Chapter 1 Ye Tao's Decision

Ye Tao finally agreed to Suo Yong's plan. Although the plan still had many risky aspects, it was indeed the proper method to open the Canglong Box safely and without damage. But to avoid potential problems, such as the liquid in the box's interlayer seeping into the box and corroding the documents during the core cracking process, or any other mechanical methods of damaging the documents, Ye Tao devised all sorts of emergency measures. Similarly, many necessary preparations were also important to successfully open the Canglong Box.

The most important point was to create a space with almost complete sound isolation from the outside world for the unlocking work, so that the person opening the lock could rely on various monitoring devices to capture the slightest scraping and collision sounds of the components inside the box. These sounds would serve as the basis for cracking the box.

This location was not difficult to find. The basic construction of the Danyang Grand Theater's performance hall, which was under intense construction, had been completed and was undergoing interior decoration. The hall used the most comprehensive and thorough soundproofing measures and internal acoustic design to date.

The floor of the performance hall was made of teak wood covered with a long-haired velvet carpet, exuding nobility. Underneath the teak floor was a foundation of super-luxurious porous sound-absorbing cement and stone components, consistent with the materials of the surrounding walls. In this time and space, there were naturally no foams or porous fibers for Ye Tao to use. But as a designer, he had an unparalleled advantage on this project: disregard for cost. Thus, at the beginning of the design, Ye Tao came up with a method of mixing crushed coral into cement, creating a porous material with extremely light density, numerous pores, and a very obvious sound absorption effect. Although the value of crushed coral was far from that of individual coral trees regarded as symbols of wealth, collecting such a large amount of crushed coral was still a daunting project.

Needless to say, this kind of cement block was very fragile, and Ye Tao naturally would not use it for load-bearing purposes, but only as a heavy sound-absorbing material filling the gaps between the stone and steel frame. The ceiling of the performance hall was hung with brocade curtains, and then two layers of palm fiber woven fabrics were hung. These things, combined with the first generation of corrugated thin steel sheets in this time and space, also had excellent sound insulation effects. The reason why the ceiling did not use a heavy sound-absorbing structure was partly because the structure of the Grand Theater did not allow it, and partly because the ceiling of the performance hall was suspended on internal structural components and had little connection with external sounds.

In the decoration project of the performance hall, the work of pasting a thin layer of sponge on the surrounding walls had not yet been fully completed. However, the current performance hall already felt like another world. When construction was not taking place inside the performance hall, no matter how bustling the entire Grand Theater construction site was outside, as long as you walked into the hall through the winding, serpentine passage with three soundproof doors, you could feel the noise outside being left far behind. Only by listening very, very carefully could you catch a faint trace of sound.

When Ye Tao ordered the entire Grand Theater construction site to take a day off for testing, the performance hall was even more eerily silent. Ye Tao even specially found a needle and dropped it in the center of the stage. The sound of the needle falling to the ground was clearly transmitted to the ears of everyone in the performance hall at that time.

Thus, the work location was decided. The Grand Theater construction site was given a half-month vacation. The Imperial Guards then carefully searched every inch of land inside and outside the Grand Theater, tying up those things that might make noise due to collision or other reasons, covering them with canvas, and securing them to the ground. Even to avoid making noise, the Imperial Guards performing this special escort mission did not raise flags, because flags would make a rustling sound. Each person was given two extra pairs of light cloth shoes, because the sound of footsteps was much lighter than when wearing military boots. Although there were no detailed arrangements, the soldiers who understood the spirit even secretly began to bet on which unit could be the quietest.

Thus, some rules that made people constantly roll their eyes appeared, such as soldiers not being allowed to carry loose silver or copper coins when on guard duty or when returning to the camp to hand over their posts; not saluting or greeting each other when handing over posts, but using gestures instead; the looser parts of the uniforms had to be tied up with straps to avoid making noise; not wearing fish-scale metal armor (naturally, this was something that only the Dongping Imperial Guards, who had extremely abundant military equipment, could do; where would other armies get a few sets of armor to pick and choose from?)… The basic requirements for reducing noise quickly became a competition between the several Imperial Guard units on duty. Everyone racked their brains to come up with methods and also learned from each other's experiences, quickly turning this rather speechless noise reduction order into a very challenging and interesting thing. Five days later, the Canglong Box was transported to the Grand Theater's performance hall under heavy protection. And the entire Grand Theater construction site, which had been cleaned up properly, showed a dignified and solemn atmosphere, although no one was shouting slogans or military orders…

