Chapter 952: It can't be sold for less than 20 million

On March 25, there were three days left before the start of Sotheby's four-day spring auction, and the publicity campaign had reached a critical period.

Sotheby's Auction House has long since used the channels of the Jiuding Newspaper Company to send out the auction catalogues, which have been distributed throughout East and Southeast Asia. As long as they are wealthy people of a certain status, they have all received Sotheby's Auction House's spring auction catalogues and invitations.

Of course, the catalogues only feature a selection of representative auction items, and it is impossible to include all of the auction items in one catalogue.

After all, the spring auction will last four days, with a total of 30 special auctions and more than 1,600 treasures on display.

If you want to find a treasure you like and bid on it, you have to choose to be there in person.

However, this spring auction is destined to make Sotheby's Auction House make history.

It is because the Yongle Encyclopedia displayed in the catalogue has shocked all the wealthy people who received it, and it has also shocked the entire collecting and cultural community.

People from Southeast Asia, island countries, baseball countries, European and American countries, and the mainland collecting community were all ready to fly to Hong Kong.

And some knowledgeable people, after realizing the popularity of Sotheby's auction house this spring, have come forward with their own treasures to be offered to Sotheby's auction house, ready to participate in this spring auction.

The presence of many wealthy people means that the possibility of a failed auction is small, and the possibility of a higher price is greater. This is a rare and excellent opportunity!

If you miss this time, you don't know how long you have to wait. After all, cultural relics of national treasure level like the Yongle Encyclopedia don't appear every year!

It is precisely because of this situation that Sotheby's auction house has seen an increase in the number of auction items and an improvement in overall quality.

Ren Decheng, general manager of Sotheby's Hong Kong, is already 100% certain that this spring auction will leave a strong mark in the history of Sotheby's Hong Kong!

The arrival of wealthy outsiders has also boosted consumption in Hong Kong, especially in the hotel industry, with occupancy rates soaring.

The biggest beneficiaries are the hotel brands under the Jiuding Hotel Management Group, which were recommended by Sotheby's Auction House for accommodation, such as Marco Polo Hotels, Mandarin Hotels, Peninsula Hotels, and Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers.

The three days passed in a flash.

It was March 28th in the blink of an eye.

On this day, a red carpet was laid in front of the door of Sotheby's Hong Kong, leading directly to the auction venue.

Outside the auction house, two rows of S.H.I.E.L.D. security guards dressed in black, wearing sunglasses, and looking strong and healthy, were on guard.

In addition, there were four young and beautiful women wearing beautiful red cheongsam at the entrance, responsible for checking invitations.

If a wealthy person did not have an invitation, they could also provide something that could prove their wealth, such as a special bank card, and pay a deposit of 100,000 Hong Kong dollars, and then they could enter.

Because it is a special auction, there is no such thing as the first three days being relatively inferior lots and the best items being auctioned off at the end.

Each session has a top-level lot as the finale, which is enough to ensure that the auction reaches a climax.

If there is anything special, it is that the ancient books session, where the Yongle Encyclopedia is located, is scheduled for the last session of the afternoon of the fourth day of the spring auction, that is, March 31, as the finale!

It was also on this morning.

Wang Ping, director of the Xiangjiang Branch of the Xinhua News Agency, received a group of people from the capital at the port.

The sea breeze was blowing by the docks.

Wang Ping shook hands with Liu Shaoquan, director of the Palace Museum, and looked at the three of them, who were covered in dust, and said with emotion, 'Director Liu, judging by your appearance, you didn't rest along the way?'

Liu Shaoquan, who was over 60 years old and had grey hair at the temples, shook his head and said, 'If the national treasure is released and we arrive late, resulting in the continued loss of the national treasure overseas, I won't be able to sleep for the rest of my life, let alone just these few days.'

'President Wang, has the auction already started?'

Liu Shaoquan asked anxiously.

Wang Ping nodded and said, 'It's already past ten o'clock, the auction started more than an hour ago.'

Liu Shaoquan became anxious and hurriedly took Wang Ping's hand and said, 'President Wang, please take us there now.'

Wang Ping smiled bitterly and said, 'I'll take you there now to have a look.'

'And you don't need to rush, Dean Liu. The auction of the Yongle Encyclopedia has already been scheduled for the afternoon of March 31st in the ancient books auction session. There are still more than three days to go, so you can't bid now even if you go, you can only go to the exhibition hall to have a look.'

Liu Shaoquan was suddenly relieved, and then said anxiously, 'It's good to take a look first, and President Wang also asked you to take us there to have a look.'

Wang Ping kept saying "yes" in succession: 'Yes, yes, yes!'

'But you all have luggage with you, and it's not appropriate to go to the auction house. Everyone should first put the luggage in the car together, and arrange for someone to go to the Xinhua News Agency. I only have one invitation, so I can only take two people in. President Liu, you decide who you want to go with.'

'After you've been there once, you'll know me better, and I'll give you the invitation. Then all three of you can go together.'

