The Qing Dynasty is about to end

Chapter 321: The Head Nun of the Exorcism Department of the Holy See (Request for subscription and votes)

Brown Hotel, Cafe.

The dim light of the oil lamp filled the entire coffee shop. Wang Libin, who had studied Prussian elementary school mathematics under Moore's guidance for a day, looked at the Catholic nun in front of him with a puzzled look.

The nun was about 23 or 24 years old, wearing a long, dark grey robe that covered her entire body, and a dark grey headscarf that covered her hair tightly. Except for a pair of slender white hands and a face that was not made up but still looked charming and beautiful, there was no exposed part of her body.

"May I ask what is the name of this nun?"

Wang Libin was not surprised by the arrival of the nun. After asking her to sit down and ordering two cups of coffee, he politely asked about her identity.

"I am Maria de Clementina Doria, head nun of the Roman Catholic Church's Department of Exorcism," the nun said a long name in English, then smiled. "I think, Mr. Wang, you should know why I'm here, right?"

"Oh," Wang Libin looked at the beautiful nun in front of him curiously, "Head Sister of the Exorcism Department of the Heretic Department. I didn't expect the Roman Church to send you. I thought it would be a powerful bishop."

Sister Maria said solemnly: "Mr. Wang, the monks and nuns of our heretic exorcism department are not wizards or witches. We don't have any magic power ourselves. All our power comes from God. Our mission is to find the devil hidden in the world and then use the power of the Lord to drive it out. That's all. In fact, it is not difficult to drive out the devil. The difficult part is how to find evidence of the devil's existence. Conclusive evidence!"

"But since you have no magic power, how can you discover the devil hiding in the world?" Wang Libin continued to ask.

Sister Maria explained: "First, the clergy sent by the Roman Church will report to the higher authorities after discovering supernatural phenomena. These supernatural phenomena may be proof of the existence of the devil!
Secondly, some of these reports will be handled by the dioceses at all levels. For ordinary demons, it is sufficient to have the personnel sent by the diocese exorcise them. Only reports that the lower dioceses cannot handle will be submitted to the Exorcism Department of the Heresy Department of the Roman Church.

The Exorcist Department will send monks or nuns who are specially responsible for investigation to the place where the supernatural phenomenon is discovered, find the person or object that causes the supernatural phenomenon, and then conduct an open or secret exorcism. "

"Then how can you be sure that the person or thing that causes supernatural phenomena is a demon?" Wang Libin was determined to get to the bottom of the matter.

Sister Maria said, "That's very simple. If we can exorcise it, it's the devil. If we can't, it's not the devil."

"Is that so?" Wang Libin never expected that the Exorcist Department of the Vatican would use such a simple and crude method to exorcise demons. "Then what methods do you use to exorcise demons? You won't set people on fire, right? The church's stake is very famous!"

"Not now," Sister Maria shook her head, "We will use a gentler method now. We will never hurt the host possessed by the devil!"

Wang Libin frowned slightly: "Then, what benefits can my lord Luo Xueshuai get?" He paused and explained, "I do have a copy of the second volume of the "Great Book of Prophecy" that can prove the supernatural power you mentioned. General Luo Xueyan spent a lot of money to get this book from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom!"

"Really?" Sister Maria's eyes lit up and she stared at Wang Libin. "Since General Luo Xueyan asked you to bring the second volume of the Great Prophecy Book, which he spent a lot of money to get from the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, to Europe, he must want to get something, right?"

"Of course!" Wang Libin laughed. "As far as General Luo knows, there are many similar "Great Prophecy Books". I don't think the Roman Catholic Church would prohibit the use of the power of prediction to seek benefits, right?"

Maria said seriously, "Of course the church will forbid it if the Great Prophecy Book is confirmed to be from the devil!" She suddenly blinked again, "But who will listen? This is no longer the Middle Ages. The Pope's city of Rome is in danger. How can he stop those secular monarchs and wealthy people from using the Great Prophecy Book to make a profit?"

"Understood!"

