I'm really not doing business

Chapter 1083 The Emperor's Blessing!

The book that Li Yashi brought out was called "Illustrated Explanation of Production". It was written by Geng Dingxiang and his disciple Jiao Hong, and was based on the labor theory of value proposed by Qiu Jun, a Jinshi in the fifth year of Jingtai and a Grand Secretary of Wenyuan Pavilion during the reign of Emperor Xiaozong.

Qiu Jun was from Hainan and was Hai Rui's idol. In his "Supplement to the Study of the Great Learning," Qiu Jun first proposed the basic concept of productive forces, which is the ability of humans to change nature. Labor is the process of transforming nature, and this process of labor gives value to all goods.

Geng Dingxiang went a step further, proposing that value is divided into exchange value and use value.

Then, the concept of emotional value was quickly expanded from the exchange of value. People will pay for their emotions. It is not only people who are well-fed and clothed and live a wealthy life who pursue emotional value. Everyone will pursue this value.

For example, after finishing their work, craftsmen liked to listen to storytelling in teahouses, and some literate people would go to bookstores to buy various books to enrich their spiritual world.

The emotional value proposed by the researchers is based on the hierarchy of spiritual needs.

The "Illustrated Explanation of Production" mainly discusses the ownership of the means of production, the classification of production relations, and the contradictions in the production process. This book is quite old, having been written in the fifth year of the Wanli reign and reprinted three times in the ninth, fourteenth, and nineteenth years of the Wanli reign.

Geng Dingxiang, Jiao Hong, and Xu Guangqi all further analyzed and supplemented the "Illustrated Explanation of Production". Although this book, "Illustrated Explanation of Production", does not have the same prestigious title as Mao Dun's theory, its contents are essential reading for every Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) and Juren (successful candidate in the provincial imperial examination) of the Ming Dynasty.

Its popularity far surpasses that of the class theory that His Majesty greatly favors.

Li Yashi held up the book in his hand and said loudly, "Wisdom tells me that in the process of a contradiction, one side will inevitably suffer losses, but the other side may not necessarily benefit. This may sound absurd, but that is what contradiction is. Interests are consumed in contradictions and conflicts."

"This fundamental characteristic of contradiction has led to a very common phenomenon: people refuse change because change does not necessarily bring benefits, but if things remain unchanged, their interests will not be harmed."

"After her failed march on Paris, the Holy Maiden of Light turned her attention to the vast countryside. She was anxious because she knew that people lived in misery; they were human, but they existed as slaves, not as human beings."

"They themselves don't even realize that they are human beings, not appendages of others!"

"She chose to use the cruelest means to forcefully destroy the original production relations, but the liberated French serfs, after becoming free citizens, did not thank Marion."

Marion's death seemed like the ultimate ending, but even the liberated French serfs did not thank her when she died. Her death was the cruelest setback for the Church of the Great Light, and all their efforts seemed like a futile struggle.

In fact, the priests of the Great Light found it difficult to fully explain why the liberated serfs did not thank Marion.

Li Yashi, based on the fundamental characteristics of contradiction, clearly explained the key point.

In the midst of drastic social change, the overall gains, such as benefits and output, are not transferred from one side to another, but are lost in the process of transfer. This is the growing pain of change, and the greater the pace of change, the more painful the growing pain.

People naturally dislike change and conflict because they don't know whether they can benefit from the struggle.

It is human nature to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages.

"But soon, these free men, after becoming serfs again, began killing the nobles and feudal lords!" Li Yashi said, looking at the priests' thoughtful expressions, as he recounted the aftermath, acknowledging that these efforts were not in vain.

The freemen didn't understand what they had gained until Marion left and the feudal lords once again lorded it over them. Only then did the freemen realize what they had achieved.

This is why the Church of the Holy Light could still operate in France. Henry IV, a man like a lion, had exceptional military talent. Even Felipe's phalanx was helpless against him, yet he was powerless against the widespread spread of the Church of the Holy Light.

This thing is like weeds; it grows back after the spring breeze.

