The morning sun is rising, and the port of Malacca is still as busy as ever. In the East District slums, many people put aside their livelihood for the day and began to prepare to participate in this month's big worship event.
Since the Francois came here, the lives of the local indigenous people have become more and more difficult day by day. They hate the tyranny and cruelty of the Francois, but in fact, their previous lives were not so satisfactory. Manlajia
When the king ruled here, their life was equally difficult.
If the Francois brought any benefits, many people would probably think that they brought God.
I didn't know why I was poor before and felt that there was no hope in life. Now I believe in God and find that everything has a reason. With God's protection, I suffer hardship in this life, go to heaven after death, and have eternal life. This obviously gives them great spiritual comfort.
The Francois relied on force and religious brainwashing to control the people in the colonies. This was actually a method used by all Western colonial countries. Wherever their soldiers and horses struck, the power of the church would extend there.
The church's duty is to pacify and paralyze the local people. It forms a physical and spiritual dual control with the army, so that the people in the colonial areas become completely obedient and slaves.
What's ridiculous is that the local people regard these as gospel and flock to them.
Sheila is an ordinary woman, but she has an unusual identity, that is, she is the dean of the Catholic Church in this street. On weekdays, she is no different from other hard-working women, taking care of her three young children at the dock.
My husband works hard and is busy cooking and washing.
But on this day of high worship, Silla seemed to be a different person. She got up early in the morning, freshened herself up, then put on a large black burqa, and rushed to the Cross Square in the city with other believers on the street.
, listen to the sermons and teachings from the Bishop of Malacca.
On this day, Silla felt that her life was meaningful. She felt that all the hard work would be seen by the Lord. She could endure all the suffering because someone knew her pain.
Therefore, even if there was a knife from the sky, even if her husband beat her more than once because she participated in church activities and did not cook and do housework, she could not make her give up participating in church activities.
Sila fed her three children, asked a neighbor to take care of them, and then went out wearing a black robe. There were dozens of believers in the neighborhood, and like Sila, most of them were housewives. They were also waiting for Sila.
Pull them along.
A group of people gathered together and walked along the messy alley toward the intersection. Then, they met two people.
A man with a dark face and a woman wearing simple clothes with a scarf on her head. The woman also covered her face.
"Sisters-in-law, are you going to attend the big prayer?" the man asked.
Sheela can understand some Chinese. In fact, there are many Han Chinese in the port of Malacca, and many people can understand Chinese.
"Yeah, what are you going to do?" Silla asked.
"Oh, that's right. We are merchants transporting goods, and this is my sister. Both of us are devout believers in the Lord. We heard that there is a big prayer today, so we wanted to go and listen to the Lord's teachings. Sisters, can you
Do you want to take us with you? This is our first time in Malacca, and we are afraid that others will not allow us and we will get into trouble. So I want to join you, but I am not sure if it is possible." The man explained.
Silla looked at the sisters and asked for their opinions.
"Oh, we brought offerings to the Lord, and I even hung a cross. This time, I will cover all your offerings. We are just following you. Since we believe in the Lord, we are all brothers and sisters. You won't ask for such a small request.
Don’t want to agree. The Lord knows that you treat your brothers and sisters like this and will blame you.”
How could these women withstand the man's kindness and moral kidnapping? The man was carrying a large basket of fruit cakes, and there was indeed a shiny cross hanging around his neck. In addition, seeing how well-behaved the brother and sister were,
Based on the belief that those who join the religion are brothers and sisters, Silla nodded.
"Okay, we are all servants of the Lord, we are all brothers and sisters. Then come together. However, our church will count the number of people, and then I will say that you are the new brothers and sisters. Just follow our words.
That’s it.” Silla nodded.
"That's great, thank you very much. By the way, do you have any extra robes? Let's buy two robes. We'll buy them at a high price. Is five taels of silver enough?"
"Five taels?" All the believers were shocked.
Their robes were purchased from the church. The church sold them for one tael of silver each, which was already an extremely high price. Sheila was even beaten by her husband because of this. The two of them actually spent five taels of silver.
Buy with silver.
"Wear mine, wear mine. I happen to have something to do today, so I won't go. The Lord will forgive me." At that moment, two people began to take off their religious robes. The attraction of the Lord was no match for the temptation of five taels of silver.
Silla frowned, but didn't say anything. They didn't go to serve the Lord for money, which showed that they were not pious. The Lord looked at this and would remember their behavior. It's okay, they don't go, it's just right
Add two people, and you won't need to talk too much when you start doing the interrogation in a while.
"Thank you both, thank you both. You two go and do your work. I will say something for you before the Lord. The Lord is merciful and will forgive you for not going." The man smiled and took the burqa over.
The money fell into the hands of those two people.
"Sister, put it on. We can finally serve our Lord devoutly. God bless, Amen!" The man handed a burqa to the woman's hand, mumbling randomly.
