"What are you going to perform tonight?" Zhang Xiaobao asked Wang Juan as the two of them returned to the restaurant and waited for the news of the firing.
Wang Juan thought about the few performances she usually prepared and replied, "How about I sing 'Xiao Hongchen'? Song and dance. "
"Then I'll sing 'Ocean's Laughter'." Zhang Xiaobao followed suit.
"Why don't you choose a few new songs? They're old songs that have been around for more than a hundred years. There's nothing new about them for you and me, "Wang Juan suggested.
Zhang Xiaobao shook his head. "No. To us, there aren't any new songs. The so-called new songs have been around for a very long time. Besides, the popular songs of that time didn't even last for more than a few years. If we hadn't come here, I reckon that after a decade or so of normal time, the people of that generation wouldn't even remember the popular songs."
"That's true. Then why do you still remember 'Xiao Hongchen' and 'Ocean's Laughter'?" Wang Juan began to discuss this question with Zhang Xiaobao again.
The two soldiers seemed to have forgotten that there were still several battlefields as they nervously prepared. It didn't matter if it was because they were confident of victory or because they didn't care. In any case, there wasn't a trace of the haze of war in the sky from them.
Zhang Xiaobao thought about it and said uncertainly, "It's probably related to the mode. The two songs both use pentatonic modes, which is the easiest way to resonate with the human body and make it easier for people to grasp the intervals. Am I right?"
"How would I know? Anyway, the Europeans like a different kind of structure, influenced by the Twelve Equal Temperaments. It's mainly early church music, which generally pursues overtones.
Later, due to the hard work of the colonial era, there were black elements in America. Under the influence of European music, rap music was added. Rap music is popular not because of the good mode, but because of the strong sense of rhythm. Different from the mode that affects the human body's body structure and voice resonance, the biggest influence is the human body's blood flow and heartbeat. It can be said that they lead to the same destination by different means. "
Wang Juan analyzed the relationship between the existence of music and people from another perspective.
Zhang Xiaobao thought about it, but he really couldn't come to a conclusion. He could only return to the original topic. "Then, are we still going to sing 'Laughing at the Mortal World' and 'Laughing at the Sea'?"
"Sing? Why wouldn't I? The Three Strokes of Plum Blossoms is even more old-fashioned. Haven't there always been people who like to listen to it? There are a few songs in Carmen … Let's not talk about that. In the past, someone actually said that Sister Zhang sang better than the original version. Why don't you sing the Matador Song from there?"
Wang Juan had always liked the original version. She felt that the original version not only put in a lot of effort at the beginning, but also had a contemporary feel.
"I'm not going to sing. I don't like narrative songs. I've realized that the difference between China's songs and Europe's songs is that they focus on the details. Just like language, drawing, and so on, China's songs focus on depth and connotation. When singing, Europe wants to directly express their delicate emotions through their voice, while China's songs focus on touching the inner feelings.
Their ideologies are different, so it's very difficult to perfectly integrate them. If one day they really integrate, it's China that embraces them, not them absorbing China.
The simplest example is the division of land. Their large land is divided into small pieces, divided into different countries. If it weren't for special geographical restrictions, it would be impossible for such a situation to exist in China. They would have been annexed long ago, or they would have been annexed by others.
That's why our Chinese people are a nation that loves peace and stability. We don't like to divide a piece of land into many parts, and then we're always on tenterhooks about fighting each other. "
Zhang Xiaobao talked about ideology from music, and then praised his own nation.
Wang Juan was angry and amused. "We all know what that last sentence means, so don't say it."
"Okay, where are Xiaobei and the others?" Zhang Xiaobao realized that he had been back for a while, but he didn't see his younger siblings.
"They're probably preparing for some performance. They didn't go out yesterday, saying that they were afraid that someone would attack them during the war. If they were hurt, it would affect us. The provincial governor invited them to Yizhou School to take a look, but they refused. In their courtyard, other than teaching each other, they're assembling toys."
