golden scales

When Matteo Ricci first arrived in Beijing, he was most fortunate that Beijingers had the habit of wearing a veil when going out.This is great news for the Taixi missionaries whose appearance is different from that of the Central Plains people. From then on, they can go anywhere and talk to anyone without being noticed while wearing veils.

Of course, this is just their wishful thinking.Even when Europeans wear veils, their behavior and posture betray them deeply.

Seeing the two people approaching, Zhu Cihong couldn't help sighing inwardly: It is true that one knows etiquette when there is enough food and clothing, and one knows honor and disgrace when there is enough food and clothing.Later generations think that Europeans are graceful and elegant, and feel ashamed of themselves for their vulgarity and shallowness. In fact, this is nothing more than a problem of sufficient food and clothing.With enough resources and no sense of crisis in life, you can naturally be calm.

Just like the current Ming people, even if they have not come out of the shadow of the national change, as long as the political situation is stable, everyone has a way to live, and they can still show the attitude of a state of etiquette.

Tang Ruowang and Li Leisi slowed down after more than ten steps in front of Zhu Cihong, and stepped forward slowly, while taking off their veils, so as not to arouse the guards' overreaction.

"Foreign minister Tang Ruowang, pay homage to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Tang Ruowang bowed and saluted, Li Leisi followed closely behind, and performed the etiquette of the Ming Dynasty decently.

"Why are you two gentlemen in such a hurry?" Zhu Cihong smiled and took a step forward, and said with his head sideways: "This is the Crown Princess."

Tang Ruowang and Li Leisi hurriedly saluted Duan Shi again.

"Your Highness," Tang Ruowang said first, "We didn't make an appointment to meet His Highness, but we just met by chance."

Zhu Cilang smiled and nodded.He walked on campus without clearing the scene, and it is normal for people to see him.However, in the Ming Dynasty, it was impossible for someone to rush up and ask for a group photo when they saw dignitaries. The more dignified way is to step aside silently and go their own way.

"Since they all have business with me, tell them one by one, whose business is easier?" Zhu Cihong made a gesture to continue walking.Walking forward slowly.

Tang Ruowang and Li Leisi looked at each other, and finally Tang Ruowang let Li Leisi.From this, Zhu Cihong knew that the two people not only did not meet by chance, but also had an in-depth discussion on their respective affairs and reached an agreement.The reason why Tang Ruowang emphasized that the two met by chance was nothing more than saying: don't interfere with each other.Do not help each other, each doing its own thing.

"Your Highness, the foreign ministers are here to recommend themselves." Li Leisi said, "I hope to work in the Qin Tianjian and use my knowledge of astronomy and mathematics."

Zhu Cihong did not think like a Confucian scholar whether letting foreigners observe astronomy would be disrespectful to the Emperor of Heaven, so this question is not a problem.He said bluntly, "Yes. But Beijing Qintianjian should be full, Mr. Tang."

Tang Ruowang was taken aback for a moment, and he hesitated to agree.

"So you can go to Nanjing." Zhu Cilang smiled and said to Li Leisi: "When Liudu was abolished, the Qin Tianjian was not disbanded, but it was assigned to the leadership of Beijing as an administrative office. Nowadays, there is still a lack of people who are proficient in Western law to preside over it. You can go to Nanjing to display your talents."

Leslie's heart suddenly twisted together.

His original intention was not to give full play to his talents and learning, but simply to seek equal political status with Tang Ruowang, and to be able to promote missionary work in an official capacity.If you leave the political center of the Ming Dynasty because of this, and go to a place that is rich but has no influence at all, it is obviously contrary to your original intention.

Zhu Cihong also saw from Tang Ruowang's response that the two obviously had some kind of deal, but Tang Ruowang was on the passive side.A little unwilling.

"Okay, what about Mr. Tang?" Zhu Cihong left the entanglement to others.A light-hearted walk, with provocation.

"Please expand the South Hall to facilitate the Mass every Sunday." Tang Ruowang said.

"Well, this matter." Zhu Cihong slightly raised his head to look at the blue sky and white clouds, and said, "I'd have forgotten if you didn't tell me, it seems that I promised you to preach in Daming."

Tang Ruowang was overjoyed.Immediately helped Zhu Cihong recall: "Yes, Your Highness did make such a promise back then."

At the beginning, they relied heavily on Tang Ruowang and other Western missionaries. After four years, Daming has accumulated more than [-] bilingual and even multilingual talents.Not much at a national level, but enough as a translation channel.Moreover, the envoys sent last year were also able to bring back all the books and works that Ming needed from the Thai and Western countries.No need to rely on the Jesuits.

Tang Ruowang also knew this very well, so he was quite worried about whether His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would keep his promise.

European nobles never cared what oath they swore.

"Yes, His Majesty the Emperor also agreed to your preaching, and of course I will not object." Zhu Cihong said, "However, Daming is not a barbaric African country, nor is it an Indian state, nor is it the ignorant civilization of the so-called New World. Catholicism, or other Any church that preaches in Daming must abide by the laws of Daming."

Tang Ruowang took it for granted: "Since we set foot on the land of Ming Dynasty, we have been adhering to the laws and good customs of Ming Dynasty every single day."

