As the barbarians of the Ming Dynasty continued to invade eastward, people in Edo City were panicked and rumors spread.
Some townspeople who were dissatisfied with the shogunate's rule took the opportunity to compile a hymn about the horrific events that occurred on Kyushu Island and sang it in the fireworks alleys of Edo Castle.
In those comic stage plays, the general was portrayed as a dim and incompetent clown who was swayed by women.
The feudal lords of Kyushu, who seemed to be distant from the shogunate, were like gravel on the beach, and they quickly collapsed when hit by the waves of barbarians.
The townspeople obviously underestimated the determination of the shogunate to control public opinion and the bloody methods of the general's wife Ae.
Under the evidence provided by the brothel owner, the testimony provided by the carnival singer and the cruel torture that cannot be described in words.
Everyone involved in the rumors was forced to confess that their various absurd behaviors were ordered by the missionaries.
In mid-November, more than 300 Edo residents were beheaded in public. They were charged with colluding with religious groups and intending to commit rebellion.
What is frightening is that the whereabouts of all young female prisoners are unknown.
Rumor has it that on the night of the execution, several girls were handed over to the monks, loaded into a carriage, and sped away in the direction of Kaga in the night.
········
Bloody and cruel incidents like this are just a small part of the shogunate's reign of terror.
As early as the third year of Yuanwa (1617), the shogunate urged the Hizen daimyo Omura clan to hunt down missionaries. In April of that year, four missionaries were arrested and executed.
In Nagasaki, Echizen and other places, missionaries were arrested one after another.
Beginning in the fifth year of Yuanhe, the shogunate's ban on religion began to affect the general public.
In the same year, fifty-two Catholics were burned at the stake in Kyoto.
On the eve of Pingliao Hou leading the eastern expedition to rescue the Japanese people, the Yuanhe Great Martyrdom Incident that shocked the world occurred in Pingdo (Note 1).
After Tokugawa Hidetada came to power, he immediately launched a bloody suppression of Catholicism.
In addition to promoting the completion of seclusion, this move was also instigated by monks.
In the year when Tokugawa Ieyasu was poisoned, the number of Catholics in Japan exceeded 500,000.
Five hundred thousand is by no means a small number compared to a population of 30 million.
As Catholic power continued to expand in Japan, native monks felt seriously threatened.
The radical elements among the monks advocated a tough policy against Catholicism. Master Hui Ran, who did not know the volcano, was the representative of the radical monks.
Therefore, this 400-year-old monk came to Edo in person to declare to the world the determination of decent people and Catholicism to be incompatible.
In the winter of the eighth year of Yuanhe (1622), the Japanese Catholics were brutally persecuted by the Tokugawa shogunate, and the desperate Japanese Catholics finally broke out.
Taking advantage of Tokugawa Hidetada's opportunity to repel the barbarians and the opportunity for the shogunate's troops to move to Sekigahara, believers in Yao, Kamimaki and other places east of Osaka took the lead in launching an attack.
They killed the acting officials (note 2), coerced the villagers, collected muskets, bows and arrows and other weapons, turned around and headed west, heading towards Osaka Castle in a mighty manner.
Suddenly, Osaka City was shaken.
December 2, the day after the Catholic rebels attacked Osaka Castle.
The acting official of Osaka Castle, Matsudaira Tadaki, notified the shogunate of Osaka Mesuke about this matter - this was originally established by Tokugawa Hidetada to monitor the reform (Note 3) of his brother Tokugawa Shinichi, while sending aid to the neighboring Kumamoto Domain Omura Domain ask.
The two Kumamoto Omura clans reported to their respective feudal lords in Edo, and at the same time replied to Matsudaira Tadayaki:
According to the "Samurai Laws and Regulations" (hereinafter referred to as the Laws and Regulations) (Note 4), sending troops abroad without instructions from the shogunate is prohibited behavior.
If the daimyo sends troops to rescue now, he will most likely be ordered to commit seppuku by the shogun.
To put it simply, we cannot send troops to assist Osaka.
Matsudaira had no choice but to directly ask the Tokugawa Shogunate for help.
On the eighth day of December, Edo Castle, Honmaru Palace.
After listening to Omatsuke's report, Tokugawa Hidetada became furious and said:
"You bastard! On weekdays, all the feudal clans are asked to come to Edo to attend to their duties, but each one comes later than the other! They are asked to build fortifications with the excuse of not having money and food, and they don't take the "Legislative Code" seriously at all. Now that they have to send out troops for rescue, each and every one of them comes with the " "Faculty" was used as a shield!"
"This is really unreasonable!"
