Chapter 142: A Gentle Reminder

White frost condensed on the leaf tips, reflecting the streetlights and refracting multicolored light.

It was just before dawn, the coldest time of day. Dan Wangshu wrapped the scarf tighter around Wang Youjian's neck: "Go slowly on the road, and watch for cars when you cross the intersection!"

Wang Youjian curled his lip: "Got it!"

It was just at Xida Fuxiao, a turn away; was it like traveling a hundred thousand eight thousand miles?

Just as he was grumbling to himself, he received a slap on the back of his head, and Wang Youjian looked up and glared.

Ye Anning pursed her lips: "You want to curl your lip again?"

Dan Wangshu laughed "hahaha," and Wang Youjian snorted through his nose, then greeted Wang Qi Zhi: "Goodbye, Dad!"

"Mm, go on!"

Wang Qi Zhi didn't even lift his head, fiddling with the lock of the studio.

The key was given to him by Lin Sicheng, but it might have been a bit damp, as it took him a long time to open it.

It was Dan Wangshu's first time here, and she found it quite novel, turning on the lights and looking around at everything one by one.

The workbench reflected a cold light, and several machines were gleaming silver. Filing cabinets stood against the wall, with kraft paper file folders arranged neatly; even all the labels were stuck at the exact same level.

A pothos plant sat by the window, winding and circling, hanging down like a fresh green curtain. The windows were bright and the tables clean, spotless, with a faint, elegant scent of incense drifting in the air.

A trace of surprise appeared on Dan Wangshu's face: "It's set up quite well, but Lin Sicheng shouldn't have the time to deal with these, right?"

Ye Anning pursed her lips: "He has a Senior Sister, and a Junior Sister!"

Her expression was very calm, and her tone was normal, but Dan Wangshu still heard a hint of something else.

She laughed "tee-hee-hee": This dead child?

After laughing for a good while, Dan Wangshu said half-jokingly: "How about you quit your job and come help Lin Sicheng?"

Ye Anning shook her head without even thinking: "Better not!"

Even if Lin Sicheng agreed, her uncle wouldn't. Otherwise, he wouldn't have specifically let her follow Lin Sicheng yesterday to experience the hardships of the world.

And even if her uncle agreed, Ye Anning wouldn't come.

The reason was simple: it was one thing not to be able to help, but she couldn't add to Lin Sicheng's burden...

After a rough look around, the two returned to the office. Wang Qi Zhi turned on the water dispenser, preparing to make tea.

Dan Wangshu checked her watch: "It's only a little past seven; can Lin Sicheng really come this early?"

"Hah!" Wang Qi Zhi sneered, "If he's past seven-thirty, I'll take his surname Lin!"

A tomb isn't that easy to find; he definitely had to bring tools. But there was no need to guess: for fear of being discovered by Professor Lin, Lin Sicheng definitely wouldn't dare to take them home.

His previous rental had long been returned; besides the studio, where else could he hide them?

"I believe that!" Dan Wangshu was half-skeptical: "But Lin Sicheng definitely wouldn't go grave-robbing, so what are you nervous about?"

"Finding a tomb, finding a tomb, finding a tomb!" Wang Qi Zhi tapped the table, "When did I say he was grave-robbing?"

"You were the one who said: deep mountains and wild ridges, ancient graves and chaotic mounds, in the dead of night—is there something wrong with Lin Sicheng's brain?"

"Don't talk nonsense if you don't understand: if he doesn't look for a Western Han Dynasty tomb in the middle of the night, when is he supposed to look? And I'm not nervous, that's your illusion!"

Wang Qi Zhi looked helpless, "You have too much time on your hands, not sending the kid to school or going to work, what are you joining in the fun for? And Ye Anning, are you that free too?"

"Heh heh~"

Dan Wangshu gave a forced, insincere laugh, then exchanged a look with Ye Anning.

