Chapter 157

Fang Yang chuckled and squatted on the side to observe.

Soon the mud inside was cleared out bit by bit.

Chen Feng took out a round thing from inside, and after wiping the mud on it, it was almost clean.

The system panel popped up again.

【Four Spirits Mirror】

【Era: Xin Dynasty】

【Diameter: 11.2cm】

【Material: Copper】

【On this type of bronze mirror, the patterns of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise are generally used for decoration, so it is called the Four Spirits Mirror. There are complex decorations on the edge of the mirror, common ones include sawtooth patterns, cloud patterns, or grass patterns, etc.】

【Function: Symbolic meaning】

Soon Chen Feng cleaned up the mud, and a round plate covered in green rust appeared before everyone's eyes.

It looked like it was made of copper.

"What is this?"

Fang Yang smiled: "Four Spirits Mirror!"

"Four Spirits Mirror? It's all iron rust, how did you see it?"

"Very simple!" Fang Yang pointed to the box: "From the broken wood I dug at the beginning, I discovered that the things here are all from the late Han Dynasty or the Xin Dynasty of Wang Mang. Whether it's that broken wood, the ivory counting rods, or this box, they are all the same. Then look at this thing in your hand, it's clearly a round plate made of copper."

"In that era, the most popular copper round plates were bronze mirrors, and the most popular bronze mirrors back then were Four Spirits Mirrors. If you don't believe me, now remove the iron rust and see if it is!"

Chen Feng was stunned, being able to analyze the one in his hand through other things, this brain turns too fast.

【Popularity】+1+1+1+1....

——【This is a mirror? Blinding my titanium dog eyes, no, I'm just wondering, can this thing reflect light? How is it a mirror! I see the bronze mirrors on TV are all golden, but this one is green and black!】

——【Don't you know that besides mirrors that can reflect, there are also mirrors hung on the wall. In ancient times, this kind of mirror had great symbolic meaning, especially when performing rituals, almost every family had one. They believed that bronze mirrors could help them cut off demons and suppress evil.】

——【This thing is everywhere now, I saw someone selling it last time, 10,000 yuan each, just don't know what era it is, I guess Han Dynasty ones will be more expensive, after all, it's been 2000 years, no matter what, it's made of copper, why is it so cheap!】

Chen Feng hurriedly took tools to clean

Chen Feng hurriedly brought tools to clean off the copper rust on top.

Soon, the green rust on top was cleared away bit by bit, revealing the patterns underneath.

"It really is a regulation mirror! You're truly incredible!" Chen Feng exclaimed while looking at it.

Fang Yang smiled. "Don't you find it strange? Everything I've dug up so far is related to the Han Dynasty, and they are all very ordinary items, except for those counting rods which are quite precious!"

Chen Feng pondered for a moment. "Could this be a place where people from the Han Dynasty once lived?"

"I don't know! Let's keep digging and see. You keep these things safe; I'm going to continue!"

"Okay!"

When Fang Yang returned to the cab, the cameraman asked leisurely, "Brother, how should we handle this 'egg' later? Should we notify Zhao Hua to come over?"

Fang Yang smiled. "No need. This thing is considered an ornamental stone; it doesn't need to be turned in. We'll take it to sell later!"

"Really?"

"What good would it do me to lie to you?"

After saying that, he ignored him and continued working.

However, this time, he hadn't shoveled more than a few times when he heard a "Ding!"

Fang Yang immediately stopped the excavator.

Chen Feng was right nearby and immediately rushed over to dig through the soil.

At this moment, he looked exactly like a dog excitedly digging in the dirt.

He was smiling while digging. "In the future, I'm going to apply to accompany the digging full-time. I'd be happy even if you just let me dig mud. Being able to see different cultural relics every day is just awesome!"

Fang Yang looked at him like this and laughed helplessly.

Soon, an iron object, pitch-black and covered in mud, appeared in Chen Feng's hands.

But the shape, no matter how you looked at it, looked a bit like a modern vernier caliper!!

90. The Buried Han Dynasty Coin-Casting Workshop! (Please subscribe!)

Chen Feng looked at the object in his hands, feeling a bit bewildered. After cleaning off most of the mud, he froze!

"Fang Yang, come take a look. What is this? Is it just an ordinary caliper? I can't even tell anymore!"

Fang Yang also became interested and immediately walked over to take a look.

It must be said, the shape really was exactly the same as a modern vernier caliper.

But after the soil on top was removed, it was all green rust. It was obvious that this definitely wasn't modern, otherwise, it wouldn't have green rust.

