Chapter 167

"What? Acting as a Japanese devil?"

"You're saying a common civilian defeated you in hand-to-hand combat?"

"What did you say? The director fought ten men alone and beat you into submission?"

"What did you say? Your wife died? Oh no, Li Li Yunlong's wife died?"

"Send me the script immediately!"

A long while later, He He Weiguo wiped his reddened eyes and grabbed the phone on the desk.

"Connect me to the Theater Command Army Staff Department!"

……

Eastern Theater Command Army Headquarters.

A middle-aged man hung up the phone and turned on his computer.

Then he began to read the script word by word.

The further he read, the brighter the light in his eyes became.

After pondering for a long time, he stood up and walked into another office.

"Commander, Political Commissar, I have an idea..."

……

A few hours later, the Eastern Theater Command Army Headquarters suddenly issued an order.

This order was immediately conveyed to every department at headquarters, as well as the several subordinate group armies.

Everyone who saw this order was stunned.

If not for the big red seal of the headquarters on the document, everyone would have thought it was a prank.

Because this order was simply too inexplicable.

"Order from the Eastern Theater Command Army Headquarters!"

"To the Eastern Theater Command Army Headquarters organs, all group armies, and all directly managed departments:"

"Immediately tally the list of personnel in your unit under 170cm in height and under 60kg in weight, and summarize it to the Eastern Theater Command Army Staff Department!"

The commanding officers of every unit were dumbfounded.

What the hell is this? Why did the Staff Department suddenly issue such an order?

Are they trying to select some kind of special force?

But if they really wanted to select a special force, shouldn't they be picking the strong ones, the kings of soldiers?

Under 170cm tall, under 60kg in weight?

Aren't these all just rookies and weaklings?

What do you want these people for?

I'm numb... I'm just numb...

In a hall filled with screens, dozens of soldiers were nervously operating computers.

Someone pushed the door open, scanned the room, and said loudly.

"Tang Tang Tang Xiaojia!"

"Present!"

A thin, frail-looking major wearing nearsighted glasses stood up and said loudly.

"According to orders from superiors, you are required to hand over your current work immediately and report to the Theater Command Army Staff Department tomorrow morning!"

"Yes!" the major replied loudly, then asked suspiciously.

"Captain, is there a mission? Do I need to carry any equipment?"

"No need!" The captain shook his head.

"Just go yourself; someone will make arrangements when you get there. I don't know what the specific mission is either."

"Alright, hurry up and hand over your work."

After speaking, he turned and walked out.

Someone nearby leaned over and whispered.

"Tang Tang Xiaojia, are you going on some secret mission?"

Before Tang Tang Tang Xiaojia could reply, someone nearby laughed.

"What department are we? The Electronic Warfare Brigade!"

"What kind of secret mission could we possibly have?"

"If it's a combat mission, there are special forces and frontline combat units for that."

"With Tang Tang Xiaojia's little arms and legs, what could he possibly do?"

"If it's network... cough cough... anyway, I can't imagine what kind of mission it could be."

Tang Tang Tang Xiaojia shook his head and interrupted them.

"Alright, let's hand over the work first. I have eight tasks on hand right now..."

……

"Okay, I understand."

Putting down the phone, Xiang Xiang Xiang Zhiming was also feeling a bit dazed.

Su Meng was also a bit puzzled when he saw this.

"Old Xiang, what's wrong?"

Xiang Xiang Xiang Zhiming's look at him was somewhat strange.

"The station just called me; they've already gone to invite the actors we decided on."

"A few of the teachers need to arrange their schedules and will report in about a week."

"The others will arrive one after another in the next two days."

"Additionally, the station asked me to ask if there's anything else you need assistance with."

"If you don't have enough manpower for filming, the station can dispatch a batch of camera equipment and operators."

"Don't worry about the technical side, they are all professionals. The station pays their salaries, you just need to provide a box lunch."

Oh? Su Meng was also stunned.

Is CCTV being too enthusiastic this time? They're practically bringing their own dry rations to work.

But only a fool wouldn't take advantage of a bargain.

Rubbing his chin and thinking for a moment, Su Meng's eyes suddenly lit up.

"Since that's the case, I won't be polite."

"The film crew is fine, but we don't have enough makeup artists. Help me get a hundred or so first."

What the hell? Xiang Xiang Xiang Zhiming was immediately startled.

"Did I hear that right? You want a hundred or so makeup artists?"

"Yeah!" Su Meng nodded and said patiently.

"Under normal circumstances, our crew would have ten or so makeup artists, which would be enough."

"But when filming war scenes, we're talking about thousands of extras, and everyone needs makeup..."

What? Xiang Xiang Xiang Zhiming's face turned green.

Big brother, have you ever filmed a movie?

All the extras need makeup? Are you f***ing kidding me?

Su Meng added.

"Of course, the makeup for general extras can be slightly simpler."

"After all, people in this era generally have better and fairer skin than people from that era."

"So they just need to have their skin made to look a bit rougher."

"The requirements for makeup technique aren't very high either."

Sigh... Xiang Xiang Xiang Zhiming sighed, feeling almost numb inside.

