While the others were in a daze, Xiao Ran had already squatted down.
He carefully examined the set of numbers engraved on the wall, as well as several other pieces of granite nearby, as well as the faint polishing marks on the wall.
Then he stretched out two fingers and lightly touched the stone engraved with the Founding Day of the United States a few times to feel the condition of the stone.
He felt it the moment his fingers touched the granite stone.
The surface of the granite is not smooth, and there are some small depressions, which should be formed by polishing.
After thinking for a moment, Xiao Ran said in surprise:
"Judging from the slight depression on the surface of this granite, it should have been engraved with other words or patterns, or maybe a set of numbers."
"For some unknown reason, the original patterns and words were polished off and replaced with the Founding Day of the United States."
"Judging from the condition of this granite, this set of numbers should have been engraved in the mid-to-late 19th century."
"Who can tell me what words, patterns, or numbers were originally engraved here?"
As he spoke, he turned to look at Professor Baker, Professor Adrian and others.
These professors from the Yale School of History shook their heads in unison, with equally curious eyes.
"We don't know what was originally carved here. This is the first time this has been discovered."
"Before this, no one thought there was anything wrong with having National Day engraved here. Everyone was used to it."
"But now it seems that this set of numbers appears here, which is indeed a bit suspicious."
As he spoke, Professor Baker knelt down.
He also reached out and touched the granite gently, clearly feeling the existence of the depression.
The light and regular horizontal lines on the stones are enough to prove that they are the result of manual polishing.
"Yes, there are indeed traces of manual polishing here."
"The Founding Day carved on the wall was indeed carved later."
Professor Baker nodded and said, confirming Xiao Ran's judgment.
As this conclusion came out, everyone's eyes lit up and they were also full of doubts.
No one knows what words, patterns, or numbers were originally engraved here, nor what secrets are hidden behind them.
Seeing that Professor Baker and the others were also confused, Xiao Ran turned to look at the director of the conference hall and the Winthrop family representative.
"Do you know what's going on? What are the words or patterns originally engraved here?"
"Are there any clear records of these things in the relevant literature?"
Hearing this, the two guys shook their heads.
"We don't know what's going on. Before today, we never felt there was any doubt here."
"As for the Founding Day carved on the stone slab, it seems to have been carved on a National Day before the Civil War."
Before he finished speaking, the eyes of Xiao Ran and Professor Baker suddenly lit up.
"Is there any relevant record about the founding day being engraved here?"
Xiao Ran and Professor Baker said in unison.
After the words fell, the two of them immediately looked at each other, both full of expectations.
The representative of the Winthrop family shook his head, but the head of the Faneuil Hall conference room was silent.
After a while, this guy suddenly said:
"It seems that there is really a record of the founding day being engraved here."
“I remember seeing relevant content in some literature, but I just can’t remember it clearly.”
Before he finished speaking, everyone's faces showed surprise.
Immediately afterwards, Professor Baker said impatiently:
"Now that we have such documentation, what are we waiting for?"
"Hurry up and find those documents. Everyone wants to know the relevant information."
The person in charge of the conference hall nodded immediately.
"Okay, I'll look for these documents, but there's no guarantee I'll be able to find them."
With that said, the guy walked towards the library next to the conference hall.
The collection and display in that library are basically historical documents related to Faneuil Hall.
These include the design drawings and expansion drawings of Faneuil Hall, as well as information on many historical events that occurred here, various historical documents signed, etc.
Of course, many of these things are reproductions, available for people to review and study.
Most of those valuable originals are collected in the Boston Library, the U.S. National Library, and major museums.
Following the head of the conference hall into the library, there were also Professor Adrian and representatives of the Winthrop family.
Jack originally wanted to follow, but in the end he stopped and stayed in the conference hall, just looking towards the library.
Xiao Ran knew what these guys were planning.
They just want to grasp the relevant information as soon as possible and see if there are any secrets hidden behind this matter!
If the secret is very important, such as directly pointing to the location of colonial treasure.
Whether or not to bring out the relevant historical documents for Xiao Ran to check is a matter for two people!
Xiao Ran didn't care much about this situation!
Everyone has different positions and different calculations, which is normal!
After the head of the conference hall and Professor Adrian left, Xiao Ran and Professor Baker continued to study the numbers engraved on the wall and discuss them.
In addition, they took another look at their surroundings.
Including the situation under the rostrum, the lounge next to it, as well as the numerous columns standing on both sides, as well as the walls and ground, etc.
Unfortunately, they found nothing else.
As Xiao Ran expected, Faneuil Hall has been inspected countless times in the past two hundred years.
Even if there are some hidden secrets here, they have been discovered by people a long time ago, and it is impossible to preserve them until now!
During this period, an exploration team downstairs made another discovery.
