Chapter 4, The Frantic Blue and White

The wandering fox's intentions are clear to You Fang; this matter not only pertains to a case in the field of Chinese cultural relics and archaeology but also involves a recent hot news event in the domestic collecting community

In addition to the vase, Youfang also collected a notebook from Kuanghu. This palm-sized notebook contains the contact information and notes of many individuals, mostly written in codes and cryptic language, with no distinctive markings indicating identity. Apart from Kuanghu himself, it is difficult for others to comprehend its contents, and even if they do understand, they would not grasp the context.

In the eyes of the wandering fox, the most important reason for his trip to Guangzhou is his uncertainty about the authenticity of the Ming vase. The field of antique appraisal is highly specialized and relies heavily on experience. The surviving quantity of Yuan blue and white porcelain is extremely limited, and the wandering fox has not had the opportunity to study genuine pieces. It is impossible for him to travel to Turkey, Iran, the United Kingdom, or the Palace Museum to examine all the surviving Yuan blue and white porcelain, thus he remains unsure.

A journey of over forty kilometers is quite a task for the local taxi drivers, who are very pleased. The driver excitedly shares many local anecdotes with the passenger along the way. The passenger responds intermittently, their attention almost entirely focused behind them. During this trip, they do not notice any other vehicles deliberately following them, and gradually begin to feel at ease.

Before the verification, Mr. Wu simply did not understand. After the verification results were obtained, Mr. Wu was even more perplexed. Later, it was Mr. Youfang who explained to the old gentleman using the ways of the jianghu, clarifying that this was not an academic issue but rather a complex matter of interests, with each party's viewpoint having its own considerations. Only then did Mr. Wu come to a sudden realization. (Note: The details of Mr. Youfang's interactions with Mr. Wu will be discussed in a dedicated chapter later.)

The most "precious" artifact is a Yuan blue-and-white vase with a branch of plum blossoms, approximately thirty centimeters tall, which belonged to Mr. Wu. The mad fox committed the crime while carrying this item, clearly with ulterior motives.

However, the mad fox is indeed an expert in archaeology. The Mei vase in the hands of Mr. Kong, whose real name is Wu, shows no signs of flaw according to the usual experience in ancient porcelain appraisal, making it highly likely to be a genuine heirloom. Taking it to Guangzhou for appraisal has two obvious advantages: first, since the other party dares to offer a high price for collection, they must have authoritative professional appraisers and equipment, which saves on appraisal fees, though that is secondary; the main point is that such appraisals are not easy; second, if the Mei vase is indeed genuine, not only can one make a substantial profit, but one can also keep their identity concealed. Taking it to Guangzhou for appraisal has two obvious advantages: first, since the other party dares to offer a high price for collection, they must have authoritative professional appraisers and equipment, which saves on appraisal fees, though that is secondary; the main point is that such appraisals are not easy; second, if the Mei vase is indeed genuine, not only can one make a substantial profit, but one can also keep their identity concealed

I have heard the mad fox mention that he plans to steal the "Tomb of Zhu Yuanzuo" and then take this vase to Guangzhou to participate in the upcoming collection event. If there happens to be Yuan blue-and-white porcelain in Zhu Yuanzuo's tomb, he would take that along as well. How could a Ming dynasty eunuch's tomb possibly contain Yuan blue-and-white porcelain? It is difficult to say; Zhu Yuanzuo held the position of supervisor of the Jingdezhen kiln during his lifetime, and he might have collected porcelain from the previous dynasty. Perhaps he would be buried with it after his death.

The renowned collector is soliciting Yuan blue-and-white porcelain in Guangzhou. He does not appear in person but has entrusted lawyers, notary agencies, and appraisal teams to handle the matter on his behalf, ensuring that the identities of the solicitors can remain confidential. This is because such genuine items are exceedingly precious, and many private collectors often have a mindset of keeping their wealth discreet.

