, thanks to cultural similarities, its popularity rivals that of popular local dramas.

Ultimately, the reason for this is effective marketing:

For example, the ratings frenzy in the UK, especially in London, was mainly due to the Gucci endorsement and the Crystal Palace Club, two cultural and sports projects; otherwise, Xiao Liu's fame would not have been enough to support such ratings.
In North America, it was due to the rising popularity of "Ball Lightning" and the recommendations posted on personal Twitter accounts by A-list stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, and Julianne Moore, who have close personal relationships with Lu Kuan or have expressed interest in collaborating with him.

In addition, a large number of B-movie stars who were also lobbied also cheered for it, with Nicolas Cage, who had already "fallen from grace," leading the way. He posted a series of articles on his personal social media, praising the visual aesthetics and philosophical depth of "The Book of Peace."

This is not a free lunch, because the financial future of these B-movie stars is, to some extent, in the hands of Netflix, which monopolizes DVD distribution and online streaming. This is the convenience brought by power.

Wanda's desire to expand overseas and control AMC is simply to emulate his use of such advantages both domestically and internationally.

Influenced by Netflix, within 24 hours of the show's release, searches for keywords such as "Warring States China," "Bai Qi," and "Weiqi (Go)" on the platform increased by more than 2500% compared to the previous period.

This directly led Netflix's backend algorithm to start pushing more documentaries and movies about Chinese history and culture to users, such as BBC's "The Ancient World".

The most direct result is that "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," in which Li Xuejian starred, saw hundreds of thousands of new on-demand purchases on Netflix.

As a national-level cultural project included in the "Key Projects for Cultural Going Global" list, "The Book of Taiping" not only enjoys green channel policies such as export tax rebates and special effects subsidies, but also naturally receives strong support from the official publicity matrix.

The "Culture China" column of the overseas edition of People's Daily published an article titled "The premiere of Taiping Book draws global acclaim; the Warring States period style and cultural spirit gain deep recognition," which reads as follows:

The premiere of the TV series "The Book of Peace" generated a warm response in both domestic and international markets, becoming a successful exploration of Chinese culture "going global." Its remarkable achievement lies in the fact that, through rigorous historical research and a grand artistic style, the series successfully presented the social landscape, intellectual vitality, and life scenes of China in the third century BC to a global audience in a vivid and concrete way.

"The Book of Peace" does not rush to unfold a grand war narrative, but instead uses meticulously crafted cinematic language to reconstruct a believable end of the Warring States period.

From the bustling streets and markets of Xianyang, to the simple meals of beans and scallions that ordinary people relied on for sustenance, to the strict etiquette of separate meals in the Wu'an Jun Mansion, and the principles of heaven and earth contained in Go, the series allows global audiences to intuitively feel the height and unique aesthetics of Chinese civilization more than two thousand years ago through its solid restoration of daily details such as diet, living, documents, and elegant gatherings.

Actress Li Xuejian delivered a profound and nuanced performance, portraying Bai Qi as a military strategist who possessed a keen understanding of the world's vicissitudes and complex emotions. His imposing presence left a lasting impression.

Liu Yifei broke away from her previous image, delivering a highly convincing performance that accurately portrayed Gu Nan, a time traveler with a "male soul and female body," as she struggled, sought, and grew in an unfamiliar era, showcasing the character's inner tension.

What is particularly valuable is that the series naturally incorporates Eastern wisdom from Taoist philosophy, such as "overcoming strength with softness" and "striking first after striking last," through plots like Guiguzi teaching the sword. This elevates cultural output beyond simple symbolic display to a life philosophy that can be perceived and contemplated.

It is this confident presentation and in-depth exploration of its own cultural heritage that makes the ancient China depicted in the Taiping Book so captivating.

Viewing data from Netflix and heated discussions on overseas social media demonstrate that solid historical accuracy, superb performing arts, and universal humanistic concern are the core elements that enabled this profound resonance that transcends cultural barriers, providing an inspiring model for telling China's story well.

……

Among the three East Asian countries, the Japanese and South Korean media naturally took notice of this rapidly spreading trend.

The Yomiuri Shimbun's Culture section commented: "The Taiheisho is an amazing reproduction of the 'prototype,' evoking a distant resonance with the Japanese Sengoku spirit."

This Chinese epic drama, with its astonishing research, recreates the common archetype of the Warring States period in the East Asian cultural sphere.

The strict laws of the Qin state, the eloquence of the scholars, and the philosophy of "heart-to-heart" in swordsmanship all gave Japanese viewers a familiar sense of the profound civilization originating from the mainland.

This is different from the story of the Three Kingdoms that we are familiar with. It presents a more ancient, simple, yet more philosophical Chinese history.

Li Xuejian's portrayal of Bai Qi, with its calm yet powerful performance, evokes the style of famous figures in Chinese period dramas.
The strategic universe symbolized by Go in the drama is a part of our cultural heritage that we deeply understand.

