Da Ming: Father, step aside, I'll be the prime minister!

Chapter 198 West Mountain Auction! Is the Glazed Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow a priceless treasure of the Eastern Han Dynasty?
"Congratulations to Manager Tong Ziming for winning fifty glass beads at a bid of two thousand five hundred taels."

"Congratulations to Manager Hu Maozhi for winning ten glass bowls at a bid of three thousand taels."

The Xishan Theater is brightly lit tonight.

Gentry and merchants of all ranks from the capital and even from Beizhili gathered here to celebrate this grand event.

The auction's host, Yu Xiangdou, stood on the stage, looking radiant as he introduced each of the items up for auction.

After several rounds of bidding, the gentry and merchants present had become accustomed to the bidding rules of Xishan; it was simply a matter of raising paddles and calling out prices.

This novel way of selling is something I've never seen before, yet it's incredibly exciting.

Those who were initially skeptical are now eager to try their luck after seeing the various high-quality glass products, wondering what other treasures Zhang Yunxiu will bring out.

But the most excited person was none other than the Wanli Emperor, who was sitting in a private room on the second floor.

Upon hearing Yu Xiangdou's chanting below, he immediately jumped up from his seat and grabbed the railing.

Even though the distance wasn't too far, they still raised their binoculars to observe the head's every move.

"Your Majesty, please be extremely careful!"

The eunuch Zhang Cheng watched with trepidation, fearing that the emperor might fall from the second floor.

But the Wanli Emperor was extremely excited and slapped the railing, saying something.

"Hey! You've already made five thousand taels? Shiyuan, aren't all these things piled up like mountains in the warehouse? Bring them all out, I'll grant a general amnesty next year!"

This money is so easy to earn!

However, Zhang Yunxiu was somewhat speechless. He stared at the creaking railing and explained.

"Your Majesty may not know this, but the glassware in this storeroom must not be taken out lightly. If it comes out into the world, its price will not be the same."

The Wanli Emperor's plump face showed some displeasure: "Why is that? Shouldn't the more the better?"

Given Zhu Yijun's average appearance, it was naturally impossible for him to understand things as quickly as Zhang Juzheng.

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and said.

As Ge Zhichuan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty said, "Things are valued for their scarcity and devalued for their abundance."

The reason why this glass is so valuable is simply because our Great Ming Dynasty was unable to produce it in large quantities before, and the clear and exquisite glass that we needed had to purchase from the West.

Scarcity and difficulty in acquisition naturally increase their value.

He spread his hands to explain.

"If everyone knew that we had piles of glass in our warehouse, would they still be willing to buy it at a high price?"

Zhang Yunxiu initially intended to mass-produce it, but the production capacity of the Ming Dynasty was simply too much to keep up with.

Before productivity develops and machines like the steam engine are invented, it is more appropriate to pursue a high-quality product strategy.

Ordinary people wouldn't care about luxury items like glass.

Those who are eager to acquire glass are only high-ranking officials and nobles. To make money from them, it is natural to create hype and highlight the "luxury" attribute of glass.

At this auction, Zhang Yunxiu selected fifty or sixty exquisite pieces, the most beautiful and unique among thousands of glass items.

It's precisely this minimalist yet beautiful style that drives people crazy!
"Is that so?" The Wanli Emperor raised an eyebrow. "This is your so-called economic principle?"

After the publication of "The Wealth of Nations," the emperor naturally read a lot of it, but he only scratched the surface.

"It's a matter of supply and demand in economics, and there's also the marginal effect," Zhang Yunxiu added accurately.

Emperor Wanli felt a little dizzy, but he then said very firmly.

"The most important thing is to make money!"

Currently, the emperor owns nearly 60% of the shares in the Xishan workshop, meaning that for every 10,000 taels of revenue, he can receive 6,000 taels.

These funds did not go into the national treasury, but instead went directly into the emperor's private treasury.

Zhang Yunxiu narrowed his eyes and said solemnly, "However, Your Majesty should be careful not to spread the word that we have a stockpile of silver, otherwise it will be difficult to earn this silver."

"I will keep my mouth shut!"

The Wanli Emperor's small eyes gleamed with an extreme desire for money.

Ultimately, it was too oppressive. During his nine years as emperor, whether it was Empress Dowager Li, Zhang Juzheng, or the court officials, they all told him to be diligent and frugal and to care about the people of the world.

Even the expenses in the palace were reduced again and again.

However, the emperor then discovered that those ministers who spoke of benevolence and morality and appeared to be morally upright were actually living extremely extravagant lives in private.

Some people have slept with more concubines than they, the emperor, have ever done so!

After thinking for a moment, to prevent any unexpected events, Emperor Wanli turned his attention to the third person present.

"Zhang Banban!"

Zhang Cheng immediately knelt down and bowed.

"The servant is here."

"You must not reveal a single word of what happened today. If you ruin my business, I will skin you alive, tear you apart, and execute you by slow slicing!"

"This servant would never dare! This servant would never dare!"

Zhang Cheng was so frightened he wet himself, banging his head repeatedly. As the emperor's personal eunuch, his position was not as secure as Feng Bao's. Although he had some ulterior motives, he naturally dared not overstep his bounds in this matter.

The atmosphere inside the theater was becoming increasingly lively.

