After the visitor was searched by the guards, the visitor, wearing a soft hat with a silk ribbon and a large cloak that was just beginning to become popular in Spain, walked into the room. He took off his hat and bowed to Xu Guangqi in Latin, and also bowed to Wang Jiaping and others. salute.
Then he introduced himself: "Her Majesty Queen Tudor's Chief Minister of Intelligence—Francis Worthinghay pays tribute to the Earl."
Xu Guangqi nodded slightly and said with a smile: "Mr. Wo Xinghai, you need to further prove your identity."
Francis Worthinghai smiled and said: "Mr. Earl, I bring you a personal letter from Her Majesty the Queen." After saying that, he took out a letter and handed it to the guard beside Xu Guangqi.
Xu Guangqi read the letter quickly after opening it, and said with a smile: "To be honest, I don't know the Queen's handwriting and seal, but you don't have to continue to prove it. Please tell me your purpose."
Francis knew that this was what he meant, and said: "I received the order to set off from Paris after learning of your imminent arrival, and saw Mr. Count disembarking in Lisbon. But it is difficult for me to approach you. Today It was with the help of Isis, the British Ambassador to Spain, that I found your place.”
"I took the liberty of visiting today. The main purpose is to deliver the Queen's letter to you - and also to ask for the Earl's permission to send a copy of the cowpox production method to England. After all, as a Protestant country, it is difficult for me to believe in the Holy See. We will release production technology to the entire Europe in a fair and timely manner."
Xu Guangqi heard this and said: "Mr. Wo Xinghai, don't worry. Cardinal Luo Mingjian has already written to the Pope. The Holy See will reply soon - the production method of cowpox will be published in a newspaper specially issued for this purpose. You can buy it when the time comes." Just take one back and it’ll be fine.”
Worthinghay was relieved when he heard this. He smiled and said: "Please forgive my rashness. If the English do not get the method to prevent and cure smallpox, it will be a huge blow to the Queen's reputation."
Xu Guangqi smiled and said: "It doesn't matter. I can also provide technology to all countries that cannot obtain cowpox production methods, including the United Kingdom. His Majesty the Emperor does not allow any person or country to use power to monopolize methods for treating infectious diseases - His Majesty believes that this It is an atrocity against humanity."
When Wo Xinghai heard the words "anti-humanity", his heart thumped, and he suddenly had the illusion that there was some kind of danger hidden here.
He stood up, stroked his chest and saluted, expressing his respect for the benevolence of His Majesty the Emperor. Then he said: "Her Majesty the Queen attaches great importance to the relationship with Siris. She believes that today's monopoly of east-west trade by Spain must be broken, and the United Kingdom respects Sirise's interests in Luzon and the Spice Islands."
"Her Majesty the Queen believes that after Siris controls the origin of spices, she also has the power to use the new routes for direct trade to get her deserved share."
When Xu Guangqi heard this, he looked at Wang Jiaping and Ma Jinglun and saw that both of them frowned. Xu Guangqi did not answer Francis's words and remained silent.
Liu Chengxi, who was sitting at the bottom, suddenly said in Chinese: "Sir, this person may not be from England."
Xu Guangqi nodded thoughtfully. Seeing that they suddenly communicated in Chinese, Francis immediately realized that the words he had just spoken were somewhat superficial, and quickly changed the subject and continued: "I came here this time in accordance with the Queen's secret order to pay homage to the Queen. Your Excellency, the Count, provides necessary assistance. It just so happens that I have collected some intelligence - your lecture on "Heliocentric Theory" in Lisbon has aroused strong dissatisfaction among some Catholic fanatics in Spain, and they are likely to make impulsive actions that are detrimental to the mission."
Xu Guangqi was taken aback and said nervously: "I am willing to hear the details of this information."
Francis smiled and said: "Perhaps you have just set foot on European soil and are not very aware of the ubiquitous assassins and assassinations on this continent. Someone wants to hide in the crowd and shoot you when you go to the University of Salamanca tomorrow."
