The noisy court's tribute ceremony lasted for more than an hour, and the whole process, although Xiao Quai's illness was with the mentality of watching a farce, coldly watching this kind of tributary diplomacy that he had previously scoffed at.

But after coming to the Tang Dynasty for so long, following the customs of the locals, it is not completely impossible to understand the reason why the previous dynasties did this.

It is nothing more than the emperor's need to maintain his rule, and the biggest role is to show the legitimacy of his rule in the form of tribute.

On the other hand, it is also an ethical demonstration of the subjects under my rule, even the barbarians from afar recognize my rule, so you can obediently be obedient to me.

It's just that all of this is too formalistic, too wishful thinking, and self-deception in Xiao Quzhi's view. The various dynasties and emperors don't want to think about it, it's like the Empress Wu usurped Li Tang Jiangshan, aren't these envoys from various countries the same tribute?

Since it's all the same, what's the point of paying tribute? In addition to wasting people's fat and people's ointment, it has played a pitiful positive role.

But even so, every emperor is still keen on this, and in addition to these, he is also keen on all kinds of auspicious things, visions, miracles, etc., which are just a self-deceptive farce made up to maintain imperial power.

The emperors attached great importance to the stability of their rule, and Xiao Qu's illness was a first-hand experience. In this regard, Li Longji can be regarded as the most prominent, putting four brothers under house arrest in disguise, killing three sons in one day, imprisoning all sons, and conniving at traitorous ministers to oppress the crown prince......

Xiao Quzhi thought wildly in his head that the farce of the tribute had finally come to an end, and it was finally his turn. Xiao Quzhi came to the middle with two boxes.

Li Longji was immediately interested. He had long noticed the two boxes that Xiao Quzhi was holding. Xiao Quai, a disciple of the Immortal Family. There is no shortage of good treasures and novelties.

First there are eight glass lights, then there are pumping windmills, tap water and flush toilets, all kinds of new furniture and utensils, last night Chinese New Year's Eve sent myself fire trees and silver flowers and stars, I don't know what kind of treasure or novelty this time?

"Chen Xiao went to the sick to offer ten crystal cups and one crystal dragon, wishing His Majesty a long life!"

Xiao Qubing placed the two boxes on the imperial case of the treasure. From the box, a glass with a handle was taken out, and it was delicate and sparkling.

Sure enough, there is a gap between the contrasts, and almost an hour ago, when Yidi Jian took out the pair of colorless and transparent glasses, everyone in the hall looked a little straight, and gasped.

Glass was already scarce, only the Romans could make this thing, and after the Western Rome was destroyed by the northern barbarians, the glass-making process was almost extinct. What you can see now is an inventory from the ancient Roman period. The two places are thousands of miles apart, and the roads were not smooth before. There are very few natural flows to Datang.

In addition, most of the glass is green or light green due to the impurity of quartz sand and the presence of iron ions, so the pair of glasses has lost its luster due to age, but it is still regarded as a peerless treasure by everyone.

And Xiao Quzhi's glass was made yesterday's new work, shining and dazzling, and when the two were compared, they immediately compared the pair of glasses with Yidi Jian.

Xiao Quzhi saw that all the people showed greed at this time, their eyes were about to turn red immediately, and their breathing became short.

When Xiao Quzhi placed ten glasses with handles on the imperial case in turn, he heard a fluttering heartbeat behind him.

Xiao Quzhi then opened another box, and a two-foot-long, one-foot-high crystal dragon appeared in front of everyone, the dragon's three claws landed on the pedestal, and his right front paw soared into the air, hissing with his head held high, and looked at the world. Under the illumination of dozens of butter giant candles on both sides, it looks even more brilliant and shining.

The originally noisy hall suddenly became quiet with the appearance of this glass dragon, and only the sound of pounding heartbeats and breathing was heard.

Li Longji also took a long breath, and said with some excitement: "Liang Guogong, you burned it yourself?" ”

Soon after the opening of Sihai Supermarket, several pieces of light green glassware were sold one after another, and the prices were more than 1,000 to 2,000 yuan.

