Early the next morning, Xu Guangqi made an emergency appointment with Luo Mingjian and the Duke of Sidonia, and presented the leaflet of the "Cramer Party", indicating that the personal safety of the mission was under threat.
Felipe II was furious when he learned about it, and the entire city of Madrid was cordoned off for a large-scale manhunt. The Spanish intelligence agency comprehensively investigated the list of people at the University of Salamanca who had access to Xu Guangqi and other heads of the mission, listed the suspects, and interrogated them about their relationship with the "Cramer Party."
Of course, the Spaniards were curious about how the unfamiliar Chinese mission got the news, but Xu Guangqi had no one to ask questions - after all, this was considered poor hospitality by Felipe II.
Although the "Cramer Party" is called a party, it is completely different from the political parties of later generations. These people have no political program but only religious knowledge. They are the extremists among Catholic fanatics-these people have no idea of keeping secrets. They showed resentment towards pagans, so they were easily singled out.
As the investigation deepened, the evidence increased, and the people who arranged the assassination and the killers were caught. Felipe II's anger was no joke, and these people were immediately executed on his order.
Because the danger could not be completely ruled out, Xu Guangqi's visit to the University of Salamanca was postponed. Out of apology to Xu Guangqi, Felipe II allowed the mission to send people to copy the documents at Spanish universities.
In Europe at this time, the level of secular education was slightly higher than that of the Ming Dynasty before Zhu Yijun traveled through. Although universities and middle schools are still the learning grounds for the children of princes, nobles and wealthy businessmen, children of the common class can only enter basic education schools if their families have enough money to spare. However, with the emergence of a large number of cities, the literacy rate in major European cities has reached more than 20%, and the literacy rate in many wealthy city-states in Italy has even exceeded 60%. [Note 1]
The emergence of capitalism gave birth to the Renaissance movement of more than two hundred years and led to the birth of a large number of vocational colleges and guild schools. The church had lost its monopoly on education. The development of secular education in turn gave birth to new technological innovations and ultimately gave birth to the industrial revolution.
Therefore, when Zhu Yijun restarted the fragmented basic education in the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty lagged behind Europe in terms of literacy rate. Although no one had conducted special statistics, Wang Jiaping arranged for someone to conduct a survey among the members of the Roman mission. This conclusion can be drawn.
At this time, Spain has more than 20 large-scale universities, mainly teaching humanities, law, medicine and religious knowledge. These universities contain various documents collected over the years - including Greek civilization, empirical philosophy, empiricism after Occam [Note 2] and so on that were translated in large quantities from various European countries in the Middle Ages.
According to Zhu Yijun's instructions, a large number of people led by Wang Jiaping copied almost all the documents. These people wanted to use the mission's stay in Europe to record a large number of European civilization achievements, purchase paintings, technical manuals and copy all drawings.
In addition to transcribing documents, many outstanding students trained by Daming Medical College also came with the mission this time - they are students of Li Shizhen, and they already have a very high level of knowledge in animal and plant taxonomy.
Their main task is to collect crop and plant information and are responsible for collecting specimens and seeds. Although more than a thousand years of exchanges have enabled China to possess a large number of exotic cash crops, there are still some animals and plants that are not available in the Ming Dynasty at this stage - kidney beans are an example, and it will take more than ten years for these animals to be introduced to the Ming Dynasty.
In addition to collecting specimens and seeds, they also had to study the diet structure of Europeans in accordance with the emperor's orders, study the dining tables of princes and nobles down to traffickers, and record the common diseases and health and epidemic prevention status of Europeans.
...
Because of the assassin's interference, Xu Guangqi also got a rare rest time. For safety reasons, he could not go out, but anyone from Madrid's upper class who felt he had some status would visit his residence and communicate with him.
At this time, small-scale "salons" had appeared in the Italian city-states and were spreading throughout Europe. Salon is originally Italian and was originally the name of the gallery of the Palais de Louvre. The increasingly popular "salon" is a fashion of talking about art, playing cards and chatting while appreciating works of art.