Hearing that only two people could go, Liu Shaoquan looked troubled, then looked at his two subordinates, and finally his gaze settled on Ji Xueming, who had a good knowledge of ancient books.

'Dr Ji, you come with me today.'

'Dr Liu, tomorrow, after President Wang gives me the invitation, we'll go together.'

'Okay, as you wish!'

After making the arrangements, Wang Ping and the others shared a car and headed to Hong Kong Island.

In the car, Wang Ping looked at Liu Shaoquan, who was sitting next to him with a hopeful expression on his face, and thought for a moment before asking, 'President Liu, I wonder how much funding the authorities have approved for you this time?'

Upon hearing this, Liu Shaoquan's spirits lifted, and he beamed with a broad smile, saying, 'I've put in a lot of effort for this, and in the end the ministry approved two million Hong Kong dollars in special funding for the museum. This is more than the funding for the past year!'

'President Wang, you are more familiar with Hong Kong, do you think this money should be able to film the Yongle Encyclopedia?'

Liu Shaoquan looked at Wang Ping with burning eyes, his eyes full of expectation.

Seeing Liu Shaoquan so optimistic, Wang Ping, who is familiar with Hong Kong, could not help but smile. Especially since he knew that these days, many tycoons from outside Hong Kong had come to Hong Kong, for these people, two million Hong Kong dollars was really just pocket change, and Liu Shaoquan had no chance of winning.

However, he also knew the current situation on the mainland, where workers' monthly wages were only a few dozen yuan. Two million Hong Kong dollars was definitely a super-large sum of money.

What's more, the mainland was currently experiencing a severe shortage of foreign exchange. Although it was Hong Kong dollars and not US dollars, the ministry's approval of two million Hong Kong dollars for the Palace Museum was indeed a great support. Liu Shaoquan must have spent a lot of time lobbying the ministry's leaders.

It would be bad to just discourage Liu Shaoquan like this, but it would also be bad to let him continue to have high expectations. Wang Ping couldn't help but feel a headache.

He thought for a moment and said, 'Although I know Hong Kong relatively well, it's more in terms of politics, the economy, and people's livelihoods. I really haven't paid much attention to auctions, but I have heard that there have been quite a few items that have sold for more than two million. I just don't know how high the price of the Yongle Encyclopedia will go this time.'

Liu Shaoquan sensed Wang Ping's unease. The smile on his face faded, and a complex look appeared in his eyes. He nodded and said, 'I hope everything goes well.'

Then the car fell silent.

After more than twenty minutes, the car finally arrived near the Sotheby's auction house. Wang Ping told the driver to pull over temporarily, and after dropping off the three of them, he tidied his clothes, took out the invitation, and brought Liu Shaoquan, who had been shocked by the prosperity of Hong Kong, onto the red carpet of Sotheby's auction house.

After verifying the invitation, the three of them walked into Sotheby's auction house.

Although the auction had officially begun, not everyone was participating; there were always people who were only interested in certain categories of artwork.

Therefore, those who are not participating in the auction temporarily gather in the exhibition hall to watch.

Wang Ping and the others followed the signs to the exhibition hall.

The exhibition hall was at least more than 1,000 square meters, and the exquisite and elegant ceiling with its sparkling crystal chandeliers complemented the glass counters on the floor, giving a sense of extreme opulence.

Inside the exhibition hall, men and women dressed in fine clothes were walking around viewing the exhibits that had not yet been auctioned.

At that moment, it seemed that he heard the words 'Yongle Dadian'. Wang Ping looked in the direction of the sound and was shocked to discover a large group of people tightly gathered in the centre, with people exclaiming from time to time.

That must be the exhibition counter for Yongle Dadian.

Wang Ping said to Liu Shaoquan, 'President Liu, please come with me. That must be the exhibition counter for Yongle Dadian. Let's go take a look.'

After saying this, Wang Ping led the impatient Liu Shaoquan over to the counter, finding a suitable gap to squeeze into the inner area. Sure enough, in the centre of the crowd was a glass counter about two metres long, with a bodyguard standing at each corner on guard.

Inside the glass counter, yellowed ancient books were quietly displayed one after the other.

Without Wang Ping having to say anything else, Liu Shaoquan and Ji Xueming immediately gathered at the front, their eyes sparkling as they looked at the ancient books inside the counter.

In particular, Ji Xueming could hardly wait to break the glass and gently hold the Yongle Encyclopedia in his hands.

Happiness is on the other side of the glass, it looks beautiful but it is out of reach...

This was more or less how Ji Xueming felt at that moment.

'One, two, three...twenty?'

'I thought there were 122 volumes? Why are there only 20 here?'

Liu Shaoquan, who had counted the volumes, frowned and muttered to himself in puzzlement.

As if he heard Liu Shaoquan, an elderly man next to him who understood Mandarin explained to Liu Shaoquan, 'There are indeed 122 volumes, but because there are so many, only 20 have been taken out for display. I don't know who is honoured to be able to see the remaining 102 volumes of the Yongle Encyclopedia.'

Liu Shaoquan gave the elderly man a grateful look and said, 'Thank you for telling me!'

