The Necromancer of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 44 The First Auction of the Han Dynasty
Yuan Xu must be one of the very few sheriffs who do not go to the government to work.

Except for military and political affairs, he will intervene, and other affairs are fully entrusted to Tian Feng.

Zhen Yan, who was appointed to be in charge of the auction, let out the news early in the morning, and released the news that the first auction of the Han Dynasty was held in the Taiyuan government.

I have never heard of an auction, and many gentry and merchants came here out of curiosity.

Of course, merchants accounted for the largest proportion. Except for a few wealthy merchants, the status of ordinary merchants was low. Unless they were involved in lawsuits, it was impossible for them to enter the government.

They will not miss this opportunity just to experience going in and out of the government.

The auction was held as scheduled, and the gentry and merchants gathered outside the government early.

Under the escort of Deng Zhan, Yuan Xu went to the auction venue.

Tian Feng and Zhen Yan had already been waiting there.

Seeing him coming, the gathered gentry and merchants gave way one after another.

"I've seen you, son!" Tian Feng and Zhen Yan stepped forward to salute.

"How's the preparation going?" Yuan Xu asked.

"It's done." Zhen Yan replied: "Just wait for the son to come over, and then we can start."

"I'm ashamed to keep so many people waiting." Yuan Xu said so, but there was no embarrassment in his expression: "Actually, you don't need to wait for me."

"The treasure was given by you, and Taiyuan is under your rule, so how could it not wait." Zhen Yan said: "Young master, please enter the venue first."

Yuan Xu walked into the official residence and saw a long table made according to his orders outside the front gate.

The table was covered with a red cloth, and the auctioneer selected by Zhen Yan stood aside.

The auctioneer was a handsome young man.

When Yuan Xu and others entered the mansion, he bowed to salute.

After glancing at the auctioneer, Yuan Xu asked, "Is there no etiquette for the two of you?"

"Etiquette?" Zhen Yan was at a loss: "That's..."

"The beauty who brought the treasure to the stage and showed it to the auctioneers."

Zhen Yan was a little embarrassed: "Young master, you mean to find a beauty to show your face?"

"A face in life is for people to see." Yuan Xu said: "Women don't just spin and weave for men to play. They should also be given opportunities to do something they can do."

"I understand." Zhen Yan replied: "It's too late this time, I will arrange it next time."

Tian Feng and others accompanied Yuan Xu and sat down not far from the auction table.

After they were seated, the guards let in the gentry and merchants outside the door.

The auction is held in the government, and the impact is indeed not small.

Yuan Xu came to the venue in person again, and the people who came here admiringly felt that their trip was worthwhile before they saw the treasure.

Everyone entered the government building one after another and took their seats in order under the guidance of the guards.

After sitting down, someone came forward to register the name and address, and then issued a number plate.

"My lord, it's time to start." When the preparations were ready and the guests had arrived, Zhen Yan asked Yuan Xu for instructions.

"Let's start." Yuan Xu nodded.

Zhen Yan winked at the auctioneer.

The auctioneer lifted the gavel and knocked it on the table: "The first auction in the Han Dynasty will be held in the Taiyuan government as scheduled. Thank you for coming to join us."

The gavel was knocked down, the venue was silent, and eyes were focused on the auctioneer.

The guard delivered a tray covered with a red cloth.

The tray was placed on the table, and the auctioneer said, "The first treasure to be auctioned today is provided by the fourth son of the Yuan family, the current governor of Taiyuan."

Everyone's eyes moved to the tray again.

The auctioneer uncovered the red cloth, and what people saw was a small green frog.

Seeing that frog, Yuan Xu felt amused.

After 2000, toys worth a few dollars at night market stalls were put on the auction stage in a serious manner.

Spreading a snow-white silk square scarf on the palm of his hand, the auctioneer picked up the frog and showed it to everyone.

The gentry and businessmen who have never seen such exquisite craftsmanship, all of them stared round, with amazement on their faces.

"Do you all think that this frog is exquisitely crafted and is a rare and rare treasure?" the auctioneer asked.

Many people nodded in agreement.

"Actually, it's more than that." The auctioneer continued, "In fact, it's an amazing mechanism beast."

Everyone who has been impressed by the craftsmanship, heard that it is a mechanical beast, and their faces showed disbelief.

Holding the frog's foot, the auctioneer twisted the clockwork a few times.

He put the frog on the table, and the little frog jumped up by itself.

There was an uproar at the scene, and everyone stood up one after another.

The people in the back row couldn't see clearly, they all stretched their necks and stood on tiptoes, for fear of missing any moment.

"The starting price for this mechanical beast is one hundred copper coins. Every time the price is raised, it must not be less than one coin!" The auctioneer shouted: "Please bid!"

"One hundred and one!" Someone held up the number plate.

"One hundred and five!" Immediately, someone raised a sign and overtook him.

"One hundred and eight!"

……

"two hundred!"

"Five hundred hanging!" Among the crowd present, someone offered a sky-high price of five hundred hanging.

After 2000, the tin frog toy sold on the street stalls for a few yuan each, and no one cared about it, was sold at a sky-high price of [-] yuan when it was brought to the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Yuan Xu also looked confused.

He was still thinking about it, but he couldn't do it, so he summoned the dead to get some antiques from the Shang and Zhou Dynasties.

Now it seems that things after 2000 are obviously more popular than antiques.

The first lot sells, and the auctioneer takes out the second.

Yuan Xu saw at a glance that it was a bubble machine.

Fill it with soapy water and press a button to spray bubbles.

After 2000, although it is more expensive than the tin frog, it is only worth a few tens of dollars.

Looking at the skilled operation of the auctioneer, he knew that he must have been trained in advance.

"Have you taught him how to use these things?" He asked Zhen Yan.

"Yes." Zhen Yan replied: "Since it is an auction, it must be shown to the guests, so let him learn."

Yuan Xu nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

The auctioneer showed off the bubble machine, and when the machine sprayed out bubbles, everyone who participated in the auction exclaimed again.

Next, of course, is the auction.

A bubble machine was actually lifted to [-] hanging...

When the guests bid, Yuan Xu kept watching.

He found that the two bids were actually from the same person.

"Who is the bidder?" Yuan Xu asked Zhen Yan.

Zhen Yan looked at it: "Chen Liu Weizhen."

"Wei Zhen? What's the background?"

"His father, Wei Zi, once funded Cao Cao's army and died in Xingyang when he attacked Dong Zhuo." Zhen Yan replied: "Back then, Cao Cao and Chen Liu recruited troops with Wei's money."

"It seems that this bidding is also for Cao Cao." Yuan Xu smiled slightly: "I want to see if he will buy all the things that will be auctioned later, if the price is higher."

"Young master." Tian Feng reminded: "Wei Zhen must have been appointed by Cao Cao when he came to Taiyuan..."

"Of course I know." Yuan Xu replied: "Open the door for business, but still be afraid of people buying things? If he is willing to pay, we will sell to him. If we don't buy enough, we can add more."

(End of this chapter)