I

Page 323

"Brother... oh no, meet Lord Hou!"

After walking out the door, Zheng Zhibao couldn't wait, and bowed down like singing an opera.

Zheng Zhilong was very helpful, and waved his hands with a smile: "Don't be like this, they are all my brothers."

Zheng Sen couldn't help pulling away, acting like I didn't know them, it was really embarrassing for his father and uncles, they were like bumpkins from the countryside.

Zheng Zhifeng asked suddenly: "What kind of title is a Viscount?"

Zheng Sen had no choice but to explain: "Your Majesty restores the ancient fifth-class nobility, plus the nobility of the king, that is, king, duke, marquis, uncle, son, and male."

Zheng Zhifeng muttered, "I am a viscount, and I am still under the earl."

Zheng Zhiwan said: "It's not bad, and there are barons below. From now on, my Zheng family will be full of nobles. Who dares to say nothing? Especially those poor scholars, if they dare to look down on the Zheng family , just look down on the current Holy Majesty!"

Zheng Sen hastily warned: "Father, uncle, and nobles of the new dynasty, they must also pay taxes according to the regulations. From now on, the Zheng family must not evade taxes, otherwise the thunder will be enraged, and there may be a catastrophe."

"You don't need to say that," Zheng Zhilong said with a smile, "The Zheng family has already earned enough money, and they can't spend it in ten lifetimes. Why do you care about the taxes? What the Zheng family wants is status. After returning home, they will spend the money." To run a school, invite famous teachers from Fujian to teach. Once Your Majesty resumes the imperial examination, my descendants of the Zheng family can take the exam and become officials. In a hundred years, the Zheng family will be a family of incense!"

Zhao Han allowed the establishment of private schools. Girls' schools in various places are private, but they must apply to the government for registration.

Zheng Zhibao especially admires scholars, otherwise he would not spend money to be a scholar. He also said with a smile: "Your Majesty is a holy man, a noble son, can also take the exam to be an official. From now on, I, the son of the Zheng family, will be both a lord and a scholar." , it’s good to occupy both ends!”

The Zheng brothers did not sit in the sedan chair, and walked all the way back to their residence, laughing and laughing along the way.It seems that they have made money by handing over the battleship.

However, Zhao Han was reminded by Zheng Zhilong and ordered officials from all over the country to strictly censor Christian Bibles, and burn all those with the words "God" and "God" on them!

Chapter 390 [Long Huamin]

Jiading County, Jiangsu Province.

Here is the branch of the Society of Jesus in China, headquartered in Beijing!

The provincial governor of the Chinese branch of the Jesuits was named Fu Fanji, and the inspector was named Ban Ande. They jointly held a special meeting.

This is the third meeting of this kind.

Over the past 20 years, the Jesuits have had different opinions. Some people agree to use God and God, while others oppose the use of God and God.Those who agree with it think it is more conducive to preaching, while those who oppose it think that it distorts the teachings.

At the first meeting, there was no debate, so a compromise was adopted: God and Heaven are not allowed to be used, but God can be used.Because God and Heaven are both Chinese words, but God was created by Matteo Ricci.

In fact, Tianzhu also belongs to the existing vocabulary. It was the main god among the eight gods in the Qin and Han Dynasties. Qin Shihuang and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty would worship God when they enshrined in Zen.

The second meeting, just nine years ago, allowed the use of God, Heaven, and God in missionary use to express Deus and God.

"The Ming Dynasty has been destroyed. The emperor of the Ming Dynasty heard that he died in a peasant rebellion," said the chairman Fu Fanji. "The new country of China is called the Datong Kingdom, and the new emperor is called Zhao Han. The emperor issued an order in Nanjing to destroy some God, Heaven, God’s missionary books. Here in Jiading, it will be implemented soon, everyone express their opinions.”

There were also Jesuit missionaries in Nanjing. When they got the news, they immediately returned by boat to inform the headquarters.

The news from the Society of Jesus is faster than the official, because this is not an emergency decree, and the official is issuing documents step by step at a normal speed.

"I said a long time ago that you can't use the words God and God because you have not listened to my advice!" Long Huamin patted the table excitedly.

Long Huamin, the successor of Matteo Ricci, has been serving as the president of the Society of Jesus in Beijing.

After Chongzhen succeeded to the throne, he handed over the work in Beijing to Tang Ruowang, while he went to Shandong to preach.

