The Emperor's birthday is approaching.

This is a major event in the world.

The powerful officials in the court, as well as the officials in various places, are mostly collecting treasures, such as Danqing ink treasures, divine weapons, strange stones and precious stones, rare medicines, strange birds and beasts, and so on.

or a gift, which is in line with the emperor's wishes, can be rewarded, and even promoted to an official position, and burns high incense.

Even if the gift is not in the eyes of the emperor, it is good to do something, not to seek merit, but to seek no fault.

As an official of the imperial court, if he does not say anything about the emperor's birthday, even if the emperor will not care, but the political enemies in the officialdom may not turn a blind eye, they will make a big fuss.

In this, for the court officials, it is also very deep.

However, for ordinary businessmen outside the capital, it did not have much impact.

Some merchants in the capital may have to worry a lot.

And the merchants of the Sixteen Prefectures of Huai'an, if they can't reach the heavens, they want to give gifts to the emperor, but they have no way.

Including Zhuang Ming, he is not qualified to meet the emperor, nor is he qualified to give gifts to the emperor.

Although there are always many wealthy gentry families every year, trying to find a way to offer heavy gifts to the emperor, at least these merchants present have never thought of it.

It's just that in the past, there was no intention to give gifts, because there was no way to give.

If you can really give a gift to the emperor, it's another matter.

If the heavy gift is eye-catching enough, the emperor remembers the name of the person who gave the gift, and even mentions it, that is, the ancestor burned high incense, and I am afraid that it can be regarded as paving a lot of roads.

Even if it is not remembered by the emperor, it is extremely rare to be able to give a gift to the palace.

In the future, both as a boast and as a reputation in business will be satisfying.

But more importantly, the preferential treatment of the local government.

"This ......"

King Chen hesitated.

And at this moment, another person hurriedly stepped forward and said: "Lord, in the villain's house, there is a sword, sharpening iron like clay, but the villain can't practice martial arts, the sword is covered with dust, and I am willing to give this family heirloom sword to the saint." ”

When King Chen heard this, he seemed helpless, so he smiled and said: "That's it, since you have a heart, this king can't be kind, and when this king's birthday ceremony goes to Beijing, he will take it with him." ”

And after saying this, he simply waved his hand and said: "Since this precedent has been set, this king will not be stingy, if you still have people who want to offer gifts to the saints, you can also say bluntly, this king will be named and sent to the palace." ”

Before the words fell, another person spoke.

"The villain has a piece of beautiful jade, and he is willing to give a gift to the emperor. ”

"There is also a treasured manuscript in the old decay, which is rumored to be left by the former pilgrimage, and the writing is like a god. ”

"Here, there is a miraculous medicine, not long ago, it was collected at a high price, which is extremely rare. ”

......

One after another, there are people who speak out.

But there are also those who are unrelenting.

Among them are Zhuang Ming, as well as Li Lao.

How can it be so easy to give gifts to the palace and enter the eyes of the emperor?

What's more, they are just businessmen, and they are naturally inconspicuous in the list of countless courtiers, local officials, celebrities and other high-class figures.

Don't say you can't give a gift, even if you can give a gift, what can you do?

The emperor will not remember them at all.

After giving gifts, they are still private businessmen, and when there is something to do in the future, they will also not be able to meet the saint in person, and they will not be able to reach the heavens.

If it is said that in Huai'an, only one person can give gifts to the emperor, then it is naturally famous, and it is naturally full of talk in Huai'an, and even the major officials of the sixteen prefectures of Huai'an will treat each other differently.

But everyone is giving gifts, so what's so special about their own family?

On top of that, many vaguely understand.

This gift may not make it to the palace.

Maybe it's just into King Chen's treasury.

"Childe. Xue Qing was also a smart person, lowered his body, lowered his voice, and said, "This matter ......"

"See?" Zhuang Ming chuckled lightly and said, "Do you think that they who are competing to give gifts at this time are all stupid people who have been deceived?"

"This ......" Xue Qing really had some such thoughts, but when he heard what Zhuang Ming said, he suddenly came to his senses and was vaguely surprised.

"Some people are really not very smart, and they think that this gift is to be given to the emperor through King Chen, and to be able to give a gift to the emperor is simply a blessing for three lives, and even glorify the ancestors. Zhuang Ming paused and said, "But there are some people who have already seen that they are not offering gifts to the emperor, but to King Chen. ”

"Why ......" Xue Qing hesitated slightly.

"King Chen's words have come to this point, and those who do not give gifts are disrespectful to the emperor and despise imperial power. ”

Zhuang Ming said with a smile: "And the gift, although it may not be given to the emperor, but at least it is given to King Chen...... Those who see the clues and are still hesitating are actually not smart, and those who see the clues and speak out immediately are smart people. ”

With King Chen's temperament, most of those later merchants will be written down by him and put on small shoes in the future.

Those who are ready to give gifts, King Chen will have a little more favor, and although he will not talk about preferential treatment in the future, at least he will not be disgusted.

Even these people who spoke out in front of them would leave an impression in front of King Chen first.

In the future, when he asked the government for help, King Chen would be able to judge that their group was more familiar with each other.

As long as King Chen has a bottom, everyone knows that it will be much more convenient for them to spend money to find a way in the future.

"I see," Xue Qing smiled bitterly: "I didn't expect that in the blink ......of an eye, there are many people, have you thought of this layer?"

"There have always been many smart people in the Sixteen Prefectures of Huai'an, and there are many businessmen and profiteers. Zhuang Ming chuckled: "When I dealt with them at the beginning, I also had a headache, pondering day and night, thinking back and forth, for fear of revealing something, and thus losing." ”

"Childe has no last resort, I don't know how much higher than them. ”

Xue Qing was busy with the answer.

Zhuang Ming only laughed, and slowly looked up.

Li Lao had already opened his mouth to offer an antiquity, an ancient porcelain vase from 800 years ago.

King Chen was quite satisfied, and his eyes looked towards Zhuang Ming again.

Zhuang Ming knew in his heart that if he didn't open his mouth again, he might be charged with disrespecting the emperor.

"Zhuang also has a treasure, please take it with the prince and dedicate it to the emperor. ”

Zhuang Ming slowly spoke, bowing slightly.

King Chen's gaze came over, and he exhaled with some regret.

He originally wanted to take the opportunity to make a difficulty, and asked this Zhuang firm, as the largest commercial house in Huai'an, why did it not say anything at all, did he think that the emperor's birthday was dispensable?

But Zhuang Ming spoke first, ready to give a gift.

"Brother Zhuang Ming. ”

Chen Wang said with a smile: "Your Zhuang firm, the most extensive business, the largest scale, is respected as the richest man in the sixteen prefectures of Huai'an, I don't know what kind of treasure you offer?"

This has a deep meaning.

In the field, when it comes to financial resources, Zhuang Ming is indeed the most abundant.

King Chen's implication was that the treasure he took out by Zhuang Ming had to overwhelm all the people present in order to match his identity.

"Zhuang is weak and frail, has collected a lot of rare medicinal materials, and loves antiquities, and has also collected a lot of Danqing ink treasures, Taoist Buddhist scriptures, and ancient bottles. ”

Zhuang Ming said lightly: "And what I want to offer this time is ......"

Before his voice fell, his heart suddenly palpitated.

It's a throbbing that comes from instinct.

But the root of this throbbing does not lie in the person.

It's in the body of a young dragon.

Just when Zhuang Ming's face was pale.

Outside, there were countless sounds of horses' hooves.

Someone shouted loudly and reported.

"Lord Wang, I have been escorted. ”