On March 25, three days before the start of the four-day spring auction at Sotheby's, the publicity campaign reached its most critical period.

Sotheby's auction house has already used the channel of Jiuding Newspaper Company to send out the auction album, and the scope of gifts is all over East Asia and Southeast Asia.

Of course, the catalogue only selects some representative lots, and it is not possible to fit all the lots into one album.

After all, the spring auction lasts for four days, with a total of 30 special auctions, and more than 1,600 treasures on display.

If you want to find a treasure you like and bid on it, you can only choose to visit it in person.

However, this year's spring auction is destined to make history at Sotheby's.

It was only because the "Yongle Ceremony" displayed in the album shocked all the rich people who received the album, and at the same time shocked the entire collecting and cultural circles.

Southeast Asia, island countries, stick countries, European and American countries, as well as mainland collectors, have people ready to fly to Xiangjiang.

And some people of insight, after realizing the popularity of Sotheby's auction house this spring, have taken out their long-cherished treasures to Sotheby's auction house, ready to participate in this year's spring auction.

The large number of wealthy people in attendance means that there is less chance of unsuccessful auctions and greater likelihood of higher prices, which is a rare and excellent opportunity!

I don't know how long I have to wait if I miss this time, after all, a national treasure-level cultural relics like "Yongle Grand Ceremony" does not appear every year!

It is precisely because of this situation that Sotheby's auction houses are increasing their lot and the overall quality is also improving.

Ren Decheng, the general manager of Xiangjiang Fubi Auction House, is 100% sure that this spring auction will leave a strong mark in the history of Xiangjiang Fubi Auction House!

The arrival of foreign tycoons has also driven the consumption of Hong Kong, especially the hotel industry, and the occupancy rate has soared.

The hotel brands of Jiuding Hotel Management Group, such as Marco Polo Hotel, Mandarin Hotel, Peninsula Hotel and Sheraton Hong Kong, which were recommended by Sotheby's auction house, were recommended by Sotheby's to stay.

Three days passed in a flash.

In the blink of an eye, March 28 is on.

On this day, a big red carpet was laid at the entrance of Xiangjiang Fubi Auction House, leading directly to the auction hall.

Outside the door of the auction house, two columns of Aegis security bodyguards dressed in black suits and sunglasses were on guard.

In addition, at the entrance, four young and beautiful women in beautiful red cheongsams were in charge of inspecting the invitation.

If you don't have an invitation letter, you can also provide a special bank card or other items that can prove your net worth, and then pay a deposit of 100,000 Hong Kong dollars, and you can enter.

Because it is a special auction, there is no situation where the first three days are relatively inferior lots, and all the fine works are put in the last auction.

In each sale, there are top lots in the finale level, which is enough to ensure that the climax of the auction will be wave after wave.

If there is anything special, it is the special sale of ancient books where "Yongle Canon" is located, which is scheduled for the finale on the fourth day of the spring auction, that is, the last one on the afternoon of March 31!

It was this morning.

Wang Ping, director of the Xiangjiang branch of the Xinhua News Agency, received a group of people from the national capital at the port.

By the pier, the sea breeze is blowing.

Wang Ping shook hands with Liu Shaoquan, director of the Palace Museum, looked at the three of them, and said with emotion: "Dean Liu, look at your appearance, there is no rest in the middle?"

After the New Year, Liu Shaoquan, who had gray temples, shook his head and said: "The national treasure comes out, if it is too late and the national treasure continues to be lost overseas, not to mention the past few days, I will not be able to sleep for the rest of my life." ”

"President Wang, has the auction started now?"

Liu Shaoquan asked anxiously.

Wang Ping nodded and said, "It's already past ten o'clock, and the auction has been going on for more than an hour." ”

Liu Shaoquan suddenly became anxious, took Wang Ping's hand and hurriedly said, "President Wang, please take us over now." ”

Wang Ping smiled bitterly and said, "I'll take you over to see it now." ”

"And Dean Liu, you don't have to worry, the auction of "Yongle Canon" has been scheduled, and it will be arranged for the auction of ancient books on the afternoon of March 31, and there are still more than three days to go. ”

Liu Shaoquan immediately breathed a sigh of relief, and then said hurriedly: "It's okay to take a look first, President Wang also asked you to take us over to have a look." ”

Wang Ping flipped it over: "Okay, good!"

"But you all have luggage, it's not appropriate to go to the auction house, let's put the luggage in the car first, arrange for one person to go to Xinhua News Agency, I only have one invitation letter, I can only bring two people in, Dean Liu, who do you decide to go with." ”

"After you've been there once, I'll give you the invitation, and then all three of you can go together. ”

Hearing that he could only bring two people, Liu Shao was embarrassed, then looked at the two subordinates, and finally fixed his eyes on Ji Xueming, who had studied ancient books.

