After coming out of the palace, Chen Jingke first went back to Zixiao Temple.
He copied another oracle bone document and took two relatively clear oracle bones and went straight to the Hongwen Hall and found Lu Cai.
After hearing the origin of this thing, Lu Cai was completely shocked: "What did you say? These are the bones of the Yin Shang Dynasty? Are the lines on it the characters of the Yin Shang Dynasty? Oracle bone inscriptions?"
Chen Jingke was very satisfied with the effect and said calmly, "Calm down, it's an oracle bone inscription from the Yin Shang Dynasty. This oracle bone is a sacrificial vessel."
Lu Cai said excitedly: "Calm down? Can I be calm? This is an ancient relic from the Yin and Shang Dynasties. Do you know what this means?"
As a Tang Dynasty materialist, atheist, writer, historian, debater, calligrapher... he was an all-rounder who combined the strengths of many schools of thought.
He has a wide range of hobbies, including epigraphy and antiques, and has done some research on them.
Therefore, he understands the significance of oracle bone inscriptions to Chinese civilization better than the average person, and it is inevitable to be excited.
Chen Jingke smiled and said: "Then you get excited first, and we can talk later when you are done."
Lu Cai said angrily: "Don't interrupt, are you sure this is a Yin Shang sacrificial vessel?"
Chen Jingke said with certainty: "You can be sure that there are elders in my family who specialize in this."
"At first they thought it was an ancient book... There was no paper at that time, so the ancients carved words on oracle bones for preservation."
"It was only later that as the research deepened, I was able to determine that this was not an ordinary book, but a ritual vessel."
Lu Cai nodded and said: "Since ancient times, there has been a custom of calcining oracle bones for divination and asking questions about the heavens. It is reasonable for the ancients to use oracle bones with characters engraved on them as ritual vessels for worshiping the heavens."
Chen Jingke sighed: "Actually, I hope this is an ancient book rather than a ritual vessel for worshiping heaven."
Lu Cai asked in confusion: "Why?"
Chen Jingke said: "The books introduce things in more detail, but most of the things written on the ritual vessels for worshiping heaven are prayers, expressions of merit and the like. We can see too little information."
Lu Cai immediately understood what he meant and couldn't help but nodded and said, "That's true. Didn't the elders in your family find any other items?"
Chen Jingke shook his head and said: "The carriers used to record texts in ancient times were probably wooden slips and cloth. The Yin and Shang Dynasties were two to three thousand years ago, and all kinds of wood and cloth had decayed into dust."
"Only these oracle bones have endured for thousands of years and passed down part of the information of the ancients."
Lu Cai also sighed: "This is indeed a pity. Fortunately, these ritual vessels are left, otherwise the ancients would only have some legends left."
Chen Jingke said: "Besides the oracle bones, there must be other items preserved, such as ancient bronzes, which are probably buried somewhere, waiting for future generations to discover them."
Lu Cai's eyes lit up and he said, "Have you seen it?"
Chen Jingke said: "Of course I have seen it before, otherwise how would our parents study ancient history."
Lu Cai opened his mouth and wanted to ask what your elders were studying.
Can you tell me something, even just briefly?
But then I gave up the idea. This thing is taboo, so it’s better not to touch it.
Otherwise, the emperor would definitely be very angry and even do evil things. He didn't want to cause trouble for himself.
"Since you already knew about the Oracle, why didn't you show it before?"
Chen Jingke smiled bitterly and said: "I forgot, I didn't think of the oracle bone inscriptions until I saw the Yin Shang oracle bones.
"This thing is also very rare in our family, and few people pay attention to it. At that time, I only looked at it a few times out of interest."
"I can only remember a few of the translations. I'm afraid we will have to gather scholars from all over the country to study the others."
Lu Cai nodded, not doubting the reason at all, and even thought it was a normal situation.
After all, Chen Jingke was too young. He was only ten years old when he came to Datang. He was already gifted to be able to remember so many things.
So he asked instead: "How many of these oracle bones have been found?"
Chen Jingke replied: "Twenty-three pieces, I sent two pieces to the palace. I have asked them to urgently investigate whether there are any similar oracle bones outside and where they were found."
"We have also received permission from the saint. As long as we find out where the ruins are, we can immediately organize manpower to excavate them. There will definitely be more oracle bones and even other things."
Lu Cai immediately said: "Count me in, I want to personally inspect and excavate this ruins."
Chen Jingke smiled and said: "That's what I'm waiting for. I've said it before. It's a loss for people like you to join politics."
"Hurry up and resign and follow me to the academy to be a teacher. The place for offering wine has been reserved for you."
This time, Lu Cai did not refuse directly. He hesitated for a while and then said: "Let's not mention this matter for now. Let's find out about the oracle bone inscriptions first."
