The Metropolitan Museum of Art on Fifth Avenue in New York looks like similar buildings in other parts of the world, with tall arches, drab columns, deep domes, even the newly renovated plaza, trees, musical fountains, and antique benches for visitors to take a nap.

Gao Mingcheng stood outside a square glass frame, quietly looking at the artwork inside, and the nameplate below read "Twelfth Century Chinese Painted Figure Figurines" in English. In order to protect the artifact, there were no lights on it, but this did not prevent him from observing the details.

This is a sitting statue of a woman in the Song Dynasty, the appearance of the beads on the crown of the nine combs is clearly visible, the dark red court wear gold thread is tattooed with beautiful fish and bird patterns, and the plump face is the most standard aesthetic of that era.

"Let me guess, She'sthequeen? Is that right. Suddenly a man's voice sounded in his ears, and there was a sentence of English mixed with non-standard Chinese, Gao Mingcheng looked at it in surprise, it was a foreigner who was a little older, and he didn't know it.

He didn't know how to answer this person, the English vocabulary was too poor, this word could be queen, empress, empress, or queen, and these words had completely different meanings in Chinese, especially in ancient languages, and if you mistake it, you will kill people.

"Well, maybe it's not accurate, but my name is Thomas, a professor at the State University of New York, and a member of the Oriental Culture Research Association." Foreigners' spoken Chinese is not standard, but fluency in Cheng dù surprised Gao Mingcheng.

"Gao Mingcheng, professor of Imperial Capital University, it's a pleasure to meet you." Vigilant of strangers, he simply declared his identity.

On this trip abroad, he was invited by an academic organization to do an exchange visit, and the schedule was not very tight, so he took the time to visit here, which is also one of the four famous museums in the world.

What disappointed him was that there were not many Chinese cultural relics in the museum, and they were not displayed separately, but were sandwiched in the Far Eastern Art Museum, just like the figurines in front of him, surrounded by cultural relics from other countries, although they were also exquisite, but he was not interested at all.

"Professor Gao, I've listened to your speech, it's very exciting, if you don't mind, can you find a place to sit down and discuss with each other? You know, I'm interested in the history of the East from the eleventh to the thirteenth centuries. The foreigner named Thomas said sincerely.

Gao Mingcheng didn't think he could really understand what he was saying, in order to take care of his friends, his language had been as close to modern as possible, but there were still a large number of ancient languages, the so-called literary vocabulary, no matter how it was translated, it was difficult to accurately express the true meaning.

However, there is a saying called "it is difficult to be gracious", a foreigner so sincerely invites himself to do academic exchanges with himself in the professional field, he feels that it is difficult for him to refuse, and besides, he also wants to hear what this foreigner will say to himself?

The place Thomas chose was a nearby coffee shop, the old decoration style was old at a glance, and the two found a corner by the window, which was not disturbed and could browse the street view, which made Gao Mingcheng very satisfied.

And what makes him even more satisfied is that this foreigner is not just talking, the exchange between the two really revolves around the topics he is most interested in, and from some of his questions, he knows that this person has carefully studied that period of history, and can always pick up the conversation just right.

"Gao, there is a saying in China called 'listening to your words, it is better to read a book for ten years', you now give me the feeling that this is the case, when the whole of Europe fell into the dark Middle Ages, your motherland was like a bright lighthouse, illuminating human civilization, amazing!"

Thomas raised a big finger and gave out a heartfelt admiration, which made Gao Mingcheng suddenly have a feeling that it was difficult to find a bosom friend, and unconsciously the relationship between the two began to warm up, and they omitted the honorifics behind the title.

"Thomas, you are so polite, you are the first foreigner I have met who has really studied Chinese history, if it weren't for the café, I would have liked to treat you to a drink."

"Why not? I have good wine in my house, and that's really 19th century French, high? You don't turn down an invitation from a friend. ”

In the face of another kind invitation, Gao Mingcheng did not hesitate this time, anyway, he had nothing to worry about, and the good wine that Thomas said aroused his greed, and the treasures in his house should not be fakes.

Yinxian County, where Qingyuan Fuzhi is located, was later called "Yongcheng", with China's premier commercial container port, and in this time and space, it is not only the location of the real naval headquarters in history, but also the oldest foreign trade port - Mingzhou City.

In the county seat, Yuyao water passes through the city, and the Guò Canal connects the Jingshi Lin'an Mansion of the Great Song Dynasty, today is the day when Shaobao, Guanzheng Hall Scholar, Xinguo Gong, Coastal Ambassador, and Ye Lao Xianggong, the minister of Qingyuan Mansion, arrives in office, and a grand guard of honor is lined up far away, almost occupying the entire official road, which makes people envious.

"Virtuous son-in-law, you and I will say goodbye here, the pool of water in the court ~ is very deep, just take a look, don't let yourself fall into it. What's the change, send a letter to the old man, see the saint in the palace, and say hello to the old man. ”

On the side of the road, Ye Mengding got off the public opinion and talked with Liu Yu and his party, he knew that as soon as he entered the city, there were all kinds of entertainment that could not be pushed away, so it was better to simply tell someone here.

This time it was not only Liu Yu, the new son-in-law, who was sent away, but also his eldest son Ye Ying and his family, the big boat for them to ride was ready, on the dock outside the county, and there was a difference between inside and outside, and this small instruction could only be said to the son-in-law, as for the son, it would be good to take a look.

The women sitting in the ox cart were already crying, Liu Yu and Ye Yinghe made a salute together, then took their people to turn around, and walked towards the dock outside the city, seeing their backs disappear, Ye Mengding was about to return to the courtesy, and a horse galloped behind him.

