I stayed in Sakai Town because I was not needed for the early war in Kii, and because I had to be there to carry out the "big plan" myself. Of course, this is only the embryonic thing in the long run, but now I have reached the limit of my strength and influence. Oda Nobunaga's approval is needed to actually carry it out, and although he has already handed over the management of Sakai Town and Ishiyama to me, what I have to do next is a bit out of the ordinary, even somewhere between "violation" and "violation".

If things are to be done in a safe way and not too abruptly, then they should be done gradually. These days, I seem to have met some people unintentionally, both those who came to visit and those I invited, depending on the situation, blowing the wind first, and waiting for the final "unveiling" of the tea party in two days.

I'm a little tired from making arrangements for the Kii War, and I want to go back to rest, and I should still have time to take a nap after seeing the sky. At this time, Sakurai Sakichi on duty came to report again: Priest Freud is coming to visit!

In the late Warring States period of Japan, this Floyce was a figure worthy of special mention in the history books. He was inextricably linked to the widespread spread of Catholicism in Japan (although due to the declining influence of the Toyotomi and Tokugawa regimes), and he was the one who helped almost all the princes who received goods from Portugal. But I didn't have any dealings with him before, and I met Oda Nobunaga twice at tea parties, and I could count the words on two hands. I have long had the idea of using Catholicism to restrain Buddhism, but after some investigation, I found that this is a person who is not easy to control, and it is better to cultivate a "god stick" by myself! When it comes to business, my traditional relationship is Protestant Netherlands. So I didn't pay much attention to his situation, so I didn't even know that he was coming to Sakaimachi.

But since he's here, I'm still going to meet him, after all, it's good for the prosperity of Sakai Town.

"Your Highness the Stars is well, and may the Lord bless you forever!" Although he has spoken fluent Japanese in Japan for many years, he is still a standard European, bowing slightly and raising his hand to draw a cross, rather than bowing as the Japanese do.

Freus was in his fifties, but his mental outlook was younger than his actual age, with dark flaxen hair and a beard with sideburns, and his basic image was similar to that of Jesus Christ. He wears a traditional black clerical attire, wears a black oak cross connected by an olive pit around his neck, and holds a Latin Bible in his hand at all times.

"Mr. Freus, you're not a subject of Japan, so there's no need to care about Japan's secular hierarchical relations!" I had a smile on my face, but I stabbed him hard in the middle of the words. It is necessary to make him understand that I, like Oda Nobunaga, can only establish a relationship of mutual use, and it is a mistake to try to "trap" me with those ethereal things.

"God loves all men and all are equal! Your Highness, you really have the heart of a believer! Ignoring my cynicism, Freud still assumed the posture of a "saint".

"Please be seated!" I didn't say anything else, after all, there is still room for cooperation between the two sides.

"Thank you!" Freus nodded and sat down on the cushion I was pointing at, and it was then that I saw that there was Yohachiro standing behind him. Just now, because of his size, he was almost blocked by Freous, and the doorman regarded him as an entourage, so he did not report it.

"Sir, come to me, do you have any advice?" I asked, staring into Floyce's eyes.

"I can't talk about advice, but I want to thank you!" Floyce glanced sideways at Yohachiro and said, "I heard Paul say ......"

"Paul?" I didn't react and was stunned for a moment.

"'Paul' is Yohachiro's Christian name!" Freyce immediately explained. "From Paul I learned of His Highness's mercy and valor, saving many of the Lord's subjects from the wicked bandits. You and your warriors are as good as King Arthur and the ......Knights of the Round Table."

"Please wait a minute, I think there is some misunderstanding here!" I don't think I can let him play like this, otherwise it is very likely that he will lead him by the nose in the end. "Taishi Village is located near Wada Castle on the shore of Izumi Province, where the people are registered as local residents and pay taxes on time every year. Therefore, they are indisputably subjects of His Majesty the Emperor, and rightfully enjoy the interest of living and working in peace and contentment in this land. And I, as the guardian of the Izumi Kingdom appointed by the imperial court, it is naturally my unshirkable responsibility to protect them. As the steward of the land, I allow my subjects to follow their chosen religion without compromising the law, but that's about it! ”

"Integrity and courage are certainly the virtues of a nobleman, but ......," said Freus, with solemn seriousness, "justice and modesty are the difference between saints and mortals!" I have the privilege of seeing all these noble qualities in you, blessed are the people of Izumi, and the gospel of heaven is first heard in this land! He was very careful to avoid sensitive words like "God" and "Lord" in favor of "heaven," a term common to all religions, which I couldn't argue.

