Who killed the Ming Dynasty?

Zhu Cilang strolled to the carved window sill.

Outside the window, the crimson-gold sun hangs above the eaves of the Xuanwu Gate:

"Freedom of knowledge and belief?"

He turned around abruptly, and in a flash, he had an idea—good, he would use this logic to turn the tables on him:

"As you have said, this is indeed an irrefutable truth."

He raised his arm and pointed directly at the western clouds.

"In that case, I wish to send three thousand scholars on a treasure ship to cross the sea to the west."

"In your Western countries, do you think it is feasible to establish academies to teach Chinese rites, music, astronomy, and calendrical calculations?"

If you can come, why can't I go? This rhetorical question was like a thunderclap.

The entire hall fell into a deathly silence once again.

Bi Fangji was completely stunned. This question, which used the same method against him, left him speechless for a moment.

A moment later, beads of sweat appeared on Bi Fangji's forehead.

"Your Majesty! Absolutely not! Catholicism is the sole religion of God!"

He said urgently,

"If Taoist immortals are listed alongside the Lord of Heaven, it would be considered extremely disrespectful to us, and would be completely contrary to the local beliefs."

"This is no ordinary difference; it is an irreconcilable conflict."

He became more and more excited as he spoke.

"The people of Western countries have been Catholic for generations, and the doctrines are deeply rooted in their hearts."

"If your country's scholars were to set up altars in the West to preach heretical doctrines, the Vatican would certainly regard it as an act of blasphemy, which could lead to a great disaster."

"Hahaha--"

Zhu Cilang suddenly burst into laughter, "Water and fire are incompatible!"

When these Western priests built churches and spread their teachings throughout the territory of the Ming Dynasty, did they ever think about the phrase "water and fire cannot coexist"?

He immediately countered with:

"How strange! You build churches in China, claiming to 'promote civilization and bridge East and West';"

"I sent scholars westward, yet they said it was 'blasphemy against the sacred, an act intolerable by fire and water.' What is the basis for this argument?"

Inside the hall, the incense burner emitted wisps of smoke, enveloping his questions in the floating smoke.

He suddenly took a step forward, wanting to see how the bishop would justify his double standards.

Suddenly, he posed the ultimate question to Bi Fangji:

"Does this mean that people in the far west do not have the freedom to choose their own learning and beliefs?"

Bi Fangji was momentarily speechless, his gaze darting around rapidly, as if searching for theoretical justification.

Zhu Cilang stared intently at him again, and asked in a cold voice:

"You again say it's 'great disrespect,' but I see images of the Virgin Mary everywhere in the Hao River. Doesn't this mean they worship Mary as a goddess? How is this any different from the Three Pure Ones?"

"Your Majesty is wise!"

Bi Fangji suddenly blurted out "God will not tolerate" in Latin, then immediately switched to Mandarin with a Lingnan accent to explain.

"The Western people's reverence for God is like that of Chinese scholars when they visit the Confucian Temple."

"Our Lady is God's messenger; her image is merely a guide for believers to look up to the ladder to heaven."

"Just as the ancestral tablet of Confucius in your country is not a deity, but a symbol of the sacred way."

He deliberately slowed his voice, trying to regain his composure.

"Your Majesty, when Western learning enters China, the key lies in mutual respect and understanding."

"The Jesuits establish churches and preach based on the Confucian and Taoist traditions of China, integrating and harmonizing them. We do not dare to forcibly plant heresies, but only wish to make friends through literature and interact with each other through etiquette."

"If we send scholars westward, I fear that the differences in customs and teachings will only cause discord and damage the friendship between our two countries."

Bi Fangji avoided answering the question of "freedom of learning and belief." Although his words were polite, he was actually downplaying the important point.

Zhu Cilang snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, and retreated back to his throne:

"That is precisely why we should communicate and interact with each other, so as to demonstrate the virtues of your sage."

"My mind is made up. Once the northern barbarians are pacified and the realm is at peace, I will send 'thirty-six learned scholars' to the western countries."

"What if Jesus would stop this—"

At this point, his voice suddenly rose in volume.

"Then the two capitals and thirteen provinces of the Great Ming Dynasty will likely find it difficult to allow you to preach in the Central Plains."

"Your Majesty, this..."

Bi Fangji's face suddenly drained of color, as if covered with a layer of frost.

His lips parted slightly, but he couldn't speak, only his barely audible breathing could be heard.

