Chapter One, Wu Dalang

Using charcoal sticks for drawing is a common method for sketching in both pencil and oil painting, as well as in traditional Chinese painting (realistic style), which Wu Haogu is certainly proficient in. Moreover, he later specialized in hyper-realistic oil painting and also studied realistic style meticulous painting, thus his skill in charcoal sketching is indeed very high

Although Wu Haogu, who has changed his soul, was released from the Kaifeng Prefecture ten days ago, his father, Wu Chengzhi, is still imprisoned in the dungeons of Kaifeng Prefecture, suffering in agony, waiting for his filial son, Wu Haogu, to gather money and resources for his rescue

The shops and taverns on both sides of the street are bustling with customers, and all businesses are thriving. Even the small vendors selling goods from carts are dressed in silk garments and fine shoes, presenting a scene of prosperity and abundance, akin to a real-life version of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival"

He quickly stood up and cupped his hands, saying, "You flatter me, my lord"

Certainly, if the official in charge of calligraphy and painting is unable to refund the money immediately, theoretically, the Inner Court could still communicate with the Imperial City Division to apprehend the individual.

The man in the embroidered shirt smiled and said, "Your exquisite craftsmanship is truly admirable. I am Gao Qiu, a minor official under the command of Governor Wang. May I ask for your esteemed name and surname?"

In his previous life, he was named Wu Hao, an exceptionally skilled painter who graduated from the best art academy in the country. He possessed a solid foundation in painting accumulated since childhood, having not only specialized in Western oil painting but also diligently studied the meticulous techniques of traditional Chinese painting.

However, in Wu Haogu's memory, although the Wu family possesses numerous precious collections that could fetch over a hundred million at Sotheby's a thousand years later, in the first year of the Yuanfu era of the Great Song Dynasty, these items are merely good and cannot be considered rare treasures. They should not bring such calamity to the Wu family or...

After all, those who can forge the paintings and calligraphy of renowned masters must certainly be scholars who share the world with the imperial family of the Song Dynasty... Can a respectable scholar be considered guilty for forging a piece of art?

Wu Haogu is the name he bears in this life, yet his soul originates from the 21st century, over nine hundred years later. Currently, he stands at a height of over 5 feet 5 inches (equivalent to around 170 centimeters), with a slender and delicate physique, a fair complexion devoid of facial hair. Dressed in a neat and clean blue scholar's robe and wearing a white headscarf, he appears to be a cultured and refined scholar.

However, he never anticipated that his dream would likely be realized in an unimaginable way

His soul traversed nearly 920 years due to a reason that 21st-century science cannot yet explain, arriving in Kaifeng Prefecture in the year 1098. Wu Haogu is his name in this era, aged 20, with a modest family fortune, hailing from a family of calligraphers and painters. His great-grandfather was the renowned painter Wu Zongyuan, who lived during the reigns of Emperor Zhenzong and Emperor Renzong, and is known for the painting "The Immortal's Chariot" that has been passed down through generations.

Thinking of this, Wu Haogu could not help but complain to the heavens

During the spring outing season, the continuous light rain that had persisted for many days finally ceased. As the morning bell of Daxiangguo Temple rang, the splendid and vibrant Kaifeng Prefecture once again revealed its most enchanting scenery

The phenomenon of soul transference truly exists

The procedures involved are quite cumbersome, and it is necessary to obtain the consent of the civil official in charge of the Kaifeng Prefecture, the esteemed Lord Qing Tian, in order to detain individuals

He turned his head in a hurry and saw only a man with a square headscarf and flowers tucked behind his ears (it was common for men in the Song dynasty to adorn their hair with a flower), dressed in a white brocade shirt, tall and robust in stature, yet with a delicate and handsome face, standing before a triangular easel, intently gazing at the unfinished painting placed on it beside Wu Haogu.

You let me experience a soul transfer, and while I can accept not receiving a comforting embrace from a golden thigh, why must you present me with such a daunting challenge?

Although he has acquired an enviable fortune, he is ultimately just a merchant, and he possesses a considerable collection of paintings and calligraphy. In the eyes of certain powerful individuals, the Wu family of Panlou Street is likely seen as a lucrative target.

This triangular easel was crafted by a carpenter based on the drawings made by Wu Haogu a few days after he emerged from the prison in Kaifeng, resembling the triangular easels of later generations

Ten days after leaving the Kaifeng Prefecture prison, Wu Haogu finally accepted the incredible reality that his soul had traversed approximately nine hundred years and found itself in the body of a person from the Song Dynasty

The Wu family reached a decline during the generation of Wu Chengzhi, the father of Wu Haogu. Although Wu Chengzhi had entered the Hanlin Academy of Painting in his youth, he did not achieve significant success, only attaining the position of a waiting scholar (the Hanlin Academy of Painting has five ranks: waiting scholar, art scholar, waiting official, student, and artisan, with the waiting scholar being the most esteemed) before resigning to become an official in charge of calligraphy and painting.

Do we really have to let those worthless pickled goods ruin us completely and turn us into a pancake vendor like Wu Dalang?

Wu Haogu was seated by the window in a teahouse located beside Moxing Street in Kaifeng during the first year of the Yuanfu era. Next to him stood a brand new tripod easel, upon which rested an unfinished painting depicting the scenery of Moxing Street. He gazed at the ceaseless flow of pedestrians on the street, his face once again revealing an expression of confusion and helplessness.

