Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 407 Long planned
"That's wrong, that's wrong," Dinesh Joao said, shaking his head. "Whether we pay them or not, as long as we ask the Jesuits to move out, it's like an eviction order. No matter how nice our words are, it's useless."

Władysław Amato also nodded and continued, "Even if we move, we still have to find an opportunity to propose it tactfully."

Seeing that Dinesh João still hadn't relented, Ryan Hobbs looked at Harald Brandt, as if hoping to gain his support. "What if the Yahang doesn't want to do business with us? Who can we find to guarantee us? Mr. Xu? Will they even pay attention to us? I'm afraid they won't even let us in."

"Don't be anxious, just take your time looking. There will always be someone willing to do business with us. It's not like we have to leave today. We can move in after we find a place to live." said Władysław Amato.

"A Chinese philosopher said, 'Cut off a finger, save the wrist; avoid the worst harm.' The most important thing right now is to sever ties with the Jesuit Order." Ryan Hobbs wasn't as relaxed as he was. "Gentlemen! Even though the imprisonment has been lifted, if the judiciary uncovers anything from President Niccolò Longobardi, those ferocious Praetorian Guards might come back for more. I simply can't bear to live like a caged pigeon for even a single day!"

Seeing that Harald Brandt, who had initially been the most aggressive, only nodded and remained silent, Władysław Amato's face again showed disapproval. Ryan Hobbs had no choice but to turn his attention back to Dinesh João, attempting to influence the others by persuading the chief representative: "Mr. João, even if there is a rift between us and the Jesuits, we can always mend it later. For example, we could pay for their church repairs. If the Jesuits can still survive after this."

Dinesh Joao rubbed his stomach; he was feeling a little hungry. "Even if the real estate agent doesn't agree, we can always find one ourselves. After all, a real estate agent is just a middleman. As long as they can find a seller or landlord, they can rent or buy a property."

"You still want to skip the middleman." Ryan Hobbs said anxiously: "I say again, we are not locals!"

"Why can't we skip it? Wasn't Macau purchased directly by us Portuguese from the officials of the Celestial Empire?" Dinesh Joao learned about this history before his first voyage to the East.

"That's called a lease," Ryan Hobbs corrected him. "The Macau Council pays 515 taels of land tax to the local government every year."

In the 16th year of the Zhengde reign, Wang Hong, then Deputy Envoy of the Guangdong Sea Route, led the Ming navy to defeat the Portuguese fleet in the Tuen Mun area, forcing the Portuguese to seek a new home, but to no avail. In the 32nd year of the Jiajing reign, the Portuguese bribed Wang Bai, then Deputy Envoy of the Guangdong Sea Route, under the pretext of "borrowing land to dry their waterlogged goods," and were granted temporary residence on the Macau Peninsula. To consolidate their position in Macau, the Portuguese paid the Deputy Envoy of the Guangdong Sea Route 500 taels of silver annually.

In the fifth year of the Longqing reign, at the Guangzhou Trade Fair, the Portuguese offered the customary bribe of 500 taels of silver to the Deputy Envoy of the Sea Route. The Guangdong Provincial Governor was present, and the translator had no choice but to refer to the bribe as "land rent" paid to the Ming government. From then on, the Portuguese bribe became a registered land rent. After negotiation, the Portuguese increased the annual "land rent" from 500 taels to 515 taels, and it remained unchanged thereafter.

"Then let's rent it. Our ancestors were able to lease land in Xiangshan County, so why can't we rent a property in Beijing as the headquarters of our Chamber of Commerce?" Dinesh Joao said confidently. "As long as the government stamps the contract, it's done, right?"

"Aren't we back to the beginning? How can we communicate with the authorities without the Jesuits?" Ryan Hobbs asked. "It's much easier for them to find accommodation than it is for us!"

"Don't overthink it. If the brokerage won't do our business, we'll find one ourselves. Lord Xu isn't the only official in the world. Real estate transactions aren't his responsibility. Why be so impatient?" Dinesh Joao chuckled, stood up, patted him on the shoulder, and then walked over to the cash box. He picked up five short, thick silver bars and gave one to each of them. "Okay, that's enough for today. Let's go out and have some fun. We'll start looking for accommodation tomorrow."

"Oh." Ryan Hobbs realized that he could not convince his companions. He took the silver bar, sighed, and said no more.

"Should I tell the priests?" Władysław Amato asked casually.

