After the monk Shaozhuyuan handed over the letter from Monk Fu to Wu Haogu, he went to work on his own affairs. Wu Haogu ordered a table of meat, vegetables and soybean wine (not the meaning of white wine), and chatted with Zhao Ji and Mi Youren while eating.

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

The fighting between Wu Haogu and Zhao Xiaoyi is a hot topic in Kaifeng Prefecture.

However, it still seems a bit embarrassing to ask Zhao Xiaoyi this question now. Zhao Xiaoyi and Mi Youren were both silent for a while.

After a while, Zhao Xiaoyi whispered: "It's better not to compare. To be honest, your pencil sketch can make the status of the number one person in the painting."

The competition between Zhao Ji and Wu Haogu was just fun, but in Zhang Dun's words, it was frivolous. Just compare and try to be fun. Later, Hua Shigang and Xuanhe Northern Expedition were all the same.

However, after he had more contact with Wu Haogu, he found that his painting skills were no match for Wu Haogu at all. Especially after he learned about the technique of practicing painting "pencil sketching", he realized how big the gap between him and Wu Haogu was.

How can I compare the time I have drawn one by myself?

"What the most person in the painting?" Wu Haogu smiled, "It's just a false reputation.

But this false reputation is also very valuable...so, you and I have to compete."

Zhao Ji frowned and never spoke. Wu Haogu continued, "Xiao Yi, look how popular our paintings are now? People who go to Fengle Tower to appreciate paintings every day have almost broken the threshold of Fengle Tower. When the day they are singing and selling, your "Photographs of Li Shishi" and my "Dance Picture of Mo Niangzi" will definitely be sold at a sky-high price.

And then we each have 10 "Courtesses" to draw, and after painting, we will definitely be able to sing and sell at a sky-high price.

So, you and I are both winners in this battle, and we have won a lot of them!"

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

No matter how good the artwork is, if the hype is completely excluded, it is difficult to sell a high-value one. The battle between Wu Haogu and Zhao Xiaoyi has become a crazy hype because of some reasons that they know and cannot say.

Of course, it is not only the paintings of Wu Haogu and Zhao Xiaoyi, but also the models Mo Niangzi and Li Shishi.

Madam Mo was just an unknown "family trick" before, and although Li Shishi was very popular for a while, she retired for many years and was not as famous as before.

But now their portraits are hung in the most conspicuous place in Fengle Building. I don’t know how many literati, poet, wealthy, and powerful people go to see their faces every day.

There are also many talented men who are good at writing and writing poems next to the two portraits, and there are also many rich people who spend a lot of money to have a love affair.

This is just the beginning!

When Christie's published the album "The Courtesan" at Christie's, Li Shishi and Mo Niangzi really didn't know what to become popular.

"Teacher," Mi Youren asked with a frown, "Who should I give this first person in the painting?"

"It doesn't matter," Wu Haogu smiled. "The first person in the painting can be judged one in a year. All three of us can do it. Only with this title can you get rich."

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

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

"Xiao Yi," Wu Haogu saw that Zhao Ji was a little stunned, and immediately understood what he was thinking. He smiled and said, "Money is certainly a common thing, but it is a common thing that must not be missing, otherwise you will know that it will be less when you use it!"

"I know that the money is enough when I use it?" Zhao Ji is not yet at the time of spending money, so he doesn't understand this sentence. But he still thinks that Wu Haogu is a friend who can make money...

He thought about it and said, "Is it a one-year comparison?"

"Yes, it's up to Christie's to do it once a year."

Wu Haogu nodded and said, "You can hold a competition with the courtesan lady... a painting selection is selected, and a painting is selected."

His meaning was to let Christie's take over the competition for the courtesan lady and the competition for the first person in the painting. If it succeeds, the album of "The Courtesan" will definitely become popular. Even if Christie's breaks through the industry of calligraphy, painting and antiques, it will enter the key industries of printing, engraving and publishing.

Moreover, only two people participated in the first person competition in this year, and more than two people will be included in the future. This will not only make the first person competition in the painting more lively, but will also give Christie's the opportunity to discover more "contemporary outstanding painters", which will also be of great benefit to the operation of "Chicie's Painting".

It can be said that it will kill multiple goals in one fell swoop!

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

Because in the letter that Monk Fu brought to Wu Haogu, he finally made a seemingly unreasonable request: I asked Wu Haogu to travel to Japan to take photos of the old monk's official Baihe Court's Royal Court... and also paint Baihe Court in the form of a Buddha!

