Although the emperor has made a decision to recruit funds for the royal family, for the sake of royal dignity and the dignity of the court, this matter cannot be raised by the emperor. At the morning meeting three days later, Wang Chengji, Ye Xianggao's student and the minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, first proposed the idea of "money for the royal family". "Kou" suggestion.
If someone outside Donglin had put forward an opinion, they would have been attacked on the spot by the Donglin Party members who accounted for half of the court officials. However, this suggestion was made by Wang Chengji, a member of the Donglin Party. And Ye Xianggao had already expressed his opinion. The Donglin Party members had said hello in advance. Therefore, the Donglin Party members remained silent regarding this suggestion, which obviously violated Ming Dynasty taboos.
As for Wei Zhongxian's faction, as well as other officials who had already defected to the eunuchs and were currently defecting to the eunuchs, many of them came out to oppose appeasing the pirates.
Although the meeting was pending that day, Xu Guangqi had already begun to prepare for his mission.
This day is a Sunday in the Western calendar. Xu Guangqi went to Xuanwumen Catholic Church to worship after leaving court.
In the Catholic Church founded by Matteo Ricci, in addition to Long Huamin, the Jesuit missionary director of the Chinese Diocese, there are also a large number of Jesuit missionaries in China such as Ponti I, Guo Jujing, Bi Fangji, Ai Julius, Shi Weizhen and so on. Waiting for the arrival of Xu Guangqi. At the same time, Taiwanese Vice-President Jin Nige, who had just been expelled from Taiwan by Yin Feng's order, was also among them. Behind these foreign missionaries, there were also a large number of Chinese believers who had joined the Society of Jesus. Zhong Mingren, You Wenhui and a pair of brothers named Qiu, Qiu Liangzhen and Qiu Lianghou, were among the crowd. There were also three Chinese-Portuguese mixed-race monks from Macau: Pang Leisi, Fei Zangyu, and Fei Zangyu. A Chinese-Japanese mixed-race monk -Ni Yagu.
Taiwanese Bishop Baradas is seriously ill. He has sent a letter to Beijing asking for another bishop to replace him. He will soon obey the Lord's call.
The relationship between Vice-Bishop Jin Nige and Yin Feng was very good at first. He provided a large number of European books to the Chinese Military Academy and the Government Affairs Academy founded by Yin Feng. He also helped Yin Feng translate many European scientific and technological works. However, due to his involvement in the Han family's The purchase of cannons for the Ming army angered Yin Feng. Therefore, he was expelled from Taiwan Island and was explicitly ordered not to stay in Yin Feng's ruling area. Therefore, Jinnige, who just helped write a letter of introduction, was... Drive out of Taiwan Island, detour to Guangzhou in despair and arrive at the capital.
Yin Feng originally planned to interrogate him. Later, because both the Han family and his son were dealt with internally, he let Jin Nige go and expelled him. Yin Feng gave it to the capital through You Wenhui, who served as secretary beside him. The Jesuit Chinese Missionary Society sent a message: The next Jesuit bishop of Taiwan must be a Chinese national. Otherwise, he will cancel the missionary rights of the Jesuits in Taiwan and the areas ruled by the King of China. He will let the Franciscans or more Tomorrow I will come back again.
Before Matteo Ricci's death, he had determined the policy of living in harmony with Yin Feng's forces. After Long Huamin took over as the president of the China Missionary Society, he had conflicts with Matteo Ricci on the missionary cause. He did not like Matteo Ricci's sinicized missionary policy. .However, after he personally went to Taiwan to inspect, in view of Yin Feng's tolerant attitude towards various religions, he decided to maintain a cooperative attitude with Yin Feng within the area controlled by the Chinese Company.
Therefore, Jin Nige and others' activities such as collecting European scientific books and translating and writing scientific papers for Yin Feng were approved by him. However, due to the bad impact of the "Hongyi Cannon Incident", the current missionary situation in East Asia has a great impact on the Jesuits It is very unfavorable. After all, Yin Feng has just won the Third Nanyang War. His control over the entire East Asia and Southeast Asian waters has become more stable. In the entire Asia-Pacific region, the power of the Chinese Company and Yin Feng has become very important. The Jesuits cannot afford it. The serious consequences of the conflict with the Chinese Company: The Jesuits have lost their missionary rights in Japan due to the Tokugawa shogunate's ban on Christianity; if the Kinni Pavilion situation really deteriorates out of control, the Jesuits may be expelled from all of East Asia.
It was now rumored inside and outside the Ming court that Xu Guangqi would go to appease the pirates again. This news made the worried Jesuit missionaries overjoyed.
You Wenhui, who had just arrived from Taiwan as Yin Feng's envoy, was sent by Long Huamin to invite Xu Guangqi to condescend to meet with the leading figures of the Jesuit missionaries in China after the Sunday service.