"Dr. Ji, come with me today. ”

"Dr. Liu, tomorrow President Wang will give me the invitation letter, and we will go together. ”

"Okay, it's up to you!"

After the arrangements were made, Wang Ping and his others took a car and headed for Hong Kong Island.

In the car, Wang Ping looked at Liu Shaoquan, who was sitting next to him full of longing, thought for a while and asked, "Dean Liu, I don't know how much money was approved for you this time?"

Hearing this, Liu Shaoquan was in high spirits, showed a bright smile, and said: "I have wasted a lot of effort for this, and in the end, the ministry approved a special fund of two million Hong Kong dollars for the museum, which is more than the funds in the past year!"

"President Wang, you are more familiar with Xiangjiang, do you think this money should be able to shoot "Yongle Ceremony"?"

Liu Shaoquan looked at Wang Ping with burning eyes, his eyes full of expectation.

Seeing Liu Shaoquan so optimistic, Wang Ping, who was very familiar with Xiangjiang, couldn't laugh, especially when he knew that many wealthy people outside Xiangjiang had come to Xiangjiang these days, for these people, two million Hong Kong dollars was really just a small amount of money, and Liu Shaoquan had no chance of winning at all.

However, he also knows the current situation in the mainland, the monthly salary of workers is only a few dozen yuan, and two million Hong Kong dollars is definitely a super huge amount of money.

What's more, there is an extreme lack of foreign exchange in the mainland now, although it is Hong Kong dollars instead of US dollars, but the Ministry can approve two million Hong Kong dollars for the Palace Museum, which is indeed a great support.

It's just that it's not good to hit Liu Shaoquan like this, and it's not good for him to continue to have high expectations, Wang Ping couldn't help but feel a headache.

He thought for a while and said: "Although I know more about Xiangjiang, it is more about politics, economy and people's livelihood, such as auctions, I really haven't paid attention to it, but I have also heard that there have been many lots with a price of more than two million before, but I don't know how high the price of this "Yongle Ceremony" can be auctioned." ”

Liu Shaoquan noticed Wang Ping's abnormality, the smile on his face retracted a lot, his eyes showed a complicated color, nodded and said, "I hope everything goes well." ”

Then, the car fell silent.

More than 20 minutes later, the car finally arrived near Sotheby's auction house, Wang Ping asked the driver to temporarily stop on the side of the road, and after putting the three of them down, he sorted out his clothes, took out the invitation card, and took Liu Shaoquan, who was shocked by the prosperity of Xiangjiang, and the two stepped on the red carpet of Sotheby's auction house.

After verifying the invitation, Wang Ping and the three walked into the auction house at Sotheby's.

Although the auction has officially begun, not everyone participates, and there are always people who are only interested in certain categories of art.

Therefore, those who did not participate in the auction for the time being gathered in the exhibition hall to watch.

Wang Ping and the three of them followed the sign to the exhibition hall.

The exhibition hall must be at least more than 1,000 square meters, and the crystal chandeliers lit on the exquisite and elegant ceiling and the glass counters placed on the ground complement each other, giving people an extremely gorgeous sensory enjoyment.

In the exhibition hall, well-dressed men and women walk around to browse the exhibits that have not yet been auctioned.

At this moment, it seemed that he heard the four words of "Yongle Canon", Wang Ping followed the prestige, and found that there was a large group of people in the middle of the crowd closely, and some people sighed from time to time.

It should be the exhibition counter of the "Yongle Ceremony".

Wang Ping said to Liu Shaoquan: "Dean Liu, please come with me, it should be the exhibition counter of the "Yongle Ceremony", let's go over and have a look." ”

After speaking, Wang Ping walked over with Liu Shaoquan, who couldn't wait, and found a suitable gap to squeeze into the inner enclosure, and sure enough, there was a glass counter about two meters long in the center of the crowd, and a bodyguard stood guard at all four corners of the counter.

Inside the glass counter, yellowed ancient books are quietly presented.

There was no need for Wang Ping to say more, Liu Shaoquan and Ji Xueming immediately came to the front, looking at the ancient books on the counter with golden eyes.

Especially Ji Xueming, he couldn't wait to break the glass and gently hold the "Yongle Canon" in his hand.

Happiness looks beautiful through the glass, but it can't be touched......

Ji Xueming's mood at this time was almost like this.

"One, two, three...... Twenty?"

"Didn't you say there are one hundred and twenty-two, why are there only twenty here?"

Liu Shaoquan, who nodded again, frowned and muttered to himself puzzled.

It seemed that he heard Liu Shaoquan's words, and an old man next to him who understood Chinese explained to Liu Shaoquan: "There are one hundred and twenty-two volumes, but because there are too many volumes, only twenty volumes were taken out for exhibition, and I don't know who has the honor to see the remaining one hundred and two volumes of "Yongle Canon", hey......"

Liu Shaoquan gave the old man a grateful look and thanked him: "Thank you for informing!"

