Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 430: Recalling Missionaries

After Sun Chengzong finished speaking, the atmosphere in the entire tent seemed to freeze. These words horrified the prisoners, who felt as if an executioner was standing over them with a blood-stained sword. As long as Cui Yuan nodded and said the word "kill", the sword would fall and chop off their heads.

The prisoners looked at Cui Yuan nervously, but he turned his back to them and did not speak for a long time.

After a long moment, under the prisoners' near-desperate gazes, Cui Yuan slowly nodded. However, he didn't utter the word "kill." Instead, he said hesitantly, "You're right, but if you do that, all my efforts will be wasted."

"Cui Tixing is wrong. The emperor sent you to Tianjin just to preserve the sea route and implement the national policy. As long as the sea route is preserved and the national policy is successfully implemented, you will have achieved complete success, and the rest will be extra. If, as I said before, you have a conflict with the lords because of the detailed interrogation, this extra will become a stain." Sun Chengzong raised the corner of his mouth, and his smile was so unfathomable.

"And speaking of stains, these lackeys are actually stains on the Lords. If you kill them and send their heads to the palace as a warning, that would be to silence them and help wipe out the stain. Maybe after you return to the capital, the Lords will even invite you to dinner."

After hearing this, Cui Yuan felt a surge of empathy. Before Sun Yuerong arrived in Beitang, he had indeed made a similar plan. If the emperor wanted to force the nobles to retreat while also secretly protecting them, he would kill a few of their lackeys to achieve both ends. Furthermore, Cui Yuan had even chosen his targets. The servants of the Li family, Marquis of Wuqing, and the Chen family, Earl of Pingjiang, were difficult to kill, but the servants of the Guo family, Earl of Boping, were no problem. He could kill all the Guo family members in one fell swoop, then deliver the heads of their heads to each family. This way, he wouldn't worry about future retaliation, nor would he worry about being unable to control the remaining monkeys.

"That makes sense, but let's just leave it at that for today." Cui Yuan's tone was still hesitant. "Let's try him for another two days. If we can't find out anything after two days, we can execute him later."

"Cui Tixing still wants to..." Sun Chengzong stopped speaking halfway, giving a sense of mystery as he stopped at the right point.

Cui Yuan smiled and walked slowly towards the curtain, saying as he walked, "If we follow your method, we can handle the imperial envoy, but how much benefit can I gain? If we can handle this case thoroughly, maybe the task of confiscating the property will fall on me. Then... Tsk."

"If it succeeds, Cui Tixing will probably win. Hahahaha." Sun Chengzong also laughed, and his laugh was very cunning and artificial.

"Why are you so anxious? You can enlighten me, so I will definitely benefit from you!" Cui Yuan said with a smile, "Just wait and see. After all, it's more than what Li Weidong has."

"Hahahaha." Sun Chengzong laughed heartily. But as soon as he left the tent, his expression changed immediately. "Cui Tixing is really a wonderful person."

"You are no less capable than me." Cui Yuan bowed in return.

"Stop living." Sun Chengzong looked at Mao Yuanyi.

"What are your instructions, Zhongcheng?" Although Mao Yuanyi had not yet fully understood the subtle meaning behind the two men's words, he had sensed some subtleties.

"Detain these people separately, one tent each. And assign people to guard them in shifts." Sun Chengzong gave the order.

"Yes."

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It was still dark before the fifth watch, but three Jesuits, Johann Adam Schall von Bell, Deng Yuhan, and Luo Yagu, all experts in mathematics and astronomy, were already waiting at the main gate of the Ministry of Rites.

After waiting for a while, the sedan chair belonging to the Minister of Rites finally turned the corner and appeared in the sight of the three people.

Before the sedan chair approached, the main gate of the Ministry of Rites opened at the right time.

The gatekeeper rubbed his sleepy eyes and walked out from behind the door. He was surprised to see three foreigners gazing at the street corner like a wife waiting for her husband. Just as he was about to go forward to greet them, he saw Tang Ruowang leading two other foreigners and kneeling down towards the approaching sedan chair.

"Your subordinate, Johann Adam Schall von Bell, pays his respects to Minister Xu." As soon as he saw Xu Guangqi's boots, Schall von Bell kowtowed and performed the etiquette of a subordinate.

"Students Deng Yuhan and Luo Yagu pay their respects to Xu Butang." The other two Jesuits also followed Johann Adam Schall von Bell's example and greeted Xu Guangqi.

Xu Guangqi stepped out of the sedan chair, straightening his robes, and said to the three Jesuits, "Get up."

"Thank you, Minister." The three of them bowed again and stood up.

"Are all the things ready?" Xu Guangqi stepped over the threshold and walked into the lobby of the Ministry of Rites.

