Chapter 291 The Capital, Here I Come
Two heavy smokers were puffing away, making the office feel like it was on fire.
With two knocks, the door was pushed open, and Shui Jisheng walked in, leaning on his cane.
Jiang Chengying got up and opened the window, Zheng Ming turned on the exhaust fan, and then helped the old man sit down.
The secretary brewed tea again and closed the door. The three of them sat facing each other in silence.
After a long while, the old man sighed, "All good has been lost!"
Jiang Chengying and Zheng Ming remained silent.
You can't buy foresight.
With insufficient sample size to support adequate trial and error, the recovery process is nothing but a pipe dream and nonsense.
From the perspective of local leaders, and with a responsible attitude towards their work, eight out of ten people would immediately think of cutting losses and reducing expenses.
Naturally, breaking the contract with Lin Sicheng became a logical step.
I never expected that something that seemed hopeless and impossible to succeed would not only be accomplished by Lin Sicheng, but would exceed expectations by several times.
The source of the technology was traced, its distribution path was found, the scope of the connection was confirmed, and the complete process was restored.
Especially the last two points: sharing the same lineage as Yongle sweet white glaze and Chenghua doucai, which greatly elevates the historical value and status of Hejin porcelain. Combined with its complete revival techniques, its influence is more than enough to rival ten of the "Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries."
To put it bluntly: what a huge achievement this is!
Now, things have changed: no matter how great their influence or how high their value, their relationship with them has become negligible.
It may even decrease instead of increase.
Because they are all major discoveries, there are too many accolades and too much positive news. The greater the sensation, the more likely it is to cause the public to lose focus.
All of it is big news, but people's energy is limited. Even if they pay attention, they only focus on the one or two most eye-catching items. Porcelain from Hejin and Huozhou, which have virtually no history and are not well-known, are relegated to the sidelines among a bunch of glittering behemoths.
Conversely, what if we hadn't broken the contract so drastically?
Centered on "Hejin porcelain," Lin Sicheng gradually unleashed his research findings: tracing its origins back to Jingdezhen celadon, and connecting it to Huozhou porcelain, Yuan Dynasty egg-white glaze, Yongle sweet white glaze, Chenghua doucai, Dehua white porcelain, and Qing Dynasty thin-walled wares...
Each time a story is released, it's heavily publicized and hyped up, aiming to create a sensation within the industry, or even nationally renowned news. Not long after, after three to four months, once the hype surrounding the previous story has died down, another story is released, and the hype continues.
Jiang Chengying was confident: if he were to take the helm, he could make the Hejin Kiln a nationwide sensation, for at least two to three years.
Unfortunately, there are no "what ifs"...
Shui Jisheng frowned: "When you were preparing to terminate the contract, I reminded you: In academic research, you may not get results even if you put in the effort. But if you don't put in the effort, you definitely won't get results. But once you do get results, the returns will be a hundred times, a thousand times, or even tens of thousands of times."
The two remained silent.
They understood the principle, of course, and Shui Jisheng had indeed reminded them of it. But at the time, they didn't see it as academic research or anything like that. Instead, they treated it as a business deal, or even a transaction.
Without profit and benefits, there is naturally no basis for cooperation...
After a long while, Zheng Ming raised his head: "Chief Engineer Shui, the reason I invited you here today is to ask you: is there any way to remedy this?"
Shui Jisheng paused for a moment: "How do you plan to remedy this?"
Jiang Chengying carefully considered his words: "To date, Lin Sicheng has not published any papers or disclosed any information to the outside world. Those who know about it are basically limited to a very small circle."
So, I discussed it with Director Zheng to see if there was anything we could do: for example, was there any way to make amends?
The old man hesitated, as if he wanted to ask: How can you make amends?
After thinking for a moment, he got straight to the point: "What's the ultimate goal?"
"Could we ask Professor Lin to slow down a bit? Ideally, we could adjust the research plan and exploration strategy."
Shui Jisheng paused for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Slow down what?
Of course, the excavation schedule should be postponed, and the announcement of the excavation and research results should be delayed as much as possible. This will allow the local authorities to develop a corresponding publicity plan as soon as possible.
Lin Sicheng has already completed more than 90% of the research, and even restored the complete process. What research plan is there left?
Therefore, what they wanted Lin Sicheng to adjust was not a plan, but a lie: whatever the results or discoveries, everything was accomplished through the "Hejin Kiln".
For example, the Huozhou Kiln was not discovered by Lin Sicheng based on the survey team of the Palace Museum, nor on the records of any ceramicists. Rather, it was discovered through the excavation and research of the Hejin Kiln.
For example, Lin Sicheng did not study the kiln structure restoration process of Hutian Kiln, but only after excavating Hejin Kiln did he achieve the process tracing.
The techniques used in later types of porcelain, including egg white glaze, sweet white glaze, and eggshell ware, were all researched and recreated based on the techniques of Hejin porcelain.
Shui Jisheng really wanted to sneer and ask again: How big of a face do you two have?
