Damn it, I'm in the garbage book I wrote

Chapter 692 No, we can't lose to the North!

The transition from adolescence to middle age is not a long process; it can happen in an instant. Perhaps it's discovering while swimming that a distance that used to be easy to dive into is now impossible; perhaps it's rubbing your temples after drinking and playing games until midnight, saying you're not feeling well and should go to bed early; perhaps it's no longer blushing when a beautiful woman flirts with you, but instead lifting your shirt to reveal your hairy belly and saying, "Come see how much my brother has carried you for ten months."

Anyway, there will be that one unexpected moment; in short, time is silent and only mocks us.

The three sat by the campfire in silence for a long time, their burning ambition extinguished like a candle flame in the cold Qinhuai River at the turn of spring and summer.

"I think we should just give up on that Yangtze River swimming project." Emperor Jingtai suddenly looked up at Old Zhang: "Just let them figure it out themselves."

"Okay." Old Zhang didn't say anything either: "Whoever comes first will get a reward. Hey, speaking of rewards, what should we do about that?"

Xia Lin waved his hand: "Let's get the message out first."

"Isn't that a simple matter?" Emperor Jingtai looked puzzled. "Does this really require planning?"

Old Zhang understood his confusion. He sighed and said, "It's still necessary. In the current situation, someone will always say it's a waste of money and resources. The people can only see that we need money to build sites, pave roads, and even give money to those who have won awards, but they can't see how much money it can bring in."

"The common people... alas, they are kind but short-sighted, there's nothing we can do." Emperor Jingtai turned to Xia Lin: "What solutions do you have?"

"Me? I'm not good at housework." Xia Lin spread his hands: "I can bury a few people if you ask me, but this kind of thing..."

"Hey!" Old Zhang suddenly slapped his thigh: "Is the estimated grain output in Jiangnan and Northeast China going to exceed 300 million jin this year?"

"Yes, not much, really not much." Xia Lin nodded and said, "This output really falls short of my expectations."

"Not enough?!" Emperor Jingtai exclaimed. "You know that even in years of great harvest, our combined output with that of the Li Tang dynasty was only 100 million catties. Your two small places produced 300 million catties. Isn't that enough?!"

"Not many, but agriculture is something you can't rush; things will get better slowly."

"In that case, let's start preparations early this summer. As soon as the summer grain is harvested, we'll hold a grand harvest festival." Old Zhang said after a moment's thought, "A harvest, after all, no one dislikes a harvest. That way, we can use this as an opportunity to invite delegations from various countries and foreign merchants to join in the festivities, and then conveniently hold that... what was it again? What kind of meeting?"

"Expo".

"Yes, yes, yes! Daosheng is right." Old Zhang said, gesturing wildly, "It's the Expo, using the Harvest Festival as a warm-up, letting everyone taste the sweetness, so that next year we can naturally go with the flow."

After saying that, he looked intently at the Qinhuai River not far ahead: "In the summer, the water won't be so cold..."

"Good!" Emperor Jingtai slapped his thigh: "Tomorrow in court, you submit the memorial, I will approve the note, the Ministry of Rites will make the arrangements, and we will get it done within a month."

Their ability to act was still quite good. Even in such a harsh environment of struggle, Old Zhang actually managed to submit the memorial the next day. Of course, there were obstacles along the way; after all, they were political enemies, and what kind of political enemy wouldn't stand in their way? No one could say anything about the rules of the game, but Old Zhang still used his official robes as a bargaining chip, betting everything on this matter.

Emperor Jingtai readily agreed, and the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Revenue immediately began their preparations.

However, the fact that this matter was passed smoothly was not due to the efforts of Zhang and Emperor Jingtai, but also to the support of many others, including those who had previously disagreed with him politically.

Because the pressure in the court has been too great these days, there is a need for a breakthrough to alleviate the overall tension. A large-scale sacrificial ceremony just happens to meet the needs of many people at this time.

The powerful families naturally agreed, as this might alleviate some of the pressure on them and allow them a moment to catch their breath.

Soon the news spread from the imperial court to the common people, who were also surprised that such a bountiful harvest could warrant the stingy imperial court in recent years to hold such a grand harvest festival, which was said to invite foreign delegations and people.

