Chongzhen revived the Ming Dynasty

Zhu Youjian was extremely happy when he learned that the Jesuits intended to adopt the translation name "Dousi Tianzun".

This represented the Jesuits' surrender, saving him the trouble of selecting missionaries to form a new church.

So he quickly responded to Xu Guangqi's request and summoned Long Huamin and others.

When faced with the emperor who could potentially communicate with gods, Long Huamin and others were trembling with fear and no longer had the confidence to talk big as before.

Tang Ruowang came to China after hearing about Matteo Ricci's deeds. He always wanted to do the same as Matteo Ricci. To this end, he learned a lot of astronomy, mathematics and other subjects, and even thought about how to pay respect to the emperor. He said respectfully:

"Your Majesty, the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, after consultation, the Jesuit Chinese Mission has decided to accept the translation of Dousi Tianzun."

"Your Majesty, please issue a formal decree to make the Society of Jesus the only legal missionary group."

Zhu Youjian nodded in approval, acknowledging that this was the condition he had proposed, and said to Xu Guangqi who was standing next to him:
"Master Xu, please draft an edict to confer the title of Lord of Dousi on Deus."

After hearing this, Ai Rulie hurriedly said:
"Your Majesty, there is no need to issue an imperial decree to confer the title. It is only a translation of the name."

"Like ākyamuni, translated as Sakyamuni, and honored as the World Honored One."

This title was used to remind the emperor that Dousi Tianzun did not need to be canonized by the emperor.

Long Huamin and Johann Adam Schall ...

Seeing this, Zhu Youjian knew that if he forcibly conferred the title, he would face great resistance. So he thought for a while and said:
"Many capable people in Buddhism and Taoism have been canonized as Dharma Kings and True Lords."

“Can you Jesuit missionaries accept similar canonization?”

Long Huamin and Ai Rulie looked at each other in bewilderment when they heard this. Because the Dharma King and the True Lord are the gods of Buddhism and Taoism, if the emperor gave similar titles to missionaries, it would also be deifying them. Long Huamin said:
"My religion is different from Buddhism and Taoism. The first commandment is that there can be no other gods besides Dousi Tianzun."

"We missionaries dare not accept the canonization from Your Majesty."

"Are you afraid or unwilling?" Zhu Youjian asked back, and then asked:
"I heard that there are some people in your church who have noble virtues and can be canonized as saints."

"As the Son of Heaven, I should have the power to canonize saints, right?"

With the pressure getting closer and closer, Long Huamin could no longer bear it and looked to Xu Guangqi for help.

Zhu Youjian saw Xu Guangqi was about to speak, so he stopped him and said:

"I want to canonize Matteo Ricci as a saint and set up a saint's hall in the church to be worshipped together with Dousi Tianzun."

"What do you think, Master Xu?"

This was to confer a title on his teacher, how could Xu Guangqi object?

Tang Ruowang, who took Matteo Ricci as his role model, was even more delighted:

"What Li Zi said and did is indeed worthy of a saint."

"The Jesuits in China should offer interest."

The concept is limited to regard Matteo Ricci only as a saint of the Chinese diocese.

This means that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty only had the power to canonize saints in Chinese dioceses.

When Long Huamin and Ai Rulie heard him say this, they felt that this was a good idea. Since the emperor of the Ming Dynasty was determined to have the power of canonization, they had no choice but to give in.

If it is limited to the Chinese diocese, it can be better explained to the Vatican. Or even directly concealed from the Vatican.

Zhu Youjian had never thought that the saints he canonized would be recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. What he needed was to open this loophole first. After Long Huamin and others recognized the power of the emperor of the Ming Dynasty to canonize saints, he continued:
"I have heard that the Anglican Church in England regards its king as supreme."

"As the Son of Heaven and Earth, what is my status in the teachings of the Society of Jesus?"

How could Long Huamin and others not know about the Anglican Church of England, a new church established decades ago?

When they heard the emperor's question, they actually broke out in cold sweats in this hot weather.

