Chapter 230 Giving a heads-up
The old locust tree sprouted tender buds, and the newly sprouted wild vegetables at the base of the wall were covered in fuzz.
It had just rained yesterday, and the wind carried the muddy smell, which drifted in wisps through the car window.
With a squeak, a Santana with a Shanxi M license plate stopped downstairs at the Hejin Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics.
Liu Ming got out of the car, and Zhuang Zijing and Zhao Xiuneng greeted him as they descended the steps.
"Director Liu, this is General Manager Zhao, you should have met him before!"
Of course I've seen it.
More than half a month ago, the Municipal Museum (Yuncheng) rented a laboratory for them, which was negotiated by Wang Qizhi and Zhao Xiuneng.
Liu Ming extended his hand and shook it, his tone tinged with amusement: "President Zhao, welcome to contribute to the development of cultural heritage in Yuncheng. Thank you for your hard work!"
Zhao Xiuneng didn't mind and replied with a smile, "Qin and Jin are family!"
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhuang Zijing led his men into the reception room, and Zhao Xiuneng suppressed his smile.
Doing a good deed doesn't mean you'll be laughed at.
I'll fuck his mother...
We arrived a little early, and there were only a few people from the Hejin Cultural Bureau and the Cultural Relics Bureau in the reception room. They were all old acquaintances, and the group greeted each other one by one.
As soon as Zhuang Zijing left, the deputy director of the Cultural Relics Bureau half-jokingly said, "Director Liu, it seems the city sent you here, so the leadership is quite supportive."
Liu Ming nodded with a smile: "Of course!"
What kind of kiln site did a group of people from Shaanxi come all the way to Shanxi to look for?
Putting aside other expenses, just consider the costs: for more than ten people, there are food and lodging, fuel costs, laboratory expenses, materials and consumables, as well as the collection of cultural relics and fragments... and so on.
Liu Ming roughly calculated for them: in less than a month, these people had already spent over a million. That's about the annual expenditure of the YC City Museum.
Even more remarkably, this time an archaeological team has been brought in from Xi'an for a large-scale survey. And they're still paying for it themselves?
Upon hearing this, the city leaders exclaimed: "What? Such a good thing is possible?"
Support, of course we should support it. Even if it's just for show, we should send someone over to make a visit...
"Director Liu, what are they doing? What's the point of all this trouble?"
Liu Ming leaned back: "They said it's the Cultural Relics Restoration Center under the School of Cultural Heritage Conservation at Northwest University, specializing in porcelain restoration. Apparently, they've already applied for district-level intangible cultural heritage status and are preparing to apply for city-level status, so they came specifically to learn about our city's Chengni inkstone craftsmanship. But because the Ministry of Culture only announces the list of selected items in June, the city leaders didn't agree..."
"After that, somehow, they found some fine white porcelain shards, saying they were Song Dynasty porcelain fired in the ancient kilns of Puzhou. Then they went to the city to discuss it, saying they could help us find the kiln site."
Then these people wandered around: first they came to Hejin, but they couldn't find it there, so they went to Xiangning, then to Yongji, and finally back to Hejin..."
"Only at the district level? Our Chengni inkstones are national-level?"
Liu Ming nodded: "That's why they said they wanted to find some Song and Jin dynasty kiln sites and restore the porcelain-making techniques! They'll bring those back to us in exchange later."
"Did the boss agree?"
Why not agree?
Liu Ming took it for granted:
"Since Xipo was assigned to Xiangning (belonging to LF City), our city's porcelain-making history has been blank. If we can find any kiln sites, let alone those from the Song or Jin dynasties, even finding one from the Ming dynasty would be unprecedented. By then, the public notice period will have long passed. Exchanging it for the technology of Chengni inkstones would be a good deal!"
After a brief pause, he sighed again: "But I estimate it's not very reliable."
A group of people nodded in unison: It really isn't very reliable.
Over the years, Yongji has searched every possible place in the city in order to find the site of the Fahua ware kiln. If it were that easy to find, they would have found it long ago.
The only possible location is Xipo Town. However, that area now belongs to LF City, and it's home to clay mines, purple clay ware factories, and coal mines—all pillar industries of the county. It's impossible to shut down all operations for a single porcelain kiln.
Therefore, in Liu Ming's view, this group of Shaanxi people were just rich and troublesome, and all he did was waste his time.