How can this director be so professionally admirable at times, yet so unreliable at others?

Do those extras who don't show their faces even need makeup?

Wouldn't it be fine just to put on a costume and be background?

But the director has already spoken, and the station has repeatedly emphasized the need to cooperate.

Although Xiang Xiang Xiang Zhiming was helpless, he could only nod.

"Leave this matter to me."

He is the chief director of the Spring Festival Gala; how many makeup artists does such a big gala need?

He naturally doesn't lack resources there.

Duan Duan Jiangping opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

Sigh... I finally know where this 100 million investment went.

It was all f***ing wasted!

……

"Director Su!"

Just as the few were talking, Shi Shi Shi Dazhi knocked on the door and walked in.

The people in the room looked up and saw that behind Shi Shi Shi Dazhi, there was also a middle-aged man in military uniform.

On his shoulders were... holy crap!

Two stars and four pips?

This is actually a Senior Colonel!

Duan Duan Jiangping was almost scared to the point of peeing.

Could it be that because Su Meng hit Shi Shi Shi Dazhi, someone called their parents over?

Shi Shi Shi Dazhi explained with a smile.

"President Duan, Sister Qin, Director Su, Director Xiang, let me introduce you."

"This is Senior Colonel Liu Ruiming from the Eastern Theater Command Army Staff Department."

"He came specifically for this show."

Liu Ruiming saluted and said politely.

"Director Su, it's really rude of me to come uninvited."

"It's like this, according to instructions from superiors, I will represent the military and join the crew of this TV series."

"Mainly responsible for coordination regarding military and troop matters."

Su Meng was also a bit dumbfounded.

I'm just filming a show, and a Senior Colonel shows up?

And not from the military's propaganda department, but from the Staff Department?

He glanced at Shi Shi Shi Dazhi and asked suspiciously.

"Don't we already have Squad Leader Shi?"

"For just those hundred or so people, do we need a Senior Colonel like you to come?"

Liu Ruiming smiled, his attitude very kind.

"If it were just those hundred or so people, I naturally wouldn't need to show up."

"But according to our understanding, Director Su's show needs quite a few extras."

"So our troops have coordinated 1,500 people from various units..."

"How many?" Xiang Xiang Xiang Zhiming jumped up directly.

The military actually took the initiative to arrange so many people?

Holy crap! What the hell is going on?

Liu Ruiming continued.

"According to Director Su's requirements, these 1,500 people were carefully selected."

"All of them are under 170cm tall and under 60kg in weight, barely considered thin."

"Because these people come from complex sources, from multiple units."

"To facilitate management, that's why I was sent to coordinate."

Holy crap!

Including Su Meng, the whole room was stunned.

What is the military's intention?

Being able to send active-duty troops to be extras was already unexpected.

But they not only sent so many people, but they were also specially selected according to Su Meng's requirements?

This is too attentive!

……

Su Meng was also a bit dazed and subconsciously said politely.

"Staff Officer Liu, you are really too polite."

"So many people... so many people... I really feel unworthy of such a favor..."

Liu Ruiming interrupted him directly.

"Director Su, don't be embarrassed."

"Being an extra this time is also a rare experience for each of them."

"Personally participating in simulated combat against the enemy can also be considered an alternative military exercise."

"Director Su, just feel free to use them."

Su Meng took a deep breath, forcing himself to be a bit calmer.

I am a big shot with a system, isn't it just over a thousand people?

What's there to be afraid of?!

"Since that's the case, then I won't be polite!"

"Please rest assured, Staff Officer Liu and all the leaders, I will definitely film this show well!"

"To tell you the truth, Staff Officer Liu, you've really helped me a lot this time."

"You solved half of the extras in one go; we only need to find some ordinary extras now."

"Director Su!" Liu Ruiming continued.

"Is Director Su planning to have our people play our army's predecessors, and let ordinary extras play the Japanese soldiers?"

"Yes." Su Meng nodded.

You brought so many thin people, isn't it just to play our army's soldiers?

Liu Ruiming smiled and said.

"According to historical facts, in the early and middle stages of that war, the Japanese training was much more professional than ours."

"Most of our group are in administrative or technical positions; our military side is indeed weaker than frontline troops, but they are professional soldiers after all."

"These professional soldiers playing our army's predecessors, and ordinary extras playing the Japanese..."

"This military quality seems to be the opposite of historical facts, right?"

Huh?

At this, even Su Meng was stunned and subconsciously said.

"Staff Officer Liu's meaning... your people play the Japanese?"

"No!" Liu Ruiming shook his head and finally revealed the answer.

"Shi Shi Shi Dazhi reported that this show is planned to be filmed in Shanxi Province, right?"

"That is the defense zone of the Central Theater Command."

"We have already coordinated with the Central Theater Command Army."

"At that time, they will arrange one or two thousand frontline troops to act as extras for the Japanese soldiers!"

What?!

The heads of several people were buzzing.

I originally thought you would bring a hundred or so people, and then you tell me you'll bring 1,500?

I finally managed to accept that fact.

And now you tell me there are another one or two thousand?

Liu Ruiming's words were not finished yet.