Long Huamin said tremblingly:
"Your Majesty, the entire Society of Jesus respects the Pope of Rome as its supreme authority."

Zhu Youjian was very displeased when he heard this and shouted:
"If you respect the Pope, whose orders will you obey when there is a dispute between Ming and the Vatican?"

"Master Xu, to whom do you think the followers of the Ming Dynasty should be loyal first?"

Even though Xu Guangqi was a religious believer, he did not hesitate to answer this potentially fatal question:
"Of course I am loyal to Your Majesty!"

"I have never pledged allegiance to the Pope of Rome."

The most important supporters were like this, so Long Huamin and others had no confidence at all. Johann Adam Schall von Bell came from the Holy Roman Empire and was more accepting of Protestantism and the Reformation doctrines. He tried to smooth things over:

"As a citizen of the Ming Dynasty, we should naturally be loyal to Your Majesty first."

"The Pope is far away in Rome and will not conflict with the Ming Dynasty."

Zhu Youjian heard his hesitation and immediately continued:

"I heard that the Pope of Rome has the power to decide where Christianity has not yet ruled."

“So more than a hundred years ago, a papal meridian was drawn to determine the spheres of influence of Portugal and Spain.”

"Are you going to tell me to abide by this division?"

When Tang Ruowang faced this question, he immediately knew that he could no longer be vague. Even Long Huamin and Ai Ruliu had the same understanding.

Because they all knew that the most discussed issue in the capital during this period was the issue of overseas fiefdoms. If they dared to say that those places had long been divided by the Pope to Portugal and Spain, the royal family and nobles who wanted to divide the fiefdoms would probably tear them to pieces. Even Xu Guangqi, after learning about the Pope's meridian, also realized that the Jesuits could not be vague on this issue. He even thought of Ai Ruliu's translation of the Pope, and realized that the word "emperor" in it was not groundless. The Pope was the emperor in a certain sense in the West, and he held the status and righteousness.

Now that the Pope, who was the emperor in name only, was in conflict with the Ming Dynasty's real emperor, the Jesuits, who were caught in the middle, suddenly felt caught in a dilemma.

Just as Long Huamin and others were thinking about how to answer, they heard the Ming Emperor say:
"I heard that the Anglican Church practices the episcopal system, and church affairs are decided by the bishops' conference."

"I intend to appoint an archbishop for the Jesuit Order of Ming. Who among you is willing to take the position?"

This was a blatant temptation, but also an opportunity. Johann Adam Schall von Bell soon realized that the Ming emperor really wanted to learn from the Anglican Church and separate the Jesuits in China from the Roman Catholic Church.

If he was willing to agree, he would have the opportunity to become the first archbishop and preside over the new church. This would be a chance for him to achieve the same feats as Matteo Ricci and become a saint in the Chinese diocese.

So, after a moment's hesitation, Tang Ruowang knelt on the ground and bowed to the Emperor of Ming:
"Your Majesty, I am willing to shepherd the believers for you!"

Long Huamin and Ai Ruliu were furious when they heard this, believing that this was a betrayal of the Roman Catholic Church. The Jesuits, whose purpose is to be loyal to the Pope, would not tolerate such behavior.

Zhu Youjian was very happy and immediately fulfilled his promise:
"Pastor Tang is brave enough to take on responsibilities, and he should be the Jesuit Archbishop of Ming Dynasty."

"The term of office is tentatively set at six years, and we will hold another election after six years."

He asked again:

"Bishop Tang, what do you think the Jesuits of the Ming Dynasty should be called in the future?"

After some consideration, Johann Adam Schall von Bell realized that it was impossible to continue using the name Society of Jesus. After all, the headquarters of the Society of Jesus was in Rome, and its purpose was to be unconditionally loyal to the Pope. The Society of Jesus in the Ming Dynasty was only its Chinese missionary group and was not capable of occupying this name.

So he said:

"Perhaps it could be called the Church of Jesus, or the Church of Jesus, to make a slight distinction."

Ai Ruliu couldn't help but said:
“It can be called the Nestorian Church!”

"This name has been used before and believers can accept it."