"Everything is ready," Tang Ruowang hurried to follow. "The instruments were delivered to the palace yesterday, and the draft of the principles is in my possession." The instruments were used to measure astronomical laws, while the principles were the fundamental theories of astronomy and the calendar.

"Yesterday?" Xu Guangqi turned his head to look at Johann Adam Schall von Bell.

"Yes," Tang Ruowang replied, "After lunch yesterday, the palace sent a eunuch named Shi to the Imperial Observatory to collect all the instruments, saying they wanted to inspect them beforehand."

"Yeah." Xu Guangqi nodded.

"Mr. Xu, when are we going to the palace to meet the emperor?" asked Johann Adam Schall von Bell.

"Why are you panicking? The emperor is still having breakfast now, and he has to do morning exercises after breakfast. It won't be too late for us to go to the palace and wait for the summons in an hour." Although it was not spread deliberately, the emperor's daily habits were still transmitted from the inner court to the outer court through various channels.

Officials like Xu Guangqi, who often worked part-time as palace teachers, witnessed the emperor jogging around the three main halls with a group of eunuchs and guards on more than one occasion. Occasionally, the emperor would even drag the two princes along for the jog. Part-time teachers, if young enough or not too old to move, might also be honored after the ceremony and invited to run with the emperor.

Xu Guangqi knew that some ministers who enjoyed writing gossip had even included this incident in their collected works as an anecdote. Once the collection was published, the story of Emperor Taichang's love of morning exercises would spread across the country, becoming a hot topic for conversation among his subjects after dinner. It might even give rise to some romantic palace stories in later generations.

"Yes." Tang Ruowang smiled and nodded. Since the day the religious case was finalized, Tang Ruowang's respect for Xu Guangqi turned into awe.

"Now that you're all here, let me explain again the principles of calendar compilation and the calculations used to derive it. Be clear and concise, and avoid using obscure jargon," Xu Guangqi said. "Your Majesty is preoccupied with affairs of state, and may not have the patience to listen to you reciting foreign scriptures."

"Yes." Johann Adam Schall von Bell pulled out the original draft of the calendar compiled by the missionaries. "Please have Xu Butang review it."

"Changed again?" Xu Guangqi came to the main hall and sat down, then casually said to the yamen runner on duty, "Go prepare the refreshments."

"Yes." The bailiff took the order and left.

"There are some additions and deletions, but the drafts are still in the draft book and haven't been added here yet." Tang Ruowang placed the first draft of the law on Xu Guangqi's desk. "This is the same copy I showed you before." "Then I won't read it. Just speak directly." Xu Guangqi waved his hand and pointed to the chairs in the corner. "Sit down, everyone."

"Thank you, Minister." Johann Adam Schall von Bell bowed and took a seat. He began to explain the Western principles used in the new calendar, while Xu Guangqi multitasked, listening and correcting the wording while reviewing the backlog of official documents and issuing his approval.

Xu Guangqi knew that the emperor's delay in adding a minister to the Ministry of Rites was probably intended to reduce constraints and allow him to do his work more freely, but it was still too much trouble for one person to shoulder all the affairs in the court.

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Nearly an hour later, Xu Guangqi, accompanied by Johann Adam Schall von Bell, Deng Yuhan, Luo Yagu and the current director of the Imperial Observatory, Yang Ruchang, left the Ministry of Rites lobby and entered the imperial city from the East Chang'an Gate as the sky gradually rose.

As soon as they arrived at the Meridian Gate, but before entering the palace, a eunuch who had been waiting there came to greet them.

Xu Guangqi's eyebrows raised, he recognized the eunuch who came to greet them. It was Shi Fangda, who had taken him to the Qianqing Palace not long ago and tortured him mentally.

"Greetings, Minister Xu." Shi Fangda respectfully saluted Xu Guangqi and smoothly ignored the director of the Imperial Observatory, Yang Ruchang, and the three foreigners.

Xu Guangqi quickly calmed down and returned the greeting, saying, "Eunuch Shi, there's no need to be so polite."

"Please follow me, everyone. The emperor is waiting." Shi Fangda turned around, waved his hand, and took a step forward.

"Okay." Without any hesitation, Xu Guangqi immediately led the four people and followed quickly.

After a while, Xu Guangqi and the other five were brought to the Qianqing Gate by Shi Fangda. Because the Shenyang Incident had only just been resolved, the Qianqing Palace's chief steward, Shi Fuming, did not let them in directly. Instead, he had them, especially the three foreigners, searched, making sure none of them were carrying any hard objects. Only then did he personally lead the five into the Qianqing Palace.