On the workbench in the center of the stage of the performance hall, the Canglong Box was firmly fixed. Facing the keyhole was a dense array of probes of various lengths and curvatures, available for use as needed. The Canglong Box itself was fixed on a specially made brass frame. In addition to several stethoscope-like devices, there were also seemingly powerful drills and other tools. If any abnormality was heard during the process of cracking the Canglong Box, these drills, which had been wound up long ago and were responsible for power output, would be fully activated, regardless of whether they would damage the Canglong Box. These drills and related tools were also specially made. Two of the drills were connected to a copper tube, and once the carved outer shell of the Canglong Box was pierced, the liquid inside would be drawn out. The pneumatic pump connected to the copper tube was also powerful. The tools placed behind the box, corresponding to the lock hole, were not so polite. Two drills were aimed at the pins connecting the lid and the body of the box. After directly destroying the pins, what followed was a small and powerful expander, and following the expander was a small bucket composed of two metal sheets that could open in a V-shape. Once the gap expanded to a certain extent, this small bucket would immediately insert into the box, clamping as much as possible between the two metal sheets of special materials, no longer fearing any erosion…

After so many thorough preparations, the final, and most important, link in cracking the Canglong Box finally arrived.

In the eyes of others, Ye Tao gave up the position of main operator in the cracking process in order to enhance the reputation of his senior brother. But how could outsiders understand the principle of specialization? It was true that Ye Tao was an extremely comprehensive craftsman and designer, and it was also thanks to Ye Tao that he designed a series of tools and devices for emergencies in just a few days. However, Suo Yong's efforts on the Canglong Box for so many days, and the sense of touch and hearing cultivated through many times of cracking and guessing imitations in his workshop, were not fake. The same extremely slight scraping sound, the sound of gears turning, the sound of metal components or components of different materials hinged together, and the sound made when subjected to pressure, might mean completely different things to Suo Yong and to Ye Tao, who was not familiar with these. Being in the same stage, assisting Suo Yong under the gaze of very few people, and being ready to operate those emergency tools at any time, this was where Ye Tao felt he could play the most effective role.

Before officially starting, Suo Yong was trembling with excitement. This Canglong Box, which had gradually evolved from an exquisitely designed object into a legend in so many historical events over so many years, was about to be cracked by him. For a person living in history, this was such an honor. As long as he succeeded, whether this Canglong Box finally ended its life as a legend or created another legend, history would not forget him: Suo Yong. And for a craftsman, this was inheritance, challenge, and even transcendence. As an ambitious craftsman, as a craftsman who already enjoyed a great reputation, many people, including Suo Yong, did not allow the reputation of predecessors to still weigh on their heads after so many years.

And Suo Yong never even thought that he might fail. Before he officially started, he not only calmed down and stopped trembling, but it could even be said that his hands had never been so steady. Not only his hands, but his entire body and mind had been adjusted to the strange stability and rhythm that appeared for cracking the Canglong Box. His heartbeat and breathing began to operate according to strict patterns, so that he could control his movements and coordinate his movements with his breathing, so as not to cause minor problems. And this state also meant Suo Yong's sublimation and transformation at this moment. When he needed stability, he calmed down. What a talented ability this was.

"Let's begin," Suo Yong nodded slightly, signaling to Ye Tao. Suo Yong and Ye Tao were sitting on either side of the workbench at this moment. Both of them had stethoscopes connected to the Canglong Box hanging on their ears, and although there were no fiber optic cameras or the like, it was only natural to prepare a huge magnifying glass for Suo Yong to make it easier for him to operate the probes. On the top of the stage and on the workbench, bright fish oil lamps lit up, enveloping the two in a peaceful but serious atmosphere, and in that light, the two began to work.

Suo Yong was already very familiar with opening the outer first lock core. He skillfully placed several probes in the correct positions, clamped them one by one on the specially made copper wheels that fixed the probes, and then gently turned the copper wheels. With a "click," the first lock core opened, and the lock hole of the second lock core was revealed. Suo Yong quickly inserted two copper tubes that were so thin that they could be called technical miracles into the two things that activated the timing mechanism, and gently pushed the push rod at the end of the copper tube, injecting the special glue to stick the two small levers. The sound of the reed vibrating and the gears turning that he had just heard in his ears immediately stopped.