My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 408 The mysterious old man
As soon as the old man said this, Li Han almost couldn't breathe. Is the old man in front of him joking?
This little bundle of jewelry is worth hundreds of millions. No matter how high the retired old man’s salary is, it can’t be so outrageous. Maybe the old man is a hidden boss?
But no matter what, the Ming Dynasty court's small sample hairpin cannot be sold, and that thing is actually one's own ancestral temple. If you sell it, wouldn't it be equivalent to selling out yourself?
After coughing violently for a while, Li Han smiled and said, "Grandpa, this little sample is the treasure of our shop, you can't sell it!"

"What?" The old man laughed and joked, "Do you look down on the elderly?"

"My dear old man, how can you say that? It's just that the little hairpin was given to me by a close friend. It is very memorable. You are a cultured person after all. You can't take away someone's love, right?"

"Cultivated?" The old man was stunned, then laughed and said, "This is the first time someone calls me a cultured person. Young man, that's interesting."

Then he changed the subject, looked directly at Li Han and said, "Young man, you really don't want to sell it?"

Li Han shook his head. "Grandpa, please look at the others. That sample is the only thing I want. I really can't sell it."

Seeing that Li Han was serious, the old man immediately showed a look of regret. He stopped forcing it and came to the glass counter to look at the wooden artworks.

However, when his eyes swept across the counter, he accidentally saw the big Mingzhi that Li Han placed on the counter, and couldn't help being a little surprised.

"It's rare to see young people reading ancient books these days."

As he spoke, he took a closer look and couldn't help revealing a solemn expression.

"This book, this paper, something is wrong. This paper and this binding technique are clearly from the Ming Dynasty, but it looks like a book that was printed recently. Who would use this ancient technique to publish a book now?"

Li Han was also a little surprised. It seemed that the old man in front of him was really knowledgeable!
"Young man, can I take a look at this book?" the old man asked seriously.

"Please take it." Li Han handed the book to the old man generously. The old man took it and looked at the cover, and was immediately shocked.

"Da Ming Zhi?"

His hands shook and he almost dropped the book. He quickly picked it up as if he was holding some precious treasure.

"This, this book has been lost for a long time. Young man, where did you get this book from? What version is it?"

"Uh..." Li Han was speechless for a moment. What version is this? Of course it is the original version!

To be more precise, it should be a hardcover special edition, the only version that Ming Taizu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang reprinted specifically for him, Li Han!

Of course, you can't just say this to others casually, but Li Han is so smart, he can just come up with excuses right away, as if Old Li has a series of friends.

"Oh, you said this book was given to me by a friend. I don't know what version it is, but I kept it because I thought it had collectible value."

"Friend?" The old man's eyes widened immediately. "Young man, your friend is really generous. He gave away this rare edition that has long been lost in history!"

The old man obviously didn't believe what Li Han said, but no matter how he asked, Li Han's words were impeccable.

After flipping through the Great Ming Chronicle, the old man continued, "Young man, do you know what is recorded in the Great Ming Chronicle?"

Li Han nodded and said, "This book is the first national geography book compiled after the founding of the Ming Dynasty. It records in detail the names of counties, mountains and rivers, scenic spots, customs, local products, cities, sacrificial ceremonies, mountains and tombs, etc. It can be called the first geography and customs encyclopedia of the Ming Dynasty.

It is a pity that the Universal History compiled based on this book was later destroyed and out of print. "

“The young man knew quite a lot, but unfortunately, after this aspiration was written into a book, it was lost in the turbulent times of history.

The "Universal History" compiled based on this book was compiled because Emperor Yingzong of the Ming Dynasty ordered Li Xian, Peng Shi and others to recompile the "Great Ming Unified History" to pass on to future generations, citing the reason that it was "inappropriately complicated and inappropriately selected and removed" in order to prevent Emperor Jingtai from having the reputation of compiling local history. After the "Unified History" was promulgated, the "Universal History" was destroyed, which is really a pity! "As he said this, the old man approached Li Han mysteriously and said mysteriously: "In fact, Emperor Yingzong Zhu Qizhen of the Ming Dynasty not only destroyed the "Universal History" to belittle the achievements of his brother Zhu Qiyu, but also recompiled the "Great Ming Unified History". There is a more important reason, little brother, do you want to know?"

Li Han immediately became interested and nodded involuntarily.

The old man said, "That's because there is a strange thing recorded in the Universal History, and Emperor Yingzong Zhu Qizhen of the Ming Dynasty did not want the world to know about this thing, so he re-compiled the Great Ming Unified History and destroyed the Universal History."

Is there such a secret in this?
Li Han looked at the old man in disbelief. Although he was not an expert in history, he was a history major after all. How could he not know these things?

It sounds like a conspiracy theory!

However, if what the old man in front of me said was true, then was this matter related to my parents' obsession with studying Ming history? Going further, was it related to the mailbox at home?

Thinking of this, Li Han's heart couldn't help but beat rapidly, but his face showed an expression of being very interested in this kind of "wild history".

"Then, old man, what do you think was recorded in the Universal History that made Zhu Qizhen destroy all the copies? The Universal History was based on the Great Ming Chronicles. Does the Great Ming Chronicles also record this incident?"

"Want to know?" the old man laughed.

"Want to know."

Li Han nodded without keeping the secret, and then said, "I graduated from the history major of Nanjing University. I thought I was very proficient in history, but the historical materials you mentioned are unheard of. It seems that I am still ignorant, so I hope you can enlighten me."

"Hahahaha!"

The old man laughed and said, "If you want to know, sell me the sample of the Ming Dynasty craft. I really like that thing."

"Grandpa, please don't embarrass a young man like me. I really can't sell that thing!"

"You really don't want to sell it?"

"I really don't want to sell it!"

"Okay, how about selling me the "Great Ming Chronicles"?"

"..."

Li Han shook his head. "This is my thought for my friend. I won't sell it."

"Hey young man, didn't you just say that stabbing Xiaoyang is your only thought?" The old man seemed a little angry and said dissatisfiedly.

"Now there are two."

Although he really wanted to know the secret of "Universal Chronicle", Li Han would not agree to sell it to the old man. This book was given to him by Old Zhu, and he would definitely not sell it.

"You don't sell this or that. What kind of business is this store of yours doing, young man?"

"Except for the books, the samples, and the blue and white porcelain vase, everything else is for sale." Li Han pointed to the Yuan blue and white porcelain in the corner.

(End of this chapter)