In the underground secret room.
With the assistance of Qian Guzhenmei, Xiao Ran carefully unfolded an apricot-yellow simple scroll.
What then appeared in front of him was a Zen-like, simple yet ethereal and beautiful ink painting.
There is only a bird singing on a branch, a piece of rock and a few dead branches, and nothing else in the painting.
Although the composition is very simple, everything in the painting seems to be alive, vivid and unique.
The moment they saw this ink painting, Zenitani Mami and Hasegawa immediately exclaimed in unison.
"This is the work of Master Mu Xi. The Zen mood he created in the painting is almost unmatched by anyone."
"Master Muxi is a great benefactor of Japanese painting. I didn't expect bastards like Yamamoto Katsuyoshi to even have works by Master Muxi. It's amazing!"
While exclaiming, the two little Japanese even bowed to the ink painting, very respectfully.
Seeing this scene, Xiao Ran just smiled softly and was not surprised at all.
The Master Muxi they refer to is a monk painter in the Southern Song Dynasty of China, with the Buddhist name Fa Chang.
He is good at painting landscapes, fruits and vegetables, splash-ink freehand brushwork, monks and Taoist figures and other subjects.
In the Chinese painting world, Mu Xi is just an unknown painter and has been almost completely forgotten.
Painters and collectors of all dynasties did not think highly of his works.
Even many painters think that his paintings are quite crude and inferior and not popular at all.
However, in Japan, Mu Xi was put on a pedestal by the Japanese and considered a great benefactor of Japanese painting.
As early as the late Song Dynasty and the early Yuan Dynasty, Japanese monks brought a large number of Mu Xi's works to Japan.
As a result, most of Mu Xi’s works are collected in Japan, but are rarely seen in China.
After a large number of Mu Xi's paintings traveled east to Japan, they immediately caused a huge sensation in the Japanese government and the public, attracted countless fans, and were regarded as masterpieces by the Japanese.
When the Japanese shogunate classified the collection of Chinese paintings at that time, Muxi's paintings were always regarded as the best.
Even the works of the Four Artists of the Southern Song Dynasty and the Four Artists of the Yuan Dynasty are not as high as Muxi's paintings in Japan.
Of course, this is only in Japan, it is another story in China!
The different perceptions of Muxi also reflect some cultural differences between China and Japan.
Muxi's painting style and painting techniques had a huge influence on Japanese painting.
When Japanese painters learned painting in ancient times, Muxi was a mountain that could not be bypassed.
It can even be said that ancient Japanese painting started from studying Muxi and then gradually developed.
Xiao Ran pretended to take a serious look at the painting, as well as the seal and inscription on the painting, and then nodded and said:
"Yes, this is indeed the work of Master Mu Xi of the Southern Song Dynasty. There is no problem with the painting technique or the seal on silk. It is undoubtedly authentic!"
Before he finished speaking, Hasegawa nodded excitedly and continued:
"Indeed, I have done some research on Master Mu Xi's works."
"Our art gallery has an ink sketch by Master Mu Xi, which is similar to this painting."
"Comparing the two aspects, I can't see any doubts in this ink painting."
At this point, the guy suddenly changed the subject.
"Mr. Sean, as we all know, Master Mu Xi's paintings are not valued in China, but their status in Japan is different."
"In this case, can you keep this painting by Master Mu Xi in Japan? We are willing to trade with you other top Chinese calligraphy and painting works."
Xiao Ran looked at this guy, then smiled and shook his head.
"I'm very sorry, Director Hasegawa, I don't intend to trade this painting by Master Muxi, but I plan to collect it myself."
"If I want to build a top-notch private museum, it must be inclusive. Muxi should have a place in my museum."
Hearing this, Hasegawa couldn't help but pause.
Then, the guy nodded helplessly.
"I knew this was going to be the result. Why are you so willing to let go of the treasure you've got?"
After joking for a while, they continued to admire the painting.
After admiring it for a moment, Xiao Ran took the initiative to put away Mu Xi's painting and put it into a brocade box.
Next, he quickly checked the remaining treasures and determined the authenticity and value of those treasures.
At this point, everything stored in this underground secret room has been inspected.
There is no doubt that this is a very amazing treasure.
Whether it's the dozen tons of gold or the many top-notch antiques and artworks stored here.
Once these treasures are transported to the ground and appear in front of the world, they will definitely cause a huge sensation and make countless people jealous.
Xiao Ran glanced at the treasures in the secret room again, and then said:
"Director Qiantani, Director Hasegawa, we can go up."
"Next, my employees will start cleaning and moving everything here, and then transport it to the bank safe for storage."
"Okay, Mr. Sean"
Zenitani Mami and the others responded in unison.
Then, they looked at everything here painfully, and then walked towards the door of the secret room.
Xiao Ran gave Matthew a few words before leaving the secret room.
In a moment, he was back in the vault above.
At this time, the combination winch and various other equipment have been set up in the vault.
And a large number of portable safes, as well as many large and small metal suitcases, etc. were shipped from outside.
After landing and standing still, Xiao Ran quickly checked the situation and also looked through various equipment.
