Before Li Xin set off, Wei Ze personally suggested that Li Xin should visit the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel if he had the opportunity. The governor made a suggestion in his personal name, and Li Xin certainly tried his best. The Holy See still gave some face to the request of the Chinese foreign minister, and the Sistine Chapel is the Pope's private chapel, and the Pope can decide this matter alone.

Looking at Michelangelo's peerless work "Genesis", Li Xin was shocked. The Sistine Chapel has undertaken many important tasks, such as the election of a new pope here, and the smoke of centuries-old incense has cast an indescribable layer of dirt on the frescoes, but the obscuration of this layer of dirt makes the zenith painting show a dignified sense of history.

The Chinese ambassador to Italy also came to visit for the first time and saw these zenith paintings for the first time. The ambassador admired his superior's intelligence work more than he admired the work of the art. There is no shortage of Renaissance art in Italy, and there are many classics. Compared to those classics, the paintings of the Sistine Chapel are undoubtedly the classics of the classics. How did Foreign Minister Li Xin know about this art-filled church, and the ambassador had to think about it.

After visiting "Genesis" and "The Last Judgment", Li Xin ended this artistic journey with satisfaction. The accompanying bishop invited Li Xin to the Vatican's reception room, where a cardinal received the Chinese foreign minister.

Of course, the Holy See wanted to expand its influence as much as possible, and it is said that many preachers had achieved great success in Goryeo and Japan over the years, and that the distant eastern powers had adopted strong defensive measures against the Holy See. The cardinals of the Holy See have their own jobs, and the one who receives Li Xin is in charge of diplomatic affairs.

"Why has your country not allowed us to preach in your country?" The cardinal asked the question bluntly.

"In our country's law, no one is allowed to intimidate anyone." Li Xin replied.

Regarding Li Xin's words, the cardinal didn't understand it for the time being. He frowned slightly, expressing his difficulty in understanding what Li Xin's words meant.

Li Xin explained: "Born sinful, this is intimidation. In our country, this is a lawsuit. The reason why we reject the personnel of the Holy See is because of the protection of the Holy See. Otherwise, as soon as your personnel begin to proselytize, our judiciary will arrest and try them in accordance with our laws, and then send them to prison to serve their sentences. Don't you think that's pointless? ”

The cardinal is also a person who has seen the world, and after listening to Li Xin's words, the bishop was temporarily stunned. After a long time, he said in a calm tone: "Listen, Your Excellency, you seem to have read the Bible, too?" ”

"I've read some of the Old Testament and the New Testament, and according to the Scriptures, those who work on the Sabbath are killed. I am very busy at work, and it is common for me to work for ten days and half a month in a row. According to the scriptures, how many times have I had to be killed? Li Xin replied with a smile.

That's the Old Testament, not the New Testament! The cardinal said something in his heart, but he didn't say it. A person like Li Xin, who has read the Old Testament and the New Testament, can't really not know the difference. The reason why I say this is just a small trap set by Li Xin.

"Is Your Excellency the Foreign Minister an atheist?" The cardinal gets to the heart of the matter.

"No, I'm not atheist." Li Xin replied. Without waiting for the cardinal to ask Li Xin about his beliefs, Li Xin continued: "I am a materialist. ”

The cardinal was a little intrigued, "More detail?" ”

Li Xin explained: "When Jehovah or Jesus, one or two of the two people appeared before me and showed the ability to move mountains and destroy the world, I immediately believed that they really existed and was willing to listen to what they had to say. The two of them don't show up at all, so how can that make me believe in their existence. ”

After hearing this arrogant words, the cardinal only wanted to curse Li Xin to go to hell after his death, but he still held back. As Li Xin said earlier, it is illegal to threaten others in China. The cardinal will not let Li Xin's little trap deceive him. The bishop said seriously: "The Holy See exists. ”

The bishop was serious, and Li Xin also replied seriously: "Of course I admit that the Holy See exists. I also know that the Holy See has banned the Theory of the Movement of the Heavenly Bodies and burned Bruno. That is, the Holy See is at the service of the interests of the Holy See. I am not biased against this, and I think it is justified from the point of view of the Holy See. But for us in China, what we need is to develop production, promote science, and promote truth. The Holy See is not helpful in these areas, and can only play a negative role. For the sake of our country and people, we cannot allow the Holy See to enter China. In this regard, I hope that the Holy See will be able to understand our position. ”

After listening to such a clear answer, the cardinal has fully understood the Chinese position expounded by Li Xin. The Bishop was not offended, and for a man of his time, it was easiest to understand and accept action by evaluating it in terms of interests. It is power that determines the world, and the Holy See has no power in China, no broad masses of believers, no reliable internal spokesperson, and the Holy See has no basis for negotiating conditions with China.