Henry IV could not afford to fail even once; if he were no longer invincible, then the flame of victory would spread like wildfire.

Li Yashi, holding a book in his right hand, raised it above his forehead and loudly proclaimed: "In the ways of changing production relations, the wisdom of the Ming Dynasty has three methods: equal land distribution (confiscating and redistributing land); returning land to its rightful owner (providing certain compensation to reclaim land);"

“Yingzhuang is a collective farm formed by farmers. They work and cultivate the land collectively, using the collective strength to repair bridges and roads, dredge ditches, and accomplish things that individuals cannot do alone.”

"These three are not progressive; rather, you must choose one method."

"Taixi is only suitable for building settlements because these liberated serfs have no ability to protect themselves. If they are united under the leadership of the Great Light Priest, they will have enough strength to defend themselves!"

"The Ming Dynasty would also choose different methods depending on the location. In the wealthy coastal areas, it would choose to return the land to its original state; in the areas where gentry often committed illegal acts or even resisted the court, it would adopt the equal distribution of land; and in the poor inland areas, it would choose to establish manors."

"The environment in the West is completely different from that in the Ming Dynasty. We cannot simply copy the Ming Dynasty's experience; otherwise, we will inevitably fail."

Li Yashi's words were actually a criticism of Marion. Marion gave these serfs freedom, but not the power to defend their rights. The serfs had just become free people, and they needed to unite as one to fight against the feudal lords who controlled violence.

However, the mistake made by Marion is not Marion's fault. She went to the Ming Dynasty twice and saw that the Ming Dynasty had implemented the land redistribution policy along the coast. As someone who regarded the Ming Dynasty's experience and wisdom as sacred texts, Marion decisively adopted the land redistribution policy.

“Dogmatism is a mistake that we priests must avoid in spreading the light.” For the past six months, Li Yashi has been at sea, reflecting on the future of the Great Light Church, and he has drawn up a blueprint for its future.

It's not surprising that priests are a bit dogmatic; they're priests, after all. If they weren't dogmatic, would they still be priests?
Li Yashi's requirement for them was not to completely and rigidly imitate the experience of the Ming Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty's experience was that the main contradiction was the uneven regional development. Each place had different natural endowments and different cultural environments. The result of blindly and dogmatically applying the Ming Dynasty's experience would be complete failure.

Li Yashi understood this clearly; he had lived in the Ming Dynasty for twenty years, and it hadn't been in vain.

However, the priests of the Great Light Church, living in the West and immersed in the concept of the wisdom of the Ming Dynasty, always felt that anything different from the Ming Dynasty was a serious mistake, or even a practice that violated their faith. This kind of thinking hindered the development of the Great Light Church.

The priests began to whisper among themselves, their gazes toward Li Yashi somewhat strange, for a very contradictory thing had occurred: the Great Envoy of Light sent by the Prophet was saying that the experience and wisdom of the Ming Dynasty were not necessarily correct, yet he was arguing this point based on the experience and wisdom of the Ming Dynasty.

For ordinary people, these logics seem strange, but for the priests of the Great Light, they quickly accepted the idea of ​​not applying it blindly. The symbol of the Great Light Church is a yin-yang symbol, which represents contradiction, and this is what contradiction is.

The basic concept of contradiction is that everything is a contradictory yet unified entity, contradicting yet unified.

Seeing that the priests had gradually stopped discussing, Li Yashi smiled. After looking around, he spoke again: "This road is full of thorns, folks. Many of us will die on this road, but our deaths will not be in vain. We will become torches, illuminating the darkness."

"This is the meaning of light. Though the torch may be faint, it is still light itself. I encourage you all to strive for the light!"

Thunder pierces the clouds, and light illuminates the darkness.

China has an extremely long history. Throughout this long history, there have been countless sages who have illuminated the path for those who came after, and those who followed in their footsteps have become torchbearers.

"For the light!" Rijashi's words resonated with the priests. Although Rijashi and Marion were not quite the same, they all wanted the light to shine on the world.

"I will stay in Lisbon for seven days to explain the wisdom from the Ming Dynasty. I have brought many books with me, which will be stored in the Temple of Light for the priests to borrow. They contain my annotations."

