Dark Tombs of Loess: My Personal Experience of Tomb Robbery in Guanzhong

My name is Chen Shouzhuo, a native of Fengqiyuan. In the 1980s when material was scarce, there was an old saying circulating on the plateau: "There are treasures under the plateau, and gold grows in the soil." However, my grandfather warned me: The soil on the plateau buries our ancestors, not our wealth. Whoever breaks the rules breaks the rules. But after the wheat harvest that year, a group of foreigners carrying canvas bags and holding Luoyang shovels broke into the village. Their eyes are vicious and they can point out the treasures everywhere; they are generous and can coax the young people in the village to leak the news. I wanted to be a bystander and make a living, but a sudden landslide forced me to be exposed under the dark soil. Hidden there are the rammed earth walls of ancient settlements, pottery inscriptions with inscriptions, and a secret that could alarm the entire Guanzhong Basin. Grandpa was right, stirring up trouble will bring disaster. But what I'm more afraid of is that the hearts of those corrupted by money are more gloomy than the ancient tombs below. This is a past story about loess and taboos that I have personally experienced. I would like to dedicate this book to every Guanzhong person who protects the land and ancient times.