He initially intended to hold back and offer a perfunctory response. But the more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
"Do you know what the sweet white glaze, Chenghua doucai, and Dehua kiln porcelain techniques originated from Hutian kiln celadon? It means that Jingdezhen is the birthplace of the pinnacle of Chinese white porcelain craftsmanship, and it also means that the history of Jingdezhen's official kiln system has been pushed back from the Ming Dynasty to the Song Dynasty..."
"Do you even know what the restoration of the craftsmanship of celadon, sweet white glaze, Chenghua doucai, and Dehua bodiless porcelain means for Northwest University? It means an upgrade in the academic level of the colleges and majors, an improvement in the university's ranking, and even more importantly, preferential policies from the national education authorities, as well as greater support and investment in talent and funding..."
"Do you even know what collaborations with the State Administration of Cultural Heritage, the Academy of Cultural Heritage, and the Palace Museum, as well as being appointed as a special advisor and expert by ministries, mean for Lin Sicheng? It means he is a potential national-level talent, and it also means that all these departments have opened their doors to him..."
"Come on, tell me, what can you offer to make amends?"
Shui Jisheng chuckled expressionlessly, "Don't even think about how to persuade Lin Sicheng. Do you think he can make the decisions now that things have developed to this point?"
"So, you should first think about how to negotiate with Jingdezhen and Xida. What price would it take to make these two companies give up an opportunity they might not get even once in ten years?"
Then think about it: how can we get the leaders of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage to withdraw the resolution made after meetings and collective discussions, and bring back Director Wu and the guidance team who have already arrived in the area and started their work...
"Leaving all that aside, first, pat your chests and see: can you get past Professor Wang Qizhi?"
At first, the two were quite angry, thinking that they were just being so friendly, so why did they suddenly start arguing?
But as they listened, their hearts sank a little deeper with each sentence the old man spoke.
It's not a question of whether it's possible, it's simply impossible. Like the old man said: If you throw everything away, can you even get past Wang Qizhi?
In the local area, he's at most a second-generation rich kid with a slightly special status and a slightly more powerful background, so they can just ignore him.
But in the capital, he's the crown prince. Why would he need to pull strings or use connections? You're hopeless...
Seeing the two men's stiff expressions and silence, Shui Jisheng sighed inwardly: "To have reached this position, do these two not understand these principles?"
It was simply a desperate measure, a last-ditch effort.
The old man sighed and said, "When people get old, they talk more: I think you should stop doing all this and just cooperate with the guidance team!"
The two men exchanged a glance: "Chief Engineer Shui, let's give it a try!"
"Alright!" Shui Jisheng leaned back. "You should report to your superiors first!"
It was easy to talk to Lin Sicheng; all he did was refuse: "Sir, I'm sorry." Then he would laugh and say: "It's alright."
But the problem is that the nature of the matter is wrong: whether it's a research plan or an archaeological scheme, was it formulated by Lin Sicheng? Asking Lin Sicheng to lie is tantamount to questioning the decision-making of higher authorities, which is a political issue.
He may be old, but he's not senile, and Lin Sicheng is even more so.
The two men's expressions changed: If we can report to our superiors, why would we need your help?
...
One family rejoices while another grieves.
They still stayed at the city hotel, and the research office was still located in the city's cultural bureau. However, there were no longer so many miscellaneous units; now there was only one: the National Cultural Heritage Administration's Hejin Kiln Site Excavation and Research Center.
But the people are still the same, including the liaison officer, who is still Secretary-General Tan from the municipal government.
Before Lin Sicheng left for Huozhou, the center held a short meeting.
The meeting was chaired by He Wei, Senior Engineer of the Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Director of the Hejin Kiln Site Excavation and Research Center. Attendees included: Advisor Lin Sicheng, Advisor Su Zhenjiang (Vice Dean of the School of Cultural Heritage and Museology, Northwest University), and Advisor Xiao Lin (Deputy Director of the Ceramics Research Office, Shaanxi History Museum).
The rest are all the original team members: Tian Jie and Gao Zhangyi are still in charge of the field team, one in Hejin and the other in Huozhou; Huang Zhifeng and Qin Tao are in charge of the laboratory teams on both sides, and the team members are basically the same people as before.
The project was several levels higher, with the supervising and guiding unit jumping directly to a ministry: the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. However, everyone from top to bottom appeared very relaxed, including He Wei, the head of the research center, as well as the archaeological team members and laboratory technicians.
Because Lin Sicheng had already completed 80-90% of the work. The rest was not difficult at all: proceed with the excavation step by step, collect data step by step, and verify the research results.
It can be said that as long as the kiln is excavated and its structure is roughly the same as Lin Sicheng's guess, the excavation report and research report can be published directly.
Then, the papers will fly to the top journals in the field of archaeology in China: the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' "Acta Archaeologica Sinica" and "Archaeology", the State Administration of Cultural Heritage's "Cultural Relics", and the Palace Museum's "Ceramics".
Lin Sicheng had even prepared an outline, marked the core arguments, and included an index.
For Tian Jie, Gao Zhangyi, Huang Zhifeng, Qin Tao, and their team members, it was as if Lin Sicheng had directly fed them the results; all they had to do was open their mouths.