"Please cherish these books. Wisdom is carried by knowledge, and knowledge is carried by books," Li Yashi concluded his speech at the sanctuary.

This is his personal gift to the whole of Taixi.

While Li Yashi was talking with the priests, a figure left the church and walked to the unfinished back garden. It was still a construction site with a very diverse population. The figure walked to the wall, took out a small copper hammer from his pocket, and gently tapped a brick three times.

Soon, a knock came from the other side of the wall.

“Leyas should leave the church immediately. The best opportunity will be on the way back to the Chinese Hall. God help us, we must succeed,” the priest whispered.

"Okay." A new echo came from behind the wall.

This priest was a fanatical Catholic who had infiltrated the Church of the Great Light and even become a priest qualified to give speeches in the church. He disguised himself so well that he couldn't even tell if he was faking it or not. He was almost convinced by the contradictions and the wisdom of the Great Light.

God cannot be falsified, nor can He be proven.

The more one reads about contradictions, the easier it is to gain wisdom. Once one gains wisdom, some previously perplexing questions will be answered. The unverifiable nature of God caused this fanatical believer's faith to waver.

The priest's way of consolidating his faith was to kill Rijaz, leaving himself with no way back.

On the other side of the wall were assassins sent to Lisbon by Felipe. Felipe could not tolerate Legazpi's betrayal. It would have been fine if he had returned to Madrid and offered Felipe advice, but Legazpi, a Spaniard, was going to France to help France, his enemies. This was something Felipe could not accept.

Assassination was Felipe's usual method of eliminating rebel leaders. Felipe assassinated Dutch rebel leaders more than once, and succeeded three times.

Marcus, the swordsman, died at the hands of Felipe's assassination. Antonio was helpless. Despite personally defeating the Spanish phalanx, he still had to send envoys to Madrid to sue for peace. This was a disgrace, but one that Antonio could only endure.

As the assassins began their operation, Ricardo finished his sermon and met King Antonio of Portugal, who was listening in the audience, in the annex of the church.

“Thank you for the Emperor’s mercy. I am a secular king, and managing the church is too difficult for me. It’s wonderful that you’re back. But I must warn you, Felipe wants to kill you. I can keep you safe in Lisbon, but I can’t protect you if you go to France.” Antonio reminded Legazpi with a complicated expression that he was in great danger.

Felipe was a very domineering monarch. Liya was a real Ming Dynasty official, and the Westerners all regarded him as a legend, as if he were already dead. But now that he had returned, Felipe could not tolerate it.

Antonio was aware that spies had infiltrated the priests and were plotting assassination. He had even dispatched the royal guards to conduct several purges, but as the old saying goes in the Ming Dynasty, "You can be a thief for a thousand days, but you can't guard against thieves for a thousand days." It was simply impossible to prevent them.

“I know, I thought of that back in the Ming Dynasty.” Li Yashi wasn’t particularly concerned. It wasn’t that he didn’t care about his own life; even if there were thousands of people against him, he would still go. It was that he knew all the dangers, but he still wanted to continue. That was courage, that was perseverance.

“Death is death. Even in death, one remains a faint torch,” Li Yashi explained his reasoning.

"Your Great Light Church is really strange. Other religions talk about the soul after death, but you turn into torches after death, like moths to a flame." Antonio, a master of Chinese studies, wrote his official letters to the emperor in Chinese to ensure that Lisbon would always have the right to distribute goods from the Ming Dynasty.

This power has allowed Portugal, a small country, to enjoy its wealth for two hundred years. Lisbon's role as a hub for Ming Dynasty goods is Portugal's core interest, without exception.

Small countries have their own way of life, and large countries have their own dignity.

"And it's very strange that you actually forbid the priests from practicing dogma. I've never heard of such a thing before. I've never heard of any patriarch making such a request. The former cardinal of Portugal practically wanted me to kowtow to him and obey his every command!"

"Who does he think he is, making me kneel before him? I kneel before the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty!" Antonio had to explain his actions back then.