They both studied art appraisal and didn't really understand archaeology or burials, but they understood Wang Qi Zhi:

Last night, upon hearing that Lin Sicheng went to look for a tomb in the middle of the night, he immediately flew into a rage; looking at his demeanor, he was one step away from cursing Lin Sicheng's mother.

Then, with a dark face, he waited for Lin Sicheng's call, and only when he confirmed Lin Sicheng had returned home did his complexion improve slightly.

Someone who usually loved sleeping in so much, who wouldn't get out of bed before seven-fifty for an eight-o'clock shift, had today, for the first time ever, crawled out of bed at six.

Even if you thought with your toes, Lin Sicheng couldn't possibly be grave-robbing, so what was Wang Qi Zhi afraid of?

There was definitely something fishy, so when Wang Qi Zhi left the house, they followed him out...

As they were secretly thinking, with a "creak," a Santana pulled up to the door.

Inside the car, Gu Ming looked completely bewildered.

Just last night, on the way home, Lin Sicheng had specifically instructed: try to be as early as possible tomorrow morning; if it's too late, Professor Wang might come to block him.

And wasn't it just so?

Lin Sicheng got out of the car: "Teacher!"

Wang Qi Zhi glared at him, then looked at the box in Gu Ming's hand: "Bring it in first!"

Lin Sicheng peeked inside: "Teacher's wife, Sister Anning!"

The two nodded, looking on with curiosity.

Several people entered the office, and Wang Qi Zhi pointed again: "Open it!"

Lin Sicheng sighed: he knew it would be like this?

He nodded and opened it, layer by layer.

Dan Wangshu and Ye Anning, full of curiosity, crowded around.

First was something that looked like a globe:

This they recognized: an Armillary Sphere, used for watching stars in ancient times.

Included with it was a Star Chart:

Dan Wangshu and Ye Anning finally understood why Wang Qi Zhi said: if you don't look for a Western Han Dynasty tomb in the middle of the night, when do you look?

Lin Sicheng had gone to watch the stars last night?

While they were secretly pondering, he opened the second box; first was a modern imitation Lacquer Tray. Beneath that was a Compass:

The two were stunned: Lin Sicheng could even use this?

But the problem was, this thing was only invented in the Southern Song Dynasty. And during the Han Dynasty, Feng Shui was only in its budding stage; using a post-Song Compass to find a Western Han Dynasty tomb—no matter how you thought about it, it felt a bit wrong.

With these thoughts turning, Dan Wangshu took another look: there was also an aluminum box, rectangular, about a meter long and twenty centimeters wide, looking like the kind used to hold fishing rods.

But Lin Sicheng didn't open it, and then Wang Qi Zhi stared at him, his eyes not blinking even once.

Dan Wangshu was startled: "What is in here, a Luoyang Shovel?"

Why would there be a need to use that kind of thing?

Lin Sicheng felt helpless and had no choice but to open it.

A Telescopic Rod, marked with scales, but not in centimeters or decimeters, but in "fen," "cun," and "chi."

A Copper Awl, as thick as an egg, thick at the top and pointed at the bottom, with a loop at the top tied with silk thread.

There was one more item, over ten wooden boards stacked together, from largest to smallest, arranged in an orderly fashion, but neither Dan Wangshu nor Ye Anning recognized them.

In addition, there were two candles.

Wang Qi Zhi looked at them one by one: Star Alignment, Sun Alignment, Cone Orientation, Star Positioning, Candle Wind Detection?

Lin Sicheng, have you become that impressive?

Thinking secretly, the master and apprentice said nothing, eyes locked on eyes, eyelids fluttering, fluttering.

After a long while, Wang Qi Zhi sighed: "Next time you go, take me with you."

Lin Sicheng paused and said nothing.

It was just a whim, a moment of itchy hands. When he goes again, he will surely be taking an Archaeology Team; where would there be any opportunity for him to show off?

Sensing the atmosphere was off, Dan Wangshu smiled: "Lin Sicheng, you haven't eaten yet, right? It just so happens Anning hasn't eaten either..."

Before she could finish, Wang Qi Zhi also stood up: "I haven't eaten either!"

