"It may take generations for a nation to rise, but it can be a moment to decay."

So how many generations did it take for the rise of the Ming Dynasty?

The answer is no, and there is no exact answer.

It seems that the rise of the Ming Dynasty was sudden, and even a little legendary. Perhaps, for the people of the 17th century, they did not know why the Ming Dynasty could suddenly rise to prominence, but in the late 17th century, even the most ignorant villagers in Europe knew that there was a prosperous kingdom in the East, the Celestial Empire.

Celestial!

I don't know when the Celestial Empire has replaced the name Daming, and has become the description of the Ming Dynasty and China in the European population, even in the most remote villages, there will be people who use colorful language to describe everything in the Celestial Empire. Describe the prosperity there, the life there.

Unlike the gold-encrusted palaces of kings described in Marco Polo's travels, the Celestial Empire is now often portrayed of how rich and comfortable the people lived there. Almost everyone believes that it is the closest place to heaven.

Actually, to a certain extent. They called the Ming Dynasty the Celestial Empire because it was closer to heaven.

"Is there a paradise in the world?"

On the stage of London's chaotic market, an actress in gaudy makeup asked.

"Yes, but it's not called heaven, it's called the Celestial Empire......"

Just by hearing this name, everyone will be fascinated, after all, for them, the Celestial Empire has always been a paradise. Although they had never been to that place, it did not prevent them from imagining everything there through opera.

Celestial!

A deceptively simple name, full of European fantasies about it, the people of Europe were more eager to travel to the Celestial Empire than to the New World. Compared to the unpredictable New World in the Celestial Empire, there is a perfect paradise.

But is it heaven?

Again, Father John Tillotson, who looked at the people who were already fascinated by just one "Celestial Empire", had such a question in his mind, but no one explained it all.

In fact, there is no need for much explanation, for people living in Europe, in their imagination, the Celestial Empire is not just Marco Polo's El Dorado. It is also an equal, free country. It is a place where everyone can realize the value of their lives and live a peaceful and prosperous life.

In many cases, people imagine that heaven is nothing more than that. And because most people don't know about the Celestial Empire, they are willing to use all their imagination to imagine that beautiful kingdom on earth. And to mythologize everything there, to imagine him, and even in the process, they do not hesitate to make up all sorts of lies. And are willing to tell others the lies they have weaved. Convince everyone that that's the real truth.

At least in John's opinion. That's the truest thing. There has never been a paradise on earth in the world, and the so-called paradise on earth is just people's imagination.

"Haha, I knew, I knew it was like this......"

As soon as he entered the house, before the maid could hang up her clothes, John Tillowson heard his father's excited shouts.

"John, you're here to tell you good news."

John Wilkins said excitedly when he saw his son.

"We've finally built a high-pressure steam engine made by the Celestial Empire, and Nelson wrote to me that they believe their work is close to the Celestial Empire......"

John Tillotson's gaze was a little puzzled when he heard the words "Celestial Empire" from his father, the founder of the Royal Society, the only person who had served as dean of both Oxford and Cambridge, and now Bishop of Chester.

Didn't he realize the error in his words? Could it be that she, like the ignorant people, believed that there was a Celestial Empire in the East that was like a paradise on earth?

"Father, why, do all of us call Ming Guo by the Celestial Empire?"

Looking at his father, he raised the question in his heart.

"Celestial Empire?"

John Wilkins said puzzled.

"Is there something wrong? Well, let's not talk about that, you see, we're on the steam engine now, we've caught up with the Celestial Empire, and I think we'll soon build a British railroad as well, and God forbid, we'll finally be able to catch up with the Celestial Empire. ”

Looking at his father's fluttering beard when he mentioned the steam engine, John Tillotson couldn't help but shatter his illusions.

"Yes, we may be able to build England's first railroad in a few years' time, but, father, please don't forget, the Ming people have built tens of thousands of miles of railways, and maybe their streets are full of steam locomotives, who knows? So, please don't be complacent, after all, in England, there doesn't seem to be a need for a steam engine there except for the arsenal! This is true even throughout Europe. ”

John Tilloson's directness made his father stunned for a moment, and then smiled for a while.

"Seemingly, you're not very happy?"

It was only at this time that he discovered his son's dissatisfaction. There is even some incomprehension of his son's attitude.

"Happy? Father, you should take a look, now, when almost everyone talks about the Celestial Empire, they are all dancing with their eyebrows, everyone is talking about something, the Celestial Empire is heaven, they are talking about something, if there is a heaven on earth, it must be in the Celestial Empire. My God, this is the present England, the English are no longer God's people, but followers of the Celestial Empire, and people can even close their eyes and say the benefits of the Celestial Empire, and name the place of the Celestial Empire, not only Zhongdu, but also Guangzhou, Wuchang, Changsha, Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou...... But how many people can name places in England? ”

Looking at his excited son, John Wilkins did not immediately contradict him, but quietly watched him and listened to her talk about her management there. After a moment, he looked at him and said.

"Why is this happening?"

His father's rhetorical question made John Tillosen's eyes widen.

Why?