The two sides chatted for a while, and the cardinal politely sent Li Xin out.

Li Xin also admired the cardinal's diplomatic skills, and the group of people who ate religious meals were really very patient, and they would not put themselves in a disadvantageous situation. Even if they are provoked, they can respond calmly. Li Xin felt that he needed to study seriously in this regard and improve his diplomatic level.

After making contact with the Holy See, Li Xin made contact with the Italian government. After all, it is a European country, and the court level of the Kingdom of Italy is a little stronger than that of the Ottoman Empire. It's just a little stronger.

Li Xin met with many people, most of whom only wanted to go to China to pan for gold. The big deal between China and Russia shook the whole of Europe and revived Europe's aspirations for China's prosperity.

"Your Excellency, is China really full of gold mines?" A beautiful minister and countess asked Li Xin seriously at the reception. Next to it were a group of ladies and ladies of high-ranking officials of almost the same status.

Li Xin took a glass of wine and said to the countess seriously: "Madam, I am the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and I am not in charge of domestic prospecting. Although gold exploration is not my professional job, I would very much like to see that your imaginary China full of gold mines is our reality. In fact, this is not the case, China has always been short of gold and silver mines, and for nearly 3,000 years, China's main currency was state-issued copper coins. Instead of gold or silver coins. Silver coins began to circulate in large quantities in China, as a result of the massive influx of Mexican eagles into China in the last one or two hundred years. ”

These words shattered the gold rush dream that the aristocratic women had longed for, and the minister's wife looked at Li Xin with puzzled eyes, and she asked, "Your Excellency, is the gold ship mentioned recently also fake?" ”

Li Xin smiled and said: "The agreement with Russia is true, and we did pay Russia 100 tons of gold for the purchase of land. ”

The topic rekindled the interest of the women, and at once a young duchess lady asked, "What is the golden ship like?" Is it escorted by Chinese warships? ”

There are also women who are not particularly interested in gold, and their question is: "Your Excellency, is the claim that there is a lot of silk in China also false?" ”

Li Xin did not want to answer the question about the golden ship, so he took over the topic of Chinese silk. "Believe me, there is a lot of silk in China, more than everyone can imagine."

"Why do you see more English and French silk on the market?" The ladies became interested in the topic of Li Xin.

Li Xin said with a smile: "This has to be asked to His Excellency the Italian Minister in charge of import and export." If the ladies see him, please help me lobby for not to charge such a high tax on Chinese products. ”

Finally getting rid of the encirclement of those Italian upper-class women, Li Xin sat down tiredly and returned to the position where the Chinese gathered. The secretary looked at Li Xin with envious eyes, and he said, "Minister Li, the French side has already given a response. Agree to our visit to Paris. ”

"Oh." Li Xin responded.

The secretary then reported the situation, "But the French side said that it was not the French Foreign Minister who received us, but the Foreign Affairs Committee. There are a lot of people in the Foreign Affairs Committee, and I think they mean to make things difficult for us. ”

Li Xin was not surprised, and his tone inadvertently revealed some mockery, "The same is the loss of the colony, the Russians get gold, and the French get nothing." If we don't make it difficult for us, the French will not be able to get out of this evil breath. ”

"Then Minister Li means that the French will have a Hongmen banquet?" The secretary couldn't help but joke.

"It's not like the Hongmen Banquet, but I think the French probably want to get some golden flowers. Hehe. Li Xin sneered.

"Do you still have to give money to the French?" The secretary didn't smile, he asked seriously.

Li Xin looked at the secretary's nervous expression, and he knew how much pressure the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was under in this big deal. Li Xin immediately explained to the secretary: "The French think of beauty. Russia and we are close neighbors, and it is one thing to like Russia or not, but at this stage there is far from the need to make trouble to the point of dying. What threat can the French give us? Will you send a ship to our China? If the French really did this, it is expected that Germany and England would die of joy. ”

The secretary was greatly relieved to hear that Li Xin did not make a proposal to give money to the French. "Shall we go or not? The French will not be polite to us if we go. ”

Li Xin said seriously: "Whether the French are polite or not is their choice, it is easy to make us unhappy, but if you want the China we represent to be unhappy, the French must have this strength first!" ”