The World's Richest Man: Start with the Daily Intelligence System

131: Chapter 131 Major GainsBoss Li put down the magnifying glass in his hand and said, ”Everyone present here is an expert in the field, so let me start by offering a few humble thoughts.”

He pointed to the dozen or so manuscripts and smiled, ”I believe everyone is familiar with Hai Rui. He served several generations of emperors throughout his life, and his official career was full of ups and downs.”

In his middle age, Hai Rui was framed by the powerful official Gao Gong and was forced to retire back to his hometown in Hainan due to illness.

These manuscripts contain the lessons he summarized back home based on his experiences while serving as a county magistrate in Chun’an and Xingguo.

They also detail his governance of the Wusong River (which is now Suzhou Creek) in the Yangtze River Delta, as well as his suggestions for governing the Li people in Hainan.

Because he originally advocated Wang Yangming’s philosophy, the text also reflects that philosophical thought. This set of manuscripts is of great help in studying Ming Dynasty history.

After finishing, he shook his head, ”However, in his later years, Hai Rui was highly regarded by the Wanli Emperor and was appointed as the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel in Nanjing at the advanced age of seventy-two. He likely estimated that he would not return alive from this appointment, which is why he did not take these manuscripts with him.”

”If he had taken them to Nanjing, they probably wouldn’t have survived until today. It is truly a twist of fate.”

Everyone understood what Boss Li was referring to and sighed with emotion.

Dr. Zhao stepped forward to carefully compare them again and confirmed Boss Li’s statement.

”Finally, let’s talk about the value. Currently, the only surviving authentic ink work by Hai Rui is the ’Fengbie Tie’ in the collection of the Shandong Provincial Cultural Relics Store, estimated to be worth over ten million. Both in terms of the quantity of books and characters, as well as historical significance, it falls far short of these dozen manuscripts.”

”I conservatively estimate them to be worth at least one hundred million.” Boss Li was in the antique business; although his appraisal skills were certainly not as good as the experts, he was an expert when it came to antique pricing.

Zhang Wei was very happy to hear this; after all, he still wanted to save up money to establish a professional shipping company to salvage ancient shipwrecks.

This money was not a small amount. The fishing vessels and radar equipment alone would cost tens of millions, not to mention a deep-sea manned submersible. That thing couldn’t be acquired with money alone.

”My turn!” Dr. Wu interrupted Zhang Wei’s train of thought and said with some excitement, ”The earliest record of ambergris appeared in the Tang Dynasty, when it was known as ’Amo Xiang’.”

”Due to the lack of means for deep-sea whaling, most of it was found after whales died and their carcasses decomposed, washing the ambergris inside onto the shore.”

”Therefore, it was extremely rare and could not be obtained consistently. It was highly prized by royal families across Asia at the time, especially in the Arab regions where it was considered a supreme treasure, something to be sought but rarely found.”

”Historically, the heaviest piece reached 240 kilograms. This piece of ambergris is estimated to be around thirty-plus kilograms, which is already considered the largest piece discovered in recent years.”

Dr. Wu paused to recall, ”I remember the international price of ambergris this month is 732 yuan per gram. So, the value of this piece is at least over twenty million RMB.”

”If we consider that it is a single, relatively large piece, if sold to the Camel Country in the Middle East, it could likely reach at least forty to fifty million.”

Everyone present was from the antique circle and was surprised that such an unremarkable-looking stone could be so valuable.

For a moment, everyone crowded around, wanting to smell the fragrance that fascinated the Camel Country royalty to see what kind of charm it had.

Zhang Wei had smelled it when he first salvaged it. How should he put it? It had a faint scent, but it was mixed with a bit of the fishy smell of seawater, a rather complex aroma.

One could only say that the aesthetics of the ancients and the people in the Camel Country were quite different from those of today.

Everyone was a bit disappointed after smelling it, but fortunately, the item was genuine, and Dr. Wu offered to introduce colleagues in the Camel Country to contact potential buyers.

