Who killed the Ming Dynasty?

Bi Fangji took out the diagram of the Hongyi cannon and presented it to him with a bow.

Han Zanzhou stepped forward slowly and laid it out on the imperial desk.

Bi Fangji was overjoyed, but on the surface he became even more respectful:

"I humbly request Your Majesty's wise judgment: This cannon is crafted with intricate techniques and uses precious copper sourced from the Iwami Silver Mine in Japan."

"After careful calculation, this humble official estimates that each cannon requires 7,500 taels of silver for materials and labor!"

A hint of caution flashed in his eyes.

"We are now purchasing twenty doors, totaling 150,000 taels."

He slightly raised his eyelids, trying to catch a glimpse of any emotion on the young emperor's face.

Zhu Cilang remained expressionless, but his hand rested on the armrest, gently tapping it again and again, making one's heart clench with tension.

He didn't utter a word, yet his silent pressure made the air in the hall seem to freeze.

In this deathly silence, Bi Fangji seemed to keenly sense something.

He forced himself to remain calm, then immediately adopted a posture of gritting his teeth and cutting off his own flesh, his voice revealing a hint of "difficulty":

"Your Majesty...if...if you find this price too high...this humble subject...this humble subject is willing to take responsibility and do my utmost to negotiate...perhaps...perhaps it can be reduced to..."

He took a deep breath and finally quoted a new price.

"One hundred thousand taels! Your Majesty, this is an extremely difficult amount to obtain!"

"One hundred thousand taels!"

Zhu Cilang's sword-like eyebrows suddenly shot up, and he said in a deep voice:

"I have heard that Western firearms are excellent, but isn't this price outrageous? One hundred thousand taels of silver can cover half a month's tax for a province."

"Your Majesty, please forgive me."

Bi Fangji pointed to the cannons on the map:

"Back then, when the cannons fired from the walls of Ningyuan into the enemy camp, the chieftain's tents eight miles away were all burned down, which is why Commander Yuan was able to defeat the enemy."

"Even a single iron cannon from the Wanli era cost a thousand taels of silver. Now, the cost of copper casting is five times that of iron, so a single cannon would cost five thousand taels of silver. Twenty cannons would cost a hundred thousand taels of silver, which is fair."

How could Zhu Cilang not know the truth?

The Ministry of Works of the Ming Dynasty could only cast a three-foot iron cannon for 240 taels. Even if the copper material was five times more expensive, how could it exceed 1,000 taels?

This foreign monk asked for five thousand taels of silver, enough to support three naval battalions.

"Does he really think I, living deep within the nine heavens, am unaware of market prices?"

"Even if copper is five times more expensive, the price per cannon would only be a thousand taels! Twenty cannons, twenty thousand taels of silver, would be more than enough!"

"Six months later, we will take the Yuegang sea route to Songjiangfu Wharf."

His finger paused on the words "Yuegang" on the map.

"If you agree, sign the official document now; if you disagree—"

A soft laugh escaped, but it carried a chill.

"In the first year of the Wanli reign, the land rent in Macau was still five hundred taels of silver."

"I would like to ask the Guangdong Provincial Administration Commission: how much land deed tax should be paid for the tidal flats expanded by the Portuguese trading post in recent years?"

When Zhu Cilang said he wanted to investigate the Portuguese's land tax in Macau, the hall fell into a deathly silence.

Bi Fangji's expression changed drastically, and the sound of water dripping from the copper kettle beside him suddenly became louder.

His eyes darted around rapidly, as if he were frantically calculating the pros and cons in his mind.

After a short while, he finally spoke again:

"The grace of the Celestial Empire fills this foreign subject with...trepidation!"

"Although this price cannot cover the cost of labor and materials, it is thanks to the benevolent grace of the Great Ming Dynasty."

"Your Majesty, I humbly offer the position of Bishop of Xiangshan'ao as collateral and earnestly request that Your Majesty grant permission for the payment to be made in installments."

A bead of sweat the size of a soybean rolled down his forehead and instantly disappeared into his collar.

"The first ten cannons will be transported to Songjiang before the beginning of winter, and the remaining ten cannons must be delivered to Songjiang Prefecture in full within six months."

Bi Fangji had come to sell arms, and all the pricing plans had been predetermined. He was only forced to reveal his hand under the emperor's fierce offensive.

Zhu Cilang took all of this into view.

"Li Chengfang, convey my imperial decree—"

He stopped looking at Bi Fangji and called out in a deep voice.

