Chapter 267: Looks Alike, Things Are Alike Too

At first listen, it sounds extremely reasonable.

But upon closer reflection, it is full of loopholes.

For those two months afterward, both groups lived in Guduo Village. Every day, whatever progress was made and whatever was discovered, they were perfectly clear about each other's affairs.

Out of curiosity, Sun Jiamu even followed along to observe for a period of time; how Lin Sicheng found the Gudu Terraced Field Ruins, how he found the Upper and Lower Eight Mu Ruins, and how he found the Guzhen Beijian Geda Site—Sun Jiamu saw it all from beginning to end.

And since they reported at a fixed time and place every week, Sun Jiamu knowing meant that Wu Hui knew as well.

Including the later incident where the City Government Cultural Relics Bureau ignored the agreement, unilaterally terminated the cooperation, and tried to fool Lin Sicheng by treating him like a Japanese person—Wu Hui knew that too.

At the time, he had an immediate intuition that something was wrong: he didn't understand Lin Sicheng, but he understood Wang Qi Zhi.

It was always Young Master Wang who flipped other people's tables; this time, not only did someone flip his table, but they also climbed on top of his head to defecate.

And he, of all people, just swallowed his anger from start to finish, tucking his tail between his legs and letting others bully him?

This isn't Wang Qi Zhi; this is "Wang the Coward." Believe it or not, when he returns to the capital, his old man might just break his legs for him.

And then there's Lin Sicheng. If this kid really is what he appears to be on the surface—gentle, respectful, and harmless—then how did a twenty-something-year-old greenhorn manage to keep a group of hot-tempered men from provincial institutions so obedient?

Therefore, Wu Hui suspected that this teacher and student pair must be brewing some kind of scheme. That was until Sun Jiamu called him to say that Lin Sicheng had invited them to visit Xijing.

Upon hearing that Lin Sicheng had found tons of Luanbai Jade specimens, Wu Hui became even more suspicious.

Alright, the case is solved now: Lin Sicheng is indeed brewing a big scheme.

The cooperation agreement between the two sides has already been terminated; Lin Sicheng can now conduct research unilaterally. No matter what progress is made, no matter what results are researched, it will have absolutely nothing to do with Shanxi anymore.

For example: if the craft restoration is successful, Lin Sicheng can register the patent himself, or even sell the entire set of techniques to some famous kiln, such as the Ding Kiln or Jun Kiln, and the other side wouldn't have a single word to say.

But if that happens, the archaeological value of the Hejin Kiln will be discounted significantly.

To borrow the leader's instructions for national archaeology and cultural relics work: seek out historical threads, make cultural relics come alive, and establish an orderly, dynamic inheritance...

There are so many famous kilns that fired Luanbai Jade during the Song and Jin dynasties; who isn't a valid recipient of the inheritance?

At the very least, other people pay with real gold and silver; they won't cheat you.

By then, if your pride and joy, the Tribute Porcelain craft, becomes someone else's technology, how will you make it "come alive"?

It's no exaggeration: Yuncheng and the Cultural Relics Bureau could absolutely regret it until their guts turn green.

Therefore, Lin Sicheng must have known about the Huo Prefecture Kiln when he discovered the Guzhen Site, or even earlier. He knew even better that there were enough Luanbai Jade samples for him to study.

Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to divide the estimated few hundred kilograms of remaining specimens equally among the six families.

As this thought turned in his mind, Wu Hui was suddenly stunned.

Thinking about it this way: perhaps Lin Sicheng had anticipated back then that the other side would go back on their word and break the agreement. Was everything that happened afterward just him going with the flow?

Huh, this kid is quite deep...

Tsk, no... is this kid trying to fool me like a fool?

All that talk about "accidental errors" and "stumbling upon it" to suddenly discover the Huo Prefecture Kiln—it's all complete bullshit.

But the focus of Wu Hui's concern wasn't that, but the earlier parts: the things this kid said about how the BTA was researched, where the ideas came from, why the research was so fast, etc. —was that also just him spouting nonsense off the cuff?

Subconsciously, Wu Hui turned his head and looked at Wang Qi Zhi first.

Both surprised and happy, with a hint of bewilderment in his suspicion... it doesn't look like he's faking it?

