After the monk of the Roast Pig Courtyard handed over Monk Fu's letter to Wu Haogu, he went to his own business, and Wu Haogu ordered a table of meat dishes and soju (not the meaning of liquor), and chatted with Zhao Ji and Mi Youren while eating.

"Xiao Yi, what do you think of the competition between us?"

Wu Haogu and Zhao Xiaoyi's fight paintings are a hot topic in Kaifeng Mansion at the moment.

However, now that Wu Haogu came to ask Zhao Xiaoyi this question, it still seemed a little embarrassing, and Zhao Xiaoyi and Mi Youren were silent for a while.

After a while, Zhao Xiaoyi said softly: "It's not comparable, to be honest, just your pencil sketch can make you the first person in the painting." ”

The competition between Zhao Ji and Wu Haogu is purely fun, and in Zhang Dan's words, it is frivolous. It's just a comparison, it's just a fun picture - what Huashigang and Xuanhe Northern Expedition did later, it was this way.

However, after having more contact with Wu Haogu, he found that his painting skills were not Wu Haogu's opponent at all. Especially after he learned the technique of "pencil sketching", he realized how big the gap between himself and Wu Haogu was.

The time to draw one by one, dozens of others have drawn it, how can it be compared?

"The first person in the painting?" Wu Haogu smiled, "It's just a false name."

But this false name is also very valuable...... So, you and I have to give it a try. ”

Zhao Ji frowned and did not speak. Wu Haogu continued: "Xiao Yi, do you see how popular the paintings of the two of us are now? People who go to Fengle Building every day to enjoy the paintings are about to break the threshold of Fengle Building. When the day of the singing and selling, your "Li Shishi Photo Picture" and my "Mo Lady Dance Picture" will definitely sell at a sky-high price.

And after that, you and I each have 10 "Oiran Pictures" to paint, and after the painting, we will definitely be able to sing and sell for a sky-high price.

So in this fight, you and I are both winners, and we have already won a lot! ”

Wu Haogu is a person who understands the rules of the game in the art market in later generations, and knows how important speculation is to the "value discovery" of artworks.

No matter how good a work of art is, it is difficult to sell it for a high value if the hype element is completely excluded. And the fight between Wu Haogu and Zhao Xiaoyi has also become a crazy hype for some reasons that cannot be said if you know it.

Of course, it is not only the paintings of Wu Haogu and Zhao Xiaoyi that have been hyped up, but also the Mo Niangzi and Li Shishi who are used as models.

Mo Niangzi was just a little-known "family trick" before, and although Master Li was a smash hit, he also retired for many years, and his reputation was not as good as before.

But now the portraits of the two of them are hung in the most conspicuous place in Fengle Building, and I don't know how many literati and artists, wealthy businessmen and magnates go to see the beauty every day.

There are also many talented people who are good at dancing and writing and writing ink who have inscribed poems next to the two portraits, and I don't know how many local tyrants have spent a lot of money to get a kiss on Fangze.

And that's just the beginning!

When Christie's published the "Oiran" album, Master Li and Mo Niangzi really didn't know what to look like.

"Teacher," Mi Youren asked with a frown, "and who should the first person in this painting be given to?" ”

"It doesn't matter," Wu Haogu smiled, "The first person in the painting can be judged once a year, and the three of us can do it, with this name, it is easy to get rich." ”

Rich? Zhao Ji was a little happy when he heard this.

This martial art ancient painting is good, but why are people so vulgar?

"Xiao Yi," Wu Haogu saw that Zhao Ji was a little stunned, and immediately understood his thoughts, and said with a smile: "Money is certainly a vulgar thing, but it is a vulgar thing that must not be missing, otherwise the money will be less when it is used!" ”

"When the money is used, you know how little you know?" Zhao Ji hasn't reached the time to spend money like flowing water yet, so he can't understand this sentence. But he still thinks that Wu Haogu is a friend who can make money very well......

He thought for a moment and said, "Is it a year-to-year comparison?" ”

"Yes, every year, Christie's will do it."

Wu Haogu nodded and said, "You can do it with the big competition of the Oiran lady...... Draw the draft, choose the painting by the show. ”

What he meant was that Christie's had to win the big competition between the Oiran lady and the first person in the painting. If it can be successful, the "Oiran" album will definitely become a hit, and Christie's will break through the calligraphy, painting and antique business and enter the key industries of printing, engraving and publishing.

Moreover, there are only two people in this year's painting, and there will be more young painters than two people in the future. This will not only make the contest of the first person in the painting more lively, but also give Christie's the opportunity to discover more "outstanding contemporary painters", which will also be beneficial to the operation of "Christie's Painting Workshop".

It's a lot of money!

However, the added value of the painting line is definitely more than that.

Because at the end of the letter that Monk Fu brought to Wu Haogu, he also put forward a seemingly unreasonable request: ask Wu Haogu to go to Dongying to take a photo for the old monk's official family, the Emperor of Baiheyuan...... I also want to paint Shirakawa-in Temple in the form of a Buddha!