"What are we going to tell them? These theologians might as well be praying already," Harald Brandt sneered. "Are we going there now to persuade them not to serve the Lord but to join us in the whorehouse and be served by whores?"

"That's very disrespectful of you." Władysław Amato frowned.

"I will salute whoever gives me this." Harald Brandt weighed the silver bar in his hand and pretended to take off his hat to Dinesh Joao.

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After completing a simple cleanup of the courtyard, the three great leaders of the Jesuit Order in Beijing, Father Ginnige, Father Guo Jujing and Father Wang Fengsu, organized a prayer in the prayer room.

After the prayer, the three giants dismissed the meeting, but they themselves did not leave.

Watching the young congregant's backs gradually disappear, Father Guo Jujing silently closed the door to the prayer room and then released the bolt. This was the first time the prayer room had been locked from the inside since its creation.

Guo Jujing turned around, but before he could reach the righted crucifix, Ginni, who was sitting in the leftmost seat in the first row to the right of the crucifix, asked, "What should we do next?"

Guo Jujing did not respond to Ginni Ge's words, but continued to walk to the cross, lifted the front of his Confucian robe, knelt down silently, and assumed a prayer posture.

Ginnige frowned, and just as he was about to ask a second question, Wang Fengsu, who was sitting in the rightmost seat in the first row on the left, spoke up: "Of course, we need to find a way to rescue President Long Huamin and those arrested believers."

Wang Fengsu, whose original name was Alphonso Vagnoni, was born into an Italian aristocratic family. He named himself Wang Fengsu simply because it sounded similar to his surname, "Vagnoni," and "Fengsu" was a shortened translation of his Christian name, "Alphonsus."

In 1584, the th year of the Wanli reign, Wang Fengsu, then years old, entered the Jesuit novitiate to receive education. In the st year of the Wanli reign, Wang Fengsu set sail for the East, and in the rd year of the Wanli reign, Wang Fengsu first arrived in Nanjing.

After arriving in Nanjing, Wang Fengsu devoted himself to studying Chinese language and writing, researching ancient classics, and writing widely, earning him considerable acclaim. Later, due to his effective missionary work, he was appointed by Matteo Ricci to head the Nanjing branch of the Society of Jesus' Chinese diocese. During his tenure, Father Wang Fengsu actively implemented Ricci's missionary principles of prioritizing academic scholarship, engaging with Confucian scholars, and remaining true to Chinese tradition. He made extensive connections and expanded his congregation in Nanjing, achieving significant success and even establishing a church there.

But the good times didn't last. In the 38th year of the Wanli reign, Matteo Ricci died in Beijing. Before his death, he designated Long Huamin as his successor to the church. Upon assuming office, Long Huamin immediately changed his stance, advocating for the separation of Christianity and Confucianism, opposing the introduction of Confucian classics to annotate doctrines, and firmly opposing the use of "archaic words" like "天" and "神" (God), which already had specific meanings, to refer to "Deus." He demanded that Christians in China only use the transliterated "抖斯" (dousi) to refer to this sacred being. This aroused the vigilance of the Nanjing authorities, especially Shen, then the Right Vice Minister of the Nanjing Ministry of Rites. In May of the 44th year of the Wanli reign, Shen submitted a memorial titled "Memorial on the Distant Barbarians," sparking the Nanjing Incident. In July, Sun Guangyu, the Imperial Censor, led troops to arrest people, and Wang Fengsu was the first to be apprehended. In August, the Nanjing Ministry of Rites issued the "Notice After the Capture of the Evil Party," which stated: "The cunning barbarian Wang Fengsu and others have secretly resided in the capital, falsely claiming to be Catholics and inciting the people."

In the 45th year of the Wanli reign, the Nanjing Incident came to an end, and Wang Fengsu was imprisoned by the Guangdong authorities and sent to Macau.

In the 48th year of the Wanli reign, the world was in turmoil. The newly appointed Minister of Rites, Xu Guangqi, sent a letter inviting the Jesuits to Beijing. Upon receiving this notice, Long Huamin was overjoyed and immediately organized a delegation to travel north. However, Wang Fengsu, who was also in Macau, declined Long Huamin's invitation, citing his responsibility for Macau affairs, and did not join the delegation. It was not until the mercenaries were sent north to aid Liao that he accepted Guo Jujing's invitation and traveled to Beijing overnight. Strangely, not long after arriving in Beijing, he encountered another religious incident.