When Long Huamin heard this, he could not hide his astonishment. He really could not imagine that Ai Ruliu also planned to break away from the Roman Catholic Church and establish his own regime.

But thinking that another archbishop would be elected in six years, and that besides the Great Ming Emperor being the supreme ruler, he would have supreme power in the church, he could not help but feel a little tempted. He felt that this position was much better than the position of the supervisor of the Chinese mission, and he might even have the chance to become a saint.

In Rome, there is no possibility that he can become a saint, and even the Pope may not know who he is.

Zhu Youjian approved of the name of the Nestorian Church and said to Ai Rulie with a smile:
"The name Nestorian Church is good. We can use it this way in the future."

"The church of our Ming Dynasty will be called the Nestorian Church from now on. Headed by the archbishop, we will hold a bishops' conference to decide on major matters and elect cardinals to handle matters when the bishops' conference is not held."

"The Chief Cardinal is responsible for forming the Deacon Council to handle daily affairs. The Supervisory Cardinal is responsible for forming the Supervisory Council to supervise the priests."

"Father Ai has been preaching for a long time and can serve as the chief cardinal."

"Would Father Long be willing to serve as the Cardinal Superintendent?"

Long Huamin was a little hesitant when facing the Ming Emperor's recruitment. He was trained by the Jesuits and was unwilling to betray the Vatican. However, the conditions offered by the Ming Emperor were indeed much better than those of the Jesuits. He was just a small figure in the Vatican.

Just as he was struggling with this, he heard the Ming Emperor say:

"The Great Ming Nestorian Church was born out of the Society of Jesus, and its relationship with the Society of Jesus cannot be severed. It can also be called the Chinese Society of Jesus."

"In addition to being loyal to the Ming Dynasty first, in other aspects, we must try our best to support the Roman Catholic Church."

"I will send an envoy to explain to the Vatican and seek the Pope's understanding with a trade license."

"If the Pope is willing to recognize the rights of the Nestorian Church and Chinese believers, I am willing to coexist peacefully with the Holy See on a mutually beneficial basis."

Zhu Youjian actually didn't care about the attitude of the Roman Catholic Church. If the Pope was willing to recognize the Nestorian Church he had created, or even recognize that Chinese Christians and Western Christians had equal power, Zhu Youjian would not mind supporting him and opening up trade rights.

He also wanted the Vatican to maintain its power for a longer period of time and suppress the development of Western countries.

When Long Huamin heard the Emperor's idea, he was immediately happy. Because in his opinion, the Emperor's conditions were already very generous. The Pope of Rome would not go against the Emperor because of Chinese Christians, who he had no control over.

Even based on his understanding of the Vatican, he believed that the trade license issued by the Ming Emperor could bribe many high-ranking officials.

So when the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty appointed him as the Supervisory Cardinal, Long Huamin reluctantly accepted the appointment and requested to go to the Vatican as an envoy to explain.

Zhu Youjian thought about it for a while, nodded in approval, and said to Xu Guangqi:

"Master Xu, please write a letter to the Pope of Rome."

"Choose a few believers to go to the West with Bishop Long as an envoy to the Western countries."

Xu Guangqi attached great importance to this matter and decided to recommend his disciple Sun Yuanhua to serve as the envoy.

He also suggested that the emperor grant some blank edicts to help Sun Yuanhua respond to situations improvisationally during his diplomatic mission.

Zhu Youjian, taking into account that the Ming Dynasty had little understanding of the situation in the West and had not even decided on the translation names of many countries, agreed to Xu Guangqi's request and allowed the envoy to write imperial edicts as needed.

In order to supervise this matter, Zhu Youjian planned to send eunuchs and Jinyiwei to accompany him, asking them to record the affairs of Taixi and recruit some talents.

For example, he could invite Galileo, whom he valued, during this mission. He also wanted to collect the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Shakespeare and others to provide reference for Ming Dynasty paintings and dramas.

The size of this mission grew larger and larger, becoming the first official mission for large-scale exchanges between the East and the West. (End of this chapter)