Chapter 134: The Spring Festival Gala (2)
Fortunately, although the first item, “Data Summary,” was tedious and dull, it did not take long, ending before most of the people had grown bored.
The second event followed immediately.
The second item, “Commentary on Prominent Figures,” was also somewhat tedious. Since putting two tedious things together would double the damage to people’s spirits, it was moved to third place, while the original “Entertainment Program” quite naturally became the second event.
“Joy advances the development of civilization.”
“Joy leads society forward.”
“We now proceed to the second event. Please welcome the Night Watcher warriors, who will perform the choral song ‘Battle Hymn of a Strong Army’!”
The female host announced it in a soft, sweet voice.
At these words, the silent crowd below the stage erupted into cheers.
At last! The entertainment had finally begun!
The affairs of the kingdom could simply be left to His Great Majesty the King. His Great Majesty could handle everything. Just tell us what we are supposed to do!
“What kind of song is ‘Battle Hymn of a Strong Army’? I have never heard of anything like it.”
When the people in the square heard that the entertainment was a song, their interest was piqued.
Throughout the long history of the block people, the emergence of songs had been inevitable. Yet, owing to their harsh environment and the lack of communication between regions, musical styles had remained monotonous, still confined to the most primitive forms of rap and chant.
However, the Square Kingdom had received many immigrants. Primitive songs passed down through numerous villages had gathered there, and after being reshaped by the wisdom and labor of the common people, they had been absorbed into the cultural world of the Square Kingdom, becoming an inseparable part of it.
Society in the Square Kingdom was backward, and its productive forces were severely underdeveloped. Few forms of entertainment could be enjoyed, so singing became one of the rare activities capable of satisfying the people’s spiritual needs.
As time passed, every block person learned to hum a few lines of some nameless song.
Music was also a form of culture, capable of enriching a civilization’s foundations. This suited the Square Kingdom perfectly, for its culture was still a void, only beginning to take shape.
Since Mo Fangyuan had arrived in this world and become the leader of the block people, he naturally would not stand idly by. The five pieces of music to be performed at this New Year’s Gala marked the beginning of his efforts to advance the cultural development of the Square Kingdom.
By introducing these modern patriotic songs into the spiritual world of the Square Kingdom, and coordinating them with “National Education,” he would accelerate the people’s formation of national identity and civilizational consciousness.
“‘Battle Hymn of a Strong Army’… Lyrics by Wang Xiaoling, music by Yin Qing…”
“Who are Wang Xiaoling and Yin Qing?”
“The song wasn’t even written by His Majesty. It can’t possibly be any good…”
The crowd below chattered among themselves. Onstage, twelve Night Watcher warriors, clad in identical suits of iron armor, marched in perfect formation up the three steps at the center of the stage.
Their expressions were resolute, their eyes fixed straight ahead, as though every hardship and crisis in the world were nothing but drifting clouds before them. They possessed the imposing bearing of soldiers from a great nation.
“This…”
Many people below the stage wore astonished expressions.
The Night Watchers had sharp eyes and murderous auras, exuding a powerful, masculine vigor.
From their appearance alone, they seemed like great heroes capable of protecting everyone’s peaceful lives.
Yet that was precisely what astonished the crowd.
Heroes who guarded the block people and fought monsters to the death deserved respect. That was the moral foundation of every block person. But…
Shouldn’t music be gentle and natural, bringing people ease and delight, carrying the singer into a beautiful dreamland?
Then why did the warriors above possess such a… ferocious spirit?
Warriorly valor in music that symbolized relaxation…
It was unbelievable!
“Is this really music?”
“I want to know who Wang Xiaoling and Yin Qing are…”
“Just watch. Even the ugliest lines become a song when sung by heroes!”
Someone began singing the Square Kingdom’s most popular “Farming Song,” apparently trying to demonstrate what music was supposed to sound like.
Others believed that any words sung by heroes counted as a song.
But all of that was merely their imagination.
The Night Watchers onstage paid no attention to what the people in Central Square were saying—or perhaps simply had no time to do so. They were extremely nervous. Many of their palms had already begun to sweat.
More than a thousand of their fellow countrymen were watching them from below, while spotlights shone down upon them. If they sang badly, the consequences were unimaginable.
“Three, two, one—ready, sing!”
The conductor shouted.
There were no note blocks in the Square Kingdom, so Mo Fangyuan could not use them to create redstone music. None of the songs had instrumental accompaniment; everything had to be sung in its purest form.
Mo Fangyuan did not mind. He had chosen the most suitable performers for each piece, and the temperament they naturally possessed was enough to make up for the absence of accompaniment.
“Listen—the bugle of a new journey is sounding!”
“The goal of building a strong army calls us forward!”
“If our nation is to grow strong, we must shoulder the responsibility!”
“The battle flag is inscribed with the glory of blood and iron!”
“…”
The warriors sang—or rather, roared—with tremendous volume. But that did not matter. A military song was meant to be roared, and it was enough for their voices to carry across Central Square.
“Soldiers, obey the command!”
“Capable of winning battles, with exemplary discipline!”
“Fearless before powerful enemies, daring to meet them in combat!”
“For our motherland, we shall prevail upon the battlefield!”
“…”
The masculine vigor of these brawny men and the indomitable resolve of the warriors were fully awakened in that instant.
As the second verse rang out, the crowd below fell utterly silent. Not a sound could be heard. Some stood gaping in shock; others listened without uttering a word.
“Listen—the bugle of a new journey is sounding!”
“The goal of building a strong army calls us forward!”
“If our nation is to grow strong, we must shoulder the responsibility!”
“The battle flag is inscribed with the glory of blood and iron!”
“Soldiers, obey the command!”
“Capable of winning battles, with exemplary discipline!”
“Fearless before powerful enemies, daring to meet them in combat!”
“For our motherland, we shall prevail upon the battlefield!”
“Soldiers, obey the Party’s command!”
The music was nearing its conclusion, and everyone had been left utterly stunned.
“Music can actually be sung like this? I’ll be shaken for a hundred years!”
“The songs we used to sing… were those really songs?”
“Fearless before powerful enemies, daring to meet them in combat!”
“For our motherland, we shall prevail upon the battlefield!”
“Prevail upon the battlefield!”
“Prevail upon the battlefield… Kill!”
When the Night Watchers roared out that final blood-soaked “Kill,” “Battle Hymn of a Strong Army” came to a complete end.
“Wonderful!”
“I’ll be shaken for a hundred years!”
“That was incredible!”
“So songs can actually be sung like this!”
“…”
After a brief, deathly silence, thunderous applause swept across Central Square like an avalanche.
“Looks like it worked!”
Mo Fangyuan gave a crooked smile. He had originally worried that the people of this era might be unable to adapt to modern music, but it seemed he had been worrying for nothing.
Music could convey emotion directly. Even peoples of different races, separated by oceans and speaking unfamiliar languages, could perceive through music what a creator wished to express. In this way, music allowed them to communicate across the boundaries of race.
That was the unique charm of music.