Before he could respond, Zhu Cilang continued by asking:

"I have heard that you Jesuits have not only built numerous churches in the northern and southern parts of Zhili, but have also acquired a great deal of church property."

"I am very puzzled. You neither engage in farming nor are you commerce, so how did you come up with such money and grain to purchase property?"

Bi Fangji's body stiffened abruptly, as if he had been pricked by an invisible needle.

He pressed his hand tightly against the cross on his chest:

"The Holy Emperor has inquired, and this humble subject is filled with trepidation!"

He paused slightly, as if trying to steady himself.

"The funds of the church are 30% from donations by believers in the two capitals and 50% from funds provided by government-approved charitable works such as the Huimin Pharmacy and Louzeyuan."

"Furthermore, the late Minister of Rites, Xu Wending (Xu Guangqi), donated 40 hectares of land in Songjiang in the 46th year of the Wanli reign, with a red deed on record, specifically for the purpose of translating scriptures and preaching."

After speaking, his expression turned solemn:

"All income of the Jesuits is used for charitable causes such as distributing medicine to the poor, educating children, and printing sacred books. We humbly beseech Your Majesty to consider this."

Zhu Cilang nodded slightly:

"If it is truly as you say, and used for acts of benevolence, then it would be a meritorious deed beyond measure."

Bi Fangji's taut shoulders seemed to relax for a moment, and he seized the opportunity to speak:

"Your Majesty is wise. The mission of the Jesuits is not only to spread the Gospel, but also to introduce advanced Western science and technology—"

"Practical skills such as astronomy and calendrical calculations, firearms casting, mechanical water conservancy, and geometric surveying were used to benefit the Ming Dynasty and its people."

"The advanced science of Western physics?"

Zhu Cilang pondered to himself, but remained outwardly calm.

After Bi Fangji finished his audience with the emperor, he was led by Gao Mengji, the Vice Minister of the Court of State Ceremonies, to prostrate himself and perform the five bows and three kowtows.

He bowed and stepped back to the outside of the threshold before turning around and leaving the Qianqing Palace.

The hall fell silent, with only the faint sound of wind in the distance.

Zhu Cilang's gaze fell on Han Zanzhou, who was standing to the side:

"Master Han, in your opinion, are the scientific techniques of those Western countries truly superior to those of our Great Ming?"

Han Zanzhou's body stiffened abruptly, and he replied cautiously:

"Your Majesty, this old servant has some opinions, but dares not speak presumptuously."

"I pardon you, but speak freely. I want to hear the truth."

Han Zanzhou bowed even deeper, almost forming a bent bow:

"This servant is terrified!"

"Given my limited understanding of the Western barbarians, if their technology truly surpasses that of our Great Ming—"

His brow furrowed, the horrific scene already forming in his mind.

"Given their inherently greedy and bullying nature, they will surely send their powerful ships and cannons to invade our coastal borders, seize our wealth, and enslave our people!"

"The severity of its calamity will likely be a hundred times greater than that of the northern barbarians today!"

"Ha ha--"

Zhu Cilang laughed loudly, and the atmosphere in the hall immediately relaxed.

"Han Daban's insightful analysis is very much to my liking. It has truly impressed me."

Han Zanzhou's face was all smiles:

"Your Majesty's wisdom and wisdom shine across the vast land, and it is already a great fortune that my humble light, like a firefly, can make the sun and moon shine brighter."

At that time, the craftsmanship and skills of the Ming Dynasty were in no way inferior to those of the Western barbarians.

Throughout the world, all objects rely on the "hand-crafting" of skilled artisans. In this "hand-crafting era" where fingers are the blades and palms are the furnaces,

As for the art of "hand-rubbing," Zhu Cilang found it hard to believe that the Western barbarians could "rub" better than the Ming Dynasty.

The mighty Ming Dynasty boasts millions of artisans, while those small, insignificant western barbarians can hardly hope to catch up with us.

Zhu Cilang then asked:

"Han Banban, tell me, these Western barbarians come to our Great Ming Dynasty claiming to communicate knowledge and spread culture, but is that really all there is to it?"

Han Zanzhou responded respectfully, bowing slightly:

"Your Majesty, I truly cannot know everything about the innermost matters of the Western barbarians."

When Han Zanzhou bowed in reply,

A ray of setting sun climbs over the roof ornaments of the Qianqing Palace, illuminating the floating dust particles through the lattice doors, but unable to dispel the fog in the depths of people's hearts.