The debate between collectors and the academic community in archaeology has persisted in recent years, with many prominent domestic collectors feeling that the views of the "court faction" have hurt their national sentiments. This debate reached a climax in 2010 when a major collector from the south, a wealthy individual whose name remains undisclosed, offered a reward to the domestic collecting community for genuine Yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain. He boldly stated that anyone who could provide authentic pieces would receive substantial rewards, and if they were willing to sell, he would pay a high price for them

Youfang's father is indeed a master of imitating antiques; how could the son not recognize the fakes created by the father? It is precisely because of this Mei vase that Youfang and Mr. Wu's relationship has deepened, gradually becoming close friends despite their age difference. Back then, Youfang candidly told Mr. Wu about the origins of this Yuan blue-and-white porcelain piece in his collection.

Carrying large porcelain items around is also inconvenient. Mei Ping took the train north, while You Fang hailed a taxi in front of the train station to head south. Instead of taking National Route 104, he instructed the taxi to enter the Beijing-Shanghai Expressway, informing the driver that he was in a hurry, and they sped towards Cangzhou City.

The phones of Tuizi and Daguangtou were still there. Youfang thought for a moment and copied all the various information from their phones to his own. He then removed the SIM cards and destroyed them. Aside from some cash, there was nothing else of value or anything that could indicate their identities.

The leaders of major tomb raiding and smuggling gangs, such as Du Xiucai and Kuanghu, are certainly backed by more powerful figures, possibly orchestrated by major book dealers. One can vaguely discern the presence of transnational smuggling and trafficking organizations. Many illegally excavated cultural relics are smuggled out of the country at low prices, only to be transformed into legitimate collectibles abroad. Furthermore, customs seals are returned to the country, allowing these items to be sold at astonishingly high prices to the final collectors

The Yuan blue and white porcelain has become extremely popular; however, the number of existing pieces has sparked a debate within the domestic archaeological and collecting community. One faction, represented by experts from the Palace Museum, is referred to as the "Palace faction," while the opposing faction is naturally called the "Non-palace faction."

I went downstairs for a meal, and surprisingly, this restaurant also offered specialty medicinal cuisine, which was perfect for nourishment at this time. After returning to my room, I took a shower and changed into a clean shirt. Instead of going to sleep immediately, I sat in meditation on the bed.

The result left Mr. Wu both amused and bewildered. It turns out that a doctoral archaeologist from the University of Oxford, Jiang Qiqi, concluded after surveying several museums in Turkey, Japan, Iran, and the United Kingdom between 1993 and 1996 that the known surviving quantity of Chinese blue-and-white porcelain from the Yuan Dynasty is only three hundred pieces. This conclusion comes with one crucial annotation: the exquisite and precious porcelain is not found within China; all of it is located overseas

Yesterday, after committing the crime, I was stepped on the tail by a mysterious old man. While driving slowly on the national highway at night, I even made a round trip. It was possible that a skilled pursuer could catch up on foot. However, today I took a small car onto the Beijing-Shanghai Expressway. If the old man could still track me on foot, it would be nothing short of a myth. Since there was no car following me, it indicates that I have already shaken off the old man.

This case concerns the surviving quantity of Yuan blue-and-white porcelain. On July 12, 2005, Christie's auction house in London sold a Yuan blue-and-white porcelain jar adorned with the design "Guiguzi Descending the Mountain" for an astonishing price equivalent to 230 million RMB, igniting a frenzy in the collector's market for speculating on Chinese Yuan blue-and-white porcelain as well as Ming and Qing imperial kiln ceramics

In the depths of practice, a warmth rises from the lower abdomen, spreading throughout the body and its myriad channels. The mind becomes so subtle that one can sense the circulation of qi and blood throughout the body, accompanied by an indescribable feeling of comfort and joy. Although practicing meditation may appear arduous, one is unaware that after entering the path, various extraordinary sensations arise. The most evident of these is the comfort and joy emanating from within. The master often reminds the disciples not to become overly absorbed in this state, after which they can practice various mental techniques.

