Upon hearing Zhuang Rui's answer, the reporter was speechless. How could he possibly know what items Genghis Khan had looted from Russia? There was absolutely no record of it.
"Damn it, that's shameless. You want to take back something that's over a thousand years old? Don't you even remember how much your country has stolen from China in modern times?"
Zhuang Rui cursed inwardly and continued, "As far as I know, there are a large number of Chinese cultural relics in the St. Petersburg Museum in your country, including 12,000 volumes of Dunhuang manuscripts alone. May I understand that you are willing to return these cultural relics belonging to China on behalf of your government?"
Chapter 1203 Answering Reporters' Questions
“I…I, this is different.”
The Russian journalist blushed as Zhuang Rui questioned him. As a journalist working on scientific expeditions, he was naturally very knowledgeable about modern history, including the looting of Beijing by the Eight-Nation Alliance, in which Tsarist Russia was involved.
During the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China, rampant looting under the guise of archaeology was rampant, with Tsarist Russia leading the way. Russia played a very disgraceful role in the loss of Chinese cultural relics in modern times.
"no the same?"
Upon hearing this, Zhuang Rui stood up from his chair and said loudly, "We have conclusive evidence that there are a large number of precious artworks looted from China in the Russian State Museum, and you have no evidence whatsoever. What right do you have to claim that the treasures in Genghis Khan's Mausoleum belong to the world?"
Zhuang Rui's questioning made the Russian journalist blush, but he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal, because he couldn't say what treasures Genghis Khan had plundered from Russia, while Chinese artworks were indeed displayed in their national museum.
"Xiao Zhuang, watch your words..."
Director Liu, who was sitting next to Zhuang Rui, turned off his microphone and gently tugged at Zhuang Rui's sleeve. "There are some things that can't be said outright. What if someone really finds something concrete? Will China return it or not?"
"It's alright..."
Zhuang Rui sat down again and waved to Director Liu. The excavation of Genghis Khan's Mausoleum was carried out under his command, so Zhuang Rui knew very well what items were inside.
The most valuable thing in the tomb is, of course, the huge amount of gold. Zhuang Rui also knows that this gold was actually looted from countries around the world, but so what?
All the gold has been melted and refined, and then crafted into gold bars or other gold products, losing all trace of its original style. Even though the whole world knows that it was stolen by Genghis Khan, there is no evidence to prove that it is his own.
Some friends might say that Zhuang Rui was too impulsive. Aren't there still so many European artworks that other countries can use against him?
In fact, Zhuang Rui was more than happy for them to propose returning the cultural relics. You see, most of the precious metals in Genghis Khan's mausoleum had been melted down and refined. Even the European artifacts were not of high value.
The cultural relics looted from China by European countries in modern times are far more valuable than the foreign artworks unearthed from Genghis Khan's Mausoleum. If any country wants them back, they can return the Chinese antiques they stole first. As for the precious Persian carpets unearthed from the mausoleum, Zhuang Rui is not afraid at all.
Ancient Persia had long since split into many Arab countries, including Iran, and no one had the right to claim that these things belonged to them. Moreover, during the heyday of the Silk Road, many Persian carpets entered China, which can be considered normal trade.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Genghis Khan founded the Mongol Empire, and the Yuan Dynasty, established by the Mongols, had its capital right here beneath your feet... Beijing. Therefore, the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan belongs entirely to the Chinese people; this is an indisputable fact..."
After Zhuang Rui sat down, he gave an irrefutable definition of ownership of Genghis Khan's Mausoleum: the Mongols occupied many places in the past, but their capital was built in what is now Beijing.
If those countries recognized that their territory belonged to China, then they could get a share of the benefits.
Seeing the Russian reporter get humiliated and hearing Zhuang Rui's boast, the many reporters in the room realized that their idea of profiting from Genghis Khan's mausoleum was doomed to fail.
"I am a reporter from FR News Agency. Sir, in what capacity are you attending this press conference?"
A French journalist stood up after being called out, and after Zhuang Rui's sharp remarks, he became interested in Zhuang Rui's identity.
"Ahem, this is Zhuang Rui, the discoverer of Genghis Khan's Mausoleum. He is a renowned archaeologist, art appraiser, and jade expert in my country, as well as the deputy chief commander of the Genghis Khan Mausoleum scientific expedition project. For more detailed information about the Genghis Khan Mausoleum, please feel free to ask Mr. Zhuang..."
Director Liu coughed and introduced Zhuang Rui's identity. The long list of titles left the reporters below dumbfounded, staring at Zhuang Rui in astonishment.
