Chapter 1275: Chapter 1273: Great Tang Entertainment Industry Launches
Great Tang, Chang’an City.
If you were to ask what the most lively event in Chang’an City has been lately, it would naturally be the happenings at the Flame Cloud Entertainment City.
On that day, a great supernatural power expert directly placed several buildings on the outskirts of Chang’an City, and many immortals, bodhisattvas, demons, and ghosts freely enjoyed themselves inside, attracting countless people’s attention.
Mortals can also join in the fun, so many who seek a thread of immortal fate are eager to play a few games at the Flame Cloud Entertainment City.
Some young farmers, with the intention of gaining experience, entered the Flame Cloud Entertainment City and were noticed by an immortal clan member, who took them to an immortal’s cave to pursue enlightenment.
Some monks, with the simple aim to play a few hands of poker, were actually chosen by a bodhisattva, said to have spiritual roots, and accepted as a disciple under the bodhisattva’s guidance.
Furthermore, some swordsmen won a copy of the Sword Immortal Scriptures at Flame Cloud Entertainment City, advancing their cultivation rapidly.
...
Whether you truly want to just have fun, or seek to meet the legendary immortals and Buddhas to grasp a fortuitous opportunity, with the occurrence of these events and some subtle nudges here and there, the Flame Cloud Entertainment City has become incredibly bustling.
It’s like the psychology of buying lottery tickets in a previous life; even though everyone knows the final result of buying lottery tickets is bound to be futile, many people still embrace the slim chance.
Moreover, to seek a fortuitous opportunity at Flame Cloud Entertainment City, you don’t really have to give up anything!
"Hey, have you heard yet?"
In Chang’an City’s largest restaurant, Tianran Residence, two young men dressed in scholar’s robes, with luxurious swords hanging from their waists, sat opposite each other, and the man in white spoke first.
"Heard about what?" asked the man next to him, who was dressed in green.
At this point, he paused slightly and continued without waiting for his companion’s response, "Are you talking about the Flame Cloud Entertainment City? Nowadays, the entire Chang’an City, even the whole Great Tang, have countless eyes focused on Flame Cloud Entertainment City. Any interesting news would soon spread all over Chang’an, right?"
"No, no, no, I’m not talking about Flame Cloud Entertainment City, but about the large area of buildings that suddenly appeared nearby overnight!" The young man in white shook his head and said.
"Princess Gaoyang, the person in charge of Flame Cloud Entertainment City, is His Majesty’s own daughter. With so many great supernatural power experts in Flame Cloud Entertainment City, it’s not surprising for a large area of buildings to appear overnight, right?" Hearing this, the man in green shook his head, unconcerned.
"It wouldn’t be surprising for those supernatural power experts to conjure an imperial palace overnight, indeed. But Brother Su, aren’t you curious about what those buildings are for and why Flame Cloud Entertainment City had so many buildings built overnight?" The man in white asked with a smile.
"Oh? Do you know?" This question piqued the curiosity of the man in green.
"Hehe, Brother Su, today this drink..." Hearing this, the man in white smiled slightly.
"It’s no problem; as long as you can drink today, I’ll cover it! Your father is a Grade Three official in the current dynasty, you must have heard some news, right?" Understanding his companion’s implication, the man in green waved his hand generously.
"Good! Brother Su is indeed generous..."
The man in white gave a thumbs-up in praise, then continued, "According to my father, His Majesty wants to hold the Legends of the Three Kingdoms Great Tang Cup and the Mahjong Saint Tournament, with prizes that would even entice immortals and bodhisattvas!"
"Oh? Prizes that would even attract immortals and bodhisattvas!?" Hearing this, the man in green’s eyes lit up.
"Correct, indeed! Moreover, even if you place a little lower, you can still receive silver and gold rewards if you make it into the top hundred!" The man in white followed up with a nod.
"Those rewards are indeed generous, but entering this competition surely isn’t easy?" Hearing this, the man in green frowned.
"No, Brother Su, you’re mistaken. It’s not difficult to sign up; anyone with confidence can register. They say there will be several preliminary rounds to select roughly a hundred participants for the official competition area! At that time, the imperial court will also provide ten thousand audience seat tickets for people to attend!" The man in white explained.
...
The same topic was not only being discussed at this restaurant, but about half a day later, several teams of guards appeared in the imperial palace, posted several imperial announcements, and after announcing the events of the Great Tang Cup and Mahjong Saint Tournament, it immediately sparked the atmosphere throughout Chang’an City.