The success of the Taiping Book may lie in the fact that it shows us that ancient China, which gave birth to Chinese characters, legal systems, and many cultural roots, was itself a vast and fascinating treasure trove of narratives.

In comparison, the South Korean media seemed a bit sour, especially since "Ball Lightning" was still in its final box office push. Currently, the promotional campaigns for "Ball Lightning" and "Taepyeongseok" in major South Korean cities are more extensive than those for any other domestic art or cultural works.

South Koreans, who have always been proud of exporting the Korean Wave, felt a little uncomfortable.

Commentary from the culture section of the South Korean newspaper JoongAng Ilbo:

The epic drama "The Book of Peace," produced by China at great expense, has sparked a frenzy on global streaming platforms, once again bringing the massive scale of "Chinese culture" to our attention.

We must acknowledge that China possesses a natural advantage that is difficult for us to match in showcasing the grandeur and historical depth of ancient empires:

Its vast territory, long history, and large population naturally fostered the ambition and ability to create such grand narratives. The Warring States period's intellectual ferment and the Qin army's overwhelming formations in the drama represent a kind of great power aesthetic that only China can master.

However, this narrative also highlights the unavoidable central perspective in China's cultural exports, with history seemingly always revolving around the rise and fall of the Central Plains dynasties.

As a country that has been deeply influenced by Chinese culture throughout history and has successfully promoted its own culture to the world in the process of modernization, we are familiar with this, but we should also have a clear understanding of it.

The reason why the Korean Wave has gained a place in the world is precisely because we have taken a different approach, abandoning direct competition in terms of "big" and "ancient", and instead focusing on the "truth, goodness and beauty" of ordinary people.

From the wisdom of food and medicine shown in "Dae Jang Geum" to the pure love story depicted in "Winter Sonata," and the precise capture of the delicate emotions of modern people in numerous family dramas, the core of our success lies in touching the softest part of the hearts of audiences worldwide with exquisite emotional resonance and realistic approach to life.

The success of "The Book of Peace" serves as both a warning and a mirror, reminding us that the "Chinese wave" sparked by director Lu Kuan is using its unparalleled scale to deliver a devastating blow.

However, it also reflects our strengths and direction, and we may find it difficult to compete head-on in the race for historical masterpieces.
But in showcasing the warmth of modern life and exploring the subtle, universal emotions of humanity, the Korean Wave possesses a broader scope and a more agile approach. Facing this historical tide...

We should uphold and strengthen our core competitiveness based on Korean-style emotions, using our "refinement" to counter the other side's "grandeurness," and safeguard our own cultural sphere in the diverse landscape of the global cultural market.

Official media outlets used varying wording, and a number of North American television media outlets began to pay attention to this Chinese drama series with impressive data. However, for the vast majority of viewers, whether Chinese or foreign, they didn't think about all that; their main focus remained on the plot and characters.

The most excited were, of course, Xiao Liu's fans.

"Emi Yi got to where she is today through movies, but to be honest, I prefer her TV dramas. There's no other reason than that she appears in more TV dramas. If it's a series, I can watch it every day, like dating her every day. But now it's only one episode a week, damn it!"

"Um... I admit I'm a laundry detergent, but why do I see a washing machine in Liu Yifei's performance? That 'male soul in female body' acting is so good! Are there any talented writers who can pen a side story about Boss Lu transmigrating into Liu Yifei's body and then having fun with women in the entertainment industry? My email is..."

"I'm blown away by the monologue at the end of the first episode! As the army marches off, she's on horseback, the camera zooms in on her face, without a single line, relying entirely on her eyes and micro-expressions. From fear of history to heartache for her teacher Bai Qi, to anger at her own powerlessness, and finally culminating in that lingering glimmer of light... the layers are breathtakingly rich! Is this the condition of an actress who has just given birth? Her physique and energy are more resilient and powerful than before she had children. She's not recovering; she's evolving!"

There were also ordinary viewers from Japan, South Korea, Europe and the United States who suddenly remembered this female fighter from "A Home Too Far" from Gucci's global endorsement, from "The Book of Peace", and from the tea ceremony videos on YouTube that had been inactive for two years.

Liu Yifei, who had not been seen by Western audiences through films for a long time, has surprisingly started to gain fans among Western audiences again through Netflix and Gucci platforms.

Of course, neither the Taiping Book nor Xiao Liu are RMB or USD, so pessimistic and derogatory opinions and evaluations are inevitable.

A highly upvoted comment on the Taiwan PTT forum reads: "The production is indeed excellent, but isn't the plot a bit too Chinese? It keeps talking about the vast land of China and the unification of the world, which makes it a bit complicated for us to watch."

A reader review on the French newspaper Le Figaro's online platform stated: "Aesthetically impeccable, it's a revival of Oriental classicism. However, as a viewer familiar with Brecht's 'alienation effect,' I couldn't fully engage with it. The series seems overly obsessed with creating a tragic epic feel, lacking sufficient critical perspective to examine this bloody history of imperial expansion. It's beautiful, but seems to lack a touch of modern reflection."

