No toques a mi hombre

Capítulo 21

45. Qin Mausoleum

Hearing my explanation, Dunzi looked troubled and muttered, "Hehe, I only said we needed to study it carefully first, hoping to find some relevant clues to help us understand the method of immortality recorded in this mysterious scripture. I didn't say we had to go into the First Emperor's tomb. Besides, the Qin Mausoleum is a key national cultural relic protection unit, and according to records, it has many traps and is extremely dangerous. I don't want to take everyone in recklessly until the very last moment." I replied with a smile.

Now, we must rely on this half of the 'Mysterious Scripture of Burial Grounds' and search for relevant clues in historical records about Qin Shi Huang to help us understand the method for obtaining immortality and entering the world of eternal life recorded in the upper volume of the scripture, although, given the current situation, this possibility seems extremely slim. However, we know that the two tomb raiders only possessed this half of the scripture, yet they eventually discovered the specific method for entering the world of eternal life through their extensive research and investigation, and ultimately escaped reincarnation to achieve immortality. Knowing this, we remain confident in completely unraveling the mystery of how to enter the world of eternal life as described in the scripture.

Next, we split up and began searching for any relevant clues. I first contacted my old classmate Hua Yang, asking him many questions about Qin history and having him send me a lot of related materials. Jenny and A Bao went to various bookstores and libraries in Xi'an, buying and borrowing many relevant books for everyone to consult. Dunzi went to some of his local friends to learn about the Qin Mausoleum at Mount Li.

Four or five days later, we realized that finding clues about the world of immortality described in the 'Mysterious Classic of Burial Grounds' from these vast historical records was like finding a needle in a haystack. The era of those two tomb raiders wasn't too far removed from the Qin Dynasty, so many clues could still be found. However, more than two thousand years have passed since then, and most relevant clues have long since vanished. Therefore, if we want to make a breakthrough today, it will likely require far more effort and time than those two tomb raiders did back then. It seemed that continuing this method would exhaust our entire lives, making it unfeasible.

Two more days passed, and everyone was still making no progress, their spirits low. At this point, Dunzi couldn't hold back any longer and stood up, saying, "Don't even mention that we've searched for so long and haven't found anything useful. Even if we did find something, we don't know if the records in historical books are reliable. If we keep researching like this, I'll practically become a Qin history expert myself!" Hearing Dunzi's words, everyone fell silent. Because at this moment, everyone knew that what Dunzi said was indeed the truth.

"It seems we have no choice but to take this last path," I said softly, head bowed, after hearing Dunzi's words. Jenny and the others exclaimed almost simultaneously, "What? You mean we have to enter the First Emperor's tomb?" I looked up, my gaze heavy, and replied, "Yes, if we want to find the world of eternal life recorded in the Xuanjing, this is the only way now. We need to go into the underground palace of the First Emperor's tomb and find the second half of the Xuanjing. We can also check whether the First Emperor, the first emperor of all time, truly did not die as the silk scroll says, but rather transcended the mortal realm and entered the world of eternal life." Hearing my decision, Jenny stood up and said, "Okay, since you've decided, let's do as you say." Just then, Abao came over, patted my shoulder, and nodded, indicating his agreement with Jenny. Now only Dunzi remained silent. The three of us turned our gazes to Dunzi simultaneously.

When Dunzi first heard that we were really going to enter Qin Shi Huang's tomb, he probably considered the numerous records in historical texts about the traps and obstacles within the tomb, knowing that this journey would be fraught with danger, and thus looked very hesitant. Seeing that Dunzi was indeed burdened by his worries, I patted him on the shoulder and said, "Dunzi, since you don't want to go, then don't come with us this time. Stay here and wait for our news." But when Dunzi heard this, he seemed very unwilling to stay alone in the hotel, and a fierce internal struggle ensued. After about five or six minutes, he seemed to have made a great decision, looked at me, and said, "Damn it, this time I'm going to risk my life! I'd rather die than be a deserter! I'm going to Qin Shi Huang's tomb with you!" Seeing that Dunzi had finally expressed his opinion, I was very happy. Having fought side-by-side so many times, and weathered so many life-or-death situations together, the four of us have long since developed a deep trust and reliance on each other, forming an inseparable unit. The absence of any one of us would make us feel insecure and greatly reduce the fighting power of our little group. But now, the four of us are finally of one mind again, and that is more important than anything else.

Considering that the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor at Mount Li is a key national cultural relic site and a precious treasure for the people of China and even the world, I laid down three rules to avoid causing unnecessary damage to the artifacts inside. Looking at Dunzi, I said, "First, do not take any items from the mausoleum that are unrelated to the clues in the Xuanjing (mysterious scriptures), and keep all the funerary objects in the underground palace intact. Second, do not use explosives, bullets, or other destructive weapons to prevent damage to the structure of the underground palace. Third, keep the matter of entering the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace a complete secret; even after you come out, you must not reveal the entrance or any other information to anyone." After saying this, I asked Dunzi, "You can't take any of the precious funerary objects inside the underground palace, okay? Can you do that?" Dunzi hesitated slightly after hearing my explanation, then said, "Just think of it as a sightseeing trip, to broaden my horizons. Okay! I can do it."

After finalizing this plan, we began preliminary preparations for entering the underground palace of Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum. This was much easier than searching historical records for clues about the immortal world described in esoteric texts. There are numerous records and research materials about Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum from ancient times to the present. Furthermore, according to information Dunzi gathered from local friends, many clues about the mausoleum's structure circulated among the people of Xi'an, Xianyang, and Lintong. Organizing, summarizing, and analyzing these relevant clues would greatly help us devise a method to enter the underground palace. Therefore, in the following days, we readjusted our search and research direction, shifting our focus from finding clues about the immortal world in historical records to studying information related to the structure of the Qin Mausoleum.

We consulted various historical records, classic texts, and folk tales, and even visited the Terracotta Army Museum to consult with Mr. Yang Zhifa, the original discoverer of the Terracotta Army, about the Qin Mausoleum's terracotta pits. After organizing and summarizing our findings, we discovered that the First Emperor's mausoleum is indeed extraordinary. Whether in terms of its scale or its anti-theft measures, it is unprecedented and unparalleled. The *Records of the Grand Historian* contains a very detailed account of the First Emperor's mausoleum.