When he first ascended the throne, he expelled the cardinal, a decision made in a fit of rage that put Minister Xu Fan in a difficult position. However, the cardinal had approached him before his ascension, demanding he kneel and obey the Papacy's commands. Antonio, a seasoned captain who had weathered many storms, would have chopped the cardinal to pieces long ago had it not been for Portugal's small and weak position.

The Ming emperor had the strength, the resources, and the ability. So, just give him war loans and help him stabilize his throne. When people kowtow to His Majesty, Antonio is sincere. Many people want to kowtow but have nowhere else to do so.

What is a cardinal like him? He doesn't deserve to be called one!

"I see." Only after returning to Taisi did Li Yashi understand why Antonio made that decision.

"As for not allowing the priests to be dogmatic," Li Yashi's face was full of unspeakable emotions. He rummaged through his book box and found a miscellaneous newspaper, saying, "This is the 'Brightness' series of articles published by the Hanlin Academy of the Great Ming Dynasty, which argues why the Great Ming Dynasty is the Celestial Empire."

"Does this even need proof? It's only natural and should be this way. If the Ming Dynasty isn't a celestial empire, then where is it? As the most law-abiding place, it is undoubtedly a divine kingdom on earth." Antonio looked extremely tense.

He found it absurd. If the Ming Dynasty's global merchant caravans didn't stop in Lisbon, Portugal would immediately lose its cohesion and wouldn't be surprising if it were annexed by Spain. The Ming Dynasty needed to prove itself as the Celestial Empire, huh?!
It's obvious that there's a need to prove it. It must be those stupid, pig-like scholar-officials of the Ming Dynasty who have forced His Majesty into this situation. It's self-evident, yet they still need to prove it.

"This is one of the pieces I wrote. This matter is truly important; it concerns the core interests of the Ming Dynasty. Rome's lightning-fast return is also meant to prove that Rome is a transcendent being." Li Yashi didn't explain it that clearly because Antonio didn't live in the Ming Dynasty.

Like Rome, when the Yuan dynasty came to power in the Central Plains, civilization had essentially perished once. China had Zhu Yuanzhang, but Rome did not.

The Civilization Series is an important institutional framework for building a nation, increasing cohesion, and maintaining high moral standards. It is by no means what Antonio thinks—making trouble out of nothing.

"Let me see." Antonio took the article, read it for a long time, and then put down the newspaper before saying with certainty, "It is indeed necessary. After being brought back to life, we need to determine the meaning of life."

From Li Jiashi's article, Antonio had already discerned the fundamental purpose behind why the Hanlin Academy was writing the "Civilization" series.

Having died once, one becomes even more afraid of death; this experience is unique to China.

When Hu Yuan entered the Central Plains, Annam, Korea, and Japan, these traditional vassal states, were originally prepared to hold a grand funeral for China, just like the Western countries did for Rome. However, before the funeral, they took a look and realized, "Oh dear, Father, you're still alive!"
It was essential for the Ming Dynasty to prove itself as the Celestial Empire, precisely for the sake of cohesion, so that even if it died again, there would still be hope for resurrection.

“Your article is too obsequious. It might make people think that you are deliberately trying to lull the Ming Dynasty into a false sense of security. His Majesty has been keeping you locked up for a few days,” Antonio asked curiously.

Li Yashi frowned deeply, looking at Antonio in disbelief and saying, "You've heard about my imprisonment in the Ming Dynasty in the West?"

“That’s the imperial prison, of course I know it. Many, many people in the West know it too. Envoy Li is enjoying the Emperor’s favor.” Antonio said with great certainty, “Living in the Ming Dynasty is an immense blessing, yet you insist on returning to the West.”

"I stayed for ten days," Li Yashi said with a smile. "I'm telling the truth. His Majesty won't do anything to me. I am His Majesty's subject."

“It’s the Ming Dynasty.” Antonio pointed to himself and said, “I, for one, cannot tolerate it. You must be careful in the West; this is not the Ming Dynasty.”

In the West, you can't tell the truth most of the time.