At the same time, amidst the global discussion, the biggest demand from audiences was...

Please update!

You only release one episode a week, and even though it's 90 minutes long, it's still really frustrating to wait for.

Where do the high view counts on Netflix and Zhijie Video come from? Isn't it all because people can't wait to watch it again and then go back to watch it again, and while they're at it, they also engage in some witty banter with the comments section?

Especially after Western netizens learned about the bloodshed of the Battle of Changping, which Liu Yifei was worried about, and the historical fact that Bai Qi was forced to commit suicide in a political struggle because of his great achievements, they were eager to know how Gu Nan would deal with it as a time traveler.

Even though the initial publicity set the tone of "bystander".

After much anticipation, the second episode of "The Book of Peace: Vastness" was finally released on September 1st, domestic time.
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Inside the central command tent, the candlelight flickered. Bai Qi, who had replaced Wang He as commander, did not rush to take charge of the troops. Instead, he immediately held a secret meeting with Wang He that lasted all night.

A detailed military map was spread out on the table. Wang He pointed to the Zhao army's fortifications marked on the map and gave a detailed report on the current stalemate:
After Zhao Kuo succeeded Lian Po, he changed the strategy of holding the line and frequently launched proactive attacks. Although he was repelled several times, his superior troop strength and eagerness for battle grew increasingly urgent. Although the Qin army managed to hold on with the help of terrain and fortifications, its supply lines were long and its morale was showing signs of fatigue.

Li Xuejian, who plays Bai Qi, remains silent as his gaze slowly sweeps across the map, finally settling on a strategic location deep within Zhao's territory known as the "Hundred-Mile Stone Great Wall."

He looked intently at his female apprentice standing to the side: "Gu Nan, given the situation, what would you do if you were Zhao Kuo? What would you do if you were me?"

Gu Nan took a deep breath, knowing that her master was testing her learning over the past year.

Combining modern strategic thinking and analysis, she answered in a deep voice:

"If I were Zhao Kuo, the new commander would be eager to make merits to win over the people, and with the elite troops of Handan, he would surely underestimate our army's fatigue from a long battle. His tactics would definitely rely on the superior number of troops to seek a decisive battle with the main force, attempting to defeat our army in one fell swoop. But his weaknesses are: first, his eagerness to win makes him easy to fall into the trap of luring the enemy deep into his territory; second, his reconnaissance of the strategically important terrain may not be thorough, making him easy to be ambushed."

“If I were the Qin army…” she pointed decisively to the Great Wall beyond the hundred-mile stone wall on the map, “I would feign weakness and rout to lure their main force away from the fortified walls and into this narrow and treacherous terrain. Then I would launch a surprise attack to cut off their retreat, send elite troops to guard the high ground, and divide and surround their hundreds of thousands of troops. Once their supply lines are cut off, even a million strong army will be trapped like turtles in a jar.”

Upon hearing this, Bai Qi and Wang He exchanged a glance, both of their eyes flashing with surprise and admiration.

Gu Nan's strategy not only accurately predicted Zhao Kuo's psychology, but also coincided with Bai Qi's long-planned perilous scheme, and even pointed out the key geographical nodes.

This is how Master Bai Qi, over the past year or so, explained to her the results of dozens of battles, large and small, that only military nobles of this era could possess, using military maps.

Gu Nan was already very familiar with the terrain of the neighboring enemy states, at least under the "befriend distant states and attack nearby ones" policy pursued by the Qin state, not to mention that he had the experience from his previous life to draw upon.

As for Zhao Kuo's defeat, it was already a foregone conclusion once Fan Sui sowed discord among the King of Zhao and the King of Qin secretly dispatched Bai Qi to take over the front-line battle.

But as she watched the conversation between the two Qin generals in the tent, she was thinking about how to protect the surrendered soldiers after Zhao Kuo's defeat, without affecting Bai Qi's strategic goals and his own.

"Good." Bai Qi uttered only one word, yet it carried immense weight.

He then issued a series of concise yet deadly instructions to Wang He:

Each unit feigned defeat and retreated according to the plan, abandoning some of its supplies along the way to show the enemy weakness;

At the same time, elite scouts immediately went out to thoroughly investigate every path and every water source in the area of ​​the Hundred-Mile Stone Great Wall.
The most crucial elite force was composed of trusted generals personally selected by him, secretly mobilized, and prepared to carry out that fatal "severance".

Bai Qi, played by Li Xuejian, suddenly noticed Gu Nan's increasingly pale face and assumed she was cowardly. How could a butcher and strategist from the Warring States period dote on his female apprentice, especially since he knew her skills?

"War is a matter of life and death, a path to survival or destruction. It is not child's play, nor is it mere idle talk. Without seeing blood and experiencing life and death, how can one know the cruelty of war?"
"Wang Jian will lead his elite troops into battle. You will go with him and kill ten enemies before you return to camp."