But it doesn't rule out the possibility that Lin Sicheng is even fooling his own teacher...

Looking at Lin Sicheng again: his face is smiling, humble and respectful.

But remembering what Sun Jiamu said, Wu Hui felt a jolt in his heart:

This kid is capable. On the day of the farewell party, his subordinates were furious enough to explode, but when this kid met those local officials, he didn't show a hint of it on his face; from start to finish, he was smiling as he spoke.

If it were himself, could he have smiled at that moment?

Wu Hui narrowed his eyes: "Lin Sicheng, are you trying to fool me?"

"Department Head Wu, I'm really not lying to you: I hadn't even been to Huo Prefecture before?"

Not having been there doesn't mean you don't understand it.

You hadn't been to Hejin before either, yet didn't you find all five sites with perfect accuracy?

Wu Hui sighed: "I'm talking about the BTA!"

"That's even more impossible!" Lin Sicheng opened his eyes wide, "There's simply no need for that!"

It does feel like there's no need, right?

Lin Sicheng even dared to let him see the core data and research results; what else could there be that he needs to hide?

Although he thought this in his heart, Wu Hui still felt something was wrong.

After thinking for a long time without finding a lead, he simply gave up: as long as he knows this is a talent, that his ability is strong enough, and his character is solid enough, that is enough.

A person who can forgo benefits within his grasp for the sake of his subordinates—no matter how deep his schemes are, how bad could he really be?

The one who should have a headache is his opponent, not his teammate...

Wu Hui gestured in a circle: "Then how do you plan to proceed? Concentrate your strength and restore the Luanbai Jade craft?"

"Yes, excavate the Huo Prefecture Kiln and the Hejin Kiln simultaneously!"

Wu Hui paused: What?

Huo Prefecture is in Shanxi; never mind excavating, the moment you bring it up, the other side will be able to figure it out: Huo Prefecture White Porcelain and Hejin Luanbai Jade are the same thing.

Wu Hui didn't deny Lin Sicheng's research ability; he had already spent a week verifying it personally.

But to speak the truth: the gap between a school-level laboratory and the research strength of a province is not small.

Given sufficient materials, even if Lin Sicheng started early and has already achieved phased progress, if the other side goes all out, who will be faster in the end is really not certain.

Wu Hui felt: shouldn't you be doing this secretly and getting the craft finished first?

But he couldn't say this explicitly.

Just as he was thinking about how to give Wang Qi Zhi a wink, Lin Sicheng pointed outward: "Department Head Wu, let me show you a few more things!"

Still more to see?

What else is there to see?

Suspicious, the three of them exited the materials room.

Lin Sicheng opened the cabinet in the finished goods room and took them out one by one.

Wu Hui squinted his eyes and scrutinized them carefully: one bowl, one plate, one Jade Pot Spring Vase, and four or five cups.

He recognized some, such as the Jade Pot Spring Vase; just by looking at the glaze color, he knew it came from the same kiln as the High-Foot Cup they had just seen in the materials room: Huo Prefecture Kiln.

And for instance, that plate was clearly the Luanbai Jade from the Hejin Kiln that Lin Sicheng was always talking about.

The remaining few were difficult to judge for the moment and required hands-on Appraisal. But without exception, they were all White Glazed Porcelain.

Lin Sicheng first picked up the plate and the Jade Pot Spring Vase and placed them together: "Division Chief Sun, look, aren't they quite similar?"

Of course they were similar.

The former was Huo Prefecture Thin-Bodied Porcelain, and the latter was Hejin Fine White Porcelain; they used the same composition of porcelain clay and the same craftsmanship.

Only the glaze color had a slight difference: the Huo Prefecture Jade Pot Spring Vase was white with a flash of yellow, presenting an Ivory color, while the Hejin plate was white with a hint of yellow, and the yellow was tinged with a bit of green.

To put it bluntly: the Huo Prefecture kiln temperature was insufficient, and the Iron Oxide in the glaze material had not converted thoroughly enough.

Of course, there was a bigger difference: just knock on them and you would know; Huo Prefecture Porcelain would get a hole with one knock, while you would have to smash the Hejin Porcelain hard.

Just as he was thinking this, Lin Sicheng picked up another bowl and handed it over.