"I'm ashamed of what you say, is there anything else to do?" I feel a little powerless in this kind of conversation, at least I don't feel that there is even a hint of "modesty" in my words. In this case, it is better to change the topic as soon as possible, and also listen to the "secondary" purpose of their visit.

"I knew you were a magnanimous and generous man, and you never lacked compassion for the weak!" Perhaps he felt that it was time to get to the point, and Freeuis stopped talking about useless nonsense. "After decades of efforts by the Lord's servants, thousands of people in the region have now rejected the temptation of the devil and converted to ......."

"Mr. Floyce, please be careful!" Seeing that he was about to be excited, I reminded me in time: "It's okay to express your own opinions, but please don't criticize others at will!" ”

"Forgive me for being irritable and forgetting for a moment the forbearance of my Lord!" After apologizing, he lowered his head and closed his eyes and said something, probably Latin "amen" or something.

"I understand your noble religious sentiments!" I smiled and nodded. I have always admired the Catholic missionaries, who wield two completely different things, muskets and the Bible, and that "tolerance" and "punishment" are so justified that the use of gifts or the Inquisition depends entirely on the specific situation.

"Thank you for the reminder, but please also take care of the ordinary people who are also your people!" Floyce picked up where he left off. "As you say, you are generous enough to embrace all good beliefs, but there is real exclusion and persecution in this land! People who believe in God are not recognized by the world, and to this day there is no refuge for purifying their souls. What a terrible thing it is for the voice of praise to be lost in the hustle and bustle! I would like to ask for your help to allow us to plant the church! ”

"So that's it!" I nodded secretly, but not so surprised. The church in Taishi Village was a spontaneous underground place at best, and if it was discovered, it would have been destroyed by the lord or nearby Buddhist forces! Although Oda Nobunaga himself was baptized, it seemed to me to be more of a joke with Buddhism, and he only allowed the mission and vetoed the church, which has an impact and psychological bottom line. I'm thinking about building a church in Sakai Town, but I have to keep the progress under control, and I can't give him this "cheapness" for nothing. "It's a bit tricky!" I'm embarrassed to say that.

"Only by your mercy can we rely on it!" The experienced Freouss was not discouraged by this, but listened carefully to what I had to say.

"At present, some of the southwestern daimyo who rebelled against the imperial court have received iron cannons aided by Portugal, and even the proportion of equipment is higher than that of the right general!" I shook my head with difficulty, a grimace on my face. "In this case, I'm afraid His Royal Highness the Right General will not accept my suggestion!"

"I will do my best to regret the above, and the Portuguese merchant ships have begun to supply mainly iron cannons and cannons to the troops of the Right Admiral! Of course, reviving the economy and giving the people a happy land to live and work in peace and contentment is the first wish of the benevolent lord. I will do my best to make Sakai Town the main distribution center for future Portuguese merchant ships! Freus's answer was clear and forceful. He knew very well what I wanted, and the Oda Nobunagaki in front was nothing more than a "disguise".

"From a long-term perspective, the European business force in Sakai Town is a little weak!" I seem to have "just" come up with a great idea. “…… Therefore, I wanted to carve out an area not far from the pier and create a living and shopping area for Europeans. Considering their practical problems, I think it would be acceptable for all parties to build a chapel. Of course, the right general has already abolished the 'right of entry and exit' of the monasteries, so this church cannot enjoy the privilege of criminal immunity either! ”

"The Mass and Confession of the Japanese Believers ......"

"Japanese people are not allowed to enter and leave the European settlements!" I explained right away.

"Thank you again, I believe this is a good start!" As a European, Freud naturally knew that Rome was not built in a day.

"But there's one thing I must warn you of!" I said solemnly. On a principled stand, I have always refused to give up an inch of land. "For the first church in Japan, I think there will be a lot of people who will pay attention to everything about it. I hope you don't embarrass me too much, if something happens that affects the political tendencies of the general public through the church......" I didn't say the following words directly.

"You can rest assured on this, I guarantee it!" Freud swears, but I'm not entirely convinced, it's just that they're not doing it at the moment.

"As long as it is a matter of maintaining stability, I will strongly support it!" I deliberately set my eyes on Yohachiro in the back. "As far as the average Japanese people are concerned, they don't easily trust blond Europeans, and most Japanese Christians are not good at theory! Have you ever considered selecting some potential Japanese Catholics to study in Rome? I can consider giving them a certain amount of room to develop when they come back......"