"Yes!" Gu Nan bowed as Bai Qi's personal guard.

During the pre-Qin period, both "诺" (nuò) and "唯" (wéi) meant to comply, but the latter was more formal and respectful.

Viewers who have read this far may not be very interested in war dramas set in the era of cold weapons; they can simply skip over this section.

However, a significant portion of Western viewers have long heard of the grand scale of the Eastern battlefields and are eager to see for themselves, a prospect that will be reflected in Netflix's upcoming "A Song of Ice and Fire," following "House of Cards":

In the previous generation, fans of the show were fascinated by Tywin Lannister's strategic brilliance, Petyr Baelish's scheming, and the difficult strategic choices faced by Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen.

They are accustomed to analyzing maps, deducing alliances, and understanding people's minds, and derive great intellectual pleasure from these activities.

But how can ancient Chinese warfare be filmed in a way that attracts interested viewers and makes it understandable to them?
After discussing with producer Lu Kuan, the director team decided to use drones for filming. In addition to close-ups of Liu Yifei's character Gu Nan fighting on the battlefield, they turned Bai Qi's instructions, which had left Western audiences confused, into a "real combat sand table".

The drone in the first shot takes a wide-angle aerial view, showing the spectacular yet eerie scene of the Qin army's "feigned defeat": the black army retreats in a "chaotic" manner like a tide, but it is actually organized. The abandoned supplies along the way form a clear "bait" path, pointing directly to the natural trap - the Bailishi Great Wall Canyon.

This image presents Bai Qi's strategy of "luring the enemy deep into our territory" to the audience in the most intuitive geographical and spatial language.

The second shot is a tracking shot, with a drone flying low alongside the main force of the Zhao army charging forward. Under the lens, the Zhao army's flags are waving, and the soldiers are ecstatic with victory in sight. However, the ranks are gradually becoming longer and disjointed due to the rapid pursuit, perfectly illustrating the Qin army's judgment that "those eager for victory are easily ambushed."

This dynamic tracking filming makes the audience feel as if they are on the scene, experiencing Zhao Jun's gradual descent into the death trap.

Finally, in the third locked shot, after the main force of the Zhao army has completely entered the canyon, the key shot focuses on a Qin army surprise force that has silently moved to the canyon exit.

The drone captured the entire process from the mountaintop perspective: they used ropes and their bare hands to scale the cliff, ultimately seizing the pass and cutting off Zhao's retreat. This series of shots, calm yet full of tension, vividly demonstrates the tactical essence of "using surprise attacks to cut off the retreat route" without any narration.

This "sky-eye" perspective transcends the limitations of traditional ground-based photography, presenting the strategic vision, terrain utilization, and tactical deception of ancient Chinese military strategists with a clarity comparable to modern satellite maps. This allows global audiences to understand the ingenuity and terror of this battle as if reading a sand table simulation.

This tactic of luring the enemy deep into enemy territory, combined with court intrigue, was merely one of the most common strategic tactics in the history of ancient Chinese warfare.

If the drone perspective analyzes Bai Qi's strategic art from a macro perspective, then the close-up shots of Gu Nan that follow show the audience, from a micro perspective, the most real and cruel individual experience of warfare in the era of cold weapons, and how Gu Nan completes a crucial gender identity transition and psychological tempering in this environment.

Although she felt compassion for the 400,000 Zhao soldiers who were about to face a tragic fate, she was still a disciple of the Qin general Bai Qi. Given her position, she had no choice but to fight desperately to protect herself.

This is the helplessness of an individual facing historical inertia and the overwhelming trend of the times.

As Bai Qi's close follower, Gu Nan was better equipped than ordinary soldiers. She wore lamellar armor made of leather and metal and a bronze helmet with a red plume, which was a mark of a junior officer or an elite soldier.

Her primary weapon was not a longsword, but a halberd over two meters long, a spear-like thrusting weapon. This was the mainstream weapon on the battlefields of the Warring States period, where chariot and infantry warfare were mixed, and it was advantageous for mid-range combat while mounted or in formation. The longsword, on the other hand, was worn at the waist as a secondary weapon for close-quarters self-defense and was only used in extremely confined and chaotic battles.

The close-up shots follow the female protagonist closely, and what comes into view is the deafening shouts of killing, the piercing noise of clashing weapons, the neighing of warhorses, and the wails of the dying. The smell of blood and dust is almost suffocating.

Liu Yifei's performance was also quite nuanced, from the initial physical fear of being pale and breathing rapidly, to being swept up by the fanaticism of the surrounding soldiers, and finally to the instinct for survival overriding everything.

The actress also made sacrifices in this TV series, her face covered in mud and dark, completely immersing herself in the role of a male soldier. Her face was distorted from exertion, her hair was stuck to her forehead with sweat and blood, and she no longer let out a delicate shout but a roar like a wild beast.