Wu Haogu must have no time to go to Japan, and he will probably have to go to Liao for business on a business trip.

However, the transactions with the old Japanese monks and officials still need to be done, and it is best to bring Song Huizong to do it together.

Not only do we need to make business to Japan, but also to Goryeo, and the Great Liao... not only to make money, but also to build a fleet that can traverse the seas of East Asia.

And a fleet that can traverse the sea 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 coastlines of Liaodong and western Liaoning will be in danger of being invaded at any time.

The Jurchen cavalry can go south, and the Han sea boats can go north. This is to reciprocate and enhance national harmony.

To create such a maritime force that can communicate with the Jurchens, it is not only a matter of burning money, but also several prosperous maritime trade lines must be supported. To achieve this, in Wu Haogu's view, the best route is to establish contact with the old monks and officials of Japan and the kings of Goryeo.

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

Thinking of this, Wu Haogu smiled at Zhao Ji and said, "In fact, using the high price of the No. 1 person competition and the Courtesan competition in the paintings is just a small profit. The real profit is still in this letter."

As he spoke, Wu Haogu handed the letter from Monk Fu to Zhao Ji.

"What is said in this letter?"

Zhao Ji took the letter and read it. After reading it for a long time, he still didn't find any profit.

"Look at the end," said Wu Haogu, "the old monk in Japan wants me to take photos of him, and I want me to paint him like a Buddha."

Although the Shirakawa Court Emperor was a very authoritative Japanese emperor (Falun Emperor), his authority was not based on the strong imperial power, but because the public politics had reached its end, the emperor's authority was relatively rising.

Therefore, the foundation of Japanese imperial power is not solid, which is also the reason why Shirakawayuan wants to become a monk and become a Dharma emperor - he is using the power of Buddhism to enhance his authority.

Turning himself into the incarnation of Buddha on earth will undoubtedly help the Baihe Court Emperor consolidate his authority.

"Oh..." Zhao Ji said, "Dalang, do you want to go to Japan?"

"Of course I won't go," Wu Haogu smiled, "How can I go there with the wind and waves along the way?

However, if I don’t go, I can let others go!”

other people?

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

Of course, Mi Youren couldn't go either. Now Wu Haogu cannot do without the guidance of this little fox in the officialdom. So he can't risk going to Japan. If he drowned, Wu Haogu wouldn't be able to play with Zhao Ji anymore.

"I want to accept another disciple and pass on him the pencil sketching method," Wu Haogu smiled, "This way he can bring back the appearance of the old monk's official family. I will draw a statue of the Buddha according to the appearance of the old monk. If I can find a good carving craftsman, I can also carve a statue of the old monk and send it to Japan and put it into Xiangguo Temple. In this way, the market of the Xiangguo Temple in Japan can be built. With the support of the Xiangguo Temple in Japan, it will be much easier to trade with Japan."

Wu Haogu knew a little about the practices of the European National People's Congress Age of Discovery. They did not separate trade and religion, and they were both traded and preached. Trade and missionary cooperation were mutually beneficial to obtain the greatest benefit.

And Monk Fu has indeed fooled the Japanese Shirakawa Court Emperor, which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Wu Haogu’s ambition to sea trade - this is the core competitiveness!

"Xiao Yi," Wu Haogu looked at Zhao Xiaoyi with a smile, "I think you are a child of a noble family. Why not do this business with Japan? Should we do it together?"

“Do it together?”

Zhao Ji seemed 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. In the early Song Dynasty, high-ranking officials and nobles looked down on industry and commerce, and generally did not do business openly, but did it in the name of family slaves.

But now no one has this concern, and even the prince’s investment in business is not shameful.

But Zhao Ji might have to be an official...

Mi Youren said to Zhao Ji at this time: "Xiao Yi, I heard that the sea trade has always been profitable. Among the maritime merchants in Mingzhou, Quanzhou, Yangzhou and Haizhou, there are many people with millions of wealth. The richest ones may have tens of millions of wealth. They can be said to be rich enough to rival a country!

If we can trade with Japanese officials, we will definitely make more money and will be beneficial to the country."

That's right!

Mi Youren's words immediately dispelled Zhao Ji's concerns. It is not embarrassing that the Song Dynasty officials and Japanese officials have communicated with each other...
Chapter completed!