From the moment the diminutive Chinese pulled out his letter to the Marquis, Provin. Joseph no longer suspected that the other party was not a close confidant of Lord Dharma, not to mention that he had just recognized the purple uniform of the guards next to him.

But hearing that the other party asked him to report to him the harvest of the trip to the East first, and then the other party decided whether to report the intention of the throne, in order not to let his three years of hard work be ruined, Provin. Joseph could not give in to the Chinese named Song Xiance either.

"Mr. Song, I don't think your suggestion is appropriate. No matter how much you have the favor of His Holiness now, this is a task that His Holiness has given me personally, and I have to meet with His Holiness in person and report to him the results of the mission, not to report the results of my efforts to an unrelated person before meeting His Holiness. ”

Look at Provins. Joseph suddenly puffed up his chest and showed himself that he would not give in, but Song Xiance unhurriedly arranged his sleeves, and said calmly without raising his eyelids: "It seems that Mr. Joseph, you seem to have misunderstood my suggestion, and you don't seem to know much about the current political situation in Paris.

I'll be honest with you, I didn't mean to intercept you from collecting merit from Lord Dharma in person, but now the Dharma Throne is in extremely bad health, and the various affairs that the Dharma Throne has to deal with are extremely cumbersome, so the Dharma Throne even had to hand over the contact with people from all over Europe to me, and I will compile the summary and report it to him.

Your mission to the East may have been important to Lord Dharma three years ago, but for a terminally ill old man, the most important thing for him now is his own health; second, domestic political tranquility; The third is the changes in the war that France is facing.

So are you sure you want to question my judgment and personally go to the throne and give a report that may not be fruitful? Also..."

Song Xiance suddenly lowered his hands and looked up at Provan. Joseph's eyes were cold, and he said, "Are you sure you want to offend me?" A man who holds private information for His Holiness. Mr. Joseph, I think it is necessary for you to turn the few wisdom in your head, that even your lord does not dare to pass me and hand the letter directly to the Throne, and how many heads do you think you have to challenge my authority in this way? ”

Provins. Joseph felt a little impatient at first, but as the other man's gaze came over, his heart immediately beat with fright from these sharp eyes. It was about the second terrifying gaze he had ever seen besides Lord Dharma. As for the outwardly elegant and gracious Bishop Mazaran, he had never been so oppressive.

Beads of sweat ran down his temples and then around his ears and into his neck, causing him to feel an itch at the back of his neck. But Provins. Joseph didn't dare to raise his hand to scratch it at all, he looked at Song Xiance nervously, and subconsciously blurted out: "No, no, I didn't mean to despise adults." I just..."

Provin's mind went blank. Joseph really couldn't think of how to defend himself, so he simply bowed his head directly to the other party and whispered: "It's all the villain's fault, it's the villain who got carried away for a while, if the adult wants to know, please ask the villain directly, the villain will never dare to hide it." ”

Song Xiance stared at him for a long time before he raised his hands and hugged each other in front of his chest, leaning back on the soft cushion and facing Prowan. Joseph said, "Well, tell me what you see in the East?" Think about it again, and it's enough to report to Lord Dharma. ”

Provins. Joseph was still very aware of his position, and oriental adventurers like him seemed to be favored by some noble ladies, but in the eyes of the real magnates, they were not fundamentally different from the criminals who had been exiled abroad.

If Lord Faza's health is still there, then the Chinese in front of him will definitely not dare to be so arrogant, as long as he sees the fact that Lord Faza can prove, the other party will definitely not need to deceive him.

And the fact that during the illness of Lord Dharma was able to act on behalf of the Dharma Seat to manage the spies who were all over Europe, it was obviously not something he could offend. What's more, the other party is such a retribution-worthy character, he hasn't done anything, the other party has recorded his attitude, and it is really a terrifying secret agent. Provins. Almost instantly, Joseph remembered what he had heard when he was in China about the torture inflicted on the commoners and nobles by the emperor's spies.

Therefore, he quickly corrected his attitude and honestly told Song Xiance about what he had seen and heard in the East, but he was interrupted several times by Song Xiance because he said it in too much detail.

After listening to Provin. After Joseph's account, Song Xiance found that what the other party had seen and heard in China was only a drop in the bucket, and it was okay to attract women's attention in the salon, but it was probably not enough for Cardinal Richelieu to use these observations to understand China.