Dan Wangshu gave him a faint look: "It's fine, when Sicheng and the others come back, they can just bring some for us!"

Wang Qi Zhi had no choice but to sit back down.

Lin Sicheng paused and nodded.

The three of them went out the door, and Wang Qi Zhi sighed again: "You really have too much free time!"

Dan Wangshu rolled her eyes, "It's fine, keep talking!"

"Han Dynasty Tomb Burial Rites, although they lack the theory of Feng Shui, possess the reality of it. Dong Zhongshu's 'Spring and Autumn Annals of Luxuriant Dew': (Imperial tombs) harmonize the yin and yang of heaven and earth, following the Qi of the four seasons. What is Heaven? The sun, moon, Big Dipper, and the Emperor Star (Ziwei, North Pole). What is Earth? Mountains, rivers, and water currents."

"The 'Golden Casket of Geomancy' (a classic of geomancy from the pre-Qin and Han periods) also records: When the Big Dipper points to the Yin position, the gates of heaven and earth open... Therefore, when selecting a tomb site in the Han Dynasty, one must first watch the stars, and only then look at the terrain."

"Consequently, there is what later geomancers say: Nightly observation of the Dipper handle, Han tombs must rely on the Chen Position... That is why Lin Sicheng would go to watch the stars in the middle of the night!"

Dan Wangshu poured him a cup of tea: "And then?"

Wang Qi Zhi took it and sipped: "Then, locate the burial site, find the tunnel, and enter the pit!"

Dan Wangshu was startled: "Ah?"

The tunnel Wang Qi Zhi referred to was definitely a Tomb Tunnel. And the Jade Wenming that Lin Sicheng brought back also indicated that the Main Tomb chamber had certainly already been robbed, so there must be a Tomb Tunnel on the tomb roof.

But the problem was, with the mountains high and the forests dense, how could it be so easy to find?

"No need to 'ah'!"

Wang Qi Zhi pointed, "If he couldn't find it, would he have brought such complete equipment? That Lacquer Tray, it's a replica of the one unearthed from the Mawangdui tomb, but few people know that the thing is not a daily utensil at all, but a 'Shi Pan' from the Han Dynasty."

"It's too troublesome to explain, just think of it as a Han Dynasty Compass. It comes as a set with the Star Alignment and Sun Alignment tools: one needs to first determine the positions of the sun, moon, and Big Dipper, then coordinate with the 'Book of Days', 'Method of Divination', 'Divine Turtle Divination', 'Six Jia Rain Divination', 'Bo Ju Divination', and so on to calculate the location of the tomb. And these are all star classics and divination books from the Han and pre-Qin periods; how many of them have you heard of?"

Dan Wangshu was stunned.

"There's more!" Wang Qi Zhi pointed again, "Cone Orientation to determine the direction of the tomb passage, Star Positioning to determine the location of the tomb chamber, Candle Wind Detection to find ventilation currents; if he wasn't going to enter the pit, why bring these things?"

Dan Wangshu was speechless: Even if there was a Tomb Tunnel, and even if it could be found, who knew how many years ago it was dug? What if it collapsed?

Lin Sicheng was too bold; no wonder he wanted to hide it from Ye Anning?

And no wonder Wang Qi Zhi had a dark face all evening: what if he ran into real Grave Robbers?

In Wang Qi Zhi's words: Anyone who engages in Grave-robbing is bound to have blood on their hands, even more ruthless than drug traffickers; what if an accident happened?

Wang Qi Zhi sighed secretly but said nothing: his dark face wasn't because of that.

With Lin Sicheng's personality, he wouldn't be unable to judge whether a Tomb Tunnel would collapse or if it was safe to enter.

With his intelligence, he wouldn't be unable to think of what to do if he encountered those involved in Grave Robbing. Therefore, the two locals he brought weren't there to lead the way at all, but were brought as local strongmen just in case.

The reason Wang Qi Zhi had a dark face was because Lin Sicheng could actually find tombs.