She gripped the halberd tightly with both hands, no longer performing an elegant sword dance, but instead unleashing the simplest and most brutal thrusts, sweeps, and parries.

Her movements were devoid of any fancy techniques, solely aimed at killing the enemy and preserving herself as quickly as possible. Every tremor from the blade piercing flesh, every splash of warm blood on her face, sent shivers down her spine instinctively.

Gu Nan's personal training will not change the overall course of the battle. Under the intertwined narrative of the drone's macro perspective and Gu Nan's micro experience, the Battle of Changping moves precisely and ruthlessly toward its end along the trajectory jointly deduced by Bai Qi and Gu Nan.

However, a very thorny problem now faces the Qin army:

How should we deal with these 400,000 surrendered soldiers?
This is also the big hook left for Chinese and foreign audiences in the last episode.

Even though domestic audiences already knew from the long filming period and publicity that Gu Nan was more like a "camera" witnessing history, no time traveler would not try to change history, especially when faced with such a life-threatening disaster under universal values.

What will she do? What can she do?
The camera cuts to the pitch-black night.

The stench of blood from the Changping battlefield had not yet dissipated when Gu Nan, exhausted, hurried back to the central army camp from the front lines where the battlefield was being cleared.

After the battle, the soldiers had to collect weapons, take stock of the spoils, bury their fallen comrades, and guard the surrendered soldiers. These brutal "cleanup" tasks gave her a more direct understanding of the devastation of war, but also wasted her time.

Liu Yifei's character, Gu Nan, didn't even have time to remove her blood-stained armor or toss the unsettling enemy left ear, which served as proof of her military merit, to the officer before heading straight to find Bai Qi.

When she arrived, the meeting outside the military tent seemed to have just ended. The generals dispersed with solemn expressions, leaving only the young Wang Jian by Bai Qi's side. The young Wang Jian was played by Wang Lei, a young actor from the Beijing People's Art Theatre (the one who said "If you're nice to me, I'll beat you up").

According to research, Bai Qi was about sixty years old when he was forced to commit suicide (around 257 BC), while Wang Jian was an old general when Qin Shi Huang was preparing to attack the State of Chu (around 225 BC). Wang Jian was too old to be adopted by Qin Shi Huang's advice.

According to the ancients' concept of old age, if we assume that Wang Jian was about sixty years old at this time, then when Bai Qi died (in 257 BC), Wang Jian was probably around thirty years old or younger.

This is the main basis for the production team's decision to cast Wang Jian, who was under thirty years old during the Battle of Changping, and to choose Wang Lei.

He made an appearance in the first episode, but his role here is more significant.

Gu Nan stepped into the tent, his breath still uneven, and asked urgently, "Master, the Zhao army has surrendered. What should be done with those hundreds of thousands of surrendered soldiers?"

She still harbored a sliver of hope, hoping for a turnaround.

Li Xuejian, who plays Bai Qi, did not look up, but continued to stare at the map on the table, as if it had a magic power to draw people's hearts in.

He didn't even lift his eyelids, his voice low and hoarse, filled with weariness and indifference: "How should we deal with this? If you can't guess, then you've wasted this year of learning. And the terror of human warfare you just experienced has also been for nothing."

The Warring States Butcher under the lamp said softly, "If you really can't guess it, or if you guess it but don't want to do it, it's better to die on the battlefield."

"Otherwise, you'll find yourself facing far too many deadly situations in the future."

A few lines of dialogue that gave the audience goosebumps vividly portrayed the ruthlessness of war. Bai Qi, played by Li Xuejian, is perhaps an old man and a good teacher who occasionally shows some warmth towards his family in the first episode.

Ultimately, however, he was a military nobleman of the feudal empire, a general who would sacrifice everything to achieve strategic goals.

Of course, deep down, she also harbored a long-cherished wish to entrust her child to Gu Nan.

These words pierced Gu Nan's heart like an ice pick.

She and all the viewers in front of the television understood Bai Qi's meaning: in the Warring States period, especially in the current desperate situation, killing those who surrendered was almost the only "reasonable" choice.

But she was not willing to give up!
Liu Yifei, who plays Gu Nan, takes a deep breath and lays out her long-considered plan, her speech slightly hurried due to her eagerness:

“Master! Killing those who surrender... is not only inhumane, but also the worst policy! Hundreds of thousands of able-bodied men are excellent laborers! Could we emulate the strategy of ‘dividing and weakening, and relocating the most important people’ that King Wu used after conquering King Zhou?”

"Or perhaps we could select the strongest and most capable, tattoo their faces, and send them to Qin as convicts to perform hard labor, such as building canals and roads, thus replacing punishment with labor? This would both deplete their strength and enhance Qin's national power. Even with all the difficulties, it would be far better than slaughtering them all, cutting ourselves off from the world, and forging a blood feud between us and the six states east of the mountains!"