The *Records of the Grand Historian: Annals of Qin Shi Huang* states, "After conquering the world, he commissioned the construction of the Lishan Tomb. Over 700,000 laborers were sent from across the land to work on it. They dug three underground rivers, poured molten copper to form the tomb's base, and buried a vast amount of treasures. To prevent looting, they had artisans create hidden crossbows that would fire at anyone who approached. Mercury was used to represent the rivers, lakes, and seas, with mechanisms to circulate it. The tomb's ceiling depicted the heavens, and the floor represented the earth. Candles were made from mermaid oil, which were said to burn for a very long time." This means that this massive project involved 700,000 artisans who dug three underground rivers, poured molten copper to form the tomb's base, and buried a large amount of treasures. To prevent future looting, they also commissioned artisans to create hidden crossbows that would fire at anyone who approached. Mercury was used to represent the rivers, lakes, and seas, with mechanisms to circulate it. The tomb's ceiling depicted the celestial map, and the floor represented mountains and rivers. Candles were made from the oil of mermaids caught in the East Sea, which were said to burn for a very long time. Moreover, fearing that the craftsmen who participated in the construction of the mausoleum would reveal the secrets of the underground palace, the Records of the Grand Historian, Annals of Qin Shi Huang, states that "all the craftsmen who were hidden were imprisoned and never emerged again."

The book states that this massive project employed 700,000 artisans, took 38 years to complete, and consumed one-third of the nation's tax revenue. It represented the pinnacle of human architectural achievement 2,000 years ago. Therefore, it is clear that entering the tomb, navigating various traps and obstacles, and successfully accessing the underground palace was no easy feat.

Therefore, digging a tunnel from the perimeter to enter the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace might not be the best approach. Historical records indicate that the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace "penetrates three springs," meaning it's located very deep underground, and digging a tunnel would require considerable effort. More importantly, the Qin Mausoleum's interior was reinforced with molten copper for the outer coffin, making it difficult to break through the walls and enter the underground palace. Therefore, after analyzing these clues, we believe the most feasible way to enter the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace is to first find the entrance. However, finding the hidden entrance to the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace within a vast area spanning several kilometers is no easy task.

46. Powerful External Aid

After reviewing all the information about the Qin Mausoleum, we concluded that the best way to enter the underground palace was to first find the entrance and then gradually proceed from there. However, the sheer size of the Qin Mausoleum and the numerous underground structures are well-known; finding even one of the entrances would be incredibly difficult. I thought that if we were to do it this way, the four of us alone would definitely not be able to find the entrance. After much thought, I remembered the only person who could help us find the entrance to the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace: my teacher, Professor Cheng Zhongyi. But as a nationally renowned archaeologist and a staunch protector of cultural relics and historical sites, would he strongly support our unauthorized entry into the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace? I had absolutely no idea, so I decided to give it a try and called my old classmate Hua Yang to sound out Professor Cheng's attitude.

As soon as I mentioned my desire to enter the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace, I heard Hua Yang's surprised voice. He said, "What? You're really getting more and more outrageous! Last time, I don't know where you found those precious 'inscribed stone tablets,' and now you want to go to the First Emperor's mausoleum? You really know how to cause trouble. Let me tell you clearly, you'd better give up on this idea right now. Don't mention this to Professor Cheng, otherwise, given his temper, he might not even acknowledge you as his student." I knew Hua Yang wasn't lying to me. He had followed the professor for so many years and knew his temperament and preferences very well. He was just saying this to prevent me from running into trouble. Seeing that my hope of getting some help from Professor Cheng had vanished, I was in a dilemma again. What should I do? How could I find someone who knew how to locate the entrance to the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace to help me?

Meanwhile, preparations for entering the Qin Mausoleum were proceeding at a feverish pace with Jenny, Dunzi, and Abao. Besides the equipment and gear we had brought with us, Jenny and her team purchased new gear from professional outdoor adventure shops in Xi'an. Even more excitingly, Abao, leveraging his familiarity with weapon construction and years of mercenary experience, managed to modify two lightweight flamethrowers using gas stoves and other camping equipment, along with spare parts from a hardware store. Dunzi was overjoyed, constantly fiddling with the flamethrowers, saying that with them, he was no longer afraid of swarms of venomous insects like red-haired spiders and corpse bees. He even claimed that the Corpse Fiend from two years ago would be roasted to a crisp. Seeing Jenny and her team's preparations becoming increasingly thorough, I, on the other hand, was growing increasingly anxious as I still hadn't found a suitable person to guide us to the entrance of the mausoleum's underground palace.

That day, I was lying in bed pondering who, besides Professor Cheng, could help us find the entrance to the Qin Mausoleum. Just then, Dunzi and the others returned from shopping. Seeing that it was getting late, they dragged me to the street to have dinner. As we walked, we came to a donkey meat shop at the street corner. Dunzi said, "We haven't had braised donkey meat for days, let's try it again today." Just as he mentioned braised donkey meat, I suddenly thought of someone—that's right, Tang Zhengyang. I thought his family had been doing tomb raiding since their ancestors' time. By his time, he had accumulated a lot of experience in searching for dragon veins and exploring tombs, perhaps he could be of help to us. Thinking of this, I was overjoyed. So I said to Dunzi and the others, "Dunzi, you guys go in and order first, I'll go get someone." With that, I ran alone towards Tang Zhengyang's "Guyunxuan" antique shop at the end of the street.

When I arrived at the entrance of "Gu Yun Xuan," I saw Tang Zhengyang preparing to close the shop. He seemed surprised to see me and asked in surprise, "Oh dear, I haven't seen you for days! Where is everyone else? Come, come, let's come in and have a cup of tea." He then tried to pull me into the shop. I waved my hand and said, "Brother Zhengyang, I have something I need your help with again. Don't close the shop yet; let's go to our usual spot for dinner and talk in detail. The others are still waiting for us." Tang Zhengyang replied, "No problem at all. If there's anything I, Tang Zhengyang, can do to help, just let me know." He then quickly closed the shop and we walked together to the famous donkey meat restaurant at the street corner.

Dunzi and the others, who were already seated by the window, saw Tang Zhengyang and me enter the restaurant and invited us to sit down. They then instructed the waiter to serve the food. Soon, the waiter brought over plates of hot and cold dishes, along with drinks. While enjoying the delicious food and drinks, I said softly, "Brother Zhengyang, you mentioned before that your family has been in the business of finding auspicious burial sites since your ancestors?" "That's right, it started with my grandfather's generation, and I'm the third generation," Tang Zhengyang said with a smile, picking up a piece of donkey stomach. "So, Brother Zhengyang's skills in finding auspicious burial sites must be exceptional," Dunzi said, pouring Tang Zhengyang a full glass of Taibai wine. Tang Zhengyang laughed and replied, "Oh, it's alright, not bad. Hey, what's wrong with you guys today? Why are you being so long-winded? Just say what's on your mind." I poured him another glass of wine and then said, "If I asked you to help find the entrance to the First Emperor's Mausoleum at Mount Li right now, are you confident you could find it?" As soon as I finished speaking, Tang Zhengyang seemed to have been pricked by a needle, and he almost jumped up, looking at us with utter terror in his eyes. I knew he had misunderstood, so I quickly explained, "Oh, Brother Zhengyang, please don't misunderstand. We're not bad people, much less members of those antiquities smuggling rings. We're asking you to help us find the entrance to the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace because we want to enter and search for something to solve a world-shaking mystery. Since the time isn't right yet, please forgive me for not being able to tell you the specifics of this mystery. But I can assure you it's absolutely not a bad thing, and I can guarantee that once we enter the mausoleum's underground palace, we won't randomly take any of the treasures or damage a single brick or tile."