"The Guangdong Provincial Administration Commission is hereby ordered to instruct Xiangshan County to deliver the annual land rent of 500 taels of silver from the Portuguese to the Guangdong Provincial Military Commission."

"A total of 20,000 taels of maritime tax revenue from Macao was used as military funds to purchase cannons."

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Li Chengfang accepted the order and left.

Since the Zhengde era, Portuguese people have occupied Haojing (Macau) under the guise of drying goods.

Although the court granted them permission to reside there, they still had to pay 20,000 taels of commercial tax and 500 taels of land rent annually.

Zhu Cilang's move was precisely to use the taxes paid by the Portuguese themselves to purchase cannons manufactured by the Portuguese.

"Gao Mengji, Left Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial!"

"Your subject is here!"

"This matter concerns the vital interests of the nation. I hereby appoint you and the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi to jointly oversee the matter and ensure its proper handling without any mishaps."

"My lord, I obey your order!"

While the matters concerning military equipment were being finalized, the water clock had already quietly slipped towards the third quarter of the Shen hour.

Once Bi Fangji had recovered his senses, he was about to present the musket designs again and try to sell other weapons.

Zhu Cilang's gaze swept over the items without lingering; his thoughts had clearly transcended the simple arms deal.

Suddenly changing the subject, the emperor asked:

"You have traveled from the West across the ocean, enduring many years?"

Bi Fangji froze instantly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes:

"Your Majesty's inquiry has deeply impressed me; I am filled with trepidation."

"I was fortunate to be received by the Celestial Empire. In the third year of the Tianqi reign, I came to Macau to study the classics. It has been twenty-one years since then."

A summer breeze suddenly swept through the palace corridor, fluttering his robes.

He paused for a moment, seemingly carefully considering his words:

"During this period, he was entrusted by the Ministry of Rites to conduct surveys and assisted in the management of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau."

"In the first year of the Chongzhen reign, cannons were cast in Dengzhou to defend against enemies. In the fourteenth year of the Chongzhen reign, he assisted Johann Adam Schall von Bell in compiling the Chongzhen Calendar."

"All matters are listed in the archives of their respective departments, and I dare not speak recklessly."

Zhu Cilang's gaze was sharp and penetrating, cutting straight to the point:

"You scholars from the West, who have traveled ninety thousand miles across the vast ocean, what do you seek: the orthodox tradition or personal gain?"

The question is straightforward and gets to the heart of the matter: Is it to pursue academic research, or fame and fortune?

Bi Fangji took a deep breath:

"Thanks to Your Majesty's favor, I, an outsider, am fortunate to have the opportunity to behold your countenance."

He lowered his eyes to adjust the sash.

"I have heard that the Book of Rites says, 'When the Great Way prevails, the world is for all.' Our fellow monks admire the flourishing of Chinese culture and education."

"Since the early years of the Tianqi reign, I have been sent by the Jesuits to cross the ocean 90,000 li to the Ming Dynasty, not for precious jewels and jade."

"I sincerely wish to share Western academic and cultural knowledge and promote East-West exchange."

He placed his hand on his chest, his tone sincere.

"This foreign minister has been sent by the Jesuits to bridge the gap between East and West, so that our two civilizations may learn from each other. This is what we truly desire."

My gaze fell upon the plaque inscribed with "Reverence for Heaven and Admonition to Ancestors" hanging high in the hall.

"Now I bring the scientific knowledge of the West to the East, hoping to use what I have learned to benefit the Ming Dynasty, the nation, and the well-being of its people."

Zhu Cilang stared directly at Bi Fangji and suddenly asked a question:

"I welcome the fusion of East and West. However—"

His voice was slightly drawn out.

"What if I do not allow the Jesuits to build numerous churches and expand their followers here?"

Before he could finish speaking, a gust of wind blew up the Xuan paper on the table, and Gao Mengji hurriedly reached out to steady the inkstone that was about to tip over.

Zhu Cilang remained calm and composed, simply wanting to see how this eloquent missionary would now try to justify himself.

Bi Fangji's lips did not move at all, and his voice was clear and drawn out:

"The dissemination of knowledge should be like a gentle spring breeze and nourishing rain, following the natural course of events."

"As the Doctrine of the Mean says, 'All things grow together without harming one another, and different paths run parallel without contradicting each other.'"

"Everyone has the freedom to choose their learning and beliefs. Those whose hearts are inclined toward the Way will naturally move towards it; how can we force them to do so?"