Alexander VII brought a large group of priests behind him, which totaled about a hundred people. Fortunately, the 800-ton ship did not carry much cargo on the return trip, so there was enough space to accommodate these priests.
But when they saw the car that could automatically advance and retreat, no one in the more than a hundred priests could say "Zichou Yinmao". Although these priests had visited the ship's steam engine on the ship these days, the steam engine was
It is very big. The steam engine on the ship is as big as two rooms. It cannot be installed on the car.
The priests simply couldn't understand how a car about the same size as a horse-drawn carriage could drive on its own.
Cardinal Klaus, who was beside Alexander, stared at the three cars, his mouth wide open and speechless. His face became more and more nervous, and he said absently: "Satan, this is Satan's machine."
Hearing Klaus's ravings, the nearby priests started to panic. They usually lived in Rome, central Italy. This city had never done business with China, and the priests' understanding of China came from fragments of information transmitted from Western Europe.
In the descriptions of Western European sailors and sailors, Chinese technology and weapons are undoubtedly like witchcraft and ghosts.
It can be said that because of the chaotic rumors among Western Europeans, the Roman priests were somewhat afraid of Li Zhi and worried that Tianjin was really a place full of supernatural powers. At this time, seeing the horseless automatic car, the priests were sure
Everything here in Tianjin is powered by Satan's magic.
A young priest's face suddenly turned white. Looking at the car, he let out a scream and fled toward the cabin in a panic.
The reason why he ran towards the cabin was to avoid the "Satan" machine, but he ran too fast, tripped on a mop on the deck, and threw a dog's shit on the steel deck with a splash.
The priest's nose immediately bled profusely, and his white priest uniform turned into a large painted face.
Although King Joao IV of Portugal had long been a vassal state of Li Zhi, this was actually his first time arriving in Tianjin and he had never seen a car. King Joao IV knew nothing about new means of transportation that had not been exported overseas.
He knew. So he opened his mouth wide and looked at the young priest who fell on the deck in a state of embarrassment. He also looked at the cars on the dock road and was speechless.
The Europeans on the ship fell into silence. You must know that the person on the ship is the Pope of the Holy See. The Holy See is completely intolerant of magic and witchcraft. In Europe, once a witch is discovered, she will be immediately burned in religious trials.
dead.
If Li Zhi really has the magic of the devil, can Alexander VII, as the Catholic Pope, still go ashore to negotiate with the devil?
Cardinal Klaus shook his body and said: "Your Majesty the Pope, I don't think we can stay here for a long time. We told Emperor Li Zhi that we cannot go ashore and let the ship return."
Joao IV looked at Klaus in surprise, and his mouth moved. After all, Joao IV was a descendant of the Germanic people, a descendant of the nobles who came to the Iberian Peninsula from the Black Forest of Northern Europe, and the Latins of Southern Europe.
The difference is that the descendants of the Germanic people passively converted to Catholicism.
Even if Li Zhi is a devil, João IV will cooperate with Li Zhi for profit.
John IV thought for a while and said: "Your Majesty, I don't think the matter is that terrible. We'd better go ashore to see what happens..."
However, Alexander VII was more calm than John IV.
Before the King of Portugal finished speaking, the Pope made up his mind. He took a breath and said: "Since we have come to Tianjin, we must take a closer look at this incredible city. Even if it is a city of witchcraft and devils
, we can’t just escape back like this!”
The cardinal wanted to speak, but was stopped by the Pope with a wave of his hand. Alexander VII waved his cassock and strode to the side of the ship. When the Chinese sailors on the dock had installed the brand new gangway, Alexander VII led
The priests stepped off the ship.
Tang Ruowang strode forward to greet the Pope and saluted the Pope.
The Pope and Tang Ruowang exchanged a few pleasantries in Latin, and they soon understood Tang Ruowang's current identity.
Sixty-four-year-old Tang Ruowang is now an associate professor at the School of Astronomy at Fanjiazhuang University and a director of the Western Culture Research Center of the Daqi Dynasty. In other words, Tang Ruowang is now a low-level academic bureaucrat in Daqi. As for missionary work, Tang Ruowang has completely stopped
.