47. Map of the Qin Mausoleum Site

After hearing my explanation, Tang Zhengyang finally felt a little relieved. He took a sip of baijiu and said, "Brother, since you put it that way, I have no reason to doubt you anymore. I might as well tell you, you've really come to the right person to find the entrance to the Qin Mausoleum." Hearing Tang Zhengyang say this, we were even happier. Dunzi quickly asked, "Really? Then we really have to thank God for arranging for you and Si Nan to bump into each other here that day, hahaha." "So, you're very confident in finding the entrance to the Qin Mausoleum?" I asked, following Tang Zhengyang's words. Tang Zhengyang smiled and replied, "Yes, I'd say we're quite confident." He looked around, and seeing no one else nearby, whispered, "Actually, my grandfather once searched for the entrance to the First Emperor's mausoleum. After searching the entire 56.25 square kilometer area of the Lishan First Emperor's Mausoleum, he finally narrowed it down to one or two square kilometers. Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away from illness, so the exact location of the entrance was never found. But I think with a little more time, finding it shouldn't be too difficult." Hearing Tang Zhengyang's words, we felt even more as if he had been sent by heaven to help us, and a flame of hope ignited in our hearts, as if we had already discovered the entrance to the mausoleum. Just as we were overjoyed, Tang Zhengyang quietly added, "Besides that, my grandfather also left behind a map of the First Emperor's mausoleum area."

"A map of the mausoleum's layout?" I asked hurriedly after hearing Tang Zhengyang's explanation. "You mean you have a map of the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum's layout? How is that possible?" Dunzi, who didn't know what a map of the mausoleum's layout was, asked, "What is a map of the mausoleum's layout?" "A map of the mausoleum's layout is a plan of the imperial mausoleum's structure. Therefore, it is one of the most valuable materials for studying the structure of mausoleums and ancient burial systems. If it really is a map of the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum's layout, then it is priceless." After explaining to Dunzi, I turned my gaze to Tang Zhengyang and asked doubtfully, "But according to historical records, especially the relevant records in the *Records of the Grand Historian*, in order to prevent the secrets of the mausoleum's underground palace from being revealed, after the mausoleum was completed, Qin soldiers imprisoned all the craftsmen who participated in the design and construction of the Qin Mausoleum and buried them alive with the emperor. None of them survived. So how could a map of the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum's underground palace have survived?" After saying this, I looked at Tang Zhengyang again, hoping he could answer my question.

Seeing that we were all staring at him, waiting for his answer, Tang Zhengyang said softly, “I don’t know the specifics, but I heard my grandfather mention it. He found this map in a Qin Dynasty official tomb. At the time, he thought it was just an ordinary silk painting and took it out of the tomb. But when he got home and looked at it with a magnifying glass, he found the six characters ‘Liyuan Zhaoyu Zhi Tu’ (Map of the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor) on it. Although the ink was very faint, it was still legible. At first, my grandfather didn’t know what Liyuan was. Later, after researching, he learned that the mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor was formerly called Liyuan. When he learned this, my grandfather also thought it might be a fake, deliberately forged. But later, to verify the authenticity of the map, my grandfather personally took it to the vicinity of Mount Li and used the directions marked on the map to find the exact location of the Qin Mausoleum’s underground palace and its entrance. After several months, he made great discoveries. He quickly narrowed down the exact location of the Qin Mausoleum’s underground palace to an area of one or two square kilometers, and further confirmed the authenticity of the map.”

After his explanation, our curiosity about the mysterious Qin Mausoleum map only grew stronger. We were eager to see this rare map as soon as possible. Tang Zhengyang seemed to sense our thoughts as well. Before we could speak, he smiled and said, "It's getting late, everyone should go back and rest. Tomorrow I'll bring the map to your hotel, and we can study it together." He then glanced at the surrounding area and lowered his voice, saying, "Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum is full of traps and dangers. The underground structure is complex, with numerous underground passages in the burial pits. If you're really determined to go in, you'll definitely need to spend some time studying the relevant information about the Qin Mausoleum." I nodded, grasped Tang Zhengyang's hand, and said, "Brother Zhengyang, thank you so much this time! You've really helped us a lot!" We toasted each other with a few cups of Taibai wine, chatted for a while, and were all quite tipsy. Then we paid the bill and went back to rest.

Around nine o'clock the next morning, Tang Zhengyang knocked on the door of my and Dunzi's room. When Dunzi opened the door and saw Tang Zhengyang, he quickly invited him in and eagerly asked, "Brother Zhengyang, did you bring the map?" "Of course I brought it! How could I forget something so important?" He reached inside his coat and pulled a small wooden box, about the size of a pencil case, from the inner pocket. I knew the map of Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum that Tang Zhengyang mentioned should be in this box. So I asked Dunzi to go to the two rooms next door and call Jenny and Abao over. Once the four of us were all there, Tang Zhengyang carefully opened the small wooden box. Inside was a piece of yellow silk cloth. Tang Zhengyang then lifted the four edges of the cloth, revealing a piece of grayish-brown cotton cloth about half the size of a handkerchief, sealed with transparent plastic, indicating it was being carefully protected. Because it is an artifact from the Qin Dynasty, it is at least two thousand years old. Therefore, the patterns and characters on this silk painting have begun to fade, but they can still be discerned upon close inspection. Although the edges of this cotton silk are torn and there are several holes in the middle, it is still relatively intact.

Upon closer inspection, we saw a roughly rectangular "回" (hui) shaped pattern drawn on the small piece of silk, about the size of a handkerchief, oriented north-south. The pattern was painted with cinnabar lacquer, and accompanied by explanatory text in black ink. It seemed to depict the surface of the Qin Mausoleum and the underground palace in great detail. Seeing this, we were truly excited; we couldn't believe it wasn't a stroke of luck.

Next, we took magnifying glasses and carefully examined every inch of the silk painting, trying our best to memorize every detail. Any parts we didn't understand were resolved through discussion or by consulting relevant materials. For the rest of the day, the five of us stayed tirelessly in our hotel room, meticulously studying the map of the Qin Mausoleum, even forgetting to eat. It wasn't until 9:30 PM that I glanced up and saw that it was already quite dark outside, realizing that another day had passed without my noticing.

