Wang Zhong had originally planned to attend the award ceremony first, as scheduled.
However, upon arrival, he was informed that the church had interfered with the award ceremony, pushing the event back to the morning of August 13th.
The Tsar’s proxy at the ceremony, the Grand Duchess, had other matters to attend to and couldn’t be present for the time being.
Having been stood up, Wang Zhong could only turn around and head to the music selection event.
Ludmila, on the other hand, was quite happy, “This is just like joyriding in Ye Fort, and although I know it’s not right to say this during a time of war, but… joyriding is so fun.”
Wang Zhong laughed, “There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s like playing cards between two fights, nothing of consequence.”
“You were against the ball just yesterday!” Ludmila protested, “I was all prepared, and it all went to waste!”
Wang Zhong could only look to the side.
At that moment, Grigori, the driver, slammed on the brakes and turned around to say, “We’ve arrived at the Grand Theater, the address on the invitation is here.”
Ludmila asked with curiosity, “Grigori, how come you’re so familiar with the names of places in Ye Fort?”
Grigori replied, “Because of my height, I was first stationed in the Ye Fort Royal Guard. It wasn’t until later that I was transferred to the Third Amur Group. I basically got to know the layout of Ye Fort while in the Guard.”
Wang Zhong remarked, “Then we can count on you if we ever have to fight street battles in Ye Fort.”
Ludmila was shocked, “Will it come to street fighting in Ye Fort?”
Wang Zhong stated, “I don’t know. Anything can happen on the battlefield. However, my basic judgment remains unchanged; mud and harsh winters will weaken the Prussians, and we’ll push the front back a bit during the winter. But the war will continue.”
As he said this, he got out of the car and quickly moved to Ludmila’s side.
Ludmila had intended to get out of the car by herself, but seeing Wang Zhong coming over, she smiled slightly and extended her hand, giving her fiancé an opportunity.
After helping her out of the car, Wang Zhong took her hand and they walked towards the theater, while Grigori handed the car over to an approaching valet and followed them with a submachine gun slung over his shoulder.
The Grand Theater had a row of Romanesque columns that looked quite majestic up close, but all Wang Zhong could think about was where to set up a machine gun to lock down the entire staircase.
He guessed this symptom wouldn’t go away until the war was over.
Reaching the top of the steps and looking at the entrance of the Grand Theater, Wang Zhong surveyed the surroundings, “Why is there no one here to greet us?”
“Oh come on, you gave them a hard time last night, so they’re giving you a hard time today. You’re not thinking of drawing your gun and charging in, are you? Don’t be like that. I suggested from the start that you should act as if this invitation didn’t exist.
But since you insisted on reviewing the music, we’re here, so just bear with it,” Ludmila said, effectively extinguishing the impulse inside Wang Zhong.
He smiled faintly at her and wrapped his arm around her as they walked in.
As they approached the main door, a group of maidservants appeared, opened the doors, and bowed to Wang Zhong, “General Rokossovsky, welcome to the Grand Theater.”
Wang Zhong was utterly baffled, “Are you here to welcome me? Weren’t you supposed to give me a hard time? What’s the meaning of this?”
Then Grand Duchess Olga emerged.
Both Wang Zhong and Ludmila were stunned.
The Grand Duchess said, “The Court Chamberlain asked me to attend this selection event to show the Royal Family’s interest in this activity. Since the award ceremony was canceled, I came over here willingly.”
Ludmila said, “You came over because the award ceremony was canceled? Your Highness, are all your activities today to meet with Alyosha?”
“No, this is the last event where I’ll meet him. I won’t be able to attend your officers’ dinner tonight,” the Grand Duchess replied with a slight smile.
Wang Zhong abruptly changed the subject, “Why was the award ceremony canceled?”
“The church said they needed to revise the battle flag and title awarded to your troops, so they canceled the ceremony,” Olga paused before switching topics, “I heard you scolded the orchestra conductor last night? You called the music he composed for you ‘effeminate’? “
“Yeah, did that reach the palace too?”
“Because after that, the orchestra conductor went to a club frequented by musicians and complained bitterly. They also mocked the melody you composed, calling it trash. What was the song? Could I please have a listen?”
Just as Wang Zhong was about to answer, Ludmila beat him to it, “There will be other opportunities, Your Highness. It’s not good for us to be blocking the entrance like this.”
“You’re right,” Olga said with a slight smile, “Then let’s go in.”
She turned and walked down the grand corridor of the theater interior.
Wang Zhong wanted to follow her, but Ludmila pulled him back, waiting until all of the Grand Duchess’s maidservants had caught up before following behind them.
“That’s more in keeping with protocol,” Ludmila murmured into Wang Zhong’s ear, “Not that I’m jealous.”
Wang Zhong replied, “I’d actually be happier if you were jealous, really.”
“Then I am,” said Ludmila, “Happy now?”
Wang Zhong nodded affirmatively, “Yes!…No, no, not happy, I dare not be happy.”