This is completely different from the original intention of the Holy See. When the Holy See sent Tang Ruowang to China, it was hoping to spread Catholicism to the East.
Upon hearing Tang Ruowang's introduction, Alexander VII's face became very gloomy.
There was also a deputy mayor from the Tianjin Acropolis in the procession to welcome the Pope and the King of Portugal. However, this deputy mayor didn't talk much, so Tang Ruowang was mainly the one who was making noise on the pier.
Tang Ruowang pointed to the three cars parked on the road and said, "His Majesty the Pope and His Majesty the King, please get in the car."
Upon hearing Tang Ruowang's words, Alexander VII's face turned pale.
King John IV asked in surprise: "We... we... which car are we going to take?"
Tang Ruowang nodded and said: "This is the best vehicle in Daqi. It is a welcome vehicle specially allocated by the deputy mayor."
Bishop Klaus finally couldn't bear it anymore and shouted loudly: "We will not ride in the devil's car!"
Hearing Klaus's words, Tang Ruowang and the deputy mayor of Tianjin beside him were stunned. They looked at the extremely nervous Pope and John IV, and then looked at each other.
Tang Ruowang laughed heartily.
"Your Majesty the Pope, this is definitely not the devil's car! This is a car! This is the power of a machine!"
Alexander VII stared at Tang Ruowang, but did not speak due to his identity.
King John IV took a breath and asked in Latin: "What machine can move without horses?"
Tang Ruowang smiled and said: "Your Highness, this is the internal combustion engine of the Da Qi Emperor. The principle of this internal combustion engine is similar to the steam engine on the ship, but the size of the internal combustion engine is much smaller, only about the size of a large box. The internal combustion engine is installed on the car.
Able to drive vehicles, horses are no longer needed."
When the Pope heard this explanation, he looked at Tang Ruowang in surprise.
At this time, Tang Ruowang was completely dressed as a Chinese. He straightened the Dongpo scarf on his head and said with a smile: "Don't worry about the Pope. The Pope and I are riding in the same car to ensure the Pope's safety."
Alexander VII looked at John IV and found that the Portuguese king gradually lost his panic after Tang Ruowang's explanation. The priests behind him were not qualified to ride in the car, so after hearing the explanation of "one of their own" Tang Ruowang, Alexander VII
, and no longer panic.
The Pope nodded and said: "In that case, let's take a... car."
Tang Ruowang laughed, walked over, opened the car door, and took the Pope into the car. In the first car sat the deputy mayor of Tianjin driving the road, Joao IV sat in the middle car, and the Pope sat in the back.
On the car.
The driver quickly turned the flywheel several times in front, and the convertible car shook a few times and started to start. The Pope sat on the leather sofa in the back seat, holding on to the door of the car, his eyes wide open, as if he would be ready at any moment.
It's like being swallowed up by this incredible machine.
Tang Ruowang looked at the Pope with a faint smile on his face, thoughtfully.
The car started moving very smoothly, driving forward along the road at a slow speed of twenty kilometers per hour. Alexander VII gradually calmed down and began to observe the scenery on the left and right.
But it was already very late at this time. It got dark after driving for a while, and it was difficult to see the surrounding things clearly. The workers on the dock gradually slowed down, as if they were waiting for something.
The Pope originally wanted to take a good look at the huge Tianjin Dagu Port, but he was unable to do so. Just as he was about to say it was a pity, he saw that suddenly, countless bright lights lit up the entire port at the same time.
It was like a great mage suddenly released a terrible magic, illuminating the entire Dagu Port in an instant.
One by one, the dazzlingly bright street lights were started at the same time, illuminating the originally dim dock. The dock workers who had been slow due to the darkness started moving again, and Dagu Port once again entered into a hustle and bustle.
middle.
Alexander looked at the port, which was as bright as day, and at those incandescent lights that were as bright as trees and silver flowers. He completely forgot about his dignity and grace, and couldn't help but open his mouth hugely.
