Under the gaze of the two jailers, Velasco washed his body with shame and anger, and put on the clean clothes prepared for him, a linen robe.
Maybe it was because the jailer heard that Velasco was religious and thought he was a foreign Taoist priest, so he found a Taoist robe to make the foreign Taoist priest as decent as possible.
Velasco was a little confused. In this country that does not believe in God, evil has no boundaries.
"Why are you waiting so long? Your Excellency is waiting outside!"
The jailer urged impatiently.
Velasco didn't know who the jailer was talking about.
Is it a cabinet minister, a governor-general, or a close entourage of the Supreme Emperor?
With the crimes he committed, there was really no need to alarm such a big figure to judge himself.
Maybe it was Emperor Guangde.
Based on Velasco's understanding of Liu Kan, no matter whether the emperor liked it or not, no matter what crimes the person committed, as long as it was beneficial to the emperor's rule, the emperor would let that person live.
When Liu Kan succeeded to the throne, he announced a general amnesty. He also pardoned some veterans who had been demoted by his father for speaking up for him.
Although Liu Kan hated Catholicism and even used torture against radical missionaries (who advocated that Daqi return to the rule of the Roman Pope), the new emperor needed an envoy, or bridge, to connect the East and the West and have a certain degree of influence in Europe.
Obviously, he is that bridge.
In order to prove to the emperor that he had the same abilities as his father, and to solve the increasingly serious domestic and international crises, Emperor Guangde urgently needed to establish new trade relations with the European countries.
Therefore, he had written several times to the Spanish governor in Manila so far.
The new emperor hoped to achieve equal trade with the empire through peace talks with Manila, rather than through simple and crude war.
However, the new emperor naturally rejected Catholicism, hated the political marriage arranged for him by his father, hated the Swedish princess, and hated the French king.
This is an unsolvable contradiction. The imperial diplomatic situation is complicated, and people like Velasco who can coordinate all parties are needed.
Velasco met Emperor Guangde once.
That was eight years ago, the first year of Guangde, the year when the Supreme Emperor ascended the throne. At that time, the relationship between the Daqi Empire and European countries was relatively harmonious, and it could even be said that both parties were in the honeymoon period.
As the imperial eunuch, Velasco participated in the ceremony of the Emperor's Zen throne. In Tianxin City, he met envoys visiting from Paris, London, Vienna and other places.
In the magnificent Tianxin City Palace, Velasco met Liu Kan, the seemingly submissive Emperor of Guangde who had just turned twenty. At that time, when Liu Kan met with internal and external ministers, he behaved very humbly and courteously, showing a typical wise king's demeanor.
Emperor Guangde was indifferent to the rare treasures brought by envoys from various countries from thousands of miles away (according to Confucian culture, a wise king should give up the pursuit of wealth). Emperor Guangde listened solemnly to the conversation between his cabinet minister Kang Yingqian Qiao Yiqi and envoys from various countries. From time to time, he would ask about things he had never heard before, such as mass, Jesus' feast day, baptism, etc.
Now, the face and eyes that humbly studied were instantly revived in Velasco's memory, and a feeling of horror and suffocation swept through his body, leaving him with lingering fears.
At that time, Emperor Guangde was very dignified and used his superficial obedience and humility to win the trust of his father.
A clear sound similar to clogs came from the corridor outside the prison courtyard. Velasco raised his head and looked out the door, and saw the majestic 100-house official in the raincoat guard at the end of the corridor.
"Lord Belasco!"
"Are you here to execute me?" the missionary asked deliberately.
"Of course not. I'm here to ask you to be released from prison. Your Majesty has a new task for you. There must be some misunderstanding when I brought you in earlier..."
After Bai Huguan finished speaking, two burly guards in raincoat clothes immediately appeared behind him. They stepped forward to help the Spanish missionary, and carefully helped Velasco out of the prison.
"Your Majesty is aware of everything and I am very grateful. Do you want me to follow the King of Han to Annan?"
The Spaniard was so excited that he looked back at the two rude guards behind him and spoke incoherently.
Bai Huguan's face suddenly darkened. He gritted his teeth and suppressed some intense emotions.
"Lord Belasco, if I were you, I wouldn't ask such a question? The vassal king you mentioned is being punished by others, and now everyone is avoiding him. I hope you can know this."
Belasco snorted, put away his proud smile, and his expression became serious.
"The Holy Spirit has made it clear that I have nothing to do with the King of Han..."
Baihuguan waved his hand firmly, signaling the missionary to stop talking.
"Sir Velasco," the official boots made an unsettling squeaking sound on the floor, as if knocking at the missionary's soul, "When you see the Holy One later, you must not mention this matter again. It’s best not to talk about your mission in the capital anymore. If Lord Francisco hadn’t interceded for you in front of the emperor this time, I’m afraid you wouldn’t be able to get out of the prison.”
After walking out of the prison, there was a brand new carriage parked on the street. The driver was a guard in plainclothes, and their buns were all in a fixed style.
The guards helped the missionary into the carriage, and the officials of the hundred households also got into the carriage. Four guards on each side, holding short muskets, followed the carriage and ran towards the imperial city in large strides.
"Sir Belasco, my surname is Zhao and my first name is Tiande. You can call me by my name directly."
The official and the missionary sat opposite each other. As soon as they got on the carriage, they introduced themselves to the Spaniards.
Belasco nodded awkwardly, of course he couldn't call the other person by name.
"There are some things that I must make clear to you, sir, before meeting the saint." Zhao Tiande raised his eyebrows, his eyes showing a hint of sinisterness.
Belasco nodded, not knowing how to respond.
"We have made it clear that before your arrest, you were still privately contacting Catholic believers in Tianxin City, holding gatherings, and saying mass for sick believers, right?"
Belasco remained silent and nodded again.
"What I need to tell you is that in other places in Daqi, such things may still be tolerated. However, under the feet of the emperor, in the most virtuous area, the Holy Emperor issued an edict that starting from this year, the spread of Catholicism and the establishment of churches in the Gyeonggi area are strictly prohibited , believers are strictly prohibited from holding private gatherings."
"Your identity is the head of the Imperial Heavenly Prison of Daqi. You are not a missionary sent by the Holy See to preach in Daqi. The Holy Father does not want missionaries to appear in Tianxin City. Do you understand what I am saying?"
Velasco nodded repeatedly.
"I understand."
~~~~~~
In recent years, Emperor Guangde hoped to peacefully resolve trade disputes with European countries before his father conquered Manila. As the saying goes, attacking cities and plundering territory will inevitably cause casualties among soldiers. Long-term war will waste people and money, and will further shake the rule of the empire.
Although he disliked Catholicism and missionaries very much, he now had to deal with these people.
Because in Tianxin City, there are no more red-haired Yi people without religious background.
In fact, Liu Kan hopes to conduct peace talks directly with European countries instead of going through Manila, and determine the spheres of influence of each country in eastern Asia on the negotiation table instead of resorting to war.
Liu Kan's eyes fell on Belasco.
Zhao Baihu, the coir raincoat guard, had been waiting at the gate of the prison for a long time when he saw Velasco coming out.
()
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