Daqin Zhentiansi

Chapter 671 You come seeking my advice, but even my cabinet cannot make a decision.
In the end, all the thoughts in my mind turned into a labored, rolling sound in my throat.

Looking at the princess's determined gaze and feeling the pressure of everyone's attention focused on her and holding their breath in anticipation of her answer, Zuo Qian finally realized that this was no exaggeration.

This is probably the true intention of the Marquis of Qingyang's residence, and it is also very likely the solution that His Majesty would be happy to see.

Transform all the undercurrents of competition into a grand, open, and controllable feast of wealth!

Zuo Qian's Adam's apple bobbed laboriously, his expression shifting unpredictably, but a faint, barely suppressed glint of shock gradually rose in his eyes...

He slowly, almost silently, gasped.

"This……"

Behind him, after a brief silence, came a deafening roar, like a volcanic eruption!

“Wow——!!!”

The entire platform erupted in cheers!
auction?

Are they auctioning off the Zhenhai Pillar and the Xuan Turtle like commodities?
What a ridiculous joke!
This is simply...

This is simply unheard of!

This is a hundred times more impactful than all the previous disputed proposals combined!
Shock, anger, ecstasy, greed, doubt, speechlessness...

Countless complex emotions exploded on the faces of every powerful and influential person sitting on the high platform, like a jumble of mixed feelings!
All eyes were drawn to the six black tortoises and the towering pillars on their backs, as if drawn by a magnet!
The "Mysterious Turtle Sea-Suppressing Treasure Gathering," a spectacle destined to shake the capital and drive countless people to frenzy, has already begun with Princess Yu Ruo's casual words!
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royal palace.

West Garden.

Upon returning from the training ground, Zhao Yu was immediately summoned by Consort Qi.

In front of a stone table in the Imperial Garden, Consort Qi looked at Zhao Yu opposite her with a mixture of doting and reproach on her face.

"Why are you meddling in the affairs of that Xuan Turtle Pillar?"

Consort Qi already knew about what happened at the drill ground. When Princess Yu Ruo proposed auctioning the Black Tortoise and the Sea-Suppressing Pillar, Minister Zuo Qian of the Ministry of Revenue did not express his opinion on the spot.

He probably wouldn't dare to express his opinion for the time being.

The clamor and arguments among the military and civil officials present had already overwhelmed him.

Since those officials couldn't openly target Princess Yu Ruo, they could only direct their anger at Zuo Qian, who had no real authority.

Consort Qi reached out and pressed down Zhao Yu's hand, whispering, "Girl, when you opened a business and traded goods before, outsiders just thought it was like children playing house."

"Now that the business is so large, many people are eyeing it."

"Whether it's the Xuan Turtle or the Sea-Suppressing Pillar, their intrinsic value isn't high. What's valuable is the significance that Marquis Qingyang and His Majesty value."

Why did you get involved in this matter?

Upon hearing Consort Qi's words, Zhao Yu smiled slightly.

She knew that Consort Qi was concerned, which was why she said those things.

Consort Qi, being confined to the palace, saw mostly power struggles but was unaware of the conflicts of interest outside the palace.

It was only after Zhao Yu took charge of the business that he gradually realized there was a world of intrigue and power struggles beyond the imperial court.

This world is not just a world for martial artists, but a world for all people.

"Your Highness, rest assured, whether it's Minister Zuo or anyone else, they will ultimately have to choose to auction it off."

Zhao Yu looked at Consort Qi and blinked: "How about I make a bet with you, Consort Qi?"

……

The Imperial City, the Hall of State Affairs.

Privy Councilor Feng Lun sat in the hall, with Zuo Qian, the Minister of Revenue who had come to see him, and Gongsun Yan, the Vice Minister of Works, on either side.

Minister of Works Du Ruhui has been in seclusion for over a year, and the affairs of the Ministry of Works are now being managed by Vice Ministers Gongsun Yan and Chu Ting.

Chu Ting mainly managed the Weapon Refining Hall, while Gongsun Yan handled most of the Ministry of Works' external affairs.