Just as he was pondering this, Lin Sicheng entered the reception room, followed by Wang Qizhi and Shang Yan.
"Thank you, leaders, thank you so much..."
After introducing themselves, the newcomers were a little confused: the man and woman behind them were both professors at Xida University and leaders of key disciplines at the university.
But the person in charge of the restoration center is this young man. Does that mean he's also in charge of this archaeological survey?
Upon closer inspection: his face was fair and clean, with handsome features, and there was still some fine hair on his face.
Isn't he just a student?
After the introduction: Goodness... He's not graduating until July, so he really is a student?
A group of people suddenly realized: Why did Director Liu say it wasn't very reliable?
But it doesn't matter, since it's not my own money being spent, there's no loss if I can't find it...
Without realizing it, their mindset had changed. Even Wang Qizhi and Shang Yan could sense the contempt, casualness, and indifference these people were showing.
The two looked at Lin Sicheng and remembered what he had said a few days ago: "I don't expect these people to be of much help, as long as they don't cause me trouble."
To put it bluntly: the less the locals care, the more advantageous it is for them...
After the introductions, the group sat down, and the meeting room door was pushed open again.
A large, swarming group, at least a dozen people.
But something was odd: they were all rough, burly men, with dark faces and rough skin, looking like a group of migrant workers.
What is this for?
Just as he was wondering, Liu Ming suddenly froze.
Liu Ming didn't recognize the others, but he had a very deep impression of the two leaders.
He quickly stood up, and without waiting for Lin Sicheng to introduce him, he took two steps forward and extended his hand: "Director Tian, Captain Gao, my surname is Liu, I work at the YC City Museum... Two years ago, I went to Xi'an for research and study, and I had the privilege of visiting your archaeological works at the Archaeological Institute..."
Tian Jie and Gao Zhangyi tried to recall, but couldn't remember much. However, they were very polite and shook hands with smiles.
After the others left, the people nearby craned their necks to look and asked, "Director Liu, who were those two?"
Liu Ming lowered his voice: "The shorter, thinner one is Gao Zhangyi, the captain of the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology's field archaeology team. The tall, strong one, like an iron tower, is Tian Jie, the director of the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology's Field Archaeology Institute."
At first glance, it seems like one is a team leader and the other a director. But let's be clear: the organizations they both lead are both provincial-level.
Everyone paused for a moment: Did this mean that these people were here to find the porcelain kiln site?
The question is, how did a provincial-level archaeological institution get invited to work at a center that is only a secondary college of Xida?
What's even stranger is that these two people and that young man seemed to be very familiar with each other, chatting and laughing together.
The shorter one, in particular, smiled before speaking, which seemed to convey humility.
Looking at Lin Sicheng's age, a group of people couldn't help but have the wrong idea. They felt that this young man must have a very important background.
They didn't know that Gao Zhangyi was no longer Captain Gao, but Deputy Director Gao.
The reason he was promoted was entirely due to Lin Sicheng: while searching for Zhang Anshi's tomb, Lin Sicheng also found three Ming Dynasty prince tombs. Tian Jie and Gao Zhangyi were the ones leading the team at the time.
Because of the Zhang Anshi family cemetery as a foundation, the credit was considered to be at its peak. Therefore, Lin Sicheng did not sign the report documents for these three tombs, giving the credit to Tian Jie and Gao Zhangyi.
It would be strange if Gao Zhangyi wasn't humble when he met him...
Led by Shang Yan, the group sat down in the second row. Just as they were sitting down, another large group of people entered.
There were men and women, more than ten in total.
Liu Ming glanced at him, a hint of suspicion rising in his mind: the person in the lead looked somewhat familiar.
Since he didn't recognize him, Lin Sicheng didn't introduce him and led him straight to the front row.
As they passed Tian Jie and Gao Zhangyi, the group stopped and greeted each other. When Liu Ming heard someone address him as "Team Leader Huang," he suddenly realized: "No wonder he looked so familiar!"
This is Huang Zhifeng, a researcher at the Shaanxi Provincial Museum and an expert at the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Relics Conservation. It's unclear which specific group he's in charge of, but Liu Ming attended a lecture by Huang Zhifeng at the Institute of Cultural Relics Conservation when he went to Xi'an for further studies.
He knew even better that in Shaanxi Province, this man was undoubtedly one of the leading authorities in the fields of archaeology and cultural heritage preservation.
