Chapter 2362: Chapter 2265: A Unique Dynasty

Regarding the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, it is not as tranquil as ordinary people might think. In fact, from ancient times to the present, this mausoleum has faced countless covetous attempts and calamities, with many individuals attempting to intrude.

According to historical records, after Xiang Yu attacked Guanzhong, he conducted a massive search and destruction of the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, demolishing the surface structures and attempting to excavate the emperor’s tomb.

Afterwards, Emperor Gaozu of Han defeated Xiang Yu, established the Western Han Dynasty with Chang’an as the capital, and ordered the protection of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor to win over people’s hearts. Thus, he dispatched guardians to watch over it, and since then, rulers from various dynasties have continued the task of guarding Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum.

However, despite these efforts, Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum did not gain tranquility as a result.

In "Book of Han: Biography of Liu Xiang," it is recorded that a young boy once led sheep near the Qin Mausoleum, but accidentally a sheep fell into a pit. The child, carrying a torch, entered the pit to find the sheep but inadvertently wandered into the underground palace of the Qin Mausoleum and caused a fire that burned Qin Shi Huang’s coffin.

Regarding the account in "Book of Han," "Water Classic: Commentary on the Wei River" supplements: The shepherd searched for the sheep and burned it; the fire lasted for ninety days without extinguishing.

Later, at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Red Eyebrow Army excavated the Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang, allegedly unearthing burial items including bronze coffins, which were melted down to extract copper for other uses.

During the Wei and Jin periods, Later Zhao’s ruler Shi Hu also excavated the Qin Mausoleum.

Towards the end of the Tang Dynasty, Huang Chao invaded Guanzhong and once again inflicted large-scale damage on the Qin Mausoleum.

Regarding Huang Chao’s raid on the Qin Mausoleum, there have been legends across generations. Do Mu during the Ming Dynasty wrote in "Record of Mount Li":

Within the inner city of Emperor Qin’s Mausoleum, surrounded by five li, there were originally four gates; the outer city spans twenty li, the sites still remain. Ascending from the south, two hills stand side by side; people say: This is the Southern Gate. The stone pivot of the right gate still reveals itself in the soil; the mausoleum rises about four zhang height. Xiang Yu and Huang Chao both attempted to excavate it. An elder claimed: Emperor Qin was buried deeper in the mountain; this is merely a false burial.

Of course, Do Mu himself was not an eyewitness during Huang Chao’s time, so his recorded events are deemed unofficial chronicles. At least in Old Book of Tang and New Book of Tang, historical documentation of Huang Chao raiding the Qin Mausoleum is not found, leading many scholars to question its authenticity.

Afterwards, during the Five Dynasties, warlord Wen Tao, under the guise of raising military funds, also conducted large-scale excavation of the famed Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.

By the Guangxu era of the Qing dynasty, tomb robbers visited the Qin Mausoleum again, and upon learning this, local authorities immediately sent people to investigate. Discovering the robbery tunnel, they sealed the entrance with solid materials and cleared traces, emphasizing intense security to prevent further theft.

During the early Republic of China, the political turbulence due to warlord chaos led Shaanxi warlords to continue their predecessors’ path, commanding the Erhu Troop to "dig trenches" over the Qin Mausoleum.

Counting those who’ve harbored ill will towards the Qin Mausoleum, the number exceeds two palm counts, yet it perplexes people as despite enduring so much adversity, the mausoleum remains unbreached.

All those tombs unearthed by emperors and warlords were false tombs, leaving the mystery of where and how the true resting place of the First Emperor lies unsolved.

Thus, the Oil Rat claiming he possesses Feng Shui Maps of the Qin Mausoleum is exceedingly groundbreaking news. Knowing its interior could mean bypassing mechanisms since just the Water Galaxy alone poses considerable archaeological challenges. Possessing a Feng Shui Map could directly locate the Gate of Life, eliminating superfluous actions, and allowing entrance through the ancient tomb’s Gate of Life.

This news genuinely surpassed all expectations of the professors present—they glanced at each other, disbelief evident in their ears.

But these two mausoleums were not the most sensational news—the final Xia Imperial Mausoleum was the true tidal wave, making even Zhou Shitao restless.

Laymen might not comprehend, yet anyone with a slight familiarity with the antique circle and archaeology would understand the tremendous significance the term "Xia Imperial Mausoleum" holds for China’s archaeological field, or even China’s five thousand years of history.

In Hua Country, essentially every student who has undergone the nine-year compulsory education is aware of a common historical timeline:

Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, Xia Shang Zhou, Spring and Autumn Warring States, Qin Two Han, Three Kingdoms Jin Southern and Northern Dynasties, Sui Tang Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.

This means virtually everyone knows Yu the Great passed his throne to Ziqi, shifting from tribal abdication to inaugurating China’s nearly four-thousand-year hereditary succession, marking the first hereditary dynasty in Chinese history—the well-known Xia Dynasty.

However, this common knowledge actually contradicts archaeological perspectives.

The archaeological community remains skeptical about the existence of the Xia Dynasty, with most archaeologists not acknowledging the Xia’s existence.

In archaeology, tangible evidence is paramount.

The term tangible refers to objects as opposed to written text.

The concept of the Xia Dynasty arises from documentary evidence, but it is not on the same plane as Zhoukoudian, Banpo, Hemudu—though these sites predate Xia Dynasty, they have trackable historical remains, so the issue of archaeological recognition is non-existent.

Recognizing a dynasty concept in archaeology generally follows three basic standards: a mature written and linguistic system, a comprehensive social framework, and lastly physical evidence like fortifications and palaces supporting discoveries.

Yet the Xia Dynasty stands unique as China’s earliest dynasty, lacking archaeological evidence predating oracle bone script for language and writing; although early civilization pottery displays oracle bone-like symbols, their scarcity and narrow scope pale compared to the maturity and ubiquity of oracle bone script.

Consequently, controversy persists within the field regarding the Xia Dynasty concept, with many historians denying the Xia era as a legitimate nation, seeing it instead as an epoch of burgeoning civilization.

Over the years, vast resources in manpower and materials have been dedicated by the archaeological community to finding the Xia Dynasty, even proposing projects like "Xia Shang Zhou Chronology Project," leading efforts by Shi Qingyun to explore Xia capital site archaeology—all concluding swiftly with few concrete achievements.

Considering the current development, professors including Zhou Shitao feel the pursuit of "Xia" will be arduous and distant, yet none foresaw this challenging yet perplexing endeavor yielding unexpected yet effortless success today.

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