The next day, as planned, we drove with Tang Zhengyang to the northern foot of Mount Li, about five kilometers east of Lintong County. We hoped to combine the clues from the map we studied yesterday with a site visit to the Qin Mausoleum to gain a more direct understanding of the First Emperor's tomb. It's about 30 kilometers east of Xi'an, so driving there was very convenient. Of course, we rented a car in Xi'an. Upon arriving at the foot of Mount Li, we saw this first mausoleum of all time for the first time. It is nestled against Mount Li to the south, bordered by the Wei River to the north, and is said to have continuously flowing hot springs on its east and west sides, thus forming a three-sided water-surrounded landscape. Such a geomantically auspicious location truly deserves to be a good place to build an imperial mausoleum.

After getting off the car and entering the mausoleum, we passed the sacrificial hall and could see the high, raised earthen mound in the main mausoleum area from afar. Although it wasn't particularly tall, it still exuded a majestic aura. The Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum complex is unprecedented in its scale, containing not only various sacrificial halls and sleeping quarters above ground, but also numerous underground structures, including various burial pits that have been discovered or excavated, such as pits for terracotta warriors and horses, pits for stone armor, pits for rare birds and animals, and pits for bronze chariots and horses. The mausoleum area also contains many ancient trees over a thousand years old, as well as stone figures and animals scattered among the nearby weeds. Today, because the Qin Mausoleum has become a major tourist attraction in Shaanxi Province, it receives a large number of visitors.

Previously, Tang Zhengyang's grandfather had already conducted extensive surveys of the Qin Mausoleum area, pinpointing the exact location of the underground palace and its entrance within a certain area. This saved us from having to start a new patrol within the vast Qin Mausoleum area.

Led by Tang Zhengyang, we avoided the crowds of tourists and gradually approached the area of the burial mound via a relatively secluded path. Upon arriving at the pre-determined area—the one Tang Zhengyang's grandfather had previously surveyed and identified—we carefully looked around to ensure there were no other tourists. Only then did Abao take out a military compass, locator, and deflector from his backpack and meticulously survey the area, referring to the directions marked on the map.

48. Entering the Mausoleum Area

Around 3:30 PM, we had roughly determined the location of the Qin Mausoleum and its corresponding location on the map, further confirming the map's authenticity. To avoid attracting attention, we didn't dare linger in the mausoleum area. Before 4 PM, we left the First Emperor's Mausoleum and drove back to Xi'an. Back in our hotel room, Jenny compiled the data she had recorded during the survey into a booklet for everyone's reference. Combining all the clues and data, the tip of the iceberg regarding the entrance to the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace was beginning to emerge. All indications suggested that the entrance was likely located within an artificial waterway about one kilometer from the large earthen mound inside the mausoleum. Upon receiving this information, the five of us were naturally quite excited for a while.

After several days of exploration, the surface survey of the Qin Mausoleum is nearly complete. Our next step is to quickly prepare the necessary excavation and climbing tools for entering the underground palace, based on the clues we have, and to develop a detailed and comprehensive entry plan. This plan must not only compare and select the best methods for entering the underground palace to minimize damage to the structures and burial objects, but also anticipate potential obstacles and traps within the palace, preparing tools and methods to overcome them in advance. Furthermore, we must choose an appropriate time and method to avoid crowds, ensuring our operation proceeds smoothly without being detected. These problems may seem simple, but they actually present many technical challenges. To date, even after extensive discussions among many renowned archaeologists, a feasible plan for further excavation of the Qin Mausoleum has not been developed. No one dares to enter without a truly viable solution. But to unravel the mystery of that ancient legend of immortality, we, a few greenhorns, were determined to challenge those knowledgeable and experienced professors of history and archaeology. We wanted to sneak into the tomb's underground palace before them.

So, over the next few days, we didn't rush into the mausoleum. Instead, we stayed at the hotel, carefully reviewing all the information and clues we had gathered, and meticulously discussing and developing a detailed action plan. Meanwhile, Dunzi and Abao were responsible for equipping our five-person "Qin Mausoleum Underground Palace Exploration Team" with all the necessary tools and gear. The most challenging issue was preventing mercury poisoning. According to numerous historical records and modern scientific testing, the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum indeed contained mercury levels many times higher than normal. This meant that to safely enter the underground palace, we first needed to find a way to effectively address this problem. However, as the saying goes, three heads are better than one, and after our discussion, we actually came up with a solution. Two days later, Dunzi, relying on his old connections in the local military, managed to procure five sets of hazmat suits. Because these chemical protective suits are generally used by the military in drills to defend against biological and chemical attacks, and are usually just stored in military warehouses, Dunzi had the opportunity to temporarily borrow this military supply. However, these chemical protective suits cannot be compressed when stored, as they are quite bulky. Five sets of these suits together take up a considerable amount of space. Although some of the necessary equipment is ready, how to pack this large batch of equipment into the Qin Mausoleum without arousing suspicion has become a rather tricky problem. Everyone thought of various methods, and finally unanimously agreed to break it down into smaller pieces.

So, once everything was ready, we set off. First, we packed some small pieces of equipment into our backpacks and then entered the mausoleum area as tourists. Once inside, we went to the relatively secluded area we'd visited before, found a hidden spot to bury our gear, and then calmly left. Because we were worried about being recognized by the mausoleum staff, we didn't go in one go, but waited two or three days before returning with a second batch of equipment. In total, we went three times to store all our equipment and tools within the mausoleum area.

Afterwards, we chose a sunny day and visited the First Emperor's Mausoleum again. Because we were worried that leaving our car in the public parking lot outside the mausoleum area for too long would attract attention, we didn't drive this time. Instead, we took a bus directly from Xi'an to the Qin Mausoleum and entered the area as ordinary tourists. This time, we only carried one hazmat suit in each of our backpacks, so the backpacks weren't too bulging, and we didn't need to worry about being seen and arousing suspicion.

Since we arrived at the mausoleum area quite early, we first followed the other tourists to visit the various exhibition halls and galleries. Around three or four in the afternoon, we discreetly returned to the relatively secluded spot where we had previously stored our equipment. We sat down in a patch of waist-high bushes, hiding ourselves beneath the grass. We ate the snacks we had brought to pass the time. After three or four hours, it finally got completely dark. We figured the tourists and staff had all left by then, so we quietly emerged from the bushes and dug out the buried equipment. After tidying up and resting, we walked in the moonlight towards the riverbed created during the construction of the mausoleum, which had been dug by hand.

The dense wild grass within the mausoleum area made it difficult for us to move quickly. We trudged through the open fields, our feet sinking into the deep grass. The occasional calls of unidentified wild birds and animals drifted from afar, making the quiet night in the mausoleum area seem even more ethereal. Perhaps influenced by the awe-inspiring presence of Qin Shi Huang, the atmosphere around us became somewhat tense. After walking a few steps with the group, Dunzi, perhaps startled by the calls of the birds and animals, suddenly ran from the back of the group to the middle. Thus, the group was arranged with Tang Zhengyang leading the way, Dunzi close behind, Jenny in the middle, me at the back, and Abao bringing up the rear.

