This is a very deep mansion, but it is located in the most prosperous area of ​​Chang'an East City. It was because of these that Li Xiu set up the auction house here. This house was originally used by people, but now it has been transformed by Li Xiu into an auction house. Almost all the useless buildings inside have been demolished, only the gardens and some necessary buildings are retained, and the most important of them is naturally the hall for auction.

This hall was originally a front hall for guests in the house, and was built in a very grand manner. In fact, it was originally a villa of Li Shimin's younger brother Li Yuanjing, so the entire hall was built according to the specifications of the royal palace hall, which was enough to accommodate hundreds of people to hold auctions here. There were also quite a few side halls on both sides, and some smaller auctions could also be held, or guests could rest and have dinner.

Li Xiu has been staying in this renovated auction house since yesterday and slept here at night. This morning, it was another morning to prepare. After noon, the auction house opened the door. As a result, a group of invited merchants immediately emerged from the Zhengnan Building opposite. These merchants had a low status and were able to participate in such auctions with nobles, which was also a great attraction to them. When they came to the door, they had to show the token and check it correctly before they could enter.

With the first batch of merchants entering, one carriage after another came to the auction house. Some invited nobles also got off the carriage, and Li Xiu did not come forward to greet them. After all, this was an auction held by the Financial Management Commission in the name of the court, not a private party, so he had no intention of coming forward.

These invited nobles and merchants were immediately invited into the auction hall, and each of them distributed a catalog of auction items so that they could prepare in advance so that they could make a quote during auction.

Before the auction began, all the people who received the invitation had arrived. However, the status of merchants and nobles was different. Even if Li Xiu didn't care, the national conditions of the Tang Dynasty must be taken into account. Therefore, the nobles were sitting in the front, while the merchants could only sit in the back. There was even an obvious isolation between the two. For this arrangement, both the nobles and the merchants took it for granted, and naturally there would be no objection.

The light in the auction hall is very dark, so I can only barely see people clearly. This is also something Li Xiu deliberately did. It is said that the darkness can inspire people's courage, and also protect people's privacy, so that people's courage can bid.

At the bottom of the auction hall is a platform that has been built. When the guests arrived, the auctioneer also came on stage. The emcee was a middle-aged man in his forties with a good facial features and a good figure at noon. At first glance, he looked like a trustworthy middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man was named Wang Liang, and he was personally selected by Li Xiu. Wang Liang used to be the Mr. Palm of the bank. He was very clear about the price of various items, and he was very eloquent. He could be said to be alive by him. He was the host. In fact, it was the most suitable for him to be the host.

After Wang Liang came to the stage, he cleared his throat first, and then said loudly: "Thank you all for coming to our auction house. Wang Liang is currently the head of the auction house. Today I will host this auction for you!"

When Wang Liang said this, he explained the rules of the auction again. Although he had already sent out an auction rule when he invited guests before, in order to avoid someone's understanding, he continued to explain it in detail again in order to avoid being wrong.

After finishing the rules, Wang Liang announced that the auction had officially begun. Then a young clerk took a small car on the stage, which was loaded with something half a person tall and covered with a piece of red cloth, making it impossible to see what was loaded on the car?

Li Xiu was also sitting down at this time, because Ma Ye and Qin Qiong had also come before, and Changsun Wuji and others were also there. At this time, their group of civil and military officials were all sitting in the first row. Among them, Ma Ye, who was sitting on his right, couldn't help but ask, "Boy, when will my Wuzi sword be auctioned?"

"Uncle Ma, don't worry, now is the first auction item. The Wuzi sword you want is so expensive, so naturally you have to put it for the finale!" Li Xiu replied with a smile at this time.

"General Ma can pick things, but I also like the Wuzi sword, so don't blame me for not giving in!" Just as Ma Ye finished speaking, Changsun Wuji, who was sitting on Li Xiu's left, said with a smile. Although he was a civil servant, he had also led troops to fight wars before. Of course, his record was a little worse, but it was precisely because of this reason that he also loved weapons and armor. This time he attended the auction, he also came for the sword.

"Hehe, Duke Qi wants to compete with me for this sword, so let's see who will bid the highest in the end!" Mr. Ma said without giving in. He had long regarded the Wuzi sword as his own pocket, so naturally it was impossible to give it up easily.