Li Yashi's article was extremely flattering, and the content of the article was a discussion of idioms from the Ming Dynasty.

Li Yashi believed that the idioms of the Ming Dynasty were extremely practical, unique, and an unrepeatable miracle. Their uniqueness and ingenuity are an important part of China's eternal existence as a natural phenomenon.

For example, the phrase "raise a pole and rise up" is simple yet profound. Why did they have to cut down trees to make weapons and raise poles to make flags? Because Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, who rose up in rebellion, had no weapons, but they still used wooden poles to resist the existence of tyranny.

In the fight against the wicked, the act of resistance itself is inherently righteous.

Chinese is already a very information-dense language, and idioms, after undergoing secondary compression, possess the characteristics of 'extreme compression and rapid retrieval'.

When severely frustrated, one thinks of the interdependence of fortune and misfortune; when there is no way out, one thinks of burning one's boats; when poorly imitating others, one thinks of Dong Shi imitating Xi Shi; when overestimating one's own abilities but failing to do so, one thinks of the mantis trying to stop a chariot and overestimating one's own strength.
This system of idioms is based on China's long history as a database. With just four characters, it can quickly draw on historical experience and lessons, clearly explain the logic behind them, and guide people in their actions.

It is a wealth left to future generations by the sages of China throughout history, who have repeatedly compressed their wisdom, the laws governing the world, and their life experiences. These four words can enable people to perform the most complex logical calculations. The output may not be completely correct, but it is definitely not the worst result.

For example, when someone criticized Zhang Juzheng, His Majesty's words, "He devoted himself to the cause until his dying breath," silenced all dissent. As long as Zhang Juzheng did not explicitly rebel, it was as if he had given his all until his death.

What's most frightening about this system is that it keeps accumulating experience and passing it on to future generations in this way.

This is something that the West absolutely could not do using Latin.

Li Yashi once tried to translate "Playing with fire and burning oneself" as "Sodomian fire," but he later translated it as "Playing with fire and burning oneself" according to its original meaning, because it does not express the same meaning at all.

In fact, the idioms of the Ming Dynasty were almost the biggest difficulty that Li Yashi encountered in the process of translating them, and no matter how he translated them, they just didn't feel right.

"The people of the Ming Dynasty live in the Ming Dynasty, and they do not know the value of this wealth. I am a barbarian, but I can see it more clearly because this thing is indeed difficult to learn. His Majesty kept me here so that our friendly nations would be amazed." Li Yashi said with great emotion. The people of the Ming Dynasty did not feel this deeply and thought that Li Yashi was using exaggerated rhetoric.

Li Ya was not exaggerating at all; in fact, he was often very conservative in his arguments, given the prevailing conservative sentiment in the Ming Dynasty that opposed arrogance.

"Could Portugal adopt the camp system first? My dear friend, you can practice it in Portugal first. I, the priests of the Great Light Church, 70,000 Light Left and Right Guards, and the Free Fleet will ensure the smooth implementation of Minister of State Riaz's policies!"

“You know, I’ve long since grown tired of those nobles who don’t obey my orders, but after the death of Minister of State Xu Fan, I lacked a way to deal with them.” Antonio finally revealed his true colors: Li Yashi was not a Westerner at all, but a scholar-official.

The long-vacant position of Minister of State has finally found a suitable candidate. No scholar with any ability in the Ming Dynasty would come to Portugal.

“I still plan to go to France to finish what Marion didn’t do,” Rijkaard shook his head, his attitude resolute.

Antonio sat up straight and had his secretary bring him the seal of office of the Minister of State before saying, "Contradiction tells me that theories that have not been tested in practice are just empty words. Only by combining theory with practice can the great way be realized."

"You haven't even tried it, how do you know if the Yingzhuang method is suitable for us in the West? Can you find a country in the West with a monarch who supports your reforms? Stay here, and I can protect your safety and help you realize your ambitions and aspirations."

"The unfinished business of the Great Light Church can also be realized in Portugal."

"I'll think about it carefully." Li Yashi was genuinely persuaded.