So the people were also very excited and curious. After all, their lives were monotonous and dull. Most people didn't have much of a nightlife. They lived a simple life of working at sunrise and resting at sunset. Suddenly, they heard that the court was going to hold a harvest festival, and everyone was very happy.

However, they were even happier when they heard that the harvest festival was a celebration that everyone could participate in. Most of the people had been treated as outcasts for so many years. A festival? It was already good enough that they weren't treated as sacrifices, but they were even allowed to participate in the festival? This was something to be extremely happy about.

Not long after, they heard that there would be not only a festival but also an expo. Everyone went around asking what an expo was. They later learned that countries all over the world would bring their best specialties to the expo for display. There were fruits from the Western Regions, mare's milk wine from the grasslands, gemstones, ginseng and deer antlers from Goguryeo, and the Japanese would send people to present various silverwares and aquatic products. In short, there would be everything imaginable and unimaginable.

This is just like a child who is about to go on a trip, full of confusion and anticipation about the future, curious yet apprehensive.

Suddenly, from the common people to the imperial court, all discussions turned to this matter, and it even quickly spread from Jinling City to other places. The entire Great Wei was like a peacock about to spread its tail feathers, constantly scheming how to enhance its attractiveness.

The biggest fear in this situation is that in order to showcase the best parts of the country, the people will be over-exploited. Many people had this concern during this period, but after finding out the truth, they realized that this expo was not about the Great Wei buying products from other places, nor was it about drawing products from various places. Instead, it was about various countries and regions sending what they considered to be their best products to showcase and sell.

In other words, it was a large-scale, officially sponsored market. About twenty years ago, the late emperor had already tried his best to reduce the tribute system, and about ten years ago, when Emperor Jingtai succeeded to the throne, he basically banned the tribute system.

And this time, the once-glorious royal tribute is finally about to reappear in the world.

However, these things are all subject to review mechanisms; you can't just put anything on there, otherwise who knows what kind of trouble would arise.

"No, no, oh dear, I said no! His Majesty may not care, but how can we, as his subjects, not care? This thing is a tribute item; how can tribute items be allowed to fall into the hands of the common people?!"

The Vice Minister of Rites was at his wits' end. Rubbing his forehead, he said to his colleague, "Brother Ziliang, I know you want to do something for your hometown, but how dare you sell what you submitted... What is this? Gold embroidery! It's a dragon robe... a dragon robe..."

When the topic turned to the dragon robe, the Vice Minister of Rites lowered his voice: "Even if it's not embroidered with dragons and phoenixes, it's still taboo."

Just then, Emperor Jingtai strolled into the Ministry of Rites. The two men immediately stood up when they saw His Majesty arrive.

"I heard you arguing from afar. What's going on?"

"Your Majesty..." Before the Vice Minister of Rites could speak, his colleague interjected, "My hometown is famous for its gold thread embroidery, but in recent years Your Majesty has been frugal and no longer uses such extravagant items. Many embroiderers in my hometown have changed professions. However, I believe that gold thread embroidery is truly exquisite, and it would be a great pity if it were lost forever, so..."

"Your Majesty, please calm down." The Vice Minister of Rites quickly interjected, "Brother Ziliang is only thinking of his hometown. Please calm down, Your Majesty..." "Why should I be angry?" Emperor Jingtai found a chair and sat down. "Ziliang, do you have any samples for me to see? Speaking of which, when they bring out their exquisite creations, it would be inappropriate for us to serve them a plate of West Lake Vinegar Fish."

"Yes, yes, yes..."

Left Vice Minister Xue Ziliang hurriedly went inside, took out a small box, and carefully opened it. Inside was a gold-embroidered headdress.

Gold thread embroidery, also known as gold cluster embroidery, involves processing gold into gold threads, then shrinking the gold threads into flowers and attaching them to silk. This craft is extremely complex and requires a very high level of skill from the artisans. Theoretically, the finer the gold threads, the more exquisite the craftsmanship and the more beautiful the finished product.

The gold threads on this square crown are finer than a human hair. These gold threads are then used to create three-dimensional patterns on the silk surface. The silk embroidered with gold threads is then used to make crowns, boots, cufflinks, and other items. It is so exquisite that it takes your breath away.

Emperor Jingtai picked up his crown and looked down at the dragon pattern on his chest: "Hey, that's quite a craftsmanship."