Listening closely, I realized that the dozen or so people behind him were all members of the laboratory he was in charge of.
To put it bluntly, Huang Zhifeng brought an archaeological laboratory directly from the provincial museum.
They weren't far away, and the sound was quite loud; everyone could hear it clearly. A group of people looked at each other in bewilderment: the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, the Shaanxi Provincial Field Survey Team, and the Shaanxi Provincial Museum Experimental Group.
What configuration is this?
Just to find a porcelain kiln site?
If this happened within the same province, it would be somewhat understandable. The problem is, this is outside the province. What's the point of a group of people from Shaanxi making such a fuss and going to such lengths?
Even if we find it, wouldn't it just be a waste of time and effort for outsiders?
In a flash, someone exclaimed, "Look, Mayor Wu is here too?"
Mayor Wu? Where did this Mayor Wu from in Hejin City come from?
Everyone instinctively turned around, and then they all froze in surprise.
That's not Hejin City, that's the mayor of YC City...
Instinctively, everyone stood up.
Seven or eight men and women went up to the stage.
The city's secretary-general presided over the meeting. After a brief introduction, the people below looked at each other.
Wasn't this supposed to be a coordination meeting for the Porcelain Restoration Center of Xi'an University to search for porcelain kiln sites? How did it turn into a "welcome meeting for Director He of the Xi'an Municipal Bureau of Culture and Cultural Relics, along with a delegation from the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Field Research, the Provincial Archaeological Team, and the Provincial Museum Archaeological Research Group to visit and exchange ideas in our city"?
The locals were completely bewildered and looked at each other blankly, while those who came from Xi'an to help were secretly impressed.
Director He Zhigang was indeed here for inspection and exchange. Everyone sitting in the conference room, who came from Shaanxi, was a member of the inspection team.
But after arriving in Yuncheng, you met with the city leaders and went straight to Hejin without even having a meal. So what did you inspect when you came to Yuncheng?
Now look at the next few rows: the director of the provincial field institute, the captain of the provincial archaeological team, the head of the provincial museum's laboratory—it's normal for these people to be here for inspections. But what's abnormal is who goes to other provinces for inspections and transfers with their entire team?
Anyone with eyes can see that this investigation and exchange was actually a pretext for setting up this investigation team specifically for the kiln site that Lin Sicheng had found.
Including He Zhigang.
Let alone locals like Director Liu Ming, even Shang Yan and Dean Su found it incredibly unbelievable: at first glance, they were all acquaintances of Lin Sicheng. And every single one of them owed Lin Sicheng a considerable favor.
If these individuals were helping in their personal capacity, that would certainly be fine. But the problem is that for Lin Sicheng's personal project, almost all of Shaanxi Province's most authoritative archaeological research departments were assembled.
Even the top leaders of deputy provincial-level departments in sub-provincial cities came to help coordinate, and they asked Wang Qizhi if he had the ability to do so.
How did Lin Sicheng manage to do that?
They kept pondering it until the meeting ended and the banquet began, but they still couldn't figure it out.
Not only did they not understand, but the local leaders did not understand either: just look at the few units present, and with the level of the inspection team, let alone looking for a porcelain kiln, no one would doubt that they were looking for an imperial tomb.
The problem is, this is Shanxi, not Shaanxi. Even if they find it, no matter how large the site is or how many discoveries are made, they can't move it, can they?
So, what are they after?
Suspicious, the leaders probed He Zhigang for information. He Zhigang stated bluntly: The goal is simple: to apply for World Heritage status.
However, several leaders felt that Director He was not telling the truth: it was just a research institution under a secondary college of Xida University, not a municipal government agency.
Since they didn't say anything, it wasn't appropriate to press them for details. Besides, no matter how you look at it, it could only benefit the local area, so they were extremely enthusiastic.
Cups were served and toasts were exchanged, and both host and guests enjoyed themselves immensely.
It started at 6:30 and didn't end until almost 9:00. He Zhigang controlled his alcohol tolerance and only drank about 50% of his usual amount.
As soon as the banquet ended, he personally made a phone call and summoned several responsible persons to his room.
The secretary made tea, Wang Qizhi offered cigarettes, and He Zhigang personally explained.
Only then did everyone realize why Director He had called them over: a confidential meeting.
"The Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics, the Bureau of Culture, the Bureau of Industry, and Xida University all attach great importance to this project. The leaders met and specifically assigned me to coordinate and communicate with the local authorities. I also brought you all here to hand over to Lin Sicheng, which is why this inspection and exchange took place..."
