Chapter 204: A Cultural Forum Surprise

“This trip to Mingsha is absolutely worth it!” one Netizen exclaimed, impressed by the striking uniforms of the staff at the Protectorate of West Liang – especially the security guards, who were said to be dressed in the authentic attire of the Tang Dynasty’s Thousand Soldier Guard.

“The immersive experience is off the charts! I’m giving it a perfect score.”

Aside from marveling at the Yeguang Cup, some netizens were there just to snap a photo and check in by the stone tablet inscribed with ‘Grapes, Fine Wine, and Yeguang Cup.’

“So jealous! Too bad I missed out on booking a guesthouse when Mingsha first announced the cultural forum.”

“Booking a guesthouse? If you really want to check it out, you can still do it now!”

“You can now? They still have guesthouses?”

“If you’re lucky, you might. Today, many of the trekkers visiting the Protectorate of West Liang have already checked out and gone home – myself included!”

A netizen replied with that remark.

“Gone home? Aren’t you waiting for the forum’s opening ceremony?”

“No way! Mingsha Tourism’s big reveal is done. The only part left to look forward to is some lightweight cultural performances at the opening. Honestly, there’s no need to watch the performances live – three TV stations are streaming it simultaneously, either on TV or online. Staying in Mingsha would only mean paying for extra nights.”

Another netizen analyzed the situation.

“That does make sense.”

“So why not give it a try? Plenty of rooms are being vacated – you might just snag one.”

“Thanks, thanks!”

This scenario wasn’t unique; many netizens were convinced they had caught Mingsha Tourism’s grand reveal in the nick of time – an absolute bargain! However, what they hadn’t anticipated was that early the next morning, they would find that the ancient structures leading to the Protectorate of West Liang had undergone subtle transformations since they’d passed by the day before.

Along both banks of the river, numerous figures clad in ancient costumes began to appear.

Their attire was clearly distinct from that of the costumed tourists.

“Brother Hao, everything’s been set up. The 800 extras are gradually arriving on stage. Every scene from the Qingming Scroll has been fully unveiled – at ten o’clock, you’ll see traditional opera stages and street performers come to life,” Zhu Qiang announced as he glanced at his watch.

Next to the riverbank set recreating the Qingming Scroll, Zhu Qiang raised his hand to check the time and said,

“Good!”

Xu Hao nodded in agreement.

Originally, Mingsha Tourism had planned to let the actors enter only when the forum officially opened on the morning of March 31. However, late in the evening, Xu Hao received a phone call from Li Jue.

In that call, Li Jue informed him that the review panel and participating experts had decided that upon arriving in Mingsha, they would first inspect the ancient structures. The openings for speeches on the forum day and discussions the following day were arranged solely to avoid the peak tourist flow that would be disrupted by the architectural tours.

Xu Hao immediately relayed the instructions to Zhu Qiang that very night.

“By the way, Brother Hao, should we notify the live broadcast team when your superiors and experts begin their tour of the ancient structures?”

After a brief pause, Zhu Qiang continued.

In a sense, the moment the expert group arrived in Mingsha, the Ancient Architecture and Cultural Inheritance Forum was effectively underway.

“No need for a full broadcast, but do notify them. The experts’ tour, which must be recorded, will be used for a short clip before the live stream.”

Xu Hao waved his hand dismissively.

The TV broadcast window is strictly three hours before and after the event – starting a livestream now is out of the question.

“Understood, Brother Hao!”

“By the way, did you call Little Luo yet? Where is he now?”

Xu Hao glanced over at the Qingming Scroll replica along the riverbanks and at the extras gradually settling into their roles. Once he was sure everything was in place, he asked,

“He just texted – he’s at the airport. The three leaders of the Ancient Architecture Institute and officials from Su Province have been informed, and experts from UNESCO and the cultural sector will be arriving shortly.”

Zhu Qiang hurried to add, “The convoy should reach Mingsha around noon, roughly three hours from now.”

Zhu Qiang exclaimed,

“Three hours?”

“They’ll have an authentic bowl of Lanshi beef noodle on the way, otherwise if they drove straight here, it might be too late.”

“Alright! Then notify all departments – overtime at noon today! Everyone, be on your toes. Make sure all reserved mounts are waiting at the parking lot exit and ready to explain to the tourists why they aren’t available for rides.”

He continued, “Also, Secretary Qin Xuan will be arriving soon – make sure to pick him up.”

“Yes!”

Minutes ticked by.

For the tourists in Mingsha, two to three hours felt incredibly short. Upon getting off at the parking lot, they headed straight to the Protectorate of West Liang – a journey that took over an hour. Then, queuing outside the complex meant that it would be three hours before they could see anything inside.

At that moment, a few minivans began to roll slowly into the parking lot on the north side of the City Gate.