The old man smiled and said, 'You're welcome!'

Liu Shaoquan continued to admire the Yongle Encyclopedia in the glass cabinet. Although the ancient books were not open, there was an introduction card under each volume, with dense text briefly describing the relevant information about that volume of ancient books, such as the knowledge it recorded.

Before he knew it, half an hour had passed.

Although there had been many changes in the crowd, the crowd was still dense.

The old man who had just answered Liu Shaoquan's question seemed to be extremely obsessed with the Yongle Encyclopedia and was still here.

Liu Shaoquan hesitated for a moment and asked the old man, 'Old sir, I am Liu Shaoquan. May I ask your surname?'

The old man smiled and replied, "Hello, Mr Liu. My humble surname is Shi and my name is Youde.'

Liu Shaoquan smiled and said hello, "Hello, Mr Shi!'

Liu Shaoquan had never heard of the name Shi Youde, but Wang Ping, who had remained nearby, felt that the name sounded familiar. He frowned for a moment, thinking, and then asked Shi Youde, 'Mr Shi, are you from the Shi family of Aomen?'

Shi Youde smiled frankly and said, 'Yes! May I ask who you are?'

Wang Ping smiled and introduced himself, 'I am Wang Ping, the president of Xiangjiang Xinhua News Agency.'

Shi Youde, as a billionaire and someone who came to Macau from the mainland to make a living, naturally knew the nature of Xinhua News Agency. He remembered that the president of Xiangjiang Xinhua News Agency was called Wang Ping, but because he was in Macau, he had never met Wang Ping before. He never thought that he would meet him here.

He smiled and said hello, 'So it's President Wang. I've heard a lot about you, but meeting you in person is even better. Nice to meet you!'

Seeing Liu Shaoquan's questioning gaze, Wang Ping explained to him, "President Liu, the Macau Shek family is a wealthy family in Macau, and Mr. Shek is a billionaire second to none. I heard that Mr. Shek is also a renowned collector.'

Wang Ping smiled and asked Shek Yau-tak, "Am I correct, Mr. Shek?'

Shi Youde said modestly, 'President Wang is too kind. I only have a small fortune, and collecting is only a hobby. I don't deserve to be called a rich man.'

Liu Shaoquan suddenly understood. Shi Youde should be his competitor. And from what Wang Ping said, Shi Youde was a billionaire. This made him wary.

He asked nervously, 'Mr. Shi, what price do you think the Yongle Encyclopedia will fetch? Are you sure?'

Unexpectedly, Shi Youde gave a wry smile and shook his head, saying, 'This time, it will definitely fetch a sky-high price. I have prepared 10 million Hong Kong dollars. At first, I was still confident, but now I have no confidence at all.'

'As far as I know, quite a few wealthy people with a net worth greater than mine are interested in the Yongle Encyclopedia. Moreover, people from the Eastern Han Dynasty Library in the island country and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York have also come. These are all people who are not short of money. I estimate that it will not be possible to fetch less than 20 million this time!'

The speaker meant no harm, but the listener took it personally.

Shi Youde's words were like a bolt from the blue to Liu Shaoquan, and his face was ashen with anger.

Watching Liu Shaoquan's expression change, Shi Youde also knew that he had the same thoughts about the Yongle Encyclopedia as he did, except...

Thinking about the identity of Wang Ping, who had come with Liu Shaoquan, and Liu Shaoquan's northern accent, he also roughly guessed Liu Shaoquan's identity.

However, he didn't think highly of Liu Shaoquan. Although the mainland is vast and rich in resources, it really doesn't have much spare money to buy cultural relics right now, even national treasures like the Yongle Encyclopedia.

But although he himself is better than Liu Shaoquan, isn't he also just average?

It seems that the Yongle Encyclopedia is also out of his reach...

Shi Youde, who was feeling a little down, suddenly lost interest, and he had no mood to appreciate the Yongle Encyclopedia anymore. He found an excuse and left the crowd.

Liu Shaoquan and Ji Xueming, on the other hand, liked the Yongle Encyclopedia more and more as they looked at it, but they couldn't settle down because they kept thinking about what Shi Youde had said.

Liu Shaoquan, unwilling to accept defeat, took the opportunity to chat up a few people who looked richer, but the answers he got were not what he wanted, and his heart grew colder and colder.

In a short while, Wang Ping and the other two walked out of the crowd.

Liu Shaoquan looked back at the glass counter, which was still surrounded by a crowd. He looked unwilling, and his emotions were in turmoil, so he spoke even more directly, asking Wang Ping for help: 'President Wang, you know more about Xiangjiang. You really can't let the national treasure go overseas, otherwise you and I will be guilty in the eyes of the Chinese people!'

As soon as this big hat came out, Wang Ping's face instantly turned dark.

We are all of the same rank, and it was you, the Palace Museum, who wanted to photograph the Yongle Encyclopedia. What does this hat mean when it is put on my head, the Xinhua News Agency?

I even entertained you personally, and this is really not fair, is it?