The Right Vice Minister of Rites standing nearby was so nervous that his palms were sweating. After all, this was already an act of overstepping his bounds, and since they were from the Ministry of Rites, this would be an even greater offense.

"Tell me, how much does this crown cost?"

“Your Majesty, this crown was a gift from my grandfather the year I got married. Every stitch on it was embroidered by my aunts. I… do not know its value. And this gold embroidery has never been sold, so I do not know its value.”

Emperor Jingtai stroked his chin and remained silent for a while, then got up without a word, took the wedding crown, and left.

The two vice ministers looked at each other.

"Brother Ziliang..."

"Don't panic, His Majesty probably won't want my things."

Emperor Jingtai took the crown, changed his clothes, and went to the pawnshop in Douyazi's house. But when he handed the crown to the clerk, the clerk's hand trembled and he almost dropped it.

Then Emperor Jingtai was detained...

After the report was filed with the authorities, the government took it very seriously. The deputy envoy of the capital city personally led a group of people. They came in a very aggressive manner, but as soon as they entered the door and saw Emperor Jingtai being held captive in the pawnshop, the deputy envoy's legs went weak and he knelt down.

"Your Majesty... I deserve to die ten thousand times."

Emperor Jingtai waved his hand: "It's my fault, it has nothing to do with you."

After saying that, he glanced at the pawnshop manager, who was over fifty years old. The manager almost wet himself when he saw that look and immediately knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Rise, all of you." Emperor Jingtai picked up his teacup and took a sip. "I came here today to see the value of this object. Just tell me."

The shopkeeper carefully picked up the crown, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, this is a tribute item, not to be circulated casually. My disrespect towards Your Majesty just now stemmed from the belief that… that…"

"You think I stole something from the palace?"

The shopkeeper dared not speak, but Emperor Jingtai laughed heartily: "Don't worry, it's alright, just say it straight."

The shopkeeper was naturally quite capable to be able to manage the Dugu family's pawnshop. He began to describe the items in his hands in detail, saying that the craftsmanship could be traced back to the Qin and Han dynasties. Although no one was buying or selling them now, there were records from the previous dynasty. After the War of the Eight Princes, someone took the emperor's items to the common people. At that time, one of the handkerchiefs could be sold for eight hundred strings of cash.

Based on the exchange rate at that time and now, that handkerchief would probably be worth three to five thousand taels of silver now, while the crown in Emperor Jingtai's hands was even more exquisite in craftsmanship and more dynamic in design. If it were to be valued, it would probably be worth at least ten thousand taels.

"Too expensive." Emperor Jingtai waved his hand. "If you remove its royal aura, what will its intrinsic value be?"

"This..." The shopkeeper pursed his lips: "Three thousand taels, the craftsmanship alone is worth that price."

"Hmm, three thousand taels is about right." Emperor Jingtai put away his crown. "Come to my study tomorrow."

The shopkeeper pointed at himself and said, "You commoner?"

"Well, that's you."

"This humble citizen is filled with trepidation..."

Emperor Jingtai ignored him and returned the treasure to the Ministry of Rites. The next morning, the shopkeeper was indeed brought to his study.

However, once inside, he felt he couldn't hold his urine any longer, because this place not only housed the emperor, but also Xia Lin, Xia Daosheng, the three prime ministers, the Minister of Rites, the Minister of Works, the Minister of Revenue, and Duke Dugu...

The Minister of Works was also the most outstanding master craftsman in the country, having once been the master craftsman who oversaw construction in Fuliang. So, it seemed out of place for him, a mere pawnshop manager, to stand here.

"Alright, this shopkeeper has good judgment and is a knowledgeable man. I'll invite him to join us today. Does anyone have any objections?"

With the boss speaking, what could anyone else possibly object to? So the shopkeeper listened intently from the sidelines, trembling with fear.

Their meeting focused on how to bring out their best at the harvest festival, ensuring that as the host, they wouldn't lose face. At the very least, they needed to be able to put up a fight against the Li Tang dynasty.

"It's a bit difficult." Xia Lin clicked his tongue. "It's easier to deal with other places, but the culture and products of the Tang Dynasty are far superior to those here. If Li Shimin gets angry, he might knock off a Buddha head and sell it here. You can't believe it."

"That scoundrel..." Emperor Jingtai took a deep breath, "He is indeed capable of such things. But I am not reconciled!"

(End of this chapter)