"So, just from the pre-sale ticket revenue, have they already recouped the costs?" Hearing the account from the director of the Shandong Provincial Museum, Wang Guan wore a smile as warm as a spring breeze.

The director of the Shandong Provincial Museum was not old either, around forty, having only taken the helm last year. Strictly speaking, he was at a stage where he could still advance further, so he naturally attached great importance to this matter. After all, the provincial museum was a government institution; a well-executed, brilliant endeavor here counted as an achievement.

As an ambitious man, how could he miss such a golden opportunity?

Therefore, upon learning of Wang Guan and his team's arrival, he had long since sent people to meet them, even coming to the entrance personally to welcome them. Though slightly surprised by Wang Guan's youth, considering he managed a private museum, the director figured the concept of "appointing relatives" was likely at play, and he readily accepted it. Since Wang Guan wasn't part of the official system, age wasn't the standard measure.

In any case, the director was seasoned; no matter what thoughts he harbored, he wouldn't show them. On the contrary, he became even more enthusiastic, courteously inviting Wang Guan and the others to sit for a while, perhaps over tea, while he briefed them on the situation.

Naturally, it was mostly the director speaking while Wang Guan listened. Truth be told, despite their partnership, the Xiyi Museum was the more assertive party. The purpose of Wang Guan's visit wasn't merely to sip tea; they were here to nitpick.

Yes, to find fault, to look for bones in an egg...

At least, that's how the director perceived it. But he couldn't refuse their scrutiny, so he could only greet them with a smiling face, hoping to leave a good impression so they wouldn't be too strict later.

"Thank you for the tea, Director Wu."

What he feared came to pass. At this moment, Wang Guan smiled affably: "But it's getting late, shouldn't you show us around the museum now?"

"...Very well, let's take a look."

Director Wu stood up. Inspection was inspection; he felt his work had already been done meticulously and wasn't afraid of verification. Moreover, after a brief exchange with Wang Guan, he sensed that Wang Guan wasn't the type to intentionally seek problems, which gave him some peace of mind.

Moments later, led by Director Wu, Wang Guan officially began touring the Shandong Provincial Museum.

After only a short while, Wang Guan couldn't help but feel deeply impressed. This was, after all, a museum with a history spanning a century; its profound heritage was truly beyond what the Xiyi Museum could compare to.

The predecessor of the Shandong Provincial Museum was the Guangzhi Academy, established in 1904 by an English Baptist missionary.

After the founding of the People's Republic, with strong government support, the Provincial Capital Museum was established. Through decades of development, it continuously collected and accumulated bronzes, calligraphy and paintings, biological specimens, paleontological fossils, and various ceramic relics. Among them were quite a few items that could be called the museum's treasures, such as the Egg Pot Black Pottery Cup, the Grand Jade Bi of the State of Lu, and the Nine-Tasseled Crown.

The Egg Pot Black Pottery Cup was pottery from the Neolithic Age, unearthed at the Longshan Culture site in Donghaiyu, Rizhao.

The cup walls were uniformly thin, as delicate as an eggshell, and the texture was fine and hard. The object was black as lacquer, bright as a mirror, thin as paper, and hard as porcelain. When lifted, it felt almost weightless, and when tapped, it rang clearly. It could be said with certainty that even highly skilled technicians in some modern pottery factories could not replicate such exquisite craftsmanship; it was truly unparalleled.

Consider this: the Neolithic Age dates back at least four thousand years. Four thousand years ago, ancestors primarily used stone tools, yet they already knew how to make pottery, even crafting vessels as thin as an eggshell yet remarkably sturdy and durable. How incredible that was.

In any case, after closely examining the Eggshell Black Pottery Cup, Wang Guan made no attempt to hide his astonishment, praising it profusely.

"Take a look at this Yachou Yue as well!"

Seeing Wang Guan's interest in the artifacts, Director Wu quickly introduced another piece. It was a rather peculiar bronze object, rectangular, with a square inner section and double piercings, possessing ridges on both shoulders and a curved blade. The body of the artifact featured openwork human face patterns, radiating immense majesty. On either side of the human-faced mouth opening on the front and back, there was an inscription of Yachou, hence the name Yachou Yue.

People today might not be very clear on the function of a Yue (halberd). In ancient times, the Yue had several different uses: firstly, it was a practical weapon of war. Secondly, it was also an instrument of execution, used for punishing criminals.

Of course, its most significant role was as a symbol of power and social status.

The Yin Ben Ji records that Tang, wielding the Yue, struck Kunwu and drove out Jie. In essence, this object, fundamentally similar to the bronze Ding (tripod vessel), belonged to the category of ancient ritualistic heavy implements and symbols of royal authority, meaning its preciousness could be readily imagined.

"Very impressive."

Wang Guan admired the collection with great enthusiasm and began to understand why Old Qian had said that touring exhibitions were beneficial. Being able to view numerous precious artifacts without constraint was indeed a huge advantage for him.

Naturally, Wang Guan did not forget the main task. While he was appreciating the treasures, the few people accompanying him were already inspecting the various security facilities in the exhibition halls. Carelessness was not an option; after all, visitor flow would be heavy, and any mishap would be unfavorable for everyone involved.

To put it plainly, Wang Guan was currently acting as the "leader," responsible only for enjoying the hospitality and chatting with Director Wu. The specific work was handled by his subordinate team. If any deficiencies were found, they would be reported to him so he could negotiate with Director Wu.