49. Lynx

After walking for a while, we saw several yellowish-green dots standing motionless in the dark grass in the distance. To ease the tension, I started talking to everyone about catching fireflies and making firefly lanterns when I was a child in the countryside. I pointed to the yellowish-green dots in the grass and said with a smile, "I only knew that the Qin Mausoleum was huge, and that the terracotta warriors were larger than the usual funerary figures. I didn't expect the fireflies here to be so big, like peach pits." As soon as I finished speaking, I heard Tang Zhengyang in front of me reply, "What fireflies? Look closely, those dots are all appearing in pairs." After hearing Tang Zhengyang's words, I looked at the grass again and found that it was indeed as Tang Zhengyang had said. Just as I was about to ask, Tang Zhengyang said, "These are lynx eyes. Lynxes resemble cats, but are much larger, slightly smaller than lions, tigers, leopards, and other large predators, thus belonging to the medium-sized predator category. They have relatively long limbs, a very short tail, and noticeable tufts of hair on the tips of their ears. They rest in burrows under the shade of trees during the day and only come out to hunt at night. Moreover, there's a local saying that they, like other cats, can communicate with spirits and are the guardians of the First Emperor's tomb. If they discover anyone trying to plunder the Qin tomb, they will immediately attack. So everyone should stay close, not let the distance grow, and remain highly vigilant at all times."

Tang Zhengyang's words reminded me that, to my knowledge, many countries around the world believe that cats possess psychic abilities. Their keen eyesight can detect objects invisible to humans, such as ghosts. Furthermore, archaeologists have unearthed numerous cat sculptures and statues in the pyramids of ancient Egyptian pharaohs. According to relevant materials, in the ancient Egyptians' belief, cats were incarnations of gods because their eyes could glow in the dark. Therefore, they believed that cat eyes could store sunlight, which could dispel evil spirits, thus making cats sacred animals. Moreover, in ancient Egyptian mythology, the cat was the embodiment of the guardian goddess Bhashtec. Bhashtec's original form was the head of a wildcat and the body of a woman; over time, this image evolved into the domestic pet cat. Therefore, when Tang Zhengyang mentioned that the local people regarded the lynx—a "giant cat" that resembled a cat but was several times larger—as the guardian deity of Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum, I wasn't surprised.

We walked a while longer. I noticed more and more "fireflies" gathering in the distant grass, all crouching there, motionless, watching our movements. Could they really be guarding the cemetery, as the legends say? Although we hadn't yet begun digging the tomb entrance, these lynxes living in the cemetery area didn't seem inclined to attack us yet. However, with their sharp eyes and keen senses, they probably sensed our ill intentions and were thus gathering around us, watching our every move. Thinking this, I couldn't help but worry about our next task—digging the tomb entrance. Because of border control, the batch of firearms and ammunition Ah Bao had prepared couldn't be smuggled into the inland area. Furthermore, due to the local government's environmental protection measures in recent years, we hadn't been able to borrow any weapons from local acquaintances. Among the weapons we carried... Aside from some knives and a few spare small plastic explosives, we only had two small flamethrowers that Ah Bao had modified. However, these modified flamethrowers could only be used a limited number of times. We planned to use them only in case of an emergency after entering the underground palace. In that situation, being suddenly attacked by such a large group of lynxes would be extremely dangerous.

Just as I was getting worried, Tang Zhengyang, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped, staring intently into the distance, motionless. Seeing his sudden unusual behavior, we also stopped immediately. After a while, I quietly asked, "Zhengyang, what's wrong? Why did you stop?" Hearing my question, he kept his eyes fixed on the distance, without turning his head, and simply replied softly, "I've noticed these lynxes are behaving strangely today. Normally, they should be scattering and hunting in the grass in this open field at this time. But today, they haven't been hunting as usual; instead, they've been gathering together and constantly looking in our direction. I don't know what's going on."

Tang Zhengyang's words instantly intensified the already tense atmosphere within the group. A-Bao instinctively drew the cold steel tactical dagger strapped to his waist, ready to defend himself against any potential attack from the pack. Under these circumstances, we dared not make a sound and remained motionless. After about six or seven minutes, seeing that the lynx herd in the distance was merely observing us without any intention of attacking, we finally relaxed and continued on our way.

After walking for about the time it takes to smoke a cigarette, we finally arrived at our destination: the river channel that had been artificially excavated and constructed during the construction of the Qin Mausoleum. This river channel, not particularly wide, meandered along the west side of the Qin Mausoleum, extending to the edge of the artificial dam to the southwest. This dam is what people commonly refer to as the Wuling Ruins. It was built using excavated soil during the construction of the mausoleum's underground palace, and is over a thousand meters long, typically about forty meters wide, reaching a maximum width of over seventy meters. Its remaining height is between two and eight meters. Based on our further investigation following the findings of Tang Zhengyang's grandfather, we have determined that the entrance to the tomb passage leading to the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace is very likely located beneath this artificial river channel, near the dam. Its location on the west side of the mausoleum aligns with the prevailing custom of respecting the west and right at that time.

Upon arriving, Tang Zhengyang struggled to climb the nearby earthen embankment and looked around. Wanting to learn some tricks of geomancy, I followed suit and climbed to the top, standing beside him, wanting to ask him what he had seen. But when I stood on the embankment and looked to the side, I was immediately startled. The grass around us was teeming with the glowing yellowish-green eyes of lynxes. I hadn't realized so many lynxes had gathered around us before, but now, standing on the high embankment, with a clear view of the surrounding area, I could see the lynx herd around us clearly.

Tang Zhengyang, having also witnessed the scene, said softly, "Could what the elders said be true? For thousands of years, have these lynxes truly been guarding this sacred, ancient mausoleum? If so, I fear that as soon as we begin excavating the tomb entrance, we'll be met with a collective attack from these lynxes." At this moment, Jenny, who had somehow climbed onto the earthen embankment, added, "This is somewhat unexpected. We never anticipated such a swarm of lynxes while excavating the tomb entrance. Therefore, our pre-existing plan didn't include this aspect, nor did we devise effective measures to deal with such an unforeseen event." Now, should they dig or not? Everyone hesitated. Before devising effective countermeasures, risking excavation was not a wise move.

Just as everyone was deep in thought, hoping to come up with a solution, we suddenly heard Ah Bao call out softly to us from below the dam. He said, "It seems like our wolf-eye flashlights attracted these 'big cats' here." Hearing this, we quickly asked him what had happened. So he climbed up the earthen dam, and naturally, Dunzi followed. After Ah Bao settled down beside us, he patted the dirt off his hands, then waved the wolf-eye tactical cold light flashlight in his hand and said with a smile, "These lynxes probably saw the light from our wolf-eye flashlight and thought some kind of predator had appeared, so they became wary and acted unusually." He paused slightly, then continued, "Just now, I accidentally shone the wolf-eye flashlight in their direction a few times, and I noticed they immediately reacted accordingly, all taking a few steps back. That's how I deduced that they might have been affected by the flashlight's light." After hearing his explanation, Dunzi couldn't wait to shine the wolf-eye flashlight into a patch of grass. Sure enough, the three or four lynxes inside saw the light, immediately turned around, took a few steps back, and only stopped when they looked back and saw that there was no further movement. It turned out to be a false alarm, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. I touched my forehead and found it was covered in sweat, unsure whether it was from the heat or the cold sweat from the fright. But a nagging feeling lingered, though I couldn't quite put my finger on it.

