Huayu is here for you

Chapter 166 Red Cliffs

On the evening of July 3, 2008, the global premiere ceremony of the film "Red Cliff", co-organized by China Film Group and Kyoto Television, was finally held as scheduled at Wuhou Temple in Sichuan Province.

After a light rain, the Wuhou Temple, nestled among green trees, with its vermilion walls and flying eaves, complements the vibrant red carpet perfectly, revealing a new and dazzling atmosphere amidst its 1500-year-old ancient elegance.

At the premiere, the entire cast and crew of "Red Cliff" walked the red carpet one after another, attracting frequent flashes of media cameras and cheers from fans.

Director Wu Yusen and actors Liang Chaowei, Lin Chih-ling, Zhang Fengyi, Zhang Zhen, Hu Jun, Xiao Yanzi, Tong Dawei, Xiao Songjia, and others—although they have been tirelessly promoting "Red Cliff" across the country for days, still looked radiant today.

Charm soars.

Lin Chih-ling, in a purple long dress, accentuated her perfect figure, and her every move still exuded the gentle elegance of the beautiful Xiao Qiao. Xiao Yanzi's red short dress and Xiao Song Jia's green long dress also left a deep impression on everyone.

Tony Leung still retains the deep charm that everyone is familiar with, but actor Zhang Fengyi is even more sparing with words than Tony Leung, never answering interviews with more than three words, and still maintaining the imposing presence of "Cao Cao" in the movie.

Also appearing on the red carpet were Han Sanping, former chairman of China Film Group Corporation, renowned director Chen Kexin, and renowned director Huang Jianxin.

Olympic champion Zhang Shan and other social celebrities.

And Lin Yu, who flew for more than three hours and then took a car for more than an hour, and several key members of the "Wanted" crew.

As soon as Lin Yu and the others walked down the red carpet, Cheng Long greeted them and then quietly went backstage. Clearly, he was going to go on stage later, although Lin Yu didn't know what he was going to do.

But aside from publicity and appearances, there probably isn't much else to do.

In addition, dozens of earthquake relief heroes and armed police officers were invited to the premiere. When they walked neatly down the red carpet, the theme of "Red Cliff" today, which brought together heroes from ancient and modern times, was instantly elevated.

"Hehe—these big shots really know how to have fun!" Lin Yu couldn't help but sigh as he watched the scene.

Sitting next to Lin Yu, Miss Liu nodded slightly. "Yes, senior, apart from 'The Martian,' I haven't seen you pay much attention to movie premieres. These directors really have a lot of ideas! Hehe—I just wonder if they're even useful?"

"The show is about to begin—"

After the red carpet and Q&A session, the premiere ceremony began with a variety of performances, which were divided into four parts: "Presenting Heroes," "Discussing Heroes," "Appreciating Heroes," and "Praising Heroes." These performances were quite culturally and artistically sophisticated.

The flowing water sleeves and the clear, melodious music will transport the audience into a rich and beautiful historical atmosphere.

Anyway, Lin Yu and Miss Liu watched with great interest, and just for these few episodes, Lin Yu felt that the trip was worthwhile.

As for the movie—well, it doesn't really matter whether I watch it or not!

However, the premiere also revealed some precious behind-the-scenes footage from the movie "Red Cliff". In addition to the stunning looks of the main characters of the Three Kingdoms, many magnificent battle scenes shocked the audience. Whether it was horse battles, naval battles or close-quarters combat, they all demonstrated director Wu Yusen's masterful control of Wu's war aesthetics.

The famous battle that took place 1800 years ago is fully restored to its historical texture. In the 1300-year-old Wuhou Temple, the real battle shouts seem to be right in your ears, giving people a sense of being there.

This fueled the anticipation of the audience and media for the film's actual plot. However, Lin Yu was not among them.

However, if Lin Yu hasn't seen the complete plot, he could easily be fooled by these clips and might think that the movie is indeed well-made.

Furthermore, there was a special segment during the premiere: the "Red Cliff" film crew, together with the China Film Producers Association, donated a film-themed Hope School as a special gift to the people of Sichuan Province, expressing their respect and support for the brave and optimistic people of Sichuan.

After a series of preludes, the film officially began. Lin Yu didn't know if the premiere of "Red Cliff" in his previous life had shown the full movie, but in this life it had.

The plot is the same plot, and the flavor is the same flavor!

Zhuge Liang: "Tomorrow I will go to Jiangdong to persuade Sun Quan to join us in resisting Cao Cao."