In fact, after Lin Sicheng returned from Hangzhou, he had suspected: in just two days, the Grave Robbers entrenched in Hangzhou could run to Jinhua and find several large boxes of national treasures for Lin Sicheng; how great must that power be, and how strong must those connections be?

And in the end, he only asked Lin Sicheng for one hundred thousand yuan?

If it were only based on appraisal skills, it wouldn't be enough to make such figures run around for Lin Sicheng. So he suspected whether Lin Sicheng had shown other methods.

Just like in Qishan, the underworld jargon he spoke to Zhao Laotai, the hand gestures he made with Zhao Xiuneng, and the secret technique of Hidden Gold in Sleeve.

Now, there was no need to suspect.

Moreover, it was more than just methods; of the things on the table, which one wasn't a unique skill?

If you gathered all the Grave Robbers in the country and gave them a Compass, how many would know how to read it?

Not one in a thousand. Let alone Star Alignment, Sun Alignment, Star Chart, or Star-Locating Board?

If you threw everything else away and only kept that Lacquer Tray: anyone who knows how to use that in the world of Grave Robbing would have to be a founding master.

Don't believe it?

Take the National Cultural Heritage Administration or the Archaeology Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; few have even studied the Shi Pan, let alone used it.

Knowing how to watch stars, determine the sun, understand the Divination Classic, and perform appraisals... to borrow a line from a Hong Kong movie: this is a talent who has mastered the three powers; which Grave Robbing boss wouldn't be jealous?

The so-called being forced to Mount Liang; if a Grave Robbing boss can't cheat, can't he learn?

Wu Yong cleverly tricked Lu Junyi, Zhang Shun caused a scene at Jinsha Ferry at night...

Of course, even without him as a teacher, such a possibility was minimal. But one doesn't fear a thief stealing, one fears a thief coveting; does Lin Sicheng want any peace in the future?

Dan Wangshu was suspicious again: "Then why didn't Lin Sicheng notify the Cultural Relics Bureau, but instead found it himself?"

Wang Qi Zhi shook his head: "He is looking, but he can't find it!"

In fact, the search had begun long ago: around 2004, a bronze marquis seal appeared on the Xijing black market: the "Yangdu Marquis Seal."

The Yangdu Marquis was Zhang Pengzu, son of Zhang Anshi; because he raised Han Xuan (Liu Bingji) in the inner court, after Han Xuan ascended the throne, he bestowed upon him the title: Yangdu Marquis.

However, it was only passed down for this one generation: during the reign of Han Xuan, Zhang Pengzu was poisoned by a concubine, and the fief was abolished. The appearance of this seal naturally meant that the Zhang Anshi family tomb had been robbed.

The literature records it very clearly: the Emperor (Han Xuan) bestowed upon Shi (Zhang Anshi) a burial near the mausoleum (the Duling of Han Xuan), and the Zhang Anshi family tomb is in the vicinity of Duling.

The Cultural Relics department also knows it is definitely within a radius of twenty or thirty square kilometers of Duyi Park. The problem is, twenty or thirty square kilometers is truly not small.

And it is full of mountains, trees, grass, and villages. Furthermore, after Grave Robbers excavate, it is impossible for them not to cover the hole well to facilitate future robbing. So it is truly hard to find, and one can only probe inch by inch.

But with current technology, as long as the depth of the tomb chamber exceeds five meters, the instruments become useless. So for three years, there has been no news at all.

"Does that mean Lin Sicheng could find it?"

"Hard to say!"

While giving a perfunctory reply, Wang Qi Zhi sighed inwardly: nine times out of ten.

The site selection for Han Dynasty tombs is not complicated: above, it relies on celestial phenomena; below, it borrows from the terrain.

Lin Sicheng could completely deduce the Five Elements affiliation through the legacy strategies of Zhang Anshi, then find the Four Symbols positioning based on the Five Elements, then reverse-calculate the Star Chart, and determine the "Chen Position"—that is, the exact location of the Main Tomb—based on the terrain.

