Three days later, the press conference was not held in the city, but in a garden with little name but equally beautiful scenery. In fact, those who are in the famous garden are willing to lend their own garden, but the silence wants to highlight the silk porcelain, and they do not want to let the famous garden dominate, so they chose this small garden.

The garden art of this era, has reached too high a realm, although this garden is small, but still flowers and trees stacked stones, clear water pavilions, there is everything, just like the embroidery of Suzhou, the structure is exquisite, beautiful.

Under the guidance of the messenger, the guests passed through several pavilions and water pavilions, rockeries stacked green, zigzag and twisted to a two-storey pavilion near the water, the plaque in front of the pavilion was inscribed with three ancient and clumsy big characters, a look was actually the ink treasure of Zhuzhi Mountain, in addition to sighing the gathering of humanities in the south of the Yangtze River, what else can be said.

After entering, I found that the outside looked like a two-storey water pavilion, and the inside was a tall and spacious hall, with a three-foot-high flower platform in the middle, a guqin was placed on the flower platform, and around the stage was a circle of red sandalwood four-headed official hat chairs and huanghuali couches, allowing guests to sit or lie down, and there were fruits, snacks and tea on the small machine, which were available to the guests.

It was obviously a small gathering, with no more than forty or fifty guests, and by this time there had already been seventy-seven or eighty-eight, more than half of whom were Westerners and Persians, and they were obviously the guests of honor at the reception.

These people are not as introverted as the Chinese people, there is no strangeness at all, everything is fresh, although they are not good at Chinese, they still chat with the people around them excitedly through translation. The Ming Dynasty treated these Westerners, although they were a little contemptuous in their bones, but the two thousand years of etiquette of the state have long integrated the idea of 'having friends from afar, happy' in the bones of the Chinese people, so the attitude towards foreigners, equal and friendly, is full of curiosity about their country.

So although people from all over the world sat together, the atmosphere in the pavilion was still very harmonious, and everyone was familiar with each other and chatted quietly. Many people have noticed the lotus pond outside the window, the lotus swaying, the butterfly flying scene, can't help but be amazed, it is late autumn at this time, there should be a pool of residual lotus, and there should be no butterflies and bees.

Could it be that this is a treasure of feng shui, blessed with natural resources? Everyone had to look carefully, but the light was not very good today, so they couldn't see clearly. When they were about to get closer, they were blocked by a row of long tables covered with green velvet in front of the window, and some fine porcelain were scattered on the table, which made people unbearable to approach.

Those porcelain are either resplendent and magnificent; or fresh and elegant, with vivid charm; or bright red, like the morning glow; or the bottom and the top are covered, soft and delicate; or as thin as paper, as bright as jade, blowing like flying; There are also yellow, green, purple and interesting plain three colors, such as jade peacock green, deep and pure Ji Qing, delicate and soft light goose yellow and so on...... These ceramics, oh no, should be said to be ceramic crafts, the workmanship is extremely exquisite, even in the Ming Dynasty, it is also a great work of art, not to mention those lonely and unheard of Western merchants.

Seeing that their eyes widened and salivated one by one, they were knowledgeable and introduced: "The golden and brilliant is Jiajing Wucai; Similar to ink paintings, Yongle and Xuande blue and white; Bright as Ji said that Xuande Ji red; Under the glaze and on the glaze, it is Chenghua Doucai that covers each other; Thin as paper, as bright as jade is the sweet white ...... of Yongle thin tire" and so on, the Western businessmen were confused when they heard it. In fact, there is only one question they want to ask the most, and that is how much are these treasures?!

Just when people were whispering, there was a sudden sound of "bell, bell...... ringing in the house, and several thick self-striking bells rang, a total of nine times, and at this time, it was the moment of Tatsumi's handover...... There was silence in the pavilion, and when everyone waited for the adults to appear, the curtains of the doors and windows on all sides were lowered, and the light in the room became darker, and people couldn't help but scratch a little. Fortunately, on the horse, the four corners of the pavilion were lit up with four palace lamps covered with light veils...... Everyone's eyes couldn't help but converge on these lights, only to see one lamp with colorful flowers, one lamp with colorful clouds, and the other two lamps are also different, but the picture on each lamp is flowing, which makes people look straight.

