It is said that since the Qin and Han dynasties, especially after Emperor Wu of Han abolished all schools of thought and respected Confucianism, the witch doctors and craftsmen who were originally very respected during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period suddenly became a lowly and traitor.

The so-called scholars, farmers, industry and commerce are a complete lie. In fact, there are only two classes. The first is naturally the officials and gentry, and the second is all the objects that can be pressured except the officials and gentry.

In this case, the status of a craftsman can be imagined and there is no right at all. Even if there are any masters, you must know that the pen is in the hands of the literati and wise men. You generally don’t like this kind of magic trick, so you will naturally not be kind enough to help you leave your name.

Of course, if the things you make are related to literature, then the arrogant scholars and officials can consider making you famous. For example, Li Tinggui of the Southern Tang Dynasty, Pan Gu of the Northern Song Dynasty, and Bi Sheng who invented movable type printing...

However, don’t look at these names now famous and have received many praises and praises. It feels like a great scientist who has won glory for the country. But in their era, they were very humble craftsmen and no one cared about them. What the scholars and officials valued what they created, not about them.

The food, clothing and use are not the income from the literati's own labor, but the literati looked down on these people who provided them with food and clothing. Isn't it a weird idea?

No, it's normal, because this situation is not only very common in ancient times, but also in modern times. To be more elegant, it is easy to change the country and difficult to change the nature. To put it simply, it means that dogs can't change what they eat...

However, society is progressing, and people's thoughts are subject to gradually liberate. This is a trend and a trend that cannot be stopped by one or two people. By the mid-Ming Dynasty, in a very prosperous and prosperous place in Jiangnan, in the current term, the budding of capitalism appeared.

The social atmosphere at that time had become extremely loose, so that a large number of painters, writers, calligraphers emerged. As the art world, especially the jade carving world, there were endless experts.

The most eye-catching one is naturally Lu Zigang. As a person who dares to boldly innovate, reform traditional skills, invented knife carving and serial drawing skills, and is the first person in the history of Chinese jade culture to insist on leaving his name on all his works. No wonder he was regarded as his ancestor by the jade carving world.

The Ming Dynasty was the era when Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism developed to its extreme. Society had already firmly established the spirit of respecting Confucianism with the highest level of study. However, Lu Zigang's superb skills made him a role highly praised and respected by scholars and officials as a craftsman.

Many exquisite jade artifacts he made became a favorite thing for scholars and collectors. The price of a daffodil hairpin was as high as fifty or sixty gold. Many of them were introduced into the palace and became objects for emperors to enjoy.

However, success is Zigang, and failure is Zigang. The biggest feature of jade carvings by Lu Zigang is that he likes to leave his own end in an inconspicuous position in the jade, that is, Zigang style.

It was precisely this reason that made him lose his life. It is said that Lu Zigang carved a dragon-shaped jadeware under the emperor's order. The emperor had already told him strictly that he could not leave a name, but he engraved his name. Later, he was reported, which naturally offended the emperor and was secretly sentenced to death for the crime of deceiving the king.

After listening to Wang Guan’s story, Bei Ye couldn’t help but sigh: “It’s so pitiful.”

"Of course, this is just a legend." Wang Guan explained with a smile: "After all, no matter how powerful Lu Zigang's craftsmanship is, some literati notes mentioned that his name is already good, and it is impossible to write a biography for him. Therefore, his life and deeds are all fictional. You can believe it, but you cannot believe it all."

"What about this jade ring?" Baye asked curiously: "What is the origin?"

“The origin is not simple.”

Wang Guan smiled and turned around and said, "Uncle De, you should have brought your treasure chest."

"Sure, wait."

While speaking, Gao Dequan returned to the room and walked out with a portable suitcase. Then he opened the box and saw many small bottles and jars and various identification tools inside.

"Uncle De, are you coming or me?" Wang Guan asked again.

"Come on," Gao Dequan waved, "I want to see if you have made progress."

"Then I'll be ugly." Wang Guan smiled and took an empty glass cup, then took out the small bottle and jar in the box, then used a small spoon to mix the powder and liquid in the bottle at a certain proportion, and finally injected clean water.

At this moment, Wang Guan immediately threw the jade ring into the cup. In an instant, a fluffy of foam suddenly appeared like hops, and the clear water in the glass cup had a strong chemical reaction.

"Hey!"

Baye was stunned and said in confusion: "What are you doing?"

“Cleaning surface dirt.”

Wang Guan smiled and said, "In fact, the mottled traces of the jade ring were caused by someone applying a layer of adhesive on the surface, which was slightly modified, and finally buried for a while, so the soil was so severe. Uncle De was rubbing the holes in the ring for so long just now, not just to notice the famous style, but to notice the wrong feel."

