Wanli Xinming

Chapter 253 Completion
On the sixth day of the winter lunar month in the tenth year of Wanli, the sky is clear in the capital.

Fan Li'an, Luo Mingjian and all other Roman embassies put on their ironed clothes and came to Xuanwu Gate early in the morning to attend the inauguration ceremony of the first church in Ming Dynasty.

Perhaps due to strange inertia, the first church in China is located in its original place in history, a cleared space next to Xuanwumen.

The Catholic Church has three courtyards. The gate is a Chinese-style building occupying the first courtyard of the church. The east courtyard is the main building of the church, and the west courtyard is the living room.

The main building of the church is a brick structure, facing the south. The facade of the front building is in a typical Baroque style. Three magnificent brick arches are juxtaposed, decorating the entire building facade luxuriously and solemnly. Brick carvings can be seen everywhere.The interior space of the church building uses a dome design, with multicolored rose windows on both sides, and the overall atmosphere is solemn and solemn.

Fan Li'an and others looked at the beautiful new building, and their eyes were red in the excitement.Luo Mingjian handed over to Shen Shixing, who attended the ceremony: "God's servants are extremely grateful for His Majesty's kindness and love. The completion of this Catholic Church will surely bring God's care to this great country."

The consort Xu Guangqi, who was standing by the side, said with a smile: "Father Luo, you should also thank Her Majesty the Queen Mother Rensheng. If she doesn't pay to reward the craftsmen, you will never be able to build this church within half a year."

Luo Mingjian drew a cross on his chest: "Of course, of course. Her Majesty's generosity and benevolence are as great as the Virgin Mary. She likes the teachings of God very much, and I think she is already a Christian."

Xu Guangqi nodded and smiled narrowly: "Father Luo wants to know what Empress Dowager Rensheng thinks of Christianity?" Luo Mingjian said, "Of course, it's my honor."

Xu Guangqi cupped his hands to Bei Gong and said, "The Empress Dowager Rensheng said, 'This Christian scripture has few words, it is easy to understand, the story is interesting, and it is not troublesome to worship.'" Luo Mingjian was stunned.

Xu Guangqi said again: "The queen mother also said, 'I don't have much homework to believe in this sect master, so I won't delay playing mahjong, it's very good! I'll just believe him!'" Luo Mingjian heard the words and smiled bitterly. flushed.

Matteo Ricci interjected: "Your Excellency Count, you can often see Her Majesty the Empress Dowager Rensheng, and you can often tell her the truth and the righteousness of our Christianity."

Xu Guangqi patted Matteo Ricci on the shoulder with a smile, and said happily: "Okay! Father Li can speak idioms, and he is righteous, haha!"

Fan Li'an saw Xu Guangqi making fun of Luo Mingjian and Matteo Ricci, and interjected: "Luo Mingjian and Matteo Ricci, I have communicated with many nobles these days. Now the Chinese believe in everything - God, Buddha and God of Wealth all give The Chinese solve problems, otherwise they can easily change their beliefs. Of course, there are also those who believe deeply, and that requires us to explain our teachings patiently and meticulously.”

While the few of them were talking, the auspicious time for the Yin and Yang Division of the Qintian Superintendent had arrived.Minister of Rites Shen Shixing waved his hand and unveiled the plaque on the gate of the Catholic Church with Fan Li'an amid the sound of firecrackers.

The nobles and celebrities onlookers applauded one after another, and the citizens of the capital who were watching the excitement in front of Xuanwu Gate also contributed some curious eyes to the newly completed Catholic Church.Matteo Ricci said, "My God, this ceremony is exactly the same as when the Chinese open a restaurant."

Luo Mingjian also let out a long breath and said, "I heard that this time is determined by Yin and Yang of the Qintian Superintendent." After saying this, the two looked at each other and smiled helplessly.

After the festive red silk was removed, the ebony plaque above the Chinese-style gate was revealed, with the words "Xuanwumen Catholic Church" written on it - Royal Pen.Perhaps it was because the name was too rustic. Above the main building of the cathedral, the emperor also gave a plaque of "Tongwei Jiajing".

For the second plaque given by the emperor, the missionaries struggled for a while.Of course, the emperor bestowed the plaque was a supreme honor, and it also highlighted the lofty status of Xuanwumen Catholic Church, but adding a square Chinese plaque to the baroque-style stone arch made the missionaries feel awkward.

