Even to Shi Weng, he explained the past. He was very clear about Shi Weng's thoughts. The attack on Fenghuang Villa, the silk burning factory, and the destruction of houses were all fake - Shi Weng even told Cao Guangjiu clearly that the silk factory and the like
Just symbolic damage is enough, don't burn it down. As for the mansion on the mountain, try not to destroy it. On the contrary, Cihuitang, which everyone thinks is unimportant, is the focus of the attack: Shi Weng's purpose is to cause maximum bloodshed.
――That’s why he planned to burn down Cihuitang.
As long as many people die, no matter what the reason is, the gentry will immediately draw a clear line with him. No matter how powerful the backers behind him are, they will not stand up for him. Zhao Yingong will not be able to continue to gain a foothold in Hangzhou.
Go down. This is what Shi Weng’s master had in mind.
After the deed is completed, it is difficult to say whether Hao Yuan can continue to "serve" Shi Weng. Hao Yuan has a clear understanding of these wealthy gentry families.
When the Spaniards massacred people in Manila, his father was doing business as an agent for a gentry in Manila. At that time, there were rumors that the Spaniards were going to be unfavorable to the Chinese. When his father returned to China to settle accounts and pay the money, he informed the proprietor that he wanted to end Manila.
The business was severely rejected by the other party, so he had no choice but to return to Manila. As a result, his whole family was killed in the Manila Massacre in 1603, and not even their bodies were found.
Hao Yuan was still an infant at the time. During the chaos, his native nanny took him to a Dominican church for refuge and escaped. He was later adopted by the church until he reached adulthood.
Although he was educated by European missionaries, Hao Yuan was also baptized and received many years of religious and theological education. However, he did not believe in the doctrine as firmly as other orphans who were raised by the church. The Dominican priest held
With the goal of one day returning to China as a missionary, I invited a Chinese scholar to learn his native language in addition to Spanish.
He knew about his life experience because of his native nanny. He had heard a lot about the cruelty and domineering Spanish in the Philippines, and for the first time he had great doubts about the justice of the church.
Since the King of Spain is a "Catholic King" recognized by the Pope and rules half the world, how can they show the qualities that a true Christian should have in their cruel and greedy behavior?
Not only do these Spaniards who came all the way from Castile have no consciousness of "saving the lost lambs", but they take slavery, exploitation and plunder as a matter of course. Are such people worthy of being "believers of the Lord"?
Hao Yuan, who has become a Dominican novice, has seeds of doubt growing uncontrollably behind his devout priestly life. He needs more knowledge to answer his doubts. The church's collection of books can no longer meet his needs. He
Even at the risk of being excommunicated and being sent to the Spanish Inquisition, he sneaked into the church's private library and read eagerly the articles confiscated from captured British and Dutch ships and those who attempted to sneak into the Spanish colonies to preach.
"**" captured in the hands of heretics.
"**" opened his horizons and destroyed his faith. Hao Yuan became more "devout" - this was an attempt to cover up his inner fear. No one expected that this devout Chinese trainee priest
It has become the biggest heresy in Manila.
Finally, it came to a point where even the most powerful people could not satisfy him - the collection of books in the colonial church was limited. Although he could easily access the residences of dignitaries and wealthy businessmen in Manila due to his status, these people all risked their lives with the intention of getting rich.
If his life was in danger, he would not come here across the ocean with a large collection of books. So, he began to look for other sources of books.
Manila already had a "German-style" printing workshop at that time, but this workshop mainly served the governor. It printed various ordinances, announcements and legal documents. Even if it printed some books, they were popular books such as the Bible and the Navigation Guide.
.Can’t find the books he needs.
With the help of the power of the church and his status as a monk, he was able to go to the living areas of Chinese and indigenous people at will. He began to go in and out of the stream in the name of preaching, quietly collecting books, and quietly bringing them back to his quiet room to read. These books allowed him to
He came into contact with Chinese society and culture again - he was full of curiosity and yearning for the country of his parents he had never met before. In the words of missionaries and native nannies, China was an ideal country full of sunshine and gold.
However, the activities in the Chinese area of Jiannei quickly shattered his illusions. From the Chinese people living in Manila, he knew that this country called "Da Ming" was not the "Utopia" he imagined - he
I have quietly read this book confiscated from British merchants in the church's private library - Although the Chinese area in Jiannei was bombarded, burned and massacred in 1603, and 20,000 people were killed, "the river was red."