The wanderer divided the items into two portions: one portion included a compass, a plum vase, a wooden box containing an ancient sword, the jade token obtained last night, the notebook of the mad fox, and personal belongings; the other portion consisted of items intended for disposal. He packed them into two travel bags and left the room to check out at the front desk

Upon entering the Cangzhou Hotel, he exchanged his identification card for a standard room and settled in. The sky had already darkened, and only then did Youfang completely relax. He had not had a proper rest since last night, and at this moment, he felt not only physically fatigued but also mentally drained.

To avoid having one's whereabouts traced, the best approach is to not have a clear destination in advance and to decide randomly. Indeed, there is a restaurant in Cangzhou, a state-owned time-honored establishment of considerable scale. Although it is only a three-star establishment, it is still regarded as quite decent locally. This time, Youfang accompanied Kuanghu in committing the crime not for financial gain, but he did make a small profit, which is enough to afford a suite in a five-star hotel for a few nights.

Certainly, formal double-disk meditation is also a form of "kung fu." It requires one to be upright yet not rigid, relaxed yet not loose. Although it may not be profound, it still necessitates a period of practice. Since childhood, Youfang has studied internal martial arts, which also include methods for internal cultivation and energy training. These practices can help nourish the five internal organs and bones, as well as enhance one's vitality, concentration, and perceptual acuity.

Startled, You Fang immediately opened his eyes, turned on the bedside lamp, and took a long deep breath before calming down

The "Outsider School" believes that, although Yuan blue and white porcelain is rare, it is impossible that there are no surviving collections in Chinese folklore. Moreover, the number of pieces unearthed from underground burials in recent years will only increase, and the total is certainly not limited to a mere three hundred, nor could they all be abroad. A group of scholars has been embroiled in endless disputes over such a trivial issue, to the extent that Mr. Wu, who has studied archaeology for many years, finds it incomprehensible and has specifically verified the source of this claim.

Mr. Wu Pingdong is a person who dedicates his entire life to his ideals. You Fang believes that he cannot achieve this, which is also the reason he respects Mr. Wu. If possible, he is willing to help Mr. Wu fulfill his wishes. There may be clues in the notebook of Kuanghu, so You Fang decided to keep it.

After leaving, Youfang walked towards the Qingxian train station, gradually throwing many items into the trash bins along the way. Upon arriving at the train station, he found a shipping company at hetushu.com to pack the vase in a wooden box with foam padding and ship it back to Beijing. Initially, the shipping company was reluctant to transport large fragile porcelain items. Youfang did not insure the item nor mentioned that it was an antique, and he specifically paid extra for a custom, expensive packaging, which finally allowed the shipment to proceed

The viewpoint of the "Court Faction" is that there are only 300 pieces of Yuan dynasty blue-and-white porcelain in existence. The Jiangxi Gao'an Museum in China houses 19 pieces, while 9 pieces unearthed in Baoding, Hebei, are respectively housed in the Palace Museum in Beijing and the Hebei Provincial Museum. All other pieces are located abroad. There are no surviving Yuan blue-and-white porcelain pieces in the private sector, and any Yuan blue-and-white porcelain seen in the domestic antique market is invariably a counterfeit

Why would You Fang transport such a "precious" Yuan blue-and-white plum vase by railway freight, not fearing the possibility of loss along the way? Because he is well aware that this is a counterfeit, although the imitation technique is so sophisticated that it is nearly indistinguishable from the real thing. His ability to recognize it is not only due to You Fang's superior skill in identifying ancient porcelain, but also because this item was crafted by his father, You Zuming.

This matter has little impact outside the circle, but it is a sensational event in the antique collecting community. Of course, Kuanghu has heard about it, Old Wu has also heard about it, and even Youfang knows about it

About half an hour later, the vehicle exited the highway and entered the urban area of Cangzhou. The driver asked him how to proceed. Youfang pointed to a large shopping mall ahead and said, "Just stop at the entrance."

