Collection of Gods

Chapter 913 Unexpected Gains

Before the discovery of the Siku Quanshu, there were still three and a half well-preserved copies of the Siku Quanshu in China. However, the original Yongle Encyclopedia had a total of 11095 volumes. After hundreds of years of dynasty changes, wars and conflicts, there are only more than 400 volumes left in the world, of which only 222 volumes are collected in China.

The remaining quantity is so rare that it can be said that only one in a hundred remains.

While Tang Yuan was in a state of confusion, Dong Wenhui was at a bustling gathering of people. When many experts from the National Museum heard that the Yongle Encyclopedia had been found in a wooden box, they all rushed to the front, wanting to take a closer look.

But before they could get close, they were stopped by Master Zhao, who glared at them and said, "Why are you crowding? Do you know the rules? If any of you damage the Yongle Encyclopedia, can you bear the responsibility?"

Although the average age of many members of the National Museum's archaeological team is over 50 years old, there are still very few people like Master Zhao who are white-haired and close to 70 years old. It can be said that most of the National Museum's experts on site are descendants of Master Zhao.

Now, facing the old master named Zhao who was blowing his beard and glaring, everyone suddenly looked unhappy and stopped in their tracks.

Seeing this, Master Zhao snorted softly, and then turned his gaze to Dong Wenhui: "Director Dong, let them continue with their work, and we will continue to count and organize these wooden boxes."

Dong Wenhui nodded and said, "Master Zhao, let me assign you a few more helpers."

"Ok."

Upon hearing this, Master Zhao did not refuse. Although he thought that just a few of them were enough, Dong Wenhui was the museum director after all, so he had to give him some face.

Afterwards, under the command of Dong Wenhui, the focus of the National Museum's archaeological team immediately shifted to the wooden boxes where the Yongle Encyclopedia was discovered.

After doing all this, Dong Wenhui breathed a sigh of relief, then glanced at Tang Yuan's location and quickly walked towards him.

"Director Dong, I have just thought carefully about your suggestion. I think you are absolutely right. I have decided to follow your suggestion."

Just as Dong Wenhui was smiling towards Tang Yuan, Tang Yuan suddenly looked at Dong Wenhui with a serious face and said in a very earnest tone.

"What advice?"

Dong Wenhui's smile froze and he looked a little dazed.

"Director Dong, didn't you just say that many of our National Museum's experts will most likely return to the National Museum after returning to China? As for my follow-up work here, can you help me contact the comrades from the local museums to come and help?"

Tang Yuan looked serious, but actually he had a smile in his eyes: "In that case, I'll trouble Director Dong to help me make connections. I may have to trouble Director Dong to find more people. You see, the workload of the entire Siku Quanshu and the numerous Yongle Encyclopedias alone cannot be underestimated. How about I take the initiative to contact Director Chen of the Palace Museum? I don't know if they are willing to come!"

For the last two sentences, Tang Yuan deliberately let his voice become lower and lower.

"Dr. Tang!"

"what are you talking about!"

"Given our relationship, how could I leave you alone?"

"As for the follow-up work of this batch of treasures, you don't have to worry about anything. Just leave it to me. I promise to satisfy you!"

When Dong Wenhui heard that Tang Yuan actually wanted someone from the Palace Museum to take over, his eyes suddenly turned red. If he had not discovered the "Complete Library in Siku" and "Yongle Encyclopedia" just now, he would have given this job to them.

But now the situation is different, that is the long-lost "Yongle Encyclopedia"! There are only 222 copies preserved in the country, and according to his observation just now, there are at least thousands of "Yongle Encyclopedia" in those wooden boxes, and all of these "Yongle Encyclopedia" have never been seen in China.

The National Museum of China must have the first-hand knowledge of such an important and priceless ancient book. If he handed over the subsequent archaeological work of the Yongle Encyclopedia to others at this time, even though he is the director of the National Museum of China, those old masters would get angry and break his spine.

This is like what?
This is like getting married. At first you have to buy a house, give a betrothal gift, give out three golds, and entertain guests. You have worked hard for most of your life, but in the end, when you finally get married and enter the bridal chamber, there is nothing you can do!

"what?"

"Director Dong, do you really have time?"

"But don't force it!"

Tang Yuan blinked his eyes. He felt like he was full of tea flavor.

"Have!"

Dong Wenhui said this word from between his teeth. How could he not see that Tang Yuan was taking advantage of him and deliberately making fun of him?

"Then I'll trouble Director Dong!"

"Don't worry, I promise that you will be well fed and well served in Zhonghai, and I will make sure that you are in an extremely pleasant working atmosphere every day!"

Tang Yuan smiled unconcealedly. It was naturally the best thing to have such a group of top experts in the country working for him.

"Fortunately, all the treasures have been dug out. Otherwise, I really doubt whether we can really dig out the imperial seal if we continue digging. Mr. Tang, your physique is really too weird. I have finally seen it this time."

Dong Wenhui shook his head, with a hint of emotion in his words.

Tang Yuan smiled and said, "Director Dong, are the archaeological values ​​of these Yongle Encyclopedia really that high?"

"Of course."

Dong Wenhui did not hesitate at all and replied solemnly: "The contents of the Yongle Encyclopedia cover hundreds of fields such as astronomy and geography, medicine, divination, Buddhist scriptures, drama, crafts, and agronomy. It covers the knowledge wealth of the Chinese nation for thousands of years. All of them are the crystallization of wisdom left to us by our ancestors."

"Don't underestimate the wisdom of the ancients. Their knowledge of astronomy, medicine, agriculture, divination, law, etc. can often help us develop by analogy and draw inferences from one instance. Learning from history is not just talk."

Hearing this, Tang Yuan nodded and said, "Director Dong, since you are willing to take over, the archaeological work and subsequent restoration and maintenance of the Yongle Encyclopedia will be handed over to you. However, the prerequisite is that you must stay in Zhonghai to carry out the work and cannot take the Yongle Encyclopedia and other items to other places."

"Understood. We will behave ourselves."

The two men stood there and talked. In the distance, many experts from the National Museum sped up their work and kept counting the precious books in the wooden boxes. As the sun set and dusk deepened, the inventory work on the "Yongle Encyclopedia" was successfully completed.

After careful counting by experts from the National Museum of China, a total of 1579 volumes of the Yongle Encyclopedia were found. The richness of the harvest was far beyond everyone's imagination...

(End of this chapter)