Wanli Xinming

Chapter 236
In April of the tenth year of Wanli, this date appeared repeatedly in the general education textbooks of later generations.Marked by the emperor's reception of the Portuguese mission, the old empire of Ming Dynasty once again set its sights on the ocean that occupies 70.00% of the planet; marked by the "South Taiwan Selection Conference", this empire set off a "ideological revival" that changed history.

First, the restless Portuguese embassy in the capital was allowed to meet Zhu Yijun, Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, at the Bailu Palace in Xiyuan.

Because Portugal is not a vassal of the Ming Dynasty, and the Christian mission is also an informal official delegation, the Ministry of Rites also takes great care in the etiquette system of the audience.In the end, Yang Junmin, the servant of the Ministry of Rites, came up with an idea that was adopted: Han Shan, the president of the religious association, as a representative of the Ming religious circle and the emperor, greeted the Portuguese Christian mission outside the Bailu Palace. -Han Shan put his hands together, Fan Li'an made a cross on his chest.

After the two sides entered the hall, the east and the west stood opposite each other.When Xuan Zan Guan Xuan, His Majesty the Emperor arrives, the Emperor comes out from the back of the hall and stands behind the throne. The crowd bows and worships. The Emperor grants his body and everyone thanks him;

The general secretary of Honglu Temple, Tu Long, explained the plan to Fan Li'an, and everyone in the delegation looked at each other in dismay.Luo Mingjian wondered: "Our teachings do not allow us to bow down to any gods and people other than the one true God."

Tu Long said "Oh", looked at them with a half-smile, and asked, "Are you sure you don't want to bow down to your Majesty?"

Matteo Ricci said to Valiant in Portuguese: "As soon as Peter entered, Cornelius greeted him. He fell down at his feet and worshipped him. Peter pulled him and said, 'Arise, I am also a man.' St. Peter did so. "

Ines interrupted: "Your Excellency Fan Li'an, I think it's better for us to follow the rules of the Ming Kingdom. I heard that Buddhists also kneel to the emperor. It's okay for us missionaries to kneel." Matteo Ricci listened. These words glared at Ines.

Fan Li'an hesitated for a long time, and tentatively said to Tu Long: "This. Can you ask His Majesty the Emperor to allow us to respect our beliefs——"

Before he could finish speaking, Tu Long sneered: "Everyone, we Chinese believe that His Majesty the Emperor is the 'Son of Heaven', the Lord of the 'Heaven, Earth, Man, and God'. Besides Heaven, His Majesty the Emperor is the greatest! Your religion cannot solve the question of who is more honorable, your God or His Majesty the Emperor - just go home."

Luo Mingjian listened, and without waiting for Fan Li'an to speak, he called out, "Your Excellency, I don't think this etiquette is a problem for us!" After saying this, sweat broke out on his forehead and he made a cross on his chest.

Seeing Luo Mingjian's pale face, Fan Li'an took over the conversation and said, "Master Tu, we are willing to bow down to His Majesty the Emperor out of our respect for your country's traditions. But please make it clear to Your Majesty that this is not the etiquette that Christians should have. "

Hearing that they were subdued, Tu Long also softened his tone and said, "I don't think you need to worry about it. Chinese Buddhists didn't worship the emperor before. But they solved this problem with 'the emperor is a living Buddha'."

Matteo Ricci's lips trembled with fright when he heard the interpreter's words.Draw a cross on your chest.Although Fan Li'an knew that Tu Long was well-intentioned, he could only smile bitterly after hearing his idea, because it was completely unfeasible in Catholicism.There is only one "living Buddha" in Christianity, and that is the Son of Jesus.

In any case, the resolution of the etiquette problem removed the biggest obstacle to seeing the emperor.After repeated etiquette drills, the Ministry of Rites informed the mission that on the 26th of this month, Fan Li'an, Luo Mingjian, Matteo Ricci and Ines will receive the honor of meeting the emperor.