Six months ago, a plague broke out in Shandong. He fled from Shandong to the south, and was detained when he smuggled across the Huaihe River. He was quarantined for a month before he was released.Six missionaries who went south together died of illness and finally arrived in Jiading this month.

Regardless of Long Huamin's opposition to the use of God and God, he is actually more conservative and stubborn.

He believes that God and God are traditional Chinese gods, and they cannot be equated with Deus and God in Christianity. Otherwise, it is a blasphemy against God and a forced submission to Confucianism!

He also forbade Chinese believers to worship Confucius and ancestors, thinking that these are stupid superstitious activities and a complete betrayal of the true God of Christianity.

Matteo Ricci is just the opposite, trying to integrate with Confucianism, allowing believers to worship Confucius and ancestors, thinking that using God and God is more conducive to preaching.

Long Huamin became more and more excited as he spoke, and he stood up directly: "The Jesuits spread the teachings in China. They should not follow the path of scholars, but should follow the path of common people. Chinese society is unequal and there are many slaves. I was very successful in preaching in Shandong. , I told the common people that everyone is equal before God. Many common people have joined the religion because they want to be equal! But the scholars are high above, they don’t need to believe in religion. They believe in heaven and ancestors, Confucius and Mencius, they It is a force that hinders missionary work!"

Fu Fanji reminded: "Perhaps, Mr. President, you just came from the north, and you don't know much about China in the south. The new emperor of China has already declared that everyone is equal. Your civilian missionary route will not work in the south. This In the past two years, many common believers have even chosen to leave the religion."

"Civilians quit religion? What's the reason?" Long Huamin found it hard to understand.

Fu Fanji explained: "The new emperor announced that everyone is equal, farmers can divide their land, and urban people can settle down. No matter in the city or in the countryside, the lives of the people have become higher. Especially the common people in the countryside, they all have land. There is not enough land. Those who were divided were also immigrated to the north to divide the fields. So they broke away from religion, and they no longer prayed to God, but worshiped the emperor at home."

"Worshiping the emperor?" Long Huamin thought he heard it wrong.

Fu Fanji sighed: "Yes, many farmers worship the emperor as a god."

Ban Ande, a long-term inspector sent by the Holy See, interrupted the conversation between the two and reminded: "The two priests, the topic to be discussed today is whether to destroy all missionary books immediately. Also, the new emperor of China has already Negative image of the Jesuits, we should send someone to contact the Emperor of China."

Long Huamin said: "It is necessary to destroy missionary books and reprint them. I have always disagreed with the use of God and God, which really violates our teachings! If the new emperor of China believes that everyone is equal, I can go to see him in person , may be able to persuade the emperor to join the religion."

"You are crazy, the emperor of China cannot join the religion." Fu Fanji shook his head.

"No, no, I'm not crazy. As long as the emperor sees me, I will be sure to persuade him to join the religion." Long Huamin had a plan in mind. When he was in Shandong, he once persuaded a Ming clan to join the religion.

Fu Fanji objected: "I still think we should start with Chinese scholars. We once absorbed three outstanding scholars and successfully developed these three people to believe in religion. They automatically spread dozens of scholar believers, and more and more Scholars know God exists."

The three outstanding scholars are: Xu Guangqi, Li Zhizao and Yang Tingyun.

When the Jesuits debated whether to use God or God, they specifically asked the opinions of the three of them.As a result, the three of Xu Guangqi all supported it, and believed that the God in the Confucian scriptures was the God of the West.

Ban Ande had a headache and interrupted again: "You two, let's get back to the topic first. Should the previous missionary books be destroyed?"

"This is not something we can decide. We must first consult the Holy See."

"Don't talk about asking the Holy See for instructions. I'm afraid Chinese officials will destroy it forcibly before I get to Guangzhou by boat."

"I don't think we can provoke the emperor of China. While we compromise temporarily, we send people back to Rome to ask the Pope for instructions."

"God and God should not be used, this is blasphemy against God!"

"..."

The missionaries who participated in the meeting suddenly quarreled. Although it was just a matter of translating the name, it touched the core of Christianity!

Whether or not the main god of Christianity is trinity has been arguing in Europe for hundreds of years, triggering countless wars.As for whether to translate it into God or God, its sensitivity is no less than that of the Trinity. It has also been disputed for 200 years in history. Several major missionary organizations of Christianity in China fought with each other and played out their brains.

Translating it into Tianzhu, God, not only blasphemes the traditional Chinese gods, but also blasphemes the Western gods.

