You can't only love the Qing Dynasty when you're eating the fruits of others' labor.

1661 spring.

A badly damaged merchant ship arrived at Dagu Port.

"God, we've finally arrived!"

The young priests crowded on the deck were moved to tears, kissing the crosses hanging around their necks to express their excitement.

Two ships set sail.

One ship capsized, another arrived.

The treacherous sea shows no mercy to those who are devout lambs; in the eyes of Poseidon, the sea god, there is no difference between noble priests and filthy sailors.

……

Seven days later, the group was escorted to the capital.

When they saw Castel Santa Maria and Ferdinand Verbiest standing at the entrance, more than 100 priests who had survived the ordeal wept with emotion.

Ferdinand Verbiest's eyes were red-rimmed, and he opened his arms wide.

"welcome!"

"Ah~ You must be Father Nan? I have some very good news. The Pope has officially appointed you as the only cardinal in the East."

"Thank you, Pope."

Ferdinand Verbiest accepted the red robe and letter of appointment with trembling hands.

For any priest, becoming a cardinal is the pinnacle of their career, but it's still a long way from becoming pope.

More than a hundred priests suddenly flooded in, exceeding the capacity of the castle.

Fortunately, the Pope was generous and allowed the priests to carry a large amount of gold with them on the ship.

It’s hard to move without money.

Even God is no exception.

Fortunately, the cardinals were both otherworldly and engaged in the world. Although they were high above others, they understood people's hearts and were willing to spend money to open up the East.

A middle-aged man, whose air of wealth and status was undeniable, walked out of the church and nodded to the crowd.

Ferdinand Verbiest quickly introduced:
"This is the last emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He is enlightened, has been baptized, and is now a guest of honor in the new empire."

Everyone saluted.

Zhu Youlang also returned the greeting.

An indescribable excitement filled everyone's hearts. Could it be... could it be...?
……

3 days later.

The Grand Secretary summoned all the priests who had come to China to the Forbidden City.

When the priests, dressed in black robes, entered the Forbidden City, a symbol of supreme imperial power, their excitement was indescribable. Everyone realized that the gates to the East might truly have been opened.

Ferdinand Verbiest walked at the front, wearing a brand-new red robe.

"Bishop, what is that building?"

"The Golden Palace".

"what is the usage?"

"This is where the emperor and his ministers discuss state affairs; it is the most sacred place in the Eastern Empire. I would like to remind you all once again that you must respect local customs and etiquette. As the only cardinal in the Far East, I will not allow anyone to disobey my orders!"

The priests all nodded.

As we approached the Golden Palace, a group of little boys suddenly rushed out, carrying bouquets of flowers.

"Welcome, welcome, warm welcome."

The priests awkwardly accepted the flowers from the adorable little boy, many blushing slightly, and a very few even showing signs of embarrassment and anger.

Damn~
Damn it!
Ferdinand Verbiest walked at the front as if nothing had happened.

……

Inside the Jinluan Hall.

Ferdinand Verbiest knelt down and smiled.

"Greetings to the wise and mighty Prime Minister. May God bless you with a long and healthy life. And here are the gifts prepared for you by the Pope. This is the gift list."

The guards nearby quickly took the gift list.

Jiang Qingyun descended the imperial steps, appearing kind and approachable.

"Should I address you as Bishop Nan now?"

"By the Pope's favor, I am honored to be the only cardinal in the Far East."

"The robe is nice. I can borrow it to try it on sometime."

"That would be my honor."

Ferdinand Verbiest was thrilled, imagining the scene of him baptizing Chiang Kai-shek—what an honor that would be!

Jiang Qingyun surveyed the assembled priests and began his speech, titled "I Have a Dream."

I am delighted to meet with all of you comrades who have traveled from afar in the Forbidden City.

I call you comrades, not priests, because I share the same ideals and aspirations.

Christian doctrine promotes love, forgiveness, and redemption.

This aligns very well with Confucianism in the East.

More than 2000 years ago~
A sage named Confucius proposed a similar idea, yet even now, many people still live in extremely bad circumstances.

There is no love, no benevolence, no redemption, no moderation, and no forgiveness.

This is too bad.

I don't think the world should be like this.

……

As the speech was translated sentence by sentence, the priests stirred slightly; some were excited, some were uneasy, some were approving, and some were enthusiastic.

The eyes are honest.

Jiang Qingyun exhaled and continued his speech.

The world shouldn't be like this.

God wants change.

Confucius also hoped for change.

We cannot walk alone; Confucianists and Christians should unite to overthrow those wicked monarchs and shameless bishops.

I have a dream that one day the world will change.

I have a dream that one day, Confucian disciples and Christian disciples can sit together.

I have a dream that one day, valleys will rise, mountains will descend, rugged and winding roads will become smooth, and holy light will be revealed, shining upon the world.

For this belief, we will fight on the plains of the East, on the beaches of Europe, and in the mountains of the Americas!

There's an Eastern proverb: "Since you're here, make the best of it."

I hope you will leave behind your lives, your property, and your knowledge.

A hundred years from now, your deeds will resonate far and wide, and your names will be known to everyone.

I am the Grand Secretary of the Empire and the Supreme Master of Confucianism.

Would you be willing to help me realize this dream?

……

After a moment of deathly silence in the Golden Palace, thunderous cheers suddenly erupted.

The young priests were deeply moved by this heartfelt speech of gratitude; their eyes filled with tears, and they repeatedly made the sign of the cross.

It seems amazing, but it's actually not surprising.

In the 17th century, a group of intellectuals willing to travel thousands of miles to unfamiliar regions to preach God must have been a group of pure idealists.

What's more, they are still very young.

Regardless of the era, young people are always more passionate and more willing to believe that the world around them is malleable.

Jiang Qingyun is like a deity descended to earth.

He raised his right hand, his eyes were resolute, and his voice was loud and clear.

"I hereby declare that the Empire will be divided into 10 bishoprics. You will have to work hard, you will have to cultivate the land, and many of you will die from various causes, but I will do everything I can to support you, because our goals are the same."

"But before that, you must master the Chinese language, be familiar with Confucianism, and understand the local customs and culture. Otherwise, you are destined to fail."

Everyone nodded in agreement; it made perfect sense.

Jiang Qingyun turned and left.

Officials from the Ministry of Rites seized the opportunity and immediately brought out the "Registration Form for Personal Information of Priests Coming to China".

From hometown to profession.

From education to family.

From orientation to interest.

The investigation was very thorough, ensuring that everyone can be put to the best use in the future, dedicating their knowledge, youth, ideals, and even their lives.

Ferdinand Verbiest felt uneasy, but there was nothing he could do.

For some reason, he felt that the true nature of the Grand Secretary was becoming increasingly blurred.

Noon~
As the weary crowd emerged from the Golden Palace, two choirs appeared on the square, one on the left and one on the right. The choir on the left sang the "Three Character Classic," while the choir on the right sang "Hallelujah."

A turbulent era has slowly begun. (End of Chapter)