Sui Dynasty: I, Yang Guang, am both scrupulous and stable

Chapter 80 Auction

Yang Guang did not deliberately conceal the matter of taking the Japanese envoys into custody, so it spread quickly. The ministers in the court all knew about it. Although everyone may not know where the Japanese were, this behavior was considered rude to them.

The discussion started quickly, but news came from the palace that the emperor had convicted the Japanese envoy of treason. Before it spread, the conclusion was reached, and the emperor acquiesced to Yang Guang's private detention of the Japanese envoy.

The eldest uncle arrived at the Jin Palace at noon. As the prince of Xi Liang, he estimated that he would have to live in Chang'an City for a long time. There were no big restrictions and he could move freely in the city, so he came to see his sister.

Yang Guang welcomed him into the house and met Xiao Menglan directly. As his elder brother, Xiao Cong loved Xiao Menglan very much. When they met, he asked: "Menglan, how have you been these past two days?"

"Thank you for your concern, brother. Your Highness, Prince Jin, treats me very well."

Looking at his rosy and shiny complexion and the smile on his lips when he spoke, he knew that this was not an act.

"That's good."

Wang Yi came to Yang Guang's ear and whispered a few words. Yang Guang said apologetically: "Meng Lan, uncle, I made an appointment with someone today to talk about the auction. I have to go out first, so you guys talk first."

Xiao Cong became interested when he heard about the auction: "Your Highness, Prince Jin, what is an auction?"

"It's a model where everyone bids together to buy and sell precious commodities. If my uncle is interested, you might as well come with me to have a look. Today will be the first one."

Xiao Cong agreed immediately.

Yang Guang glanced at Xiao Menglan: "Menglan, come with me."

"Can I?"

"nature."

Yang Guang took Xiao Menglan with him when he set off this time. Xiao Menglan rode in a carriage, while Yang Guang and Xiao Cong rode horses and came to the market.

As the official organizer, Yun Dingxing has prepared a large room with an auction table in the front, a hall in the middle, and private rooms on the side. Yesterday, he sent out invitations to everyone in the city. Celebrities came to participate in today's auction, and the invitation also included the main items to be auctioned today.

This is a new model. The entire process was instructed by Yang Guang, but the specific operation was done by Yun Dingxing.

The renovated hall can accommodate 100 people. Due to the original size, it cannot be expanded. After checking the identity at the door and receiving the number plate, someone led Yang Guang to the box.

Walking along the way, there are exquisite exhibits in the corridor, and there are also many ceremonial women prepared, mainly Orchid and Silla maids.

The private room was temporarily built on the second floor, and the privacy was very poor. In fact, it was separated and decorated with wooden boards.

But it’s understandable for the first time.

Looking towards the hall below, before the auction begins, many people will flock to the exhibition area to view the exhibits, taste tea, communicate, etc. In addition, the auction staff will promote the items to be auctioned on site to arouse everyone's interest. .As the auction approaches, crowds will gather and the atmosphere will become increasingly heated.

Xiao Menglan looked at the scene here curiously: "Your Highness, the people here are all high-status people. This auction is like a large banquet, but the theme is not a happy event, but the buying and selling of items."

"Well, that's understandable, but I'm not satisfied with it. It's not high-end enough. The decoration and process are not high-end enough to give people a high-end feeling."

"Why do you want to be high-end?"

“Only the high end will get these people to spend money on it.”

Xiao Menglan didn't seem to understand, but Xiao Cong felt it. He looked at the list of goods in his hand. These works of art and antiques themselves have no absolute value. People's love and attention to this product, and the product The story behind it and the increase in identity value it can bring to the owner determine its value.

The more high-end the auction, the better the story it tells, and the higher the value.

People like to show off, but they can’t show off things that have no basis or reason. When you go to your home, if you want to show off calligraphy and painting, you have to say which famous artist’s masterpiece they are. If you want to show off antiques, you need to say which historical celebrity left them. .

Pretending is a fundamental need of human beings. As long as the need for pretense exists, the value of artwork will become higher and higher.

Why are antiques in prosperous times and gold in troubled times?

Because gold is an absolute value, while antique calligraphy and paintings have a pretentious value. The better the society develops, the more money people have, and the higher the need for pretentiousness among rich people, the more valuable these things will be.

People kept coming in. Yang Guang saw Yang Yong, and Yang Yong also saw him, walked up to the second floor and sat on the other side.

The auction started, and a beautiful woman with an excellent figure walked onto the stage, which aroused everyone's exclamation.

Yang Guang didn't understand, so Wang Yi explained to him: "Your Highness, this is the Nanxi girl from Yunya Pavilion. I think Yun Dingxing spent a lot of money to invite her."

"Oh." Yang Guang nodded slightly, then looked at Wang Yi doubtfully: "How did you know?"

"Your Highness has never eaten pork, but he has always seen pigs running away."

"Look less at things you shouldn't look at."

At this time, the girl from Nanxi below spoke with a soft and charming voice. She was worthy of being an oiran, a natural charmer. A group of gentlemen in the hall looked at her with smiles, and many of them were his regular customers.