In the end, the conservatives compromised, and the Holy See also compromised, and the Chinese diocese became a strange flower that blatantly violated the teachings.It is unique in the world.

The meeting quarreled for a long time, and Ban Ande made a decision: In order to ensure the safety of the Chinese diocese and missionaries, and cooperate with the officials to destroy the previous missionary books, he will return to Rome in person to ask the Pope for further instructions.

Ben Ander added: "Second issue, if the translation of the "Bible" does not use God, Heaven, God, then what should be used?"

"God, or Dous." Long Huamin said.

Dous, is Deus, God in Latin.

Fu Fanji said: "Use both. There are too many gods in China, they are only translated as gods, and believers can't figure out which god they are. They are only translated as dous, and they don't know that dous is a god."

Destroying all past missionary books is a serious blow to the Chinese Diocese of Christianity.

Long Huamin still felt that he was going to meet the emperor in person, and he wanted to persuade the Chinese emperor to join the religion!

As soon as this guy left Jiading County, he saw officials begin to implement the government order, rushing into churches, searching and burning Chinese "Bibles".In addition, notices were posted everywhere, requiring religious members to voluntarily hand in the "Bible". If it is found that it is privately stored and does not cooperate with the government to burn it, the law enforcement will be prevented from recovering the land under the name, and the descendants will be prohibited from serving as officials.

Taking back the land under his name and prohibiting his descendants from being officials, these two things frightened many Christians, and they handed over the "Bible" in their hands to the government for disposal.

Due to the underdeveloped printing technology, no matter whether they are Christians in Europe or China, it is impossible for the lower class believers to have a "Bible".People who have such books in their hands are all gentry and wealthy businessmen. How could they be willing to take risks and keep them privately?

Long Huamin came to Nanjing by boat, announced his identity as the president of the Chinese Diocese of the Jesuits, and was successfully interviewed by Zhao Han.

Although this old man opposed the integration of Christianity and Confucianism, he was wearing a Confucian shirt. After bowing his hands, he said in very fluent northern Mandarin: "Jesus Society China Mission Supervisor Long Huamin, pay homage to His Majesty the Emperor of China!"

"Sit down." Zhao Han continued to review the memorial.

Long Huamin sat down and said: "Your Majesty, I have always opposed translating the supreme creator into Chinese God, Heaven and God. This is wrong. It is a blasphemy against the Chinese God and the supreme god of our religion." .”

"What else?" Zhao Han asked.

Long Huamin continued: "I heard that His Majesty the Emperor preaches the idea that everyone is equal. This is completely consistent with the teachings I teach..."

Zhao Han interrupted: "Don't talk about teachings with me, do you know mathematics, geometry, physics? Or do you know astronomy, navigation, prospecting, and shipbuilding?"

Long Huamin was stunned: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I know philosophy, calendar, and painting."

"A liberal arts student among missionaries." Zhao Han felt a little disappointed.

Long Huamin persevered and continued, "Your Majesty, do you know where people come from?"

Zhao Han said: "I don't know where people come from, but I know where you come from. This morning, I consulted my cabinet ministers, and it turns out that you have been famous for a long time, and you are the chief culprit who caused the Nanjing religious incident." If you dare to stop Chinese believers from worshiping ancestors, believe it or not, I will directly announce a nationwide religious ban like Emperor Wanli!"

"Don't dare!" Long Huamin replied quickly, sweating on his forehead in fright.

Zhao Han said: "Stay here and help Qintianyuan to revise the calendar together. I will not give you a salary, and I will not stop you from preaching, but you are not allowed to preach in public. I will formally notify the Jesuits. Once Christianity is found to be in violation According to the Chinese custom, the imperial court immediately expels all missionaries!"

"Yes." Long Huamin bowed cautiously.

Zhao Han said again: "If possible, call Tang Ruowang from Beijing."

Chapter 391 [Zheng Zhilong's Resignation]

Fuzhou.

Zheng Zhilong plans to buy wasteland on the outskirts of the city, build a luxurious mansion, and then invest in the construction of a school and hire famous teachers from all over the world to teach.

I have just selected the wasteland and plan to buy it with money and ask the government for approval to build a house.As a result, the defendant was told that Zheng Zhilong's household registration was not in Fuzhou, and he had to change his household registration first before he could purchase the wasteland specially approved by the government.

It's useless for Zheng Zhilong to put on his identity as Lord Marquis!

