On August 15th in the Gregorian calendar in the 23rd year of Chongzhen in the Ming Dynasty, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Macao Peninsula was immersed in a festive atmosphere. This day is to commemorate the Virgin Mary. After the end of her life on earth, her soul and body were received together Paradise.
St. Paul's Church, St. Lawrence Church, St. Anthony's Church, Our Lady of Hope Church and other Portuguese churches in Macau can be seen everywhere, including priests in black robes, nuns and novice nuns in white uniforms, as well as countless pious brothers and sisters.
Portugal is a maritime country, and churches are always the spiritual destination of wanderers.
In a large house near Ruins of St. Paul's (transliteration of St. Paul's), Macau Chinese businessman Li Li walked toward the warehouse anxiously.
Li Li was originally a Chinese from the Lotus Stem Gate area near Macau. Because his daughter married a Portuguese sailor and he converted to God, he moved to Macau. He has been in Macau for twenty years and specializes in selling fruits, vegetables, and chickens. Living supplies such as duck and fish meat. Relying on hard-working hands, he gradually became a famous Chinese businessman in the Macau Peninsula.
In order to consolidate their rule over Macau, the Portuguese adopted the "human sea tactic" and encouraged Portuguese soldiers and missionaries to intermarry with local residents in large numbers, thereby increasing the proportion of the population of Portuguese descendants in Macau, in an attempt to eventually make Macau an integral part of the kingdom. .
A while ago, Li Li's only son was doing business in Xiangshan County. He committed a crime and was arrested. It was originally a small crime, but somehow he offended the county magistrate Lu Liuliang. Lu Qingtian said that the crime was very serious and he had to be beheaded.
The county magistrate who ruins the family, the governor who destroys the family, and the county magistrate cannot be offended.
Li Li hurriedly brought a generous gift to see Lu Qingtian and begged him for mercy.
Unexpectedly, Lu Qingtian said, "No money is needed. If you want to save your son's life, you have to do something for me.
This matter is no small matter. If it is done well, you will be rich and prosperous; if it is not done well, you will be dead??
Li Li took out the key and opened the warehouse door.
He shouted softly: "General Peng".
Ming Dynasty Guangzhou General Peng Zhaoheng stared, "How many times have I told you, don't call me 'general', call me 'cousin'".
After his father Peng Hongpeng died in his country, Peng Zhaoheng was transferred to Guangzhou to become a general. Yongshun Peng has been loyal to generations. This time, he volunteered to sneak into Macau, hoping to do something earth-shattering.
"Cousin, the Assumption Ceremony in St. Paul's Cathedral is about to begin. Please come with me."
Peng Zhaoheng nodded and ordered his subordinates hiding in the warehouse, "You all cheer up and follow me."
This time, he brought 80 elites selected from a hundred, all of whom are warriors among warriors.
After leaving the warehouse, Li Li had already prepared eighty-one sets of black uniforms. Peng Zhaoheng and others put on black robes, looking no different from the devout brothers and sisters outside.
Everyone walked to St. Paul's Cathedral.
This church was remarkable. It was not only the largest Catholic church in the Far East at that time, but also the first Western university in the Far East. Many famous missionaries, such as the Italian missionary Matteo Ricci and the German missionary Tang Ruowang, etc., had studied here.
.
Everyone came to the "Sanba" (transliteration of "Saint Paul" in Cantonese) archway in front of the church. The majestic front wall and the exquisite reliefs on the wall made everyone stare at it.
A combination of Chinese and Western styles, with fine carvings.
Going down from the top of the archway step by step, there is first a high cross, and there are three floors below. There is a bronze statue hidden in the niche on each floor. The dove-shaped bronze statue represents the Holy Spirit, and is surrounded by the sun, moon and stars, symbolizing
The moment when the Virgin Mary was pregnant; the tools used to crucify Jesus are engraved next to the statue of the Infant Jesus; the statue of the Virgin Mother is surrounded by peonies and chrysanthemums, the former representing China and the latter representing Japan. Below are the statues of four Jesuit saints and the Virgin Mary
Defeat the devil picture.
Peng Zhaoheng was secretly speechless, "My dear, how much money will this cost!
As if he heard Peng Zhaoheng's inner doubts, Li Li whispered in his ear: "Cousin, the Yi people spent a lot of money to build this cathedral. It is said that they spent hundreds of thousands of taels of silver. The cost of building this archway alone is as much as
Up to thirty thousand taels.
Peng Zhaoheng glared at Li Li again: "You are concentrating on your work and you are talking too much nonsense."
Li Li did not dare to say anything, and led everyone to continue walking forward, ascending the wide 68-step stone staircase, and arrived at the door of the church.
I met an acquaintance, Father Oniemin, who was wearing a black robe.
Li Li quickly said hello: "Dear priest, hello."
When he saw Li Li, a smile appeared on Oniemin's face. He had a very good impression of Li Li.
Not only does Li Li often donate money and materials to St. Paul's Church, but he also did him a big favor a while ago.
