Dawn of the Empire

Chapter 386

After Lin Jingwan performed the dance, the guests in the shop continued to discuss endlessly, and the guests at the table next to her even blushed over whether her waist circumference was 38 foot [-] inches or [-] foot [-] inches.Zhao Xingde shook his head secretly.The servants of Changsheng Building, Qizhou Bajiao, cleaned up the center of the store.At this time, a middle-aged man wearing a purple silk robe and a white jade pendant walked out slowly, and the voice of discussion suddenly weakened.I saw his face was serious, he cupped his hands towards the surroundings, and said in a loud voice: "Excuse me, I am the head of the [-] Jade Shops in Chang'an, Shangguan Boyu." As soon as he finished speaking, people around greeted him Said: "Shangguan is the first to be polite." "Shangguan is the first to meet. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Outside Chang'an City is the autonomous area of ​​the Chamber of Commerce, and among the Chamber of Commerce, eight guilds are the most powerful, which are often called the Eight Great Banks of Chang'an, referring to the Silk Cotton Cloth Shop, the Gold, Silver and Bronze Ware Shop, the Jade Shop, and the Iron Shop. Tin and wooden wares, spices and gems, grain and fodder, shops and boats, money lenders, and horses, cattle and alpacas.The combination of these eight major guilds is enough to decide major events in the autonomous region of the Chamber of Commerce outside Chang'an City. It not only affects the market in Guanzhong, but also has influence on the markets in Shuzhong, Hezhong, and even Liao and Song.Although the imperial court promulgated the "Self-Defense City Change Law", the power of the guilds has only been weakened.Even the Prime Minister's Mansion had to pay attention to the voice of the Eight Great Banks in Chang'an.The jade store where Shangguan Boyu works controls the production of stone mines and water veins in the entire Western Regions, Kunlun Mountains, and Lantian Mountains. Most of the jade on the market in Xia, Liao, and Song is sold by 38 jade stores. It was found that the 38 jade shops have been connected for generations, and they have maintained a stable rise in the market prices of jade and jade articles.The so-called gold has a price and jade is priceless. In Song Dynasty and Liao Dynasty, wealthy businessmen and tycoons were willing to pay hundreds, even thousands, and tens of thousands of silver coins in order to buy various exquisite jade articles from major jade shops. The more expensive the better, and in the end, Yuhang will ship at a par price to stabilize the skyrocketing market price.In Chang'an Commercial City, as the head of the 38 jade shops, Shangguan Boyu is a highly prestigious figure who is well-received by everyone.

"Everyone knows that the beauty of jade has five virtues, which are benevolence, righteousness, wisdom, courage, and cleanliness. Moisturizing is warm, and the formula of benevolence is also known; Xie Li comes from the outside, and one can know the middle, which is the formula of righteousness; its sound is comfortable. Yang, specialize in hearing from afar, the formula of wisdom; unyielding but not broken, the formula of courage; sharp and honest but not shy, the formula of cleanliness." Shangguan Boyu's voice is pleasing to the ears, and everyone has already known the fifth of jade. De, listening to the head of the jade shop, the feeling is different from usual, his voice is gentle and slow, "As the saying goes, there are 38 jade houses in Chang'an, and the far ones can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty. Dealing with jade, I also received some benefits of jade virtues. I am convinced that this jade business cannot be established without sincerity and trust. The 38 jade shops in Chang'an have operated jade wares for three to four hundred years. It is a word of sincerity, plus a word of letter. The jade and jade wares produced are all from the mine veins and water veins of Kunlun Mountain in the Western Region and Lantian Mountain in Guanzhong. I have never dared to pass off other variegated stones as beautiful jade. "

Everyone nodded frequently, but Shangguan Boyu's eyes gradually became sharper, and he said in a deep voice: "However, recently, some unscrupulous traders have collected some thief stones from Nanman to pretend to be jade, and carved them into tools to dazzle people's eyes and eyes, and confuse jade virtues. Corrupting customs is really a great disgrace to my jade shop." He waved his hand, and two servants came up with a tea table, all kinds of rings, bracelets, pendants and cups were crystal clear, emerald red, emerald green, ice flowers fluttering in the air. The candles in the store are flickering with seductive light.

Zhao Xingde recognized the origin of this kind of stone at a glance, and they are all rare top grades in later generations. He couldn't help looking at Shangguan Boyu in surprise, only to see that his face was sinking like water, he raised his own jade pendant with his left hand, and picked up the table with his right hand. The last thing, slowly said: "Although these things look like beautiful jade, they are actually thief stones. Jade has a gentle nature, restrained like a gentleman, and elegant like a lady. Wearing it can nourish people and heal diseases with its gentle nature." The thief stone is 'cold' in nature, 'cool' and colorful, and wearing it makes people feel cool and frivolous, and if you wear it for a long time, you may even lose your life." Shangguan Boyu frowned, as if he was not used to it He sighed and said, "According to the rules of the market, some people are willing to buy and some are willing to sell, and I don't care about them. However, I have dealt with jade wares all my life, and I really don't want the world to be deceived by thieves. This is why the old man collected as many thief stones as possible from the market in Chang'an, and destroyed them in public, so as to alert the world to those who are deceived by thief stones."

"Come here!" He waved his hand again, and two servants brought out a basket, which fell on the table mercilessly.