Chen Jingke was overjoyed, knowing that this matter was almost done.
Lu Cai's official career can be said to be both successful and unsuccessful.
He came from a poor family and became famous for his many talents, so he was recommended to join the Hongwen Hall.
But precisely because he knew too much and was too upright, he was ostracized everywhere.
Although Chen Jingke recommended him to Li Shimin several times, and Li Shimin once wanted to reuse him, he eventually returned to Hongwen Hall.
After going through so much, he probably figured it out.
It's just that I can't help but feel embarrassed, so I act very hesitant.
There are many ways to deal with such a person. You don't need to say anything to him, just find an opportunity to get him to the academy. He half-assumed and stayed.
Thinking of this, he immediately said: "I am going to establish a calligraphy research institute in the academy and invite all the calligraphers and epigraphers from all over the world to study oracle bone inscriptions."
"You can just join in. Then help me keep an eye on it and don't cause trouble."
Lu Cai agreed and said, "Okay, count me in. I know a few people who meet the requirements, so I'll write a letter to invite them over."
Chen Jingke took advantage of the situation and said: "Recently, I have to help find clues to the oracle bone inscriptions, and I have no time to take care of so many things. Please help me take care of the writing research institute first."
Lu Cai thought for a moment and said, "Okay, but it's only temporary. You have to find someone to replace me as soon as possible."
"Okay, I will find the right person to take charge as soon as possible." Chen Jingke said this, snickering in his heart.
Now that you're here, you still want to leave? You're thinking too much.
After leaving the matter of gathering manpower to Lu Cai, Chen Jingke was not idle either. He first went to find Kong Yingda.
Confucianism highly values the rule of the Three Dynasties, and no one values the oracle bone inscriptions of the Yin and Shang dynasties more than they do.
As expected, Kong Yingda almost jumped up with excitement when he saw Oracle.
He immediately said that if you need anything, just ask, they Confucians will never refuse.
Chen Jingke then asked him to find some relevant experts to study the oracle bone inscriptions together.
As a direct grandson of Confucius and a great scholar, Kong Yingda knew a lot of people, so it was easy to find experts in this field.
After that, Chen Jingke quickly went to find Cheng Hualiang and opened a large courtyard in a corner of the academy as the workplace of the Chinese Character Research Institute.
As mentioned before, when building the campus, Chen Jingke built it according to the carrying capacity of tens of thousands of people.
This also saves the trouble of expansion every three days.
However, most of these courtyards are in a sealed state and will only be opened when they are used.
Just like now, just activate one directly.
This courtyard has four buildings, one with three floors and three with two floors, which are more than enough as an office space for studying oracle bone inscriptions.
Then it’s time to clean and decorate.
Chen Jingke found Li Shimin's handwriting and inscribed the name "Chinese Character Research Institute", and all the tables, chairs, benches, bookcases, cabinets and boxes for placing oracle bones, etc. were all made to order.
However, these projects are much smaller than building a house. It only took half a month to decorate the house without any shortage of money, just waiting for the arrival of celebrities.
The news about Oracle quickly spread among the small circle, and everyone was shocked and ran over excitedly, asking to join in.
What Chen Jingke didn't expect was that the first famous scholar to be invited was Ouyang Xun, who was already in his eighties. He was carried into the academy.
For such an old-timer, Chen Jingke personally went to the gate to greet him: "Ouyang Shuigeng, why are you here in person? If you have anything to do, just ask someone to send me a message."
Ouyang Xun sat in the wheelchair and clasped his fists tremblingly and said: "Haha... I don't dare to take it seriously. I am an old man with limited mobility, so please forgive me for not being able to see the ceremony."
"Oh, you have offended me. How can any elder salute a junior?" Chen Jingke quickly turned sideways and only accepted half of the salute before looking at the fourteen-year-old or fifteen-year-old boy next to him and said:
"Who is this?"
"This is the dog Ouyang Tong." Ouyang Xun cheered up and introduced. After speaking, he said to the young man: "Hurry up and salute Mr. Chen."
Ouyang Tong respectfully bowed to Chen Jingke and said, "Tong pays homage to Chen Jingke."
Chen Jingke accepted this gift and looked at him while thinking, considering the ages of father and son, Ouyang Xun only had a son when he was seventy years old. He can only say that he is getting stronger with age.
However, he had heard about Ouyang Tong, not in this life, but in his previous life.
Not only did this man inherit his father's calligraphy skills, but he also had extremely strong administrative abilities. He rose to the rank of prime minister. However, he later opposed Wu Zetian and made Wu Chengsi the crown prince and was framed and executed.
Moreover, the descriptions of him in history are basically positive, and he was a useful talent.
