"Europa under Christian rule is dark, and only two eyes that radiate the light of curiosity and wisdom are watching the world: Venice and Genoa!" - Napoleon. Bonaparte.

This is Napoleon, the leader of the Europa Revolution in the fifth century. Bonaparte's quote. In fact, it is also true that Europa in the 13th century is to some extent the same as the Chinese Celestial Empire, which was closed off from the rest of the world, and was ignorant, ignorant and arrogant about the superstition of Christ, which almost blinded the whole of Europa.

But the pope of Europa was not Lao Tzu, the emperor of the Chinese Celestial Empire, although most of the popes of this period wanted to be a theocratic prophet. But these old gods with worrying abilities and morals can't do this at all. In the 13th century of Christianity, they were able to use excommunication decrees and lawbreakers to rectify the feudal monarchs of various countries, but they had no way to deal with merchant republics such as Venice and Genoa.

So, the dark Middle Ages in Europe were not all dark, and there were a few places where wisdom and reason shone brightly. Right in Italy, right under the nose of the Ecumenical Church, it is acting on its own, flouting the majesty of the Ecumenical Church all the time. It also became a refuge for reason and wisdom in the Dark Ages.

And when the advanced civilizations of the outside world began to attack Europa under the shroud of darkness, the two big eyes of Venice and Genoa blinked again and began to look at the world curiously.

……

"Ambassador, His Highness Doria (Cardinal Archbishop is equivalent to a prince and can be honored as His Royal Highness) wants to go to China and serve as an ambassador to the Holy See."

In the guest room where Liang Chongru lived, Cardinal Giovanni. Doria after a pleasant exchange. Finally made his first request. Instead of underwriting oriental goods shipped to Macao, he wanted to go to China as an ambassador.

Hear the words of Niccolò's translation. Liang Chongru was stunned for a moment, and it was certain that he would establish diplomatic relations with the Holy See. Before today's banquet. He has officially submitted the credentials of the Ming Emperor. But he did not expect that the Holy See would make the decision to send an ambassador to China so quickly, let alone that the Doria in front of him would be interested in the envoy of Wanli - this is not a comfortable and easy errand. Liang Chongru himself had no way to come, and his qualifications and background in the Ming court were not good. Chen Dexing made him the secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a few months, with the purpose of asking him to visit Europa.

"In addition, His Royal Highness Doria will also serve as the ambassador of the Republic of Genoa to Daming." Niccolò continued to translate Bishop Doria's request.

The Republic of Genoa was still a little far from Rome at once, and the decision to send an ambassador was apparently made very early. The merchant republic reacted quickly enough!

Finally, His Royal Highness Doria also wants to bring a group of Italian students to study at universities in China. Moreover, His Royal Highness Doria himself also hopes to enter the Tiandao Academy in Beijing, where he is a graduate of the Faculty of Law of the University of Parma. He has considerable attainments in mathematics, astronomy, and theology. ”

Italy in the 13th century had not only merchant states that opened their eyes to the world, but also many ancient universities. For example, the University of Parma, the University of Perugia, the University of Padua, the University of Bologna, etc. Most of these universities are sponsored by merchant states, and many of the leaders of merchant states have also graduated from these universities.

Almost all of the Doria families in Genoa studied at the University of Parma, near Genoa. The aristocratic profiteers of Venice were mostly alumni of the liberal University of Padua. Although these Italian universities are far inferior to those of the Ming Dynasty when it comes to the level of the natural sciences, they are ahead of the curve in philosophy, art, and academic freedom.

Liang Chongru pondered for a moment, and Chen Dexing did not give any instructions on Sino-European academic exchanges. This also means that he can take full authority to deal with the relevant matters - it seems good to let the natives of Europa study in the Ming Dynasty, as if it is conducive to the spread of Tiandao thought......

"His Highness Doria's request, the envoy could have agreed." He paused, then added. "However, this envoy cannot guarantee that all Europa students will be able to enter Daming University, because Daming University entrance exam is not easy to pass."

In the exam, the Han people must be the first in the world! After the abolition of the imperial examination system. The scholars in Huaxia were lost for a while, and then they found that the way to get ahead in the exam didn't seem to be completely blocked. Jinshi cannot be tested. But you can also go to university and military school. Although the career of university and military academy graduates cannot be compared with that of Jinshi, they are not much better than those of officials without diplomas. So the difficulty of going to university and military school. In the past few years, it has risen in a straight line, and it is almost catching up with the solution of the previous dynasty.

"Thank you for the reminder," Bishop Doria, who did not know how difficult it was to get into Daming's university, replied with a smile, "The students sent to the East will be the best students of all the universities in Italy, and I believe in their talents." ”

"That's fine." Liang Chongru didn't pay too much attention to Genoa's sending students to study in Daming, in fact, he didn't know what was taught in those universities in Daming.