"Secondly, let me emphasize the importance of confidentiality: keep your mouth shut and be extremely careful with your words!"
You haven't said anything, so what are you asking us to keep secret?
Just as he was wondering, Wang Qizhi handed him several documents.
Upon casually flipping through the document, Dean Su and Shang Yan were taken aback: a feasibility report on "Research on the Restoration of the Craftsmanship of Song Dynasty Egg-White Jade Porcelain".
Upon closer inspection of the signature, it reads: Lin Sicheng.
Wait... what is all this about?
Lin Sicheng came to Shanxi to study the research techniques for Chengni inkstones, right?
Before they've even learned the technology, they're already looking for porcelain kiln sites, even going so far as to make such a big fuss by forming a special investigation team?
But in the end, they still want to talk about restoring the ancient porcelain craftsmanship, or "egg white jade"?
This is utterly nonsensical...
Just as he was wondering what was going on, with a "creak," Lin Sicheng opened the bag and took out a bowl.
Wang Qizhi said succinctly: "Come on, everyone, take a look. But there's no doubt about the era. I had it tested in the capital: it dates back to the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty."
With just one glance, the eyes of all the people widened in surprise.
I didn't even look at the document, but I just did. So, what is this?
Egg white jade?
Upon closer inspection: it's thin, not much thicker than an eggshell.
Bright, smooth, white and tender, like cream or grease, at first glance, it looks like a cooked and peeled egg white.
And then, combined with what Wang Qizhi just said: during the reign of Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty?
During the Northern Song Dynasty, several famous kilns could produce porcelain of this white color, including the Ding kiln and the Guan kiln.
But only one type of porcelain blank can be fired so thinly, as if it were made from a clay body: egg white jade.
The group looked at each other in bewilderment: even Ru ware, the "king of porcelain," has some exquisite pieces that have survived. But this particular piece has never been unearthed to date; it only appears in historical records.
In other words, this is the only one in the world. To put it more bluntly: a unique piece.
Guess how much it's worth?
It's worth at least several million. So even if Lin Sicheng didn't learn anything, his trip to Shanxi was definitely not in vain.
But that's not the point. What surprised them was: how could they possibly revive a lost craft using just this one bowl?
It's not that they underestimated Lin Sicheng, but with just this one bowl, he managed to attract all the top research institutions and centers in the country, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and they all had to look up at it in envy...
But then, the group of people froze: Lin Sicheng opened another chest, which was full of porcelain shards.
Upon closer inspection, some are slightly thinner and some are slightly thicker, but the glaze and porcelain body are exactly the same.
Those who are experts can tell that whether it is a perfectly intact white-glazed bowl or a porcelain shard, they all use porcelain clay from the same place and are fired using the same process.
What did I just say: "Looking at the bowl and sighing"...? Are you still sighing now?
No one can say for sure how likely it is to be restored. But at least they know that Lin Sicheng went to Yaozhou and managed to restore the tea dust glaze and the reverse-flow teapot technique by studying samples.
"These were collected in Yongji and Hejin during this period: the thinnest body and the best glaze are from the Northern Song Dynasty, followed by the Jin Dynasty, then the Yuan Dynasty... We haven't found any from after the Yuan Dynasty yet, probably because the technique has been lost... Now look at this..."
As he spoke, Wang Qizhi produced another test report: "It's all Hejin porcelain clay!"
Everyone stared wide-eyed, then suddenly realized:
The production area of egg white jade is in Hejin, so Lin Sicheng wanted to find the kiln site to find more samples and see if he could deduce the process.
The thing is, it's not like nobody's ever tried it.
Ru kiln, Jun kiln, Ding kiln, Xing kiln, Dehua kiln, Jingdezhen imperial kiln, and so on—which famous kiln that reopened after the founding of the People's Republic of China has not been restored? But what was the result?
The Ministry of Light Industry and the National Porcelain Research Institute began trying this approach after the founding of the People's Republic of China, but they had to give up in the end because it was too difficult.
So, if this craft can really be restored, what need is there for Chengni inkstones?
Immediately submitting bids and local applications, instead of striving for national-level research projects, is a sign of inaction and incompetence on the part of relevant provincial and municipal departments and leaders.
They now understood why Lin Sicheng had made such a big fuss over simply finding a porcelain kiln, with He Zhigang personally leading the team.