Wu Hui received it in his hands and looked at it carefully: the body was delicate, the glaze color was pure white, and it was as moist as jade.

The bottom of the bowl had an impressed design of scrolling lotus patterns. The body was relatively thick, reaching three millimeters, and although the glaze color was moist, it gave one a visual sense of being opaque.

This was typical Alkali-based Glaze; because a large amount of flux was added, the sintering temperature was relatively low, the glaze material had high viscosity, and it was extremely thick.

Looking at the era, it should also be Yuan Dynasty porcelain. Most importantly, whether it was the vessel shape, the glaze color, or the crystalline phase, it was very similar to the previous two pieces.

While suspicious, Wu Hui flipped the bowl over:

On the bottom was an impressed inscription in regular script: "Shufu".

He felt he had some impression of it...

Wu Hui tried hard to recall, his eyes lighting up: "Yuan Dynasty Egg White Glaze!"

The Ming Dynasty *Essential Criteria of Antiquities* states: "In the Yuan Dynasty, those with small feet and impressed designs, with the 'Shufu' characters inside, are of high quality..." The "high" here refers to the comparison with all types of porcelain from the Yuan Dynasty Official Kiln.

To put it bluntly: this was Yuan Dynasty Imperial Palace Ware. The blue and white and Underglaze Red of the Yuan Dynasty were created based on the Egg White Glaze as the foundation for Overglaze.

It is rumored that the Yuan Dynasty Egg White Glaze craft originated from the Luanbai Jade of the Song Dynasty Official Kiln.

Because there is no evidence to verify this, it remains at the level of "it is said."

But the name Luanbai Jade indeed originated from Egg White Glaze.

The entry on "Ancient Rao Ware" in *Essential Criteria of Antiquities* states: "For the imperial kilns of various dynasties, those with thin bodies and moist glazes are the best, but only the Yuan favored thickness... In the Yuan Dynasty, those with small feet and impressed designs, with thick bodies and white, moist colors are especially excellent, and those with 'Shufu' characters inside are of high quality. Those that are white and lustrous are the highest, also called Luanbai Jade; there are also those with blue and white and five-colored flowers, which are very vulgar."

What does that mean?

In the Yuan Dynasty, this kind of White Glazed Porcelain with thick bodies, moist quality, small feet, and impressed designs was far more popular and highly regarded among the imperial family and the nobility than blue and white or five-colored porcelain.

Looking at the piece in his hand again: thick body, white color, and lustrous, with "Shufu" inside... it was one hundred percent Yuan Dynasty Imperial Palace Ware.

"Where did you get it?"

"Bought it at a high price!"

Once he heard "high price," Wu Hui did not ask any further.

After putting it down, Lin Sicheng handed over another one.

After a quick glance, Wu Hui's eyelids twitched: looking at the vessel shape, the patina, and the degree of oxidation, it was definitely Song Porcelain.

But this glaze color—was it the Sky Blue Glaze of the Ru Kiln?

No!

Although Ru ware is rare, it was not as if Wu Hui had never seen it: the blue of the Sky Blue Glaze was deeper than this.

Looking carefully again: the glaze color resembled a goose egg, white with a slight tinge of green, tending more toward Celadon-White Porcelain.

Thinking of this, Wu Hui paused, and a flash of light crossed his mind: Song Dynasty Green-White Glaze?

This was a porcelain glaze type created by the Jingdezhen Hutian Kiln of the Song Dynasty, based on the Song Dynasty Celadon-White Porcelain system represented by the Chai Kiln of the Later Zhou and the Northern Song Official Kiln, combined with the firing techniques of the Xing Kiln and Ding Kiln white porcelain. It is officially called Shadow Blue Glaze or Reflection Blue Glaze, and commonly known as Green-White Glaze.

A few years ago, he had even seen one; the Forbidden City had one such piece: a Song Dynasty Jingdezhen Kiln Green-White Glaze bowl with carved flowers and children at play.

Comparing the two, there was almost no difference.

It had to be said that Lin Sicheng's connections were indeed extensive, and his eyes were sharp; the items he scavenged were more curious and rarer than the last.

If this were given to Wang Qi Zhi, not to mention whether he could even inquire about them, he would have made at least eight or ten mistakes.