If you look closely, there seems to be a fair woman sitting under each lamp, but it is dark under the lamp, but you can't see clearly. Just as people were speculating about what kind of medicine was being sold in this gourd, they heard a 'ding' sound from the center of the pavilion. The sound of the harp, like a messenger of light, made the room light up again...... People's eyes all returned to the high platform illuminated by the eight palace lights, and they saw a woman wearing a long skirt with a light veil covering her face, who appeared at some point, more like she had been sitting there, and the sound of the piano was from her hand.

Everyone's eyes couldn't help but fall on her long dress, what kind of exquisite material is it? Like a cloud, like a canal of water, the long skirt covered the entire high platform, drooping downward, and there was no wind to automatic. Everyone looked at the silk hanging in front of them, it seemed to have color, but it seemed to have no color, as if there was a pattern, and as if there was no pattern, which made people unpredictable.

A breeze blew, the corners of the skirt flew gently, and the colors on it were even more dreamlike, making the woman sitting on the high platform seem to be fluttering.

People are sighing at the realm of fairies under the moon, the sound of the piano sounded again, and there was a beat of the drum, a sound of the Su flute, a variety of musical instruments and sounds, playing a beautiful melody, this music statement is clearly played by a few female musicians in the pavilion, but it makes people feel as if the distant sky is coming.

This heavenly sound touches people's ear drums one by one, and even shakes people's hearts, even if people are in an impetuous mood, they can't help but immerse themselves in it...... At the beginning of the music, the wind was faint, the birds chirped, everything welcomed the morning, and gradually the east revealed the white of the fish's belly, although the sun had not yet risen, but the sky was bright...... At this time, the light in the house gradually brightened, and people couldn't help but look around, and found that after the light veil was blown, all the lotus flowers in the pond were closed into buds, and those bees and butterflies were surrounding the buds that had not yet bloomed, but they could not find a place to stay.

Everyone couldn't help but wonder, is this a dream or a fairyland? It's not like the normal world anyway.

At this moment, the music gradually became invigorated, and the light became brighter and brighter, as if the sun was rising in the east, and even the lotus flowers in the pond seemed to be urged to open by the sound of the piano...... Those lotus flowers are indeed different, compared to the buds of the previous paragraph, the petals have opened slightly.

"It's going to open!" There was a Persian merchant who finally couldn't help it and blurted out. He spoke Chinese, but with an awkward Wu Yin, he obviously learned it.

Needless to say, everyone also saw that the lotus flowers in the lotus pond were gradually blooming, and those butterflies and bees also came up, as if they couldn't wait to eat the nectar.

Then the sound of the piano changed, the sun rose, the sky was bright, the lotus flowers bloomed, and the bee butterflies finally landed in the center of the flower and began to enjoy happily...... At the end of the music, the light gradually dimmed, just like the mountain quiet autumn song, the moon is high on the forest table, everyone only saw that the lotus flower gradually closed, the bee butterfly also disappeared, the wind suddenly rose, blowing the lotus pond moonlight, which made people feel refreshed and happy.

The last wisp of the piano lingered around the beam for a long time, but the big merchants in the pavilion were still holding their breath, as if they were still immersed in the dreamlike scene.

At this time, the light in the room came back on, and a male voice laughed, "Wake up, everyone. Finally woke up everyone, and saw the owner of the room standing on the edge of the flower platform, the prefect of Suzhou, silent. Today, he did not wear an official uniform, nor did he wear the simple civilian clothes that he said, but a well-cut Su embroidered ink bamboo dragging away, holding a sandalwood folding fan, with a leisurely attitude, like a spring mountain, indescribably graceful, and endlessly handsome.

