The Mysterious Ming Dynasty: The Taiping Heavenly Kingdom

Chapter 27 The Escape of Missionary Johann Adam Schall von Bell

The capital city.

The Imperial Observatory was located between the Court of State Ceremonial and the Imperial Medical Academy. Johann Adam Schall von Bell and his missionaries were humiliated and expelled from the Imperial Observatory.

"You mean the Heavenly Official wants us to leave the capital?" Johann Adam Schall von Bell looked at the Imperial Guards in red robes and armor who had come to deliver the message, holding ceremonial swords.

"Wrong, it should be 'Get out of here'."

Not that refined and easygoing.

"The calendar is not yet complete, and we are entrusted with the Emperor's mission; how can we abdicate?"

"I have delivered the message. Whether you listen or not is up to you. You will bear the consequences."

Having said that, the brocade-clad warrior had already placed his hand on his waist knife.

Johann Adam Schall von Bell took a deep breath, turned around and left.

In just a few steps, we arrived at the Huitong Jiangnan Pavilion.

Grand Secretary Chen Yan and Cabinet Minister Li Jiantai were also present, admiring the paintings in the museum's collection amidst the snowy scenery.

In the year Guiwei of the sixteenth year of Chongzhen's reign, a heavy snow fell in Guangdong, reaching a depth of three feet. The ice on the river was several inches thick, making navigation impossible. The extreme cold was so severe that birds and beasts all died, trees cracked, and countless people froze to death.

This phenomenon has never been seen in eastern Guangdong for two thousand years.

Johann Adam Schall von Bell removed his scholar's cap, holding a cross in his hand, and asked, "Why did those heretics suddenly launch an attack?"

A chill swept in from outside. Chen Yan looked up from the painting and left the table with a regretful expression. "Well, I'm sorry, we can't help with this."

"Is there no way to salvage the situation?"

"I don't want to see the day when a sword flashes from a thousand miles away and takes my head," Chen Yan replied slowly. "However, the Duke has a manor outside the city. Mr. Tang, why don't you rest here for now and observe the situation?"

Holy light bathed the cross in Johann Adam Schall von Bell's hands. After a long silence, he finally came to terms with it, saying, "So be it."

Li Jiantai escorted Tang Ruowang to the outside of the city.

A carrier pigeon takes off on the wind.

It flew towards Tianjin.

As soon as Pu landed, he lost his breath and froze to death.

The divine general Jiazi dragged his six-legged celestial horse and charged away, bending down to pick up the already stiff carrier pigeon.

He gripped the reins with one hand, glaring to his left and right.

The six-legged celestial horse shook its head and galloped happily toward the camp, leaving no trace in the snow.

"Ascend."

"Letter from the British Duke"

"Johann Adam Schall von Bell and his missionaries have already left the city."

"He has already ordered an ambush."

Si Chen was lying on his side on the couch, meditating. As his dragon bloodline deepened, the entire room had turned into an emerald paradise.

These dragon vein derivatives are exceptionally solid and almost impossible to mine.

Si Chen suddenly opened his eyes.

"After Huo Weihua presented the elixir of immortality to the emperor, the Tianqi Emperor died from edema."

"Huo Weihua was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the 41st year of the Wanli reign. He was a student of Xu Guangqi."

"After Chongzhen ascended the throne, during the purge of the eunuch faction, Huo Weihua was the only one who escaped unscathed and even had a smooth career advancement."

"Even Zhang Ruitu, a member of the eunuch faction who sang his praises, was granted leniency outside the law."

"Afterwards, I had someone investigate this person's background, and it turned out he was a Catholic."

"When Matteo Ricci presented the artifacts to Emperor Shenzong, he had already been living in the Ming Dynasty for over twenty years. The so-called 'divine bones,' 'a picture of the Mother of God,' 'a self-ringing clock,' and 'a complete map of the world' were mostly untrue. Moreover, Wang Fengsu has already confessed that the self-ringing clock he presented was actually purchased in Macau. The so-called complete map of the world was also a complete fabrication. If he had sincerely presented them, why would he have done such a thing? He must have had ulterior motives."

"Their presence can be seen everywhere in the Ming Dynasty."

"Too many coincidences are no longer coincidences."

Moreover, the maps of the Ming Dynasty never began with "All Nations".

The Great Ming Dynasty was the name of the entire country.

This would be beneath their dignity.

Jiazi shook his head. "But these missionaries don't have the ability to fight."

"The only people capable of harming the emperor are those close to him. Either the problem lies within the harem, or it's a problem with the Imperial Guards."

