cc.floodtide-第54部分

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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