Within the Qin state, there were several water conservancy projects that required constant repair, excavation, and maintenance, such as the Zheng Guo Canal, which was the only solution Gu Nan could think of.

Seeing that Bai Qi did not respond, she proceeded to describe in detail several supporting plans.

One approach was political inducement to surrender, taking advantage of the divide between the elite troops from Handan brought by Zhao Kuo and the local soldiers, and recruiting other lower-ranking soldiers and young officers.
Secondly, they used war to sustain war, organizing the elite among the surrendered soldiers into "vanguard battalions," promising them heavy rewards after the war, and ordering them to participate in the cleanup of the remaining forces of Zhao or the next military action against Han and Wei.
The third is the aforementioned "using labor instead of killing".

A deathly silence fell over the tent.

Bai Qi remained silent, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table. The candlelight flickered in his deep eyes, and no one could fathom the turbulent emotions churning within him.

Gu Nan's plan was also a fleeting thought he had once had.
However, its benefits are far-reaching, while its drawbacks are imminent and dangerous.

But facing him was a successor who knew his later years were unlucky and whom he was preparing to entrust with his ideals, putting Bai Qi in a dilemma.

It's not a dilemma about the actual situation, but rather a dilemma arising from the choices made by the time traveler, Gu Nan.

Just when Gu Nan was almost in despair, Bai Qi slowly spoke, his voice hoarse: "...As you say. Wang Jian, go and do it immediately, try...to differentiate and identify usable labor."

This was almost a decision that went against his lifelong principles.

Perhaps it was a final expectation for his disciples, or perhaps it was a brief awakening of human compassion after a great victory;
Or perhaps, he simply wanted to see if this faint flame could truly ignite, because of this person he valued who was born with knowledge.

"Lord Wu'an! No! Absolutely not!" Upon hearing this, Wang Jian's expression changed drastically. He disregarded the hierarchy and urgently tried to dissuade him, his tone filled with disbelief and panic.

Gu Nan was taken aback, then a surge of anger at being obstructed welled up within him: "Why does General Wang object? Do you think that burying hundreds of thousands of surrendered soldiers alive is a good strategy? Isn't this a violation of natural law and damage to the reputation of our Great Qin?!"

Looking at the woman before him, who was as brave as a tiger on the battlefield but seemed somewhat "naive" at this moment, Wang Jian felt both anxious and angry, yet he couldn't directly express the most cruel political calculations.

He glared fiercely at Gu Nan, then clasped his hands tightly to Bai Qi, his words carrying a hidden meaning as he urgently said, "Lord Wu'an! This is absolutely not a good strategy! It's not that I'm heartless, but... it's that the times don't allow it!"

"Such actions will likely lead to endless troubles, and will not bring blessings to the country, much less... much less to the ruler!"

He deliberately avoided sensitive words such as "self-defilement," but his anxiety was palpable.

Bai Qi raised his hand to stop Wang Jian from saying anything more.

He looked at Gu Nan deeply, his eyes filled with a complex and unfathomable expression, a mixture of expectation, helplessness, and a heavy weariness, as if he had foreseen the ending.

He said nothing more, but got up and slowly walked out of the tent, leaving the heavy decision and silent pressure to the two people inside.

Gu Nan watched Bai Qi's departing figure, then looked at Wang Jian, whose face was still grim. She was filled with confusion and a hint of resentment at being misunderstood. She wasn't naive enough to question Wang Jian about his humanity, but she really couldn't understand the reason behind it.

Wang Jian looked at her, and finally just sighed heavily, his voice extremely low, yet every word struck Gu Nan's heart like a hammer blow:
"Gu Nan... your intentions may be good. But do you know that you are... killing your master!"

Gu Nan was struck dumb, standing there stunned.

She... killed her master?
why?
This time, viewers around the world watching on television were also puzzled: why would this have led to Bai Qi's death?
Perhaps only Chinese viewers who have carefully watched the first episode can glimpse a corner of the truth from some clues that were not fully explained and left open to interpretation:
The fundamental reason for Bai Qi's eventual death was that he had reached the pinnacle of his power and his achievements overshadowed the emperor, leaving him with no further rewards to bestow. Fan Ju, the key figure who led to his death, was merely carrying out the will of King Zhaoxiang of Qin, played by Chen Daoming.

Bai Qi's killing of surrendered soldiers was a political task he had to undertake out of necessity.

Releasing them would be tantamount to aiding the enemy; keeping them would cripple the country; adapting them would mean they cannot be trusted.

The only solution was to "bury the dead alive," which was the most thorough and left no room for future troubles, and also the best way to show the King of Qin that he had no political ambitions.

This action would bring him eternal infamy, making it impossible for him to ever gain a foothold in the State of Zhao or any other state.

The proud Bai Qi refused to emulate other Warring States generals who took concubines, acquired land, and built houses, thus defiling his reputation. This act of self-defamation was a top-tier example, and from then on, he would become a highly controversial figure in Chinese history.

