I am Emperor Wanli

Chapter 902: A Brief History of the Western Countries

The person who came was the eunuch in charge of the Imperial Household, Yang Jinshui, the God of Wealth of the Ming Dynasty.

"Shen Wanxiang/Wang Yongji met Eunuch Yang."

"You two, we are following the emperor's order to take you to the West Garden."

The emperor will take us to the West Garden?

Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji were trembling with excitement.

As soon as he and his entourage arrived in the capital in the morning, the emperor sent someone to summon him in the afternoon. It seemed that the emperor not only attached great importance to his mission, but was also very satisfied with the results of his mission.

"Eunuch Yang, I'll ask my attendant to bring the organized files and documents."

"Okay." Yang Jinshui answered simply.

After a while, everyone worked together to lift the two wooden boxes onto the luggage rack at the back of the carriage.

Yang Jinshui looked at the heavy wooden box, then turned to look at Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji.

“There are still so many files and documents?
Didn't you send back four batches of 279 wooden boxes by sea? Others thought you were not going on a diplomatic mission overseas, but were going to rob. "

Yang Jinshui's joke helped Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji relax their tense mood.

"Eunuch Yang, what was transported back earlier included not only the notes taken by the students along the way and the documents collected from various countries, but also the books and artworks collected by the scientific expedition team led by Zhao Shizhen."

Yang Jinshui smiled and nodded, "We know all this, because the money used to pay for these items passed through our hands, and it cost a lot.

But everyone knows that the emperor has repeatedly warned us that now that we have gone out, we must open our eyes, bend down, and take a good look at this world. We must see clearly the ugly, the beautiful, the good, and the bad. "

The three of them got on the carriage and closed the door. Yang Jinshui pulled a rope inside the carriage, and a bell rang outside the carriage. The coachman flicked the reins, and the carriage started slowly.

"You two have been on an overseas mission for five years. It's really hard work."

Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji quickly replied: "We serve the emperor and the court, and we are just doing our duty. We dare not say it is hard."

"The emperor has read all the notes you sent back and praised you highly. He said you two are the first people in Ming Dynasty to look at the world and the first people to conduct diplomatic affairs in Ming Dynasty."

"I feel honored to receive the emperor's comments and fulfill my mission."

"The Emperor has asked the Imperial Academy to sort out your notes and papers. The first draft has already been completed and is waiting for you to come back to review and confirm. Then the Imperial Household Department can publish it."

"To be printed and distributed?"

"Yes! The emperor also named this scroll, "A Brief History of the Western Countries", and wrote an inscription with his own handwriting. You all know that the emperor rarely writes inscriptions for outsiders."

I know that the emperor's handwriting is not beautiful, so he won't write inscriptions everywhere.

He wrote a few poems for other places, including Wanli University, Huangming Chaobao, Hongwu Military Academy, Xishan Military Academy, Xinming News Agency, Ming Literary and Art Workers Federation, Zhuowu Collection, and Taiyue Collection.
You can count them on one hand.

He actually wrote an inscription in his own handwriting for his own collection of notes!

Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji looked at each other and felt even more excited and honored.

The carriage continued to move on the spacious street. Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji had no interest in appreciating the scenery of the capital outside the window. They looked at Yang Jinshui, eager to know more information.

Unexpectedly, Yang Jinshui changed the subject and said, "Mingshou, did you know that Lord Zhuo Wu was recalled to the capital?"

Wang Yongji said happily: "Eunuch Yang, my dear teacher has returned to the capital? That's great. I just arrived in the capital and have not had time to ask about it, nor do I dare to ask."

"That's right, the court system is there, and you were right not to rush to find out.

There are some disturbances in the court right now, you don't have to worry about it, just do your own thing. "

"Thank you for your guidance, Eunuch Yang."

Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji knew that Yang Jinshui gave the reminder only because of his benefactor Pan Yinglong and his mentor Li Zhi.

The carriage soon arrived at the Nanhua Gate of Xiyuan. They first went to the duty room next to it for inspection, and then followed Yang Jinshui into the Nanhua Gate.

Eight Jing soldiers took turns carrying two wooden boxes and followed closely behind.

Arriving outside the rear hall of Ziguang Pavilion, Yang Jinshui, Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji waited outside first, and asked the eunuch on duty to go in and report.

Soon, the eunuchs came out and said, "Eunuch Yang, Lord Shen, Lord Wang, the emperor is calling you to the palace."

After the three of them entered and saluted with their hands crossed, Zhu Yijun waved his hand and motioned for them to sit down.

Yang Jinshui began to speak: "Your Majesty, I have been ordered to invite Envoy Shen and Deputy Envoy Wang. I have something else to do and must leave first. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."

Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji looked at Yang Jinshui in surprise.

Eunuch Yang, what's the big deal? Why are you taking the initiative to say goodbye to the emperor like this?

You are too arrogant.

If the censors outside the court knew about this, they would definitely criticize you for being arrogant and rebellious, and not a good subject.

Zhu Yijun seemed to know what Yang Jinshui was going to do, and he didn't take his attitude seriously. "Oh, it's that matter. I know about it. Then you should leave quickly." "As ordered by your Majesty, I'll take my leave!"

After Yang Jinshui left, Zhu Yijun continued.

"Chizuru, Mingshou, the notes you made on your mission were very detailed and comprehensive. They were rarely subjective, and you tried your best to observe and record from the perspective of an outsider.

This is very valuable.

I have read the notes of the Imperial Historian and the Imperial Household Department's Jiagekuli on the previous dynasty's missions to Korea, Annan and other vassal states. They are condescending, bossy and self-righteous.

