Several leaders of the mission left the customs office. Matteo Ricci couldn't help but said: "Father Francono, why don't you save these two poor people. I think we are an official mission. If we insist on If so, he will let them go."
Valian was born in Naples, his full name is Alessandro Franco. At this time, he heard the dissatisfaction in Matteo Ricci's words, and smiled and said: "Father Matteo Ricci, you should have a deeper understanding of the customs of this country."
Luo Mingjian took over the conversation and said: "Yes, Matteo Ricci. East Asian countries are very hierarchical. Blocking the government offices like today must be a serious crime in this country. It should be said that this customs official is actually very restrained. If he puts these things together today If everyone is killed, the emperor will only praise him."
After hearing this, Ricci turned pale, crossed himself and murmured: "God, what a barbaric country this is!"
After hearing this, Fan Li'an's face suddenly became serious, and he said to Matteo Ricci: "Matteo Ricci, you can't use the standards of our careless kings and lords to treat their subjects to evaluate this big country. You have to know that this country The area is larger than the whole of Europe - Guangdong alone is twice the area of mainland Portugal. Without strict laws, it would have been torn apart like our Europe."
"And in Europe, if people block and make trouble in front of the lord's castle, the knights will still kill them. Today's sticks have taught these ship owners, including us, a lesson, that is, whether doing business or preaching, we must follow other people's rules Come. Otherwise, what awaits us will be failure or even death."
"Father Matteo Ricci, I think Father Luo Mingjian has repeatedly warned you about what Father St. Xavier taught us."
After hearing Fan Li'an's serious criticism, Matteo Ricci flushed and nodded to express his acceptance. Governor Alfonso's secretary Ines Fernando, who had just gone in to handle the formalities, interrupted: "I'm going to tell these two unlucky guys what they should do."
Matteo Ricci raised his head when he heard this, not knowing why. Luo Mingjian smiled and said: "Matteo Ricci, you also need to understand their speaking habits. They are not as direct as us. They are used to implying what they want in their words. I sincerely recommend that you enter the first lesson of China. Just learn this.”
After hearing this, Matteo Ricci recalled what Lei Yingzhi had just said, and hesitated: "He... is he asking for a bribe, one hundred Chinese pounds of silver?"
Luo Mingguo nodded and replied: "Yes. This is a very obvious hint."
Matteo Ricci: "...".
...
The Portuguese mission returned to Guangzhou Liuxihe Wharf and took a boat to Nansha Port. At this time, Nansha, Guangzhou, was part of Dongguan County. The largest island among them is called "Dayang Longxue Island", or Longxue Island for short. It is opposite Humen, and Nansha Port is located to the northwest of Longxue Island.
After the imperial reform and opening up the sea, the island has developed into a berthing place for the Nanyang Navy and a berthing port for Chinese sea ships. At this time, there were three piers. When the Portuguese mission arrived, they found that there were still many people building new docks there.
Ines looked at the surrounding landscape and smiled: "This is a very good naval base. If forts are built on both sides of the river, it will be easy to block the entrance to the sea here - God, they are really building forts!"
The Portuguese at this time did not have telescopes in their hands, so Ines did not see the construction sites on the hillsides on both sides of the Pearl River at first. While he was speaking, he saw a cloud of white smoke rising from Ya Niang Shoe Island (later known as Weiyuan Island), followed by a roar.
"They are testing cannons! Jesus, I... I think I should write to Governor Alfonso immediately and ask him to give up all unrealistic thoughts. It is best not to even have temptations. Hope... ....It is hoped that merchant ships bound for Goa will be found here.”
Unfortunately, there are no merchant ships going to Goa on Long Cave Island. There are only Chinese merchant ships here, and they only run routes along the mainland coast. If Ines wants to deliver this letter, she still needs to take a boat back to Guangzhou Pier. Fan Li'an couldn't stand this back and forth.
He asked Ines: "Why do you have to send this letter? I have just arranged for someone to send a letter back in Guangzhou to inform us of our progress."