While sighing with emotion, Wu Hui performed another Appraisal, but suddenly, his eyes popped: they had been talking about Luanbai Jade all along, so why was Lin Sicheng showing him this kind of thing?

It couldn't be for no reason.

Thinking about it more carefully: Green-White Glaze, Egg White Glaze, Luanbai Jade... weren't the names of these three types of porcelain very similar?

But the question was, was it only the names that were similar?

At first glance, the glaze colors were certainly not the same, at most they were similar. But under specific conditions, the factors leading to these colors did not differ much.

Strictly speaking, Song Dynasty Green-White Glaze is also White Glazed Porcelain, not Celadon. But the visual impression it gives is green first, white second.

This is the color manifestation of Iron Oxide converting to ferrous iron under the action of carbon monoxide in a reducing atmosphere.

Huo Prefecture Porcelain is white with a slight yellow tint; this is the color manifestation in an oxidizing atmosphere where, because the kiln temperature is insufficient, the Iron Oxide converts to ferric iron, but not thoroughly enough; otherwise, it would be whiter.

For example, Yuan Dynasty Egg White Glaze: the air circulation inside the kiln is sufficient, forming a stable oxidizing atmosphere, and the Iron Oxide stably converts to ferric iron; the color after firing is this warm, moist white.

Hejin Porcelain is white with a slight yellow tint, turning slightly green; this is the transition color between an oxidizing and a reducing atmosphere. To put it bluntly: if it were to convert just a little bit more, it would be Green-White Glaze.

To put it even more bluntly, the specific conditions Wu Hui suspected referred to the fact that these four types of porcelain likely used the same firing process.

High-temperature smothered firing, artificially creating an oxygen-deficient state, ultimately forming the unique glaze color where green and white blend, which is what is fired as Song Dynasty Green-White Glaze.

Semi-smothered firing, reaching the critical point of being neither oxygen-deficient nor oxygen-rich, fires what is Hejin Porcelain: white with a slight yellow tint, turning slightly green.

If it is not oxygen-deficient, but because the glaze melting temperature is extremely high while the kiln temperature is insufficient, leading to the iron element not being able to fully oxidize, what is fired is the Ivory color of Huo Prefecture Porcelain.

If there is enough oxygen and the temperature is sufficient, what is fired is the Yuan Dynasty Egg White Glaze.

Let's arrange them in order: high temperature and oxygen-deficient, Song Dynasty Hutian Green-White Glaze—high temperature and semi-oxygen-deficient, Jin Dynasty Hejin Egg-White Jade—semi-high temperature and oxygen-rich, late Jin and early Yuan Huo Prefecture Ivory White—semi-high temperature and oxygen-rich, Yuan Dynasty Egg White Glaze...

Isn't this the complete chain of inheritance and evolution for this craft from the Song Dynasty to the Yuan Dynasty?

If one asks: why is it that even though both are semi-high temperature, the pieces fired at the Huo Prefecture Kiln are so brittle, while those fired in the Yuan Dynasty are so sturdy?

Just look at that Egg White Glaze Bowl and you will know: the Yuan Dynasty no longer blindly pursued thin bodies, but increased the thickness of the body, making it more than three times thicker.

More importantly, the Yuan Dynasty added enough flux to the Fetal Clay and Glaze Material, so it did not need a kiln temperature above 1,300 degrees; it only needed 1,200 to be completely sintered...

For a moment, thoughts flew through his mind; the more Wu Hui thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

Of course, it is only a possibility; this thing cannot be seen with the naked eye, and it is even less possible to rely solely on speculation.

As if guessing what he was thinking, Lin Sicheng handed over a document.

Wu Hui hurriedly opened it and gave it a quick scan:

The basic composition of the four types of porcelain, microstructure, Fetal Clay and Glaze Material formulas, trace element sourcing, and comparative experiments of craft traces... it was as if Lin Sicheng had done every experimental analysis that could and should be done.

Looking at the comparison results, Wu Hui froze as if turned to ice: Lin Sicheng, are you trying to go to heaven?

Having worked in archaeology for half a lifetime, I never knew that these types of porcelain were not only similar in name, but also in substance!

And I never thought that they all used the exact same craft!