cc.floodtide-第48节
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rchased was stolen and smuggled to his estate。 What he couldn't display because of lack of space； or was documented as stolen； he stored in warehouses hi Singapore and not Hong Kong because he didn't trust bureaucrats of the People's Republic government not to decide someday to confiscate his treasures for themselves。
Unlike so many of his superrich contemporaries； Qin Shang never settled into a 〃lifestyle of the rich and famous。〃 From the time he hustled his first coin until he made his third billion； he never stopped working at extending his thriving shipping operations； nor did he cease his maniacal； unending drive to collect the cultural riches of China。
When he bought the monastery； Qin Shang's first project was to enlarge and pave the winding foot trail leading up to the temples from a small harbor so that construction materials and later his artwork and furnishings could be carried up the steep hill by vehicles。 He wanted more than to rebuild and remodel the temples； much more； he wanted to create a stunning effect never achieved in a private residence or any other edifice so dedicated to the accumulation of cultural art by an individual； except perhaps the Hearst Castle at San Simeon； California。
It took five years from start to finish before the grounds inside the walls were lushly landscaped and the decor inside the temples was pleted。 Another six months passed before the art and furnishings were set in place。 The main temple
became Qin Shang's residence and entertainment plex； which included a lavishly decorated billiard room and a vast heated indoor/outdoor swimming pool that meandered in a circle for over a hundred yards。 The plex also sported two tennis courts and a short nine…hole golf course。 The other three smaller temples were turned into omate guesthouses。 In the end； Qin Shang called it the House of Tin Hau； the patroness and goddess of seafarers。
Qin Shang was an extremist when it came to perfection。 He never ceased fine…tuning his beloved temples。 The plex seemed in a constant state of activity as he redesigned and added costly details that enriched his creation。 The expense was enormous； but he had more than enough money to indulge his passion。 His fourteen thousand art objects were the envy of museums around the world。 He was constantly besieged with offers by galleries and other collectors； but Qin Shang only bought。 He never sold。
When pleted； the House of Tin Hau was grand and magnificent； looming over the sea like a specter guarding Shang's secrets。
An invitation to visit the House of Tin Hau was always accepted with great pleasure among Asian and European royalty； world leaders； society people； financial tycoons and movie stars。 Guests； who generally arrived at Hong Kong's international airport； were immediately flown by a huge executive helicopter to a landing pad just outside the temple plex。 High state officials or those of a special elite status were carried by water on Qin Shang's incredible two…hundred…foot floating mansion； actually the size of a small cruise ship； which he designed and built in his own shipyard。 Upon arrival the guests were met by a staff of servants who would direct them to luxurious vans for the short drive to their sleeping quarters； where they were assigned their own private maids and valets during their stay。 They were also informed about dinner schedules and asked if they preferred any special dishes or particular wine。
Properly awed by the scope and splendor of the rebuilt temples； the guests relaxed in the gardens； lounged around the swimming pools or worked in the library； which was staffed with highly professional secretaries and specially equipped with the latest publications； puters and munications systems for businessmen and government officials so they could remain in convenient contact with their various offices。
Dinners were always formal。 Guests gathered in an immense antechamber that was a lush tropical garden with waterfalls； reflection ponds filled with vividly colored carp and a light perfumed mist that filtered from jets in the ceiling。 Women； to protect their hairstyles； sat under artistically dyed silk umbrellas。 After cocktails； they gathered in the great hall of the temple that served as a dining room and sat in massive chairs exotically carved with dragon legs and armrests。 Flatware was optional…chopsticks for Oriental guests； gold…plated utensils for those used to Western tastes。 Instead of the traditional long rectangular table with the host seated at its head； Qin Shang preferred a huge circular table with the guests fortably spaced around the outer circumference。 A narrow aisle was cut in one section of the table so gorgeous； svelte Chinese women in beautiful； form…fitting silk dresses with thigh…high slits in the skirts could serve a multitude of national dishes conveniently from the inside。 To Qin Shang's creative mind； this was far more practical than the time…honored method of serving over a guest's shoulder。