"Very good, keep it up." Zhu Cihong said with a smile: "The "Religious Management Measures" will be implemented next month. Before that, Honglu Temple officials will train you and interpret the laws. In addition, I will also discuss with Longhua Mr. Min, let’s talk about the translation of Western religions in China.”

Tang Ruowang was dumbfounded like a lightning strike.

"This is very obvious," Zhu Cihong said logically, "Your Majesty the Emperor is the Son of Heaven, but you claim to believe in God. Then let me ask you, how is the relationship between God and the Son of Heaven arranged? Is it father and son? Is it the chief and the subordinates?" ? No matter which one we can’t accept.”

Beginning with Matteo Ricci, translation is the biggest obstacle between Chinese and Europeans, missionaries and missionaries.So generally speaking, the Catholic Church avoids the question of "God" officially, and only talks about "Tianxue".In the Nanjing Religious Cases during the Wanli period, there was a charge of attacking Catholicism, among which was the name "Catholicism".

"Your Highness, as the head of the Beijing Diocese, I hope to participate in this meeting." Tang Ruowang calmed down: "In fact, I and many brothers in the church believe that the ideas of Brother Long Huamin are not suitable for Daming."

"It's not suitable for preaching in Daming," Zhu Cihong added, "As for whether it is suitable for Daming, it should be up to Daming to decide. But I can't agree to your wish to attend the conference, because Mr. Long Huamin is recommended by the Jesuits, and I I didn’t know that Daming still had such positions as the head of the parish.”

Tang Ruowang knew he had slipped his words, and quickly lowered his head.It can be said that the struggle between him and Long Huamin ran throughout his entire missionary career.

After Matteo Ricci's death, Long Huaming, as the president of the Chinese Catholic Diocese, convened the Jiading Conference, hoping to completely negate Matteo Ricci's missionary strategy. In the end, although he failed, the radical missionaries of the Long Family still triggered the Nanjing Missionary Plan, which led to The missionaries were expelled and had little foothold in the hinterland.

It was Tang Ruowang who saved Catholicism.

Although his qualifications are not the highest, he firmly stood under the banner of Matteo Ricci, and even went further.For example, in order to cater to the dignitaries, he can show them Feng Shui and choose auspicious days. This is the reason why the Jesuits are dissatisfied with him.

However, from participating in the revision of "Chongzhen Almanac" to presiding over the casting of cannons, Tang Ruowang did expand the positive influence of Catholicism step by step, which was accepted by Chongzhen. baby.

If Tang Ruowang is allowed to continue, maybe China will really become a Catholic country.The missionaries will destroy the cornerstone of the existence of Chinese civilization from the fundamental values, turning the open and inclusive Chinese into profit-seeking, narrow-minded and paranoid Catholics.

It took Zhu Cihong several years of hard work to drive away the hungry tiger of the Manchu Qing. Could it be that he would personally attract the wild wolf of Catholicism?

Tang Ruowang looked at the distant figure of His Royal Highness the crown prince, and the shock in his heart was higher than the wave.Because he cheated Lilesi in the conversation just now, so that Lilesi was "exiled" to Nanjing, which also made the Sicilian nobleman have a grudge against him, and he turned to support his old man before he left Beijing. Partner An Wensi.

Lilisi saw the truth of Tang Ruowang, and completely changed from a mediator to an opponent.At the same time, he also thought that it was a pity that Long Huaming returned to Daming to preside over the educational affairs, and the person who made this happen, in his opinion, was precisely Tang Ruowang.

"We are all guilty of Adam."

On the way back to the South Hall, Leslie muttered to himself, twirling the rosary in his hand, using the "Rosary" to suppress the displeasure in his chest.

……

In mid-April of the 22nd year of Chongzhen, the "Measures for the Administration of Christianity" was officially promulgated.

From the first day of the fifth month of this year, anyone who pretends to be "God" is guilty of disrespect among the ten evils.There is one and only one official name of Catholicism in Ming Dynasty: Christianity.

Whether you believe in Jehovah or Jesus, or Jerusalem, or coconut water...it doesn't really matter.

In addition to the fact that the name Christianity does not suit the missionaries, the management measures strictly prohibit missionaries from conducting religious activities outside religious places, which also makes them feel that their hands are tied.Under this article, the possibility of religious activities in the homes of scholar-bureaucrats was eliminated, and no loopholes could be exploited by missionaries.

For Long Huaming, this rule was like a thorn in the back, although it was painful, it was still bearable.However, the Ming court announced that all Ming people who believed in Christianity must make a note on their household registration, and at the same time copy and report to the Department of Teaching Records and the Ministry of Punishment.Every ten days, Christian believers have to take the initiative to report religious activities to the county police station and whether they have violated the law.

This smacks of religious discrimination.

The Jiaolu Department is a composite of the Ming Senglu Department and the Daolu Department. Quanzhen Guo Zhenren is the official seal, and Zheng Zhang Tianshi is the deputy seal, which belongs to the Ministry of Rites.Its scope of power includes governing monks all over the world, as well as the approval of building various religious places.

On this point, Zhu Cihong gave a limit on the number. Whether it is Taoism, Buddhism or Christianity, the total number of provinces, prefectures, prefectures and counties is so many, and the specific quota can only be negotiated internally. (To be continued..)

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