Wang Libin nodded slightly: "Sister Maria, the prophecies in the Great Book of Prophecy can only be known by emperors, dignitaries, and wealthy people. It is better for ordinary people to know less. Right?"

Sister Maria nodded: "It's good that you understand! Only emperors, dignitaries, and wealthy people are willing to pay a high price to obtain such important information!"

Just as she finished speaking, there was the sound of horse hooves and wheels rolling outside the Brown Hotel, and then the door of the hotel was opened by the doorman. As a gust of cool wind rushed in, Wang Libin heard Li Hongzhang's stiff English: "Princess, come this way. Let's go up to the second floor!"

Wang Libin looked in the direction of the voice and saw Li Hongzhang leading a woman in a fur coat and long skirt through the hotel lobby outside the cafe. "Mr. Wang, that woman is Mathilde Bonaparte, the princess of the French Empire, the cousin and lover of the French emperor!" Sister Maria smiled and introduced, "She is also here for the "Great Prophecy Book", am I right? Those emperors, dignitaries, and wealthy people will definitely pay a high price for a truly effective prophecy! Now can you tell me what benefit your General Luo wants?"

Petersburg, Winter Palace.

The sound of hurried footsteps entered the Tsar's office, startling Nicholas I who was reviewing documents with his head down. When he raised his head, he heard a knock on the office door: "Father, it's me!"

It was the voice of Crown Prince Alexander, full of surprise.

"Sasha, come in!"

The Tsar immediately summoned his son.

The crown prince in military uniform came in, holding a copy of the telegram in his hand, his beard almost flying with excitement: "Victory, we won!"

The Tsar's breathing quickened: "Where? Where did we win?"

"Black Sea! In Sinop Bay controlled by the Turks, Rear Admiral Nakhimov led six battleships and two steam cruisers, flying the British flag and rushing into the bay under the strict protection of three Turkish artillery batteries. They used powerful explosive bombs to destroy thirteen Turkish warships in one fell swoop and blasted three Turkish artillery batteries into ruins. Only one of our battleships was seriously damaged!"

After listening to his son's report, the Tsar's eyes were moist, and he kept making the sign of the cross on his chest with one hand: "Thank God, thank the Savior Jesus"

Crown Prince Alexander waved the telegram copy and announced frantically: "Now, the Black Sea belongs to the Russian Empire! We have actually won the ninth Russo-Turkish War! The contents of that damned "Great Prophecy Book" are completely wrong."

He mentioned the "Great Prophecy", and the Tsar suddenly thought of something, staring at his son and asked: "Sasha, what month and date did the Battle of Sinop Bay take place?"

"November 5-6," said Alexander. "Not at all November 18 as the Great Prophecy says."

"November 5-6?" asked the Tsar.

"Of course it's the Russian calendar." Alexander's face changed drastically when he said this.

In the 19th century, the Russian calendar and the Gregorian calendar differed by twelve days. Just add twelve days to the Russian calendar to get the Gregorian calendar. November 6th in the Russian calendar is November 18th in the Gregorian calendar!

A prophecy fulfilled!

The Tsar did not make the sign of the cross, but quickly opened the drawer of his desk and took out the French translation of the first volume of the "Great Book of Prophecy". He flipped through it tremblingly and found the page that recorded part of the Ninth Russo-Turkish War.

It clearly states that on November 18 of the Gregorian calendar, the Russian Black Sea Fleet defeated the Turkish Fleet and won a great victory. The Black Sea Fleet destroyed 13 Turkish ships and killed and captured more than 3,000 people.
Although it is not written that the naval battle took place in Sinop Bay, the date and the number of enemy troops killed are exactly the same!
Without a doubt, the prophecy was accurate!

Since the prediction that the Russian Black Sea Fleet would defeat the Turkish Fleet and gain control of the Black Sea was accurate, then was the prediction that Britain and France would join the war, which would last for several years and result in hundreds of thousands of casualties accurate?
And did the Russian Empire win in the end?

Thinking of this, the Tsar and Crown Prince Alexander no longer felt any joy of victory.

(End of this chapter)