Fifty-seven years later, Lü Buwei's iron hoe

Then, Tang Zhengyang pointed to the terrain and said, “Do you see this? In this wilderness, the earthen dam we’re standing on stretches east to west, like a dragon’s spine rising from this land. And look at that artificial river ahead, winding its way from the north, also like a swimming dragon, reaching the edge of the dam and meeting it. These two giant dragons, one horizontal and one vertical, meet here, forming what feng shui calls the ‘two dragons vying for a pearl.’ So, if they were to build the entrance to the imperial mausoleum in this area, I think they would definitely build the entrance on the pearl’s position.” As he spoke, he pointed to the point where the river met the dam and said, “If I’m not mistaken, the entrance should be there.”

After listening to Tang Zhengyang's explanation, I truly admired his skill in finding auspicious burial sites and found his ancestral Feng Shui theories to be incredibly profound, which further fueled my desire to learn more. Tang Zhengyang seemed to sense my thoughts and smiled, saying, "This knowledge can't be explained in just a few words. If you're interested, brother, I'll explain it to you properly after we finish this business." Hearing that he was willing to teach me this skill, I was naturally very happy. When I inadvertently looked up at the countless stars in the sky, I suddenly remembered my ability to analyze celestial phenomena. So, to corroborate Tang Zhengyang's conclusions about the direction of the earth's veins using Feng Shui theory, I stood on the earthen dam, looked up at the starry sky, and carefully observed the celestial phenomena according to what I had learned from the *Five Planets Divination*. Before long, I discovered a mysterious formation composed of eight bright stars in the southwestern sky. The Qin state historically evolved from a people with a bird totem, consistently using the black bird as their totem. Therefore, the black bird could also represent the underground palace of the Qin Mausoleum, and the "mysterious gate" of the black bird gate naturally refers to the entrance to the tomb passage leading to the Qin Mausoleum's underground palace. With this discovery, I looked down at the black bird gate in the sky and found it directly aligned with the location Tang Zhengyang had mentioned on the ground. This discovery boosted my confidence even further. When I shared this discovery with the others, they were naturally delighted. Seeing that considerable time had passed, we rushed down the earthen dam to the designated location, ready to begin work.

Upon arriving there, Tang Zhengyang pointed to the artificial river and said, "I think the entrance to this mausoleum should have been built underwater." "So it seems that when Qin Shi Huang built his mausoleum, he deliberately changed the course of the river by artificial means, not only to make the feng shui layout more auspicious, but also to use the water flow to hide the entrance to the mausoleum," Jenny said with a smile.

To further search for the tomb entrance, A-Bao took out a diving set from his equipment, put it on, and jumped into the water with a "plop," quickly diving underwater. The rest of us squatted quietly on the riverbank, waiting for A-Bao's underwater inspection results. After about seven or eight minutes, A-Bao surfaced. Dunzi and I quickly pulled him ashore, and then Dunzi eagerly asked him, "A-Bao, how did it go? Is there anything unusual underwater?" A-Bao took off his diving mask and replied, "The river has too much silt, the water is very murky, and the visibility is low. The light from this wolf-eye flashlight isn't enough; we can't see clearly underwater. We need to take down that special underwater lighting equipment to try it out." Hearing A-Bao say this, I looked at my watch and realized it was already past 11 p.m. If we continued like this, our plan would be ruined once it got light and the tourists came to visit the cemetery.

So I quickly put on a diving suit and, together with Ah Bao, took the high-powered underwater lighting equipment and dived back into the water.

After diving underwater, I saw that the water was indeed as Ah Bao had described—highly silty and turbid. Fortunately, we had turned on the imported underwater lighting equipment, so we could barely see objects about a meter or two ahead, but beyond the light's reach, it was still pitch black. Luckily, the river wasn't too deep, probably around ten meters, and after a short while, we reached the bottom. The riverbed was covered in soft, fine silt; our feet sank in quickly, making it very difficult to maintain our balance. After managing to stand, we shone the underwater light around but didn't find anything unusual.

Ah Bao turned to me, his eyes fixed on me. I knew he was asking what to do next. I thought for a moment, then let Ah Bao carry the underwater light alone, while I lay down and used my hands to shovel away the silt from the riverbed, hoping to find something beneath it. Even though I was being very careful, I still stirred up a cloud of muddy water, quickly obscuring my vision. So I had to stop temporarily, waiting for the silt to settle down before moving on to another section of the riverbed, stirring up another cloud of muddy water. This repeated countless times; I felt like a long time had passed, but I still found nothing. It was as if the entire riverbed nearby contained nothing but silt. Ah Bao glanced at the gauge on the small oxygen tank and realized it was almost empty. He quickly showed me the gauge and pointed towards the surface of the water, indicating that we should get Sleepy out of the water as soon as possible. Although somewhat disappointed and reluctant, seeing that the oxygen level on the gauge was indeed very low, I reluctantly followed Ah Bao to the surface. Before setting off, I casually swept my foot across a patch of riverbed that hadn't yet been explored. That one step made me feel as if I had touched something hard, completely different from the soft silt we had encountered before. However, since we were out of oxygen, we quickly floated to the surface and didn't immediately investigate what we had touched.

As soon as we surfaced, we heard Dunzi shout, "Why did you stay down there for so long? Did you find something?" I took off my diving mask, took a deep breath, and replied, "I don't know yet. I bumped into something when I came up, but I don't know what it is." As I was speaking, Abao had already replaced the two oxygen tanks with two new ones with the help of Jenny and Tang Zhengyang, so he and I dived back into the water.

51. Entrance to the Tomb Passage

Once on the riverbed, I looked at the spot where I had accidentally stepped, and there, nestled in the thick layer of silt, was a dark object. I asked Ah Bao to move the underwater lighting closer, and then I bent down to examine it. When I pulled the dark object out of the silt, I realized it was a metal device. Because it was covered in rust, I couldn't immediately tell if it was copper or iron. However, judging from its shape, it seemed to be some kind of ancient digging tool.

