Chapter 379

He could only use the bucket to dig deeper.

But after digging like this, he discovered that the thing in the dirt wall was larger than he had imagined.

So he started digging from the side.

Since he wasn't sure what it was, in case it was something dangerous, it would be easy to have an accident if he wasn't careful, so he had to clean the surroundings first.

As he dug, it made everyone feel amazed!

A groove with a diameter of over a meter appeared on the dirt wall in front of them.

It was clear that the thing inside the dirt wall was definitely not small!

The atmosphere at the scene gradually became tense; they were about to reveal what was inside.

As Fang Yang scraped with the shovel and brought down a large patch of dirt.

The cameraman, who was closest, let out an exclamation: "Brother, look, something golden!"

Under the illumination of the lights, the dirt was actually reflecting a dazzling golden light.

The Bureau Chief immediately took several steps forward, the joy in his eyes completely uncontrollable: "This... this... is this gold? Gold 30 meters underground! It must be an antique!"

The cameraman curled his lips: "So sure? What if it's a gold mine?"

Before the Bureau Chief could answer, Yang Tou immediately walked up and said: "That won't happen. This place was surveyed before. Besides the salt mine at the very bottom, we also have oil here, but the oil is too deep, and the cost of extracting it is too high, so we gave up on it in the end."

Fang Yang asked in surprise: "There's oil below? That's amazing!"

"Yes, they even specifically drilled a few holes here looking for oil before. They did indeed find oil, very close to the salt mine. Considering the cost on one hand, and the safety of the salt mine below on the other, it was left unsettled."

After listening to Yang Tou's explanation, everyone understood that it was absolutely impossible for there to be a gold mine here.

This time, Fang Yang pushed the bucket directly into the groove and pulled hard, bringing down a huge chunk of dirt.

The previous flash of gold was also brought out.

Everyone swarmed up, wanting to see what it was.

But unfortunately, it was all wrapped in dirt, and nothing could be seen.

Since they weren't sure what it was, the people from the Cultural Relics Bureau had to borrow a water pipe from the foreman, gently pour water on it, and then use small shovels to clean the dirt off bit by bit.

When a touch of gold appeared in the dirt again, the archaeological team members shouted excitedly: "Bureau Chief, there's gold here too, and there are patterns on it! It must be a cultural relic!"

"Good! Be careful, keep cleaning!"

Several people, filled with immense excitement, gave it a full-body scrub.

Before long, a large patch of gold was revealed.

They saw exquisite patterns and designs carved onto it.

As for whether it was gold, there was no need to even consider that.

Buried so deep underground, and with no idea how many years it had been there, it didn't have a single speck of rust.

It was obvious that this was definitely made of pure gold, and there was a high probability that it was a cultural relic.

Otherwise, who would have nothing better to do than bury it so deep underground?

Half an hour later, in the expectant gaze of everyone, a golden pagoda over a meter high, made entirely of gold, was revealed before their eyes.

The archaeological team members were so excited they were about to jump: "Bureau Chief! It's actually a golden pagoda! This... this is definitely a national treasure-level cultural relic!"

Not just them, everyone at the scene thought so, because it was simply too extravagant.

First is the material; the entire golden pagoda is made of pure gold. The base alone is a circle with a diameter of one meter. How much gold must have been consumed for this?

Secondly, the carvings on it can be said to be breathtaking and exquisitely perfect. Something like this can be called a rare treasure.

【Popularity】 +1+1+1+1...

——【Wow! One second it's pig bones, the next it's a golden pagoda. This contrast is too big, isn't it? This thing looks awesome at first glance; I wouldn't believe it if someone said it wasn't a national treasure. Just digging it up casually results in a national treasure—Yanjiang City must be dying of joy.】

——【Speaking of which, can this Fang Yang be brought back to Xihai City? I really hope the things he digs up can all be stored in the Fang Yang Museum. When we go sightseeing, we could see everything in one go, otherwise, it feels a bit regrettable!】

——【You're overthinking it. This was dug up in Yanjiang City; why should it be put in Xihai City? If it were dug up at your doorstep, would you be happy to let it be put in Xihai City? That's impossible, okay? Unless it's handed over to Jiangning Province, and then Jiangning Province allocates it to Xihai City.】

——【Fang Yang has to go to other provinces to dig eventually. What happens when he digs something up in another province? You can't give it all to Jiangning Province, so putting it all in Xihai City is indeed unrealistic. Unless the Palace Museum collects all of these in his name and then puts them in the Fang Yang Museum, but that's easy to offend people. I estimate many locals would have opinions.】

The moment the cultural relic was cleaned, Team Leader Li immediately led people to set up a cordon.

Although it didn't have much meaning, the necessary work still had to be done.

As the person who dug it up, Fang Yang walked forward to check it without any obstruction.

Immediately after, the system panel suddenly popped up.