The system panel popped up immediately after.

【Bronze Caliper】

【Type: Measuring Tool】

【Era: Xin Dynasty】

【The caliper is 13.3 cm long; the fixed jaw is 5.2 cm long, 0.9 cm wide, and 0.5 cm thick.】

【The bronze caliper consists of components such as a fixed ruler and a sliding ruler. It can measure the diameter of an object, as well as its depth, length, width, and thickness, making it more convenient and precise than a straight ruler. This type of vernier caliper is very similar to modern ones, predating the Western version by over 1,700 years.】

After reading the introduction, let alone Chen Feng, even Fang Yang was dumbfounded.

This was actually a caliper? A caliper from 2,000 years ago?

He had long heard that Wang Mang was very likely a modern person who had traveled back in time. Thinking about it carefully, it really did seem a bit like it.

Chen Feng looked at Fang Yang's stunned expression and couldn't help but ask, "How about it? Is this a cultural relic or just a caliper?"

Fang Yang smiled bitterly and shook his head. "It is indeed a caliper, but it is also a cultural relic!"

"Huh?" Chen Feng was confused. "Explain clearly. I can't understand you at all like this!"

"Let me put it this way: have you ever heard of Wang Mang in history?"

"I've heard of him, so what? Does it have anything to do with him?!"

Fang Yang nodded. "According to historical records, the caliper in my hand was invented by him, and that was 2,000 years ago!"

"Hiss~~ No way? Is that for real!"

"People used to tell me that Wang Mang was the most likely time traveler, and I didn't believe it. Now that I've seen this with my own eyes, I have to believe it!"

"I don't know much about this person. Besides the caliper, what other reasons are there?"

Fang Yang thought for a moment and said slowly, "According to historical records, after Wang Mang usurped the throne and took power, he implemented a series of reform measures."

"First, he nationalized land and distributed it equally, renaming all land under heaven as 'King's Fields' and restoring the Well-Field System under the name of the King's Field System."

"Second, he abolished slavery. Slaves were renamed 'private dependents' and, like land, could not be bought or sold."

"Third, he controlled prices, prevented merchants from speculating, and allowed farmers and merchants to apply for state loans. They could even apply for interest-free loans for funerals and sacrifices."

"Fourth, he nationalized alcohol, salt, and iron, and all forests and mines were also nationalized; private mining required state approval."

"Fifth, he forced the unemployed to work. Those who did not work were subject to small fines and forced labor, which led to a sudden improvement in public order."

"Sixth, he strongly encouraged the development of science and technology. And he constantly implemented currency reform systems!"

The people around were stunned as they listened.

Was this really something done by an ancient person?

Everything they heard sounded like something a modern person had gone back to do.

Chen Feng nodded. "I have indeed seen these things you mentioned, but hearing you say it like this, it suddenly feels a bit absurd!"

Fang Yang shook his head. "There's even more exaggerated stuff. Let me continue telling you. Take him as a person: in the Han Dynasty at that time, the power of the royal family was almost entirely controlled by the Wang family."

"His uncles were all Grand Marshals, equivalent to today's Commander-in-Chief of the military. The Empress Dowager was his aunt. Nine of his relatives were enfeoffed as marquises, and his cousins were all arrogant and extravagant."

"But he grew up in such an environment, yet lived simply, was respectful, diligent, and eager to learn. He took care of his mother and sister-in-law, raised his brother's orphaned son, was humble to those outside, and filial to his uncles inside. He could practically be awarded the National Moral Model, okay!"

Everyone listened as if it were a tall tale. If they were in his position, would they study? Study my foot! Their lives would already be on easy mode; who would still slowly level up and fight monsters?

Fang Yang saw their expressions and guessed this would happen, so he continued: "Later, Wang Mang's relatives saw he was performing well and specifically divided some of their fiefs for him, letting him rise to power. Logically, once someone is enfeoffed, they usually get carried away, right?"

"But him!! He took all his salary and distributed it to his retainers and the commoners. He even sold his carriage to help the poor. In the eyes of the people, he was like a living Bodhisattva!"

"Then, a few years later, his uncle's health failed, so he recommended him to be Grand Marshal. He became the Commander-in-Chief of the country at 30. Pretty impressive, right! And what happened? He still took his salary and distributed it, and he was humble to scholars. When people came to his house to visit, they even mistook his mother for a servant!! You can see how simple his life was!"

"There's an even more exaggerated thing: his son beat a house slave to death. Logically, in that era, with his status, he could have just paid some money to settle it. But he actually forced his own son to commit suicide!"