Oh heavens, could you please do me a favor and let me embrace a golden thigh

Therefore, the imprisonment of the Wu family father and son must certainly have nothing to do with deceiving the emperor, but rather be related to some treasure that could drive the powerful and wealthy to madness

As Wu Haogu was praying to the heavens in the void, he suddenly heard a series of exclamations in his ear

In fact, according to the regulations of the Northern Song dynasty regarding calligraphy and painting, it is not a serious offense for officials to smuggle fakes into the palace. The field of calligraphy and painting is inherently characterized by a hundred fakes for every genuine piece; even treasures that have been stored in the palace for many years may not necessarily be authentic. However, the officials in charge of calligraphy and painting do bear the responsibility of appraisal and identification, and theoretically, if the calligraphy and paintings they smuggle into the palace are found to be inauthentic, they are obligated to provide a refund.

After spending several days in contemplation following his release from prison, Wu Haogu realized that the only asset he could rely on in the Kaifeng Prefecture during the late Northern Song Dynasty was the painting skills he had accumulated over two lifetimes. Thus, he resumed the life of an artist, with his brush never leaving his hand.

However, for him, who has no background in the art circle, establishing a space of his own in the world of calligraphy and painting in the 21st century is an unattainable goal. Therefore, after graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts, he realistically entered the comic and game production industry and became a concept artist with a relatively good income

However, in practice, instances of refunds are rare. This is partly because the officials of the Song Dynasty are benevolent and do not overly scrutinize merchants who sell books and paintings... Moreover, forgery of books and paintings is not considered a crime in the Song Dynasty, and the authorities have traditionally turned a blind eye to it

Just a month ago, disaster finally struck. The father and son, Wu Chengzhi and Wu Haogu, were framed and arrested on the charge of fraudulently selling counterfeit goods to the palace, and were both imprisoned in the Kaifeng Prefecture jail

Since forgery is not a crime, there is even less reason to make things difficult for those who sell counterfeit goods

Although ancient Chinese painting emphasizes freehand brushwork, it does not mean that realistic styles of painting lack a market. The meticulous painting that flourished during the Tang and Song dynasties emphasizes "achieving precision" and "capturing spirit and form, establishing form with lines, and conveying meaning through form." In meticulous painting, whether it is figure painting or flower-and-bird painting, there is a strong pursuit of likeness and a focus on realism. Wu Haogu, in his lifetime, diligently practiced meticulous painting and possessed commendable painting skills.

Seeing the person before him dressed in splendid attire and exuding an air of elegance, Wu Haogu was taken aback: Could it be that the heavens have truly manifested in this way? Have I really found a golden thigh to lean on?

The weeping willows along the banks of Hulong River sway gracefully in the wind, while the emerald waves of Jinshui River ripple and undulate. Above the Bian River, Cai River, and Wuzhang River, the waterwheels are interconnected, stretching endlessly, and the banks are bustling with a continuous flow of carriages and horses, with goods piled high like mountains

In Wu Haogu's memories of past and present, in addition to a wealth of painting techniques belonging to the Song Dynasty and the essential classics and histories that Confucian scholars must study, there is also a great deal of knowledge related to daily life. Therefore, upon seeing the attire and age of the person before him, he could discern that this individual was most likely a local official, and there was also a possibility that he held a minor position, which is why he respectfully addressed him as "Sir"

Starting from Anyuan Gate in the north and extending to Panlou Street in the south, the horse-drawn street, which stretches over 20 li, is bustling with crowds, with people jostling against one another

Because this is indeed the Kaifeng Prefecture, it is truly the Kaifeng Prefecture of the first year of the Yuanfu era of the Northern Song Dynasty

Now, I do not even know who the other party is or what treasure they desire, what should I do about this

However, deep down in his heart, he could never erase the dream of becoming a great painter

However, the purpose of detaining individuals is not to seek punishment, but rather to compel the officials and merchants to expedite the fundraising for the return of goods. Furthermore, the detained individuals are not to be held by the Imperial City Division or the Inner Court Guards, but are to be transferred to the Kaifeng Prefecture.

Therefore, in the memories left by Wu Haogu's body, it is rare for the calligraphy and painting officials of the Kaifeng Prefecture to be arrested for selling fakes in the palace, and whenever it does happen... it is always shrouded in dark dealings

It looks like! It really looks like! It is just too similar...

And this dark secret is usually related to a rare treasure

For those noble individuals within the Inner Court, it is best to avoid troubling the various esteemed officials of the Kaifeng Prefecture as much as possible

On the easel lies an unfinished charcoal landscape sketch, which is a depiction created with charcoal sticks made from willow wood that have been burned in a closed container, rendered on rice paper.

Thus, if the counterfeit goods are discovered upon entering the palace, the most severe punishment would merely be a refund. If one were to be taken to the Kaifeng Prefecture to face various judges who would execute them with a dog-head guillotine, then no one would dare to sell paintings, calligraphy, or cultural artifacts to the officials and nobility of the Song Dynasty. In such a case, the Song Dynasty would not be able to produce an artistic emperor like Huizong of Song.