This is his first time in Cangzhou, and he is unfamiliar with the area. However, having traveled to various places, he should possess some common knowledge. In any relatively large city, there is usually a hotel or restaurant named after the city, such as XX Hotel or XX Restaurant in XX City. He can simply mention it, and most taxi drivers will be aware of it

After getting off the car, You Fang entered the shopping mall through the main entrance, quickly blending into the crowd and exiting through a side door on another street. He then got into a local taxi. The driver, speaking with a strong Hebei accent, asked, "Where to?" You Fang skillfully replied, "Cangzhou Hotel."

Many people associate sitting cross-legged with something mysterious and esoteric. However, this is a misunderstanding. Practitioners of martial arts also sit in this manner, as do scholars from ancient times. This posture is simply the most stable and upright, which benefits a calm mind; a proper form aids in the concentration of spirit. Monks in temples also sit while chanting scriptures, and most of the time, it is not for the purpose of cultivating any supernatural powers, but merely for the sake of stabilizing body and mind.

This may record the contact information of the entire gang and the books, as well as the contacts involved in activities such as money laundering, smuggling, and auctioning. As mentioned earlier, the main profit from tomb raiding lies in the subsequent circulation phase, which is the process of transforming looted cultural relics into collectible items and transferring them through public or underground markets. In this industry, the real big players are not the ones directly involved in the looting.

Sit cross-legged in a meditative posture, adjusting your breath to gradually calm the chaotic thoughts, while also dissipating the fatigue of both body and mind, entering a more alert state. The next step should be to relax the body and mind as if the bones and flesh are melting away, with the lower dantian in a state of non-guarding, and the abdominal breathing reaching a subtle, almost silent and unintentional state.

The front desk manager of the guesthouse casually asked, "What about the other people?" You Fang replied, "They went out on business and asked me to come and check out to get the deposit back"

However, tonight as I wander into the realm, a sense of horror envelops my very soul; I hear the rustling and clattering sounds rising and falling from all directions, as if a chilling wind is stirring the endless corn leaves. Before my eyes, I vaguely see a bottomless black hole, from which faint yet distinct wails and ghastly laughter emerge. The air carries the scent of gunpowder and blood, emanating not only from the hole but also saturating my entire being. My skin tightens and chills run down my spine, causing the hairs on my body to stand on end. Before my eyes, I vaguely see a bottomless black hole, from which faint yet distinct wails and ghastly laughter emerge. The air carries the scent of gunpowder and blood, emanating not only from the hole but also saturating my entire being. My skin tightens and chills run down my spine, causing the hairs on my body to stand on end.

This examiner, for some purpose, expressed an opinion that was purely personal, yet it has been repeatedly cited by public opinion both domestically and internationally, gradually becoming a conclusion in the academic community—"There are only three hundred pieces of Yuan blue and white porcelain in the world, and the finest examples are all outside of China." To describe this using a Chinese idiom, it is a classic case of many voices turning gold and three people making a tiger.

The reason Mr. Wu approached scholars like Du and Kuanghu under the guise of a folk collector was not merely to gather evidence of the illegal activities of these tomb raiding gangs, but more importantly, to trace the clues leading to the international smuggling intermediaries behind them. Although he accomplished many things, he ultimately met with misfortune and was killed

The old man is indeed very mysterious, so mysterious that it almost seems like he is delusional. However, Youfang is very clear about the rules of wandering the world; one should not engage in unnecessary risks out of curiosity. Since he has committed acts of murder and arson, it is best not to get entangled with witnesses, regardless of who they might be. If there is a chance to shake them off, one must do so.

The cunning fox had calculated well, yet he never anticipated that he would fall into the hands of the young wanderer, and this vase became his death warrant