Chapter 126: Activity (Requesting First Subscription)

[Event Time: Dusk to night on the 1st of the Block Calendar]
[Event Location: New Central Square]
[Participants: All citizens except those in essential posts]
[Organizing Department: King's Office]
[Activities: 1. Work reports, 2. Year-end summary, 3. Artistic performances, 4. Selection of annual outstanding individuals, 5. Bonfire party, 6. Closing speech]

This was the first page of the draft, clearly recording the main arrangements Mo Fangyuan had made for the Spring Festival Gala. It was a simplified version modeled after the Spring Festival Galas of his past life. While the content was neither extensive nor particularly novel, in an era devoid of entertainment where people had never experienced such engaging activities, it was enough to liven up the atmosphere and achieve the results Mo Fangyuan desired.

"The Spring Festival Gala can effectively alleviate the stress of the masses, improve their emotions and moods... perhaps I could even try to make them work overtime..."

For some reason, Mo Fangyuan felt his way of thinking had become distorted; he often viewed everything through a colored lens. His first reaction upon seeing anything was no longer whether it was beautiful or aesthetically pleasing, but rather what its value was and what benefits it could bring to the development of the Block Kingdom. He almost forgot he was still just a seventeen-year-old boy.

"Old Li! Happy New Year!"
"Old Wang, Happy New Year to you too!"
"Happy New Year, a new atmosphere! A happy and complete reunion for the New Year!"
"Hey! Look over there! If it weren't for His Majesty the King, how could we have a Happy New Year?"
"Hey! Without His Majesty, there would be no new life!"
"Hey! Without His Majesty, there would be no good life today!"

If you don't push them, how can you know where their limits lie? Driven by pressure, the staff of the Department of Civil Affairs had begun to get a handle on how to organize the upcoming Spring Festival Gala. They planned several activities to create a festive atmosphere, such as the entertainment project they were currently rehearsing, called a "play."

The term "play" was something their Minister had heard by chance during a conversation with the King. According to His Majesty's description, plays were meant for entertainment, primarily featuring actors on stage performing dialogues or monologues to convey emotions or information. The play they were currently rehearsing was titled "New Life." Through dialogue and monologues, it depicted the rapid changes in the Block Kingdom, the continuous improvement in living standards, and the growing happiness of the people. It highlighted the greatness of those who bled and sweated for the prosperity of the kingdom and praised the resilience of the Block people under the King's leadership, aiming to inspire the audience to strive for the future.

Initially, the Minister had just found the concept interesting and listened carefully; he never expected it would actually be put to use.

"Stop! That's not right!"

A staff member standing by, watching the rehearsal, immediately stood up and scolded them. "That line didn't have the word 'today' in it; you added it yourself! The line should be 'Without His Majesty, there would be no good life'... Start over!"

In two days, they would be facing over nine hundred pairs of eyes; the rehearsal had to be excellent! They needed to train, train, and train again to meet the audience in their best state.

"You must know that there cannot be a single mistake during the formal performance in a few days! A mistake there won't just be a mistake... the cost will be very high!" The staff member leading the "New Life" play emphasized the importance of the matter repeatedly. "Did you remember that? Now, let's start over!"

"Sigh, is this easy for me? Making a combat professional memorize so much dialogue... isn't this making things difficult for me?"

A moment later, the room was once again filled with the monotonous repetition of lines.
"Hey! Without His Majesty, there would be no new life!"
"Hey! Without His Majesty, there would be no good life..."

A grand Spring Festival Gala could not consist of only one play; the Department of Civil Affairs naturally had to prepare other entertainment to fill the long duration.

"Is this really okay?"
"I don't think so."
"I think it's feasible..."

A proposal was suddenly placed on the center of the log table, and the Minister of Civil Affairs and his two deputies gathered around it, debating intensely. They looked at each other with strange expressions. The cover of the proposal bore the eye-catching title: [The Love Story with the King].

"His Majesty's..."
"Love..."
"...story?"

The moment they saw these words, all three men instinctively wanted to burn this terrible plan. What kind of person was His Majesty the King? He was the Child of the Sun, sacred, pure, and beyond reproach! How could he possibly be... in love with ordinary people like them? It was too absurd and impractical.

"I firmly object! What kind of strange plan is this?!" one deputy protested vehemently. Setting aside whether it could actually be performed on stage, what terrifying influence would it have if it were? What would His Majesty think? How would other departments perceive them?

"I think this trashy proposal should be thrown away... Wait? What is this?"

Both deputies expressed strong opposition, but... the Minister of Civil Affairs' eyes twitched when he saw three seals in the bottom left corner of the proposal. Those three seals represented the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Education, and the King's Office!

"In other words... this was ordered by His Majesty?!"
"Yes, you just need to rehearse according to the plan!"

The hesitant Minister of Civil Affairs went to the Ministry of Internal Affairs to inquire and received clear confirmation from Old Fu.

"Ah—this..."
"Ah, ah—this..."

The feelings of the two deputies were beyond words, complex to the point of being inexpressible.

"Then... let's begin..."

Since it was His Majesty's order, it had to be carried out; this was a rule all departments had to follow.

[This is a beautiful love story: the young King, chased by monsters, mistakenly enters the Black Forest and meets a beautiful girl with white hair and red eyes. With her help, he defeats the pursuing monsters, and eventually, they fall in love during the battle...]

"Is it really okay for us to do this behind His Majesty's back?"
"Think about the future of the Block Kingdom! Without this, how could His Majesty ever marry?"
"But we are trampling on His Majesty's freedom! What will His Majesty think when he finds out?!"
"For the continuation of the kingdom, sacrifice is necessary! To hell with freedom!"
"Excessive control will only spark rebellion! His Majesty once said, where there is oppression, there is resistance! You should know that, Old Fu!"
"Resistance, my foot! When the monsters come, let's see where you'll find the room to resist!"

Inside the room, the arguments between Old Fu and Old Duan gradually drifted from the starting point, turning into another clash of beliefs.