[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment":3,"chapter-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-66":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Intelligence King of Chinese Entertainment",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2260369,4411,"Chapter 66: Truly Suited to Play Huo Qubing—Fond of Unconventional Tactics and Risky Moves","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-66",66,"\u003Cp>Cuiyu Tea House\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few more minutes passed before Director Hu Mei couldn’t help interrupting Yu Yanli’s fluent monologue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, this was an actor audition, not a lecture—no one could sit through an hour-long talk, especially with more actors waiting behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she halted Yu Yanli’s speech, her expression had softened considerably compared to earlier; her gaze toward him now carried genuine appreciation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She felt this young man not only had an excellent appearance but also a proper attitude—a promising prospect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Screenwriter Jiang Qitao and Jiao Huang also held a favorable impression of Yu Yanli.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From a screenwriter’s perspective, they naturally favored actors with deep understanding of the character, plot, and historical context.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the standpoint of a senior actor, they appreciated young newcomers willing to put in the hard work to study their roles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All three developed a liking for Yu Yanli; the audition atmosphere gradually shifted from stern and tense to warm and amicable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Mei flipped through Yu Yanli’s file: “It says here you can fight—can you handle action scenes? How’s your horseback riding?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem at all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli nodded, emphasizing his role as Yuwen Chengdu in “Heroes of Sui and Tang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Outsiders didn’t know Yuwen Chengdu in “Heroes of Sui and Tang” was just a background villain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the surface, however, the title of the second greatest hero of Sui and Tang still carried weight; portraying such a fierce warrior proved Yu Yanli’s image suited a general and that he had some experience.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Mei turned and whispered a few words to Jiang Qitao, glancing occasionally at Yu Yanli and nodding slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conservatory-trained, excellent appearance, played a general before, trained in martial arts, knows how to ride, and understands the role deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from his youth and lack of fame, he was easily the most well-rounded candidate she’d auditioned so far.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet precisely these two points were ones Hu Mei didn’t care much about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When she filmed “The Emperor in Han Dynasty,” she’d used many unknown actors and plenty of newcomers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like Li Wei, Hong Zhou, Hong Shi, Liu Molin, and Qiao Yindie—all were newcomers with few prior dramas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Lin Jing, already confirmed for the role of Wei Zifu in “Emperor Wu of Han,” had only been in the industry a few years and was the same age as Yu Yanli—both born in 1980.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With Chen Baoguo and Jiao Huang anchoring the cast, there was no need for supporting actors to carry promotion or publicity, so Hu Mei wasn’t afraid to use newcomers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, she thought newcomers were better—blank slates were easier to paint on, and they were more obedient and cheaper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Mei pulled out a thinner script for Wei Qing and handed it to Yu Yanli, asking him to familiarize himself and try a scene.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With little dialogue and plot, Yu Yanli memorized the lines in minutes, cultivated his emotions, and then performed with Jiao Huang personally coaching him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After two scenes, Hu Mei stayed silent, scribbling notes on her pad, still uncertain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In her view, Yu Yanli’s Wei Qing was slightly immature but acceptable—barely satisfactory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His level met her requirements, yet it didn’t move her deeply; it hovered in the gray zone—too good to discard, but not good enough to fully commit to.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli sensed Hu Mei’s hesitation and spoke up: “Director Hu, could I try for Huo Qubing instead?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huo Qubing?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Mei froze, then realized—she’d been too fixated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Wei Qing didn’t work, she could switch to another role!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, Yu Yanli’s youth made him less suitable for the middle-aged and elderly Wei Qing, but perfect for Huo Qubing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Earlier, Hu Mei had considered Yu Yanli for Wei Qing because his facial features carried a certain maturity and composure, matching her vision of Wei Qing’s reserved humility.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But meeting him in person, she now saw that while polite and respectful, Yu Yanli also possessed traits typical of youth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Especially when he spoke passionately about Wei Qing just now—confident, bold, fearless, radiating the spirit of a young man.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Mei turned to Jiang Qitao: “Do you have the Huo Qubing script?