It took a total of three days to clean up and identify the stolen antiques and artworks.
In these three days, Xiao Ran discovered many antique artworks hidden by McCann, and together with Timothy and others, completed the identification of all stolen antique artworks.
Other items taken from McCann's and Myers' homes and stores were also examined.
As long as they are antiques and artworks, regardless of their value or quality, all have been confiscated.
Those items that were not antique artworks were temporarily seized by the FBI and Philadelphia police.
Once the investigation is completed, all proceeds of crime will fall into the hands of the FBI and Philadelphia police.
Some insignificant items will be returned to the McCann and Miles families.
While clearing and appraising many stolen antiques and artworks, Xiao Ran also reached a series of agreements with many museums, collectors, and collection institutions.
According to those agreements, he will start a series of transactions with various parties in the next few days.
The objects of the transaction were naturally the stolen antiques and artworks that fell into his hands.
What those museums, collectors, and collection institutions have paid are mainly the top Chinese antiques and art that have been lost overseas.
Only a few institutions and individuals choose to conduct transactions with cash.
Early morning, in the presidential suite of the hotel.
After breakfast, Xiao Ran immediately entered the study and started video chatting with Mr. Shan and others in China.
At this time, it was evening in China, and several old men had time.
They were gathering in a conference room in the Forbidden City to video chat with Xiao Ran.
The first time he saw these old men, Xiao Ran immediately smiled and said hello.
"Senior gentlemen, I'm disturbing your rest."
"I'm sorry to have to ask you all to help me with my eyes today!"
Before he finished speaking, several old men in the Forbidden City in Beijing started laughing.
"It's not a bother, Xiao Ran, it's not time to rest yet."
"Besides, we are very happy to be able to help you with your eyes, and we will never tire of it!"
"Tell me, what national treasures can you get back this time?"
Shan Lao said with a smile, also a little impatient.
Immediately afterwards, Mr. Qiu from the National Expo said immediately:
"Xiao Ran, the news that you ruthlessly slaughtered major European and American museums in Philadelphia has spread to China and caused a huge sensation."
"For this matter, we old men will give you a thumbs up, well done!"
Before he finished speaking, several old men gave thumbs up and laughed loudly.
Xiao Ran smiled and nodded, with a proud look in his eyes.
After the laughter subsided, Xiao Ran nodded and said:
"The cleanup and identification of all stolen antique art found during this Philadelphia joint operation has been completed!"
"I have reached agreements with many museums and collectors in Europe and the United States and am preparing to launch a series of art transactions."
"Several transactions will be carried out today. There are indeed many national treasure-level antiques and artworks lost overseas in the transactions, so please help us keep an eye on them!"
After hearing this, the old men suddenly became more excited.
"Tell me, what kind of treasures have you collected? Let us open our eyes."
"Okay, gentlemen, please sit tight and listen!"
Xiao Ran said with a proud smile, and then began to list the transactions to be carried out today.
"Today, there are six museums, one foundation, and two top collectors who are planning to trade with me!"
"The six museums are the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Penn Museum, the Freer Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and MOMA."
"As for that foundation, it is the Rothschild Family Foundation; the two top collectors are Griffin and Bill Gates, the owners of the Castle Fund."
Listening to his introduction, several old men were shocked.
They also became more excited, and their eyes lit up.
Because they know that among the six museums listed by Xiao Ran, there are basically many top-notch Chinese antiques that have been lost overseas!
Even modern art museums like MOMA have collections of works by famous modern Chinese painters, such as paintings by Qi Baishi and Zhang Daqian.
Although they were very excited, the old men did not rush to speak out, but listened patiently.
After a pause, Xiao Ran continued:
"According to the order of agreement, the first person to trade with me was the Philadelphia Museum of Art."
“The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s collection of Chinese antiques is not large, but there are many fine works.”
"The items they traded were mainly jade and porcelain, including a batch of jade items used by Emperor Qianlong, including two of Qianlong's seals!"
"There is also a Northern Song Dynasty Ding kiln carved pattern plate, a Southern Song Dynasty official kiln celadon plate, and two gilt bronze Buddha statues from the mid-Yuan Dynasty!"
After hearing this, these old men could not sit still.
They all stood up from their chairs and said excitedly:
"That's great, Xiao Ran. The Northern Song Dynasty Ding kiln carved pattern plate from the Philadelphia Museum of Art is in excellent condition. It's a rare treasure! I didn't expect that your kid got it, so congratulations!"
"Did I hear that right? Your boy actually got back the batch of Emperor Qianlong's jades collected by the Philadelphia Museum of Art."
"That batch of jades is absolutely priceless! Especially the two jade seals are extremely precious!"
Xiao Ran smiled and nodded, and said proudly:
"You heard me right, today I will trade with the Philadelphia Museum of Art in exchange for the treasures I just mentioned."