Xiao Quzhi said very seriously: "Back to Your Majesty, these eleven pieces of crystal ware are made by the Wang family's glazed workshop, which is made of the water essence brought by the minister from the mountain as the master material, plus the eight kinds of raw materials that the minister is looking for everywhere, and is made for nine days and nine nights. ”

This is a word that Xiao Quzhi has thought of a long time ago, it can't be said too simple and easy, otherwise how can it be sold at a high price?

But at the same time, I have to send a message that I can continue to burn this thing, so that others will be interested and will come to buy it.

Sure enough, Li Longji was very cooperative and said, "In this case, then you can continue to burn?" ”

"The minister brought water spirit masterbatch from the mountain, and he can probably make 500 such crystal cups. The minister is going to take the time to burn them all and sell them for more than 4,000 yuan a piece, and the shape can be ordered. ”

In the Hanyuan Palace, in front of almost all the high-ranking officials and envoys of various countries in the Tang Dynasty, Xiao Quzhi is also the first person.

As soon as Xiao Quai's glass came out, he was still proud before, thinking that his tribute was unique, and his face was as ugly as the bottom of the pot.

This guy has been spoiled since he was a child, he is simple-minded, and he had a grudge against Xiao Qubing before, so he couldn't die, so he jumped out and said: "A glass like Xishi only sells for more than a thousand, how dare you sell it for four thousand?" ”

"Just because my crystal is good." Xiao Quzhi smiled and lifted a piece of glass, looked around the hall and said, "Because of the addition of the water spirit masterbatch I brought from the mountain, plus eight other rare raw materials, and the firing process is extremely high.

My crystal cup is not only dazzling, but also has the following two benefits: first, it is not as full of bubbles as the glass brought by Hu Shang in the Western Regions;

Second, the texture of my crystal cup is strong, not as loose as Hu Shang's glass, I believe everyone knows that Hu Shang's glass in West Lake cannot hold boiling water, but mine can. ”

While speaking, Gao Lishi had already come down and took a crystal cup for Li Longji to see, and Xiao Quzhi also handed out seven crystal cups for the courtiers and envoys of various countries to see.

These people took it with trembling hands and looked at each other, crystal clear, without a trace of impurities, and sure enough, as Xiao Quzhi said, they couldn't see even the tiniest bubble.

It's like a piece of crystal, and everyone is amazed, and the sound of gasping comes and goes. The envoys from two small places were so nervous that they almost got out of their hands, which immediately caused the people next to them to complain, and they were half scared to death.

Of course, in addition to praise, more people are thinking in their hearts that four thousand yuan a piece is not too expensive. There are only 500 of these treasures, and there are more than 500 people in the world who have money or power.

If you can buy one, whether it is sold for five or six thousand or given as a gift, it is excellent. I just don't know what kind of selling method Xiao Quzhi will be, it won't be first-come, first-served, right?

On the other side, Yidi Ken's face was even more ugly.

In fact, as soon as the words came out just now, Yidijian regretted it a little, what he paid tribute to himself was also a crystal cup, if Xiao Qu's illness was not valuable, his nature would be even less valuable. But at that time, he was hot-headed, where did he think so much.

At this time, I heard Xiao Qubing say that his crystal cup had these two benefits, and I heard everyone say that it was good, and I felt even more faceless, so I wanted to shrink back into the team.

But how could Xiao Quai's illness let him go so easily, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, Prince Yidi Jian thinks that my crystal cup is not worth so much money. I beg Your Majesty to let me do an experiment in public. ”

"Do an experiment?" Li Longji asked curiously.

"Just bring a pot of boiling water and pour it into the two crystal cups offered by the minister and the prince of Yijijian......"

"No way!" Before Li Longji could speak, Prince Yidi Jian shouted, he already believed that Xiao Qu's cup could hold boiling water, but his could not.

This is not the royal account of the Hui Khanate, it is not his final say, even if Yidi Jian fiercely opposes, in the end the boiling water is still mentioned, and the final outcome is naturally as Xiao Quzhi said. (To be continued.) )