Liu Bei affectionately handed Zhuge Liang a large bowl of white rice, saying, "The journey to Eastern Wu is long and requires strength. Here, eat more—"

Zhou Yu: "Why are you fanning yourself in this cold weather?"

Zhuge Liang: "I need to remain calm at all times."

Xiao Qiao: "Zhou Lang hasn't played the zither in a long time."

Zhuge Liang: "It's been a long time since I've been this agitated."

Xiao Qiao: "You two will definitely get along." (What kind of logic led to this conclusion?)

Cao Cao was staring blankly at Xiao Qiao's portrait when a minister stepped forward and said, "Prime Minister, excessive desires and excessive daydreaming can also cause headaches."

Cao: "Haven't you heard that desire makes one young?"

By this point, many viewers had already realized, "This isn't some serious historical drama at all; it's clearly a pretty good comedy movie!"

The young woman next to Lin Yu was watching the big screen, her shoulders shaking from time to time, afraid that she would laugh out loud.

And the most exciting part—

The little horse stuck out one leg, and Xiao Qiao pulled it out desperately.

Zhuge Liang: "You can't force it out—I'll do it!"

Zhou Yu exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, you know about this too?"

Zhuge Liang's eyes darted around, and he smiled, "I know a little. I've delivered cows before—"

Xiao Qiao asked Zhou Yu, "The little one doesn't have a name yet!"

Zhou Yu: "It was born in Jingchu, so it should have a Jingchu name. Uh—how about we call it 'Mengmeng'?"

After the baby horse was born, our dear and beautiful Xiao Qiao called out in a sweet voice, "Mengmeng, stand up, stand up—"

Upon seeing this, Miss Liu couldn't help but burst out, "Pfft—Hehehe! Senior brother! What the heck is this? Why would you choose such a name?"

Lin Yu also wanted to laugh at this moment, but after seeing it more than once, he still had some resistance.

"Hehe—Sissi, that's not right of you. You could tolerate all those funny lines before, so why can't you hold back when it comes to this part that fits the plot?"

Miss Liu was a little confused by Lin Yu's words.

"What?! This is a war! The Three Kingdoms! How exactly does the name 'Mengmeng' fit this description?" Miss Liu asked incredulously.

Lin Yu smiled slightly, the moment to show off had arrived. "The Book of Rites once said: 'In this month, the vital energy is at its peak, the yang energy is released, the buds are all born, and the sprouts are all expressed.'"

Zheng Xuan, a prominent scholar during the Three Kingdoms period, also wrote annotations on the *Book of Rites*, mentioning in his commentary:

"A sentence, meaning a life that is crooked and weak; a sprout that is straight and upright."

Miss Liu stared at Lin Yu, who seemed to exude an air of scholarship, for a long time with some surprise, before finally shaking her head. "Senior brother, I don't understand!"

"Let me put it another way!" Lin Yu said after thinking for a moment, "The 'meng' here refers to newly sprouted plants, which are upright, implying that Zhou Yu will not submit to Cao Cao."

When Zhou Yu saw the horse being born, he thought of the sprouting of plants and the arrival of new life, so he named it Mengmeng (meaning "cute").

Moreover, Zhou Yu was not just a reckless strategist; he was also a learned intellectual with considerable knowledge and cultivation, so it was only natural that he could draw upon classical texts to come up with the name "Mengmeng".

At the same time, calling the warhorse "Mengmeng" also indicates that Zhou Yu will not compromise his principles and will not yield to others. This word puzzle implies that Zhou Yu will definitely support the Sun-Liu alliance and fight Cao Cao to the death.

Furthermore, the name "Mengmeng" is a homophone for "alliance," implying that the Jingchu (Wu-Shu alliance) needed the support of its allies. This meaning also emphasizes the importance of the Wu-Shu alliance and the significance of this war in maintaining peace and stability in the Jingchu region.

Furthermore, Chibi is located around Mengzhu Ridge, which historically belonged to the southern Yue region of Jingzhou and was under the jurisdiction of the State of Chu during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Later, during the Han and Three Kingdoms periods, this area was incorporated into the territory of Sun Quan's State of Wu. Therefore, the name "Mengmeng" reflects the historical background and cultural significance of Chibi and its surrounding area.

Miss Liu watched her senior brother speaking eloquently in a low voice, her eyes filled with admiration.

"Senior, you know way too much! Is there anything else?"

"Of course there's more. Was all that research done before your senior brother came for nothing? Just to see what you look like now!" Lin Yu thought to himself, "I think this word 'cute' in the movie not only represents the Jingchu region, but also symbolizes the interests of the people and the country. This shows that the Battle of Red Cliffs was not just a military conflict, but a battle for the happiness and well-being of the people of Jingchu."

