At this moment, Chen Longzheng was like the second Hai Qingtian. He was wholeheartedly focused on Daming the people. His mind was filled with the idea of punishing evil, promoting good, and eradicating evil. He did not care about the difficulties and obstacles in front of him. He raised a gun and led 300 gunners into the tiger's den. Ricci could not stop him no matter what. He could only place his thoughts on Hughes.
"Mr. Hughes, do you know what you're doing? This is an internal affair of the China people. We shouldn't get involved! Once we get involved, the China people will have an excuse to hold us accountable. The situation that we managed to calm down with great difficulty will be stirred up again. We can't do anything about it! "
Matteo Ricci tried his best to persuade them.
Who knew that Hughes would have a well-thought-out plan and would try to persuade Ricci instead?
"All the officials in the world are the same. They hope for the matter to be small, and they don't want it to be big. They can say that a big matter is a small matter, and they can say that a small matter doesn't exist. No official wants to cause a big dispute. Even Xiao Ruxun himself doesn't want to completely fall out with us. We've already done a lot in this matter. We've let 90% of them go and only kept 10%. Isn't that enough?"
Ricci was shocked.
"You instructed those China businessmen to do this?"
Hughes nodded, then shook his head.
"This matter is good for us and for them. We need the China people to continue working. Without the Chinese people working, our rule here will be very dangerous. The wild monkeys in the Philippines are really too cunning and lazy.
As for those China businessmen, without these Chinese workers, their position will not be stable. So, they took the initiative to find me, and I'm here to support them. "
Hughes felt that he had done a big thing. He had successfully helped Xiao Ruxun. He felt that he was great.
Little did he know that Ricci's murderous thoughts had already emerged in his mind. I went to Macau, Myanmar, and the Philippines tirelessly to contact all parties. What was it for? It was all for peace! Can the Philippines fight now? Can it?
Do you think you can deal with Xiao Ruxun? The whole of Southeast Asia is his sphere of influence. You guys are underestimating him! I spent so much effort, and now you pig teammates used your pig brains to do something that only pigs can do. You put me on a fire and roasted me until I'm not a human anymore! How could you do that?
Ricci wanted to cry but had no tears.
"Now, now, Mr. Hughes, I beg you in the name of the Church. I beg you to take him away immediately. Don't get involved in this. Otherwise, the Philippines will be finished! Then it would be over! The missionary work of the Vatican in China was finished! You stupid bastards! "
Ricci's eyes were red, and he didn't have the demeanor of a priest at all. Instead, he looked like a flustered and exasperated gambler, scaring Hughes.
"Mr. Leech, what are you doing? Are you threatening me? Don't you know that the private land of your church is also cultivated by the Chinese? Five hundred of the two thousand people we intercepted this time will be given to your church to cultivate. Your church should be on our side in this matter! "
Hughes's words scared Ricci out of his wits.
"The church is involved? Does Bishop Alexander know? "
Hughes shook his head. "I haven't told Bishop Alexander. I think the bishop will be very happy. Mr. Leech, you have to remember your position. Don't stand on the side of the Chinese!"
Ricci heaved a sigh of relief. Then, an even greater anger made him curse.
"You idiot! You almost destroyed our decades of hard work! Compared to China, the Philippines is nothing! You idiot! I don't have any words to describe you! Now! Immediately! Immediately! Take the troops away! Otherwise, I'll tell Bishop Alexander immediately! I'll expel you from the army and the church, and send you to the Religious Court of Inquiry! "
After being called an idiot several times, even the most good-tempered person would be angry, not to mention a military officer like Hughes.
He flew into a rage.
"Don't think that I can't do anything to you just because you're from the Vatican! You'd better remember this! The reason why the Vatican can still exist! It's all because of the support of the Empire's government! Don't think that it's a few hundred years ago that you can still use the Religious Court of Inquiry to threaten me. I'm a military officer of the Empire, and I'm protected by the Empire's laws! I believe in God, and no one can judge me! "
After saying that, he punched Ricci in the stomach, causing Ricci to fall to the ground and groan in pain. He then waved his hand, and a few soldiers immediately came up and tied up Ricci, throwing him to the back. Ricci's loud cries of protest had no effect.
Chen Longzheng was getting impatient from waiting. Suddenly, a sentry came and reported, "Sir! I saw from the telescope that Mr. Leech was punched by their leader, tied up, and taken away! "
Chen Longzheng was stunned at first, then he flew into a rage and waved his hand. "Follow me! Save Mr. Leech! "
Three hundred Ming Army soldiers followed Chen Longzheng and rushed to the Spanish soldiers' roadblock. When they got close, Chen Longzheng signaled for the army to stop. He looked at the Spanish soldiers who were using tree trunks and sacks as cover.
"The Spaniards in front, listen up! Get out of the way immediately! Hand over Mr. Leech, and I'll spare your lives! Otherwise, don't blame me for being merciless! "
Chen Longzheng's righteous warning was just meaningless gibberish in Hughes' ears. He couldn't understand Chinese at all. After thinking about it, he felt that it was necessary to talk, so he tied up Ricci and ordered Ricci to translate Chen Longzheng's words.
Ricci yelled at the top of his lungs, "Tilong! You must not shoot! You must remain calm! I promise these people won't shoot, so don't shoot either! Once you shoot, things will get out of hand! "
Chen Longzheng immediately replied, "Mr. Leech! Why are these people beating you and tying you up? Just tell me, and I'll immediately send troops to save you! "
"No, no, no! Tilong! Don't get close! You must not shoot! I'll speak here! I'll speak here! "
Ricci was also putting his life on the line. In order to prevent both sides from shooting and causing bloodshed, he didn't hesitate to put his old body in danger. This spirit moved Chen Longzheng quite a bit.
Mr. Leech is so old, yet he's still putting himself in danger. Other than the fact that this old man likes to talk about ghosts and gods, he's really very brave!
Chen Longzheng was moved by Ricci's bravery. He ordered the soldiers not to shoot, not to ignite the fire, and to wait and see.
Seeing that Chen Longzheng didn't continue to approach, Ricci let out a heavy sigh of relief. Unexpectedly, he punched Hughes again and cried out in pain.
"What did those Chinese say? Are you plotting something? Are you colluding to murder me? Don't think that you can do whatever you want just because I don't understand Chinese! You old man, don't think that your skin can save you! "
Hughes was enraged like an evil spirit.
"No! Not at all! You must not shoot! You must not shoot! Otherwise, it's over! Everything is over! "
Hughes didn't have such concerns, or rather, his brain had been burnt by anger.
"So what if I shoot! I don't believe that these Chinese people dare to kill me! "
With that, Hughes grabbed a gun, lit the match, and pointed it at Ricci on the ground. He aimed at the empty space between Ricci's legs and pulled the trigger.
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