"Does it make sense?" Guo Jujing looked up at the cross. Jin Nige and Wang Fengsu, sitting on his left and right, could only see the back of his head. Only Jesus, with his head bowed in suffering, could clearly see the look in Guo Jujing's eyes.

"Whether it makes sense or not, we should do it." Wang Fengsu also turned his attention to the cross of suffering.

"How do we apply for help?" Guo Jujing's voice was devoid of joy, anger, or sorrow; no emotion could be detected. "The imperial edict labeled Mendoza a 'Christian heretic.' If we don't grasp the right balance in our efforts, we 'Christians of the right path' might end up being 'leftists.'"

"Guo Yangfeng, are you scared?" Jin Nige frowned even more tightly.

"I am afraid, but I'm not afraid of death. I'm afraid of ruining the work of several decades and generations." Guo Jujing said, "Jin Sibiao, you've been in the Celestial Empire for so long, and you should know that the authority of the Ming Emperor is unquestionable. If we anger the Emperor and the verdict changes from 'Christian heresy' to 'heterodox Christianity,' then these decades of missionary work will be completely over."

"But we can't just stand there and watch," said Ginnigo.

"We can't just stand there and watch!" Wang Fengsu continued, "So many eyes are staring at us."

"Yes, we elders should set an example for the younger generation." Jin Ni Ge turned his head to look at Wang Fengsu, but only saw an extremely calm face.

Guo Jujing was as calm as an old monk in meditation. "How can I set an example without incurring the emperor's wrath?"

Ginnigo sensed something was wrong. "From what you've said, it sounds like we just need to put on an act for the people below us. Saving people is secondary, isn't it?"

To Ginnigo's surprise, Guo Jujing did not deny it outright. Instead, he faced the cross and said, "That's exactly what I meant. So I am repenting and asking God for forgiveness."

"How could you think that?" Ginnige was anxious, and he leaned forward to twist Guo Jujing's body. But when he saw the image of the crucifixion in the direction Guo Jujing was looking, his mood calmed down a little. In the end, he didn't put his outstretched hand on Guo Jujing's shoulder.

"I can only think so, because there is no way to save him." Guo Jujing heard the movement behind him, but did not turn around.

"Why?" Some old scenes vaguely emerged in Ginni's mind.

Guo Jujing slowly explained, "Currently, the Jesuits' greatest support in China is Minister of Rites Xu Zixian, but Xu Zixian's approach is no longer viable. The eunuch made it very clear when he announced the decree. His Majesty ordered the Pacification Division to arrest the criminals in custody and transfer them to the Ministry of Justice for execution. This was because he 'agreed to the request of Minister of Rites Xu Guangqi and Imperial Observatory Spring Official Johann Adam Schall von Bell.' While I don't know exactly what happened during our captivity, there are only two possibilities."

"First, Xu Zixian and Tang Daowei proactively requested severe punishment in order to distance themselves from this case, which was labeled 'heterodox Christianity' and 'inciting destabilization.' Second, the current outcome is the result of their hard work. If it weren't for their mediation, the verdict would be 'heterodox Christianity', not 'heterodox Christianity.' If it were the former, Xu Zixian would not and would not dare to help. If it were the latter, Xu Zixian could not help."

"We can contact Lord Ye in the cabinet and ask him to come forward," suggested Ginni.

Guo Jujing asked in return, "Since even a follower like Xu Libu can't help, how can Lord Ye offer any help?"

"How do you know if you don't try it?" said Ginni.

"It's better not to try it!" Wang Fengsu interrupted and immediately attracted Jin Ni Ge's attention.

"You guys don't even want to give it a try?" Ginnigo felt something was wrong the more he thought about it.

"If there's no price to pay, it wouldn't hurt to try. But going to the cabinet's second-in-command at this moment is inherently unwise." Wang Fengsu turned back to Ginige. "Until the criminal is brought to justice, our suspicion will remain. Although the Jinyiwei have withdrawn publicly, they're likely still watching from the shadows. Believe it or not, if you go to the Ye Mansion tonight, whether you enter or not, your whereabouts will be reported to His Majesty the Emperor tomorrow morning."

"How could this be?" Ginni's hands began to tremble.

"Of course not. This is Beijing, the heart of the empire. And this is a case involving the Great War in the North. Maybe even after the case is closed, His Majesty the Emperor will still suspect us." Wang Fengsu remained calm.

"I understand!" Ginnigo stood up excitedly. "I understand everything! You planned all of this! You were the ones who orchestrated all of this!"

(End of this chapter)