What is aristocracy? Those who can wear brocade clothes and gorgeous clothes with charm are authentic nobles.

I don't know who shouted hello, and suddenly the sound of praise was everywhere, and I don't know whether to praise this dream performance or praise the appearance of adults...... Although he is very narcissistic, Shen Mo still prefers to be the former, otherwise he will not work in vain?

Silently bowed his hands and laughed loudly: "Today, I am holding this press conference, thank you for coming to cheer, I don't know if you are satisfied with the other party's program?" ”

"Satisfied, satisfied, so satisfied." Everyone praised each other, and some of the outspoken Westerners asked, "Excuse me, how long has it been?" Of course, it was asked by an interpreter.

Shen Moxin lifted the red silk on the side, and a table clock more than three feet high was revealed, he glanced at it and said, "According to you Westerners, it only started at nine o'clock, and now exactly a quarter of an hour has passed." As he spoke, he looked at one of them and said with a smile: "Mr. Chamas, the chiming clock you gave is very useful." ”

The blond-haired man stood up and saluted him, and the interpreter next to him said, "It's great that adults can like it, this thing is a big church bell in Europa, and only they have such a small one in Italy." "Everyone said that the Westerners were really real, and this was impatient.

After a short burst of laughter, even bigger questions arose, and people asked, "Why do the lotus flowers outside open and close in such a short time?" ”

Shen Mo smiled heartily: "Now in late autumn in October, how can there be any lotus?" ”

Everyone said in unison, "What's that?" ”

"You might as well step forward." With a silent wave of his hand, a waiter removed the long table so that everyone could approach the window.

Shen Mo stretched out his hand to make a gesture of invitation, and everyone got up one after another and walked to the window.

When I got closer, I heard the sound of inhaling, as if I were eating noodles.

Everyone lifted the curtain and saw a pond, and the water surface was empty, where were there any lotuses? Not even a lotus leaf.

"What's going on?" Everyone turned around together and asked Shen Mo: "My lord, don't sell it, otherwise you will suffocate us to death!" ”

He smiled silently and said, "Put it down!" But he shouted it outside.

As soon as the words fell, everyone felt a flower in front of them, and they couldn't help rubbing their eyes, and they saw that the originally empty pond had suddenly turned into a pond full of lotus flowers and a scene of bees and butterflies flying.

This time it was close at hand, and everyone could still see some clues, so someone reached out to touch it, and sure enough, they touched a layer of almost transparent silk, and then looked at those lotus lotus leaves, bees and butterflies, all embroidered with colorful silk threads!

"Take it off." Shen Mo said again, and immediately someone took the 'Silk Su Embroidery' hanging on the window into the house, flattened the corner of each person, and showed it to everyone.

"Enjoy it." Silent laughter. When everyone brought their eyes closer, they saw that the petals of the lotus flower, the veins of the lotus leaves, and even the wings of the butterfly and the wings of the bee were all embroidered with extremely fine silk threads, and they were all lifelike when they looked at them so closely. What is very rare is that each flower, each lotus, each butterfly and bee have different colors, shapes and movements, just like real lotus bees and butterflies!

In the exclamation of everyone, the curious Westerners looked at the Su embroidery up and down, left and right, and finally asked puzzledly: "How did that achieve change?" ”

"Hehe," Shen Mo smiled, "This is a trick, a piece of silk still can't do it." As he spoke, he clapped his hands, and the waiters took down a few pieces of 'silk embroidery' that looked exactly the same one after another, and showed them to everyone to appreciate.

Or those lotus flowers, or those bees and butterflies, everyone looked at each other, and they didn't know where the mechanism was.

"Look carefully." Shen Mo smiled: "Compare and see." As he spoke, he stretched out his slender fingers and clicked on the two embroideries next to each other, both of which were pointing to a lotus flower in the same position.