On the night of the 25th, Fan Li'an, who was excited about meeting the emperor, couldn't fall asleep in the middle of the night and could only go out for a walk in the garden.

The decoration of the foreign guest hotel is a typical Chinese garden. Although it is late at night, the glass oil lamps hanging everywhere decorate the garden beautifully.Fan Li'an walked halfway between the pavilions and the waterside pavilions, and suddenly found Matteo Ricci in the garden. He was sitting on a rattan chair with his head bowed, as if he was praying.

Fan Li'an approached lightly, and as expected he was repenting: "Lovely heavenly Father, you redeemed me, and you chose me when I was still a sinner. But the sin in my heart has been haunting me, I beg you. Wash my heart with your precious blood, and please help me with the presence of your Holy Spirit. Let me understand your truth. I can obey your will. When my heart is rebellious and unwilling to obey, please Discipline me. May your will be done in me, Lord, Lord."

He prayed repeatedly, and his voice was full of pain, which made Fan Li'an's tears come to his eyes.Fan Li'an only knew at this time that in the heart of Matteo Ricci, a young missionary, tomorrow's violation of the teachings was a heavy pressure on his faith, and made him experience the pain that must be experienced in the missionary process for the first time.

He listened quietly for a while, and in the sound of Matteo Ricci's devout prayers, the excitement of seeing the emperor gradually faded, and a holy and sacred feeling rose up from his heart, which made him obtain a near-divine feeling. General tranquility.

After a long time, he coughed softly and interrupted Matteo Ricci's prayer.When Matteo Ricci greeted him, Fan Li'an said with a smile: "Dear Father Ricci, along the way, we were fascinated by the prosperity of the Ming Kingdom, and we lacked communication and communication. This is my mistake. Do you have anything to tell me?"

Matteo Ricci hesitated for a moment, as if he had made up his mind, and picked up a sixteen-size booklet from the rattan chair.

He handed it to Fan Li'an and said, "Father Fan Li'an, I've been learning Chinese these days. I should have some language talent and I'm learning very quickly. But today I saw this booklet."

Fan Li'an took the booklet, took a few steps to the brightly lit place next to it, and immediately saw the simplified Chinese title of the booklet: "Nature (Volume [-])".

He opened it casually, and then frowned, as if a bright light had pierced his eyes: Chapter 1——The world we live in, below is a model diagram of the solar system with six planets.

Fan Li'an's lips were also trembling, and he said with a trembling voice: "Did Giordano Bruno's heretical theory spread to China?"

Matteo Ricci said in a low voice, "No, the orbit drawn by the Chinese is elliptical, and they have used mathematics to prove that the moon is a satellite of the earth. If you turn back, there is a picture of a pitted moon on the next page. "

Fan Li'an swallowed, feeling that the spring night in Beijing seemed to be hotter than he thought, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He was speechless and did not know how to comfort the young missionary.I just felt that the beautiful garden just now was illuminated by the oil lamps, and there were shadows everywhere.A gust of breeze blew, and the rustling of the leaves sounded like the whispers of a demon.

Immediately, the firm will made him straighten his waist, he wiped his sweat, and let out a long breath.He whispered: "Ricci, 'Whoever does not seek me, I show them; whoever does not visit me, I appear to them.' What you see is what the Lord made you see; what you tell me is The Lord let me know."

Matteo Ricci raised his bowed head, eyes shining with admiration, and looked at this pioneer who had been preaching in the East for nearly 20 years.Hear him continue: "'All according to His own good pleasure, that we might know the mystery of His will, that all that is in heaven and on earth may one.'"

Matteo Ricci murmured: "Chapter 1, Verse [-] of Ephesians." Fan Li'an nodded.

He added: "Ricci, how can we speculate on God? How can we know that what we are insisting on is unbreakable truth? What missionaries do is to let those who have not sought and seen Christ hear the Lord's message. Gospel, that's what we exist for. Got it? My child."