To further verify the identity of this item, Ah Bao and I surfaced first and handed the metal object to Jenny for examination. Jenny gently removed the dirt and sand from the surface of the object with a special cleaning solution, and then used a weak acid solution to remove some of the rust, finally restoring the metal object to its former appearance. It turned out to be an iron hoe. After careful examination with a magnifying glass, we found several small characters faintly engraved on its back. After identification, we knew it was the five characters "Seven Years of Lü Buwei". It seems that this object was very likely a tool manufactured under the supervision of Lü Buwei, the Prime Minister of Qin. Generally speaking, the most common tools manufactured by the state are various weapons, coins, and weighing instruments. For everyday production tools like iron hoes, the state usually does not manufacture them uniformly. But now such an object has been discovered. This indicates that the Qin government must have been preparing for a huge project. What project? Naturally, it was the construction of the Qin Mausoleum. Although we have not yet found the entrance to the tomb passage, this discovery at least gives us some confidence.

Next, to expand the search area, Tang Zhengyang and Dunzi, wearing diving equipment, followed me and Abao into the water. Upon reaching the riverbed, we began a thorough search of the area within a four-to-five-meter radius of where the iron shovel had been found. Our efforts paid off. With the combined efforts of all four, we finally discovered a huge rectangular stone buried beneath the sandy riverbed three meters from where the shovel had been found. The stone was enormous, estimated to be seven or eight square meters in area, and very thick. We dug down nearly thirty centimeters by hand, but still couldn't see its exact thickness. The stone was covered in mud, and we found no writing or patterns. Logically, such a large, square stone wouldn't appear out of nowhere in this artificial waterway. Therefore, after finding this boulder, everyone agreed that it must be the entrance to the tomb passage. After receiving this clue, we were filled with mixed emotions of joy and worry. The good news is that the entrance to the tomb has finally been found, but the bad news is that it will probably take some effort to remove the huge rock blocking the entrance.

Back on shore, everyone sat around the earthen dam, discussing how to move the boulder. Dunzi suggested using plastic explosives, but this suggestion was immediately rejected. Blowing the boulder open would not only alert the cemetery's security personnel, but also risk flooding the tomb and damaging the precious artifacts inside – an unforgivable mistake. They discussed it for most of the day without making any progress. To everyone's surprise, even before entering the tomb, the very first step – the entrance to the tomb passage – presented a challenge.

At this moment, the sky in the east was beginning to lighten. Dawn was fast approaching. After a whole night of fussing, we still hadn't reached the entrance to the tomb passage, and everyone was extremely anxious. Dunzi, perhaps unable to contain his impatience any longer, suddenly stood up, kicked the earthen dam beside him, and shouted, "I didn't expect that before we even got in, this thing would stump us all! Is fate preventing us from going in?" Just as he finished speaking, we suddenly heard a different sound coming from the artificial river. The sound grew louder and clearer. The five of us felt something was amiss, so we quickly went to the riverbank to investigate. What we saw shocked us. In the previously relatively slow-flowing river, two tall stone dams had slowly risen from beneath the surface, dividing the river into three sections. A huge whirlpool had appeared in the section blocked by the two dams. As the massive whirlpool continued to spin, the water level in this section of the river rapidly dropped, as if all the water in the river was quickly flowing into the whirlpool. After about four or five minutes, the water in this section had been completely drained, revealing a riverbed full of muddy silt. Meanwhile, the sections of the river blocked by stone dams on both sides remained full, maintaining the same water level as before.

Seeing all this, the five of us were utterly dumbfounded. We never imagined that such a hidden mechanism could be set up within this seemingly inconspicuous artificial waterway. From what we saw, it appears that when constructing the tomb passage of the First Emperor's mausoleum, the craftsmen deliberately built it beneath the artificial waterway to conceal the entrance. Furthermore, to facilitate the opening of the tomb entrance during the burial of the First Emperor and the placement of his coffin and burial goods into the underground palace, they designed and built a very ingenious drainage system. When it was necessary to drain the water and expose the tomb entrance, this system would first gradually raise two sections of stone dams, pre-placed beneath the riverbed, until they emerged above the water, dividing the river into three sections. Due to the obstruction of the stone dams, the water flow would cease. Then, a drain outlet beneath the middle section, blocked by the two stone dams, would be opened, and the water in that section would gradually be drained. In this way, once the water is drained, the entrance to the underwater tomb passage will be revealed. And since the water has been drained, there's no need to worry about river water flowing back into the tomb passage and damaging the items inside. After the coffin and burial goods are placed, the switch will be activated again, sinking the two stone dams into the riverbed, reconnecting the river and concealing the tomb entrance once more, preventing tomb robbers from entering. The activation switch for this device is located in a secret spot on the earthen dam beside the artificial river. It was just a lucky coincidence that Dunzi's kick accidentally activated the switch – truly a stroke of luck! We then dug up the spot where Dunzi had kicked the dam, revealing the head of a huge stone beast beneath the soil. Its eyes were wide open, its appearance terrifying, and its aura imposing.

After witnessing this scene, it took everyone a long time to recover. Besides their joy, they were all amazed by the ingenuity of the underwater device's design and construction technology. I checked my watch; it was already past four in the morning, and dawn would be breaking soon. So I quickly urged everyone to pack their equipment and tools and jump onto the riverbed. The huge rectangular boulder had already been automatically moved a short distance, revealing a rectangular passageway in the riverbed.

Because the entrance to the tomb had just been opened, a constant stream of putrid fumes accumulated within the passageway. A black mist formed above the rectangular entrance. We knew this gas was extremely poisonous. Although we had prepared gas masks, the activated carbon in them had a limited lifespan and couldn't be used indefinitely. The journey into the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum was uncertain; we knew what unexpected things we might discover. To conserve our limited resources and save our equipment for crucial moments, we simply stood at a distance, waiting for the toxic gas to dissipate before entering.

However, perhaps because Qin Shi Huang's mausoleum is so enormous, and its underground palace is much larger than that of ordinary imperial tombs, the amount of these putrid gases is particularly high, seemingly continuous and endless. The five of us suppressed our anxiety and stood aside, waiting. About half an hour later, the eastern sky was completely white, and dawn was approaching. Only then did we see the black mist at the entrance to the tomb passage gradually dissipating. It was now daytime, and if the security personnel from the mausoleum patrolled over, our plan would likely be ruined. In this critical moment, I had everyone take out their gas masks, preparing to put them on before entering the tomb passage.

Just then, Tang Zhengyang pulled a small, ordinary medicine bottle from his pocket, opened the cap, and poured out several small, flesh-colored pills. He distributed one to each of us, saying, "These are 'Red Dew Pills' made with a secret family recipe. My grandfather said they can be used to neutralize the accumulated corpse poison in the ancient tomb. But since I've never tried them before, I can't guarantee their effectiveness. Now it seems the poisonous gas has weakened considerably, so perhaps this is a good opportunity to test their potency and effects." He swallowed a pill and said, "I'll go down first. If there are no problems, I'll call you. You should all swallow these pills like me and come down quickly." Without waiting for our response, he walked alone towards the entrance of the tomb passage. Watching his departing figure, I felt a pang of worry for him.