", but it soon became prosperous again, and a steady stream of Chinese immigrants returned to this place that was not friendly to them. The population in the stream was even greater than before the massacre.
Hao Yuan soon discovered that there were not many people who came here to make a fortune. Many of them were forced to go abroad to make a living. They came to Manila to do menial and hard work, and their income was just a living.
"If you don't go to Nanyang, you won't be able to survive." This is a sentence he has always heard.
Although Hao Yuan had long known that rulers would never be kind to ordinary people. But so many people left their homes and traveled across the ocean to come to a country that only knew how to exploit them, was full of hostility, and aimed cannons at them at any time.
They endured discrimination and injustice under the rule of the regime in the residential area where they lived, and struggled to survive. Is this Ming Dynasty still the "golden country" described by missionaries?
He learned many things about the Ming Dynasty from the newly arrived immigrants: the change of dynasties, the vicissitudes of party struggles, frequent disasters, heavy taxation, ruthless officials...
"I can't live anymore," the people said.
"The government is becoming more and more chaotic every day," the businessmen said, "all the officials are evil-minded!"
Hao Yuan had always wanted to inquire about his father. Finally one day, he met his father's old acquaintance in a shop in Jiannei. This old acquaintance told him everything about his life experience and his father.
"Your father was forced to go back to Manila to die just to make money for Mr. Zhao," the old man said with tears.
This incident greatly stimulated Hao Yuan - originally he only heard about "other people's affairs", but now he found that he was also a victim. His father died at the hands of the profit-seeking Jin gentry, and as a result, he became obsessed with the Ming Dynasty.
The first flame of hatred arose.
No matter it is Manila, the sovereign country of Spain, or the motherland that I have never met before, it is not a "golden country". This world is full of man-eating countries where demons dance wildly.
How can an ordinary person, a "pure and poor person" live happily in this world?
The "Utopia" and "Christchurch" in the book were just illusions in the end. Hao Yuan fell into deep despair. He found that no book could answer his questions and no one could ask him about this treasonous question.
Such confusion and embarrassment continued to haunt him until he met his mentor a few years ago. This man was like a bright light in the fog, illuminating Hao Yuan's mind. All his questions had answers.
After several conversations, Hao Yuan joined his disciples without hesitation and became his first disciple. He eagerly learned those "forbidden knowledge". The more he studied, the more he felt the greatness of his mentor. No, not only
Although he was great, his mentor was also very mysterious. He knew almost everything, and he also had a lot of knowledge that the world didn't know. With this knowledge, he quickly became a wealthy man in Manila, gained the trust of the governor, and mixed into the upper class society.
However, Hao Yuan knew that his mentor was not the same as them. Although he appeared to be like a nobleman on the surface, he was actually as strong in self-restraint as an ascetic.
He followed his mentor throughout the Philippines. One day, his mentor called him and asked him to go to the Ming Dynasty.
"The devil's minions have entered China. If we don't do anything, they will take this country into their hands sooner or later." The mentor wore a black robe like a monk, with a hood covering his face, "You go ahead.
, do your best to stop their evil deeds."
"Yes, Master. Where should I go?"
"Go to Hangzhou." Although he has never been to China, he has learned enough about the local customs from books and conversations with Chinese people. "Some of them have already arrived."
"Yes, Master."
"You have to be careful and manage your own power secretly. Then look for opportunities to subdue them. At the same time, you have to protect yourself." The mentor's voice came from the deep hood, "You will be alone when you arrive in China. I can't do it anymore."
How can I help you? You can use this address to write to me - of course, it will take a long time to get news from each other. So you have to make long-term plans for your activities in China."
"Yes, Master"
"I'm afraid this is the last time you see me. You have to accept a disciple for yourself in China and teach him the fire of light. You have to remember: you are just a ray of light, shining into the boundless darkness. No matter you or
I will not burn for a long time, as long as someone can pass on our thoughts, this spark will eventually start a prairie fire."
Hao Yuan's application to missionary in the Ming Dynasty was quickly approved by the church - he is now a Dominican priest. As a missionary to China, his bloodline and language have more advantages than European missionaries.
Hao Yuan came to Macau via a ship from the church system, and then he lived in Macau for a while, growing his hair into a bun. Finally, he put on the clothes of Ming people and quietly entered Guangdong, all the way to Hangzhou. (To be completed.