Thinking of this, he praised from the bottom of his heart: "Your Majesty, with his majestic appearance and arrogant spirit, will surely have great achievements in the future. Ouyang Shui will be even more blessed."
Ouyang Xun was very impressed, but he said modestly: "It's just a little cleverness, not worthy of such praise from Master Chen."
At this point, he suddenly said: "Qiuxuan Academy is a first-class place of learning in the Tang Dynasty. I want to admit Quanzi to study. Is it possible?"
Ouyang Tong also showed an expectant expression.
Chen Jingke said happily: "Of course you can, but the focus of the academy is not the Nine Classics and other classics, but the study of objects. Brother Ouyang coming to study here may affect the imperial examination."
Ouyang Xun said: "It doesn't matter, the most important thing is to learn the true skills."
In fact, there was nothing he could do about it, because he was not born from the same mother, and his three children from his ex-wife were very unkind to this youngest son.
If he was gone, this younger son would definitely be kicked out of the house, so he had to find a place for this younger son to stay.
Qiuxuan Academy is a good choice. It is a place where the emperor pays attention. Even if you can't be an official, you can still have enough food and clothing by studying.
After the matter was confirmed, both families were very happy, and their relationship became even better than before.
After chatting for a few words, Ouyang Xun couldn't help but bring the topic back to the original purpose: "Master Chen, dare I ask if it is true that the antiquities of the Yin and Shang Dynasties came out?"
Chen Jingke said sternly: "How dare I make a joke about this matter? Shuugeng and I come here. You will know with your own eyes when you see it."
After saying that, he personally pushed the wheelchair to the place where the oracle bones were stored.
Seeing oracle bones and oracle bone inscriptions with his own eyes, Ouyang Xun was so excited that he burst into tears, saying that seeing the oracle bone inscriptions would be worth it even if he died now.
After that, he expressed his intention to join in and was willing to donate all the books on ancient writing at home to the academy for research purposes.
Chen Jingke naturally accepted it happily.
The latest news soon came from Zixiaoguan, the place where the Yin Shang oracle bones were unearthed was found.
He Dachun said proudly: "The source of every batch of medicinal materials imported into the temple will be clearly recorded to prevent anyone from passing it off as good quality, and dragon bones are no exception."
"We followed the records and quickly found the source of this batch of oracle bones, which was in Anyang County, Xiangzhou, Henan Province."
"In order to verify the authenticity of this news, I imported another batch of dragon bones from Anyang and found twenty-five more suspected Yin Shang oracle bones."
Anyang, Henan? Sure enough, Chen Jingke looked like he had expected it.
This name is too familiar to him. It is one of the eight ancient capitals in China and is also known as the ancient capital of the Seven Dynasties.
The most important thing is that this is the ancient capital of the Yin and Shang Dynasties and the birthplace of the Zhouyi. It is said that King Wen of Zhou deduced the Zhouyi here.
The earliest oracle bone inscriptions in the previous life were unearthed here, so this place is also called the hometown of oracle bone inscriptions. Sure enough, the oracle bone inscriptions in this life were also unearthed here.
The question now is how many Yin Shang oracle bones were unearthed and where were they lost?
It is conceivable that this is not the first batch, and we must quickly find ways to protect it.
Thinking of this, he quickly said: "Collect the dragon bones from Xiangzhou immediately... no, collect the dragon bones unearthed from the entire Henan Road."
"Also, the keels that flowed out of Henan Road must be recovered as much as possible. No matter how much it costs, we must do this."
He Dachun hesitated and said: "Sir, spending a lot of money will only make people who don't know the truth mistakenly think that the dragon bones of Henan Road have magical effects."
"Not only will it not have a protective effect, it will also cause more people to covet it."
"It's best to collect it quietly, or spread a rumor that the dragon bones from Henan Province have chronic toxins, and eating too much will kill you and even affect fertility."
Chen Jingke was stunned for a moment, then fell into thinking.
What He Dachun said is indeed reasonable. If someone collects the keel at a high price without explaining the reason, there will definitely be people who doubt that this thing is some kind of panacea.
But spreading rumors is not a wise choice, and others are not stupid. Why would you accept poisonous things? Or in large quantities? It must be intentional...
Tell everyone the truth, saying that these ancient artifacts from the Yin and Shang Dynasties are of high research value. Please return them.
It sounds so ridiculous. People will only doubt that this thing has magical effects, but will not believe that it is an ancient artifact from the Yin Shang Dynasty.
Headache.
After thinking about it, he could only say helplessly: "Let's find some excuse to collect quietly. Don't make the matter a big deal. We can wait until we go to Anyang County to check."
He Dachun said: "Okay, I will buy it on the grounds that the research on Zixiao Temple requires a large number of dragon bones, and try not to disturb other people."