After hearing these words, many reporters began to whisper among themselves, inquiring about Zhuang Rui's identity. They had never heard of such a young expert in China before.
In the reporters' impression, China is a country that follows a strict hierarchy and seniority system. Most people who can be called experts are over forty or fifty years old. But Zhuang Rui on the stage doesn't look like someone over thirty at all.
"May I ask a question, sir/madam reporter?"
The host called on a reporter who had raised his hand high. After standing up, the reporter said, "Mr. Zhuang, I think you must also be a great explorer. If I remember correctly, you were the one who discovered Klaus's treasure, right?"
"So it was him?"
"No wonder he became an expert. So many people have searched for pirate treasure without success, but he found it!"
“I know about this. I went to that museum and saw it. Klaus’s golden anchor, oh, it’s amazing…”
"I remember now, he was the one who salvaged that ancient Chinese shipwreck a while ago..."
The reporter's words made the foreign journalists present realize that the pirate treasure that had caused such a stir in the international scientific community a few years ago was actually discovered by this young man.
The discovery of the intact Song Dynasty shipwreck, along with numerous reports from overseas media, combined with the fact that this young man had accomplished many sensational feats, made it clear that he had done something quite remarkable.
"Damn, isn't this putting my guy on the hot seat?"
Zhuang Rui glanced at Director Liu with dissatisfaction. This reporter must have been arranged by the press conference organizers, but... Zhuang Rui himself didn't want to become famous.
However, Zhuang Rui has no choice but to accept this. After today's press conference, the international scientific community will surely know his name.
After all, the discovery of Genghis Khan's mausoleum alone is enough to ensure that Zhuang Rui's name will be etched in the annals of international scientific research.
In addition to Zhuang Rui's other achievements, which many people cannot achieve in their entire lives, it is no exaggeration to call him an internationally renowned scientific research expert.
"Mr. Zhuang, could you tell us in detail the story of the discovery of Genghis Khan's Mausoleum?"
After complimenting Zhuang Rui, the reporter asked his question.
"Oh, I can only say it's a very magical discovery, perhaps it was God... oh, the God you all say who guided me to discover this great tomb..."
Zhuang Rui had prepared this topic in advance, and he immediately began to ramble on, talking about the rapids at the bottom of the lake and the deadly aquatic plants, making all the reporters in the room very nervous.
"Well, that's the truth. I think... if I had gone there in winter, this tomb would still be quietly underground, and we wouldn't have discovered such a magnificent underground architectural marvel..."
After leading the reporters in a daze, Zhuang Rui ended his fabricated story. In fact, foreigners are much easier to fool than Chinese people. As long as you bring in Jesus, God, and those guys, anything becomes plausible.
"Alright, before the press conference concludes, I have one more thing to announce to all the reporters..."
After Zhuang Rui finished answering the question, Director Liu took the microphone and said, "During this archaeological excavation, a precious cultural relic representing the symbol of ancient Chinese emperors was unearthed. That is the 'Imperial Seal of the State,' crafted from the He Shi Bi jade from the Warring States period. After expert authentication, this seal is indeed from more than two thousand years ago and can be confirmed as genuine..."
"What? The Imperial Seal of the State?"
"My God, it's in Genghis Khan's tomb!" "Hey, I'm asking you, what is the He Shi Bi jade? What is the Imperial Seal of the State?"
As soon as Director Liu finished speaking, the press conference erupted. The Chinese journalists, who made up more than half of the attendees, were all excited. In their view, the so-called excavation of Genghis Khan's Mausoleum was far less significant than the discovery of the Imperial Seal of the State.
The foreign journalists, on the other hand, were somewhat confused and kept asking their Chinese counterparts about the Imperial Seal of the State. For a time, the press conference was as noisy as a market.
"Excuse me, do you have a photo of the Imperial Seal of the State?"
"Director Liu, what can be discussed with the public regarding the Imperial Seal of the State?"
"Director Liu, could you please provide me with some actual photos of the Imperial Seal of the State?"
Excited Chinese reporters, forgetting about calling on specific individuals to ask questions, rushed to the front of the stage with microphones, surrounding Director Liu.
"Everyone, please stop making noise, please stop making noise..."
Surrounded by people, Director Liu stood up and said, "Everyone should verify this with Mr. Zhuang Rui, because the Imperial Seal of the State will be open to the public in the Dingguang Museum in Beijing. This is the first time in the world that a national treasure has been placed in a private museum. We hope this will promote the development of private museums..."
There needs to be a good reason to hand over the Imperial Seal of the State to the Dingguang Museum for exhibition, and supporting and promoting the development of private museums is the best reason.
