Chapter 157 Tang and Han Tombs Buried Together
"Splash... splash..."
The air conditioner vents hummed incessantly, and the ballpoint pen on the table rolled off the edge.
"Thud~"
Chen Peng was completely oblivious, standing by the window with his arms crossed, lost in thought.
My mentor called to ask, and the political commissar and executive officer also called to ask. That means that, in the eyes of these leaders, there was nothing wrong with the plan I submitted.
Even Chen Peng himself believes that the ideas and directions provided by Lin Sicheng are basically correct.
But several days have passed, and there's still no movement?
Several artifacts were found, but the tomb raiders were nowhere to be found. This doesn't apply to tomb raiders from the past or those of today.
With no other option, they had to try anything, even if it seemed hopeless, and let Lin Sicheng give it a shot.
I already owe enough, so one more time won't make a difference...
In a flash, hurried footsteps came from outside the door, growing louder and closer.
Chen Peng froze, listened intently, and his eyelids twitched: Oh no, Director?
Of course he wasn't afraid of the bureau chief, but the problem was that he could tell from the sound that the bureau chief's legs were practically shooting sparks. How could this be a visit to comfort him?
Based on past experience, he would at least get a beating in these situations...
Chen Peng's expression changed, and he rushed to the door. Just as he lifted the chain, the door was pushed open with a "bang".
Then, the master and apprentice stared at each other, wide-eyed.
Li Chunnan glanced at Chen Peng's hand holding the lock, chuckled, and began rolling up his sleeves.
Chen Peng jumped in surprise, dropped his hand, and ran behind the desk.
Li Chunnan chased after him, and the political commissar slowly entered the office and silently closed the door.
Turning around again, the master and apprentice were like donkeys pushing a millstone, circling around the desk.
At first glance, it's quite funny: a bureau chief and a deputy bureau chief, two such high-ranking leaders, acting like children playing house.
However, this situation would occur every three to five months or half a year, and it lasted for a full twenty years.
It can be said that half the credit for Chen Peng becoming the deputy director was due to his mentor, Li Chunnan.
Just like now: one wants to fight, the other wants to escape... Li Chunnan can't catch up, so he looks around for something. Chen Peng reacts quickly, grabbing Li Chunnan's hand across the table.
His face was plastered with a fawning smile: "No... Master, even when death row inmates are executed by firing squad, the verdict is read aloud?"
He's almost sixty, not the same as he used to be. Li Chunnan tried to pull it out but couldn't, then sneered, "Fine, I'll read it to you: Did you trick Lin Sicheng into going to find tomb raiders?"
Chen Peng was stunned for a moment, then his face darkened: "Wait... Wang Qizhi is such a grown man, why is he still tattling?"
"Complaining is nothing. If I were Wang Qizhi, I would have rushed over and fought you, and smashed your face until it was bruised. I'm not Li."
Li Chunnan was exasperated. "Chen Peng, the Municipal Public Security Bureau has eleven branches and thirteen detachments, with thousands of police officers, and you're leaving them unused? You're sending a student to clear the minefield for you? Chen Peng, are you shameless?
Getting angrier by the point of talking, Li Chunnan forcefully pulled his hand away: "Are you addicted to letting that kid take the fall? Chen Peng, you're not ashamed, but I am..."
Chen Peng panicked and pressed down hard: "Master, don't listen to Wang Qizhi's nonsense... I just asked Lin Sicheng to make a visit, it's not that exaggerated!"
Li Chunnan didn't believe a word of it: "Bullshit? With so many police officers, any one of them could go and conduct the investigations. You want Lin Sicheng to go?"
Chen Peng looked helpless: "Master, I have no other choice... About a month ago, after Lin Sicheng brought up the legacy and the jade artifact, I started investigating, both openly and secretly, to find the earliest group of tomb raiders, the one who stole the jade artifact. If we can find that group, we can find the tomb site, and the rest will naturally fall into place..."