Hearing Ma Ye say this, Changsun Wuji smiled slightly and said nothing. However, Li Xiu keenly discovered that when Changsun Wuji and Ma Ye mentioned the Wuzi sword, Qin Qiong and others around him also showed signs of intent. It seemed that they were also very coveted by this sword, but their financial resources were probably not comparable to Ma Ye and Changsun Wuji, which made the faces of several people also show disappointment.

"Okay, please see, this is the first item sold by our auction house!" At this moment, Wang Liang on the stage said loudly again. When he said this, he reached out to grab the red cloth, then suddenly lifted the red cloth, revealing the exhibits below, but everyone below the stage couldn't help but exclaim.

I saw a red coral placed in a wooden bracket on the cart on the stage. I saw that this red coral is more than three feet tall, and it is blood-red all over, without any variegated colors, and its shape is very beautiful. If an ordinary red coral can reach two feet, it can be called priceless, but this red coral is more than three feet tall, or even close to four feet. Many people have probably never seen such a treasure.

"Everyone, this is the first auction item we auctioned. A red coral plant that is as high as three feet and seven inches. This red coral is blood red all over, without any variegated color. What's even more rare is its beautiful and unique shape, which can definitely be called a priceless treasure. Our base price is 2,000 guan, and each price increase must not be less than 100 guan!" Wang Liang was also very satisfied with the amazement of the people below, and immediately introduced loudly.

"Now I announce that the auction will begin!" Wang Liang then announced that the auction will begin, indicating that the people below could start bidding, but what he did not expect was that the people below did not understand the rules or were shocked by this priceless coral. As a result, no one bid for a moment, and the entire auction house was silent.

Seeing this situation, Wang Liang and others on the stage also showed anxious expressions. After all, this is the first auction item. If no one bids, they will have to fail to sell it. However, this is not a good thing. After all, business is a sign. If the first item is not sold, then the future business will definitely be affected.

Li Xiu, who was in the audience, also showed a worried expression when he saw this, but he was a little strange at this time. With the value of this coral, the market is definitely no less than 5,000 guan. Now the lowest price is only 2,000, which is definitely a low price. Of course, the bank only paid 2,000 when mortgaged. After all, the bank cannot follow the market price, and the auction items are also based on the original mortgage price. Anyway, the bank must not suffer any loss.

Just as Li Xiu hesitated whether he would buy the coral directly, he suddenly heard someone in the businessman seat behind him whisper: "Two thousand one hundred coins!"

The merchant behind the bid was not very loud, but because the auction house was very quiet, it reached Wang Liang's ears, which made his eyes lit up immediately. When he pointed out the price, he shouted: "This rich businessman bids 2,100 yuan. If such a large coral is not auctioned, it will belong to this rich businessman. Is there anyone else to bid?"

As soon as Wang Liang said, it seemed to ignite the atmosphere. Some of the group of merchants bid again: "Two thousand two hundred coins!"

"Two thousand three hundred stale!"

"Two thousand five hundred stale!"

"Three thousand guan!"

...

The merchants behind sat with the nobles in front of them, and they felt guilty from the beginning, so the voices of the bidders were obviously lacking in confidence. However, after the atmosphere became more and more loud, the voices of these people became louder and louder, and the prices rolled upwards, and soon exceeded the market price of 5,000 guan. However, at this time, there were obviously fewer people bidding. In the end, a merchant in the southwest corner of the venue offered a high price of 6,300 guan, and no one shouted for a while.

"Whoever paid 6,300 guan for that customer No. 109 had a price higher than this?" Wang Liang asked loudly again on the stage, but he asked several times in a row, but no one offered again. Finally, he repeated the price three times, and immediately picked up the wooden hammer next to him and knocked on the table, "Six,300 guan, the deal is complete!"

Each customer has his own number in his hand. With the call of a deal, a staff member will immediately record the other party's number and will find the other party to check out after the end.

The first auction item was successfully sold, which made Wang Liang and others feel more confident. The auction will continue to start. Although the auction items are not as expensive as Red Coral, they have their own characteristics, which has also attracted people below to bid for it. Even Changsun Wuji, who is so calm as he was, could not help but bid for a jade bi from the Han Dynasty in the end.

A total of hundreds of auction items were prepared in this auction, and the reserve price was not high. After all, they were all mortgages from banks. As long as they did not exceed the high price, buying them would be equivalent to taking advantage of them. Of course, there were also a few items that exceeded the market price like Red Coral.

Seeing that the auction was about to end, when the Uz sword was about to be auctioned, Li Xiu, who was sitting below, frowned slightly because he found a problem in the auction just now.
Chapter completed!