Gongsun Yan was the emperor's son-in-law and quite learned. Although he could never reach the position of Minister of Works, his connections within the capital were extensive. "Minister Zuo, since His Majesty has ordered the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue to handle this matter, and you have come to me, the Grand Secretariat, we are unable to make a decision..."

Feng Lun looked at the two people in front of him and gently shook his head.

With the position of Grand Secretary in the Cabinet still undecided, how could Feng Lun have the mind to get involved in the affairs of the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue?
Moreover, this matter is clearly a hot potato.

If it's handled well, the credit will go to the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works.

If not handled properly, it will only make you a laughingstock.

“No, Lord Feng, you can’t get away at a time like this.” Zuo Qian reached out and tugged at Feng Lun’s sleeve. “Our Ministry of Revenue provides full support to the Privy Council and the Cabinet, both big and small.”

Turning his head, he looked at Gongsun Yan: "Gongsun, how about this, you withdraw all the craftsmen from the Ministry of Works, and postpone the reconstruction of the government offices in the capital."

Gongsun Yan nodded.

Feng Lun glared at him: "You old bastard, that's really underhanded."

He spread his hands and said, "Alright, it's just that your Ministry of Works and Ministry of Revenue can't make up your minds. I'll go and report to His Majesty and ask him to make a decision."

Upon hearing Feng Lun's words, Gongsun Yan coughed lightly: "Privy Councilor, if the matter requires His Majesty's decision, we would not need to come to you."

"His Majesty instructed us to make the arrangements. If we were to pass the buck back to His Majesty now, wouldn't our Ministry of Works and Ministry of Revenue appear utterly incompetent?"

Feng Lun opened his mouth, but for a moment he was speechless.

The three people in the hall fell silent.

After a moment, Feng Lun narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, "Actually, the auction that Princess Yu Ruo mentioned is not impossible to do."

"However, this matter requires careful consideration."

His eyes narrowed, and his fingers tapped lightly on the table: "The one who tied the knot must untie it. Instead of coming to me, you should go find Princess Yu Ruo..."

Gongsun Yan and Zuo Qian exchanged a glance and nodded slightly.

Two days later, news spread from the capital.

The Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue authorized the Jingzhao Prefecture to oversee the auction of the Black Tortoise and the Sea-Suppressing Pillar.

It is said that this plan was obtained by the Minister of Revenue personally visiting the Yu Yuan Trading Company to consult with Princess Yu Ruo.

Following Princess Yu Ruo's suggestion, the Jingzhao Prefecture auctioned off the first black tortoise and the first sea-suppressing pillar.

It is said that the Minister of Revenue set a reserve price for the Black Tortoise and the Sea-Suppressing Pillar, stipulating that the two items must be auctioned for no less than three million taels of gold.

Because activating the teleportation array from the East Sea all the way to the Imperial City would cost at least 30 million taels of gold.

According to Minister Zuo, it would be best to break even.

This way, we can also shut up the censors in the Censorate.

To ensure sufficient participants, the Jingzhao Prefecture not only invited Princess Yueyao of the Yuyuan Trading Company to preside over the auction, but also promoted the event in advance, following the auction methods of the Yuyuan Trading Company.

Unexpectedly, the 30,000 copies of the scrolls with the Zhenhai Pillar engravings, each priced at 100 taels of gold, sold out in half a day.

The price of each book was driven up to three hundred taels of gold on the same day.

One hundred thousand copies of the Xuanwu turtle shell and scales were printed, priced at twenty taels of silver each, and an additional five hundred thousand copies were printed in two days.

Thirty-two restaurants in the imperial city purchased five hundred catties of Xuan Turtle Blood in advance.

Throughout the imperial city, long queues of people lined up to order the blood offerings from the Xuan Turtle.

Even a single serving of Xuan Gui Blood Noodles costs twenty taels of silver.

When the news reached the Ministry of Revenue, Zuo Qian sat behind his desk, his face completely blank.

"No way, how could the Xuan Turtle and the Sea-Suppressing Pillar be attracting so much attention..."

It should be noted that the price of these rubbings alone, along with the tortoise blood sold, has already exceeded the price that Minister Zuo previously set for the Black Tortoise and the Sea-Suppressing Pillar.

(End of this chapter)