"Of course, I paid a lot, including several top-notch works of art, each of which is worth a lot of money."
Before he finished speaking, Mr. Jin said with a smile:
"The top Western antique artworks you got this time were all for nothing!"
"If you can exchange for a large number of national treasures that have been lost overseas, you will make a profit no matter how you calculate it!"
"Hahaha"
The other old men laughed and nodded in agreement.
Next, Xiao Ran continued to introduce.
“Following the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Art will trade with me in exchange for several pieces of antique art that were stolen from their museum.”
"They exchanged not many treasures, including Sa Lu Zi and Quan Mao Quan, two of the Six Horses of Zhaoling, and Chen Zhang's bronze square teapot from the middle of the Warring States Period..."
As soon as he said this, the small conference room far away in the Forbidden City in Beijing exploded in an instant.
"Sa Luzi, Quan Maojun, and Chen Zhang's square teapot in the middle of the Warring States Period. Have you exchanged these national treasures for them?"
"These are all first-class antique cultural relics, national treasures among national treasures!"
"How come those guys at the Penn Museum are willing to take out these treasures? Are they right in the right mind?"
Several old men exclaimed in surprise, and all of them danced excitedly.
They even doubted whether they heard it wrong just now!
As Jin Lao said, whether it is Sa Lu Zi and Quan Mao Jun, or Chen Zhang's square teapot in the middle of the Warring States Period, they are all Class A cultural relics in China and are absolutely prohibited from leaving the country!
Now Xiao Ran has replaced them all. Can people not be overjoyed?
Looking at the dancing old men, Xiao Ran suddenly laughed.
"Hahaha"
After the laughter subsided, he introduced several other top Chinese antique artworks that the Penn Museum had exchanged.
Without exception, every piece of Chinese antique art is very precious and has high historical and cultural research value!
Immediately afterwards, Xiao Ran's words changed.
"The third museum that did business with me was the famous Freer Museum."
"The antique artworks they exchanged include the complete Shang Xiang Zun, Tang Jin Yinping's figure mirror with a chariot and horse, and the "Suo Jian Picture Scroll" suspected to be written by Yan Liben."
"This is just the first batch of Chinese antique artworks brought out by the Freer Museum. Next, I will conduct several art transactions with them to exchange for more national treasures."
Not surprisingly, the small conference room far away in Beijing exploded again.
"Three more first-class cultural relics. Are you kidding us old guys? This is too exaggerated!"
"What a great job! Xiao Ran, if you can really bring these national treasures back to the country, it will be a great achievement!"
Xiao Ran smiled and then nodded firmly.
"Just hold on, you guys! I will be able to capture these national treasures this morning."
"When all transactions are completed, I will send these treasures back to China as soon as possible to avoid long nights and dreams!"
Before he finished speaking, Mr. Shan nodded hurriedly and said:
"Okay! As long as you say this!"
"We won't sleep tonight, waiting for the eye-opening experience!"
Xiao Ran smiled and shook his head.
"Don't bother me! While there's still some time, you guys should take a nap and recuperate!"
"When the transaction starts and I need your attention, I will call you to inform you."
After a few jokes, he returned to the topic.
Continue to introduce the transactions that will take place today, as well as the many top Chinese antique artworks that are about to be acquired!
With his introduction, several old men in Beijing became more and more excited!
This video call lasted for more than 20 minutes and just ended.
After hanging up the phone, Xiao Ran left the study and returned to the living room.
Those old men who were far away in Beijing simply lived in the Forbidden City, looking for a place to rest and waiting for Xiao Ran's call!
But how can they sleep at this time?
Not long after returning to the living room, Pierre, Falgot and others suddenly came to visit.
After a few polite words, they immediately got to the point.
"Sean, we have thought about it and decided to accept your conditions and make a deal with you."
“In addition to the antique artworks stolen from several of our museums, we also want to exchange some unowned stolen antique artworks!”
"We can sit down and discuss the specific transaction conditions. I hope we can reach an agreement as soon as possible!"
Falgot said in pain, his eyes still full of dissatisfaction.
Before he finished speaking, Pierre continued:
"Sean, several of our museums have decided to trade with you."
"The things we trade are mainly top-notch Chinese antiques collected in the Louvre, and maybe some of them are cash purchases."
“After the transaction is completed, several of our museums will negotiate to distribute the stolen antique artworks.”
Before he finished speaking, Xiao Ran's face was already full of joy.
"Excellent, gentlemen, I am very happy to cooperate and do business with several of your museums."
"We can discuss the details of the transaction tonight. I believe we can reach an agreement!"
With that said, he shook hands with Fargot, Pierre and others.
The most complete extant Shang Xiang Zun