During the body search, Deng Yuhan and Luo Yagu were like two dull puppets, allowing the eunuchs to manipulate them.

Although Johann Adam Schall von Bell had vividly described the grandeur of the Forbidden City to them more than once before receiving the summons, they still felt a dreamlike feeling when they actually found themselves in this pinnacle of Chinese architectural aesthetics.

Deng Yuhan thought, if heaven had a physical form, it would surely be as magnificent as the Forbidden City. But if heaven were truly like the Forbidden City, its underlying theme would no longer be transcendental bliss, but rather the oppression of a well-ordered society.

In the center of the main hall of the Qianqing Palace, at the pinnacle of dynastic order, the absolute dictator of the Ming Empire, the apex of the pyramid of history, Emperor Zhu Changluo lazily reclined on an exquisite dragon throne. Below him, to the east, sat a plain wooden stool, upon which sat a young man, striving to appear mature and serious.

The emperor and the young man were the only two people sitting in the hall. Even the accompanying eunuch Wang An only stood slightly behind the emperor.

Tang Ruowang immediately recognized the young man; he was a small vendor selling wood carvings at the Lantern Festival. The vendor also recognized Tang Ruowang, and a flicker of surprise at meeting an old friend flashed across his eyes. However, the vendor remained silent; in such an occasion, he needed to be mature and serious.

"Your servant Xu Guangqi kowtows to the emperor, may your majesty live long, and to His Highness, may his majesty live a thousand years." By the end of this year, Xu Guangqi should change his words and call Zhu Youxiao "His Royal Highness the Crown Prince", but he can't do that now.

"Your Majesty, may your Majesty live long, and Your Highness, may your Majesty live a thousand years." Although Tang Ruowang had anticipated this, he still felt a shudder in his heart when the moment of confirmation arrived. He couldn't help but examine himself, and only after he had reassured himself that he hadn't acted presumptuously during their initial meeting did he feel a little more at ease.

When the sound of the ceremony stopped, the emperor spoke: "Get up, everyone, get up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Everyone kowtowed again before standing up.

"Mr. Xu, has the Society of Jesus chosen a new leader?" Zhu Changluo's gaze swept over everyone and finally settled on Xu Guangqi's slightly haggard old face.

Xu Guangqi replied sternly, "Your Majesty, the Jesuits have chosen Ginnige as interim supervisor."

"Temporary Supervisor?" Zhu Changluo asked quietly, "Are you still counting on Long Huamin to go back?" As soon as these words came out, the faces of Xu Guangqi, Johann Adam Schall von Bell, Deng Yuhan, Luo Yagu, and others changed. Only Yang Ruchang looked a little relieved.

"Your Majesty," Xu Guangqi licked his suddenly dry lips and replied, "The Jesuits in China have the Roman General Assembly, and the Roman General Assembly has the Christian Church. Only with the approval of the General Assembly and a bull from the Holy See can the interim supervisor be officially appointed."

"The Vatican is thousands of miles away. I wonder how long this round trip will take." Zhu Changluo looked at Johann Adam Schall von Bell. "I remember that the previous trip by Ginni was from the 41st to the 47th year of the Wanli reign, right?"

Johann Adam Schall von Bell lowered his head, not knowing that the emperor was talking to him, so he did not answer immediately.

"The emperor is asking you a question." Xu Guangqi reminded.

Tang Ruowang suddenly realized. "To reply to your Majesty, I did go to Xiangshan'ao two years ago."

"How much can be accomplished in six years? Let's not waste it." Zhu Changluo said slowly, "Didn't Vice Supervisor Tang previously submit a petition requesting the establishment of a translation institute and a library to translate and house over 7,000 Western books? The practice of transferring scriptures from the West to the East was practiced before the Tang Dynasty, and this dynasty can do the same. I grant your approval."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Johann Adam Schall von Bell was overjoyed and quickly knelt down to express his gratitude.

"Get up." Zhu Changluo looked at Xu Guangqi again. "Mr. Xu."

"The minister is here."

"Since these books were brought by Ginni Ge, let him take charge of this matter." Zhu Changluo continued, "Let's not worry about what happens with the Vatican for now. After the Yelusi is established, the Ministry of Rites will give Ginni Ge an official position to facilitate his work."

"Yes." Xu Guangqi was vaguely aware of the subtlety of this appointment, but he answered without any hesitation.

"Okay, let's get over this one." Zhu Changluo straightened his posture slightly. "Deputy Supervisor Tang."

"I'm here!" Tang Ruowang's tone was filled with excitement.

Zhu Changluo pointed to the instruments placed on the open space to the right of the main hall and said, "Let's talk about the new calendar, and by the way, what are the uses of these strange foreign things?"

(End of this chapter)