Archbishop Purple-clothed?!

Li Zhizao and Xu Guangqi, who came to Nantang to participate in the last dispersion of this year on New Year's Eve, looked at Eunuch Wei in bullfighting uniform in disbelief.

Li Zhizao's sorrow period was over. Last month, he returned to Beijing to report to the court to the Western calendar. He heard that the Ministry of History intends to transfer him to the Shaoqing of Taipu Temple in Nanjing.

Xu Guangqi was originally a reviewer of the Hanlin Academy. Three years ago, he was disagreeing with some ministers in the court, so he took the position and went to Tianjin for disagreement.

In the past two years, Xu has been opening canals in Fangshan and Laishui counties to plant rice, conducting various agricultural experiments, and has successively written books such as "Yiken Ling", "Draft Agricultural Book", and "Beigeng Lu".

In July this year, Chen Que, the Minister of Rites, submitted three memorials in a row, requesting to investigate and prosecute foreign missionaries, which was a difficult situation for the Nanjing education.

Xu Guangqi, who was baptized and had a close relationship with the Catholic Church, quickly went to the "Dialogue Chapter" to defend the missionaries. In September, Xu Guangqi returned to Beijing to resume his post and is currently Zuo Zanshan, Zuo Chunfang, Zhan Shifu.

The person who presided over Nantang was Xiong Sanba, an Italian student of Matteo Ricci. Matteo Ricci believed that Xiong Sanba was gentle and humble, serious and responsible, so he entrusted Xiong Sanba the important task of Bishop of Nantang and the dean of Nantang College to Xiong Sanba when he was critically ill.

Because he was a member of Matteo Ricci with Guo Jujing, Jinnige and others, Xiong Sanba had a good relationship with Long Huamin, the leader of the Jesuits in China who was far away in Macau.

After Matteo Ricci's death, Guo Jujing and Kinnige were unable to gain a foothold in Beijing and had to go south. The funds for Nantang were cut off by half by the Macao Jesuits.

Fortunately, there were funding from Catholic officials in Beijing such as Xu Guangqi and Li Zhizao, which allowed Nantang to barely maintain it.

Eunuch Wei came directly from the princess's mansion. Last night, he didn't plan to pay attention to Shouning and wanted to spend the night at Ke Yinyue.

But as soon as it was dark, He Chong knocked on the door, saying that His Highness had something important to discuss with his father-in-law, hoping that Eunuch Wei could come over immediately.

Ghosts all know what Shouning means, but there is no way, Eunuch Wei has to say goodbye to Baba. Fortunately, although Ke Yinyue is angry, she doesn't lose any temper.

My father-in-law felt guilty and after arriving at the princess's mansion, he told Shouning that he would bring the guest Yinyue to him no matter what, and that everyone would have a New Year's Eve dinner together.

Shouning wanted to turn against her as soon as she heard this, but then she agreed, saying that as long as you, Wei Liangchen, are willing to accompany her to the palace in the second year of the first lunar month, everything will be easy to discuss.

It's a big deal to discuss!

My father-in-law was depressed and took a few bites to bed and went to bed. He didn't care whether the real husband came back or not and suddenly came back with a knife to chop him.

After getting up in the morning, my father-in-law brought people to Nantang directly, and happened to run into the mass here. Xu and Li and the others.

In Yangzhou, if Eunuch Wei had not provided help in time, Li Zhizao would have drowned the canal. Therefore, despite his shock and incredibleness, he would have come forward to greet Eunuch Wei as soon as possible, without any official airs, and dared not look down on him at all, and even respected him very much.

This is the benefit of the status of the archbishop in Purple.

Xu Guangqi was still confused, but he really didn't know how a eunuch in the palace became the archbishop of the church.

But the facts were seen. The Western priests and Ming believers led by Xiong Sanba collectively saluted the eunuch and respectfully welcomed him and his followers into the Nantang.

Li Zhizao whispered to Xu Guangqi and some of the deeds of Eunuch Wei. Of course, he mainly talked about the relationship between Eunuch Wei and the Catholic Church. For example, he was very good to Western priests and invested in building a church in the Maritime Special Zone to actively communicate with Westerners. He was baptized and joined the church long ago. The church was named St. John Pang Maichen. The Pope attaches great importance to Pang Maichen's influence in the East, so he specially appointed him as the Archbishop of the East, etc....

