On November 3, the seventh year of the Apocalypse, Xu Guangqi, Li Zhizao, Jin Nige, Long Huamin, Deng Yuhan, Luo Yacob and other Western missionaries arrived in Tongzhou.

As the leader of these Catholic Jesuit missionaries in China, Kinney Pavilion also brought with him more than 7,000 books he had brought from Europe seven years earlier. Historically, because of the war at the end of the Ming Dynasty, the Ming government was not interested in these classics from the West, which led to the fact that most of these books were not translated into Chinese, and only a few missionaries privately translated a few books, such as the first six volumes of the geometric original.

This era is also the best time for the exchange of ideas, culture and technology between the East and the West, with the rise of the commercial power of the Ming Dynasty in this era, a large number of scholars engaged in business, after reflecting on and challenging Confucianism, this is also the era when China's stubborn conservative forces are the weakest.

Scholars and doctors such as Xu Guangqi accepted the language and culture taught by these Jesuit priests with an open mind, and absorbed scientific knowledge from the Western classics brought by the missionaries, trying to use this science from the West to heal the Ming Dynasty, which was already terminally ill.

When Xu Guangqi accompanied Jinnige and others to Tongzhou Wharf, Jinnige stood on the wharf street covered by loess, looked at the scene of crowds of people everywhere, and sighed to Xu Guangqi beside him: "More than 10 years have passed, Tongzhou is still so prosperous." When I left here, I thought I would be back soon. I didn't expect that when I set foot in Tongzhou again, 15 years have passed. ”

Xu Guangqi just smiled slightly, and said to this learned and noble Jesuit priest: "Today, the Holy Son of Heaven is on the throne, and he has taken the initiative to recruit you to Beijing. In my opinion, Father, you have finally got a good start in your career in Daming, haven't you? As long as you can convince Your Majesty to accept Western studies, your desire to open a library of Western studies in the capital will no longer be a dream. ”

On the one hand, the Catholic Church's missionary affairs in China may have made great progress after meeting with the Ming Emperor; On the other hand, he heard that the Ming Emperor was only 17 years old, and he didn't know if the Western studies he introduced could touch the young emperor's heart.

Xu Guangqi and the others were in front of the wharf, waiting for the luggage and books they brought to be removed from the ship, when the busy pedestrians on the street in front of the wharf suddenly and quickly separated to both sides.

Xu Guangqi and the others turned their heads to look at the rioting crowd on the east side of the street, only to see that after the crowd separated, a team of brocade-clothed guards escorted several carriages towards the dock. These brocade guards drove the pedestrians in the streets, making way for the carriage behind them.

Looking at the wolf-like appearance of this group of brocade guards, Wang Zheng, who had just landed on the shore, couldn't help frowning, "Who dares to be so arrogant, actually take the brocade guards as the precursor, and wantonly drive pedestrians on the street, I want to see it." ”

Li Zhizao, who followed closely, grabbed Wang Zheng and said eagerly: "Liangfu, don't act rashly. This generation is the son of heaven and close ministers, I waited for this time to go to Beijing, in order to carry forward the learning of Taixi, if you have a grudge with these villains here, I am afraid that the matter of going to Beijing will be in vain. This Tessie's learning is really beneficial to the country, and if you are not tolerated by Your Majesty because of such villains, then you and I will not be busy. ”

Li Zhizao and Wang Zheng are in the same year, but they can be compared with Xu Guangqi in terms of learning, and he has always been easy-going and friendly, so Wang Zheng is also more respectful of Li Zhizao, and after being pulled by Li Zhizao, he can only stomp his feet.

Seeing a few carriages coming straight towards the dock, Xu Guangqi was also reluctant to do much, he turned his head to look at the shops on the side of the road for a few times, and then said to the others: "We might as well go to this spring breeze house to rest for a while, and wait for the people to hire a car, pack their luggage and then set off, so as not to eat dust here." ”

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement with Xu Guangqi's proposal. On the other side, the carriage guarded by the brocade guards saw a group of officials and Westerners in Confucian clothes blocking the entrance of the dock, and couldn't help but slow down.

Although Xu Guangqi and the others didn't want to be troublesome, they had no interest in having anything to do with this noble sitting in the carriage, so they turned around and walked towards the restaurant across the street from the dock.

Then Xu Guangqi and the others didn't want to have anything to do with the people in the carriage, but the people in the carriage found them.

A brocade guard suddenly turned over and dismounted, hurried up, and then respectfully clasped his fists and saluted and asked, "May I ask you, but Lord Xu Zixian and his party of Western monks who were ordered to enter Beijing?" ”

Xu Guangqi stopped, glanced at the brocade guard in front of him and said, "I am Xu Zixian, who are you?" ”

After confirming the object, the brocade guard looked more respectful. He maintained a saluting posture and said: "Zhao Chunhua, the official Jinyi Wei Baihu, is ordered to accompany Zhang Yixian and Zhang Gonggong to welcome you into Beijing, please Lord Xu stay." ”

After Zhao Chunhua finished speaking, he hurriedly ran back to the carriage, said a few words to the people in the carriage, and a person in eunuch costume walked out of the carriage.

Zhang Yixian walked quickly in front of Xu Guangqi, and then saluted with a smile on his face and said, "I am ordered by Your Majesty to welcome Lord Xu and all Western monks into Beijing on behalf of Your Majesty, please get into the carriage?" ”

After Xu Guangqi bowed slightly and returned the salute, he cautiously said, "How did Your Majesty know that I will arrive in the capital today?" ”

Zhang Yixian said with a smile: "Your Majesty ordered all the banknotes on the canal, and whenever you see you passing by boat, you must report to Beijing, and your Majesty knows where your ships go every day." His Majesty was waiting for Lord Xu to enter Beijing, and he was already in an urgent mood. ”

Xu Guangqi straightened his clothes, bowed in the direction of Beijing, and said: "How can the minister be virtuous, Lao Shengtianzi is so ashamed." ”

Zhang Yixian smiled all over his face, as if he didn't care about Xu Guangqi's indifference to him. As a close attendant by Chongzhen's side, Zhang Yixian naturally knows how much Chongzhen attaches importance to Xu Guangqi and his party entering Beijing these days, and Xu Guangqi is the most mentioned name in Chongzhen's mouth.

Although Zhang Yixian didn't know why Chongzhen admired a person he had never met so much, Xu Guangqi's reputation in learning was also one of the few in the court. Since Chongzhen ascended the throne, both the ministers and the officials have all exhorted Chongzhen to open a feast and learn how to govern the country.

However, Chongzhen has been pushing, and with Zhang Yixian's speculation, maybe after this Xu Guangqi and Lord Xu enter Beijing, he may become the teacher of the Son of Heaven, but it is unknown. For those who may become Chongzhen's teachers, Zhang Yixian naturally has to be respectful.