But why did he agree to Gu Nan's proposal? Knowing the situation was so dangerous?

The audience at the moment is unaware of this, because he wanted to entrust his long-cherished wish for lasting peace to this exceptionally talented disciple who was born with innate knowledge.

And this is the first lesson Bai Qi, played by Li Xuejian, teaches her, knowing she can never escape the shackles of fate.

If you want to wear the crown, you must bear its weight; if you want to walk the great path, you must understand darkness.

Bai Qi's tacit approval of Gu Nan's attempt was not out of wishful thinking, but rather to make her experience it firsthand in the most brutal way:
In the game of power, naivety and kindness are not only luxuries, but can also be deadly poisons.

He had long foreseen that Fan Ju's accusations and the King of Qin's suspicions would not be eliminated. What he asked Gu Nan to do was to let her witness firsthand the process of "idealism" crashing headfirst into the iron wall of realpolitik.

Bai Qi felt a long-lost maternal affection and tenderness for his tomboyish female disciple, which was the survival skill he wanted to teach her before his death.

Gu Nan quickly came to understand the cruelty of the world and the times.

Just as Bai Qi was under pressure and attempted to differentiate and screen the surrendered soldiers to a limited extent, and reported to the court, the decrees from Xianyang arrived like a sudden storm.

This time, it was no longer the vague "quick resolution of the Zhao matter," but a series of more than a dozen edicts with increasingly severe wording and more specific content, like invisible nooses tightening around Bai Qi, who was far away in Changping.

This reflects the shared suspicion between Fan Ju, who held the power of prime minister, and the King of Qin regarding Bai Qi.

The repeated appearances of imperial edicts and their translations in the TV series gradually chilled viewers, leading them to a clearer understanding of historical reality.

Initially, he merely expressed concern in the voice of the King of Qin about the shortage of food supplies and the spread of plague at the front, urging Bai Qi to "make a decisive decision for the sake of the overall situation."
Then he began to give specific instructions on military deployment, demanding that troops be stationed in different areas and generals be sent back to reinforce. This seemed reasonable, but in reality, it was intended to disperse Bai Qi's military power and to plant spies.

As Gu Nan's plan was being implemented with difficulty, some of Bai Qi's generals began to oppose and clamor against it. Some of them were even promised great benefits by Fan Ju, who spread the news in advance that they would "kill prisoners," which caused a change in the military camp and forced Bai Qi to make a quick decision.

You, Bai Qi, are destined to bear the infamy of massacring 400,000 surrendered soldiers!
Along with the final imperial edict came a letter from Lady Bai Qi. Even Gu Nan, who desperately wanted to save the 400,000 lives, had to grieve deeply and accept the reality of being threatened as he looked at his master's wife's handwriting.

Master has no way out.

The King of Qin sternly rebuked the surrendered soldiers for their "slow handling, which caused unrest in the army and unusual celestial phenomena," and clearly ordered that "all surrendered soldiers who are as tall as a cartwheel should be buried alive to prevent future troubles!"

The "massacre" tragedy in the Book of Peace is presented metaphorically, without using direct bloody scenes, but rather through sound, light and shadow and symbolism to create a suffocating tragic atmosphere.

The night was pitch black, with only a deathly silence, occasionally broken by the rustling of earth rolling and suppressed sobs, as if someone were choking on their own mouth. This silence was more chilling than any scream.

The camera lingered around the edge of the pit, without directly filming the horrific scene inside.

Only the flickering light of the torches illuminated the numb faces of the Qin soldiers at the edge of the pit, and their mechanical figures as they swung shovels to fill the pit. The light and shadow cast huge shadows on the pit walls, symbolizing the merciless swallowing of life.

The camera pans across the surrounding world; the moonlight is pale, the cold wind howls, and the world is moved.

Then came one or two brief aerial shots from a drone, showing a huge pit like a scar on the earth, while the busy figures around the pit were as small as ants, highlighting the powerlessness of individuals in the face of historical tragedy.

Just one day after killing the surrendered soldiers, Bai Qi received his final imperial edict:
"Lord Wu'an, Bai Qi, shall immediately lay down his armor, travel light and with few attendants, and return to Xianyang to report on his achievements. The military affairs at the front shall be temporarily handled by Generals Wang He and Wang Jian."

At this moment, Gu Nan, who was receiving the imperial decree along with the senior military officers, was horrified when he saw his master's calm expression under the firelight of the camp, who did not even blink when faced with the deaths of 400,000 surrendered soldiers!

Through flashbacks, viewers worldwide, including the belatedly realizing Gu Nan, finally understood the meaning of Wang Jian's words, "You will kill your master!"