Xu Guangqi couldn't help but nodded and thought to himself that this eunuch Wei was very good.

Even though he was able to deal with Westerners and join the Catholic Church, Xu Guangqi himself was not as pedantic and conservative as a literati, and his thoughts were very open-minded, and he did not discriminate against eunuchs in the palace.

In addition, Xu Guangqi also supported the church to develop eunuchs in the palace as believers and take the "top" route. However, this path has always been very difficult, and no important eunuchs have joined the Catholic Church. Now, there is a Wei eunuch who is also an archbishop in the East, so he will definitely contribute to the spread of Catholicism.

Thinking of this, Xu Guangqi naturally had a more positive impression of Eunuch Wei.

After entering Nantang, Eunuch Wei immediately changed the sermons given to him by Pope Paul V, and then summoned all the staff of Nantang to give a brief speech.

There is nothing special about the content of the speech. As long as the priests do their job well and actively work hard to spread the gospel of God for the Catholic Church.

It seems to be a routine speech of a new official taking office, without three fires.

However, in the end, Eunuch Wei said to Xiong Sanba: "Prepare for a while, I will take you into the palace to see Your Majesty in the New Year."

"ah?"

Xiong Sanba was stunned, and Xu Guangqi and the others were also shocked.

"Your Excellency is saying... are you saying that you will take me into the palace to meet Emperor Constantine?" Xiong Sanba's voice trembled.

"Cantantine the Great?"

Eunuch Wei wondered what this is.

Li Zhizao hurriedly explained that this Emperor Constantine was a famous king in the West. Father Ricci called me Emperor Ming Emperor Constantine in the East during his lifetime.

"Our emperor must be a famous emperor, the great emperor, an emperor who is even more wiser than the great Emperor Constantine."

Eunuch Wei asked Xiong Sanba to prepare and listen to his notice.

Since entering the East, Xiong Sanba has been Matteo Ricci's assistant and student, but he has never met His Majesty the Emperor, so he is very excited and nervous.

"I wonder what you want me to enter the palace to meet His Majesty the Emperor?"

"If you don't do anything, just wish you a New Year."

Eunuch Wei walked around the hall with his hands behind his back, and said to Xiong Sanba unhappily: "Next year is the first day of the Lunar New Year. Why are we so deserted and have no New Year atmosphere at all?"

"this..."

Xiong Sanba and others are not able to answer this question because they are just Chinese Spring Festival.

Li Zhizao said a few words about the reasons for the customs.

Eunuch Wei immediately said, "This is not possible. Follow the customs of the countryside. The church comes from the West to integrate into the East and to become a part of the people of the East. Whatever the Oriental people do, our church must know what it is. Only in this way can people teach people the feelings of fish and water, which is conducive to the spread of God's gospel... Besides, did Father Ricci always advocate that the church should be orientalized and should be made in the Chinese way? Why do you forget his instructions now?"

Archbishop Pang Maichen pointed out earnestly that only by completely sinicizing Catholicism can the gospel of God be accepted by the Chinese people.

Immediately afterwards, His Excellency Pang Maichen ordered Nantang to mobilize immediately, paste Spring Festival couplets, hang lanterns, buy fireworks, and immediately go to the Beijing-centered store to purchase snacks such as fruits, peanuts and candy at the entrance of Nantang for children in the neighborhood to wish you a New Year's greetings tomorrow.

"Don't stay in the house all day long, you should go out and walk around more often. Every family celebrates during the New Year. What's the point of keeping your door behind closed doors? Do you think you are following the rules of the church or sticking to the gospel of God? None of them! I think you are dogmatism!"

Eunuch Wei mercilessly pointed out that Nantang's dogmatism is very serious and quite serious, and it is so serious that it is too serious to be disconnected from the people of the Eastern Diocese!

"It must be changed, from now on, from you! Whoever does not reform will be the enemy of Catholicism, and whoever is the traitor of God!"

How to change it from small ways.
Chapter completed!