Bishop Menezes of Macau is getting older and is selecting a successor. Priests in various churches are gearing up to develop believers, raise teaching resources, want to achieve results, and compete for the position of bishop.
Half a month ago, Li Li brought him 81 new believers in one go. When asked, most of them were believers from outside Macau. Having so many believers in one fell swoop was a great achievement for himself!<
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"Brother Li Li, are you here to attend the ceremony?"
"Yes, priest. I also brought all the church members from last time here. They all want to go in and bathe in the divine light."
Onieming took a look at the people Li Li brought. Among them, the tall and strong black man was deeply impressed. He had performed the baptism himself at that time.
A kind smile appeared on Oneming's face, "Go in, my children."
Everyone walked to the door and was stopped by the guards.
"Stop, what are you doing?"
Oniemin said majestically to the guards: "These are the Lord's loyal servants in the east, let them in."
Seeing that the priest had spoken, the guard let him go.
Li Li walked to Oniemin and asked softly: "Father, there are never guards standing guard at the door of the church. What happened today?"
Oniemin smiled mysteriously: "The new governor, His Excellency Fezusa, is coming to attend the ceremony. Bishop Meneses, Council Director Magalio and others will also come to accompany him. My son, if I have the chance, I will introduce the bishop
Sir, let me get to know you. I believe this will be very helpful to your career in Macau."
Li Li walked into the church with great gratitude.
??
On the Fortress Hill to the right of St. Paul's Cathedral, the Governor of Macau, Fessusa, is looking at the believers coming and going down the hill. He is also a devout Christian.
Fortress Mountain is said to be a mountain. In fact, it is just a small hill with an altitude of only 52 meters. In fact, all the slopes in Macau: Lotus Mountain, Guia Mountain, Fortress Mountain, Guia Mountain and A-Ma Mountain, etc., have an altitude of
They are only a few tens of meters tall, and the highest one at Guiayang Mountain (Songshan) is only 93 meters.
Although it is not high, the fort on the mountain is extremely strong.
The fort covers an area of about 10,000 square meters, with four corners protruding out to form bastions. The northeast, southwest and southeast walls are nine meters high and three meters wide, with a two-meter-wide crenellated parapet above. Thirty-two walls can be erected.
There are two cannons in the fort to prevent attacks from both directions. There are also bunkers at the two corners of the southeast wall. There are pools and ammunition depots in the fort, with sufficient reserves to cope with a two-year siege.
This fort is the core of Macau's defense system. Together with the city wall and other forts, it forms a wide artillery defense network covering the east and west coasts. Since the third year of the Apocalypse, it has been the official residence of the Governor of Macau.
"Your Majesty the Governor, the ceremony will begin soon. Do you want to go to the church now?"
Macau Army Captain Amariu asked Fessusa for instructions.
The Portuguese army is very chaotic, which is completely different from its neighbor Spain.
Each regiment of the Spanish Army has three columns, each column has four companies, and each company has ninety arquebusiers, forty heavy musketeers and ninety spearmen. Clearly, obviously
Baibai.
The organization of the Portuguese army was a mess. At that time, Portugal mainly relied on mercenaries to fight the war. The core of the army organization was also the company, but the number of each company was not fixed. It depends on the strength of the noble officers. If the nobles were strong, a company might have five or six
Hundreds of people; weak strength, maybe only more than a hundred people.
The Macau Army is organized into a brigade of four companies, with only 900 men. Their strongest force is the navy, with more than a hundred ships of all sizes (including merchant ships equipped with cannons). But now the vast majority of ships
, all went to Japan for trade.
"Yes, Captain Amariu, you stay at the fort and be careful."
Amariu hesitated: "But Your Excellency, today is a holiday and the situation is more complicated than usual. Aren't you going to stay at the fort and take command?"
Feisuzha pointed with his finger at the forts around the fort, including Garsilan, A-Ma, Guia, Nanhuan, Beiwan and other forts, and said with a smile: "Dear Amariu, I am a devout believer first, and then Macau. Governor. Also, do you think any enemy can attack such a powerful city defense from the sea?"
"But Your Excellency, what will happen if the Ming army comes from the land?"
"People from the Ming Dynasty?"
Fessusa laughed: "Macau's city defense was aimed at the Dutch and Spanish, not the Ming people. If it were the Ming people, they wouldn't need to fight at all. Once the gates are closed and supplies are embargoed, Macau will become a dead city. Didn't you see that our fort, on the side facing the Ming Dynasty, didn't even fire cannons?"
The city defense of Macau is indeed not aimed at the Ming Dynasty. The fort faces the northwest wall in the direction of the Ming Dynasty. The parapet is short and there is no muzzle setting, expressing a friendly gesture to the Ming Dynasty. The Portuguese are very smart. They know that if the Ming Dynasty really wants to take back Macau , no amount of defense is useless.
After handing over the city defense to Amarius, the Governor of Macau, Fessusa, led his entourage and guards and walked towards St. Paul's Cathedral.
This chapter has been completed!