The woman rolled her eyes at him coquettishly, blaming him for his glib tone. But she also took the burqa and put it on quickly.
Soon, the team set off again. Only this time, two people changed in the team. These two people were Zhang Yanling and Helena who mixed in.
From Helena’s mouth, I learned that congregants had to undergo interrogation and identity verification, and needed certificates from the religious leaders before they could enter the venue. That’s why Zhang Yanling came up with this idea. In fact, Silla was the third group they encountered.
Team. The first two teams rejected them mercilessly until they met Silla. If Silla hadn't been delayed in feeding her children, it would have been really difficult.
A group of people walked on the messy and busy streets. No one spoke and everyone was very quiet. Because time had been delayed, everyone walked very fast. Zhang Yanling was a little worried about Helena's injury, but seeing Helena walking like flying, she was surprised.
Also feel relieved.
Looking from a distance at the Crossroads Square in the East District, a tall terrace and a tall cross were built in the middle.
There were local guards guarding the intersection to check their identities. Silla and her group walked in. As the dean, Silla handed over the roster. Zhang Yanling was quite nervous. But fortunately, the guards just counted the number of people and smoothly took their orders from the tribute basket.
Let everyone enter the square with some pastries and fruits.
Entering the square, Zhang Yanling was greatly impressed. The stone platform in the middle was already crowded with people. All of these people were wearing uniform-style robes purchased from the church, covering their shabby clothes and dark and thin faces. The church probably also
not just
In order to earn money for them to buy robes, but also to make the scene look better. After all, a group of ragged, black, skinny, dirty locals gathered together, and God would curse them if they saw it. If they blocked it, they would not be able to see it.
It no longer exists.
The dark crowd was sitting on the ground according to their respective positions, neatly and orderly. Silla led everyone to the southwest corner, which was the exclusive place for her and her followers. Although it was a stone's throw away
Taiwan is far away, but it doesn't matter.
"You two must abide by the rules, don't run around, don't scream, and don't make it difficult for me." Silla instructed.
Zhang Yanling nodded and thanked her, and sat obediently on the ground with Helena at the end of the queue, waiting quietly.
There were a lot of people here, but the believers were sitting quietly and not making any noise. Zhang Yanling looked at this situation with emotion. The Folangji people do have a way. Using religious means to paralyze local people is not new.
But it is obviously very effective here. The fact that these congregants can sit here peacefully and wait devoutly is proof.
However, Zhang Yanling couldn't stand it. His eyes wandered around to see clearly the terrain and location, looking for the location of Chen Shiyi and others. Because Zhang Yanling knew that Chen Shiyi and several other brothers must be among them. They must be among them.
Protect yourself in the near future.
In fact, the plan this time does not require Chen Shiyi and the others to sneak into the West District with him to rescue people. Zhang Yanling decided to sneak in with Helena. Chen Shiyi and the others will stay in the East District to respond. They will use a boat to go around the East District Pier.
When we arrive at the foot of Military Port Mountain, we will rescue people from the sea. Because it is not easy to rescue people openly from the West District. It is better to rescue people from the sea.
After a long wait, the sun rose higher and higher. Zhang Yanling was getting tired of waiting. He kept twisting his body and looked towards the street entrance to the west.
Helena stretched out her hand to hold Zhang Yanling's hand and whispered: "It will be here soon. Don't be anxious. Someone has already noticed you."
Zhang Yanling had no choice but to do it calmly. When Helena retracted her hand, she was grabbed by Zhang Yanling. Zhang Yanling didn't want to do anything, but subconsciously grabbed the little hand and played with her fingers and palms in the black robe, as if she was in school.
When I was walking, I secretly held the hand of the girl at the same table and wouldn't let go. The teacher was lecturing on top, and the girl didn't dare to say anything. This kind of mischievous feeling was very wonderful.
Helena blushed and poked Zhang Yanling's palm with her nails, her fingers entangled with Zhang Yanling's. In fact, she could have pulled away her palm, but she didn't.
Just when the two were indulging in this boring game and teasing, they heard the rumble of horse hooves. Smoke and dust billowed on the streets to the west. Dozens of cavalry escorting seven or eight carriages came quickly.
"The bishop is here." A man standing on the stone platform shouted loudly.
All the believers stood up one after another, stretched out their hands and applauded.
The cavalry cleared the way, and on an open carriage, an old man with a mustache wearing a black robe, gray hair, and a white round hat sat on it, reaching out and waving to the surrounding believers.
The congregants clapped even more fiercely, their eyes sparkling under their burqas. They all looked excited, as if they had been given a shot of chicken blood.
"The Governor has arrived." Someone shouted again.
In the open carriage at the rear, Governor Goya was also wearing a cassock and a top hat. Sitting on the carriage was a blond woman sitting next to him. Although she was also wearing a black cassock, her beautiful and dignified face could not be concealed.
"Ah, Catherine is here too." Helena exclaimed in a low voice.