Consider Lin Sicheng's initial promises to them: not only were they not compromised in the slightest, but they exceeded expectations by several times.
It's no exaggeration, a group of people almost pinched their thighs until they were bruised just to keep their mouths shut...
The meeting was brief, only discussing the work arrangements after the project commenced. After lunch, the group boarded a minibus and headed straight for Huozhou.
The site is quite large and valuable. Furthermore, Lin Sicheng only conducted a preliminary survey in the early stages, so there are several times more people here.
Tian Suo led two archaeological teams. Professor Huang Zhifeng not only brought the entire ceramics group from the Shaanxi History Museum, but also borrowed a group from the Provincial Academy of Cultural Heritage.
In comparison, the level of liveliness was worlds apart.
It's been almost a week since the personnel arrived, and the low-key approach from Hejin is strange: only the deputy county head in charge of culture made a brief appearance, and when they met the highest-ranking leader, they only talked to the deputy secretary-general.
The hospitality here was overwhelming: on the first day, the Party Secretary and the Mayor personally received them; on the second day, they personally accompanied them on the inspection. From the third day onwards, the Vice Mayor in charge of culture, the Director of the Municipal Cultural Relics Bureau, and the Deputy Director accompanied the group throughout the entire trip. All municipal departments and the county-level leadership teams were on standby 24 hours a day.
For them, it was like a windfall: no need for local organizations, no need for local investigations, no need to beg for funding, and no need to travel long distances to invite experts.
The standards and levels were top-notch: the State Administration of Cultural Heritage provided guidance and organization, the National Academy of Cultural Heritage and the Palace Museum conducted research, and the local authorities only needed to coordinate the requisition of farmland and organize laborers to carry out basic work such as excavation and digging.
The biggest expense is covering the accommodation and meals for the expert team; they don't even have to pay a penny of their salaries.
But the benefits came one after another: inexplicably, an official kiln from the Jin and Yuan dynasties was unearthed.
Moreover, it is the only northern white porcelain production center during the Jin and Yuan dynasties, and even the only porcelain kiln site in ancient Shanxi that entered the official kiln system.
It's said that Shanxi has no famous porcelain or kilns. But now it does, in Huozhou.
For the locals, isn't this like gold bars falling from the sky?
If I weren't enthusiastic, I'd be betraying my conscience...
...
Another week passed, and it was now mid-September.
The sky was clear, cloudless, and a deep blue as a mirror.
The forests are gradually turning red with color, frost crystals hang on the grass blades, and the air is exceptionally fresh.
Sun Jiamu took out a cigarette case and handed one to Wu Hui. Wu Hui shielded the cigarette from the wind, lit it, and then looked at Lin Sicheng: "How about I leave first, and you stay a few more days!"
“Yes!” Sun Jiamu nodded vigorously. “He won’t come even if I call him teacher, and I don’t even know anyone here?”
"Sure!" Lin Sicheng smiled. "As long as Dean Ma agrees!"
The two exchanged a glance and, without prior agreement, chuckled in unison.
As soon as Lin Sicheng arrived in Yuncheng, Lao Ma started calling to urge him to hurry up. At first, it was every two or three days, but after a week, it was almost every day. After the 10th, it was at least three times a day.
Of course, this isn't meant to urge Lin Sicheng; he's under someone else's control now, and whether he leaves or not isn't up to him.
Instead, they urged Wu Hui and Sun Jiamu.
Wu Hui didn't care whether the person was released or not, sooner or later. Because he had participated in the entire BTA retest verification process of Lin Sicheng, he knew that there wouldn't be any problems on Vice Dean Ma's side.
Old Ma was just doing this as a precaution, thinking of bringing Lin Sicheng to the capital so that any problems could be resolved at any time.
Sun Jiamu, on the other hand, was taking it one day at a time: with Lin Sicheng's help, his days couldn't be easier. He didn't even need to leave the command post; Lin Sicheng had everything arranged perfectly for him.
But with just over a week left until National Day, we really couldn't delay any longer. If we dragged it out any longer, Vice President Ma would start cursing.
The basic coordination has been completed, and Wu Hui is also preparing to return to Beijing, so it's a good opportunity to go together.
“It’s fine if you don’t want to stay!” Sun Jiamu flicked his cigarette ash. “If you encounter any problems here, you can come back. It’s not far anyway…”
The survey of the Huozhou Kiln site is basically complete; all that remains is excavation. The techniques and formulas have been thoroughly researched, even more so than those for Hejin porcelain.
Furthermore, with Tian Jie and Huang Zhifeng leading the team, it would be difficult to encounter any problems.
After a moment's thought, Lin Sicheng nodded: "Anytime is fine!"
After discussing some follow-up details, Wu Hui and Sun Jiamu started chatting casually.
Lin Sicheng sat on the hilltop, gazing northeast, his mind filled with memories of his past life.
The Palace Museum, the National Museum of China, and the Institute of Cultural Studies.
Grandma Wang, Mr. Xu, Mr. Geng... Director Lü, Dean Ma, Senior Brother Shan...
Beijing, here I come!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