Wang Juan smiled at Zhang Xiaobao. In fact, she wasn't worried about anything happening in Yizhou. The guards she brought had firmly controlled the entire prefectural city. Her younger siblings were very sensible and stayed at home to not cause trouble for the adults.
*****
Xiaobei and the others were currently in their courtyard. They weren't teaching each other, nor were they assembling toys. They weren't even preparing for a performance like Wang Juan had said.
They were reading newspapers, ignoring advertisements and stories, and studying the twelve national policies together.
Xiaobei's face was full of sadness. "I can't see anything. It involves all kinds of aspects. It's a mess. Gap, this is the gap."
Xiao Yuan supported his chin with his hand and nodded. "There has always been a gap. I originally thought that the gap between us was gradually narrowing. Today, I realized that it was because our older siblings didn't use their full strength. The more I think about it, the more my head hurts. Why don't we just assemble toys? "
"Toys, toys. Is research more important, or is playing with toys more important?" Xiaobei pouted.
"For us, playing with toys is the most important thing. We need to learn. We need to learn while playing, not reach the sky in one step. Reaching the level of our older siblings is just a dream, absolutely. Brother Xiaohai, what do you think? "
While speaking, Xiao Yuan flipped through a catalog with the names of various toys. She wanted to choose one to play with.
They had a lot of toys, so many that they could fill up a large room. They were divided into many types, and each type of toy required them to treat seriously. They contained all kinds of knowledge. Even the simplest pushcart game had to be played with brains after adding in the rules.
But at least they were playing, unlike now, where they stared at the words on the newspaper and pondered over them. When the words were combined, it wasn't a poem, nor was it a story. It was a strategy related to the stable development of the entire Tang Empire for a period of time.
Xiao Yuan felt that with the current level of the Tang Empire's inspection team, they should stay away. Perhaps in another ten or twenty years, they would be qualified to participate.
Xiaohai, who had strong logical thinking ability, was currently in a confused situation. He wanted to use his logical thinking ability to organize the twelve policies, but the more he did, the more illogical he felt. It was too painful.
Hearing his brother Xiao Yuan's question, he sighed and said, "Anyway, I still have to learn. Sister said that my mathematics level is at the level of a second to third year in a certain period of time, the kind that has a little contact with Mathematical Olympiad. There's also something like first to third year in high school, followed by professional first year to fourth year, and only a certain category. After that, it's a graduate student of that category.
Then when will I be able to understand all of the categories? Then I'll continue to learn to a higher level, to the extent where I can calculate the circulation of the universe and calculate the trajectory of time and space?
Sister also said that she can only teach me to the level of a graduate student in one of the categories. I have to walk my own path in the future. Otherwise, she told me to wait for her and my brother to find time to specially study it. With their talent, they might be able to teach me to a higher level. "
Xiaohai trembled as he spoke, clearly feeling the fear of the future.
Wang Juan had indeed told Xiaohai that if she wanted to continue teaching Xiaohai, then she and Zhang Xiaobao had to give up many things and focus their energy. Then, the two of them would study mathematics together. With the two of them's IQ and previous experience, there was hope to achieve the dream of educating Xiaohai to become an academician.
And as for academicians, no matter which discipline they were in, on the path that belonged to them, it was only the beginning. Even Zhang Xiaobao admitted that in his lifetime, he was just a baby who had just opened his eyes in the field of economics. The world was so strange and varied.
"Let's understand one thing first, okay? Don't worry about the rest. "Xiaobei saw that everyone had lost interest in the twelve national policies, so he made a request.
Zhang Qiang shook his head vigorously. "It's not that I don't support you, it's that I don't understand it at all. It's not like you don't know my brother's style. What's the use of taking out one of the policies? It's a chain of policies. Not one of them can be missing. It's much more difficult than the various reforms we learned in history. "
"That's right, that's right." Xiaoyuan echoed and said, "After seeing my brother play, I know that the reforms of the past were really too simple. Let's play Monopoly, okay?"
"Okay, okay." Xiaobei gave up on continuing to study the twelve national policies.
*****
"What program are they preparing?" Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were waiting for time. They did not wait for a telegram, but they did wait for someone to check on Xiaobei.
