Jingzhao Mansion Yamen, the shopkeepers of the five bookstores in Chang'an City did not dare to slack off and come in advance. Today is a big day for secret shooting, and it is decided that the ownership of the four textbooks of Chongxuan in Jingzhao Mansion will be determined.

Scholarly Bookstore, the longest-established bookstore in Chang'an City. The shopkeeper's surname is Liu, fifty-five years old, and he was a showman back then. Like Li Sui, he repeatedly participated in the imperial examination and lost his name to Sun Shan, and in frustration opened a bookstore that inherited the family. The book shop has a history of more than 100 years in Chang'an City, and it is said that the book shop has more than 20 engraved editions of books.

Shopkeeper Liu took a small servant and came to the Yamen of Jingzhao Mansion early, and it was inevitable to win this secret shooting.

Mei Zhuxuan, the largest bookstore in Chang'an City, the shopkeeper surnamed Zhao, is forty-eight years old this year. Although Mei Zhuxuan's history is not as good as that of scholars, it is better than a big one. Mei Zhuxuan is also in Pingkang Fang, the building is divided into three floors, and each floor is the size of two Kangyi Study. The environment of Meizhuxuan is elegant, and all kinds of rare and rare books are complete. Legend has it that Mei Zhuxuan has more than a dozen carved editions of the Spring and Autumn Rare Book alone.

Shopkeeper Zhao saw that Shopkeeper Liu arrived first, greeted him and smiled: "Shopkeeper Liu is not good." ”

Shopkeeper Liu said with a smile: "The right to engrave the four books, the scholar fragrance store only cares about the second, and the remaining two shopkeepers Zhao compete with other bookstores." ”

Gu Daofang, one of the three major bookstores in Chang'an City, the shopkeeper's surname is Hao, 62 years old. Gu Daofang's history is not as good as that of scholars, and its size is not as good as that of Meizhuxuan. The reason why Gu Daofang is among the three major bookstores is that Gu Daofang's book sales are second to none in Chang'an City. Mr. Hao has been immersed in the ** bureau for many years and has a thorough understanding of the book market. With the times, some books were printed, and they often sold well. On the eve of this spring, Gu Daofang didn't know where to find the poems of the imperial examination in the past years of this dynasty, and after they were engraved into a book, they were robbed by the scholars who went to Beijing to take the examination. The first issue of 100 books was sold out.

When Shopkeeper Hao came, he saw Shopkeeper Liu and Shopkeeper Zhao present, and sat down directly without making a sound. After Shopkeeper Liu and Shopkeeper Zhao saluted Shopkeeper Hao, Shopkeeper Hao got up and bowed.

Shopkeeper Liu said secretly: "Isn't it just that he is older, relying on the old and selling the old." ”

Shopkeeper Zhao and Shopkeeper Liu had an idea, "I have no interest, and a shopkeeper still thinks he is the prime minister." ”

Shopkeeper Wu of Shutianzhai and shopkeeper Zhou of Baichengwu came together, and five of the six big bookstores in Chang'an City have come.

"I heard that there is another one, what is it called Kangyi Study. Why hasn't the shopkeeper come yet? Shopkeeper Zhao said.

"Young people should arrive early, how can you let the old man wait, Kangyi study is too unruly."

After Shopkeeper Liu finished speaking, Shopkeeper Wu and Shopkeeper Zhou turned red.

"Everyone, I'm really sorry to wait for a long time, Li Sui, the shopkeeper of the Xia Kangyi study." Li Sui came in with Fifth Valley, and Guo Li followed him into the door. Guo Li came purely to join in the fun, wanting to see how Fifth Valley got the right to engrave these four books.

"Kangyi Study is so famous, why has the old man never heard of such a bookstore in Chang'an?"

"Li Sui is the shopkeeper, the name is Sui, just don't be too casual."

"It's better not to come so late, anyway, to accompany the prince to study..."

……

"Master Pei has arrived!"