You Wenhui served as secretary to Yin Feng. He also worked more often as a painter and mapmaker, drawing various maps for Yin Feng as he traveled around. Long Huamin hoped that he could contribute to changing Yin Feng's religious beliefs. But for a long time, Since then, Yin Feng has only regarded You Wenhui as a friend who loves painting and art. He has never made any concessions to him on religion. In fact, Yin Feng has instilled preliminary nationalist sentiments in You Wenhui from time to time. This is because of the internal regulations of the Jesuit order that Chinese are not allowed to be promoted. The matter of the bishop is settled...
You Wenhui, also known as Hanpu. His Christian name was Emmanuel and his Western name was Pereira Yeou Manuel. He was born in Macau in 1575. He went to Japan from 1593 to 1598 and received various courses including painting in schools run by Jesuits. His painting teacher was the Jesuit and Italian oil painter Giovanni. The Madonna statues and other oil paintings that Matteo Ricci gave to Emperor Wanli. Many of them are works by Giovanni and You Wenhui.
You Wenhui's father was a Chinese smuggler doing business overseas. Before he was born, he was killed by Portuguese pirates somewhere in the waters of Southeast Asia. You Wenhui was a posthumous son. As soon as he was born, his mother, who was unable to raise him, was sent to a Jesuit monastery in Macau.
When he became an adult, You Wenhui learned about his birth experience. He also lived in Macau and Japan before the emergence of the Chinese Company. He clearly saw the changes in the situation in East Asia: the most prominent thing is the status of the Chinese in the entire East Asia. The region has never been more important than before: it is no longer a dispensable Chinese merchant. It is no longer a wandering smuggler who can be bullied at will and is not protected by the country. It is a rule that all indigenous and Westerners must respect. A member of the class.
You Wenhui didn't have much loyalty to the Ming Dynasty government. As for religion, this was the environment he lived in since he was a child. Yin Feng had no prejudice against religion. He just didn't like the discriminatory attitude of various Catholic monasteries against Chinese at that time. You Wenhui was in Yin Feng After staying with Feng for several years, he discovered that Yin Feng actually did not interfere with other people's religious beliefs. Therefore, You Wenhui soon became Yin Feng's personal painter and was politically loyal to the King of China. He first joined the Chinese company Exploration Department. Together with a group of Jesuit colleagues, he drew maps of various places for Yin Feng. Later, he became the secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Royal Palace. He seemed to be Yin Feng's spokesperson in dealing with various Catholic missionary societies in Europe.
Therefore, when he came to Beijing this time, he came entirely to serve Yin Feng. Accompanying You Wenhui was an important figure close to the King of China: Zeng Yue.
At the same time, he also brought a document: "Five-Year Plan".
Long Huamin personally presided over the Sunday mass ceremony for Xu Guangqi.
While the officiant Long Huamin was reciting the confession in Latin, You Wenhui, who was in charge of reading the Bible, was a little distracted. He looked at someone in the hall in a daze.
"...You who sit at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us; for you alone are holy. Only you are Lord. Only you are supreme. Jesus Christ. You and the Holy Spirit share the glory of God the Father. .Amen."
The Ode to Glory is in Latin. Matteo Ricci once translated the Chinese version. After Long Huamin became president of the Jesuit Chinese Missionary Society, Latin was still used in various ceremonies.
After the Latin ode to glory was finished, You Wenhui was still in a daze. He was gently pushed by the church member next to him. He just opened the Bible in his hand and read a passage from the Gospel. He has been learning Latin since he was a child. Very proficient and fluent.
Xu Guangqi followed him devoutly, although he didn't quite understand it. Behind him, one of his followers was also bowing his head in prayer. A belt was exposed from the gown he was wearing. There was a jade pendant hanging on the belt, engraved with blue-green wind and clouds. A jade pendant with a pattern. This is a token of the spies of the Chinese Army’s Military Intelligence Department.
You Wenhui received intensive training from the Ministry of Military Intelligence before leaving for the capital. So he recognized this jade pendant at a glance. This man was very young. He was serving Xu Guangqi in front of and behind him. He was obviously Xu Guangqi's personal servant, a kind of book boy. The Military Intelligence Department has actually placed secret agents next to Xu Guangqi. This was something You Wenhui didn't expect. While chanting sutras, he subconsciously glanced left and right. He didn't see anyone else hanging a jade pendant.
...May the Lord be with you.
Also with your soul.
May Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, bless you.
Amen……
When singing the final ritual chant, You Wenhui knelt in front of the altar. He felt someone touch him lightly behind him. You Wenhui, who was very sensitive, squeezed into the crowd and quietly put his left hand behind his back. Soon he felt something being squeezed into his palm. A small piece of paper.