"The old man has invited the high-ranking scholars in Chang'an to testify, so he smashed these thieves' stones today to protect Yude. In the future, the old man and the 38 jade houses will write a letter to the Huguo Mansion, asking the court to send troops as soon as possible to crusade against the Southern barbarians. 'Acupoint', destroyed the mine vein of the thief stone, and eliminated harm for the people of the world!" While Shangguan Boyu was speaking, the servants walked around the banquet and invited the six distinguished guests from the private room upstairs, and another servant walked over to Chen Qianli Asking each other in front of him, Chen Qianli apologized to Zhao Xingde, restrained his smile, and walked to the middle of the shop solemnly.Seven people stood in a row in front of the table, and the servants handed the round hammers to everyone.The hammer was huge and extremely heavy. Eight people, including Chen Qianli, held it with both hands.Some of the guests in the Changsheng Building knew the inside story, but some did not expect to see such a hot scene, their faces were full of excitement, and a few of them took out Uncle Shangguan from their pockets. The "thief stone" Yu mentioned was placed on the table with a look of disdain, and a few others quietly tucked the jade pendants around their waists into their belts, for fear that others would see them.After all the male guests stood up, the servants invited Lin Jingwan out of the inner room. She stood in front of the desk with a frosty mask, and when she held a huge hammer in her slender hands, the atmosphere in the shop was overwhelming. It even reached a climax.

"Smash—" I don't know who yelled first.

"Smash! Smash! Smash!" Everyone shouted rhythmically, many guests stretched their necks, and some stood up, and those who 'touched' the thief stone on the table just now shouted loudly Saying "Smash! Smash! Smash!" While holding the thief stone in his hand, he lifted it up high, only to fall heavily to the ground.

Zhao Xingde couldn't help being speechless, he actually knew all the eight people in this row.In addition to Shangguan Boyu, the head of the Yuxing line, and Lin Jingwan, the dancer, there are also Chang'an tribunes Han Guogong Li Chan, Chang'an regiment trainer Chen Qianli, Chang'an commander Zhou Longxi, Chang'an scholar's office deputy Shi Ruan Changling, the elder of the Inquisition Su Qianren, Zheng Jianyan, Deputy Secretary of Trade Cao of the Prime Minister's Mansion.In terms of official qualifications, Chen Qianli was the lowest among the six behind.

"Korean officials please give orders—" Shangguan Boyu humbly said.Li Chan nodded slightly, took a breath and said: "Everyone, get ready, one-two-three!" He smashed down the hammer in his hand, only to hear a few crisp crackling sounds, those crystal clear The objects were immediately smashed into pieces. After the dignitaries smashed them a few times, they put down the hammer, and the servants came up. In order to prevent the fragments from hurting people, they wrapped all these objects tightly with tablecloths and put them on the table. When they got to the ground, they swung the hammer again in front of everyone, no matter what three seven or twenty one, until the bag that was originally bulging became flat, presumably all the objects inside were reduced to debris, and then they didn't stop.

With the slamming of the hammer and hammer, the excitement of the customers in the store reached the highest point, and everyone cheered loudly, thanking themselves for witnessing this rare act of safeguarding jade virtue.Chen Qianli clapped his hands, bowed his hands to those around who applauded loudly, then returned to his seat, and smiled at Zhao Xingde: "How is this scene interesting?"

"Why?" Zhao Xingde asked in confusion.

Chen Qianli smiled slightly, raised the teacup, took a sip, and said in a deep voice: "Do you know that the jade vein mines in the Western Regions and Lantian bring much revenue to the imperial court every year, and are sold to the Liao Dynasty through 38 jade shops?" How much silk tea and cattle and sheep can the jade wares of the Song and Song Dynasties exchange for us every year?" His eyes flashed, and he smiled slightly, "There are still many barbarian tribes who have not conquered Annan when the Kingdom of Shu conquered Annan. In the past month, this thief stone mine was produced, which not only interfered with the jade market, but also funded the rebellion of the southern barbarians, so today's move was made. Moreover, the 36 jade shops are not just throwing thief stones here."

"But." Zhao Xingde hesitated, "Is this also okay?"

"Of course it's possible." Chen Qianli laughed, "What is jade? Jade has five virtues? Right and wrong are all about cultural relics. Let me ask you, there is no one in the world who can compete with my Xia country for cultural relics, except for Song. Nowhere else. But the state of Song itself does not produce jade. The dignitaries of the state of Song have already bought a large amount of jade, and it is even more impossible to accept the stones of thieves. Liao, barbarians?" In this regard, they are just following us and Song Guo."

At this time, someone beside him said angrily: "Speaking of this thief stone, it was originally worthless. Later, the merchants of the Song Dynasty discovered it and transported it to the north to deceive barbarians. After a while, it spread to Guanzhong, where is our Xia country, how can we allow this kind of vile thing to continue."

Zhao Xingde was dumbfounded for a while, Chen Qianli said the truth, the only ones who can compete for cultural relics are the Kanto and Kansai.Although the soldiers and horses of the Song State were not strong, the high-quality pens, inks, paper and inkstones produced by the Song State, the cloth with unusual patterns, the tea cakes with complicated processes, and the exquisite porcelain were all sold well in the Xia State. It can make Kanto's aesthetics and temperament affect Kansai.What Zhao Xingde saw in Liaodong, Liao and Jurchen utensils also have merits, but people in the Central Plains are contemptuous and would never use them.

Zhao Xingde took a sip of tea and sighed in his heart, thinking of the Yunzhou City where the war was lingering, he didn't know how the Liao and Song battles would end.The Great Song Dynasty is indeed romantic in cultural relics, but in many cases, the outcome of the war cannot be determined by the literary talent alone.In this era, without strong force, everything is nothing.