When he arrived at the entrance, he first crouched down, used his wolf-eye hydroelectric device to check the passageway, then turned to the side, raised his right hand and gave us an "OK" sign to indicate that everything was normal. He then turned back and slowly entered the tomb passage, disappearing from everyone's sight. Meanwhile, we prepared ourselves; if we didn't hear Tang Zhengyang's voice after a while, we were ready to immediately put on our gas masks and go down to rescue him. After about five or six minutes, we finally heard a muffled shout coming from inside the tomb passage. "Everyone come down, this medicine really works," Tang Zhengyang shouted.

52. First Entry into the Tomb Passage

Following Tang Zhengyang's instructions, I swallowed the "Red Dew Pill" I was holding, and then, together with Dunzi and Jenny, we quickly arrived at the entrance to the tomb passage. It was a rectangular entrance, about ten square meters in size, with wide, flat steps leading deep into the passage. Because the putrid, poisonous fumes from the corpses hadn't completely dissipated, a pungent, musty, and fishy stench immediately filled the air as soon as we approached. Fortunately, we had taken pills to counteract the poison beforehand, so while the fumes were indeed unpleasant, they weren't harmful. Perhaps seeing the beam of our wolf-eye flashlights, Tang Zhengyang, seeing us approaching, called out, "Come down quickly, it's getting late. I'll turn on the machine again to let the river water in and close the entrance again once you're down." Not quite understanding what he meant, we entered the tomb passage one by one along the steps.

The tomb passage was also very deep, consistent with the record in the *Records of the Grand Historian* that the Qin Mausoleum "penetrated through three springs." After climbing about one or two hundred steps, we saw Tang Zhengyang standing inside the tomb passage. He was holding a wolf-eye flashlight beside a ferocious-looking stone beast. This stone beast was over a meter tall, with glaring, angry eyes and bared teeth, carved very realistically, looking exactly like the stone beast we had just found under the mud layer of the earthen dam. Seeing that we had already descended into the tomb passage, which was about six meters wide and five meters high, Tang Zhengyang reached out and pinched the stone beast's eyelids, pulling them down forcefully to close the beast's eyes. With this action, we immediately felt the ground beneath our feet begin to tremble slightly, accompanied by a rumbling sound. After two or three minutes, the sound gradually disappeared, and the ground beneath our feet stopped trembling.

I walked over to Tang Zhengyang and asked, "What did you just say?" "I told you to come in quickly so I could reseal the entrance, let the water flow through the river again, and cover it up so no one else in the cemetery would discover it," Tang Zhengyang replied. "So you were closing the entrance just now?" I asked. "Then how did you discover this mechanism?" "Yes, how did you know the switch was the eye of this stone statue?" Jenny asked curiously. Tang Zhengyang smiled and said, "Based on my years of experience entering various tombs, stone beast decorations and burial goods in cemeteries usually appear in pairs. But now there's only this one strange stone beast. Its sudden placement here is very strange. And I see that this stone beast looks exactly like the one I found earlier, so I figured it must be the device that sets the entrance switch. So I carefully observed this stone beast and finally discovered the secret in its eyes."

After listening to Tang Zhengyang's explanation, we raised our flashlights and began to observe the tomb passage of the First Emperor's mausoleum. Although it should already be daylight outside, the passage we were in was still pitch black. We had thought that once the entrance to the tomb was sealed, the air inside would become scarce, but even after a long time, we could still breathe easily. Perhaps it was because this underground palace was so large that the oxygen wouldn't be quickly depleted. With the help of our wolf-eye flashlights, we could barely make out the surrounding environment at close range.

This tomb passage is probably the widest I've ever seen in my life. I estimate its width to be at least eight meters, and its height to be over five meters. The entire passage is constructed of massive stone blocks, each estimated to weigh over ten tons. Given the low productivity and lack of advanced machinery at the time, the manpower and resources required to build such a passage are truly immeasurable.

This passage may not yet be considered a formal tomb passage within the imperial mausoleum, and is therefore relatively crude. It is empty on all sides, without carvings, murals, or even ordinary burial goods. Only numerous neatly arranged small square holes were found on the ground on both sides of the passage. Because some river water flowed into the tomb passage along the stone steps when the entrance was first opened, and this water is now flowing down through these small square holes on the ground, I speculate that these holes are likely an ancient drainage system. This suggests that the craftsmen who designed and built the Qin Mausoleum specifically constructed a drainage channel at the very beginning of the tomb passage leading to the burial chamber to prevent river water from seeping into the tomb, thus ensuring that the items inside the tomb would not be damaged by the seeping river water.

After walking approximately two or three hundred meters along the tomb passage with drainage holes, we came upon another row of stone steps leading upwards. These steps were clearly more refined than the ones we had previously traversed. Besides the smoother, more even stone surfaces, the middle section of each step featured relief carvings of dragons, black birds, and exotic flowers and plants, all rendered with lifelike realism. Every few meters along the walls on either side of the steps was a bronze lamp. These lamps were all shaped like black birds, with every detail of their feathers meticulously rendered, showcasing exquisite craftsmanship.

The stone steps slowly ascended, like an endless ladder to heaven, disappearing into the darkness. After walking a distance along these steps, stone carvings began to appear on the walls on either side. Upon closer inspection, they all celebrated the great achievements of Qin Shi Huang, including unifying the six kingdoms, building the Great Wall, and touring the land. Each carving was magnificent and imposing. As I walked, I admired the carvings, deeply captivated by their exquisite and fluid details. Just then, I suddenly heard Ah Bao, who was at the front, shout, "Something's up!" This shout immediately put everyone on edge, and they instinctively moved aside, pressing themselves against the stone walls on either side of the tomb passage. Because everyone was now lower than Ah Bao, they couldn't see what he could see. After a while, Jenny asked Ah Bao, "Ah Bao, what's going on?" "Come over here and see, there seems to be something blocking our way." Ah Bao said without turning his head, his eyes fixed on the front, and at the same time quickly pulled out a cold steel tactical knife strapped to his boot and held it in his hand, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.

53. Tomb Guardian Beast

Seeing Ah Bao's expression, I knew he must have witnessed something quite dangerous. Not daring to be careless, I pressed myself against the stone wall and slowly moved towards him. By the time I reached Ah Bao's side, the others had quickly followed. Ah Bao didn't say anything, but simply raised his hand and pointed ahead. Although all five of us had turned off our wolf-eye flashlights to avoid revealing ourselves, we could still vaguely see a white halo about three to five hundred meters away. Within the halo were two enormous beasts. Judging by their proportions, these two beasts were at least two to three meters tall, muscular, and broad-bodied, constantly leaping and bounding. Due to the distance, we couldn't see the details clearly, but judging from their size, they were definitely not easy prey.