Mystery One, Toyotomi's Secret Order

Wangshu...is still in that store. Zhang Wei looked at the lights of the houses in and around the park, and muttered to himself in the half-darkness, facing the chaos.

Matthew looked like a child who had committed a crime, while An Fen looked at Zhang Wei without saying a word.

"Matthew, you... promise that the same thing will never happen again."

"I promise you it won't happen again. I promise. Teacher."

"Okay! Nothing else... Good night, Matthew."

Zhang Wei turned around, picked up the bicycle, turned around and stepped on the bicycle.

"Teacher, where is my report?" Matthew asked after him.

"Don't worry! It's not bad, I... like your argument. But... remember to add comments later, this is very important."

"Yes. As ordered." Matthew replied quickly and loudly.

Back in Zhang Bin’s apartment in Manhattan, sitting at his desk, Zhang Bin tried his best to evoke memories, thinking about the "Ibn Batuta's Travel Notes" he had read in the past.Just, not too impressed.As for that nautical chart, he has no memory at all.

No matter how impulsive he is right now, he can't wait to rush into the bookstore immediately.But the night was already deep, looking at the pitch-black night outside, Zhang Wei could only hope that the sun at dawn would rise sooner.

Arabian Travels

Manhattan (Manhattan, NYC) in 1940

Early the next morning, Zhang Wei and a dozen of his colleagues stood in front of a second-hand bookstore at the intersection of Thirteenth Street and University Avenue (University Pl), waiting for the door to open.Within a quarter of an hour, a tall and bald figure appeared around the corner.The crowd who had been waiting silently began to commotion.Bill, who is in his sixties, is the owner of this second-hand bookstore. Like a living Swiss clock, he appears at the door of the bookstore on time, opening and closing the store, for decades.Many old customers all recognize him, and occasionally chat with him, and become listeners and book friends.

Old Bill, who is of Irish origin, has the tradition of hardworking and down-to-earth Irish people, punctual, serious and meticulous.In addition, he also has a head with super memory and compass positioning function, and his gaze is like a searchlight, providing book lovers with accurate book information and placement at any time.Sometimes Zhang Wei himself wondered how Bill's brain could hold so many things.He should have been recommended as director of the municipal library, or as a consultant.

Bill saw Zhang Wei from a long distance.But he neither deliberately quickened his pace nor slowed down, and still came to the door without any haste.

"Morning! Mr. Zhang Wei. You come to the shop to report so early... Are you reluctant to sleep last night?"

Bill guessed from Zhang Wei's slightly bloodshot eyes at a glance.

Zhang Wei shrugged and smiled bitterly.

"Bill. I'm looking for an Arabian travel book."

"Arabian Travels? Aladdin, or Alibaba?" Bill opened the lock without responding.

"No, it's Simba."

Zhang Qu's humor didn't slow down or speed up Old Bill's actions.

"I... came to find a friend of Simba's. His name is Ibn Batuta... The title of the book is "Ibn Batuta's Travel Notes."

Bill stopped, but didn't look back.

"Ibn Batuta's Travel Notes?...Sorry, I haven't heard of this book."

Bill opened the lock, turned around, and replied with a serious face.

"To be honest, I don't seem to have read any other Arabic books except the story of 'Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves'."

Old Bill returned honestly, unbolted the lock, and opened the iron door, and a familiar smell of ancient and simple books came out.Bill went in and turned on the light.The next few book friends waved their hands frequently to drive away the smell.But Zhang Wei didn't. He knew that Bill didn't say anything, but he was very jealous of this action.Like loathing his baby.Therefore, Bill gave these guys good looks, but Zhang Wei was one of the few exceptions, because he knew how to "respect" Bill's babies.

After a while, the store was brightly illuminated, and as soon as the bookstores poured in, Zhang Wei was left behind.

"Except for those ridiculous Hollywood movies where white people play Aladdin and Alibaba. The Western world's understanding of Islam and Arab civilization is really pitiful!"

Zhang Wei stepped into the store and spoke to the counter that was being cleaned.

At the same time, Bill's voice came from under the counter.

"Travel Notes is at the eighth aisle on the left... close to the back. You... find it yourself!"

Zhang Wei immediately walked towards the rows of huge walls that were as tall as the Great Wall behind him.The tall bookcase connected to the ceiling is like a covered maze.Once you step in, you may be trapped in this magical forest full of magic, fantasy, joy, sadness, joy, sorrow... and be unable or unwilling to extricate yourself all the time.But today, Zhang Wei didn’t have the leisure time. He climbed up and down, even knelt on the floor, and found “Ibn Batuta’s Travel Notes” at the bottom of the huge wall without much effort.

