In the past, the officials of the Ming Dynasty only valued their missionaries' knowledge of artillery casting and astronomy, so they would allow them to preach.

Hearing that Zheng Chenggong had asked them to become priests instead of casting cannons himself, Spitra was amazed.

But soon they became excited, and whenever a teenager came to study, they could teach and spread the Gospel of God at the same time. Once they are informed, they will be more sincere than adults.

Spitro hurriedly said, "Your Excellency the Earl, we are willing to send the best and most learned missionaries to help you build the Academy. May God bless you so that you can drive those barbarians away and bring the light back to your subjects! ”

Zheng Chenggong nodded when he heard this, "I allow you to preach, but I don't allow you to force them to believe in your religion, and at the same time, it is our tradition to respect Kong and respect our ancestors, so you can't ask religious people to change their traditional customs." ”

Spirola nodded hurriedly and said, "We have lived in China for more than ten years, we know that this is your custom, and we will respect your tradition." ”

Zheng Chenggong was relieved when he heard this, he was most afraid that these ghosts were sticking to some rules, and he must let Huaxia keep what he was supposed to worship except for worshipping God.

In that way, even if he really wanted to promote cultural exchanges between China and the West through the academy, he would not be able to withstand the pressure of the Chinese scribe class. After all, now I have to rely on them to govern and fight the world.

Zheng Chenggong negotiated with Father Spirola, and he was not interested in watching it. There's still a lot of work to be done, and there's so much free time there, and it's a waste of time to visit St. Paul's College.

Spirola originally wanted to send Zheng Chenggong, but Zheng Chenggong refused.

When he walked out of the academy and slowly walked down the long steps, Lin Xishan couldn't help but say, "General, are you really going to send schoolchildren over to learn from these priests?" ”

"What's the matter, Jian Chu doesn't approve?"

"General, but if it is not my clan, its heart will be different! If I send the schoolchildren, I am afraid that they will be deceived by the missionaries and become their people! ”

"Jian Chu, I know your concerns. It's just that now China is facing changes that have not been seen in thousands of years, and we have only stared at the land of Kyushu for so many years, but we don't know how big the world is. Those ghosts were able to sail ships from the far west across the sea to China, harassing the coastal areas three or four times. But what about us? We don't even know where they are. Mencius once said: If you enter, you will not be able to fight at home, and if you go out, you will be invincible to foreign patients, and the country will perish! Our current enemies are the Manchu Tartars, but in the future it will inevitably be those foreigners. The art of war is cloudy, knowing oneself and knowing the other side will not be defeated in a hundred battles! We must learn the technology of foreign Yi and understand their national conditions, so that we can master the skills of Yi and control them! As for what you say will be deceived by the missionaries, that's a problem! In this way, before these students come here to study, I will send Confucian students to teach them the way of Confucius and Mencius, maintain the fine cultural traditions of the Chinese nation, and achieve Chinese and Western use! ”

Guangdong, Fujian and other southeastern coastal areas were the first to come into contact with foreign cultures, and in trade with foreign merchants, they all accepted foreign cultures, resulting in a less stubborn and conservative atmosphere in the north.

After Lin Xishan heard it, he thought of those ships and cannons, and felt that what the general said made sense, so he stopped mentioning this matter.

Seeing Zheng Chenggong leaving, Spirola immediately ran to the study to write a letter. In order to be able to preach in Xiamen as soon as possible, he could not wait to recruit missionaries from all over China to help form the Xiamen College.

Zheng Chenggong walked out of the academy and returned to the General, Wang Zhongxiao had already counted all the spoils of the war.

Wang Zhongxiao was born in the twenty-first year of Wanli (1593), the word is long Confucian, the number is ashamed, and he is a native of Shage Village, Nanpu Township. In the first year of Chongzhen (1628), he was promoted to Jinshi, awarded the head of the household department, and managed the registration account and field endowment in the central financial department.

I heard that Zheng Chenggong set up a recruitment hall in Haicheng to recruit relict ministers and wise men. He, Shen Quanqi, and Gu Chaojian all rushed over to take refuge.

Because Zheng Tai is in charge of foreign trade, he often needs to go out by boat to deal with foreign businessmen. Now Zheng Jiajun's grain, grass, military salary, and household department are mainly in charge of Wang Zhongxiao.

Seeing that Zheng Chenggong was back, Wang Zhongxiao hurriedly stepped forward and said: "General, this time we defeated the Franco, our army was sunk 12 warships, 28 warships were damaged, 14 of those damaged warships could not be repaired, our army lost a total of 26 warships, and 2,107 soldiers were killed and wounded. ”

Hearing the number of casualties, Zheng Chenggong was a little sad.

One will be a success!

Since the uprising, no less than 20,000 people have been killed or wounded in the Zheng family's army.

It's just that now the Han people are being bullied by the barbarians, and they always need someone to stand up and raise their arms and shout to wake up the blood of the Han people.

Zheng Chenggong was busy sweeping away the sadness in his heart, reinvigorated his spirit and said, "What about the enemy? ”

"Thirty-one ships of the Franc aircraft were sunk and 43 were seriously damaged. There were 34 warships and more than 3,000 soldiers who took our prisoners. Dare to ask the general, what to do with those prisoners? ”

Zheng Chenggong thought for a while and said: "Those with hands and feet are sent to work in the fields, and ask them if they are willing to join our army with sound hands and feet, and tell them that as long as they have military merits, I can let them regain their freedom." If you don't want to, you will be sent to work in a workshop or mine. ”

Wang Zhongxiao heard it and said, "Yes, the lower officials remember." Except for the captives, most of the supplies in the Governor's Palace in Macao were looted by Admiral Francois and the Governor. How many didn't we find? Only 32 guns belonging to the academy on the battery. Do you want the general to send someone to dismantle those cannons? ”

"That's not necessary, those missionaries are willing to help us cast artillery, plus we have set up firearms workshops in Xiamen and Kinmen one after another, and we will not lack artillery in the future!"

……

Zheng Chenggong was listening to the Macau statistics report when a guard with a messenger hurriedly walked in.

As soon as the messenger saw Zheng Chenggong, he immediately said: "General, Xiamen urgent!" ”

Zheng Chenggong heard a sudden burst in his heart, and he had an ominous feeling, could it be that something happened in Xiamen.

Most of his net worth is hoarded in Xiamen, so don't let anything happen to it!

Zheng Chenggong hurriedly reported the results, tore it open and looked at the beginning, and immediately scolded: "Zheng Zhiguan mistook me!" ”

I saw that the urgent newspaper said that the Qing army broke through Xiamen on September 24.