Such missions and observations are of no benefit and will only make us more arrogant and unwilling to make progress. "

Zhu Yijun waved his hand, and Qi Yan presented three stacks of collected works and placed them on the table beside him.

These three stacks of collected works are not thick, each is about an inch in thickness.

Zhu Yijun gently stroked the cover with his left hand, "This is the first draft of the first volume of A Brief History of Western Countries compiled by the Hanlin Academy based on the notes you sent back from your overseas missions.

This first volume is a detailed account of what you saw and heard while passing through Ceylon, Zhurong County, and the western part of Kunzhou, including the humanities and geography.

The first draft of the second volume has actually been compiled, mainly about what you saw and heard in Duizhou, which is what they call Europe.

It’s just that when the Imperial Academy, the Ministry of Rites, the Imperial Academy, and the Spiritual Civilization Construction Committee reviewed and discussed it, they had quite a lot of opinions.”

Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji looked at each other.

Do you have a big opinion?
The content recorded in the second volume starts with the first countries we came into contact with, Portugal and Spain, and starts with their history, from ancient Rome to the Visigothic Kingdom, to the invasion of the Moors, and the Catholic Restoration Movement.

After talking about the history and current situation of Spain and Portugal, the history and current situation of Frank, Italy, Germany and England were discussed.

This information was gathered from discussions with local scholars along the way, as well as excerpts from books in various languages ​​and countries.

Which part caused controversy and strong opinions, and was temporarily shelved?
Zhu Yijun patted the cover of the first volume on the table and said, "Some people don't like the French Estates General and the Magna Carta Movement in England.

I think this is treasonous and perverse, and I am even venting my anger on you, demanding that you two be severely punished for not doing your job properly, disobeying the emperor's orders, and only knowing how to collect and spread heresy."

Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji smiled awkwardly. They never thought that this fire would fall on them.

But the two were not worried.

The emperor was willing to summon them and talk about the matter in person, and even asked the Jinyiwei Security Bureau to come to him, which showed that the problem was not serious.

At least for the emperor, it’s not a big deal.

"I think that this is because they have been stuck in the past thinking. If their thinking is imprisoned, civilization will stagnate, and this is the same for both the East and the West.

However, Western Europe, which they call themselves Europe, has a characteristic: its countries are fragmented.

At present, the only countries that still maintain national unity are Portugal, Spain, France and England. The rest of Italy, Germany, Northern Europe and Eastern Europe are fragmented and divided into many large and small states.

We Chinese once had the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, and they are a country that has been through the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. "

Zhu Yijun spoke slowly, and Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji listened quietly.

The two men knew very well that their task for the next period of time would be to compile "A Brief Account of the Western Countries".

How to compile, what is the theme and direction? Today's meeting is very important.

“But everything has its pros and cons, and every con has its pros.

The fragmentation of the country was a disadvantage in the past. But when Christianity unified Duzhou and restricted people's thoughts, it became an advantage. The countries in Duzhou fought against each other, without respect for courtesy, righteousness, and shame, but for practicality and utilitarianism.

No matter what doctrine it is, as long as it can stabilize the situation, collect taxes and make money, increase the number of troops, and enhance the power of weapons, the monarch will warmly welcome it.

Even if the Roman Catholic Church considers it to be heresy, they will not be shy about it and will secretly protect and promote it.
That’s why we had Copernicus, Bruno, Tycho, banks, the Age of Discovery, and the Renaissance. Everything was changing with each passing day, accumulating over time until the moment when quantitative change accumulated into qualitative change.

In contrast, since Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty gave priority to Confucianism, the mainstream thought has been to move away from reality and embrace fantasy, and scientific concepts have been declining with each generation. During the Qin and Han dynasties, the armillary sphere was invented and made, and the Zhoubi Suanjing, Jiuzhang Suanshu and Mojing were written.
Since the Tang and Song dynasties, we have had few groundbreaking scientific achievements, and most of them are patchworks based on the achievements of our predecessors.

The East and the West are in a state of decline, while the other is making progress. One day, we will be surpassed. That is when the world will be turned upside down."

While Zhu Yijun was drinking tea, Shen Wanxiang said hurriedly, "Your Majesty, none of this would have happened. With your wise guidance, the Ming Dynasty changed direction, sailed out of the shallow reefs and reached the center of the ocean.

Moreover, we set sail at full speed, braved the wind and waves, and left behind the countries of Duizhou and other countries in the world."

He and Wang Yongji looked at each other and continued excitedly, "When I was sent abroad as an envoy, I traveled thousands of miles and visited many countries. The biggest feeling I had was that God was lucky for China and God bless the Ming Dynasty.

At the time of the millennium of change, the Holy Son of Heaven descended to take the helm and guide the ship of the Ming Dynasty to the forefront of the wave of the new era! "

Zhu Yijun smiled and said, "It seems that you have been sent abroad and traveled to many countries, and you have gained a lot of experience. Then tell me what you think about the French Estates General and the Magna Carta Movement in England.

You must have thought about it a lot to write this down in your notebook. Now tell me your thoughts. "

Shen Wanxiang and Wang Yongji looked at each other and exchanged eye contact. Finally, Wang Yongji made a gesture and said, "Brother Qianhe, you speak."

Shen Wanxiang coughed lightly, "I obey your order, and I will dare to talk about our personal feelings.
"I, Ming Shou, and I have the greatest feeling from our diplomatic missions to various countries. What we have seen and heard is a complete learning process of combining theory with practice."

(End of this chapter)