Once the vehicles came to a stop, fifty or sixty people alighted. Xu Hao, Zhu Qiang, and Qin Xuan from Mingsha County, who had been waiting eagerly, rushed forward to greet them.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is our distinguished special researcher from the Ancient Architecture Research Institute – Vice Director Xu Hao,” Li Jue introduced briskly at the head of the group.

Leading the procession, Li Jue quickly introduced,

“Ah, Researcher Xu, greetings!”

“Greetings, Director.”

After a flurry of introductions, it took nearly ten minutes before the meeting moved on to the main agenda.

“Director Li, the leaders have decided to first head to the Protectorate of West Liang. We’ll see how things go there, and once the inspection is complete, Little Xu, you can head to the next destination on your own,” Li Jue said, now addressing Xu Hao with a new title.

Although Li Jue had many questions burning inside him, he held them back, using his remarks to subtly prompt Xu Hao.

“Director, let’s take the boat from up ahead – it’ll be faster!”

Xu Hao nodded in agreement.

The Qingming Scroll replica was situated just 200 meters north of the parking lot, near where the boats were docked.

“Take a boat? There’s a river here?”

Upon hearing this, several leaders looked on in surprise.

“Yes. While nearby construction was underway, we happened to discover an underground river.”

Xu Hao nodded.

“That’s pretty cool, especially in combination with the City Gate. It’s an impressive setup.”

The leading official gave a slight nod of approval.

“This way, please!”

Ten minutes later, several wooden boats began to glide slowly along the river. Xu Hao, Li Jue, and the main leaders boarded the first vessel.

“Director Li, have there been any new discoveries of ruins near the Protectorate of West Liang?” one leader asked while admiring the scenery along the river.

From the parking lot to that area, this particular senior official peppered Xu Hao with questions about the overall construction of the Protectorate. Xu Hao barely had a chance to elaborate – it was clear that the leader was most intrigued by the site’s structural integrity.

These were true experts, not the kind of tourists who just visited to snap selfies with a Yeguang Cup.

“We’ve deployed professionals to inspect the area. Apart from some scattered decayed timber with little historical value, no other ruins were found,” Xu Hao replied.

“Oh, that’s a pity! Imagine if there were additional ruins around the Protectorate – that would be extraordinary.”

The leader sighed regretfully,

“It really is a shame!”

Meanwhile, the leader continued to ask question after question while Li Jue and several others at the bow observed the ancient structures and the imposing ancient wall along the riverbanks.

After about five or six minutes of sailing, Li Jue’s brow furrowed and a look of confusion began to cross his face.

Others shared similar expressions, though those on the bow – including Xu Hao and the main leaders – continued discussing details about the Protectorate.

After eight, nine, even ten minutes, Li Jue’s curiosity grew until he couldn’t hold back any longer. Turning to a man beside him, he said loudly,

“Director Wang, don’t you find some of the buildings along the river seem eerily familiar, like you’ve seen them somewhere before?”

“Yes, I get that feeling!” the man quickly agreed.

Another man on Li Jue’s left interjected, “Could it be a scene from a TV series?”

Li Jue shook his head firmly, “No way – there are only four TV sets around here that have ever used these scenes, and all are clearly marked.”

“Then why does it feel so familiar?”

The man stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Coincidentally, the main leader had just finished asking his own questions, pulled out a bottle of mineral water, and signaled for a brief break – giving Xu Hao a window of time.

Seizing the opportunity, Li Jue approached Xu Hao.

With his lingering doubts, he addressed the main man directly, “Director Xu, were these ancient buildings along the river ever used in a TV show? They seem so familiar, as if I’ve seen them before.”

He asked aloud, ensuring that the other experts, who shared his curiosity, would also hear the answer.

Xu Hao smiled and explained, “No, Director Li. The entire riverbank and its scenery were constructed scaled up from our very own Qingming Scroll. You must be very familiar with that classic work.”

“What? Based on the Qingming Scroll?”

Instantly, the atmosphere turned electric. Even the leader who had just unscrewed his bottle cap paused in astonishment, glancing at Xu Hao with incredulity.

“Yes – every blade of grass, every blossom, and every figure along the river is an exact replica of the Qingming Scroll,” Xu Hao explained.

Li Jue’s face lit up in understanding, “I knew it all along – everything looks so familiar because it is the Qingming Scroll. We’re literally walking through a living masterpiece!”

For a moment, one leader was at a loss for words trying to capture the overwhelming mix of shock and awe that coursed through him upon hearing Xu Hao’s confirmation.

There was no denying it – everyone had come to Mingsha for the Protectorate, but being told mid-route that they were now part of an actual Qingming Scroll left everyone utterly gobsmacked.

Not only that, but Li Jue himself was completely taken aback.

“Director Xu, if every detail here has been replicated exactly according to the Qingming Scroll, then this place is truly exceptional!”

At that moment, the leading official came back to his senses and immediately asked, “I recall that many attractions in the Long Kingdom have capitalized on the Qingming Scroll to draw visitors, but they only feature generic recreations. How is this different?”