Guanzhong Tomb Robbery Notes

Chapter 430: Baoji County Chronicles, Absolutely Cannot Go

Huang Ziran said readily: "No problem!"

"Old Zheng is experienced, and young Chen is young and energetic."

"If we help out with some odd jobs, we can dig into the tomb by midnight!"

I frowned.

I think he thinks tomb robbing is too simple.

Even if the location of the tomb is accurate, it would be very difficult to dig into it in one night.

Because tomb robbing, especially large tomb robbing, requires more than just knowing the location of the tomb.

First, you need to use a pole or Luoyang shovel to find out the depth of the tomb.

Then use the edge to find out the size and shape of the tomb.

Only after determining the location of the tomb chamber and the coffin based on this information can the location for digging the hole be determined.

The preparations will take all night.

Well, there are also many half-baked tomb robbers who don't care about these details.

Once you find a tomb, just dig in with your head down.

Whether you dig into the tomb chamber, corridor, tomb passage, or dig off the track, it all depends on luck.

But my concern is not whether I can dig into the tomb in one night.

Instead, he was thinking about the county annals mentioned by Old Man Qin.

Tomb robbers may not read history books, but they must read county annals.

Because historical books rarely record where dignitaries were buried.

But it will be recorded in the county annals!

It will even go as far as detailing the exact location of the tomb!

If what Old Man Qin had in his hand was the Baoji County Chronicles... maybe there would be clues about the royal tombs of the Western Zhou Dynasty!

The more I think about it, the hotter my brain gets.

I couldn't help but interrupt: "The county annals you just mentioned, are they the Baoji County annals?"

Old man Qin grinned.

He raised his head proudly, as if his itch had been tickled.

"Of course it's the Baoji County Chronicles."

"The first compilation of the Baoji County Annals was during the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty."

"By the time it was passed down during the Wanli period, it had already been lost in fragments."

“So it was rebuilt again during the Wanli period.”

"In the 13th year of Chongzhen, additions and deletions were made based on the Wanli edition."

"Later, the peasant army and the Qing army fought back and forth, killing so many people that nine out of ten houses were empty."

"Of all the wealthy and powerful families in the county, only one in ten survived, having fled or died."

"My ancestor took advantage of the chaos and fled back to the countryside with the scrolls on historical sites and figures from the Chongzhen edition of the county annals..."

The scrolls of ancient relics and figures that Old Man Qin's ancestors brought back to the countryside are exactly the parts that are most likely to record clues about the ancient tomb!

Is this a coincidence?

Or was it that Old Man Qin's ancestors did it on purpose?

hiss!

Could it be that Old Man Qin's ancestors were also tomb robbers?!

Once this thought came to my mind, it stayed with me.

Old Man Qin continued to speak enthusiastically: "During the reign of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty, Baoji County revised its county annals."

"But during the transition from the Ming to the Qing dynasties, many of the local powerful families died or left."

"So when the county annals were revised, most of the compilers were from outside the area, or peasants from humble backgrounds."

"The textual research on the county's scenic spots, historical sites and historical figures is a million miles behind the Chongzhen County Chronicles!"

"Especially regarding the Western Zhou royal tombs..."

When it came to the key point, Old Man Qin suddenly slapped his thigh and said, "Oh, I was busy talking and walked too slowly. I can't keep up with the group."

"Let's take a quick walk to catch up."

The old man Qin walked with big strides and hurried on his way, never mentioning what happened next in the Western Zhou royal tomb.

It would have been better if he hadn't said the word "tomb" more.

But just because I said the word "tomb", it felt like there was a cat in my heart.

It was so uncomfortable that I was worried and anxious.

I just want to find out what the Chongzhen edition of the county annals actually wrote about the Western Zhou royal tombs.

I trotted over and chased after Old Man Qin, asking, "Go on, what does the county annals say about the Western Zhou royal tombs?"

Old man Qin stroked his hair slowly and methodically.

He pretended to think for a long time.