【Qing Dynasty Qianlong Golden Hair Pagoda】

【147 cm high, base 70 cm × 70 cm, used a total of over 3,000 taels of gold】

【The pagoda consists of 6 parts: the lower plate, pagoda bucket, pagoda belly, pagoda neck, pagoda umbrella, and sun and moon. Each layer is inlaid with jewelry, turquoise, coral, etc., in appropriate places; inside the pagoda's belly is a golden Buddha, and behind the golden Buddha is a golden hair box, which stores a strand of his mother's hair...】

After reading the system introduction, Fang Yang clicked his tongue in wonder!

The historical claim that Emperor Qianlong was a spendthrift was truly well-deserved.

Just as everyone was looking at the cultural relic in shock, the Bureau Chief walked up with a smile and asked: "Fang Yang, do you know the origin of this cultural relic?"

229. Mother is honored by her son, a blessed person, the origin of the golden pagoda!

The Bureau Chief's sudden question left everyone nearby shocked.

The Bureau Chief of the Cultural Relics Bureau was actually asking Fang Yang personally what kind of cultural relic this was.

But looking at the accompanying archaeological experts, they were indifferent, as if this were a very normal thing.

In just a few short hours, Fang Yang had refreshed their perception time and time again.

Fang Yang looked at the breathtaking golden pagoda in front of him and couldn't help but sigh: "People in ancient times were truly extravagant. A golden pagoda this big could probably only be built by the imperial family!"

Once this was said, the expressions of everyone around tightened.

The Bureau Chief asked with rapid breathing: "From what you're saying, this golden pagoda in front of us comes from the imperial family? It looks like you've figured out its origin!"

Fang Yang chuckled: "If you go back and check the historical allusions, it's not hard to know where this thing comes from. I don't know if you've watched the TV series 'Empresses in the Palace'."

As soon as the words fell.

Yang Tou, Team Leader Li, and the others immediately replied: "We know it, we've watched it!"

"Does this thing have to do with Zhen Huan?"

Fang Yang spoke again: "Then do you know who the historical prototype of Zhen Huan is?"

"This... we don't know!"

The Bureau Chief of the Cultural Relics Bureau nearby chimed in with a smile: "That doesn't stump me. The historical prototype of Zhen Huan is Qianlong's biological mother, Empress Dowager Chongqing. Her original name was Zhen Yuhuan. She changed her name to Zhen Huan because she thought the character 'Yu' was vulgar. She was a Han Chinese. Later, Emperor Yongzheng bestowed the surname Niohuru upon her, raised her banner to the Manchu Upper Three Banners, and she became known as Niohuru Zhen Huan."

"Right! This matches the records I've seen before. It's called the Qing Dynasty Qianlong Golden Hair Pagoda. It was built by Emperor Qianlong to commemorate his mother, Zhen Huan. So much jewelry and gold, just to store a single strand of Zhen Huan's hair!"

Hiss~~

After hearing Fang Yang's introduction, everyone involuntarily took a deep breath.

A golden pagoda this big and this luxurious was actually just to store a single strand of hair!

This is simply too unbelievable and too extravagant!

Even if modern people were rich, they wouldn't do such a meaningless thing.

No wonder Fang Yang said just now that only the imperial family could build this thing.

Yang Tou couldn't help but sigh in wonder: "If this golden pagoda were sold now, how much would it be worth?"

"A priceless treasure!" The Bureau Chief answered without hesitation, then spoke again: "Fang Yang, can you tell us about the records you've seen before?"

Fang Yang thought for a moment, nodded with a smile: "According to the records, when Zhen Huan was thirteen, she was betrothed to the then 26-year-old Yongzheng. Her father was a fourth-rank ceremonial official named Ling Zhu."

"In the Qing Dynasty, a fourth-rank ceremonial official was actually just someone who worked as a master of ceremonies at state grand ceremonies; they had no real power at all."

"Because her father's official position wasn't high, Zhen Huan was titled a 'Gege' when she entered the mansion. In the Qing Dynasty, Gege wasn't a title for a princess. It was actually a term for a low-ranking concubine."

"And she wasn't actually good-looking either. At the time, as an imperial prince, Yongzheng didn't care for her at all."

"It wasn't until the 49th year of Kangxi that Yongzheng caught an epidemic. No one in the mansion dared to get close to serve him, except for Zhen Huan, who served by his side, boiling soup, decocting medicine, and pouring tea and water."

"After Yongzheng recovered, he was moved by her. Then he favored her, and just that one time, she happened to hit the jackpot and gave birth to the future Qianlong."

Except for the experts from the Cultural Relics Bureau, the others were all stunned.

This was very different from the Zhen Huan in their impression.

On TV, Zhen Huan was the kind of person everyone loved and flowers bloomed for.

Here, she turned into an ordinary woman with no status, no looks, and nothing to offer. The contrast was somewhat large.

The Bureau Chief of the Cultural Relics Bureau didn't interrupt, just smiled to the side.

He naturally knew this kind of modern history, but hearing Fang Yang tell it in such detail, he was still somewhat shaken inside.