This news even quickly radiated from Chang’an City to the surrounding areas, drawing countless people to converge on Chang’an City, aiming to register for the competitions!
It doesn’t cost money to sign up! Being able to win some silver coins just by making the cut is truly an enticing matter!
What’s more, so many immortals and Buddhas in Flame Cloud Entertainment City love these games; surely, many immortals and Buddhas will participate, right?
Just this point alone is enough to captivate countless people’s interest!
Nowadays, the Great Tang has truly become the Heavenly Empire, and Li Shimin, holding the Kongdong Seal, has become the Human King. The imperial machinery of Great Tang is operating under Li Shimin’s will. The matters of the Great Tang Cup and Mahjong Saint Tournament are vast, yet proceeding methodically.
As for Great Tang, hosting such a large-scale competition is entirely unprecedented.
However, it must be said that countless eyes, from all ranks of society, are focused on it now. For people of this era, hosting such a massive event is a rare entertainment activity.
As the event drew the attention of countless people, soon, the second stage of the Imperial List was released; its purpose was to attract business!
In the competition area, certain shops and stalls can be rented from the corresponding government department. Many merchants with keen instincts naturally sensed the business opportunity within and acted quickly.
Besides the rental of these shops and stalls, there are also advertising spaces for lease.
Ranging from gigantic murals on the walls of the venue to spots on spectator seats, there are hundreds of advertising spaces, with prices varying accordingly.
This kind of competition, this commercial integration into the event, is novel for the Great Tang, and it’s the first time; the government is feeling its way through.
Fortunately, Jiang Liu had already provided some strategies, which the officials executed according to their understanding. Overall, it has been relatively smooth.
However, many businesses are still observing regarding the rental of advertising spaces.
The prices for small advertising spaces are not high; purchasing them is just testing the waters. But the expense for large advertising spaces isn’t low, and with a cautious mindset, people dare not invest rashly.
As a result, some relatively expensive but precious advertising spaces remain unsold.
Regarding the current competition, Li Shimin is personally overseeing it, so many details are meticulously reported to him.
This competition can be said to be the grandest event in the Great Tang at present, and since it’s the first, Li Shimin is determined to manage this task well.
Making money from the competition is incidental; the real goal is to integrate immortals and Bodhisattvas into the world of mortals.
However, whether the commercial aspect succeeds is crucial to the competition’s success and even more critical to merchants’ enthusiasm in future events...
Thus, in all aspects, Li Shimin attaches great importance.
"Some of the more expensive advertising spaces haven’t been sold? That’s not a big deal!" Upon receiving the corresponding officials’ reports, Li Shimin thought for a moment, then shook his head and said.
Hearing this, the official’s expression was somewhat stunned at Li Shimin’s words.
The fact that such pivotal advertising spaces remain unsold seems almost disgraceful, but the emperor appears entirely unperturbed?
"Merchants pursue profits and, of course, secretly estimate risks. Now they find the risks enormous and investments extensive, hence they’re observing. Only when other merchants with advertising spaces gain substantial benefits, and perhaps those benefits exceed their investments considerably, then we can sell those advertising spaces at higher prices, to those willing to pay more!" Seeing the official’s bewildered look, Li Shimin spoke with a slight smile.
"Your Majesty is wise!" Hearing Li Shimin’s words, the official bowed and said.
Regarding the Great Tang Cup and Mahjong Saint Tournament, the entire Great Tang is immensely lively, and with increased traffic, Chang’an City naturally becomes bustling, stimulating commerce.
Especially inns and taverns, almost every one is packed.
Without needing guidance, as some guests found no place to stay in Chang’an, they could only pay to stay with locals. Quickly, many locals in Chang’an spontaneously learned to set up homestays.
For these commoners, the competition results may seem distant, but hosting guests at home for meals and accommodation brings considerable income, causing them to secretly praise the emperor’s strategy, truly a move benefiting both nation and people.
On the Journey to the West for Scriptures, Jiang Liu and his group continued their leisurely trek towards the Great Thunder Monastery. Occasionally, Jiang Liu would video chat with Gaoyang.
One reason was to exchange sweet nothings, the other was to curiously observe the current scenery of Chang’an City.
Great Tang’s flourishing age!
The original Great Tang was already considered a flourishing age; now, with the start of the Great Tang Cup and Mahjong Saint Tournament, the entire Great Tang has become even more lively.
Such a scene, not just for immortals and Bodhisattvas, even Jiang Liu is somewhat tempted, pondering whether he should return to have a look?
If such a spectacle were missed, it would be missing an era, would it not?
Especially considering the project was initially proposed by him?