After confirming that there was no problem, he ordered his employees.
One group counts and packs the many antique artifacts and works of art in the vault, while the other group is responsible for cleaning and packing the gold and other treasures in the underground secret room.
After receiving the order, the two groups of employees immediately got busy and were full of energy.
Xiao Ran took Qian Guzhenmei and the others out of the vault and went to the antique shop above to rest.
When they came up the stairs and entered the first floor, they immediately heard loud noises coming from the street outside.
Looking out through the window of the antique shop, the street has long been blocked by water.
Many media reporters who came after hearing the news had already set up their cameras and were filming and reporting on Yamamoto Antique Shop.
There were even many protestors in the crowd, shouting protests.
Let Xiao Ran take people out of Tokyo and Japan, and leave Japan's treasures in Japan.
Seeing this scene, Xiao Ran and David immediately looked at each other and smiled.
They had seen this kind of scene many times and were so used to it that they didn't take it seriously at all.
It was the first time for Zenitani Mami and other Japanese people to see such a scene, and they were all speechless.
Xu Lin and Wang Jue were even more stunned, but they were more excited and almost danced.
The next moment, Zenitani Mami suddenly pointed to the street outside and said:
"Mr. Sean, the situation outside looks a little bad."
"Do you want to go out and explain the situation? Control the situation to avoid accidents."
Xiao Ran glanced outside, then shook his head.
"I don't think it's necessary. We've seen this kind of scene too many times. Those guys outside can't afford to make waves!"
"I also trust the Tokyo police who maintain order on the scene. I believe they can control the situation and prevent chaos."
"If you think it is necessary to go out and explain the situation, you can go by yourself. I don't mind. You also understand the situation here."
"ah!"
Qian Guzhenmei and the others all exclaimed, a little stunned.
At this moment, Hasegawa's cell phone suddenly rang.
He took out his cell phone and took a look at it, then turned around and answered the phone.
Xiao Ran didn't pay attention, but walked into the reception area with David and the others and sat down on the sofa to rest.
Not long after we sat down, Hasegawa came over after making a phone call.
Coming closer, this guy immediately said:
"Mr. Sean, the lawyer of our art museum just called me and said that the person in charge of a Japanese investment institution called him and wanted to send a message to you through me."
"This Japanese investment bank is willing to pay a premium of 10% to purchase the gold you just discovered. In addition to gold, they also intend to purchase some top antiques, cultural relics and works of art as art investments."
"As long as you are willing to sell the top antiques, cultural relics and works of art in your hands, they can acquire them at a premium of 15% based on the valuation you gave. What do you think?"
Hearing this, Xiao Ran couldn't help but be a little stunned.
Then, he quickly looked at David and laughed at the same time.
They had already guessed in an instant that this Japanese investment bank was the first to jump out and try to acquire the gold and antique artworks in the secret room.
Standing behind it may be the real owner of that batch of gold.
That guy learned that this batch of gold had been copied by Xiao Ran, so he wanted to get it back in this way.
Xiao Ran smiled softly, then shook his head.
"Director Hasegawa, you can tell the people at that investment bank that I haven't thought about how to deal with this batch of gold yet."
"The conditions they offered are not satisfactory to me. The Federal Reserve purchased the batch of NZ gold I discovered in New York at a 25% premium."
"They want to acquire this batch of gold at only a 10% premium. They are obviously overthinking it. As for those top-notch antiques and artworks, it is even more impossible!"
Hasegawa was stunned for a moment, then nodded helplessly.
"You are right, Mr. Sean, those guys really think too much, and the premium they give is too low."
"The premium of 15% to acquire those top antiques and artworks is not as high as the auction house's commission ratio!"
"Those bastards are so embarrassed to propose such conditions, I will refuse them right now."
After saying that, the guy went to the side to make a phone call again.
Then we chatted for a few more words, and saw that the situation outside was a bit too lively.
Worried that something might happen, Kanaya Mami volunteered to go out with the Metropolitan Police representative to calm the crowd and explain the situation!
After they left, Xiao Ran also got up and left the reception area, and went to check other parts of the antique store.
He said he was checking the situation, but he actually called Ma Ming and the others.
He called Ma Ming and the cultural counselor of the embassy in Japan to explain the situation here.
On the phone, he clearly told Ma Ming that he was ready to transport all the more than ten tons of gold and many top-notch antiques and artworks he had just discovered back to the country.
Ask Ma Ming to help contact domestic airlines and arrange two cargo planes as soon as possible to prepare to transfer these treasures.
Naturally, Ma Ming and the Cultural Counselor of the Embassy in Japan were very positive about this kind of good thing, and both expressed that they would fully coordinate and cooperate.
In addition to this incident, Xiao Ran also mentioned the discovery of smuggled antique cultural relics that the task force was pursuing at Yamamoto's antique store.
From this, it can be basically determined that the remaining smuggled antiques and cultural relics are nine out of ten in the hands of the Kobe Yamaguchi-gumi.
Once you determine your goals, the next step will be easy!
Muxi paintings
