Guangzong Yaoming

Chapter 47: Grassroots Li Xitai Matthew

After more than two hundred years of evolution, as civil officials became increasingly important in the Ming Dynasty, were the changes they brought limited to the court?
Zhu Changluo first apologized before standing up and continuing to speak.

"The problem of our Ming Dynasty is that the imperial power is not prominent, and the power is controlled by the people below! The money is collected by the officials and the government is limited to the villages. The emperor relies on Confucian officials to rule the world, and the people fear the gentry and clerks more than the imperial decrees; the country has worries both inside and outside, and the military heroes are always terrified when reading the history of current events!" Zhu Changluo finished his sonorous and powerful words, and continued to sigh, "How can my grandson be willing to think of ways to solve the problem of the royal family? However, if I want to change this situation, I need money, soldiers, prestige and justice."

Looking at Empress Dowager Li, he said sincerely: "Zhang Jiangling wanted to change this situation, and he didn't hesitate to say that he was not a prime minister but a regent. But after his death, how did the officials criticize him? A few days ago, the Zheng Mansion was searched and the gold and silver treasures were worth more than 6 million taels. In the past, Yan Song and Xu Jie had more than that. And Zhang Jiangling... My grandson asked Chen Ju, and his family wealth was only 100,000 taels."

"After all, my grandson will be the emperor in the future. What Zhang Jiangling cannot do, my grandson can do. But it is precisely because my grandson is the emperor that he will be more likely to alert the ministers if he wants to break this situation." Zhu Changluo said solemnly, "Grandmother, the officials appointed and promoted in the court and the localities are all civil officials. They not only manage the financial affairs of the country, but also control a large part of the military power. My grandson has none of the human rights, financial power, and military power. How can he be an enemy of the world?"

"...Then ask for money from the clan members?"

"Grandmother, the Emperor has already changed the rules of the royal family several times, established new rules for the royal family and vassal states, and relaxed the restrictions on vassal states. Father has relaxed them a little more. Since some descendants of the royal family and vassal states have been allowed to farm and do business, why not change it again?"

"You turn to that volume."

Empress Dowager Li said that the pages were still in scrolls. Zhu Changluo turned the page. Empress Dowager Li pointed at something in the distance and said, "Lieutenants can be selected for official posts through examinations, which will naturally please the vassals. But generals will be dissatisfied if they are selected for official posts. As for the land and farms granted to princes and dukes, they will all belong to the emperor..."

"Grandmother, the registered population of the royal family has exceeded 150,000, and the land granted to them is roughly estimated to be nearly 200,000 hectares. Please forgive me for being unfilial and making a bold statement: if there is a war to quell internal and external troubles, only these nearly 200,000 hectares of land will be the foundation of my money and food." He said solemnly, "Besides, starting with the royal family first will bring many benefits."

"You said."

"First, since they are all royal land, the harvest, whether sold or stored, belongs to the royal family, and can be stored to meet military needs. Second, my grandson will order the eunuchs to manage it, so that they will not encroach on the people's land and arouse people's resentment. The people will remember my grandson's kindness. Third, tenants are needed, and the royal land is spread across several provinces. In normal times, it can support a group of farmers and families, and in times of disaster, it can take in some disaster victims. This will make the Zhu family loyal. Fourth, the system of clan and vassal will be changed again, and the burden of clan salary can be reduced. The civil officials will have one less reason to use clan salary to make trouble in the future."

"These imperial grandmothers do know, but what do you think the vassals will think? It was clearly given to them..."

"We are all descendants of the Zhu family. Shouldn't we share the country's worries with our grandson?" Zhu Changluo first put a big hat on him, and then said, "Of course, my grandson will also find another way out for the vassal states. In this regard, my grandson has heard some things. In your presence, I wonder if you can condescend to accompany your grandson to Ciqing Palace to meet the Western barbarian Matteo Ricci?"

"...Ah?" Empress Dowager Li was a little confused, "Why did you see that red-haired ghost?"

"It's not red-haired." Zhu Changluo smiled, "The Empress Dowager will know when she sees it."

……

After entering the palace from Donghua Gate today, Matteo Ricci has been staying in the Ma Temple next to Zhengyin Gate.

Now he felt a little absurd.

He knew that there were all kinds of gods and immortals in this far East, and there were also many pagan religions among the people.

Although most people believe in Buddhism or Taoism, ordinary people believe in everything and worship everything.