Wu Haogu definitely didn't have the time to go to Japan, and he probably had to go on a business trip to Liao in the future.

However, the business with the old Japanese monk and official family still has to be done, and it is best to bring Song Huizong to do it together.

It is necessary not only to trade in Japan, but also to Goryeo, and to Daliao...... Not only to make money, but also to build a fleet that can crisscross the seas of East Asia.

And a fleet that can crisscross the seas of East Asia is, of course, a force at sea!

As long as this maritime force exists and is in the hands of Wu Haogu, the long coastline of eastern and western Liaodong will be in danger of being invaded at any time.

The Jurchen iron horse can go south, and the Han family's sea ships can also go north, which is the exchange of courtesies and the promotion of national harmony.

And to create such a maritime force that can communicate with the Jurchens, it is not only a matter of burning money, but also must be supported by several prosperous maritime trade routes. In Muyokoo's view, the best route was to establish contact with the old monks of Japan and the kings of Goryeo.

Of course, it would be ideal to bring Song Huizong to participate together.

Thinking of this, Wu Haogu said to Zhao Ji with a smile: "In fact, using the first person in the painting to sell paintings at a high price is just a small profit, and the real big profit is still in this letter." ”

As he spoke, Wu Haogu handed Monk Fu's letter to Zhao Ji.

"What does this letter say?"

Zhao Ji took the letter and read it, and after reading it for a long time, he didn't find anything profitable.

"Look at the end," said Wu Haogu, "the old monk and official family in Japan want me to take a picture of him, and they want me to paint him like a Buddha." ”

Although Emperor Shirakawain was a very authoritative Japanese emperor (French emperor), his authority was not based on the strength of the imperial power, but because public politics had reached the end of the road, the emperor's authority rose relatively higher.

Therefore, the foundation of the Japanese imperial power is not solid, which is why Shirakawain wants to become a monk and become an emperor - he is strengthening his authority with the help of Buddhism.

And turning himself into an incarnation of the Buddha in the world will undoubtedly help Emperor Shirakawain to consolidate his authority.

"Oh......" Zhao Ji said, "Da Lang, do you want to go to Japan?" ”

"Of course I won't go," Wu Haogu smiled, "How can you go if you have a lot of wind and waves along the way?"

However, if I don't go, I can let someone else go! ”

Others?

Zhao Ji looked at Mi Youren and thought: Wu Dalang wouldn't want Mi Youren to go to Japan, right?

Of course, Mi Youren can't go, and now Wu Haogu can't do without the guidance of this little fox in the officialdom. So he can't be allowed to risk going to Japan, in case he drowns, Wu Haogu won't be able to play Zhao Ji.

"I want to take another apprentice and pass on to him the method of pencil sketching," Wu Haogu said with a smile, "so that he can go and bring back the appearance of the old Japanese monk's house, and I will draw a statue of the Buddha according to the appearance of the old monk." If you can find a good carver, you can also carve a Buddha statue for the old monk, send it to Japan, and put it in Xiangguoji Temple, so that you can make the market of Xiangguoji Temple in Japan. With the backing of Japan's Xiangguoji Temple, trade with Japan is much easier. ”

Wu Haogu knew a little about the practice of the European Age of Discovery, they did not separate trade and religion, and they traded and proselytized at the same time. Trade and proselytizing work together to get the most out of it.

And Monk Fu has now really fooled the Japanese Emperor of Shirakawain, which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Wu Haogu's maritime trade ambitions - this is the core competitiveness!

"Xiao Yi," Wu Haogu looked at Zhao Xiaoyi with a smile, "I see that you are extraordinary, you must be a child of a family, why don't we do this business of trade with Japan?" ”

"Do it together?"

Zhao Ji looked a little hesitant.

Of course, the princes of the Song Dynasty could do business, and the Song Dynasty did not prohibit officials from doing business. At the beginning of the Song Dynasty, high-ranking officials and dignitaries still looked down on industry and commerce, and generally did not do business openly, but did it in the name of domestic slaves.

But now no one has this concern, even the prince's investment in business is not a shameful thing.

But Zhao Ji may want to be an official......

Mi Youren said to Zhao Ji at this time: "Xiao Yi, I heard that maritime trade has always been profitable, and among the maritime merchants in Mingzhou, Quanzhou, Yangzhou and Haizhou, there are millions of people who have property, and the richest may have tens of millions of family wealth, which can be described as a rich country!"

If we can trade with the Japanese government, we will definitely be able to make more money, and it will be good for the country. ”

That's right!

Mi Youren's words immediately dispelled half of Zhao Ji's concerns, and it is not a shame that the official family of the Great Song Dynasty and the official family of Japan communicate with each other......

Wu Haogu also thought of a reason at this time, he said: "And about 2,000 miles north from the Japanese country, it is the territory of the original Bohai Kingdom, and now it is the territory of the female Naoto...... Through the Japanese transit, I can bypass the Korean Kingdom and go directly to the female straight people! ”