"They're playing Monopoly. Many people are busy. They want to add in the twelve national policies' rules. They say that they want to carefully study the reforms in the game and reach half of your level."
The person who went to check on them reported.
After he left, Zhang Xiaobao looked at Wang Juan and smiled.
Wang Juan also smiled and said, "The people who proposed the reforms in history are all heroes. What ability do we have? It's nothing more than summarizing the path taken by our predecessors. In fact, everything we have was given to us by our predecessors, so we have the obligation and responsibility to pass it on to our descendants. "
Wang Juan thought about the development of various parts of the world in various historical periods and was filled with emotions.
The figures that stood out in every period seemed to be right in front of her eyes. They were so vivid and distinct. Whether it was success or failure, there was a star that belonged to them in the night sky of history.
Zhang Xiaobao smacked his lips twice and knocked on the table with his hand. He said, "That's why humans are more powerful than other creatures. The inheritance of human experience is systematic. Xiaobei and the rest are really smart. They know that they don't understand, so they let people put the rules into Monopoly. As they play, they can feel the specific changes. This is an era full of vitality, and we have a lot of potential. "
"What you can do is to invade, and you're encouraging me to invade as well." Wang Juan habitually attacked Zhang Xiaobao.
"We're spreading the seeds of civilization so that the people of the world can feel the abundance of spring and the harvest of autumn as soon as possible."
"And the heat of summer and the cold of winter, right?"
"Reporting, a call from the front. The vanguard of our First Army has engaged the garrison of the Uchangduo. They're advancing at full speed under the cover of artillery fire."
While Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were leisurely chatting, a person who was guarding the telegram ran in and reported to the two of them.
"Okay, okay." Zhang Xiaobao was very happy. They were finally fighting. As for the engagement, that was impossible. What kind of fire did the other side have? The other side probably had a stomach full of anger.
Wang Juan thought for a while and waved to the person to leave. Then, she analyzed to Zhang Xiaobao. "Using artillery, it's probably because the local garrison of the Uchangduo has gathered troops. At the same time, the infantry also took bulletproof measures. If they use thick wooden shields, normal bullets can't penetrate them. At the same time, the enemy's arrows are also effective. The Uchangduo are learning to be smart."
Zhang Xiaobao nodded and agreed with Wang Juan's words.
Hot weapons were indeed superior to cold weapons. It was an overwhelming advantage. However, the two of them pursued zero casualties in the battle. As for running and falling to death, being bitten to death by poisonous snakes, or even dying of illness, that didn't count.
To achieve zero casualties, long-range attacks had to be in place. Otherwise, once they entered the range of the enemy's long-range weapons, there would definitely be casualties. That was absolutely unavoidable.
Now, what was tested was the supply of artillery shells. As long as they were willing to spend money, the Tang Empire's military supply could keep up. It wasn't difficult to destroy the enemy.
Wang Juan still looked indifferent and said, "The Uchangduo can only last through the first wave of attacks. Even if they make wooden shields, when the situation is out of control and they are defeated, they will definitely throw away the shields. Or, the main defensive weapons of the defending troops will be removed by the small cannons.
War is about logistics. They have no way to use their advantages to counterattack and can only passively defend. If we want to rely on mobile warfare, our commander must be stupid and advance into their encirclement alone. I believe that our commander won't be so stupid. "
"Yes, it's just like India. Not the current India, but the India of our time. They only know how to buy weapons from others. They don't produce good weapons themselves and rely on buying. If they really fight, they will be used up after a few rounds. What will they do then? Buy more? If they don't use nuclear weapons, it won't take too long. Three years, three years, and the entire country will be worn down. "
Zhang Xiaobao followed and deduced. The cavalry that the Uchangduo could think of was to gather at the periphery and wait for an opportunity to attack. Then, they would make simple defensive equipment. This should be the result of previous small-scale conflicts.
But if they had to rely on bulky and heavy wooden and iron shields to block the barrage and were blasted by the small cannons a few times, would the production be able to keep up? How many people and tools did they have to produce the shields?