Finally, he patted the back of his head and said, "This guy has a bad memory as he gets older."

"I used to be able to recite the Chongzhen edition of the county annals backwards."

“But now I can’t remember anything.”

These words were like cold water, pouring down on me.

I thought that Old Man Qin must have done it on purpose!

He said the five words "Western Zhou Royal Tomb" just to whet my appetite!

I was just thinking this when I heard Old Man Qin continue, "Even if you forget it, the book is still there."

"As long as this cooperation is pleasant."

"After this is done, I can show you the county annals."

as predicted!

He's just keeping us in suspense!

He used the county annals to paint a big picture and asked us to obediently help him rob tombs!

Huang Ziran smiled and said, "Brother, just prepare the county annals."

"I'm sure you'll be satisfied."

Old man Qin chuckled and said no more.

Huang Ziran pulled me a few steps behind.

Taking the opportunity, he leaned over to whisper in my ear: "The old man is just making empty promises."

"If you are greedy, you will fall into his trap!"

"The Yu Kingdom Tomb is probably not simple. Let's follow it first."

"We'll see what happens when we get to the tomb."

I nodded and quickened my pace to catch up with the team in front.

We arrived at Daijiawan around midnight and rested for half an hour.

Old Man Qin stood up and said, "Everyone, please work hard and we will reach Zhifangtou Village before dawn."

"The village chief of Zhifangtou Village is having a celebration and they've invited us to perform for three days!"

"Food and lodging are provided for these three days!"

"After the performance, we'll split the money based on the number of shows!"

Everyone immediately got up and started on their journey, shouting as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

The reason why everyone is so excited is because of the free food.

In those days, it was rare to find meat in the village meals.

Meat and fish are only served during important events such as weddings and funerals.

And performing for three consecutive days is definitely a grand event.

It shows that the host is not short of money.

The food prepared for the business naturally involves a lot of oil and water.

Old man Qin led the way with his hands behind his back, and the crowd followed in a noisy manner.

Huang Ziran winked at Uncle Zheng, Han Bin and me.

The four of us walked at the end of the team in tacit understanding.

Huang Ziran asked, "Old Zheng, where is Zhifangtou Village?"

Han Bin answered first, "Go southwest from here, it's west of the city and north of the Wei River."

West of the city, north of the Wei River?

It is exactly what Old Man Qin said, the location of the Yu Kingdom Tomb!

Could it be that the tomb is near Zhifangtou Village?

Han Bin said with a bitter face, "The place where I went to the countryside is just south of the Wei River, opposite the Zhifangtou."

“I didn’t expect that this time we would go to Zhifangtou Village.”

"We'll be performing for three days straight."

"If any villagers nearby come to watch the fun, they might recognize me."

"Add fuel to the fire and spread some gossip..."

Those who perform martial arts for money have been considered the lowest class since ancient times.

Don’t even mention being looked down upon at that time.

Even today, those who perform in large tents or on the streets are still looked down upon.

If Han Bin were recognized and gossiped about, his family would definitely be in turmoil.

"No, no, no."

"We can't go to Zhifangtou Village..."

The more Han Bin spoke, the more panicked he looked.

He didn't look so flustered, it didn't seem like he was afraid of being gossiped about.

It's more like an extreme fear that comes from the bottom of my heart.

Huang Ziran and Zheng Erbo both noticed that something was wrong with Han Bin.

The two men hugged Han Bin's neck, one on the left and one on the right.

Control him like a prisoner.

Uncle Zheng patted him gently on the back.

He said softly, "Xiao Han, we just talked about everything."

"Now, you can't hide it either."

"Why are you so panicked? What are you afraid of?"

"I'm, not, not afraid..." Han Bin was so panicked that he couldn't speak clearly.

Beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead.

"That's right, I just heard it from others."

"They say the villagers in Zhifangtou were struck by evil spirits while digging graves!"

"More than a dozen young men died!"

"Listen to my advice, you can't go to that place, absolutely not!"

"If you don't die, you'll go crazy!"