As they entered the Grand Theater, they found the audience seats filled with Ye Fort’s socialites—or at least those who appeared to be.
They were paying their respects to Grand Duchess Olga.
Ludmila was pulling Wang Zhong, discreetly moving to the side.
An attendant came over to show the way, “General Rocossovsky, your seat is over here.”
The attendant led Wang Zhong and his group to the edge of the auditorium seats, “Since inviting you was a last-minute decision, you can only sit here.”
Wang Zhong said, “If I sit in this position, sometimes my voice won’t be able to reach the people on stage. If that happens, I may choose to fire a gun. Are you sure that’s all right?”
The attendant laughed, “Don’t worry, the acoustic design of the theater is very advanced. You just need to slightly lift your chin and speak towards that wall. Your voice will carry very clearly throughout the entire theater, just like now.”
At this moment, quite a few people were looking over here.
But most of them had no intention of coming over to shake hands—
A well-dressed middle-aged gentleman, accompanied by a 40-something old academic with a monocle, walked over together.
The gentleman handed over a business card, “I am Oshanin, the editor-in-chief of Ante Modern Music magazine. This is Professor Vladimir Bradsky next to me.”
The professor took over, saying, “Professor at Ye Fort University’s department of music. I have a small question, Duke Rocossov, do you have a young man in your troop named Vasily Vladimirovich Bradsky?”
Wang Zhong raised an eyebrow; he had forgotten Vasily’s full name, but since the person before him was a music professor and it matched up, he confirmed and asked, “Could it be that you and your son are not on good terms?”
“I think he should become a composer, but he went off to enlist!”
Well, that hit the mark.
Wang Zhong said, “Vasily is indeed in my troop. Because he is fluent in Prussian, he interprets Prussian radio communications. Would you like me to pass on a message from you?”
“No, no, the editor with me received an express letter around noon, from Shostka. Do you have any idea what this could mean?”
Wang Zhong frowned, wondering if Vasily had written a song and sent it over, and it was received by this editor Oshanin?
But, he had only hummed a tune in front of Vasily. Had he unconsciously sung the lyrics?
Wang Zhong said, “I hummed an off-tune melody in front of him, which might have inspired his music composition.”
If “The Holy War” had truly been composed by Vasily, Wang Zhong wouldn’t mind giving credit to Vasily. After all, he wasn’t the original creator of the piece; he was merely a transporter.
Besides, he had just brought the tune over. If Vasily could turn it into a full composition, that was his brilliance. It wouldn’t be excessive to credit him. And if he also happened to fill in the lyrics, then even more so it would be right to let him have the credit.
However, the professor shook his head, “No, no, I know that child too well. If it’s his work, he would never let it go. If he lists you as the composer, then it is definitely you. The lyrics are written by Filippov. Do you know this Filippov?”
Wang Zhong replied, “He’s a good brother Vasily met at the military academy. The two of them survived the brutal Loktov Defense and the Orachi Rearguard Battle.”
The professor hesitated for a moment, then said, “If they have such talent, can we get them transferred back to Ye Fort to focus solely on music composition? Boosting morale is also an important job.”
Wang Zhong said, “You’d have to speak with Vasily about that yourself. Shostka is still safe, the enemy is about a hundred kilometers away, and you could go see him.”
The professor frowned, “No! I will not go see him! Unless he comes to apologize to me!”
Good heavens, this father and son pair do have similarities.
At this moment, Ludmila spoke, “Don’t let stubbornness turn into regret. You should go see him.”
The professor was clearly hesitant.
Then the orchestra conductor called out from afar, “Mr. Oshanin, the auditions are about to begin. Please hurry over!”
Oshanin called out loudly, “Alright. However, respected conductor, I request a change in the order of the auditions. We have a new program we just rehearsed to perform.”
The conductor’s face showed disagreement.
At that moment, Vladimir Bradsky spoke, “I support changing the order of the auditions. This song is deserving!”
Of course, it’s “The Holy War”.
But what Bradsky said next was, “After all, it’s a composition by war hero Rocossov, it’s real music from the battlefield!”
With that statement, a buzz arose throughout the venue. It was true, the theater’s acoustic design was impressive, a whisper suddenly becoming as loud as a marketplace.
The conductor frowned, “This… we have a procedure. To add an undeclared piece is already not in accordance with the regulations, to place it before everyone else doesn’t seem right…”
Just then, from the Royal Family’s box, Olga said, “I think it’s alright. If it’s just cutting in at the very beginning, there’s no need to change the rest of the procedure, it just pushes everything back a bit. Besides, conductor, if General Rocossov’s music is really so unbearable to listen to, wouldn’t it be better to show it to everyone first?
That way, the general won’t have any reasons to raise objections later, right?”
The musicians looked at each other.
Ludmila then whispered into Wang Zhong’s ear, “She still supports you so much, Your Highness.”
Wang Zhong instantly broke out in a sweat.
At that moment, the conductor sighed, “Since editor-in-chief Oshanin and Professor Bradsky hold it in such high regard, let’s listen to it first then, this music from the battlefield.”