Thus, it sounded very serious. In reality, the use of artillery had always been beneficial to their side. As for which direction they should continue to advance and occupy, they would need to see the actual situation. It would take three to five days to understand.
"They're not going to fight a blitzkrieg, right?" Zhang Xiaobao asked again.
"Relying on infantry to fight a blitzkrieg? Not to mention now, even Germany during World War II couldn't fight a blitzkrieg when faced with the current Uchangduo. They had to fight a positional battle and advance step by step.
Wang Juan chuckled and shook her head as she imagined the map of the Uchangduo's territory.
This was the strategy that had been formulated before. Originally, they wanted to wait for the Uchangduo to gather more troops and supplies at the border. Then, the navy would disembark. But there was a small problem, so they had to start the war early.
Even if they started the war early, they had to take it slow. They had to give the Uchangduo the illusion that the Tang Empire was attacking from land. The Uchangduo probably wouldn't think that the Tang Empire would play a land battle.
"So, what we're waiting for now is Zhenla's movement? I've been angry this whole time. Why did they have to wait for us to start the war? When their people go back, they'll give us some trouble.
I'm guessing that they felt that they had received a lot of rewards from the Tang Emperor this time. They think that we have to be on good terms with them because we want to fight, so they took the opportunity to indulge.
But they forgot about the two of us. F * ck, they dare to bully the women of the Tang Empire. If I can take this lying down, I'm not a man. I'd rather not fight the Uchangduo to let them understand what they can do and what they can't do. "
Zhang Xiaobao thought of the previous matter again. The more he thought about it, the more sullen he felt.
Wang Juan's face was also cold. She gritted her teeth and said, "This is not over. Even if they don't resist and let us catch them, we'll have to punish them when we have time. After we complete the early strategic goal of fighting the Uchangduo, you go and cripple Zhenla through economic means. I'll organize the troops. If they make a move, we'll go and kill them directly. "
"Reporting, our troops in Mud Polo have broken through Guangyan City and are camping outside the city. At the same time, we're chasing the enemy who escaped from the city in the form of small troops. We're not going to get supplies from the city because we're afraid that the people in the city will play tricks. We'll continue to bombard or use explosives to blow up the walls in other directions of Guangyan City."
Another person came in to report.
"Got it. Go and wait. Send back as soon as there's news. Who's in command in Mud Polo? They didn't send electricity when they attacked, and only told us when they drove people out of the city? Isn't this called 'a general on the outside can't obey the orders of the emperor?' We'll deal with him later. That's referring to the situation when the communication system was not developed in the past. Now there are telegrams and various transmission points along the way. Would he die if he told us in advance? "
When Zhang Xiaobao heard that the city was broken and the troops were camping, he remembered to send a message and cursed angrily.
Wang Juan looked at Zhang Xiaobao's expression and said with a smile, "That's our family's people. They probably feel that it's meaningless to tell us in advance. If they tell us in advance, we'll fight. If they don't tell us, we'll still fight. It's better to tell them after the fight. If it were the generals of the imperial court, they wouldn't dare to do so. It's easy to be accused of having bad intentions."
"Our family's people can be so flexible? They're clearly playing with us. I can't say whether it's good or bad to have such soldiers under us. "
Zhang Xiaobao also laughed. His family's people could do so because of Wang Juan's teaching. None of them were serious at all. Especially when facing weak opponents, they always liked to show off.
If he was right, what if something went wrong? If he was wrong, there were many such generals in history who were famous generals.
"Alright, don't worry about him. If he can't fight, send a report to him in the middle of the night and scold him," Wang Juan said.
"He might not be able to sleep in the middle of the night. He'll definitely come up with some wicked ideas, like setting a trap or something to let more man-eating drillers do a night attack." Zhang Xiaobao analyzed this person's personality.
"That's possible," Wang Juan agreed.
"Reporting, our troops guarding Gamma Labo have not found the enemy crossing the river to fight. They're now crossing the river. The vanguard has already passed by 15,000 people."
Another person came in to report.
Wang Juan frowned and muttered, "Then where are the enemy's ships?"
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