Because several units in the city and Xida University wanted to cause trouble and try to steal food from their neighbors.
Therefore, He Zhigang specifically called them over and emphasized: keep it a secret.
Regardless of whether a successful restoration is possible, even the slightest hint of it will stir up a hornet's nest...
Instinctively, the group looked at Lin Sicheng, but as soon as they raised their heads, He Zhigang's gaze pierced them first.
Several people simultaneously moved aside.
He Zhigang smiled and looked at the silent Lin Sicheng: "Don't feel guilty. Just focus on your research, and leave the rest to us!"
"Don't feel like you've taken away someone else's livelihood. You should think like this: If it weren't for you, would it have taken many years for the kiln site to be discovered locally, or would it never have been discovered at all? As for the lost techniques, there's no need to even talk about them."
"But because of you, Shanxi not only has famous porcelain, but even tribute porcelain from the Song Dynasty. From the perspective of filling historical gaps, completing the regional technological development chain, and enriching cultural heritage, the local government should thank you!"
"Let's think about it from another angle: This isn't the origin of the eggshell white jade porcelain craftsmanship. We're restoring the lost techniques of Guan, Ru, Ge, Ding, and Jun porcelains. What's there to argue about?"
Lin Sicheng remained silent: He dared to snatch projects from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, so what psychological burden could he possibly have?
It wasn't that he was arrogant or self-important: if the research had been conducted simultaneously, he estimated that he would have already built the factory while the local area might not have even figured it out yet.
The reason is simple: although the complete craftsmanship of egg white jade has been lost, he studied Yongle sweet white glaze semi-molded wares, Xuande and Chenghua eggshell cups, and chicken cups in the Palace Museum.
However, the local authorities were unaware that the Palace Museum possessed the relevant technology and a sufficient number of samples; even the Palace Museum itself was unaware of this.
Even if they knew, and even if the Palace Museum was willing to share its technology and provide national treasures as research materials, the local authorities would still have to start their research from scratch.
Even if one studies the opposite approach, no matter how fast one progresses, it will still be at least three to five years behind Lin Sicheng's level.
Based on this, and based on the fact that he would not feel any psychological burden if the lost craft were to be revived a few years earlier.
Lin Sicheng hesitated, wondering if he had gone too far.
But who would have thought that his report was just a routine one, mentioning egg white jade in the report, and the Cultural Bureau was energized like they'd been injected with chicken blood.
First, they contacted the school, then the Industry Bureau and the Cultural Relics Bureau. After several parties discussed it, they urged Lin Sicheng to write a feasibility report. Then, a large inspection team was formed.
What if... just what if, in the end, the restoration is unsuccessful?
Lin Sicheng sighed and pointed to the Feasibility Report: "Leaders, have you even read the document? I wrote it so clearly: the current scope of the porcelain kiln site is only a rough estimate!"
Whether they'll ultimately find them is uncertain, and even if they do, who can guarantee there will be enough eggshell jade porcelain pieces? And even with a large enough sample size, the success rate is less than 30%!
He Zhigang didn't care at all: "It's okay, there's still 30% left, what if?"
It's not like we've never dealt with each other before.
Just like when they were looking for Zhang Anshi's tomb, Lin Sicheng said: "Sir, the chances aren't very high, maybe 20 or 30, but I'll try to find it."
And then what?
To strike straight at the heart of the enemy's stronghold.
In Chen Peng's words: "That kid's got a hundred tricks up his sleeve. You have to double what he says, and then add a little more. If he says 30%, he's at least 70% sure..."
Thinking it over, He Zhigang smiled again: "Even if we don't succeed in restoring it, it's okay. We'll definitely be able to find the kiln site, right?"
New discoveries, new techniques, new technologies—such significant archaeological findings! Do you really think the local authorities will let us pay for everything out of our own pockets? Believe me, they'll be begging us to reimburse them, maybe even paying us back many times over!
Lin Sicheng believed it, of course.
If word got out that the largest porcelain kiln site in Shanxi was found in Shaanxi, every department and leader, from top to bottom, who would be able to keep their face shut up if it came to anything related to culture and heritage?
In truth, the probability of successful restoration of the egg white jade is quite high, but nothing is absolute, so it is necessary to take precautions in advance just in case.
After a moment's thought, Lin Sicheng nodded: "Alright, let's find a kiln site first!"
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