The difficulty is that one must know how to read the Star Chart, and even more so, understand the Star Classic and the Divination Classic, in order to use the divination board for deduction.

Wang Qi Zhi does not doubt at all whether Lin Sicheng knows how or understands. If he didn't understand, what would be the use of that Lacquer Tray?

It couldn't just be because it looks good, could it?

As these thoughts turned, voices came from outside the door, and then, three people entered.

They used an insulated box, and it was still steaming hot: steamed buns, fried dough sticks, porridge, and side dishes.

Wang Qi Zhi did not stand on ceremony and started eating as soon as he picked them up.

Dan Wangshu held the porridge box, a smile on her face, but her tone was very serious: "Lin Sicheng, it's too dangerous. What if something happens?"

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Teacher's wife, I know!"

Dan Wangshu urged again: "You must not go again in the future!"

Lin Sicheng nodded again: "Okay!"

Wang Qi Zhi curled his lip: he is just coaxing you.

If you ask Ye Anning, does she believe it?

After eating, Dan Wangshu and Ye Anning went to work, and Gu Ming also slipped away, leaving only the teacher and student in the office.

Lighting a cigarette, Wang Qi Zhi leaned back: "Does that group in Hangzhou also know you can find tombs?"

Lin Sicheng was stunned for a moment: how could that be?

"The leader of that group is in the Archaeology Team; they don't use this at all, nor do they believe in it. When they look for tombs, they check internal data, and when they go down into the pit, they use explosives every time!"

Lin Sicheng explained patiently, "The reason they are helping is because Zhao Xiuneng boasted too much, saying how high my appraisal skills are. Secondly, it might also be because they want me to help them repair things..."

"The Archaeology Team, using explosives, so arrogant?"

Wang Qi Zhi exclaimed, but his heart relaxed: it's good that it's not because Lin Sicheng knows how to find tombs.

Just say his temperament has always been steady; it's impossible he wouldn't know the pros and cons?

Pondering secretly, Wang Qi Zhi thought again: "What are the chances of success, I mean finding the tomb of Zhang Anshi?"

Lin Sicheng paused slightly: "Fifty percent!"

Wang Qi Zhi looked disdainful: "Only fifty or sixty percent?"

If I didn't stop you, you would set the star position at midnight, set the solar orientation at dawn, and in at most one double-hour, that is, by dusk, you could pinpoint the Four Symbols.

Then deduce, and it would probably take three to five days, in any case no more than a week, to find the tomb chamber and thereby find the Tomb Tunnel.

You call this fifty or sixty percent?

Lin Sicheng smiled: "Maybe a little more."

Wang Qi Zhi curled his lip: "Then find it!"

Lin Sicheng was stunned instead: "Ah?"

"Ah what ah? I was afraid your head was muddled and you didn't know the limits, getting mixed up with Grave Robbers. If it is just for the sake of a Rescue Excavation, of course the tomb must be found!"

Wang Qi Zhi said slowly, "The Cultural department and the Public Security department also have performance assessments!"

Lin Sicheng was stunned: assessments?

It should be accountability, right?

In a major cultural heritage protection province like Shaanxi Province, the division of responsibility is especially clear.

If protection is ineffective, leading to looting or even causing destruction, someone will definitely be held accountable...

Seeing Lin Sicheng not speaking, thinking he didn't understand, Wang Qi Zhi tapped the table: "These are all bonus points; in the future, there will definitely be many places where you will deal with the Cultural department..."

Lin Sicheng nodded: "Teacher, I understand!"

"That's good, but no rush!" Wang Qi Zhi nodded with satisfaction, "There are too many things during this period, messy and chaotic; let's straighten out the urgent ones first!"

Indeed.

Just a World Heritage Application is enough to be a thousand threads, and the teacher and student must muster twelve times the spirit.

Just as he was turning these thoughts over, an off-road vehicle drove to the door, and Wang Qi Zhi glanced at it: "It should be Director Guan who has come!"

Lin Sicheng nodded: Just right, give him a heads-up first.