Pei Yang came to Yamen from the Houfu and saw that all the people from the six major bookstores had arrived, and explained the rules of light and dark auctions: "This official is trusted by the emperor to set up Chongxuan in Jingzhao Mansion, and the engraving rights of the four books are in the form of secret auctions, and the lowest bidder wins." If it is higher than the camera obscura, the dark auction fails. Do you understand the rules? ”

"Understood"

"Got it"

Shopkeeper Hao nodded, indicating that he understood.

……

"When the auction begins, please write down the price of the first book, Zhuangzi, on paper."

The six had already prepared the price and handed it over to the officials of Jingzhao Mansion.

Of the four books, the Zhuangzi has the most words, followed by the Liezi, then the Wenzi, and the Tao Te Ching, which has only 5,000 words. Jingzhaofu listed "Zhuangzi" as the first secret auction, just to see where the price bottom line of the six bookstores was. These four books are all Taoist books, and it is rumored that Lao Tzu is the ancestor of Taoism, Zhuangzi and Wenzi are Lao Tzu's apprentices, and Liezi is the representative of Taoism after Lao Tzu and Zhuangzi.

The official took the lead in announcing the official price: 200 Wen. This price is fair, "Zhuangzi" engraved out, if only for Jingzhaofu engraving, according to the calculation of 300 copies, the cost of the book is about 160 wen.

Whoever handed over first and reported last, the clerk opened the quotations of each bookstore one by one in the order in which the quotations were submitted, and reported them loudly.

"Gu Daofang quoted one hundred and eighty wen."

The shopkeeper Hao did not change his color, and he didn't care at all about guessing the official offer.

"Mei Zhuxuan's offer is two hundred and ten."

Zhao's shopkeeper's offer exceeded the official price and has lost the opportunity to compete. There are three books left.

"The book is quoted at one hundred and seventy-five wen."

Shopkeeper Liu was happy, this price is already the limit range that Shuxiangfang can bear. Considering that Shuxiangfang still has a branch in Luoyang Mansion, as long as you get the right to engrave Luoyang Mansion, it is just as profitable.

"Shutianzhai offers one hundred and sixty wen."

As the little official reported the price of the book, there was a discussion in the field.

"One hundred and sixty Wen, what do you make money with?"

"There is a reason why Shutianzhai has lost money over the years, and the obvious loss is even going to be filmed, I'm afraid that Shutianzhai has lost a lot this time."

"Shopkeeper Wu is crazy? How could such a low offer occur? Just the engraving plate and labor costs are higher than this number. ”

The shopkeeper Wu bid 160 Wen because Shutianzhai happened to have a set of templates for "Zhuangzi", and the engraving and engraving plate was saved, so the price was relatively low.

Guo Li watched the whole process, this kind of secret shooting is psychological warfare. The official price is generally more modest, depending on who can guess the other party's price.

"The quotation of 100 city houses is 159 Wen"

The little official's face was expressionless, and several shopkeepers broke out in an instant.

"Is 100 City House crazy? How can you make money at such a price? ”

"In order to grab the right to engrave, it was only a penny lower than Shutian Zhai, so it's easy to calculate."

"Congratulations to Shopkeeper Zhou, I didn't expect that Shopkeeper Zhou was more strategic, and he was willing to bow down."

"How dare you, it's just a coincidence."

The previous shopkeepers only considered the loss of this transaction, and the shopkeeper of Baichengwu considered the future business. On the surface, Baichengwu lost money this time, but in fact, Baichengwu left an engraved version of "Zhuangzi", which can be passed down for a long time.

"Who else is it? Hurry up and shoot the next book."

"Kangyi Book Company quoted ten articles".

Shopkeeper Liu of Shuxiangxing was stunned for an instant, Shopkeeper Zhao of Meizhuxuan was stupid when he heard it, Shopkeeper Hao of Gu Daofang was silent, Shopkeeper Wu of Shutianzhai was clay sculpted, and Shopkeeper Zhou of Baichengwu was running in front of countless grass and mud horses.

Is this Nima still human? Ten Wen? Why don't you give it away for nothing? The five shopkeepers looked at Li Sui with murderous anger in their eyes.