"Dear distinguished guests of the auction, good evening! Welcome to this auction. I am Nan Xi, tonight's host. I am very honored to serve you." "Tonight, everyone who understands art is here. People, what is art? Art is human beings’ pursuit and love for beautiful things. Our auction will present a series of unique and precious items, which contain the accumulation of traditional culture and history.”

As her voice fell, an object covered with red cloth was lifted up. It looked like it was about one meter square.

"When you are an official, you should be in charge of Jinwu, and when you are married, you should marry Yin Lihua."

Nanxi girl murmured, arousing everyone's emotions.

"The love story between Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty Liu Xiu and his queen Yin Lihua was so touching that it has been praised for thousands of years after their death. One of our friends found the portrait of Yin Lihua that Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty painted for him. It has been I found all the masters and appraised it together, and the seal was the jade seal passed down from the country."

In fact, this thing is quite easy to verify in this era, because the Jade Seal of Chuan Guo is in Yang Jian's palace, and it has been covered by many imperial edicts. Just compare it, and a painting is covered with the Jade Seal of Chuan Guo, which shows that Liu Xiu was the one who painted it. How much attention is paid to it.

When the painting unfolded, Yang Guang looked at the painting carefully. The painting was actually very ordinary. Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty did not pass down his poems and paintings. However, it was even more precious because the number of paintings by Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty was small, and perhaps even This painting, coupled with the fact that it represents the old saying that when marrying a wife, you should marry Yin Lihua, has increased its value several times, especially for those who need to please their wives at home.

Isn't it better to send this painting than to send 1314?
The emperor is not present today, which is a big loss.

The voice of the girl from Nanxi came: "The starting price is 300 guan. Each increase in price must not be less than 20 guan. If you need to increase the price, please raise your sign."

"100 taels of gold!"

When the Nanxi girl's voice fell, Yang Guang's voice rang out from the second floor, holding up the number plate confidently.

This shocked everyone from the beginning. It was 300 taels of gold, but you jumped directly to 100 taels of gold. This price was too harsh.

Xiao Menglan and Xiao Cong were startled. Xiao Menglan hurriedly whispered: "Your Highness, your bid is too high."

Yang Guang said loudly with a smile: "This is a work handed down by Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty, and it is stamped with a jade seal. He painted it for his wife in his own handwriting. It is worth the price, 300 pieces..."

Yang Guang shook his head: "It insults the status of Emperor Guangwu."

At this time, Yang Guang was the center of everyone. Yang Yong was surprised to find that this place was such a good place to show off. As long as you shout out a high price, everyone will look at you. What Yang Guang said just now was full of pretentiousness. , quite the style of an artist, the Nanxi girl looked at him with admiration in her eyes.

Once the level of art reaches the aristocracy, it means face, a sense of superiority.

Money is just a number to them, but the auction house can display both their money and their artistic accomplishment.

The world focuses on you.

Life spans only a few decades. If you have wine now, you will get drunk now. When you are in the spotlight, you will be in the spotlight. If you don’t show off in this life, you might as well go home and raise pigs.

"150 taels!"

Yang Yong immediately raised his number plate, and everyone looked at him again. Yang Yong also imitated Yang Guang and said: "The story of Emperor Guangwu and Yin Lihua is touching, and it should be worth the price.

"Second brother, I don't want to rob this painting because of my brother. I just really like it. Second brother, please don't rob it."

"Brother Emperor, this is wrong. You and I will bid in the auction. The one with the highest price will get it, 200 taels."

"250 taels!"

Xiao Cong looked at the two Sui princes who were not giving in to each other. He couldn't help but sigh that the Sui princes were really rich. They fought so blatantly for a painting. He even thought about how much his brother-in-law had embezzled from Daxing City. property.

"300 taels!"

"350 taels!"

When the price reached 350 taels, it stopped. Yang Guang stretched out his hand and said, "Brother, please don't hurt your kindness. Since your brother wants it so much, I'll give it up."

Yang Yong had a successful expression on his face: "You're welcome as a brother."

Some people show their dignity in front of others, while others hold money in sacks behind them.

This painting was a gift given by Yun Dingxing in order to please Yang Guang. Yang Guang changed hands and put it at the auction. After deducting the transaction fee, the money went into Yang Guang's pocket, and part of the transaction fee would also go to Yang Guang. Who makes Yang Guang the largest shareholder behind it?

The auction continued. Yang Guang whispered to Xiao Menglan that the painting actually belonged to him. After hearing this, Xiao Menglan smiled softly: "Your Highness, you..."

When Xiao Cong heard this, he asked: "Your Highness, you are also organizing this auction. Can you please allow me to ask a question, why is Your Highness organizing this auction?"

"The auction is just the beginning. You have also seen that our country in the Sui Dynasty is rich and powerful, and the restaurant and entertainment industries are becoming more and more prosperous. In the future, this will be one of the largest economic incomes in Daxing City. Today is a test of the water. Let's see Based on everyone’s reaction, I plan to plan a special place in Daxing City called Entertainment Square, where auctions, restaurants, etc. will gather, and of course there will be a casino.”

"casino?!"

"Call it nicer, call it gambling."

(End of this chapter)