"Mr. Zhuang, when is the exhibition of the Imperial Seal of the State? Wait, where is everyone?"
"Hey, where's Mr. Zhuang? Isn't the Dingguang Museum his?"
"Yes, I wonder if this is a national commendation for his discovery of Genghis Khan's tomb?"
When everyone heard Director Liu's words and was thinking of interviewing Zhuang Rui, they found that Zhuang Rui's chair was already empty.
Chapter 1204 The Troubles of Fame
"Associated Press: The Mongol cavalry has reappeared in the world. China has discovered an ancient tomb that has been confirmed as the mausoleum of Genghis Khan."
"France News Agency: A tomb 100 meters deep, another great miracle in the history of human architecture, the magical Chinese jade seal."
"Asahi Shimbun, Japan: Whether the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan is real or fake remains to be verified..."
According to RIA Novosti, the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan is a treasure of the world, and China is urged to relax restrictions and jointly excavate it.
The next morning, similar reports appeared prominently on media websites around the world, sparking a Genghis Khan craze worldwide due to the discovery of the tomb of a murderous tyrant or human monarch from a thousand years ago.
The powerful military achievements and glorious victories of Genghis Khan were all reported in detail, which made people from many countries realize that thousands of years ago, they had been enslaved by a people called Genghis Khan.
This has deepened people's interest in that mysterious history, and various historical works related to the Mongol Yuan Dynasty have become bestsellers. Even the novel "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" by Hong Kong's Master Jin has been reread in China.
"China's young scientific research expert, the discoverer of Pirate Island..."
"A young scientific expert who has been overlooked has made remarkable achievements..."
"Mr. Zhuang Rui, a top scientific explorer and scientist from the East, is a modern-day Robinson Crusoe from ancient China..."
In most newspapers or websites reporting on the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan, a photo of a young man appeared. Zhuang Rui, looking energetic in a suit, appeared in the world's view for the first time.
Aside from Russian journalists, various media outlets gave this person extremely high praise. In European media reports, Zhuang Rui was prominently featured as the most accomplished scientific research expert and explorer in the East.
Due to limited access, foreign journalists only uncovered Zhuang Rui's adventures on the pirate island and his salvage of a Song Dynasty shipwreck. Klaus's treasure goes without saying, but even the salvage of the Song Dynasty shipwreck set a world record for deep-sea salvage.
Foreign countries admire individual heroism, so the reports on Zhuang Rui were no less lengthy than those on Genghis Khan's mausoleum, especially the discovery of the pirate island, which was practically written as a modern Robinson Crusoe adventure.
Unlike foreign media, domestic media, while also extensively reporting on the discovery of Genghis Khan's mausoleum, focused primarily on the "Imperial Seal of the State." For the Chinese people, the idiom "returning the jade intact to Zhao" is deeply ingrained in their minds.
"The Imperial Seal of the State was unearthed from the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan..."
"The Imperial Seal of the State, lost for a thousand years, has reappeared in the world..."
"Genghis Khan's Treasure: The Imperial Seal of the State..."
"Whether the Imperial Seal of the State is genuine or not remains to be seen after its discovery."
Domestic media outlets almost universally used this phrase on their front pages, and some even found counterfeit versions of the Imperial Seal of the State online, posted photos of them, and added their own commentary.
Similar to foreign media, these domestic media outlets also became interested in Zhuang Rui. Domestic journalists, being closer to the source, had far better access to information than their foreign counterparts.
"The journey from pawnshop clerk to antique tycoon..."
"The rise of a jade tycoon, a heavyweight antique dealer in China..."
"The frenzy of jade gambling created a generation of jade kings..."
In domestic media, there are many such words: those all-pervasive reporters, in just one day, listed all of Zhuang Rui's public actions over the past few years.
Even Zhuang Rui's impoverished experience working at a pawnshop four or five years ago, including his bravery in fighting off criminals, couldn't escape the reporters' coverage, especially since the whole story was a tale of a grassroots struggler.
The media knows that the growth of ordinary people is the most eye-catching, so many newspapers today are practically writing biographies of Zhuang Rui.
Even some newspaper entertainment sections made a far-fetched attempt to link Zhuang Rui's jewelry to international awards. What? No entertainment value? Of course! When those jewelry pieces are displayed, they're worn around the necks of celebrities, and these are international female celebrities, after all.
If Zhuang Rui gained some public recognition a few years ago by appearing on CCTV's treasure appraisal program, then this time, he truly became a sensation. On the morning of the day after the press conference, almost everyone who reads newspapers and news knows the name "Zhuang Rui."