The Tang Dynasty had very rich and mature experience in this regard.

What is the Imperial Guard Succession Law?

The Ming Dynasty took the lesson seriously and imposed extremely strict political vetting on the Imperial Guards. They had to be sons of military officers who had graduated from military academies. All the sons of officers of the rank of commander or above, as well as officers of the Beijing Garrison, had served as Imperial Guards. After graduating from military academies, they would first go to the Imperial Palace for an internship, and then return home after six months or a year. This was to ensure the loyalty of hereditary military officers to the emperor.

The Imperial Guard was the best way for the sons of high-ranking officials to obtain a path in the Dao.

But it's still impossible to guard against.

Si Chen rubbed his forehead. "Of course, missionaries are just a tool. When it comes to regicide, we can only unravel the mystery piece by piece."

"You're stirring up trouble, but they might not fall for it."

"Heh, if I don't let them cause chaos first, then we'll be the ones in endless trouble."

Keep the battlefield out of Tianjin Port.

With the support of favorable timing, location, and human factors.

Make the most of the precious development time and lay a solid foundation.

"Besides, Christianity isn't exactly clean either."

"I've heard their preaching rhetoric a few times," Jiazi said, sitting cross-legged. "Every time they pray, God blames the sins on Jesus, so that after death they will be a sinless and clean person who can enter the Kingdom of Heaven for eternal life."

"But what kind of wicked person would believe in this stuff?"

"We'll go fool some idiots sometime too."

Si Chen smiled and asked, "How much credibility do you think their paradise has?"

Jiazi and others were heroic spirits from the Tang Dynasty.

Promoting the idea of ​​going to heaven after death in front of the spirits of fallen heroes.

Ha ha.

Jiazi pondered for a moment, "The Supreme Heaven is real, but I have no idea about their heavenly kingdom."

"The garden world I inhabit is indeed peaceful and tranquil. It is governed by the laws of the Heavenly Maiden and the net of heaven and earth. All beings find their own happiness and live in peace. However, for us martial artists, it is truly demoralizing, which is why we have chosen to descend to the mortal realm."

"Ah, this is our destiny." Si Chen suddenly turned his head.

"Oh, we have guests."

Jiazi also looked towards the door.

Liu Ji, wielding a heavy halberd, charged forward at the head of the procession.

A burly man with broad shoulders and a narrow waist took off his cloak, flicked his wrist, and shook off a shower of snowflakes.

"Shen Lian, Commander of the Northern Garrison, pays his respects to the Great Teacher of Virtue."

Si Chen slowly stood up, his eyes shining brightly.

"Please rise."

"Possessing the triple supernatural powers of 'wearing armor and helmet,' 'mercury blood and silver marrow,' and 'water and fire immortal robes.'"

"How did you end up here?"

Shen Lian stood up and stopped three steps away. "Great Master, you flatter me. We martial artists are naturally not as refined as scholars."

Jiazi was delighted to see this and said, "Take over and let me test his skills."

Si Chen looked at Shen Lian.

Shen Lian raised his hand, his eyes brimming with blue light, a faint film of light swirling around his skin. "Chih!! Please enlighten me!"

Jiazi soared into the sky, using his hand as a knife to slash straight at Shen Lian.

Within a breath, Jiazi unleashed six punches, his skin cracking as if he were forging steel.

The room was filled with a deafening roar.

Shen Lian remained motionless, his feet sinking three-tenths of an inch beneath him, with numerous cracks spreading several feet from his feet, yet he himself was completely unharmed.

"That's enough, that's enough."

Si Chen quickly called a halt.

Jiazi slowly finished his practice, his eyes revealing undisguised admiration. "You're quite good, you have seven-tenths of my skill from back then."

Si Chen stood up. "The Duke of England has recommended me and mentioned it many times. How about you temporarily submit to my side?"

"Shen Lian has no lofty ambitions; peace and happiness are enough for him."

Si Chen turned to look at Liu Ji, "Very good, he's a family man. Take him to settle in; if he doesn't settle things at home, I don't think he'll be able to focus on anything else."

What's wrong with loving your family?

Right.

As Jiazi watched them leave, the enthusiasm on his face gradually cooled.

Si Chen exchanged a glance with him. "They're not on our side."

"It's alright, we brothers will keep an eye on him."

"Let him oversee the order of the refugees. It's a pity. I wanted to see what the fourth divine power of martial arts, 'Golden Skin Jade Network,' looked like."

"To take the throne? That's easy. Just bring us brothers' bodies."

"Are you kidding me? Do you think I have that kind of ability?"