Chapter 588: This is Clearly Science
A wealth of information quickly materialized before Li Daoxuan.
It turned out he had co-sensed into the Catholic church on Sugar Mill Street. This was the first Catholic church in Xi'an, established in 1625 when the Ming official Wang Zheng invited Father Jin Nige to purchase land and set it up. It was initially called the Church of the Heavenly Mother.
Its name remained "Church of the Heavenly Mother."
Other transmigrated protagonists often found allies in Western missionaries, as their minds retained little scientific knowledge and they needed missionaries to introduce Western technology for development.
But Li Daoxuan had no such need. He could, at any moment, introduce any technical documents or materials from outside his diorama box, negating the necessity of relying on Western missionaries.
Li Daoxuan was far more interested in the middle-aged man in traditional Chinese robes standing nearby: Wang Zheng.
Wang Zheng was one of the Ming Dynasty's most renowned scientists, often hailed as "Southern Xu and Northern Wang" alongside Xu Guangqi. In his early years, he researched water, wind, and heavy-duty machinery, compiling his findings into the "New Treatises on Various Instruments with Diagrams." Later, he collaborated with the Swiss missionary Nicolas Trigault (Deng Yuhan) to translate and compile "Illustrations of Wonderful Machines of the Far West," published in the seventh year of Tianqi (1627). This work primarily introduced ancient Western and Renaissance-era knowledge of statics, covering topics such as the geocentric model, centers of gravity and their calculation, determining water and buoyant body volumes, specific gravity, and the combined use of simple machines.
He played a crucial role in introducing Western science and technology to China during the late Ming Dynasty.
This was a man of immense talent!
Just then, Father Jin Nige spoke, "Mr. Wang, are you suggesting that our Catholic faith should also be propagated using the same methods as this Heavenly Lord Daoist Sect?"
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Wang Zheng nodded. "Creating comic books, distributing grain, inviting performers to dramatize divine stories... methods like these would allow Catholicism to spread. Of course, most importantly, Western scientific technology must also be disseminated, so our people can learn more knowledge."
Father Jin Nige's face showed a hint of embarrassment. "I would very much like to do so, but my funds simply do not allow it."
Wang Zheng sighed. "Funds, indeed. Then there's really nothing that can be done."
He turned his gaze towards Li Daoxuan's statue. "Yet this unorthodox sect seems to have ample funds. Lately, they've been continuously shipping comic books into Xi'an, selling books while giving away grain. This method allows them to spread their influence at an astonishing pace. Catholicism simply cannot compete, cannot compete at all."
Father Jin Nige asked, "Such a large sect has spread across Xi'an, and the Emperor still doesn't know?"
Wang Zheng shook his head. "The Emperor has likely received numerous memorials by now. However, even if His Majesty sees such a memorial, he won't examine it closely or take it seriously! Our nation is vast, and the world is wide; what wonders don't exist? All sorts of strange sects flourish. As long as these sects don't stir up rebellion like the White Lotus Society, the Emperor won't even bother to listen. Local officials also turn a blind eye. Even if the White Lotus Society rebels, the Emperor would at most glance at a memorial before tossing it aside, leaving it to local officials to handle."
At this, a hint of worry flickered across Wang Zheng's face. "I only hope this sect isn't harboring any ill intentions."
Hearing this, Li Daoxuan couldn't help but chuckle inwardly: Oh, I harbor great ill intentions, indeed! And I even plan to trick you into joining me in this grand mischief. So tell me, are you scared?
Jin Nige stood up, intending to take the Dao Xuan Tian Zun statue out and discard it.
But Wang Zheng reached out and took it, shaking his head. "Though it's likely a deity of an unorthodox cult, don't discard it carelessly. One may not believe in ghosts and gods, but one must show respect. I'll take this statue home with me."
And so, Li Daoxuan followed Wang Zheng out of the Church of the Heavenly Mother, onto a carriage. The carriage swayed and rattled, arriving at the Wang family courtyard.
Upon entering the courtyard, Li Daoxuan was amused. It was bustling with activity, and a massive collection of statues was enshrined there: Buddha, Guanyin, the Grand Pure One, the Celestial Worthy of Primordial Beginning, Ksitigarbha, Erlang Shen, Guan Yu, Jesus, the Holy Mother...
Buddhism, Daoism, Catholicism, folk myths and deities—all were present!
Now, another statue of Dao Xuan Tian Zun was unceremoniously placed among this motley assortment.
Wang Zheng bowed to the jumbled collection of statues. "May all you gods and Buddhas protect our Great Ming, grant us favorable weather, and ensure peace and prosperity for the nation."
It turned out that Wang Zheng had believed in Buddhism in his youth, then Daoism in middle age, and when he encountered Catholicism, he embraced it too, even receiving baptism from a missionary. And he was also superstitious about science... Such a fellow, should one call him devout or irreverent?
Li Daoxuan couldn't help but sigh, "If you're one young woman's backup, you're just a backup. But if you're a hundred young women's backup, then they become *your* backups. Wang Zheng truly understands the profound mystery in that."
Wang Zheng took out incense, lit it for the multitude of gods and Buddhas, bowed twice, and turned to leave.
Suddenly, Li Daoxuan spoke...
"Wang Zheng! Wang Zheng!"
As the Clay Sculpture Heavenly Lord opened its mouth to speak, cracks began to spread, and mud and sand continuously flaked off. An echoing voice, like that of an ancient mountain demon, reverberated through the small room—truly terrifying beyond measure.
Wang Zheng jumped in fright. "Oh? Who? Who's calling me?"
He turned to scan the array of statues, but the Dao Xuan Tian Zun statue had been placed in the furthest corner, partially obscured by a Maitreya Buddha, so he couldn't see that it was the Dao Xuan Tian Zun statue's mouth that was moving.
Li Daoxuan continued, "Your desire to spread scientific technology is commendable... but you have sought the wrong allies..."
Wang Zheng blinked. "Huh?"
Li Daoxuan said, "Catholicism... is the sect harboring ill intentions... You should seek out the Heavenly Lord Daoist Sect..."
Wang Zheng's eyes widened in shock.
Upon hearing the words "Heavenly Lord Daoist Sect," he finally understood who was speaking. His gaze instantly locked onto the clay statue of the Heavenly Lord.
Just then, the mouth of the clay Heavenly Lord statue crumbled, half its face falling away. It naturally could speak no more, falling into silence.
Wang Zheng was thoroughly shaken. He paced circles around the statue for a long while, not daring to touch it. After a full half-hour, he finally reached out, picked up the damaged statue, and tried to piece its fallen half-face back together, but it was impossible.
Wang Zheng was stunned speechless!
He circled his home a dozen times, over and over, until he finally gritted his teeth, dashed out, and sped off to the bookstore. He shouted at the shopkeeper, "Give me a complete set of 'Legend of Dao Xuan Tian Zun Exterminating Demons!'"
The shopkeeper replied, "Ah? Sir, these books are mostly bought by the poor. Do you also want them?"
Wang Zheng retorted, "Less talk, more action. Just give me a set, quickly."
The shopkeeper reluctantly retrieved a set. "Here you are, seven volumes in total. It's not finished yet; it only tells of the Heavenly Lord casting spells and bringing down the celestial vehicle..."
Wang Zheng opened the comic book, fixed his gaze on it, and thought: Celestial vehicle? This, this is clearly science!
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