In John Bunyan's new book Pilgrim's Progress, the writer of the book meets in a dream a man with a heavy burden named Christian, who is going to the city of heaven, and Christians go through many hardships and treks through mountains and rivers to reach the ideal kingdom of the highest good. But how many people in this world are willing to go through a lot of hardships and trek through mountains and rivers to reach the ideal country? Few, very few people are willing to do this, but the Celestial Empire, in the eyes of many people, as long as they can afford a ticket, they can reach the Celestial Empire and live a new life of abundance like the people of the Celestial Empire, God, is there such a simple thing in the world? ”

Sometimes people are willing to believe that there is a paradise on earth, not because there is such a paradise, but because they feel that paradise is closer to them. More realistic.

That realistic paradise on earth can be everyone's dream, because everyone has the possibility to get there. It doesn't take much effort. You only need a ferry ticket.

That's the fundamental reason why people want to believe all this. It's not because there really is. It's because the goal is simpler.

In his father's exclamation, John Tillotson agreed.

"Indeed, only European scholars were welcomed there, and ordinary people were driven back without even being able to pass through the customs of Nantianmen. The Ming State itself also relocated a large number of poor people to the colonies, and if it were not for the vast colonies, their homeland might have been even more barren than England, after all, there were so many of them. ”

Compared to the average British people. Through the descriptions of missionaries and scholars, John gave her a better understanding of what the Celestial Empire was like.

It has never been a mythical paradise on earth, at least not for ordinary Britons. It could even be argued that ordinary British people are not welcome there at all.

"Lots of people! But the country is also very big! ”

John Wilkins looked into the distance, his gaze with a hint of yearning.

"Actually, if possible, I hope to go to the Celestial Empire one day, I have never seen heaven, but many people say that it is the closest place to heaven, so ...... I want to check it out. ”

Looking at his father, John Tillosen sighed.

"Father, your age and status do not allow you to make such a voyage."

It wasn't just his father who came there to see it, there were countless British people who were curious about it. Almost everyone longs to get there. It's just because of curiosity, but it's also because of some kind of longing.

"So, I want you to go there instead of me."

"What? I! ”

John Tillotson looked at his father in bewilderment, he didn't expect his father to think like this.

"Why, you know, I don't like Mingguo, I don't even have a lot of affection for it, I feel like everything is fake. A lot of what we know may be made up. ”

"It's because you don't like it that I want you to go."

Wilkins looked at his son and smiled and said,

"If it is a person who likes the Celestial Empire, I am afraid that he will not come back, and I will never know what it is really like there."

"But father, I am a priest, and priests are not welcome there."

Once upon a time, it was the priest who knocked on the door of the Ming Dynasty, and even ten years ago, the priest could enter and exit the Ming Dynasty freely, but later, the priest was also restricted. However, they did not prohibit missionary work, but only required that the priest must be from the Ming Kingdom. As early as the first visit of their mission to Rome, they had reached a consensus with the Holy See on this issue, and even among the missions, there were Ming people who accompanied them to study theology.

"But you are also a scholar, my son, and a very good scholar! Go, for me, and for England too! ”

A few days later, John Tillotson left England on a merchant ship of the Ming Kingdom, sailed all the way, rested at the Cape of Good Hope for two days, and set out again, and after a thirty-six days of sailing, he finally saw land again.

"John, you see, this is Malacca, and at the end of the Strait of Malacca is the South Heavenly Gate, I heard that it is the southernmost point under the direct jurisdiction of the Celestial Empire, and entering the South Heavenly Gate is considered to be entering the territory of the Celestial Empire."

Freeh is a botanical scholar from Hesse, a very unpopular subject, but he believes it will help him get a research job in Daming, which has the largest number of schools in the world. When he was at the Cape of Good Hope, he had already inquired about everything, and many of the people on the ship who dreamed of heaven had disembarked in the Ming colony of the Cape of Good Hope, and most of them had become indentured laborers of the Ming farmers.

"We're going to apply for a visa there, and if we don't, we might be able to try our luck in the surrounding countries."

Compared to Free, who knew nothing about the future, John Tillotson had the confidence to get a visa.

The ship was about to enter the port, and the people on board were very excited, whether it was the Ming people or the Westerners on the ship, after all, after staying at sea for so long, everyone was eager to set foot on land again.

This is the end of the ship. Further into the Empire, there were domestic routes, and there were special firms in charge of those routes.

As foreigners, John Tilrosson and Frey Heydrich and others need to apply for visas to go to the mainland at Nantianmen, so after packing their bags, John disembarked.

After getting off the ship, John and Freery went directly to the South Customs Building next to the pier, and then began to queue at the visa office, and while waiting in line, he found that the people here came from almost all of Europe, they spoke a variety of languages, and all of them tried to prove to the customs officers of the Celestial Empire that they had the talents needed by the Celestial Empire, so as to obtain visas and get the opportunity to enter the Celestial Empire.

When it was Free's turn, John saw that he had prepared a lot of materials, perhaps all botanical materials, and as he explained the botanical knowledge there, John even admired the customs officers, how could they discern which of these people really possessed the talents that the Ming Kingdom needed?

Of course, John was not clear about this. And he didn't have much time to care about Forry either, and soon it was his turn. After all, there are more than a dozen customs officers here who are also handling visas.

"What's your name?"

"John Tillotson, I'm from England, graduated from Cambridge University, and also studied at Oxford University, here's my invitation......"

Actually, all this can be less complicated. All it takes is an invitation, and John Tillotson's invitation is from the famous Dr. Newton Bull. After the customs officer saw the invitation, the next questions were often symbolic.

However, in just a few minutes, the customs officer stamped a piece of paper and said to John Tillotson in English with a smile.

"Welcome to Daming!"