Most of these top-level books, which were originally hidden in the palace and rarely seen by people, were lost in the change of dynasties, destroyed by the smoke of war, or buried by natural disasters, and few remained in the world. However, there is still a number one book that has survived through history and vicissitudes. It was an imperial examination paper in Wanli period of Zhang Mingchao, and now it is kept in Qingzhou Museum, Shandong Province, and it is also the only top paper found so far.
So, what's the mystery of this number one volume? What are some interesting stories about this number one volume? The owner of this champion roster is Zhao. At the age of 25, he took part in the top prize in palace examination. He has worked as a scholar in imperial academy, a bachelor, an assistant minister in the department of rites, and a post-official in the department of rites. During his official career, Zhao was loyal and honest, and could not stand the fact that eunuchs such as Wei Zhongxian dominated state affairs, framed dissidents and bullied others. He rose up and waged an indomitable struggle against traitors.
Later, his favorite pupil was implicated in impeaching Wei Zhongxian and was almost framed by Wei Party. Seeing that the political bureau was in danger, Zhao felt powerless and unwilling to be an official with eunuchs, so he wrote many times to resign and return home. After Zhao retired from the village, he was implicated in his friend case and was dismissed, and he paid the price for "long-term and relying on the portal". 1626, Zhao died in anger at the age of 53. Zhao's champion volume is an album with a length of 3.3 meters and a discount of 8.2. Each hinge is 47.6 cm high and 14. 1 cm wide.
The front cover and back cover are taped. The whole * * * volume is divided into three parts. The first part is ***4 fold, which records the resumes of Zhao himself and three generations. Three of them are covered with bright red "does seal". The second part is a positive volume, which is more than two meters long. A * * * 15 fold, each fold 6 lines, * * * 2460 words. The first volume is written in pavilion block letters, and the end of the sentence is circled in red. The whole volume has not been altered, flowing like a pen, neat brushwork and even words, just like printing today.
The most striking thing is the six big characters approved by Emperor Wanli in front of the text: "First Block, First Block", and the big seal of the official defense chief is also affixed below. These six bright red characters are the highest pursuit of countless cold window students in their lives, and also the highest praise of feudal kings for this paper. The third part is 30% off, which records the names and titles of nine marking officials, including three ministers: the official department, the household department and the criminal department. At the end of the paper is the name and title of the printer.
The title of this champion volume is "Asking the Emperor's Administration and the Emperor's Heart". Zhao quoted allusions and antithesis in his answer sheet, and answered the ruling ideas and methods that emperors should have with unique opinions. The whole article is full of allusions, clear-cut views and straight books, which fully shows Zhao's profound knowledge and political ambitions. Obviously, Emperor Wanli was also conquered by this article. He was very happy after reading it. Zhu approved the volume as the champion, and Ye Zhao became the champion.
So, how was this first volume discovered? 1April, 983, Wei Zhensheng, then director of Yidu County Cultural Relics Management Office, discovered that Zhao Huanbin, a villager in this county, kept Zhao Zhuangyuan's scroll, which was often used as a post for Zhao's descendants to practice calligraphy. Wei Zhensheng rushed to Zhao's house with a grain of salt, hoping to see the true content of the No.1 scholar's thesis, but Zhao Huanbin denied the existence of this thesis. It turned out that he was worried that after handing over the ancestral treasures, he would be ashamed of his ancestor Zhao, and even more ashamed of this precious champion book that his ancestors had waited for many years.
Zhao Huanbin is the grandson of Zhao Zhongbing 13, and he treasures the first prize scroll of his ancestors. In the years of war, the Zhao family sewed it in a close-fitting cotton-padded jacket all the year round and always regarded it as life. In the special years of that decade, the number one scholar roll was almost destroyed, and Zhao Huanbin hid it in a pillow to avoid it.
Under such strict protection, the number one book after 380 years of ups and downs can also be preserved and become a "global orphan". Wei Zhensheng fully understood the feelings of Zhao's descendants, but he didn't give up. Instead, he went to the door 24 times in half a year and finally persuaded Zhao Huanbin. When the old man trembled and took out the number one scroll wrapped in oil paper from his pillow and solemnly handed it to Wei Zhensheng, we finally had the privilege of seeing the true content of the number one scroll.
1983, the number one scholar volume was collected in Qingzhou Museum, which became the treasure of the museum and attracted a large number of tourists and experts. At the same time, it also made thieves eager to move and stared at this national first-class cultural relic. 19915 August, a shocking news came from Qingzhou Museum that the number one national treasure scroll was stolen. The case alarmed the Ministry of Public Security and the Shandong Provincial Party Committee and Provincial Government, demanding that the Shandong Provincial Public Security Department solve the case within a time limit and must recover the stolen champion paper. After careful investigation by the public security department, it was determined that the case was committed by an insider.
The police tracked down a suspect named Lin Chuntao. After Lin Chuntao stole the top paper, he was anxious to find someone to sell it, and offered100000 yuan. It stands to reason that the first-class cultural relic of the Champion Scroll, not to mention100000, is probably worth it. But strangely, until the police caught Lin Chuntao, no cultural relics dealer contacted him. It turned out that cultural relics dealers were afraid to buy Lin Chuntao when they learned that he had the only existing No.1 scholar volume.
Because they know that this is not only a top-level scroll, but also the historical value and cultural relic value it carries cannot be measured by money. There is only one volume left in the Millennium Imperial Examination. Zhao's number one scholar book is a rare treasure in China, but how it was taken out of the court and exiled to the people is still a mystery.