The literary giants of the late Ming Dynasty began by copying books

Wang Wenlong smiled and said: "What Changqing does is spiritual knowledge, and what I write is crude and clumsy articles, but they are not the same approach."

Tu Longlian said he didn't dare to take it seriously, but there was a strong look of pride on his face.

Tu Long was a scholar whose name was recorded in the history of the Ming Dynasty, and he was also a weirdo.

He was admitted to Jinshi in the fifth year of Wanli, and his reputation as a local official was very good. Because of his excellent performance, he was admitted to the Ministry of Rites, and served successively as director of the Ministry of Rites and doctor.

However, the other side of Tu Long was a romantic nature. Even when he was an official, he often went to Goulan House to hang out. In the twelfth year of Wanli, Tu Long made friends with Song Shi'en, the Marquis of Xining, and had banquets with him all day long in the capital.

Then Tu Long got together with Song's concubine, and the matter was so serious that he left the cabinet, and was eventually dismissed from office and returned home.

After Tu Long returned to his hometown, he continued to indulge in flowers as usual, and now he is in his fifties and still has the same stubborn streak.

He is in good health now, but the sequelae of long-term debauchery are also very serious. If history is followed, in a few years he will contract the disease, which will make him miserable.

According to the research on the history of epidemic diseases in later generations, Tu Long should be the first recorded syphilis patient in China.

Fortunately, Wang Wenlong knew that syphilis would not be spread through eating together, otherwise he would not have come with Tu Long today anyway.

"I am deeply grateful to God for his care, allowing me to meet these two gentlemen today." The servant put the rice wine on the table, and Matteo Ricci took the initiative to stand up and raise a toast.

Everyone took a sip of wine, and Tu Long urged the servant: "Put the dishes on."

Tu Long said to Matteo Ricci again: "I told Jianyang when I came here that today is a fasting day in your religion. You cannot eat meat, so you have to buy vegetarian vegetables."

His servant took out several vegetables from the food box and looked at them. They were either fruits or vegetables.

Matteo Ricci nodded and smiled: "Thank you very much."

Tu Long looked at Wang Wenlong again and said, "Jianyang also bought vegetables, let's put them together."

At this time, the two of them saw Wang Wenlong's entourage looking strange.

Wang Pingbao took the food box to Wang Wenlong and asked in a low voice: "Are you really going to take it out?"

Wang Wenlong smiled and whispered: "Just take it."

Wang Pingbao nodded in embarrassment. Seeing the two people muttering, Tu Long and Matteo Ricci didn't understand, Tu Long asked: "What did Jianyang say?"

"Nothing." Wang Wenlong said with a smile.

Then Tu Long saw Wang Pingbao open the food box, and then took out a plate of drunken shrimps, a plate of fried fish, and finally a cup of braised turtle.

In an instant, the table was filled with delicious food.

"What's going on..." Tu Long blinked and said to Matteo Ricci quickly: "Xijiang, don't be surprised. The meaning I conveyed is inaccurate, and Jianyang is not familiar with your sect's fasting customs."

After he finished speaking, he saw Matteo Ricci also smiling.

Matteo Ricci said: "You can eat fish on Catholic fast days."

Tu Long was confused.

Catholics' fasts are divided into major and minor fasts. The major fast lasts for forty days and can only eat one main meal a day. The minor fast allows you to eat three meals, but you cannot eat meat. This rule was too painful for missionaries, so European Catholics gradually developed an alternative method.

First of all, define "meat" as the meat of warm-blooded mammals, so eggs naturally do not count as meat, and neither do all fish, shrimps, and crabs.

As for drinking, there is nothing to prohibit. Abbey beer was already famous in the Middle Ages. Even the Pope said that beer is a suitable "Lenten meal substitute."

After listening to Matteo Ricci's explanation, Tu Long was stunned. It was the first time he knew what Catholic fasting was like.