She originally intended to use the prophecy of the time traveler to change history, save 400,000 lives, and also try to reverse Bai Qi's fate;
However, the kindness without power not only failed to save lives, but also became perfect evidence for Fan Ju to attack Bai Qi for being "hesitant and indecisive," accelerating the King of Qin's suspicion and purge of Bai Qi!
Not only did she fail to save the surrendered soldiers, she may have personally pushed her mentor into an abyss of death earlier and more imminent than in history!
This immense, ironic sense of defeat and guilt, like ice water poured over her head, instantly brought her to her senses, plunging her into unprecedented pain and confusion.

The inertia of history is so powerful that individual efforts seem so insignificant and laughable under the wheels of time and the strangulation of power, and may even backfire.

Gu Nan trembled under the shadow of history, illuminated by the flames. The camera flashed back to the perilous situation she faced on the battlefield during the day, with the overhead camera rotating and zooming out.

Then, just like the ending of the first episode, a monologue foreshadows the end of this episode.

As Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Bibo no Aozora" began to play, Liu Yifei walked heavily toward the old man's tent by the solitary lamp. She pondered from the perspective of a time traveler, her voice both cold and beautiful:
"Who killed these 400,000 people?"

A long, drawn-out note in the music, like a question from fate, echoed in the night sky.

"Is it Bai Qi?... The master who taught me swordsmanship, fed me, and now personally signed the massacre order? He is the murderer. His sword is stained with blood."

"Is it Fan Ju?... The prime minister who wove a web of words in the Xianyang Palace? He is the murderer. His tongue is sharper than a knife."

"Is it the King of Qin?... The monarch who sits on the supreme throne and decides the life and death of hundreds of thousands of people with a mere nod? He is the murderer. His power, heavy as a thousand pounds, crushed countless lives."

The music melody exhibits subtle fluctuations, like tangled thoughts, carrying a barely perceptible tremor.

"Even...me?"

"Is it my laughable, self-righteous kindness that I thought could turn the tide?"

"Is it my condescending pity from two thousand years in the future?"

"Was it me... who handed them a sharper knife?"

The music gradually became somber, and the chords became heavy, as if carrying an unspeakable weight.

"We are all killing people."

"Bai Qi used military orders, Fan Ju used slander, and the King of Qin used royal power..."

"And I... am using my naiveté."

……

Viewers in front of their televisions were lost in thought as the highly immersive storyline unfolded, then Ryuichi Sakamoto's piano music faded into a chilling silence. It was as if even the heavens and earth were holding their breath in the face of this cruel truth.

The camera focused intently on Liu Yifei's face, and all the blood and mud couldn't hide her paleness.

Those eyes, once as sharp as a hawk's on the battlefield, were now just huge hollows and a sense of emptiness, as if all strength had been drained away.

There were no tears, not even a clear expression of pain, only a utterly despondent calm after one's understanding had been completely overturned.

Like a puppet pulled by invisible threads, she walked heavily toward the central command tent, which was lit by a faint candlelight.

Inside the tent, Bai Qi, played by Li Xuejian, sat alone behind a table, not wearing armor, but only dressed in a plain dark robe.

By the candlelight, he was slowly and meticulously wiping the sword that had accompanied him in battle for many years. His movements were gentle and his expression focused, as if the tragedy that had claimed hundreds of thousands of lives was no different from wiping a beloved object.

"Do you understand?" The old man didn't look up.

"I understand now, but it's too late."

“I’m late, but you’re not.” Li Xuejian’s signature hoarse voice chuckled, “You have innate wisdom, so you must accept destiny.”

Bai Qi gently put the cleaned sword back into its sheath with a soft "click".

He stood up, stretched his stiff shoulders, and his tone suddenly became somewhat casual, even carrying a hint of muttering about everyday matters:

"Tomorrow, come back to Xianyang with me."

He seemed lost in some kind of memory, his gaze fixed on the empty darkness outside the tent, his facial features softening, and the decisive and ruthless demeanor of the Marquis of Wu'an quietly fading away.

"Let me think..." Bai Qi, played by Li Xuejian, murmured to himself, his fingers unconsciously tracing patterns on the table. "We'll enter through... Yongmen."

When he mentioned Yongmen, his eyes lit up slightly, as if recalling some warm memories. He turned to look at Gu Nan, his eyes overflowing with paternal affection.
"That place... was it the first time I saw you, tomboy, all dusty and dirty?"

A faint but genuine smile even appeared on his lips, as if time had reversed, and he saw the stubborn yet disheveled Gu Nan outside Xianyang City, trying to steal his millet cakes.

“Perfect timing…” he continued, his tone becoming lighter, “Buy a few more golden corn cakes for your teacher’s wife; she loves them.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the candlelight inside the tent crackled softly.

From the moment Gu Nan, played by Liu Yifei, enters the camp, she is always facing away from the camera, so the audience cannot see her face, nor does she need to see her face.

The image freezes here, then gradually darkens.

The mournful melody of the ending theme quietly rises, crushing this heavy and unspoken tenderness, along with the still-bloodied battlefield outside the window, under the wheels of history.

The lingering aftertaste is desolate.

(End of this chapter)