This is also the reason why Matteo Ricci chose the scholars of the Ming Dynasty as the main targets of his missionary work: at least what they believed most was not Buddhism, Taoism, or any messy false gods, but the teachings of Confucius and Mencius, which were said to have been passed down from more than two thousand years ago.

Matteo Ricci had already understood that it was closer to philosophical thinking, the knowledge of how to behave in society, and managing a family and a country, rather than a firm religious belief.

He is called a saint, but he is actually just a human being. His descendants were even made dukes, and they have huge industries in Shandong along the way.

But Matteo Ricci did not expect that there were small temples of false gods in the emperor's forbidden palace just like those in the folk.

Horse God?

He was not yet knowledgeable enough to understand the principles of the Chinese worship of the horse god.

Tian Yi explained to him: "There are records of offering sacrifices to the horse god in the Book of Songs, which was called "祃牙" at that time."

There is no need to explain much about the role of horses, and the many solemn ceremonies and severe military needs also make the status of horses extraordinary.

What's so strange about the Horse Temple in the Forbidden City? It's even less strange that it's next to the Imperial Stables.

Matteo Ricci did not dwell on these things. He said that he had learned something and then asked, "Dear Mr. Tian, ​​when will the honorable Crown Prince receive me?" "No hurry, he will definitely receive me."

If Zhu Changluo had not specifically instructed him to do so, why would Tian Yi come to accompany him in person?
Tian Yi was not bored at all, after all, he could hear many anecdotes from Matteo Ricci.

They continued chatting in the Horse Temple to kill time. After a long time, a young eunuch came running over and said, "Eunuch Tian, ​​His Highness has arrived, and the Empress Dowager is here too."

"You want to summon him?"

"Yes."

Tian Yi became serious. No wonder His Highness asked him to accompany him personally first.

"Come with me. Shimin, hold an umbrella for him."

"Yes."

The eunuch was very young, and he had to hold the umbrella high so that Matteo Ricci could get under it.

He held his breath: This Westerner smells quite good.

"Eunuch Tian, ​​should we apply some perfume powder on him later? The Empress Dowager also wants to see him..."

"This lovely eunuch, after receiving the notice from the Ministry of Rites, I have been preparing for seven days and have bathed carefully every day." Matteo Ricci joked with a smile, and then said, "I have been in Daming for many years."

Tian Yi also laughed, and the young eunuch was quite embarrassed.

That’s right, I didn’t realize that there was no interpreter in the Siyi Hall.

"Mr. Li, don't take it to heart. He has just entered the palace and doesn't know the rules yet." Tian Yi said to the young eunuch, "You have a good intention, but it's okay if you are far away."

"He must be an extremely outstanding young man to be able to serve His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the future Emperor."

How could Matteo Ricci, who was able to mix well in the circle of gentry in the Ming Dynasty, not be without eloquence?

The words "Please be patient for a moment" made the young eunuch feel somewhat favorable towards him.

When they arrived at the main hall of Ciqing Palace, Tian Yicai reminded him to be serious and not forget the etiquette he had taught him.

He and the new eunuch named Liu Shimin who had just entered the palace were ordered by Zhu Changluo to leave, leaving only three people in the palace, which naturally had a different meaning.

Matteo Ricci didn't realize anything, after all, he had never been received by the Eastern "emperor".

After taking a look at the young crown prince, he knelt down and kowtowed very skillfully, following the local customs: "I am Lisithe, a Jesuit missionary from Europe, and I pay my respects to the Virgin Queen Mother and the Crown Prince."

"Cao Min Li Xitai?" Zhu Changluo laughed, "Did you give yourself a name?"

"Your Highness, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. I have made up my mind to be a minister of the Ming Dynasty, so I naturally have to choose a name. My name should be Matteo Ricci. Matteo Ricci is the name I chose, and Xitai is the name I took after imitating the officials and gentry of the Ming Dynasty."

"You really do as the Romans do." Zhu Changluo looked at the Queen Mother Li who was sitting behind the curtain and looking curiously at him, and then asked, "I saw the painting you presented. It is indeed quite exotic. The Queen Mother was also quite surprised. When I saw the painting, I remembered that I seemed to have seen a painting with a very similar brushwork. It seems to be called Mona Lisa. Have you heard of it?"

Empress Dowager Li behind the curtain became serious. Before coming over, Zhu Changluo told her that some things might be able to be corroborated by this Western barbarian.

Now, she was also paying attention to the answer of this Western barbarian.

(End of this chapter)