Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 82: Arms Dealer

A strong wind blew into the main office of the Imperial Household Department, knocking off the snow that had piled precariously on the edge of the roof. The snow fell to the ground and shattered instantly.

"I wanted you dead." Wang An, ignoring the wound on Cui Wensheng's back, pulled Cui Wensheng's hair and forced him to look at him. "But the emperor ordered you to live, so I had no choice but to obey. To be honest, I still can't figure out what's so good about you, a stupid and greedy dog?"

Wang An slammed Cui Wensheng's head back onto the pillow. "There are so many obedient and capable people in the palace, eagerly eyeing the position of Chief Secretary of the Imperial Household Department. And yet you, a worthless person who only knows how to beat people with sticks and make aphrodisiacs, have been pardoned by the Emperor twice in a row."

"When the emperor was ill due to the poisonous drugs you presented him, I wanted to skin you alive." When Wang An said this, he gritted his teeth and his face flushed red.

"Grandfather, I am guilty! I am guilty! I will never do it again!" Cui Wensheng felt lucky, but also filled with fear. If Wang An kept thinking about killing him, he would never have a peaceful life for the rest of his life.

"Alas!" Wang An sighed. "Although I don't know what use you, a stupid dog, are, the Emperor knows how to judge people. Seize this last chance. You won't make any more mistakes this time." With that, Wang An stood up and walked away.

Not long after walking, Wang An heard a cry of "Thank you, Lord, for your grace" mixed with sobs coming from the confinement room. At this moment, a smile appeared on Wang An's lips, dispelling most of his anger.

Outer City, Zhengxifang, between Liulichang and Zhengyangmen. The Jesuit Mission's headquarters.

"President Nicolo Longobardi. We have been in Beijing for more than ten days. Why hasn't His Majesty the Emperor summoned us yet?" Merchant representative Dinesh Joao and four other sea merchants came to the small chapel set up by the Jesuits in their temporary residence.

Nearly half a month had passed since the embassy arrived in Beijing, but the delegation still hadn't received permission to see the emperor. The merchants, growing increasingly impatient, came together to urge the emperor to grant them an audience.

Long Huamin was in the middle of worshipping the Creator when he was suddenly interrupted by the merchants, feeling deeply displeased. Fortunately, Tang Ruowang, standing beside him, interrupted his worship to fend off the merchants. "Don't you understand? The Emperor of the Ming Dynasty and the monarchs of the European states are not even on the same level! Could the Holy Roman Emperor, Matthias of the Habsburgs, or Louis XIII of the Bourbon House of France, gather hundreds of thousands of people to cheer for him in the capital?"

Dinesh João was choked by Johann Adam Schall's question. They had witnessed the emperor's unparalleled power and prestige, and were overwhelmed by the overwhelming support. But leaving the matter unresolved was not a solution.

Władysław Amato's tone was much softer. "So what do you think we should do? We can't just sit there and wait."

"Xu Libu's written memorial has been submitted to His Majesty the Emperor through the Ministry of Public Administration." Johann Adam Schall von Bell was a quick learner. Furthermore, having studied Chinese for a period of time at St. Paul's Church, the headquarters of the Society of Jesus, he quickly mastered the various forms of address, including self-proclaimed, honorific, and humble. He also gained a general understanding of the roles and interrelationships of the various departments. Schall von Bell strongly endorsed the fundamental principle of Jesuit missionary work in China established by Matteo Ricci: to spread the teachings in China, one must first become "Chinese." If forced to choose between loyalty to the Wittelsbach dynasty of the Electorate of Cologne and the Ming Dynasty of the Chinese Empire, he would have abandoned his birthplace without hesitation and become a vassal of the Ming Emperor.

"What are you talking about? There are no outsiders here. Why are you speaking Chinese that we cannot understand?" From before he set out until now, Dinesh Joao has studied Chinese hard for more than a month, but he still hasn't mastered even the basics, so he completely cannot understand the untranslated technical terms such as "Xu Libu" and "Tongzheng Shisi".

"Hmph. I advise you to take advantage of this grace to learn the language of the Celestial Empire. His Majesty the Emperor will not understand the languages ​​of the distant vassal states." There was more to say, but he held it back: It is still unclear whether His Majesty the Emperor will meet with you sea merchants.

Tang Ruowang learned that merchants had been disfavored since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. Ancient laws relegated merchants to the bottom of the hierarchy of "scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans." While this didn't reach the point of treating merchants as pariahs, as the caste system did, many regulations still devalued them. For example, while farmers were allowed to wear clothing made of silk, gauze, satin, and cloth, merchants were restricted to silk and cloth.

In other words, the merchants would most likely not be able to see the Emperor. The request for trade in the shipping route could only be conveyed through the Jesuits. Furthermore, this required the intervention of the Minister of Rites, Xu, to test the Emperor's attitude in advance and ensure that he would not harbor strong objections. If the Emperor disagreed, then all further arguments would be meaningless.

"President Niccolò Longobardi, didn't you say that the Emperor highly values ​​the troops trained by Monsignor Paul and therefore requires a large number of guns and artillery?" Harald Brandt had no intention of engaging in a war of words with Johann Adam Schall von Bell. Instead, he bypassed him and continued to question Long Huamin.

Harald Brandt was a middleman in the arms trade, having orchestrated the muskets and cannons carried aboard the tribute ships. He had extensive connections in the Iberian Peninsula, even to the Lierganes Cannon Factory in Spain. This factory had been founded by King Philip III of Spain in 1617 to meet the royal court's demand for artillery.

Harald Brandt was both a businessman and a gambler. When Long Huamin announced that the Emperor of the Ming Dynasty wanted to build a Western-style army, Harald Brandt took the initiative to express his willingness to provide tribute muskets and cannons for this diplomatic mission.

Even before the mission departed, he dispatched his eldest son, along with most of his wealth, on a ship returning to Europe to Spain to recruit gunsmiths. He was no longer content with being a middleman, relying on sporadic arms sales to "support his family." He wanted to build a gun factory in China.

The public execution on the first day of winter only reinforced this sentiment. Harald Brandt had never seen such a vast palace complex. To him, a palace was not just a symbol of power and might, but also a manifestation of wealth.

The wealth wielded by that unrivaled emperor must have been beyond imagination. If he could gain his favor and permission to open a cannon factory in the Ming Dynasty, he would surely become the wealthiest merchant on the Eastern trade routes. As for his faith, he worshipped Hermes, the god of wealth, more than Jesus Christ.

(End of this chapter)