Under the reminder of the prefect, everyone finally discovered that the lotus flowers on the two embroideries were indeed a little different, one had buds on it, and the petals of the other had been slightly opened.

"Oh......" Everyone suddenly realized, and compared with the rest of the embroidery, there was indeed no one identical, as if painting the scenery of a day in the lotus pond and displaying it in front of them at the same time.

In a shocking admiration, everyone followed Lord Shen back to their seats, and praised Su Xiu for reaching the pinnacle and ingenious craftsmanship, completely confusing the real with the fake!

"It's not the pinnacle." Silent and reserved smiled: "Isn't it, Gonggong Huang?" The low-key fat eunuch in the room nodded and smiled: "These Su embroideries are very good, but they can only be regarded as the top grades in mass production for export, and those who pay tribute to Beijing are even more exquisite than this." ”

He is the big man of the Jiangnan Manufacturing Bureau, and he speaks naturally and authoritatively. Everyone couldn't help but wonder what kind of tribute it was!

It's just that a dark-skinned Persian asked, "Since it's mass production, why do you have to make so many changes to the same pattern?" Wouldn't it be a waste of time? ”

Shen Mo smiled faintly and said: "Hehe, this is a bit biased, you must know that mass production is also silk!" From planting mulberry and raising silkworms, reeling silk and weaving, there are dozens of processes in the middle, and if one is sloppy, a piece of silk will be completely destroyed...... In the end, it would take more than 100,000 cocoons to weave such a white silk, and it would take several months before and after. ”

He stroked the ink and bamboo embroidery on his body, and sighed lightly: "If you turn it into this kind again, the exquisite Suzhou embroidery with beautiful patterns and ingenious ideas will require skillful embroidery and thousands of needles and threads to complete." Saying that, Zhengse said: "With so much effort immersed in it, so that every piece of silk has become synonymous with 'noble and gorgeous', how can it be treated hastily?" ”

A group of Westerners nodded frequently when they heard this, and said in their hearts that it was no wonder that when the officials of the Ming Dynasty paid their salaries, some of them were silk yarn, and it turned out that the price of this thing was high and stable.

But the Persian still did not understand and asked, "But I still don't understand why the same pattern should be changed so much?" Because if you don't see it up close, it makes no difference. ”

"That's what happened!" The corners of Shen Mo's mouth twitched slightly, and he chuckled: "What do you mean by aristocrats?" What is aristocratic life? It was a low-key luxury, and the more low-key and luxurious it was, the more pleasing it was to the aristocracy. You cut clothes with such materials, and you change them eight times a day, and outsiders don't know what they are in, so you have to let people point it out, only to realize that you have changed many pieces. He smiled and said, "This is the real nobility...... I wonder if the nobles over there understand it like that? ”

Those Western merchants nodded their heads one after another, and they all said, "This is really tailor-made for nobles!" ”

"That's what it means," said Shen Mo stroking his palms and laughing, "Silk is the silk of the nobility; The real nobles are all nobles worthy of silk! ”

"That's great!" Western merchants stood up and applauded: "This sentence can be used as a silk propaganda slogan." Then he said, "Excuse me, my lord, how much silk is there, we want it all." ”

"Look, it's vulgar again." Shen Mo shook his head and said: "I told you, this thing has to work hard and take time to produce it inch by inch, for thousands of years, that is, like this, it can't be speeded at all." Saying that, he scratched his head and said: "If you deduct the tribute to the capital, and supply it to the domestic nobles, you can barely save tens of thousands of horses, and you can export it." ”

"We've got it all!" The Persian merchant hurriedly said: "Your Excellency, you can make a bid as you like!" Those Francos and Spaniards also hurriedly said: "We want it too!" Can't give them all! ”

"Is this?" Shen Mo waved his hand and smiled: "In front of the silk, let's not talk about money, and when we return to the copper-smelling place in the city, let's discuss it slowly." Said and smiled: "Look at these porcelains again, if silk is worn by nobles, then this is the nobles who use it......"

(To be continued)