”Dr. Wu, you’re amazing! It seems this meal wasn’t a waste.” Zhang Wei was quite happy to hear it could be sold at a high price. After all, the Camel Country was truly filthy rich.

Dr. Zhao smiled slightly, ”Finally, it’s my turn. To get straight to the conclusion, this flower pot is yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain, a genuine, top-tier item.”

”The Yuan Dynasty ruled the Central Plains for less than a century, and during that time, it experienced dozens of peasant uprisings. The chaos of war resulted in very little yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain surviving.”

”Furthermore, the Sumali blue glaze material used to fire yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain was mined out by the end of the Yuan and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty.”

”Everyone knows that out-of-print items are the most precious. Every piece broken is one less forever, which directly leads to the immense value of yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain.”

”Currently, there are only a few hundred pieces of yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain in existence, and most of them are on display in Museums in various countries.”

”As far as I know, a yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain vase with peony and cloud shoulder patterns was auctioned in HK last year. The final transaction price was around eighty million RMB. This flower pot is likely in that price range as well.”

Yu Hongtao was a bit stunned at this point; he had just come for a regular meal, so how did a pile of treasures end up here?

If one didn’t know better, they would think Zhang Wei had moved the items from the Museum to his home. Aunt Mei, who was on the side, also looked at everyone with disbelief.

Chen Jiayan added insult to injury from the side, ”Zhang Wei also brought back a top-quality nanyang white pearl, which is estimated to be worth over twenty million.”

Yu Hongtao didn’t feel well at all. He now had the illusion that hearing tens of millions was the same as hearing a few thousand.

After being stunned for a moment, he flew into a rage, ”You brat, why didn’t you bring out these treasures when we were discussing the joint exhibition just now? Did you deliberately set a trap for me to fall into? No, no, eight million is too little, I don’t agree.”

”If I had known this kid was so rich now, I should have insisted on ten million and not let go.” Yu Hongtao felt deep regret in his heart. If God gave him another chance, he would choose to take the yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain away.

Zhang Wei blocked him with a grievance-filled tone, ”Uncle Yu, these things have been sitting on the shelf ever since you walked in. Besides, you agreed to the joint exhibition price yourself just now. A Museum director of your status cannot distort the facts.”

Yu Hongtao opened his mouth wide but didn’t know how to argue back.

Aunt Mei couldn’t watch anymore and pinched him hard on the waist, ”How can you, an elder, haggle with little Zhang? I can testify that you agreed just now. And you call yourself a Museum director; you have no eye for things at all.”

Yu Hongtao gasped in pain from the pinch and didn’t dare to speak again. He could only lock his gaze on Zhang Wei with eyes full of killing intent, meaning that when Aunt Mei wasn’t around, the kid was done for.

”The premiere exhibition of the yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain and the Hai Rui manuscripts can be held at the Shenghai Museum.”

”Deal! You said that yourself, I didn’t force you, okay?” The killing intent on Yu Hongtao’s face immediately vanished, replaced by a beaming expression.

Zhang Wei said with disdain, ”Uncle Yu, it’s a pity you don’t go to Haidilao to perform face-changing. However, we agreed that the exhibition cannot exceed two months; I am in urgent need of money. I need to sell them as soon as it’s over.”

”Don’t worry, don’t worry, don’t go looking for buyers everywhere. After the exhibition ends, I’ll introduce you to Museums in Hangzhou. The most famous phase of Hai Rui’s life was serving as the magistrate of Chun’an, and he is highly respected in Hangzhou. They will definitely be willing to spend the budget to purchase them. As for the yuan dynasty blue and white porcelain, it’s an even better item that every Museum will scramble to collect. They will definitely offer you a high price.”

”That’s more like it.” Seeing Yu Hongtao being so sensible, Zhang Wei nodded with satisfaction.