"Your Highness Doria," Liang Chongru was slightly sleepy, so he decided to get straight to the point, "Now that Europa is about to come to disaster, the Mongol army is ready to go, and when the climate in the north warms up, they will probably attack Poland!" This time, it was not the 12,000 soldiers and horses of the Golden Horde, but Kublai Khan's 200,000 or 300,000 troops! If Europa can't concentrate on fighting with all its might, I'm afraid that within a few years, the iron hooves of the Mongols will sweep across the continent, and even Genoa will not be able to stand alone, right? ”

Listening to Niccolò's translation, Giovanni. Doria's delicate face also showed a little melancholy, that is, just a few points. The threat of a Mongol invasion was assessed by the top of the Republic of Genoa long ago. If there really were a Mongol invasion of hundreds of thousands of people, then the Great Plains of Eastern and Central Europe would not be able to hold it in any way. It is quite possible that the Mongols penetrated all the way to the territory of France.

But the Christian kingdoms of Europa were able to hold on to the Alps, the Pyrenees, and the Carpathians, as well as the entire southern part of Europa and the Mediterranean coast.

At the same time, the territory of the Norse Vikings and the islands of Britain and Ireland were mostly defended...... This is certainly a difficult time for the Europas. But the maritime republics of Genoa and Venice will not fall, and will still be able to reap the benefits of this worldwide war.

In short, life will not be too difficult.

"Genoa will hold on, there's no doubt about that!" Ambassador Doria pondered and replied, "Actually, the situation is not so bad, northern Italy is a long mountainous area, which is not suitable for cavalry activities. France, Iberia, Porgundy, Saxony, Switzerland, the Black Forest, Austria, Bohemia, Hungary and Serbia had many warlike knights. Now the question is how to organize, equip them, and train them as necessary. I think...... This requires the full cooperation of the Ecumenical Church and the Holy Roman Empire. ”

The Ecumenical Church and the Holy Roman Empire have been tearing each other apart for many years, with both the Pope and the Emperor considering themselves "masters of the world". But now, the real world empire has come to the door, and if you don't cooperate, you will have to be a fourth-class European. Therefore, the 18 cardinal archbishops gathered in Rome agreed on the need to end the confrontation between the Ecumenical Church and the Empire, and at the same time to end the embarrassing situation of the vacant imperial throne as soon as possible, and to elect the Pope as soon as possible. After all, it is impossible to convene a crusader without a pope, and the Holy Roman Emperor is the most suitable commander of the crusaders. Only the full cooperation of the two can maximize Europa's war potential.

"Who will be the Pope?" Liang Chongru asked. Although he knew that Pontaléon was not a good person, the old Europa god who could deal with him was also Pontaléon alone.

"His Highness Pontaleon, of course!" Archbishop Doria looked at Liang Chongru, "Both Genoa and Venice will support His Highness Pontaleón, on the condition that the oriental goods shipped to Macao must be underwritten by the Genoa and Venice chambers of commerce. ”

"Oriental goods?" Liang Chongru just smiled and asked rhetorically, "What is considered an oriental commodity?" Does silver count? Does gold count? Does equipping the Europa countries with weapons count? If Genoa and Venice were to underwrite these things, I'm afraid the whole of Europa would not tolerate it, right? ”

"There are only three categories: silk, spices, and porcelain." Archbishop Doria explained word for word, "These three categories of goods are the life of Genoa and Venice!" In addition, Genoa and Venice also want to run a silk, spice and porcelain market with the Governor's Palace, which is located in the western market of Macau. All these three categories of goods arriving in Macao must be sold in this market in the form of public auctions to merchants belonging to the Chamber of Commerce of Genoa and Venice. Merchants affiliated with the Genoa and Venice chambers of commerce who underwrite the sale of silk, spices, porcelain and other three categories of goods in Macao should be exempt from duty...... I don't mean that these goods are not subject to tax when they are brought into the port of Macau, but that they are not subject to any taxes when they are shipped out of the port of Macau by Venetian and Genoese merchants. In addition, all goods imported into the port of Macao by merchants belonging to the Chamber of Commerce of Venice and Genoa should enjoy the most favorable tax rates. In principle, it shall not exceed 5% of the value of the commodity in the port of Macao. ”

Reasonable, right? Liang Chongru smiled and nodded, agreeing to the other party's request. In fact, he didn't care much about the so-called Oriental goods in the market of Europa. He was a traditional Confucian bureaucrat, not a businessman. Moreover, his mission to Europa was not to trade, but to help the Europa resist the Mongol invasion. (To be continued......)