Ines smiled bitterly and said: "Governor Alfonso is very concerned about the safety of our mission because he is afraid that we will fall into a barbaric country and suffer the same treatment that Tomei Pires once received. He has a plan B."
Fan Li'an stared at Ines with serious eyes and motioned for him to continue. Ines blushed and said, "Plan B is planned to be implemented using warships."
Fan Li'an slapped his forehead and said angrily: "My God, Mr. Ines! I think I have made it very clear to the Goa authorities that this mission will be dominated by the Jesuits! Tomei Pi sixty years ago Although Mr. Leith has been treated unfairly, I think China has done nothing wrong. The fault lies with Simon Andrade who provoked the Tuen Mun naval battle, that stinking piece of shit!"
"Now Governor Alfonso is going to put us in danger again in the same way?! This bastard! And you, Mr. Ines Fernando, I hope you can be more honest in the future, otherwise, you will return the results now. Ah! I have this power!"
Seeing the angry Fan Li'an, Ines turned pale. He stammered: "Yes... yes, Father Fanli'an. I promise you there won't be a second time. I will find a boat to go back now and take this letter back to Goa to avoid irreparable damage." Big mistake.”
Fan Li'an roared for a while, and had no choice but to arrange for two people to accompany Ines back to the Guangzhou Customs Terminal. They looked for a ship in Nansha and waited for Ines to return from Guangzhou.
...
After a lot of trouble, the mission finally found a lucky ship willing to go north on December 10th. Because the Chinese New Year was approaching and the trip from south to north was against the monsoon, they had to pay three times more than usual.
Although the shipowner charged a high price, he still complained that it was time-consuming and laborious for the mission to go north at this time. Fortunately, we are sailing along the coast and can borrow some wind. If we rush into the depths of the ocean, we will not be able to go north this season.
The Portuguese understood this better than the ship owner, but they all agreed with him and asked him repeatedly. Before sailing the ship, the shipowner strongly suggested that they disembark in Songjiang and wait until the weather gets warmer after the New Year before continuing northward - because Tianjin Port often freezes during this season. If they continue to go northward, once they encounter ice on the sea surface, Let's get over it.
Although Fan Li'an, the leader of the mission, was anxious, he did not dare not listen to this. So they decided to disembark at Shanghai Port and enter the interior with customs clearance documents. They would first make contact with the upper class in the south and try to see if the Chinese were interested in Christianity.
These people are used to riding on boats. At first they were interested in seeing the coastline, but after a few days they lost interest. The Jesuits were either meeting on the ship to study how to persuade the emperor, or they were dreaming of the glory of having churches spread across the vast continent.
On December 17, the ninth year of Wanli, after seven days and seven nights of sailing, the mission finally landed in Shanghai. Matteo Ricci would never forget that when they arrived, it was shortly after sunrise. The rare red sun in winter shone on the sea, reflecting the red light on the somewhat narrow pier.
After everyone in the mission completed the immigration procedures, they truly set foot on a land that Europeans have cherished for nearly a thousand years. Because of the Arabs' obstruction, Europeans have always been full of imagination about China, which can produce silk and fine porcelain. Too many Europeans believe that there is a great country in the east of the world full of gold, spices, and silk.
The spread of "Marco Polo's Travels" in the West indirectly contributed to the great journey of the Age of Discovery. Today, sixty-six years after Tomé Pires died unjustly in Guangzhou, the second official visiting mission finally set foot on this land again.
The unfinished work of Tomei Pires in the past was picked up by three missionaries who were about to extinguish the torch. In the following days, they will see a civilization that is completely different from the legacy of Greece and Rome. She quietly stayed in East Asia and nurtured the largest and most successful nation in mankind for more than three thousand years.
In this time and space, this great civilization will be inclusive, learn from the strengths of others, erect a flag that is completely different from the shattered lighthouse of the original time and space, illuminate the future of the world, and lead mankind to explore another unknown path forward.
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