Recently, Zhao Huan has been in a particularly good mood. He not only went incognito to attend Tang Ke's auction, but also personally wrote a piece for the Bureau of Artworks.
The first auction held by the Artworks Bureau went exceptionally well, with a total of fifteen jade pieces and fifteen ceramic pieces sold. The auction, held on its official opening day, earned 300,000 strings of cash. Tang Ke was so happy that he ate several extra bowls of rice at lunchtime.
Following this, with the help of the Song Dynasty's official gazette and the Tokyo Express, the threshold of the Artworks Bureau was almost worn down by wealthy merchants from Tokyo, and orders skyrocketed.
Originally, many officials in the capital were not optimistic about Tang Ke's Bureau of Arts and Crafts. They felt that the Vice Chancellor was forced to do so by the tyrannical emperor. These people also wanted to protect themselves, so although they thought the Bureau of Arts and Crafts was messing around, they praised it on the surface.
However, in private, they often discussed the Arts and Crafts Bureau's lack of merit, believing that it would inevitably close down within a few months. On the eve of the Bureau's opening, many officials were waiting to see it fail.
But the effects of the newly opened Arts and Crafts Bureau silenced all those officials who were waiting to see the joke unfold within a day.
Currently, the dilapidated Song Dynasty is progressing step by step according to Zhao Huan's plan.
In this good mood, the emperor couldn't stand the loneliness and decided to go out of the palace to take a look.
Today, Zhao Huan was dressed in a snow-white robe, with a black ribbon tied around his head, gold-embroidered shoes, and a white jade belt around his waist. He was tall and imposing.
After leaving the palace, Zhao Huan was flanked by Wang Kui'an and Xie Dahai, and headed straight for the Donghua Gate.
The area outside Donghua Gate is the most prosperous part of Kaifeng, lined with restaurants. As night falls, the streets become increasingly crowded.
Although the political situation has been quite turbulent in recent months, it has not stopped the people of Bianjing (Kaifeng) from pursuing a life of pleasure. It should be said that the Song people have taken the spirit of entertainment to the extreme.
Zhao Huan even saw a servant running out of the restaurant carrying a box. If he wasn't mistaken, he was the "Northern Song Dynasty deliveryman" recorded in "Along the River During the Qingming Festival". Indeed, the lives of the Song people were similar to those of later generations in many ways.
Zhao Huan's attire differed somewhat from the mainstream attire of the Song Dynasty. The biggest difference was his hair. People in the Song Dynasty often wore headscarves, which made them look elegant and refined. However, Zhao Huan tied his hair up with a black ribbon. When the autumn wind blew, the ribbon fluttered in the wind, making him look clean and refreshing.
Coupled with his air of self-importance, his refined manners honed from extensive reading, and the heroic spirit honed from bloody battles on the battlefield, he stood out from the crowd.
Even if people don't know he is the current emperor, they will feel that he is an outstanding person the moment they see him on the street.
Completely different from the refined and scholarly demeanor of traditional scholars, this blend of qualities was refreshing to the girls on the street. Many women stared at Zhao Huan, making no attempt to hide their admiration for him.
Wang Kuian always felt that it was inappropriate for the emperor to come here, and he tried to dissuade him, but to no avail.
Wang Kui'an felt that this official was too eye-catching walking on the road. With that air of self-importance, there was probably no one else like him in the whole world. What if he attracted assassins?
Zhao Huan entered Chunhua Tower, found a seat, and heard the storyteller recounting the current emperor's northern expedition, which was at its climax. The emperor led his troops to defeat Wanyan Zonghan, who was routed and utterly defeated, winning cheers from many people present.
After quite a while, the waiter from the restaurant finally brought out the wine and dishes.
Zhao Huan asked, "Why are you so negligent in serving the wine and dishes, you servant?"
"Please calm down, sir. It's just that we have too many customers and our shop is short-staffed."
Zhao Huan continued, "How can someone who comes out to do business be short-handed? I remember that Chunhua Tower has been in Tokyo for over sixty years, yet you tell me you're short-handed. Don't try to deceive me!"
"My lord, please calm down! My lord, please calm down! Recently, the imperial court has exempted people from corvée labor and reduced taxes. Many people in the capital city are not as tight on their pockets as before, and there are more people coming to Chunfeng Tower to drink."
"How do you know it's because the imperial court exempted us from corvée labor and reduced taxes?"
The servant laughed and said, "Sir, you must not usually read the Song Dynasty Gazette. You can go and take a look. There are people in the Gazette who explain it."
The servant continued, "The current emperor is truly the greatest sage ruler of all time. Business at Chunfeng Tower is booming, and even my income has increased."
"Alright, since that's the reason, I won't hold it against you."
"Please enjoy your meal, sir. If you need anything, just call me."
Wang Kui'an poured Zhao Huan a cup of wine. Zhao Huan had just taken a sip when he heard a voice in his ear: "If you dare to talk nonsense again, I'll rip your tongue out!"
Zhao Huan looked up and saw a young man grabbing the neck of the servant who had just spoken to him, looking fierce and menacing.
Wang Kuian was about to step forward when Zhao Huan stopped him. Seeing that the emperor had no intention of moving, Xie Dahai also remained still.
"My lord, what I said was from the official gazette of the Song Dynasty, not my own thoughts!"
"I don't care if it's your own idea or not! If you dare to spout nonsense in front of me again, talking about the bullshit benefits of exemption from corvée labor and taxes, I'll kill you!"
A young man behind him quickly grabbed him and whispered in his ear, "Ziqi, this is Tokyo, be careful of the Imperial City Guard!"
"Bullshit Imperial City Guard! They dare to touch me, young master!"
"Ziqi, you've had too much to drink." The young man quickly pulled him back.
The servant quickly begged for forgiveness: "My lord, I was wrong, I will never dare to do it again."
People around looked over, and the young man arrogantly said, "Get lost!"
The servant scrambled away, and the group sat down again.
"Ziqi, the main reason for coming to Tokyo this time is to understand the situation of the new policy. The old master told us that we must not reveal our identities."
The young man, his face flushed from drinking, arrogantly said, "The old man is senile! Can corvée labor be abolished so easily? If those unruly people are left idle, they'll cause trouble! And taxes! The reduction of my Qian family's ten thousand acres of fertile land is a huge loss! What's even more infuriating is that this tyrannical emperor has actually raised the merchant tax! He says he's encouraging commerce, but he's raising taxes on the other hand!"
Qian Mu smiled bitterly. As a member of a collateral branch of the Qian family, he had absolutely no way to deal with Qian Yu, a direct descendant.
"Ziqi, that's enough for today. Let's go back now."
"Qian Mu, don't rush. I've heard that Hua Xiangrong of Chunhua Tower is as beautiful as Li Shishi back in the day. I'd like to meet her."
"How could a songstress like her catch Ziqi's eye? Let's go. There are too many people around here, and it wouldn't be good if something happened."
"Qian Mu! I'm a loyal follower, my word is law! If I say sit here, then sit here!"
Qian Mu's face immediately turned ashen. Qian Yu was bringing big trouble to the Qian family. Once his words reached the ears of the Imperial City Guard, they would inevitably reach the ears of the current emperor. If the emperor were to become angry, something big would likely happen in the Jiangzhe region.
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