Asai E, who was at the Imperial Palace, sat behind the screen without saying a word. There was also an eminent monk sitting on the tatami in front of the screen.
Daimufu, who was kneeling in the main hall, raised his head and glanced at the eminent monk from time to time.
The candlelight reflected the ravines on the old monk's face. It was impossible to tell the man's age from his appearance and voice, but he had a childish face and a healthy spirit. His beard, which was more than a foot long, made him look like an immortal enshrined in a shrine.
"General, the religious people around Osaka have joined the rebels one after another, and the number has now reached 40,000. Lord Matsudaira suggested that the thunder be suppressed, otherwise it will spread to all the Kanto vassals and it will be difficult to control..."
Before Omatsuke could finish speaking, Tokugawa Hidetada stepped forward and grabbed him by the collar, saying angrily:
"I sent you to Osaka to monitor. Is this how you monitor? You still have the nerve to come back and ask for help! The Kanto and Kansai domains strictly abide by the shogunate's orders and follow the instructions written in the red seal to expel the believers and clean up the red-haired barbarians. You and that bastard Matsumoto Have fun in Osaka and take your time. All the Catholics in Japan have fled to Osaka, causing a catastrophe. You should really commit hara-kiri!"
Omitsuke who was sent to Osaka was a confidant of Tokugawa Hidetada. Seeing the general's anger, he panicked and said:
"General, Lord Matsumoto is your nephew..."
"You bastard! I can even exile my brother, let alone my nephew!"
Matsumoto Tadaki, the acting official of Osaka Castle, was the grandson of Ieyasu and the close nephew of the shogun.
Tokugawa Hidetada was panting, beads of sweat oozed from his forehead, and he was delirious.
Mrs. Ajiang quickly walked out from behind the screen and wiped the general with fine silk.
Xiuzhong kept cursing, cursing his father's ridiculous decision to send his grandson to guard Osaka.
He decided to exile his nephew to a remote area, such as Ryukyu.
Da Mufu was so frightened that he knelt on the ground and did not dare to raise his head.
Finally, Ajiang conveyed orders on behalf of the shogun as usual.
"Let Matsumoto-sama stick to Osaka, let the surrounding vassals do things conveniently, and those who quell the religious rebellion will be rewarded. Let the family reinforce it with troops and kill all the Catholics!"
Omatsu looked hesitantly towards Asai, the most powerful woman in the world, then looked at Tokugawa Hidetada who was in a trance next to him, and said cautiously:
"I dare to ask, how about the decisive battle in Guanyuan?"
Ajiang blurted out:
"There is nothing to fear from barbarians. When fighting against the outside world, we must first settle down the inside."
"But the barbarians won't wait..."
At this time, the eminent monk sitting next to Asai suddenly raised his head and looked directly at Omatsuke.
Da Mu Fu only felt dazzling and dizzy, as if guided by gods, his whole body was shaking, he didn't dare to ask any more questions, and he quickly took the order and left.
The maid served the shogun to bed, and Ajiang thanked the eminent monk:
"Master Huiran, thank you so much just now."
The eminent monk put his hands together and looked kindly.
"All actions are impermanent, this is the law of birth and death! Life and death have ceased, and death is bliss, Amitabha! After the old monk returns to Kaga to handle his personal affairs, he will go to Osaka City to save the souls of those arrogant and traitorous people who believe in Jesus!"
Ajiang clasped his hands together, bowed and thanked again:
"I have troubled you to clear up the general's nightmares these days, and you gave me a generous gift yesterday. Thank you very much."
Houli refers to the "cloud of fire".
The cloud of fire has the effect of rejuvenating one's youth. It is made of high-quality volcanic mud from Baishan Mountain and Kyushu cherry blossoms. After the mage used the soul of a baby to enlighten it, it has extraordinary effects.
For ten years, Ajiang has been asking people to collect this thing from Zhizhihuoshan.
Relying on the cloud of fire to maintain her ageless appearance, she was able to charm the shogunate and control Tokugawa Hidetada's mind.
"Master, why don't you stay a few more days? The cherry blossoms in Ueno are about to bloom, and girls will come for an outing... The last time Master came to Edo was fifty years ago."
Hui Ran is like a wood carving, sitting on the tatami without moving for a long time.
There were no samurai on duty in the main hall, and the shogun's personal bodyguards stood outside the entrance.
Ajiang said a lot, and then looked at the eminent monk seriously.
After a long time, Hui Ran finally slowly opened her eyes.
He moved his vine-like arms, and his body, as slow as a turtle, made an unsettling clicking sound, as if the bones in his body were being broken.