After receiving the news, Xiao Ran immediately went downstairs to check the situation.
It turned out that the exploration team found a secret compartment hidden in the wall, which was very hidden.
Xiao Ran checked the situation, quickly found the mechanism, and opened the secret compartment.
The secret compartment was empty, not even a hair on it, so everyone was happy in vain!
After this episode, Xiao Ran returned to the conference hall upstairs.
As soon as he returned to the conference hall, he saw the person in charge of the conference hall and Professor Adrian walking out of the library.
They held several old books and several yellowed document bags in their hands.
But everyone was frowning and full of questions!
Seeing this scene, Xiao Ran couldn't help but asked in surprise:
"Gentlemen, it seems you have found some documentation."
"But why are you looking like this? What happened?"
Following these words, Professor Adrian immediately looked over and introduced the situation.
"Yes, Sean, we did find relevant historical documents."
"Your guess is very accurate. The Founding Day on this wall was indeed carved later."
"What was originally engraved on this wall was also a set of numbers, but it has been polished off long ago."
"This set of numbers is very strange. I don't know what they mean, and there is no explanation in the relevant historical documents."
The director of the chamber and the Winthrop family representative nodded, equally confused.
Xiao Ran did not respond immediately, but walked straight towards Adrian and the others.
When he came closer, he said curiously:
"What exactly is this set of original numbers? What's so strange about it? Let me take a look."
Professor Adrian nodded, then took a yellowed book and opened it.
In a moment, he had found the relevant records and immediately began to introduce them.
"Sean, Baker, look here"
"It is clearly recorded here that the Founding Day on the wall was engraved in 1859, and a small ceremony was held at that time."
"The number originally engraved on this piece of granite was '320916', which looks ordinary."
"This set of numbers does not seem to have any connection with Faneuil Hall. It is neither the construction date of Faneuil Hall nor the date of renovation. It is more like someone carved it casually."
"Because of this, the director who managed Faneuil Hall at the time suggested polishing off this set of numbers and engraving Founding Day on this wall."
Following Adrian's introduction, both Xiao Ran and Professor Baker saw the relevant records, written in black and white, clearly!
Seeing this set of ordinary numbers, they were all stunned, and their heads were full of questions and they didn't know why.
Next, Xiao Ran quickly looked through the book describing the history of Faneuil Hall, but found nothing.
After a moment, he asked:
"Adrian, are there any relevant records about this set of numbers in other historical materials?"
"If there is a record, does it explain the meaning of this set of numbers?"
Adrian shook his head.
"We also found this strange set of numbers in several other historical documents."
"But there is no explanation of the specific meaning of this set of numbers, who carved them, or what secrets are hidden behind them."
Hearing this, everyone was somewhat disappointed.
Xiao Ran fell silent, lost in thought.
After thinking for a while, he suddenly said:
"Find out all the documents and materials that record this set of numbers. Let me take a look and see if I can find any secrets hidden in them."
"In addition, I also need the design drawings of Faneuil Hall, as well as the drawings for the reconstruction, etc."
"No problem, Sean, everything you need is here."
Professor Adrian nodded in response.
Afterwards, they put the various documents they found on the table and opened them one by one.
Xiao Ran and Professor Baker immediately stepped forward and began to look at these historical documents.
The rest stood aside, waiting expectantly for the results.
In the blink of an eye, ten minutes passed.
Xiao Ran quickly flipped through all the literature, checked everything related to that set of numbers, and the design drawings of Faneuil Hall, and then fell into deep thought again.
After thinking for a long time, he said in a deep voice:
"Professor Baker, Professor Adrian, I wonder if you have discovered it?"
"This strange set of numbers only appeared after Faneuil Hall was rebuilt in 1761."
"There is no record of this set of numbers in the previous literature."
"It's basically certain that this strange set of numbers was added when Faneuil Hall was being rebuilt, and was later polished off!"
"As for who carved this set of numbers, and what secrets are hidden behind them, we still don't know!"
Professor Baker and the others paused for a moment, then nodded in unison.
"Indeed, this strange set of numbers did not appear until after 1761."
"But what do these numbers mean? It's so confusing!"
Xiao Ran smiled softly, and then continued:
"You may also have noticed that although Faneuil Hall was rebuilt in 1761 according to the original drawings of 1742, there are still some small changes."
“By the time of the expansion in 1806, the appearance of Faneuil Hall had changed again, and even more, into what it is today!”
"Combining these changes and this strange group of numbers, I have some associations, or conjectures!"
"If my guess is correct, maybe I can unlock the secret behind this strange set of numbers!..."
Before he finished speaking, there was an exclamation of exclamation at the scene.
"Ah! You can unlock the secret of this strange set of numbers, did I hear you right?"
"What secret is hidden behind this set of numbers? Sean, tell me your guess!"