After everyone was seated； Qin Shang made his appearance in an elevator that came up through the floor。 He usually wore the expensive silk robes of a mandarin lord and sat on an ancient throne elevated two inches above the chairs of his guests。 Irrespective of status or nationality； Qin Shang acted as if every meal was a ceremonial occasion and he was the emperor。
Not surprisingly； ranking guests loved every minute of a stylishly staged dinner that was actually more of a feast。 After dinner； Qin Shang led them to a lavish theater where they were shown the latest feature films flown in from around the world。 They sat in soft； velvet chairs and wore earphones that translated the dialogue into their native language。 By the end of the program it was close to midnight。 A light buffet was laid out； and the guests mingled among themselves while Qin Shang would disappear into a private sitting room with a selected guest or two to discuss world markets or negotiate business deals。
This evening Qin Shang requested the presence of Zhu Kwan； the seventy…year…old scholar who was China's most respected historian。 Kwan was a little man with a smiling face and small； heavily lidded brown eyes。 He was invited to sit in a thickly cushioned wooden chair carved with lions and offered a small Ming…dynasty china cup of peach brandy。
Qin Shang smiled。 〃I wish to thank you for ing； Zhu Kwan。〃
〃I am grateful for your invitation；〃 Zhu Kwan replied graciously。 〃It is a great honor to be a guest in your magnificent home。〃
〃You are our country's greatest authority on ancient Chinese history and culture。 I requested your presence because I wanted to meet you and discuss a possible venture between us。〃 〃I must assume you want me to do research。〃 Qin Shang nodded。 〃I do。〃 〃How can I be of service？〃
〃Have you taken a close look at some of my treasures？〃 〃Yes indeed；〃 answered Zhu Kwan。 〃It is a rare treat for a historian to study our country's greatest artworks firsthand。 I had no idea so many pieces of our past still existed。 It is thought many of them were lost。 The magnificent bronze incense burners inlaid with gold and gemstones from the Chou dynasty； the bronze chariot with life…size driver and four horses from the Han dynasty…〃
〃Fakes； replicas！〃 Qin Shang snapped in a sudden display of torment。 〃What you consider masterworks of our ancestors were re…created from photographs of the originals。〃
Zhu Kwan was astonished and disillusioned at the same time。 〃They look so perfect； I was pletely fooled。〃
〃Not if you had time to study them under laboratory conditions。〃
〃Your artisans are extraordinary。 As skilled as those a thousand years ago。 On today's market your missioned works must be worth a fortune。〃
Qin Shang sat heavily in a chair opposite Zhu Kwan。 〃True； but reproductions are not priceless like the genuine objects。 That is why I'm delighted you accepted my invitation。 What I'd like you to do is pile an inventory of the art treasures that were known to exist prior to nineteen forty…eight； but have since disappeared。〃
Zhu Kwan eyed him steadily。 〃Are you prepared to pay a great sum of money for such a list？〃 〃I am。〃 〃Then you shall have a plete inventory itemizing every known art treasure that has been missing in the last fifty to sixty years by the end of the week。 You wish it delivered here or at your office in Hong Kong？〃
Qin Shang looked at him quizzically。 〃That is quite an exceptional mitment。 Are you sure you can fulfill my request in so short a time？〃
〃I have already accumulated a detailed description of the treasures over a period of thirty years；〃 explained Zhu Kwan。 〃It was a labor of love for my own personal satisfaction。 I only require a few days to put it in readable order。 Then you may have it free of charge。〃
〃That is most gracious of you； but I am not a man who asks for favors without pensation。〃
〃I will accept no money； but there is one provision。〃
〃You have but to name it。〃
〃I humbly ask that you use your enormous resources in an attempt to locate the lost treasures so they can be returned to the people of China。〃
Qin Shang nodded solemnly。 〃I promise to use every source at my mand。 Though I have only spent f