"Shaobao, this is just here, I was afraid of delay, so I hurriedly sent it over." Old Chen jumped off his horse panting and handed him a letter.

When he opened it, Ye Mengding sighed, the order to abolish the Mingzhou Division and the new Qiongzhou City Division has been issued, and this kid is right.

"Do you want to catch up and tell my uncle?" Old Chen asked softly.

"No need, he will naturally know when he returns to Beijing." Ye Mengding shook his head, turned around and went on the public opinion, outside the city gate in the distance, civil and military officials at all levels were divided into two rows, respectfully waiting for his honor guard to enter the city, this trip to the elderly, I really don't know if it's a blessing or a curse?

The big ship of the Ye Mansion was sailing on the wide river of Yuyao Water, except for the two special ones for their families, four warships escorted them from front to back, left and right, as the commander of the sea division, this convenience was nothing.

The river runs parallel to the coastline not far away, but the wind is not worried, and the sails are wide open, and the big ships glide quickly and smoothly on the water. The scenery along the shore is pleasant, with lush rice paddies as far as the eye can see, farmers bent over and toiling hard, and occasionally shepherd boys riding large buffaloes playing the melodious Jiangnan tune.

I thought that I could hold my wife and drink a little wine to see the scenery, but I was driven out by Ye Yingji's eldest daughter, the one who was older than his wife.

"Sister Pheasant, the river wind has been blowing for a long time, and tomorrow I will have a headache and can't get out of bed." Seeing the figure standing at the bow of the boat, Liu Yu stepped forward and patted her iron helmet gently, as if she hadn't seen her wearing this for a long time, and somehow she changed it again today.

"Why didn't you go to accompany your lady?" The pheasant slave turned to him and said, a small smirk in her big bright eyes.

"Alas, it's hard to put into words, and thank you for taking care of her these days." Liu Yu stood side by side with her, a Song Army-style clipper opened the way in front, and there were many people on the deck, who seemed to be very vigilant, and he understood it at once.

"Are you afraid, there are robbers?" There was such a thing, and the caution of the officers and soldiers can be imagined, but in broad daylight, he really didn't worry about anything.

"There's nothing wrong with being careful, isn't that what you always say?" The pheasant slave let out a soft "um", and his gaze swept to both sides from time to time.

Looking at her appearance, Liu Yu wanted to ask about her and Jiang Ning, but he didn't know how to speak. According to the plan, Jiang Ning should be on Yang Fei's ship at this moment, and they will return to Lin'an by sea, of course, it will definitely be later.

"Why don't you wear women's clothes, I see that you wear it very well that day, why don't you let your sister-in-law make a few more?" Liu Yu was a little speechless.

"Forget it, I still like this kind of outfit, that kind of clothes, and only your lady is suitable, so don't bother." The pheasant slave shook his head and ended the topic very dryly.

In this way, Liu Yu didn't know how to talk to her, maybe go back to Lin'an and ask Jin Ming first? He thought for a moment, stopped talking, and stood quietly in the bow with her.

"Hearing you say this, that pheasant sister is a strange woman, she dares to do things, which makes people envious."

A head protruded from the open window in the middle of the hull, glanced ahead, and immediately retracted.

"Sister-in-law, you don't seem to be the same as before." Jue Niang looked at the bride beside her, she couldn't tell what was different, her appearance was still the same, but there was more charm between her eyebrows, and she became a lot quieter, as if she had grown up overnight.

"It's the same when you get married." Jing Niang smiled slightly, thinking of those things between men and women made her a little shy, but more than that, it was sweet.

Get married? Yu Niang fell silent all of a sudden, what kind of family would her father find for her, even her mother didn't know, after seeing her sister-in-law's marriage, she suddenly felt that the proud scholars of the Great Song Dynasty suddenly became boring, and it also made her change from her previous longing to panic, just like Jing Niang's appearance when she went to Beijing.

Putting her niece who seemed to understand into her arms, Jing Niang inadvertently tilted her head out of the window, and her husband's figure came into view.

At Kennedy International Airport, about 24 kilometers from Manhattan, Gao Mingcheng finished his trip abroad and was about to board a flight back to China, and in addition to some old friends, Professor Thomas came to see him off.

"Gao, I wish you a smooth journey, don't forget our agreement, your masterpiece will be published in the most influential academic journals, and I look forward to your next visit."

Politely shook hands with him, Gao Mingcheng turned around and said goodbye, he had some doubts in his heart, how could such an unpopular research be valued by the West? He also made a special appointment with himself, but in any case, it seems to be a good thing, and the harvest of this trip has exceeded his expectations.

"Thomas, I don't understand? This man is just an ordinary historian, is he important to us? Getting out of the airport and getting into his car, Thomas' assistant and driver asked.

"Of course you don't understand, knowing that it's a country with thousands of years of history, you really think that stealing a few documents and taking some pictures can disintegrate them? History! There is only history. ”

Thomas suddenly raised his voice, his arms waving vigorously, as if there were thousands of troops standing in front of him.

"Let them doubt their heroes, doubt their own history, and then they will naturally overturn those beliefs in their heads. Without these, no matter how strong and rich that country is, it will not pose the slightest threat to us, understand? ”

"But why, would they doubt their heroes?" The assistant was puzzled.

"Who knows, they have a saying, 'When the forest is big, there are all kinds of birds', and we don't have to pay a penny to do this, and naturally there will be a lot of people who will do it willingly, which is much better than the stupid guys in the intelligence bureau."

Thomas shrugged, took out a cigar and lit it, and without further asking, the assistant started the engine and drove towards the high-rise city of New York. R1058