This includes Lin Sicheng's suggestion of using artifacts to find people, which refers to the same group from before. Even if the tomb isn't found, they might be able to get clues about the later group—the one currently engaged in tomb raiding…
But I investigated for a month and found nothing. After seeing you that day, I sent out seven or eight more groups of men, but we couldn't find a single one, let alone the ringleader (the head of the tomb raiding gang), not even a lookout (the henchman responsible for gathering information)..."
"There was no other way, so I interrogated that old street vendor (antique dealer) twice more, the man who sold the jade to the old woman who was Lin Sicheng. Only then did I realize that there are three things you can't do in this business in our area: you can't find laymen (who don't understand antiques), you can't find local buyers, and you definitely can't find those who don't understand tomb raiding..."
“But Master, the Municipal Bureau does have several thousand people, but how many of them understand cultural relics and tomb raiding? I have no choice but to ask Lin Sicheng for help…”
Li Chunnan was taken aback: "You're looking for the same group from before?"
"Of course!" Chen Peng nodded vigorously. "I heard he's washed his hands of the business for many years, and I even sent people to follow him. What danger could Lin Sicheng possibly be in?"
What does it mean that the locals are missing?
"They're probably undercover police officers!"
Li Chunse's expression softened slightly, and then she thought for a moment: "Lin Sicheng also knows about tomb raiding?"
“Master, he knows too much…” Chen Peng sighed. “Wang Qizhi definitely didn’t tell you: Lin Sicheng went to Zhejiang and only spent 100,000 yuan to have tomb raiders find him dozens of scrolls of Southern Song Dynasty documents: worth billions…”
Li Chunnan was startled: "How much?"
"At least two billion, and that's the black market price... The item is currently in the provincial museum and has been registered with the bureau. You can check it if you don't believe me!"
The bureau chief and the political commissar looked at each other in bewilderment: How does this kid know everything?
Just like Chen Peng said: As long as it's related to cultural relics, it seems like there's nothing he can't do?
After a long silence, the bureau chief looked up and asked, "Where is he? I mean, Lin Sicheng."
"He went to Qujiang Township, the place where he bought the jade from Wenming last time!" Chen Peng patted his chest. "Master, don't worry, the ones I picked are all veterans, there's absolutely no danger..."
Li Chunnan glared at him.
There's little risk involved, so even if there's no guarantee of success, let's just take a shot first.
What if?
...
The paint on the iron gate was peeling and rusty, and the corners of the walls were splattered with dirt.
Several women with grotesque, ghostly appearances leaned against the wall, their shoes covered in sunflower seed shells.
In the early winter air, several young men with bare chests, revealing menacing tattoos on their chests, stood around. Their eyes were full of provocation as they scanned the three men several times before noticing the car with the Zhejiang D license plate at the alley entrance.
Lin Sicheng stood with his hands in his jacket pockets, just like last time, accompanied by a man and a woman.
It was neither Gu Ming nor Ye Anning, but two plainclothes officers.
Walking forward at a leisurely pace, Lin Sicheng chuckled softly, "You two, relax, don't be nervous!"
The male plainclothes officer glanced at the back of Lin Sicheng's head, while the female police officer pursed her lips and remained silent.
How do you know we're a little nervous when you didn't even turn your head?
I'm not exactly nervous, but I'm a little on edge.
Because just before they left, Director Chen practically made them swear on their lives: "If Lin Sicheng loses even a single hair, neither of you should ever come back..."
But then again, this kid is really relaxed. He's like he's back home as soon as he gets to this wretched place.
After a moment's thought, the two followed Lin Sicheng forward until they reached the entrance of an alley, where they checked their watches again.
It's past 12:10, kindergarten should be letting out.
As I put down my phone, I heard a loud banging sound behind me.
A woman in her early thirties was pedaling a tricycle, with a young child sitting in the back.