When he slowly raised his head, Ajiang saw the eminent monk's snow-white beard and hair withered like fallen leaves.
"ah!"
Even for such a ruthless woman, seeing this horrific scene in front of her made her feel terrified.
Imagining the image of Hui Ran as a frivolous girl, the most powerful woman in Da'ao began to be afraid of this immortal old monster.
"I didn't know that a group of uninvited guests came to the volcano. They burned down the temple and took away the soul in an attempt to end my long practice. I want to go back and save them."
~~~~~~
On November 12, 1622 (November 12, the first year of the Apocalypse), a report was secretly sent from Osaka, Japan, to be sent to the Roman Church. The contents of this report are:
Father Ferreira Christophe, who was sent to Japan by the Portuguese Jesuit Church, was tortured by the "anadou" (note 5) in Edo and swore to renounce Christianity.
This priest has been preaching in Japan for twenty years and holds the highest position of director of the Far East District.
The total number of believers in Japan, Philippines, Ming Dynasty, Annan and other places under his leadership reaches 3.6 million, which is equivalent to half of the believers in Europe, and this number is still growing.
Father Ferreira has profound theological attainments and has shown his unwavering faith in the Lord over the past twenty years. He still lurked in Kanto to preach under the Tokugawa shogunate's ban on Christianity.
Therefore, his rebellion was a huge destruction to the Eastern cause of the Church.
So much so that when the Pope received the letter two years later, he did not believe it at all and thought it was a fabrication of heretics.
Half a month after this letter was sent, the situation in Osaka deteriorated sharply.
Relying on the Lord's miracles, the five young priests miraculously broke out of the heavy siege by the shogunate army outside the city and escaped from the Catholic-held Yao Castle.
They galloped day and night, and after a week of arduous trek, they finally arrived at Sekihara Castle in Mino Province at the foot of the shogunate in early December.
The five missionaries traveled thousands of miles deep into the core areas ruled by the shogunate, not to assassinate the culprit who persecuted them - General Zhengyi - but to seek rescue.
West of Sekigahara, the missionaries were attacked by a group of ninjas dressed as farmers, and only two survived.
On December 12, the two surviving priests arrived at their destination.
Their names were Francis Calbe and Hyanti St. Matthew.
~~~~~~~~
Sekigahara.
Ping Liaohou's army tent.
All the generals from Kaiyuan were present.
Liu Zhaosun looked at the ragged missionary standing in front of him. After listening to Zheng Yiguan's translation, he waved to the guards to take them out.
"You two have some food, and there will be guards to escort you back. Marquis Pingliao is busy with military affairs and can't care about your business, so don't bother him again."
Zheng Zhilong, who was proficient in many languages, acted as the translator for Marquis Ping Liao and informed the two young priests of the decision of the commander-in-chief of the Kaiyuan Army.
After Francis heard this, the remaining hope in his eyes was suddenly shattered and dissipated. He was stooped and with a haggard face. He broke away from the guards, knelt down with a plop, looked up at Marquis Pingliao, and begged again:
"Dear Sir, there are still five thousand believers around Osaka. They are all upright and kind-hearted gentlemen and ladies. Now, they are being massacred by the Tokugawa Shogunate every moment. In the name of God, I beg you to send troops. Save them!"
Heanti also knelt down and used the highest etiquette of the Ming Dynasty that they knew to plead with the real general who conquered the barbarians in front of him, and begged Ping Liaohou to save his brothers and sisters.
Liu Zhaosun waved his hand impatiently.
Pei Dahu shouted, and four guards stepped forward and immediately picked up the missionary and dragged him out.
The two priests let out mournful cries.
Liu Zhaosun shook his head and raised his hand slightly. The guards immediately stopped. Qiao Yiqi, Sun Chuanting and others around him did not speak, but just looked at their commander.
Liu Zhaosun faced the two kneeling Portuguese and said in a tone that left no room for doubt:
"I have never met these believers. They are not citizens of our Ming Dynasty. Moreover, Osaka City is high and deep, and is stronger than Edo. I will never let my soldiers take risks in Osaka and waste their lives. Saving a bunch of unrelated people.”
Senti said angrily from the side:
"Did you hear that? Get out of here! Give you something to eat and send someone to escort you out of Guanyuan. Marquis Pingliao has been extremely kind to you! Don't push yourself too far!"
After saying that, he approached Liu Zhaosun with a smile.
Francis didn't give up. He took two steps forward, pulled Liu Zhao's thigh, and begged:
"On the way here, I heard that your Excellency is very lenient towards your enemies, let alone the people of God. Don't you want to be a Caesar? Your territory is not limited to the Ming Kingdom, it should be the entire world."