Matteo Ricci's eyes were wet, Fan Li'an hugged him and kissed his forehead again. "It's too late, we should all go to bed, tomorrow—tomorrow is the day the Lord has arranged. Go."

When Matteo Ricci walked away, Fan Lian looked at the shadows in the garden and murmured in a low voice, "We also have an inheritance in Him, and this is the one who does all things according to His own will and predestined according to His will. ."

On April 26, the tenth year of Wanli, the four heads of the Portuguese mission entered Xiyuan in a carriage under the guidance of the officials of Honglu Temple.

The dazzling and fascinated people along the way do not need to be detailed. After entering the Bailu Palace, the buildings and ceremonial guards that show the majesty of the sky make the four people feel more and more insignificant as "people".Matteo Ricci looked at the golden palace in front of him, and said to himself, "Although the person living here is not Jesus, he must be someone like King Solomon."

"King Solomon" is a young man with a strong body and a thin face.He had short beards on his lips, but his chin was clean-shaven, which was different from the Ming people the mission had seen.

The emperor was also holding a three-year-old boy in his arms. The boy was as handsome as pink and jade. At this time, he stared at a few Portuguese people with black eyes.

After the ceremony was over, the emperor bestowed everyone's death.The Minister of Rites, Shen Shixing, who accompanied the car, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, today there are Fan Li'an, a missionary of the Roman Church in Europa, and others. After the ceremony is completed, please ask the Holy Inquisition."

Emperor Yuyin replied, "That's it, the barbarians don't understand Chinese etiquette, so they don't have to be restrained."

Shen Shixing bowed to the order: "Yes. Thank you."

According to the previous drill steps, all the members of the embassy bowed five times and three times to give thanks; the emperor called Pingshen, gave him a seat, and gave tea; all the members of the mission still bowed five times three times.

After three prayers, the ceremony is completed.Fan Li'an and the others were covered in sweat on their foreheads.Before Zhu Yijun could speak, King Luo Jun in his arms suddenly touched Zhu Yijun's cheek and asked, "Father, is the official dress different?"

Zhu Yijun ignored the people in the embassy for the first time, and held the hand of the King of Luo County warmly and said: "Well, the royal father told you. This world is very big, there are many countries, and their people dress and speak differently from ours. They're Portuguese and that's what they wear."

The King of Luo County was only four years old, and his first year was only two and a half years old.Hearing the words just seems to understand.Fan Li'an was very pleasantly surprised when he saw the emperor carrying the child out to meet him.This shows that the etiquette of this audience is not very serious, and it is very likely that the emperor will chat with them about more in-depth topics.

But the emperor didn't speak, they could only look at this scene with a smile, with expressions of joy and admiration all over their faces.

When Zhu Yijun raised his head, he said, "The mission has come a long way, and you have all worked hard."

Only then could Fan Li'an answer. He first thanked the emperor in an exaggerated tone for taking the time to meet him, which is the supreme honor of the mission; then he expressed his praise for the richness and civilization of the Ming Empire in an extremely exaggerated tone - Shen Shixing listened by the side. , a sense of pride arises spontaneously in my heart.

The emperor smiled and listened, occasionally lowering his head to coax Duke Luo.Fan Li'an finished his praise and asked with a smile, "Your Majesty, is this the King of Luo County?"

Zhu Yijun nodded and said with a smile: "Yeah." After speaking, he raised the child and said, "He is my eldest son. In the future, he will become the ruler of all nations in the world." King Luo Jun didn't know why, because Zhu Yijun held it up, he stretched out his hand and kicked his leg. Giggling.

Shen Shixing, who accompanied the driver, shuddered—this was the first political statement made by the emperor after the birth of King Luo Jun that he would make him the crown prince.But why did the emperor come out with the King of Los Angeles when he received the Portuguese embassy, ​​and why did he make a declaration?

(End of this chapter)