Seeing that there were people blocking the alley entrance, she was about to ring the bell when she hesitated for a moment.
I don't recognize the man and woman next to me, but this young man looks very familiar: just over a month ago, he sold eight copper coins and two items from his home, spending a total of 130,800.
Moreover, they are incredibly generous and open-handed; whatever price you ask for, they'll accept without haggling.
The woman pressed the handbrake, jumped off the tricycle, and exclaimed with a smile, "Hey, buddy!"
"Does my older sister still recognize me?" Lin Sicheng nodded. "Is my aunt here?"
"I'm...I'm...cooking at home. Come on...let's go inside and talk..."
Hearing Lin Sicheng ask his mother-in-law, the woman's eyes lit up, and she jumped onto the tricycle to lead the way.
As soon as I rode into the yard, I shouted at the top of my lungs, "Mother~ Mother..."
"What are you howling about?"
The old man wiped his hands and came out of the side room on one side of the courtyard gate. He was stunned for a moment, then his face was full of smiles: "Oh, child... quick, quick, come inside... Cuiqin, lock the door!"
It wasn't just ordinary enthusiasm.
Of course, anyone who comes will spend over 100,000 yuan. See how enthusiastic he is?
After they entered the main room and sat down, the old woman looked at Lin Sicheng with a smile: "Kid, those two items from last time, you made a good deal, didn't you!"
Lin Sicheng paused for a moment: "I made a little money, but not much!"
How could there not be many?
If they don't earn much, they won't come back again!
The old woman tentatively asked, "So, you've come this time to buy two more items?"
"Yes, buy two more!" Lin Sicheng nodded, "But only the same kind as last time!"
Upon hearing the first sentence, the old lady's eyes crinkled with laughter, but upon hearing the second sentence, her smile seemed to freeze on her face.
Last time, there were only two of those items at home. This was only because she was grateful that her father didn't go around making accusations after he went in; it was a bribe sent from above to keep him quiet.
If that's all she wants, where can she find it?
Just as he was thinking that he probably wouldn't be able to make any money today, Lin Sicheng smiled and said, "If you don't have any at home, could you ask around for me? I'll take care of the reward..."
After a slight pause, Lin Sicheng held up his index finger: "Ten percent!"
One item can cost tens or hundreds of thousands of yuan. How much is a 10% commission?
Suddenly, the old woman's eyes crinkled into crescents with laughter.
"Sit down, kid, I'll call for help!"
Lin Sicheng agreed, and the old lady left the room.
Immediately, the daughter-in-law brought in tea. After drinking about half a bowl, the iron gate in the courtyard clanged open. Then, the old lady led a tall man into the house.
He was in his forties, with a stubble beard.
Huh, is it someone I know?
Last time, when Lin Sicheng was planning to observe the stars at Duling to deduce the approximate direction of Zhang Anshi's tomb, he asked the old lady to find him a guide, and that was this man.
I vaguely remember the old lady saying that he was her brother-in-law...
Once inside, the man didn't sit down, but stared around with his eyes darting about.
He glanced at the male plainclothes officer, then at the female plainclothes officer, and finally at Lin Sicheng.
The old woman glared at him: "What? The two hundred yuan you earned last time, could it be counterfeit money?"
Upon hearing this, the man relaxed: no Lei Zi would go up the mountain in the middle of the night to look for a grave.
The key thing is the stuff he brought with him: stargazing, sun-measuring, soil-probing, tomb-locating equipment... who knows, this kid might actually know how to find tombs.
Making wild guesses, the man sat down, took out an object wrapped in cloth from his pocket, and put it on the table.
Then, in a deep, resonant voice, he said, "Three hundred and eighty thousand, not a single seed less!"
Lin Sicheng didn't say anything, he just nodded and then unwrapped the cloth.
Then, my eyes lit up: a Tang Dynasty gold and silver inlaid phoenix pattern square mirror?