Pei Dahu picked up the missionary and punched him. The young priest immediately covered his stomach and stopped talking.
Marquis Pingliao closed his eyes, and there was no change in expression on his face. It took him a long time to listen to what he said.
"Being generous to the enemy was just in the past. To me, whether it is five hundred believers, five thousand, or fifty thousand, it is just a number. I am not a saint, and I don't want to be a saint. I'm sorry, I don't care about your affairs. No."
Liu Zhaosun leaned over to look at the desperate missionary and added:
"My soldiers traveled thousands of miles to conquer Japan and punish the culprits, not to be your bishop's tools."
Pei Dahu ordered the guards to come forward, and the guards immediately dragged the missionary out of the camp gate.
The priest's fingers were clasped on the ground, his nails cracked and blood oozing out.
Seeing this situation, Qiao Yiqi sighed silently, Sun Chuanting's face was gloomy, and only Yuan Chonghuan, like Ping Liaohou, looked calm.
Liu Zhaosun looked around and motioned his men to return to their seats, and they continued to discuss the details of the Battle of Sekihara.
Howls came from outside the tent, and they were filled with grief.
"What else is he talking about?"
Zheng Yiguan quickly translated:
"Bishop Ferreira has rebelled. Rescue Osaka. Three million believers are at your disposal. You... will be the bishop of Ming Dynasty, Annan, North Korea, Philippines, Japan..."
"Let him in!"
Liu Zhaosun looked at Francis who was covered in bruises and asked repeatedly:
"Can I be the Pope?"
The missionary was dying:
"He is the rector of the diocese. Priest Heanti and I are the highest priests in the Far East. If the Pope is not here, theoretically, we have the right to vote..."
Liu Zhaosun's soul was severely impacted.
He looked at Zheng Yiguan. After Zheng Yiguan translated the missionary's words again, he whispered:
"General Liu, just get baptized. You don't need to abide by those red-haired barbarian teachings. Your subordinates have already joined the religion."
"Oh, so, what's your Christian name?"
Zheng Zhilong blurted out:
"Nicholas Gasbard."
Liu Zhao seemed to have opened the door to a new world.
He began to pace back and forth in the tent.
In the late Ming Dynasty, it was not uncommon to believe in Catholicism.
Not to mention high-ranking bureaucrats like Xu Guangqi and Wang Zheng, the last Emperor of the Southern Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yujian, was also baptized. This dear man was eventually chased to Burma by Wu Sangui, and he did not forget to write to the Pope in Rome asking for help.
He asked the Pope to lead the Crusades to China and help him expel the Tartars and restore China...
If we could coordinate three million churchgoers, that would be...
Ping Liaohou thought for a long time and finally made up his mind.
I saw him helping Francis up and saying solemnly:
"I can send troops, but there are three conditions. First, I will not obey the orders of the Roman Pope, second, no other people will be allowed to interfere in the Far East religious affairs, and third, the church's teachings need to be fine-tuned based on actual conditions."
Francis gritted his teeth and nodded. The companion next to him seemed to have objections.
But Ping Liaohou was nonchalant and said with great interest:
"Then, before officially sending out troops, I need to have a Christian name to call upon my followers.
Liu Zhaosun thought for a while and gave himself a Latin name.
"Nicholas Chaos."
"No, it's Nicholas Ares."
Note:
1. Yuanwa Great Martyrdom Incident: In August of the eighth year of Yuanwa, 55 Catholics were burned and beheaded by the shogunate in Nisaka, Nagasaki. This martyrdom event promoted the bloody suppression of Catholicism by various vassals, and also incited the martyrdom fanaticism in the Manila area. After that, missionaries desperately sneaked into Japan and continued to occur.
2. Acting official: Similar to the county magistrate in ancient China, he is both a civil affairs official and a judge, assisting the shogunate in collecting taxes, detecting theft, and interrogating in rural areas.
3: Kaigoshi: The Tokugawa shogunate's severe punishment for daimyo samurai who violated the law and bushido principles. It mainly included the confiscation of property and territory, the inability of relatives to inherit the vassal state, and the confinement of female relatives. Changes were one of the effective ways for the shogunate to control daimyo.
4: "The Laws of the Samurai": a series of laws formulated by the Tokugawa clan to restrain the power of the daimyo and maintain their dominance. It was formulated in July 1615 and gradually improved, including restrictions on repairing castles, prohibiting the construction of new cities, prohibiting party formation, and methods of attending pilgrimages.
5. Cave hanging: Japanese torture, the victim’s limbs are tied and hung in a cave, his ears are pierced, and the blood slowly flows down.
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