“Henry the Lion is too powerful militarily; it would be too dangerous for you to go. If you stay in Lisbon, Henry the Lion will not dare to truly exterminate the French Christians, because he will be wary that the atrocities he commits will become widely known,” Antonio continued, explaining his reasoning.

Li Yashi is the Grand Envoy of the Great Light appointed by His Majesty. He holds a transcendent position in the Great Light Church. If Henry IV were to truly exterminate him, the Ming Dynasty would certainly know, and the matter would become public knowledge. Putting aside other matters, during the Ming Dynasty's period of opening up to the sea, France could forget about making a living from maritime trade.

The maritime trade was so lucrative that it was enough for Ming Dynasty officials to fight against the imperial power.

"Let me think about it more carefully." Li Yaz had also considered this option. He felt that since he was Spanish, Antonio might not want to keep him, so Li Yaz didn't say anything at all.

But now that Antonio is so eager to keep him, Rijkaard thinks that this is also a possibility.

Li Yashi chose to leave. He walked out of the sanctuary and headed towards the Chinese Hall, pondering Antonio's suggestion. As he walked, his expression suddenly became serious. He walked normally, but his hand inadvertently touched the flintlock musket at his waist. He sensed danger.

Legazpi was a highly experienced fighter. He was the founder of the Governor-General's Office in the Philippines and served as the Governor-General of the entire Far East.

He had been fighting for his life at sea since he was eighteen, and the taste of death was etched into his bones, becoming an instinct for him.

Two different killing intents and two different footsteps came from different directions. Although they were very light and almost imperceptible, Li Yashi still caught them.

This was indeed a suitable time for him to arrive in the West. The coastal patrols were responsible for protecting merchant ships and had no duty to protect him. The Portuguese royal palace was also very easy to infiltrate; otherwise, Marcus would not have died, and Antonio had not sent anyone to protect him.

This is Taixi, a land where wildness and unbridled growth flourish.

"Bang!" Li Yashi's figure flashed, and he hid behind a big tree, firing the flintlock musket in his hand.

He didn't shoot in the direction of the assassin, but rather in the area between the two groups.

Li Yashi's sudden action startled both groups of people who were preparing to assassinate him, and they also noticed each other's presence. A strange balance was formed, and no one dared to make a move.

The gunshot rang out, and the palace guards would arrive soon, leaving the assassins little time.

In the early spring of the deep winter, on the first day of the Lunar New Year in the twenty-third year of the Wanli reign, Li Yashi encountered his first assassination attempt since arriving in Taixi. Although he had made preparations, he did not expect it to happen so soon.

He hid behind a large tree, his mind highly focused, discerning information from the various sounds coming from the environment.

"May the Emperor protect me!" Riyas prayed to the Emperor while loading his flintlock pistol.

This pistol was given to him by the emperor before his departure. He was given five pistols in total, and they are all now tucked into his waistband.

His guns loaded quickly, fired even faster, and were more accurate. The assassin's muskets were neither accurate nor fast enough. The five muskets in his hands were his only hope for survival.

If he could suppress the two groups of assassins with those five flintlock muskets, and only delay them for a few minutes until the palace guards arrived, he would survive.

His hands were steady, his ears twitched slightly as he analyzed his surroundings, firing one shot now and two now, keeping the two groups of assassins from leaving their cover.

Soon, the two groups of assassins reached a tacit agreement. Li Yashi was alone, while they had a total of six people. As long as someone restrained Li Yashi, the others could move quickly and find shooting angles.

"May the Emperor protect you!"

Li Yashi then pulled out a long, thick club from his pocket. This was also a firearm, a type of hand grenade, invented by Qi Jiguang, which he named "Hand-held Thunder." He opened the safety door, pulled the flint and steel, and ignited the fuse inside the door.

"I'm sending you to see the Great Ancestor!" Under extreme tension, Li Ya spoke only in Chinese as he threw the grenade in his hand at one of the assassins. A loud explosion and screams rang out at the same time.

Li Yashi didn't know if gods existed, but the firearms bestowed upon him by His Majesty the Emperor could truly protect him.

(End of this chapter)