Especially after several "collectibles" were auctioned off, the items were delivered directly to the buyers, causing a series of gasps of surprise from the crowd.

The exquisite glass bowl was held in a brocade box, with a small kerosene lamp carefully designed at the bottom. The light emitted shone through the smooth, undulating texture of the glass bowl, making it appear to sparkle in the theater, as if holding stars in one's hands.

"This magistrate has really made a grand gesture!"

Hu Mao sighed, clutching the brocade box tightly in his hands, as if afraid of making the slightest mistake.

The staff member from Xishan Auction House, who looked like a clerk, spoke to Hu Mao with a smile.

"Manager Hu, please keep the treasure safe. According to the auction house's rules, this one will be kept for you first. After you pay the balance, all nine glass bowls will be presented together."

Our bank will also provide security services, with the Imperial Guards escorting you within the capital city. Once outside the capital, you will be responsible for your own safety.

Upon hearing this, Tong Pei (courtesy name Ziming), who was standing to the side, also began to light up.

Both of them were merchants from Longyou who had traveled all over the country for many years, but they had never seen such a meticulous and thoughtful business transaction.

Tong Pei also received her five glass beads. Seeing their dazzling brilliance, she was overjoyed and exclaimed in admiration.

"Prefect Zhang, what a generous gesture! My trip today has been worthwhile; I will certainly do my best to support you!"

After this commotion, the surrounding gentry and merchants all became envious.

Behind the crowd, a spacious area was set up on slightly higher ground, where most of the officials and nobles of some status in the court sat.

"That glass bowl is truly exquisite! Zhang Shiyuan is so unfair; he let a merchant take such a treasure first!"

Seeing the merchant stealing the limelight, Duke Zhu Yingzhen of Chengguo sighed again.

"The beauty of this glass bowl is unparalleled in my life; it is probably only comparable to the imperial collection."

Duke Zhang Rong of England sat to one side, his imposing manner and scrutinizing gaze upon the gentry and merchants below him. He couldn't help but reply.

"I think that Zhang Shiyuan is very perceptive. With just one auction, he can make these people excited. He's probably going to make a fortune today!"

At this point, Zhang Rong smiled slightly. Fortunately, he had previously invested some money in the Xishan Workshop.

Regardless of how much these treasures sold for, he would naturally receive a share of the profits from coming out of Xishan.

The merchants and gentry below were arguing fiercely, saying that as long as money was coming in, what did it matter to him?
At Zhang Rong's age, he naturally didn't care much about treasures, but Zhu Yingzhen was becoming increasingly envious.

For nobles, having mountains of gold and silver in their homes is too vulgar. However, leaving a few heirlooms for their descendants would greatly enhance their status.

A moment later, a servant hurried over and whispered a few words in Zhu Yingzhen's ear. His expression immediately turned serious, and he spoke to Zhang Rong.

"I asked these two people, and they are merchants from Longyou, Zhejiang. Tong Pei's family has been booksellers for generations and is very wealthy."

Judging from their posture, they are determined to get these treasures today.

"If we, the people of the capital, let them bask in all the limelight, wouldn't we look pathetic?"

"My dear nephew."

Zhang Rong felt somewhat helpless. He understood why Zhang Yunxiu deliberately handed over the treasure in public; its dazzling appearance, attracting the attention of thousands, was truly enough to drive people crazy.

He couldn't help but remind him, "Don't be impulsive. I'd like to get my hands on this glass."

"Uncle, there's no need for further words!" Zhu Yingzhen waved his hand and said. "Let's see what treasures await us next. I have no other requests, but if I find myself struggling alone, I would be grateful if you could lend a hand."

"This"

Zhang Rong instinctively felt something was wrong and wanted to offer a few words of comfort.

But at that moment, another commotion arose from the audience.

Everyone looked up and saw that Yu Xiangdou had come up on stage again.

Along with him came a rather large ornament covered with silk cloth.

In an instant, everyone's eyes were drawn to it, curious about what was inside.

But then Yu Xiangdou said, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is one of the treasures of today's auction, the Glass Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow!"

After he finished speaking, he ripped the red silk cloth off.

Under the lights from all directions on the stage, the glass horse stepping on a swallow exuded a dazzling brilliance.

Instantly, everyone's attention was drawn to it.

But then they saw the horse trampling a swallow, forged from glass. The horse raised its head and neighed, leaping on three legs, one of which stepped on the back of a swallow. The swallow spread its wings as if about to take flight, and the horse moved as nimbly as a dragon.

It can be described as a masterpiece of nature, with a wonderfully lively and exquisite charm.

For a fleeting moment, the venue fell into near silence.

"Ma Chao Dragon Sparrow!"

Suddenly, someone in the audience exclaimed in surprise. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw that it was Tong Pei, the merchant from Youlong.

His gaze was intense, his body trembled slightly, and he couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"I, Tong, have traveled the world as a merchant and have seen countless antiques and rare treasures. There is absolutely no mistake. This is Ma Chao Long Que from the Han Dynasty! Zhang Heng of the Eastern Han Dynasty wrote in his 'Ode to the Eastern Capital': 'The dragon and sparrow coil and meander, the heavenly horse halfway up the Han River.'"
This Ma Chao dragon-and-bird statue is likely a relic from the Eastern Han Dynasty!

(End of this chapter)