He stood upright, leaning against the wall of books, and eagerly flipped through the books.

However, the magic did not come as expected. Except for the torn page left by Matthew, there are no unexpected new discoveries in the travel notes.With a little melancholy, Zhang Wei took the book and returned to the counter at the door.

"Find the book so quickly."

Zhang Wei nodded, and handed the book in his hand to Bill.But the usual joy was missing on his face.Bill squinted and saw Zhang Wei's loss.Spread your hands, clap down, and put the book and those thick hands on the counter.

"Why, it seems that the results of today's treasure hunt... are not satisfactory?"

The exhaustion of waiting all night and sleepless will all flood Zhang Wei's face.

"I expected to find something here... I could find something I wanted. Obviously not, at least... not in this book, or should... say... not in this version."

Bill pushed the book aside, and propped his strong, thick hands on the counter, like a Titan trying to support the entire earth.

"Since it's not the version you want...you should find the version you want. It doesn't matter what the Arabic version...the Persian version...the Indian version, or the Chinese version! If you are determined to find something from it Come……"

Old Bill didn't preach in clichés, but like the reminder of the evening drum and the morning bell, he gave the half-awake and half-dream Zhang Wei a head-on blow.In an instant, Zhang Wei suddenly felt full of energy like a volcanic eruption and hope like the sun. The exhaustion of a sleepless night was like an angel with wings, and he rushed out of the door in an instant and went straight to the sky.

Bill saw the change in Zhang Wei's eyes, and put "Ibn Batuta's Travel Notes" back on the shelf behind him.

"Mr. Zhang Wei, I don't think you need this book now?"

"Bill! Thank you. I think you are the most valuable book in this bookstore; no, it's a treasure." Zhang Wei hurriedly smiled and flattered him.

"Of course! Knowledge is available to everyone; but wisdom is not available to everyone. Heh! Heh!"

Bill picked up another book, clapped his hands together, and smiled like a Chinese Maitreya Buddha.

After sincerely thanking the store owner, Zhang Wei immediately stepped out of the bookstore door, and now he had a plan in mind, where to find the "Ibn Batuta's Travel Notes" that Old Bill said next.

Self-investment

Manhattan (Manhattan, NYC) in 1940

An hour later, Zhang Wei appeared outside the office of Dr. D. Rietman, director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Seeing Raideman, Zhang Wei couldn't wait to say: "Teacher, there is something I want to ask for your help."

Seeing his lover, Redman seemed a little surprised and pleasantly surprised: "Champ! You came just in time, I just plan to see you in a few days. Why... do you need my help? Then tell me first!"

Behind the huge desk, Redman waved for Zhang Wei to come over.Zhang Wei walked directly to the chair opposite the curator's desk, and opened his mouth before sitting down.

"I saw a nautical chart...it looks familiar..."

"Is it a map? Haha..."

When Raideman heard Zhang Wei mentioning the map, he was stunned for a moment, and in a blink of an eye a strange but short-lived smile appeared, but Zhang Wei was busy telling the curator what he had discovered, so he didn't notice it.The old curator waved his lover to sit down.At the same time, he lay back on the back of the chair, his expression suddenly liberated, as if he had just thrown a hot potato out.

"It was meant to be. Champ, you are God's choice!"

"Destined? Destined to choose? Teacher, I don't understand what you mean?"

After Zhang Wei sat down, he looked at Raideman puzzled.But Redman, who is full of wisdom and strategy, smiled and talked about him, and changed the subject.

"What's up with your map?"

Zhang Wei, like an excited primary school student, couldn't wait to speak: "My student's final report included a nautical chart from "Ibn Batuta's Travel Notes". I think most of the routes in the nautical chart are consistent with what I know about China. The route Zheng He sailed in the Ming Dynasty was very...very "similar."

"Hmm! That's quite an interesting discovery."

The old curator raised his brows lightly, staring at Zhang Wei, as if reenacting the situation in class a long time ago, waiting for Zhang Wei's further explanation.

"So, I suspect... between Zheng He and Batuta... maybe... there is some unknown connection? So... I went to the bookstore this morning, found the book, and tried to find some relevant clues .”

"Result? New discovery?" The curator leaned forward, pretending to be listening, but a little disapproving.

Zhang Wei shook his head sadly.The old curator was not surprised at all, he straightened up and returned to his original shape.

"It's no surprise. Champ, you don't know that the Silk Road, the passage from Europe to China, has been going on for a long time.