Ricci only found out that Xiao Ruxun had invited the envoy to a banquet after the envoy had left. No one had told him before, and he did not ask. He stayed in his room alone and wrote letters to Xiao Ruxun, asking Xiao Ruxun to meet him. He wanted to talk about the misunderstanding in the Philippines and the benefits of Christianity. He did not care about the outside world.
After the envoy left, Ricci learned that an official from the central government of China had come to announce a decree to Xiao Ruxun. It was a summon for war. This almost made Ricci faint. He quickly asked Xiao Ruxun to meet him, to make a last-ditch effort to stop the war. At the same time, he also sent someone to send a letter to Bishop Alexander in the Philippines.
This time, Xiao Ruxun met Ricci.
When Ricci met Xiao Ruxun, Xiao Ruxun was writing an order to deploy troops. This was the first time he had personally led an expedition after three years. It was of great significance, and everything needed to be carefully arranged.
"General Xiao, I …"
"Mr. Li, I am very clear about the purpose of your visit. Don't say anything unnecessary. Just say the important things. I don't have much time."
Xiao Ruxun did not look up. He interrupted Ricci as he wrote.
Ricci was stunned for a moment, then he nodded and immediately said, "I understand. General Xiao, I heard that your country's emperor has given you permission to attack Luzon Island. Is that right?"
Xiao Ruxun looked up at Ricci, then lowered his head to continue writing.
"This doesn't seem to be something that Mr. Li needs to pay attention to. Why don't you continue to find Mr. Tilong to translate the ancient books? Why worry about such things? "
Ricci quickly said, "There are many churches and missionaries on Luzon Island. As a fellow believer, how can I stand by and watch this matter? Moreover, this matter is a misunderstanding. As long as this misunderstanding is resolved, there is no need for war at all! "
"Misunderstanding?"
Xiao Ruxun seemed to have heard the most bizarre story in the world. He snapped, "My soldiers died in battle and my people were slaughtered. Is this also a misunderstanding? More than seven hundred people. Those people who boarded the boat and came to Myanmar kneeled in front of me and cried about their tragic deaths. I don't know how to comfort them.
The Spanish barbarians pretended to agree with me, but secretly disobeyed me. On the surface, they agreed to my request, but secretly used sinister methods to slaughter my people. How can I swallow this?! This Marquis only knows of one way to deal with these people and their actions, and that is to fight! "
Ricci's face tightened, and he hurriedly said, "These … these are all … General Xiao, there are many missionaries and churches there. Once there is a war, they will inevitably be hurt. We believers are not enemies of General Xiao, we are on his side! I hope that General Xiao will not forget this! "
It seemed that Ricci did not have any good reason to use, so he could only play the emotional card.
"You don't have to worry about this, Mr. Lee. This time, I will personally go to battle. I will order the soldiers to protect your believers and churches. They will not be destroyed. You have to trust me on this, and also trust the military discipline of my troops. I pay attention to military discipline the most."
After that, Xiao Ruxun lowered his head and continued to write orders. "If there is nothing else, Mr. Li, you can leave. You don't have to participate in this matter."
"General Xiao, do we really have to go to war? Once the battle begins, I don't know how many people will die because of it. I really don't want to see this scene. General Xiao's soldiers also have families. Their families also don't want war to happen, right? "
Xiao Ruxun sneered.
Even if they don't want to, how many people in the world like war?
However, when the time comes and the country is about to fall, would a nation that could sing "Mother tells her son to fight the Japanese, and wife sends her husband to the battlefield" not have this bit of awareness?
"If it's as Mr. Li said, that all parents in the world don't want their sons to go to the battlefield, then there will be no more wars and disputes in the world! "China has been plagued by disasters since ancient times. Countless courageous men fought bravely to have the peace we have today.
In the face of national crisis, if no one stood up, China would have ceased to exist a long time ago. How could we be where we are today? Mr. Li, don't worry. China's parents are much more aware than you are. "
Ricci's expression froze, then turned extremely ugly. He knew that his reason was not tenable, and he knew that there was no way he could stop Xiao Ruxun from going to war. However, he still wanted to hold on to that tiny bit of hope, hoping that it could change everything.
However, Xiao Ruxun's persistence was beyond his imagination.
He stopped imagining and prayed for something else instead.
"Then, General Xiao, about the preaching …"
"We're going to war soon. I'm not in the mood to talk about preaching."
Xiao Ruxun rejected him right away.
"But, General, this was not our intention. Some people did it behind our backs. Moreover, if you insist on going to war, the Spanish will not let it go. They still have a very powerful army in their homeland, they …"
"Hiding it from you can cost the lives of more than seven hundred of my people?!"
Xiao Ruxun shouted. She stood up and threw the brush in her hand on the ground. She shouted angrily at Matteo Ricci, "You keep saying that God loves everything, and that God loves everyone! However, when the time comes, which one of you will stand up and seek justice for my seven hundred innocent people? It's you! Or is it that Alexander?! Who?! "
Ricci was so frightened that he knelt on the ground, trembling.
Ever since they met, he had never seen Xiao Ruxun treat him so fiercely, nor had he seen Xiao Ruxun act in such a manner. He was terrified, and he was a yes-man.
"You're not going to do it? Fine! I'll lead the army to seek justice! He had to seek justice for his people! Not only for those seven hundred people, but also for those innocent people who died in your hands over the years. I'll seek justice for them one by one.
Mr. Li, this Marquis still calls you Mr. Li. I have nothing to say about you personally, but do you really think that this Marquis doesn't know that your so-called priests are enclosing lands all over Luzon and making my Hua Xia people do hard labor for them? Your church and the Spaniards, one civil and the other military, have managed Luzon very well! Good! Ah! "
Xiao Ruxun's words pierced Ricci's heart.
Ricci's face suddenly turned pale. His eyes widened, and he even forgot to tremble.
Xiao Ruxun walked in front of Ricci, squatted down, and looked into Ricci's eyes.
"Spain, a small country. It's a strong country in your country, but in my opinion, it's just a small country. So what if he comes with the whole country? Ever since this Marquis entered the battlefield, which battle did I not win? Mr. Li, do you really think that if Luzon is occupied by Spain, this Marquis will be afraid of Spain?
To tell you the truth, this Marquis had planned to expel the Spanish three years ago, but I didn't have a good excuse. This time, it's them who gave me the excuse. Do they think I'll let go of this opportunity? The Spanish are good at dealing with those ignorant and helpless barbarians, but against Daming, hehe! "
Xiao Ruxun stood up and coldly smiled.
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