The old man smiled and said, "You're welcome!"

Liu Shaoquan continued to appreciate the "Yongle Canon" in the glass case, although the ancient books were not opened, but there will be an introduction card under each volume, and the dense text on it simply reduces the relevant information of the ancient book, such as which aspect of knowledge is recorded.

Before I knew it, half an hour passed.

Although the onlookers have changed a lot, the crowd is still dense.

And the old man who answered Liu Shaoquan's question just now seems to be extremely obsessed with the "Yongle Canon", and he is still here.

Liu Shaoquan hesitated for a moment and asked the old man: "Old man, I am Liu Shaoquan, may I ask your surname?"

The old man replied with a smile: "Hello Mr. Liu, the contemptible person is surnamed Shi, and the name is Youde." ”

Liu Shaoquan greeted with a smile: "Hello Mr. Shi!"

Liu Shaoquan had never heard of Shi Youde's name, but Wang Ping, who was still staying nearby, felt familiar, he pondered for a moment, and asked Shi Youde: "Is Mr. Shi from the Aomon Shi family?"

Shi Youde smiled calmly: "Yes!

Wang Ping introduced himself with a smile: "I am Wang Ping, and I am the president of the Xiangjiang Xinhua News Agency. ”

As a billionaire, Shi Youde also came to Aomen from the mainland to work hard, so he naturally knew the nature of the Xinhua News Agency, and he remembered that the president of the Xiangjiang Xinhua News Agency was called Wang Ping, but because he was in Aomen, he had never met Wang Ping, and he didn't expect to meet him here.

He smiled and said, "It turned out to be President Wang, it's better to see it after hearing it for a long time, fortunately!"

Seeing Liu Shaoquan's inquiring gaze, Wang Ping explained to him: "Dean Liu, the Aomen Shi family is a wealthy family in Aomen, and Mr. Shi is a billionaire second to none, I heard that Mr. Shi still collects everyone." ”

Wang Ping smiled at Shi Youde and asked, "Mr. Shi, I'm not wrong, right?"

Shi Youde said modestly: "President Wang has an overreputation, I only have a little wealth, and collecting is just a small hobby, so I can't be called by everyone." ”

Liu Shaoquan immediately understood that Shi Youde should be his competitor, and listening to Wang Ping's words, Shi Youde was also worth hundreds of millions, which couldn't help but make him very vigilant.

He asked a little nervously: "Mr. Shi, what do you think the price of this "Yongle Ceremony" will be auctioned?

Unexpectedly, Shi Youde smiled bitterly, shook his head and said: "This time it will definitely be auctioned at a sky-high price, I have prepared 10 million Hong Kong dollars, I was a little confident at first, but now I have no confidence." ”

"As far as I know, there are many wealthy people who are stronger than me who are interested in the "Yongle Canon", and there are people from the Eastern Han Dynasty Library in the island country and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA.

The speaker has no intention, but the listener has the intention.

Shi Youde's words were like a bolt from the blue to Liu Shaoquan, and his face was ugly to death.

Looking at the change in Liu Shaoquan's expression, Shi Youde also knew that he had the same thoughts about the "Yongle Canon" as himself, but he ......

Thinking of the identity of Wang Ping, who came with Liu Shaoquan, and Liu Shaoquan's northern accent, he probably guessed Liu Shaoquan's identity.

It's just that he is not optimistic about Liu Shaoquan, although the mainland is vast and rich, but now there is really not much spare money to buy cultural relics, even if it is a national treasure like "Yongle Canon".

However, although he himself will be better than Liu Shaoquan, isn't he also at an average level?

"Yongle Canon" seems to have nothing to do with him......

Shi Youde, who was in a somewhat depressed mood, suddenly became unhappy, and he was not in the mood to appreciate the "Yongle Ceremony" anymore, so he found an excuse and left the crowd.

And Liu Shaoquan and Ji Xueming, the more they watched "Yongle Ceremony", the more they liked it, but they kept thinking about Shi Youde's words in their minds, and they couldn't calm down.

Liu Shaoquan, who was unwilling, found another opportunity to talk to a few people who seemed to be richer, but the answers he got were not what he wanted, and his heart became colder and colder.

After a while, Wang Ping and the three of them walked out of the crowd.

Liu Shaoquan looked back at the glass counter that was still surrounded by the crowd, his face was unwilling, and he spoke more directly in confusion, and asked Wang Ping for help: "President Wang, you know more about Xiangjiang, do you have any good solutions?

As soon as this big hat came out, Wang Ping's face turned black in an instant.

Everyone is at the same level, and it is your Palace Museum that wants to take pictures of "Yongle Ceremony", what does it mean that this hat is buttoned on my head by Xinhua News Agency?

I'm sorry to entertain you personally, isn't it?

PS: The first to ask for a monthly pass recommendation ticket!