When Long Huamin warmly welcomed Xu Guangqi into the back hall, You Wenhui hid in the corner of the room and quickly checked the note.
In the evening of that day, Xu Guangqi returned to his house with a group of servants from Xuanwumen. After returning to the inner study, he dismissed all the servants, leaving only one person. This person took off his servant clothes. It was You Wenhui himself.
The two of them didn't talk much. You Wenhui just bowed with the courtesy of a junior: they are both Catholics. Xu Guangqi doesn't like too much etiquette. You Wenhui has been living among European missionaries and has limited understanding of domestic etiquette. Yin Feng, on the other hand, is informal. people.
"Your master is interested in pacifying the situation. This matter can be discussed. The court is currently discussing the payment. However, no matter what, the King of Chu must be fine." Xu Guangqi said bluntly.
In the church just now, Long Huamin asked Xu Guangqi to bring You Wenhui with him when he went to negotiate with the pirates. He also hoped that he would recommend You Wenhui as the bishop of the Taiwan diocese when he contacted the pirates. This was actually asking Xu Guangqi to contribute to the Society of Jesus. Help them preserve their missionary rights in Taiwan and even the entire East Asian waters.
At the same time, You Wenhui promptly produced the "Five-Year Plan" and conveyed Yin Feng's message that he was willing to cease war with the imperial court. He was actually very familiar with Xu Guangqi. Matteo Ricci accompanied him into the mainland. During the relationship between Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi, You Wenhui always appeared as Matteo Ricci's assistant.
Xu Guangqi also knew that You Wenhui was working for Yin Feng on the island of Taiwan. He learned this through internal communications of the Jesuit Society.
The Ming Dynasty's intelligence work on the China Company has been very unsuccessful. Especially after Yin Feng conducted an internal purge last year, almost all the hidden stakes sent by the Ming Dynasty government have been removed. Therefore, the entire Ming Dynasty has complete control over You Wenhui's identity. He knew nothing about it. Therefore, You Wenhui moved very freely in the capital.
But Xu Guangqi was still very careful. He asked You Wenhui to disguise himself as his servant before leaving the church and going home.
You Wenhui stood in front of Xu Guangqi and said respectfully: "The King of Chu is in Suzhou. His whole family is there. My master has said that as long as the court is willing to negotiate for peace, the entire family of the King of Chu will be released immediately as soon as the peace talks begin."
You Wenhui has long known about Xu Guangqi's problem because it was one of the main points of debate among the officials in the court today. The news was delivered to You Wenhui by an unknown servant next to Xu Guangqi during the mass ceremony.
He continued: "This peace negotiation is what my master wants. The prerequisite is that the court recognizes the fact that our army occupies the three prefectures in Jiangnan, two prefectures in Zhangquan, and Qiongzhou Prefecture in Hainan."
Xu Guangqi shook his head: "This is impossible. Such conditions are absolutely impossible to appear in any edict. There is also the land of Liaodong. How can this be said?"
You Wenhui cupped his hands and said, "My master has said that Liaodong was captured by our Chinese army from the Eight Banners of Manchuria. It has nothing to do with the Ming Dynasty."
Xu Guangqi's face became even more ugly: "This, this, your master is too greedy... The area under the jurisdiction of the Liaodong Capital is originally an important border area under the jurisdiction of the imperial court. How can it be easily transferred to the sea... to your master... You have no sincerity at all. "
You Wenhui made a cross on his chest and said: "As God testifies, my master hopes for a truce and an end to the war. He must be sincere. He proposed that we can follow the old practice of Hao Jing'ao. Every year we give the court a certain amount of silver as rent. .”
"Hao Jing Macao." Xu Guangqi smiled bitterly: "Your master is really funny. Haven't you already taken away this Macao?"
You Wenhui smiled faintly: "The land of Macau probably has nothing to do with the imperial court."
Xu Guangqi picked up the tea cup and took a sip. He shook his head and sighed: "Your ships are strong, cannons are powerful, and the firearms and armor are the strongest. However, since your master wants to negotiate peace with the imperial court, aren't you willing to make some concessions?" Brother Emmanuel, I know that you know the inside story of the imperial court very well..."
He called You Wenhui by his Christian name. You Wenhui couldn't help but cross himself.
"...In this case, you should know that the imperial court will not agree to such peace terms under any circumstances."
You Wenhui nodded and said seriously: "My master knows this. However, when the court appeased him last time, the court did not open the sea ban and did not fulfill the commitments made during the negotiations. At the end of last year, they even gathered in Jiangnan. The army is trying to start a war... Therefore, my master said that in this peace negotiation, a high price must be offered, and then we can bargain with the court..."