Of course, they didn't have the guts to change the place for the plaque given by the emperor, so they had no choice but to hold their noses.But then Shuntian Prefecture informed them that lightning rods must be installed on the roof of the church - this executive order definitely broke through the bottom line of missionaries.

That place is reserved for the cross!Matteo Ricci fought with Xu Guangqi for this reason.Xu Guangqi listened and smiled and said, "That's right, just make the cross into iron—it's just a little bit sharper, but you won't be able to tell if you don't look carefully."

Matteo Ricci was flushed with anger.Xu Guangqi said in a sullen voice: "Lightning rods were installed on the palace last year - after ten years of Wanli, all houses over three feet in various places will have to be installed. You have seen the lightning rods on the palace, they are all made of copper. , This item alone uses more than 10 jin of copper."

Matteo Ricci didn't care whether the lightning rod on the palace was copper or iron, he shouted: "But there is a sharp point on it—"

No matter how he protested, the lightning rod was a must.Therefore, a long copper rod behind the cross above the Xuanwumen Catholic Church is higher than the cross, and the missionaries can only accept that the cross is not at the highest position in the Catholic Church.Compared to changing the top part of the cross into a needle-like shape, Fan Li Anning can leave the lightning rod alone - Xu Guangqi's idea is completely bad.

Because of the generous support given by Empress Dowager Rensheng in the construction of the church, Luo Mingjian and others thought that the church, which would take more than three years to complete, was completed within half a year.During the period, the tools and materials used by Chinese craftsmen dazzled everyone on the mission. Although the iron-wood scaffolding and various unheard-of construction tools competed with each other, they were still within the scope of everyone's understanding.And the use of concrete almost made the missionaries nearly drop their jaws.

The rituals are the same all over the world, whether it is opening a restaurant or opening a church.Matteo Ricci saw that Shen Shixing was standing there giving a speech, and the long speech seemed to be endless.He asked Xu Guangqi in a low voice if it was possible for the emperor to agree to send the concrete formula and process to the Holy See.

Xu Guangqi shook his head vigorously, and said in a low voice, "That's impossible! Your mission must never take out the real objects and materials of Chinese porcelain, silk, cement and other smelting processes, no matter who it is, this is beheading. sin!"

Seeing that Matteo Ricci was a little dejected, Xu Guangqi comforted him again: "Your Majesty has prepared a gift for the Pope - don't worry, this gift will allow you to easily defeat the Protestant."

Matteo Ricci's eyes lit up when he heard the words, and he pestered Xu Guangqi to reveal some inside information.Xu Guangqi didn't have anything to hide from him, so he smiled and said, "It's a method of prevention and treatment of smallpox. Academician Li Shizhen invented a safe vaccination technique in the seventh year of Wanli, and now it has been vaccinated all over the world. As a result, very few children died. There may not be one among them.”

After listening to this, Matteo Ricci said with tears in his eyes: "My God, this is an act of kindness that truly benefits God's people. When I left Naples, people used Arab doctors to sow pox in order to prevent smallpox— - It's a total gamble, because one or two of every twenty children die."

"If Your Majesty is willing to give this method, it will save countless lives. Almighty Lord, it is entirely the Lord's guidance that we can come to Seris and meet the merciful His Majesty the Emperor. I praise you."

Watching him keep drawing the cross, thanking God devoutly.Xu Guangqi smiled and asked in a low voice: "Ricci, here's the problem. If the Pope in Rome gets this technology, but doesn't inoculate Protestant countries and believers - you know it's very possible. Matteo Ricci, you will do What choice?"

Xu Guangqi thought that Matteo Ricci would be stumped by this heart-wrenching question, but he did not expect Matteo Ricci to answer him immediately: "His Majesty the Pope would not make such a choice. If he really does, I will be safe. The method of vaccinating was taught personally to Protestants—in the name of God.”

Xu Guangqi saw that his expression did not show any disobedience, and he felt ashamed for a while, feeling that he was a little lost after becoming an earl, ignoring his moral cultivation.He patted Matteo Ricci on the shoulder and gave him another thumbs up.

Seeing this, Matteo Ricci was about to speak when he heard high fives. He quickly looked solemn and clapped with everyone.Xu Guangqi clapped his hands and said, "This way of clapping is very good, it's better than calling Er Siwen!"

(End of this chapter)