Furthermore, in our daily lives, the word "萌" (meng) is sometimes used to describe small and cute things, and it also carries a sense of special affection and intimacy.

In the movie, Zhou Yu named the foal "Mengmeng," which may have expressed his special love and affection for the little life.

Therefore, Ms. Liu, in conclusion, naming the horse "Mengmeng" in the movie "Red Cliff" is not only because of its cuteness and affection, but also to more profoundly imply the importance of the Wu-Shu alliance, the historical and cultural background of the Red Cliff region, and the deeper meaning behind the war—fighting for the well-being of the people of Jingchu.

"Surely you understand now?" Lin Yu licked his dry lips and asked finally.

At this moment, Miss Liu had completely transformed into a little fangirl, "Yes, yes, I understand, senior brother, you're amazing."

Before Lin Yu could even gloat, Miss Liu's admiring expression immediately turned to doubt. "Wait a minute, senior brother, how come I didn't know you were so knowledgeable about this? You didn't secretly do your research before coming here, did you?"

Lin Yu was immediately stunned. "Holy crap, I've been seen through?"

"Hiss—that doesn't make sense either! You didn't know there was such a name in the movie, so it doesn't make sense. This is strange. Could it be that you're really interested in this, senior brother? Have you been secretly reading related books?" Miss Liu took a deep breath and asked.

Seeing the suspicious look on Miss Liu's face, Lin Yu awkwardly rubbed his nose. "Uh—yes, I've seen it occasionally. I just happened to see something related to this, so I remembered it. Focus on the movie, Qianqian, the plot is almost over."

After listening to Lin Yu's explanation, Miss Liu thought about it and agreed that it was true. Surely no one could predict the future?

The only thing Lin Yu found acceptable about "Red Cliff" was its cast, which included more than just handsome men, beautiful women, and veteran actors.

When Sun Quan, Liu Bei, and Cao Cao were fighting at the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao was 54 years old, Liu Bei was 48 years old, Zhou Yu was 34 years old, Zhuge Liang was 28 years old, Sun Quan was 27 years old, and Xiao Qiao was 8 years younger than Zhou Yu, at 26 years old.

The casting choices largely took into account the actual ages of the historical figures, which is considered a good selection.

Although Lin Yu has some doubts about Lin Chih-ling's acting skills, her looks are still very striking.

Moreover, according to Wu Yusen, when he made the film "Red Cliff", he wanted to extract the selling points of commercial films such as violence, intrigue, war, and sex from the historical event. This behavior was also a way of making full preparations to please the audience.

For a commercial blockbuster, this creative approach is correct.

Furthermore, in order to cater to the Olympic Games held in China, "Red Cliff" also echoed the Olympic events, including football, pole vaulting, hurdles, javelin throwing, and archery.

But Lin Yu said: He put his heart into it, but he didn't use it in the right way!

Soon, the film came to an end.

Han Sanping, Wu Yusen, and others also went on stage together to share their final thoughts after the film ended.

Before leaving, Jackie Chan went on stage to support the film.

However, he did remember to promote Lin Yu's "Wanted" along the way, which surprised Lin Yu a little.

Only Jackie Chan would dare to promote his own movie at someone else's movie premiere.

However, the effect was quite good, and the audience's response was very enthusiastic. Lao Han and Wu Yusen did not show much embarrassment, which suggests that they must have been informed in advance.

After all, this machine can't just stand there for nothing, right?

As for the banquet, Lin Yu decided to attend this time, after all, the film has a large cast, and Lao Han has put a lot of effort into it.

That's an investment of several hundred million! Although Lin Yu didn't know exactly how much Lao Han had invested, it shouldn't be a small amount.

As soon as the banquet began, the moment Miss Liu entered arm in arm with Lin Yu, the two of them became the focus of everyone's attention.

For a time, countless celebrities and big shots came up to greet Lin Yu. It took ten minutes before Lin Yu and Ms. Liu finally reached the seats arranged for them by the organizers.

And their seats were "coincidentally" at the same table as Lao Han.

"Chairman Han, it's been a long time! You seem to be getting healthier and healthier." Lin Yu raised a glass of red wine to greet Han Sanping. "Hehe—Little Lin! You're quite the figure now, an internationally sought-after director. We old folks probably won't even be able to see your back in a few years." Han Sanping said with a smile:

Lin Yu narrowed his eyes: "What are you saying? I will always be a junior to you."

>