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shook his head—they’d prepared only for Wei Qing’s audition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Qitao was the screenwriter; the script lived in his mind, and he quickly found a solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll find you a few scenes—basic plot and dialogue. You’ve studied Huo Qubing, so feel free to improvise. We just want to see how you embody the character.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This suited Yu Yanli perfectly—he’d rehearsed privately beforehand, and without a script to constrain him, he could showcase his strengths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This time, he didn’t need Jiao Huang to cue him; he prepared alone, then launched into performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tilted his head slightly, stood tall, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room, voice strong and resonant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Someone once asked me, ‘Your aunt is Empress, your uncle is Grand General, you’ve been favored by the Emperor since childhood, born into wealth—why risk your life on the battlefield?’ I told him: I, Huo Qubing, didn’t come to fight for survival—I came to take the Xiongnu’s heads.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These barbarian invaders refuse to submit to our civilization, repeatedly violating the dignity of Han. I will sweep away the Xiongnu for the Emperor and restore Han’s glory.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Today, follow me on a surprise strike straight to their capital—capture the Xiongnu Chanyu first, break their bones, and make them feel the might of Han soldiers.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Arrogant! Direct!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noble! Valiant!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fiery, youthful, radiant with vigor!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching Yu Yanli’s audition, Hu Mei’s eyes grew brighter—she’d chosen the right role.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli’s Huo Qubing was a quantum leap above his earlier Wei Qing performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying he embodied the Crown Prince in person was exaggerated, yet he clearly carried a hint of that spirit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Qitao savored Yu Yanli’s lines—youth had such spirit; his delivery was even bolder than his own written dialogue for Huo Qubing. Hmm, worth considering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiao Huang watched silently. When Yu Yanli finished, he tossed him a cigarette to help him relax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli thanked him, accepted but didn’t light it, turning instead to Hu Mei—the one with final say.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Director Hu, what do you think?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hu Mei paused, then handed him her notebook: “Write down your email. I’ll have someone send you the Huo Qubing script. Study it, and come back in a few days for a makeup and screen test.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli’s heart leapt—he understood the subtext. Though unspoken, her words carried clear meaning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Makeup test + screen test—she wanted to see his look and let producers and other senior crew members observe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Emperor Wu of Han” wasn’t “Conquest”—Director Gao Qunshu decided after two auditions. Nor was it “Heroes of Sui and Tang” or “The Treasure Basin,” where they didn’t even require a scene test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a multi-million-dollar historical epic, a major project even by industry standards; Hu Mei held significant authority, but she didn’t rule alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Huo Qubing was only a supporting role. If Hu Mei approved, and the makeup and screen tests went smoothly, the role was nearly his.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Director Hu. I’ll work hard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli quickly pledged his commitment. Hu Mei spoke kindly with him a while longer, then let him go—others were still waiting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How Yu Yanli greeted and thanked Assistant Director Li Xing on his way out wasn’t important; Hu Mei turned to Jiao Huang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Jiao Laoshi, what do you think of that young man just now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiao Huang’s voice was deep and resonant: “Good looks, solid acting, willing to put in the work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And he’s sharp, with courage too!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t say the last part aloud—only thought it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As a top actor with decades of experience, Jiao Huang had seen it immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli had almost certainly come here aiming for Huo Qubing all along!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When he first auditioned for Wei Qing, Jiao Huang hadn’t noticed anything odd—he assumed the actor was young and underdeveloped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But when Yu Yanli went all out for Huo Qubing, his performance surged dramatically—only then did Jiao Huang realize Yu Yanli had held back during the Wei Qing test.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This not only made them feel he was better suited for Huo Qubing, but also created a deliberate contrast—building suspense and surprise, earning maximum impression points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if he’d failed at Huo Qubing, he’d have lost his fallback option of Wei Qing too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Jiao Huang strangely felt Yu Yanli was truly suited to play Huo Qubing—fond of unconventional tactics, daring risks for greater rewards…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1410,"2026-06-19T16:16:52.605Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","61e4bf3ba05560c4ec19b91248b2f46ad42ef130aad6b535994f2003519bf5df","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-67","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-65",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-cover.jpg"]