The item is absolutely authentic, no need to guess: it's an imperial artifact from the Tang Dynasty, and it's made using the lost art of gold and silver inlay.
If you compare them, the craftsmanship is much, much better than the replica he bought at the Bell Tower last time.
Moreover, it's quite large and a very rare square-shaped mirror. On the black market, at 380,000, it's not considered expensive.
As the saying goes, "testing the waters," regardless of its price, one must buy something; at worst, one can ask Director Chen for reimbursement.
After looking at it twice, Lin Sicheng prepared to haggle. He had already put the mirror down when he suddenly stopped.
The memory of the register from last time, and Yu Wenming, involuntarily surfaced in his mind.
Coincidentally, that jade mirror was warm and bright, and inside it was also a bronze mirror.
Strangely, the rust and dirt on both mirrors seemed exactly the same.
But how is that possible?
One is a Han Dynasty mirror, and the other is a Tang Dynasty mirror, with a difference of seven or eight hundred years.
Unless one of them traveled through time...
The more I look at it, the more it resembles it, but the more it resembles it, the more absurd it seems.
Lin Sicheng squinted: "I still need to test it. Are you in a hurry, brother?"
Men, of course, aren't in a hurry.
If Lin Sicheng were to casually glance at a deal worth hundreds of thousands and immediately hand over the money, his superiors would be suspicious.
The man nodded, and Lin Sicheng put down the mirror and took out his phone.
They didn't go out; they just made the call inside. Looking at the familiar number on the phone screen, the two plainclothes officers' hearts skipped a beat: Could this not be Director Chen's number?
The call connected immediately, and before Chen Peng could speak, Lin Sicheng chuckled, "Brother Peng, are you at the hotel?"
There was a two or three-second silence on the phone: "Yes!"
"That's good. Then have someone bring me that mirror so I can compare it... It's the one that's embedded in the box I bought last time... Call me when it arrives and I'll have the driver pick it up."
Upon hearing the name of the box from last time and the word "comparison," Chen Peng's heart skipped a beat: Lin Sicheng was talking about Yu Wenming.
He calmly replied, "Okay!"
After hanging up the phone, the old woman asked curiously, "The buyer?"
"Hmm." Lin Sicheng went along with it: "To earn some hard-earned money!"
With the buyer coming along and the kid watching so intently, it looks like today's deal is in the bag.
The old woman beamed and asked her daughter-in-law to make tea again and serve steamed buns.
Freshly brewed Fu tea, freshly baked guokui (a type of flatbread), the dough mixed with lard and plenty of fragrant bean flour—it's both salty and fragrant.
Lin Sicheng didn't stand on ceremony at all and started eating right away.
They even chatted while eating...
The two plainclothes officers exchanged a glance.
They couldn't deduce the rest, but Lin Sicheng's composure, ease, and familiarity were nothing like that of a young man in his early twenties.
Instead, he seems like a seasoned thief...
I'd barely chewed half of the huge flatbread when Chen Peng called.
Then, the plainclothes officer went out and retrieved the mirror.
Lin Sicheng put it on the table, glanced at it, and his heart started pounding.
At first glance, one is square and the other is round, one is big and the other is small, the square side is new and the round side is old.
But Lin Sicheng was willing to risk his life to guarantee that the soil stains and copper rust on the two mirrors were exactly the same.
Therefore, they were definitely dug out from the same burial pit.
But it can't be that one of the tombs traveled through time—a Tang Dynasty tomb traveling to the Han Dynasty, or a Han Dynasty tomb traveling to the Tang Dynasty?
Of course not, that's ridiculous.
Rather, the two tombs were buried in the same location.
To put it simply: when the Tang Dynasty tomb was being built, the roof of the Han Dynasty tomb was accidentally broken. Since then, the two tombs have been located in the same geological stratum and in the same oxygen-rich environment.
The microorganisms, the elements that cause oxidation and corrosion, are all exactly the same.
What they dug out was exactly the same, of course...
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