Inspired by the Duke of Sidonia, Xu Guangqi held a small-scale oriental art exhibition "Salon" in the drawing room of the Earl's Palace. Items on display include porcelain, cloisonné, embroidery, paintings and calligraphy works.
The exhibition was an astonishing sensation because all the artworks were stunningly beautiful. At this time, although Europeans already had a high level of art appreciation, the Ming Dynasty was far behind them in this regard.
After Felipe II received the news, he temporarily decided to leave the palace and visit the Earl's Palace. There is no need to list the details of welcoming the king. Felipe II immediately fell in love with a cloisonné "refrigerator" when he arrived.
Although cloisonné is a kind of "copper-embedded filigree enamel" from the Arab region, after the aesthetic addition of Ming craftsmen, it has far exceeded the highest level of similar products that European aristocrats can see.
Felipe II took a fancy to this enamelware, which has a handle with a Pisces swallowing ring, and the inner wall is inlaid with silver. The lid and four walls are covered with sky-blue enamel glaze, and are filled with filigree enamel with various colors of entangled angustifolia patterns. The bottom of the box is decorated with filigree enamel ice plum patterns. The spandrels are inlaid with enamel animal face patterns, the legs are bulging and the teeth are bulging, the ends of the feet are carved with lion claw patterns that turn outwards, and the feet are stepped on mud - magnificent and eye-catching.
This handicraft, which is full of Chinese artistic characteristics and can store ice cubes, amazed all the princes and nobles present. Felipe II's eyeballs were like hooks, hanging on the cloisonné and unable to pull it off.
Duke Sidonia asked Xu Guangqi with a smile: "Your Excellency, is this enamelware the highest level of the Ming Dynasty? Or is it an ordinary one?"
Xu Guangqi didn't understand this, but Wang Jiaping did some research on it because of his wealthy family and high position. He replied: "The best things in China are in the inner palace and the homes of princes. What we brought to Europe this time is considered second-rate in the Ming Dynasty."
Although he had received a batch of gifts from the mission, Felipe II really wanted to get this enamelware, and everyone present could see it. Seeing that Xu Guangqi had no intention of giving it away for free, a young man dressed as an aristocrat interrupted and said, "It's not for sale, right? I want to buy it."
Seeing that the speaker was tall and elegant, Xu Guangqi looked at Duke Sidonia. The Duke frowned and said, "This is Carlo Medici, the son of Francesco de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. He is studying Latin grammar at the University of Salamanca."
Because Xu Guangqi was close to Matteo Ricci and other missionaries, he was considered half European at this time. After listening to the Duke's introduction, it was immediately clear that this young man's surname was very impressive, but he was just average. He should be the illegitimate son of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, the current head of the Medici family.
So he smiled and said: "The mission does not intend to do business this time." Carlo Medici glanced at Felipe II and continued to request: "Can you make an exception, Count? I like it very much .I am willing to pay five hundred ducats.”
The gold content of a ducat is close to 3.56 grams. Although prices across Europe have skyrocketed due to the large influx of precious metals from the colonies, the equipment on an ordinary musketeer in Spain plus a year's food and clothing costs about 5 ducats. Dukat or so.
In other words, Carlo Medici spent money that could support a 160-man musketeers for a year to buy this cloisonné, and the Spanish nobles present were shocked.
Luo Mingjian, who was standing next to Xu Guangqi, said excitedly: "Your Excellency, this is a lot of money." At the same time, he secretly pushed Xu Guangqi's back with his elbow, signaling for him to agree.
Xu Guangqi looked at Carlo and said, "I would like to ask, what are you going to buy it for? Of course, this has nothing to do with me, you don't have to tell me."
Carlo Medici tried not to look at Felipe II, his young face flushed a little, and he said: "I think this is my personal reason."
Xu Guangqi also looked at Felipe II: "Your Majesty, do I need to pay tax on this transaction?"
Felipe's mouth twitched, and everyone burst into laughter because of Xu Guangqi's humor.
Xu Guangqi smiled at Carlo Medici and said, "Mr. Medici, I still can't sell it to you."
When Carlo Medici's expression changed, Xu Guangqi continued: "Our Emperor told me that my mission is to make more friends in Europe. Therefore - I give it to you."
7017k