Tu Long pointed at the cup of braised turtle with his chopsticks and asked, "Can we also eat turtle?"

Matteo Ricci asked what "Tuanyu" was, nodded and said, "It's edible."

At this time, European monasteries often had huge moats or ponds to meet the needs of priests who could not eat meat during fasting days but instead ate fish. Animals such as turtles and turtles tasted closer to chicken than fish. Many people like to eat poultry and livestock. The priests thought meat tasted better than fish.

Matteo Ricci was quite happy. He spread Catholicism in the Ming Dynasty and told the people of the Ming Dynasty the weekly fasting rules of the Catholic Church. However, many people in the Ming Dynasty thought that he would be vegetarian on the day of fasting, so they invited him to dinner every fasting day. Only vegetarian dishes were served. In fact, he really didn't like vegetables, but he couldn't tell because of his love.

Picking up a piece of braised turtle with chopsticks, Ricci chewed it slowly and said, "This fish tastes good. You can buy it for next Ramadan."

Tu Long saw him munching on turtles and shook his head and said, "The customs of your religion are unimaginable to us Ming people. Even turtles are eaten during fasting days."

People in the Ming Dynasty thought turtle was a big meat. Like dog meat, many people in the Ming Dynasty who didn't like to eat meat were unwilling to try turtle meat.

Matteo Ricci smiled and said: "I have lived in the Ming Dynasty for a long time, and I know that the way to make people respect is to say something and don't hide it. This is the commandment in our religion. There is no need to deliberately cater to anyone's wishes and make it more explicit. Sounds good.”

"These words are free and easy." Wang Wenlong praised, Matteo Ricci's upright character can indeed make people feel close to him, which is why he was able to succeed in preaching in the Ming Dynasty.

"Speaking of free and easy, Mr. Jianyang's writing is the most important," Matteo Ricci said with a smile, "Mr. Jianyang's "Liancheng Jue" is beautifully written, and the chivalrous characters who come and go are so free and easy that it is enviable. Although it is written about warriors, the chivalrous atmosphere has been pursued by literati throughout the ages."

"Thanks for the compliment."

Matteo Ricci has a really good understanding of Chinese culture, and he can completely see the charm of martial arts.

The three of them exchanged cups, and Matteo Ricci asked: "I heard that Jianyang promoted sweet potatoes in Fujian and helped the victims and saved many people. I wonder how this promotion is going now? If there is a chance, does the Catholic Church need to participate? help?"

Wang Wenlong asked: "The Jesuits also want to participate in helping with disaster relief?"

Wang Wenlong did not want the Jesuits to participate in the development of Taiyuan Island, but he did not shy away from it.

He knew that the Jesuits themselves had to expand their power by making friends with literati and doctors. Self-protection was still a problem. Where could they have the ability to open up wasteland?
If the Jesuits wanted to help promote sweet potato cultivation in Ming Dynasty, Wang Wenlong would be happy to see it happen.

The sweet potato planting area in Fujian is already quite large, but this crop has not yet been introduced in most places in Jiangnan. The influence of the Trinity Church in Jiangnan is too weak, and the influence of the Jesuits is stronger than that of the Trinity Church. Maybe they can help promote it. Sweet potato cultivation.

Wang Wenlong introduced the current situation of land reclamation and sweet potato promotion in Fujian.

After Xu Xueju took office as governor of Fujian, the Trinity Church and Fujian non-governmental organizations received support from the province for promoting sweet potatoes and immigrating to Damuan Island. However, promoting new crops and reclaiming land are long-term tasks, and no amount of investment will always be enough.

After hearing this, Matteo Ricci was very inspired and said: "Using squires and religion to do things for the people is similar to the method used by Father Long Huamin in Guangdong to call on the faithful to help poor believers repair houses and help the elderly and the weak. But you Not only helping believers in our religion, but also helping poor people outside the religion, it is indeed worth learning from us."

(End of this chapter)