After some anger, Zheng Zhilong had no choice but to be honest and obedient.The son has already hired the eldest princess (Zhao Zhenfang), and has even chosen an auspicious day to get married, so there is no need to make trouble at this juncture.

Zheng Zhilong can only temporarily live in a small house in Fuzhou City. Today is Sunday, so he goes to Sanshan Church to worship.

Throughout China, Beijing is the headquarters of the Jesuits, Macau is the rear of the Jesuits, Jiading is the base of the Jesuits, and Fuzhou is the academic center of the Jesuits.There used to be Nanjing. Since the Nanjing Missionary Case, the influence of the Jesuits in Nanjing has been uprooted.

Zheng Zhilong came to Sanshan Hall in a sedan chair, and soon saw Father Ai Julian.

Ai Julius is the vicar of the Southern China Diocese of the Society of Jesus, responsible for the management of educational affairs in Nanjing, Jiangxi, Hunan, Sichuan, Zhejiang, and Fujian.

Known as the "Confucius from the West", he was a good friend of the late chief minister Ye Xianggao, knew several cabinet ministers from the Tianqi and Chongzhen dynasties, more than a dozen ministers and countless governors.

Historically, after Chongzhen hanged himself, Ai Julius summoned missionaries from the south to Nanjing to help Shi Kefa resist the Manchu Qing Dynasty.It's a pity that these missionaries have only gone halfway, and the small court in Nanjing is already finished.

Across Fujian, Ai Julius built more than 20 churches.

The Sanshan Church in Fuzhou is not only used for preaching, but also published more than 80% of the books of the Jesuits in China.

Only a few of these books are related to the Bible, and most of them belong to astronomy, calendar, geography, mathematics, philosophy, medicine, etc.Especially astronomy, philosophy, and geography had a great influence among Fujian scholars, and Christianity was being highly integrated with Confucianism in Fujian.

If left unchecked, Christianity is very likely to be as Sinicized as Buddhism, becoming a Chinese Christianity.

Or even stand on their own like the Orthodox Church and become... Jing Orthodox Church?

The Nestorian monument in China was discovered by Ai Julian!

Zheng Zhilong walked into the Sanshan Hall and found that Ai Julian was baptizing people, and he stood by and watched with great interest.

Not long after, there was noise outside the church.

An official wearing an official uniform but carrying a long sword rushed to the door of the church and shouted: "Surround this place immediately!"

Ai Julian continued to do the baptism in a calm manner.

He has long been used to it, and was even wanted by the court for the crime of "rong Confucianism slandering Buddhism".

Tang Tianlu entered the church with a sneer, and didn't interrupt the other party's spellcasting, just stood there quietly watching.

Many Datong scholars that Xu Ying developed are now officials at all levels of missionary offices.Tang Tianlu, for example, is the director of the Propaganda and Education Bureau of Fuzhou Prefecture, responsible for the ideological education work in Fuzhou.

This man is a fanatical believer in Datong thought, and he is proud of being a swordsman. Even if he is the director, he still carries a long sword all day long.

Tang Tianlu was not used to Sanshantang for a long time!

Finally, the baptism is over.

Ai Julius walked up to Tang Tianlu, cupped his hands and said, "Excuse me, what's your purpose here?"

Tang Tianlu took out the search warrant jointly issued by the Fujian Propaganda Department and the Fuzhou prefect, and said with a blank expression: "Your Majesty has ordered that Christian churches in various places must register with the government within one month. Those who fail to report within the time limit will be demolished immediately! From now on, Christianity must obtain government approval to build churches anywhere. Christianity is not allowed to preach anywhere except churches!"

Ai Julius breathed a sigh of relief, as long as he didn't directly ban the teaching, it would be fine, and he would report to the government tomorrow.He was a little afraid of being banned by the church. Sanshan Hall was suppressed for 20 years, and it was not finally restored until a few years ago.

"Since it is the emperor's order, I must obey it, and report to the government tomorrow." Ai Julian said.

Tang Tianlu also said: "Your Majesty has an order that Christian missionary books must not use God, Heaven, and God as external gods."

"This..." Ai Julian's face turned pale immediately.

Aurelius was more radical than Matteo Ricci. He read the Four Books and Five Classics, and he also studied Zhu Xi very well.Therefore, he knows how to preach, that is, to localize Christianity in China just like Buddhism.

The path he chose was to directly integrate Christianity with Confucianism!