"That's right."

Gao Dequan nodded and said, "Even if the ancient jade is thicker than the spots, it can make people feel the texture of the jade itself, but this jade ring is separated by a layer. It has the texture of jade but does not have the feel of jade, so there must be something strange."

"oh."

Baye nodded slightly, not necessarily fully understood, but it did not prevent her pretty eyes from showing admiration.

At the same time, the foam flowers in the cup gradually calmed down, and the originally very clear water became turbid, as if it was the color of the Yellow River water. The jade ring settled at the bottom of the cup, and I don’t know what it turned out to be.

Seeing this, Wang Guan poured another cup of clear water, then clamped the jade ring in the turbid solution with a small clip, and quickly put it in the clear water. With a thump, a string of water splashed and calmed down instantly.

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on the cup of water, and a touch of warm bright yellow luster dyed the clear water into the same color. The delicate yellow color was as delicate as the stamens, which was amazing.

"So beautiful!" Beiye couldn't help but praise her. Her bright eyes were filled with colorful waves. Not only her, but Wang Guan and Gao Dequan also looked at the jade ring without blinking.

At this moment, the mottled marks on the surface of the jade ring have completely subsided, completing a gorgeous transformation. The whole body is complete without any flaws, and the bright yellow color is even more pure.

Everyone knows that when the color reaches a certain level, there will be a burst of precious light.

The so-called "poetry and literary spirit" is the most beautiful. Now this topaz ring is like this. Even if there is no light, it can appear as a moving halo. This wonderful halo has a charm that makes people unconsciously intoxicated.

It took a long time before Wang Guan gradually woke up and exclaimed in a slight sense: "Uncle De, this should be what you mentioned as chicken oil yellow."

"right……"

Gao Dequan sighed slowly and sighed: "The best chicken oil yellow at the level of mutton fat jade!"

"The quality of the palace imperial equipment and the emperor's special items is guaranteed." Wang Guan smiled and clamped the topaz ring with a clip. After cleaning it for a while, he carefully wiped the water stains and then slowly watched and played with it.

At first glance, Wang Guan's face was filled with surprises: "Uncle De, it's really right, it's the same as the legendary one."

"let me see……"

Despite his psychological preparation in this regard, Gao Dequan was still a little anxious and hurried over to carefully look at the surface of the topaz ring. He saw that there were subtle and shallow characters on it, with sparse and dense ideas, and the artistic conception was even more profound.

"The Hundred Horses Picture is indeed the Hundred Horses Picture." After looking at it for a moment, Gao De was full of admiration and said with emotion: "Now there is no doubt that this is definitely Lu Zigang's work."

Of course, it is impossible for the Hundred Horses to be carved with a hundred horses on the small jade ring.

In fact, there is also an allusion here. It is said that because Lu Zigang's skill is superb and outstanding, he was appreciated by the emperor and ordered him to enter the palace to offer sacrifices. However, one day, the emperor wanted to try Lu Zigang's talent, so he took out a jade ring for pulling the bow and tilting the strings, and let him carve a picture of a hundred horses on the ring.

A jade ring is only the size of a thumb. If you really want to carve a hundred galloping horses on the surface of the ring, you can't do it even if you have great skills, but Lu Zigang agreed. And not long after, Lu Zigang presented the carved jade ring of the Hundred Horses according to the emperor's request.

The emperor was very satisfied with the jade ring when he looked at the jade ring. He praised Lu Zigang's skills very much. He not only gave him generous rewards, but also had great trust. It is probably because of this that he was jealous of his peers, which caused the death disaster of the later report.

Of course, everything is just speculation. In fact, everyone thinks this jade ring is just a legend, and in general, they are listened to as a story, and not many people care about it at all.

However, the top jade ring in front of him told Wang Guan that sometimes the legend may not be fiction. Whether you believe it or not, he believes it anyway. Because the Baijun Diagram Jade Ring carved by Lu Zigang is now in his hands.

At this time, Wang Guan's fingers gently brushed across the face of the ring. There were naturally no hundreds of horses on his face, but not only were there three horses. After these three lifelike and rushing horses, there was a majestic city built among the mountains and hills of the mountains. Among these three horses, one was running towards the city gate, one had already arrived at the gate and ran towards the city, and the other was only showing his horse's head in the valley.

In the limited space, Lu Zigang cleverly used the technique of fictitious and realistic writing, embodying Baijun in his imagination, perfectly expressing the theme of Baijun Picture. It is thoughtful, creative, and even more rare is that the carving lines are smooth and the three-dimensional sense of the picture is very strong. No wonder he got the common sense of the emperor and did not blame Lu Zigang for fooling himself.
Chapter completed!