After the inspection, the reality was that the hurried arrangements had led to some issues. Hearing the report, Wang Guan frowned slightly, and his mood for appreciating artifacts naturally vanished. He was about to voice his concerns to Director Wu.

Unexpectedly, Director Wu reacted faster, preemptively admitting fault and requesting two more days to ensure that all problems would be rectified and resolved before the treasures arrived for exhibition, guaranteeing absolute safety.

Since Director Wu was so perceptive and accommodating, Wang Guan found it difficult to press the issue further. He nodded lightly, letting the matter drop. However, words alone were not enough, and Wang Guan would certainly assign people to supervise. No, it should be termed urging, or perhaps assisting—the meaning was the same.

Although Director Wu disliked having people giving unsolicited advice nearby, considering the potential political achievements... he decided to endure it.

With that settled, it was nearly noon. Following Director Wu's warm invitation, Wang Guan and his team happily proceeded to an elegantly situated restaurant for a meal. Amidst clinking glasses, they enjoyed the local delicacies of Shandong province and departed contentedly.

Afterward, under Director Wu's arrangement, Wang Guan and his group were accommodated at a high-end hotel. For the next few days, all aspects of their living, food, and transport were handled by the reception side, requiring no worry from Wang Guan's team. This was the case not only for the Shandong stop but for all cities on the national tour.

Free travel and entertaining on public funds—this had been Wang Guan's ideal before last year, and now it was finally realized...

Lost in thought, Wang Guan suddenly received a call from Old Qian. Assuming he was calling to inquire about the specifics, Wang Guan quickly answered. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Old Qian's joyous voice over the phone.

"Wang Guan, you've earned merit again."

Hearing this, Wang Guan immediately froze, puzzled: "Old Qian, what do you mean? Why are you saying I've earned merit for no reason?"

"The Iron Scroll of Edicts."

At that moment, Old Qian smiled and reminded him: "Do you remember the Iron Scroll of Edicts?"

"Of course, I remember," Wang Guan's mind stirred, and he hurriedly asked: "Have you figured out the origin of the Iron Scroll of Edicts?"

"That's right." Old Qian sounded slightly delighted: "After repair and reinforcement, the text on the scroll has been restored. Although it's only half a scroll, based on the wording, we believe it should be the Iron Scroll of Edicts issued by the Li Tang court to the Kong family."

"The Kong family?"

Wang Guan was stunned again. It was so sudden that he couldn't recall the significance of the Kong family immediately. And the tone Old Qian used, implying he must certainly know, only made Wang Guan feel a bit lost.

"The Kong family of Qufu," sensing the confusion in Wang Guan's tone, Old Qian reminded him strangely: "The Kong family of Confucius. You are in Shandong province right now, the hometown of Sage Kong. How could you have forgotten?"

"Ah..."

Instantly, Wang Guan realized everything, feeling slightly embarrassed but more so joyful: "It's the Yan Sheng Gong Kong family!"

The title of Confucius as the teacher of ten thousand generations was no exaggeration. Although Confucian doctrine was considered out of step during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods and not highly valued by the feudal lords, after his death, especially during the Han Dynasty, when Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang appointed Confucian scholars to devise rituals for him, special consideration was given to Confucius, the founder of Confucianism.

However, what truly cemented the Kong family's position as the foremost aristocratic family in the land occurred when Emperor Wu of Han adopted Dong Zhongshu's suggestion to abolish the Hundred Schools of Thought and revere only Confucianism. The status of the Kong family instantly became prominent.

As Confucianism spread, all scholars in the realm could claim to be disciples of Confucius. To win the hearts of these scholars, successive emperors continuously bestowed titles upon the Kong family, ennobling them as Marquises and Dukes, a tradition that continued.

During this time, the Kong family's official title frequently changed. In the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song, they were named Yan Sheng Gong (Duke Preserving Rectitude). Perhaps finding this title highly fitting, the subsequent Ming and Qing dynasties retained and inherited it without further modifications.

It could be said that, at least before the Republic of China, the Kong family was undeniably the foremost family in the realm, having been passed down for over two millennia, enjoying the honor of having a mansion of wealth and dignity coexisting with the state, and having the virtue and scholarship of a sage whose renown would last as long as heaven and earth.

During that period, regardless of dynastic changes, no matter who sat on the throne, the status of the Kong family remained unshakable. On the contrary, whenever a new dynasty was established, raising the treatment of the Kong family was a priority.

However, during the Republican era, Confucianism entered a comprehensive decline. Under the pressure of Western industrial might and superior weaponry, people realized that Confucian academic thought was incapable of saving the nation and strengthening it, so they unhesitatingly abandoned it and subsequently trampled upon it.

Under these circumstances, the title of Yan Sheng Gong was naturally impossible to maintain, and it was directly changed to that of an Officiant of Worship. Later, when New China was founded, the vigorous 'Smash the Four Olds' movement began, and the Yan Sheng Gong residence in Qufu certainly could not escape calamity.

Therefore, Old Qian speculated that the half scroll of the Iron Scroll of Edicts was likely unearthed sometime after the late Qing Dynasty, during the Republican period or the 'Smash the Four Olds' movement, and after changing hands several times, it finally fell into Wang Guan's possession.

"You have good luck," Old Qian said with a smile at this point. "Logically, every dynasty should have granted the Kong family an Iron Scroll of Edicts, but due to various reasons, most have been lost. Now that you have half a scroll, it holds immense research value..."