My father is Chongzhen? Then I have no choice but to rebel.

Chapter 46 Artillery Expert: Johann Adam Schall von Bell!

After returning to the Eastern Palace, Zhu Cilang found that Li Ruolian had already sent everything needed to make glass.

He checked and found everything was correct.

This means that he can now start producing glass.

Just then, Bi Maokang and Bi Wenxuan just walked in.

After paying his respects to Zhu Cilang, Bi Wenxuan hurriedly asked:

"Your Highness, could these be the materials used to make crystals?"

"That's right!"

Zhu Cilang nodded, then took out the glass manufacturing method he had written last night from his sleeve.

“This is how crystal is made!”

"As long as you strictly follow the above method, I can guarantee that you can definitely make crystal!"

Zhu Cilang originally wanted to say glass directly, but was afraid that Bi Wenxuan would not understand, so he temporarily used the name crystal.

Besides, crystal sounds more classy than glass!

Bi Wenxuan carefully took the rice paper from Zhu Cilang's hand, and then began to study the material.

Zhu Cilang originally planned to take a nap, but he suddenly remembered that he was going to meet Johann Adam Schall von Bell today, and suddenly he didn't feel so sleepy anymore.

"Master Bi, I'm planning to go see Johann Adam Schall von Bell. Would you like to come with me?"

Zhu Cilang looked at Bi Maokang beside him and asked.

Bi Maokang nodded:
"I'm an old acquaintance of his, so I'll accompany the Crown Prince to meet him!"

Immediately, Zhu Cilang changed into casual clothes and went to the Imperial Observatory with Bi Maokang, Li Hu and several guards.

While walking on the road, Zhu Cilang suddenly thought of something, then looked at Bi Maokang beside him and asked:
"Master Bi, are you a Catholic?"

When Bi Maokang heard this, he smiled and shook his head.
"To be honest, Your Highness, when I first met Johann Adam Schall von Bell, he also tried to win me over to his Catholicism."

"But I only believe in Taoism, so I refused!"

Zhu Cilang nodded and didn't care too much.

In fact, even if Bi Maokang really believed in Catholicism, Zhu Cilang would not say anything.

Because by the end of the Ming Dynasty, Catholicism had already spread widely in China.

Among them, the most famous believers are the three literary masters Xu Guangqi, Li Zhizao and Yang Tingyun.

The three of them are known as the three pillars of ancient Chinese Catholicism.

In order to spread Catholicism more widely, Johann Adam Schall von Bell even persuaded the palace maids and eunuchs to convert to religion.

He also took the opportunity of presenting gifts to Chongzhen to explain his Catholic beliefs to his face.

Of course, Chongzhen was definitely not a religious person!

Moreover, Zhu Cilang probably also knew why Chongzhen allowed Johann Adam Schall von Bell to do this.

It was simply because Johann Adam Schall von Bell had a wealth of advanced Western knowledge that could bring benefits to the Ming Dynasty.

For example, his artillery technology improved the Ming Dynasty's artillery, increasing its accuracy and range.

With such achievements, Chongzhen turned a blind eye to his missionary work.

Similarly, Zhu Cilang didn't care much about religious beliefs. As long as it didn't involve himself, he didn't bother to care.

Even if Catholicism becomes too powerful to be eradicated in the future, we can simply label it a cult and eradicate it completely!
The emperors of the Qing Dynasty had used this trick before, and it always worked!
Even in history, Johann Adam Schall von Bell died because of this!
No matter how powerful you are or how wide your influence is, as long as the emperor gives an order, all your damn beliefs will disappear.

And don’t forget, Zhu Cilang is a man with a system!

Although this system is not very useful, it is still easy to create food and various supplies out of thin air.

If you really mess with him, he won't mind showing off his 'magic skills' in front of everyone!

Then he will claim to be the reincarnation of God and the father of Jesus. Let's see what these Catholic believers will do then.

To sum up, Zhu Cilang really did not take Catholicism seriously.

In this way, the group soon arrived at the Imperial Observatory.

In ancient China, the Imperial Observatory was a relatively important department, but it was also a very idle department. This was because it was only used when major national events occurred, which was only a few times a year. Otherwise, it was very idle.

For example, now there are only two soldiers standing guard at the entrance of the Imperial Observatory.

Apart from that, there was no one else.

Zhu Cilang winked at Li Hu, who understood instantly and stepped forward to show his badge to the soldier at the door.

"Go and get your Lord Supervisor to come out. He's here to tell you that the Crown Prince has arrived!"

When the two soldiers heard this, they were so frightened that their legs went weak and they hurried in one after the other to report.

Soon, an elderly foreigner wearing the uniform of a fifth-rank official came out.

It was actually Johann Adam Schall von Bell!
"Your Highness, I pay my respects to His Majesty the Crown Prince!"

When he saw Zhu Cilang, Johann Adam Schall von Bell hurriedly bowed and spoke very standard and fluent Chinese.

As an official who needed to attend court every day, Johann Adam Schall von Bell had naturally met Zhu Cilang, but he stood farther away and had little chance to talk, so he was not very familiar with Zhu Cilang.

That was why he was quite surprised by Zhu Cilang's arrival.

I wonder why the Crown Prince of Ming Dynasty came to see him?
Just when Johann Adam Schall von Bell was confused, Zhu Cilang spoke.

"Master Tang, I came to you today to ask for a favor!"

Tang Ruowang hurriedly bowed again and said:

"Your Highness, you are too polite. As long as I can do what you ask, I will not refuse. Please go inside and tell me in detail."

As Johann Adam Schall von Bell spoke, he gestured for invitation.

Zhu Cilang nodded and then walked in.

Then, Tang Ruowang said to Bi Maokang beside him:

"Master Bi, we haven't seen each other for a long time!"

Bi Maokang nodded.

"It's been a long time indeed!"

"But Lord Tang, we may see each other every day in the future!"

Ok?
When Tang Ruowang heard this, he was a little confused and didn't quite understand what it meant.

But at this time, Bi Maokang had already followed Zhu Cilang in, so he had no choice but to follow in.

After entering the inner hall, Johann Adam Schall von Bell hurriedly asked his men to make tea, while Zhu Cilang looked around the room.

Perhaps because Johann Adam Schall von Bell was a foreigner, the layout of this house tends to be more foreign in style.

The most obvious thing is that there is a cross of Jesus placed in the center of the inner hall.

Tang Ruowang noticed that Zhu Cilang was looking at the cross, and hurriedly came over attentively.

But before he could speak, Zhu Cilang spoke first:

"Master Tang, I heard that you are very knowledgeable about artillery?"

After hearing this, Tang Ruowang could only suppress the urge to convert Zhu Cilang to Christianity, and then he bowed and said:

"Your Highness, I do have some knowledge of artillery."

Zhu Cilang nodded, and then continued:
"I intend to establish the Ming Firearms Research Institute, which will specialize in the development of various firearms. Master Bi Maokang will serve as its director."

"Then Lord Bi recommended you to me, saying that you have unique research on artillery and can improve the existing artillery of the Ming Dynasty."

"So I would like to invite you to the Firearms Research Institute to serve as the Director of the Artillery Bureau."

"It's just that the Firearms Research Institute is currently under the tutelage of the Eastern Palace. I can't offer you any major official position for the time being. I can only offer you the honorary position of the Crown Prince's guest. I wonder if you are willing to do that?"

As he spoke, Zhu Cilang looked at Johann Adam Schall von Bell with a smile.

"I am willing!"

Unexpectedly, Johann Adam Schall von Bell agreed very quickly, without any hesitation.

(End of this chapter)