Xu Guangqi and others took a deep breath after hearing this. Liu Chengxi's eyes flashed coldly, and he stepped forward and asked, "Mr. Wo Xinghai, this is no small matter. What evidence do you have?"
Wo Xinghai smiled proudly, stared at Liu Chengxi and said: "As Her Majesty the Queen's sword, I control the largest intelligence network in Europe. Please look at this -" He handed over another piece of paper.
Xu Guangqi took it and looked at it. Seeing that it was a piece of poorly printed paper with Spanish written on it, he asked Liu Chengxi to go out and call an interpreter from the mission. After a while, the Han interpreter, who had lived in Malacca for many years as a maritime merchant, stuttered and read:
"This year, some terrible omens appeared in the land of Kaslitia, and the people were frightened. These omens were excessive cyclones and lightning, and fire dragons were seen flying in the sky. A famine was imminent. With these signs come.”
"Soon after this the yellow-skinned heathens came upon the soil of Castiledia. These barbarians had desecrated the temple of God, and were ready to destroy it and to sprinkle the altar with the blood of the saints. around......"
“Such a terrible scene has taken place in the palaces of Sintra, this horror has come upon our souls, the heathens have kindled the rising flames…The people of God are about to judge them and set them free Corpses everywhere!”
After the interpreter read the leaflet-like paper, the living room of the Earl's Mansion was silent. Xu Guangqi rubbed his forehead hard with his hands, feeling that his brain inside was aching.
Francis said: "This is a leaflet circulated within the Spanish fanatics' Kramer Party. This faction believes that King Felipe has betrayed God - they advocate that you be burned on the stake when you set foot in Lisbon. .”
"The information I got is that they are preparing to launch an assassination operation tomorrow."
Xu Guangqi picked up the tea cup in front of him and motioned for Francis to have a taste too. While drinking tea, he calmed down and asked: "You know, we are here at the invitation of the Pope - can I think that the Kramer people are going against the Holy See?"
Francis Worthing said: "If these so-called 'believers' could obey the Pope, the Inquisition would not be as busy as it is today."
Xu Guangqi smiled after hearing this: "As a minister of a country that is killing witches on a large scale, your words have some new insights."
A green light flashed across Francis Worthinghai's face, and he said in a neither humble nor arrogant tone: "Your Excellency, denying the possibility of magic and witchcraft, no, denying the actual existence, is immediately contradicting God's order. And God's order is , eliminate witchcraft.”
Xu Guangqi felt his head hurt more and more. Today's Europe is like a hornet's nest. Protestantism is carrying out a vigorous campaign to eliminate witches; Calvinism is attached to Jiwei, while Catholicism carries out indiscriminate burnings for heretics, including witchcraft. This is just the tip of the iceberg of the chaos in Europa's ideological world.
As for the political chaos, large-scale incest marriages alone have made the succession rights of various kings a mess, which is very easy to understand for an outsider thousands of miles away.
But the mission had to sort it out carefully, because this was the basis for Ming Dynasty's next policy towards Europa. Xu Guangqi thought repeatedly and couldn't decide where to start.
He could only bring the topic back and said: "This leaflet you sent is very important. Can I use it? I can use it to ask His Majesty Felipe II to strengthen the security protection of the mission."
Wo Xinghai nodded and said: "Of course, this is exactly the purpose of my coming here at night."
Xu Guangqi picked up the tea cup and said with a smile: "Thank you for the warning. Maybe you are willing to accept some small gifts - the drink in front of you. It is the first Chinese drink I brought to Europe. It has the effect of getting rid of diseases and prolonging life."
"Thank you for your generosity, Your Excellency. I believe I am not the first Englishman to receive such a gift, as Her Majesty is very fond of this drink."
Xu Guangqi's brain hurt even more.