Lowering his head and pondering for a moment, Song Xiance looked at Provan. Joseph asked again, "In addition to these observations, what else have you brought back from China that you intend to dedicate to His Holiness?" ”

Provins. Joseph recalled, "There was porcelain, tea and some lacquerware, and a box of books with him. ”

"Books? Do I still have books translated into European languages? Song Xiance said with some puzzlement.

"No, it's all books in Chinese characters. But I hired a Chinese scholar who wanted to come to Europe and had studied Latin and Spanish, and promised me to translate the books into Latin. I've already translated two books along the way..."

Song Xiance interrupted him with a frown: "Do you have a list of these books?" By the way, I will also call the Chinese scholar you hired and let me have a few words with him. ”

Provins. Joseph nodded in agreement and quickly dismounted from the carriage. A quarter of an hour later, he returned to the carriage with a young man in his mid-30s.

Song Xiance talked with him for a few words, and found that the other party was actually a showman, because he liked Western miscellaneous studies, and he also specially worshipped under the Jesuit missionaries to learn Spanish, Latin and some Italian. And during this time on board, also from Provins. Joseph learned French there.

Song Xiance felt that his brain was also good, whether it was plum blossom easy counting or Dutch, French, or Spanish, he could learn it as soon as he could. However, this Zhang Xiucai from Songjiang can actually learn several foreign languages by self-study, and he can be regarded as very talented in languages.

After reading the list of books sent by the other party, he said to Zhang Xiucai: "Introduction to Chemistry, Xu Xiake's Travels, and Asian Illustrated Chronicles have all been taken out, and it is not suitable for the French to know these knowledge and geographical knowledge now." Also, I want you to stay and work for me, is there a problem? ”

Provins. After hearing this, Joseph suddenly said a little anxiously: "My lord, it's nothing if you smoke a few books, but if you leave this Mr. Zhang behind, didn't I bring these books back for nothing?" ”

Xiucai named Zhang Ke was also a little unhappy, and he took a great risk to come to Europe just to see the cultural scenery overseas. was forcibly left by Song Xiance to do things, and it was not so convenient for him to follow the guidance of those missionaries to visit those ancient academies.

However, it is obvious that Song Xiance does not want to reason with the two, but only confirms that Provin. Joseph said, "After you send the books to the Throne, the Throne will ask me to organize the translation of the books." ”

Then he instructed Zhang Ke: "Go and find the books I confessed, and then pack up your things, and change them to my carriage, and we will rush back to Paris in a while." ”

Some unwilling Provins. After hearing this, Joseph immediately interjected with some puzzlement: "I'm also going to Paris, it's better to break up at the edge of Paris." ”

Song Xiance glanced at him and said, "No, you're going to Lyon." By January, he and His Majesty had already marched south to Lyon, where they would train a new army, and then, when spring came, they would go south to the border to support the French army in the confrontation with the Spanish in Roussillon.

So you will reroute south to Lyon, and I will send two guards to be your guide, and they will also lead you to Lord Dharmaza, and then you can report to him what you have seen in the East. ”

After Zhang Ke followed the guards back to the convoy to pack his luggage, Provin. Joseph suddenly whispered to Song Xiance, who was standing in front of the carriage, and asked, "Then do I want to report to Lord Dharma Throne about meeting with the adults?" ”

Song Xiance looked at the sun that was gradually slanting westward, and said meaningfully: "What is there to hide about the meeting, but what did you talk about with me, and how to report to the Dharma Throne, then you have to think about it carefully..."

Provins. Joseph stood at the intersection, watching a group of cavalry escorting Song Xiance's carriage towards the northeast road, and after the dust trampled by the horses' hooves disappeared the figure of the carriage, he relaxed his body, returned to his convoy with the two cavalrymen left, and then directed the convoy to turn to the southern road.

When Song Xiance's carriage approached the city of Paris, the sky had already darkened, and Zhang Ke, who was sitting next to Song Xiance, looked curiously into the night, wanting to see what was the difference between the city wall of Paris and the city wall of the Ming Dynasty.

However, although there were lanterns hanging on the carriage, the range of illumination was not far, and what Zhang Ke could see was a dark shadow hidden in the darkness, and the height of the city wall seemed to be no different from the city wall of the Ming Dynasty.

After a brief negotiation between the cavalry in front of the carriage and the captain of the guard on the wall, the gate was easily opened. Song Xiance, who had been silent, said to Zhang Ke: "It seems that you can't cross the river tonight, now find a place to stay here, and tomorrow I will take you to the accommodation on the other side of the river..."

( = )