Chapter 588: This Is Clearly Science |
Publish Time: 2026-06-20 15:26:37
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A large pile of documents soon appeared before Li Daoxuan.
As it turned out, he had linked his senses to the statue inside the Tangfang Street Heavenly Lord Hall. This was the earliest Catholic church in Xi’an, established in 1625 when the Ming court official Wang Zheng invited Father Jinnige to purchase land and set it up. It was initially called the Holy Mother Hall.
Now, it was still named “Holy Mother Hall.”
Other time-traveling protagonists often enjoyed collaborating with Western missionaries because they could recall very few scientific texts themselves, needing the missionaries to bring Western technology and aid development.
But Li Daoxuan had no such need. He could place any technical documents or materials into the world from outside the box anytime, without requiring the help of Western missionaries.
Wang Zheng was one of the Ming Dynasty’s famous scientists, known together with Xu Guangqi as “Xu of the South, Wang of the North”. In his early years, he developed hydraulic, wind-powered, and load-bearing machinery, compiling the “Illustrated Treatise on New Machines.” Later, he co-translated “Diagrams and Explanations of the Wonderful Machines of the Far West” with the Swiss missionary Johann Schreck, which was published in the seventh year of Tianqi (1627). This work primarily detailed Western knowledge of statics from the ancient and Renaissance periods, including the geocentric theory, centers of gravity and solutions, methods for finding water volume, floating body volume, specific gravity, simple machines, and their combined uses.
He played a significant role in introducing Western science and technology to China in the late Ming Dynasty.
This man was a talent!
If possible, Li Daoxuan was very interested in luring him away.
Just then, Father Jinnige began to speak: “Mr. Wang, do you mean that our Catholic church should propagate using the same methods as this Dao Xuan Deity Teachings?”
Wang Zheng nodded. “By creating comic books, distributing grain, hiring performers to stage plays about the deity’s stories… through such means, Catholicism can spread. Of course, the most crucial part is simultaneously spreading Western science and technology, allowing our people to gain more knowledge.”
An awkward expression appeared on Father Jinnige’s face. “I would very much like to do that, but my funds do not permit it.”
Wang Zheng could only sigh. “Funds… well, nothing can be done about that then.”
After saying this, he turned to stare at Li Daoxuan: “But this cult has plenty of funds! Lately, they’ve been continuously shipping comic books into Xi’an, distributing grain while selling the books. Using this method, their spread is incredibly fast. Catholicism simply cannot match it, not at all.”
Father Jinnige: “Such a large sect has already spread throughout Xi’an? Doesn’t the Emperor know?”
Wang Zheng shook his head. “There must be many memorials about it reaching the Emperor by now. Still, even if His Majesty sees such a memorial, he won’t scrutinize it or pay it much attention! Our country is vast, encompassing all under heaven. What strange things aren’t to be found? All sorts of peculiar sects abound. As long as they don’t rebel like the White Lotus sect, the Emperor can’t even be bothered to listen. Local officials also turn a blind eye. Even if the White Lotus sect rebels, the Emperor, at most, glances at the memorial before tossing it aside, leaving it to the local officials to handle.”
Saying this, a trace of concern appeared on Wang Zheng’s face. “I hope this sect harbors no sinister design.”
Hearing this, Li Daoxuan inwardly laughed: I certainly have ill intentions, very grand ones at that. And, I intend to trick you into joining and causing trouble along with me. So, are you afraid or not?
Father Jinnige stood up, intending to take the Dao Xuan Deity Statue outside to throw it away.
But Wang Zheng reached out and took it instead, shaking his head. “Although it’s most likely an evil deity of a cult, we still shouldn’t discard it carelessly. We may not believe in ghosts and deities, but we should not show disrespect. I’ll take this statue to my home.”
Thus, Li Daoxuan followed Wang Zheng out of the Holy Mother Hall and boarded a carriage. The cart rumbled along until it arrived at the Wang Family compound.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, Li Daoxuan was delighted. It was bustling! A whole pile of statues were enshrined there: Buddha, Guanyin, the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord, the Primordial Deity, Dizang, Erlang Shen, Lord Guan Yu, Jesus, the Holy Mother…
Buddhist, Daoist, Catholic, folk mythology deities… it had them all.
Now, one more statue – the Dao Xuan Deity Statue – was added, placed amidst this chaotic collection with a thud.
Wang Zheng bowed to this large mess of statues. “I beg all divine Buddhas to protect our Great Ming, giving us favorable weather and peaceful times, making the nation prosperous and its people secure.”
It turned out that Wang Zheng had believed in Buddhism in his youth, then converted to Daoism in middle age. When he encountered Catholicism, he embraced that too, even receiving baptism from the missionaries. Moreover, he was also deeply invested in science… How should one describe such a person? Was he pious? Or not pious at all?
Li Daoxuan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly either: “If you’re the backup tire for one young lady, you’re just a backup tire. But if you’re the backup tire for a hundred young ladies, then those young ladies become the backup tires. Wang Zheng has truly mastered the essence of this subtle art!”
Wang Zheng fetched incense and burned it before the massive pile of divine Buddhas. After bowing twice, he turned to leave.
Suddenly, Li Daoxuan spoke…
“Wang Zheng! Wang Zheng!”
As the clay-crafted Deity Statue opened its mouth to speak, cracks immediately formed around the opening. Clay and sand continuously dribbled downwards. Accompanied by an echoing sound reminiscent of an ancient black mountain demon, its voice reverberated within the small room… it truly was terrifying enough to scare someone to death!
Wang Zheng was startled out of his wits. “Wah? Who? Who is calling me?”
He spun around to look at the cluster of statues. However, he had placed the Dao Xuan Deity Statue in the furthest corner, half-hidden by a statue of Maitreya Buddha. Thus, he couldn’t see the Dao Xuan Deity Statue’s mouth moving.
Li Daoxuan continued: “Your wish… to spread science and technology… is well meant… but you have chosen… the wrong partner…”
Wang Zheng: “Ah?”
Li Daoxuan: “The Catholic church… is the sect … harboring ill intentions… You should… seek the Dao Xuan Deity Teachings…”
Wang Zheng: “!”
Only upon hearing the words “Dao Xuan Deity Teachings” did Wang Zheng finally realize who was speaking! His gaze instantly snapped towards the clay Deity Statue.
With a clatter, the statue’s lower jaw collapsed. As half its face crumbled and fell, it naturally could no longer speak, falling silent again.
Wang Zheng was thoroughly terrified. He circled the statue repeatedly, not daring to touch it for a long, long time. Only after a full half an hour did he finally muster the courage to reach out and pick up the damaged statue. He tried fitting the broken half of the face back on, but to no avail.
Wang Zheng was completely dumbfounded!
He paced around his house dozens of times, circling back and forth. Finally, gritting his teeth, he dashed outside. In a flash, he ran to a bookstore and shouted at the shopkeeper: “Give me the complete set of ‘Dao Xuan Deity’s Demon Elimination Tale’!”
The shopkeeper: “Huh? Sir, this book series is mostly bought by the poor… you want it too?”
Wang Zheng: “Enough chatter! Hurry up and give me one set!”
The shopkeeper reluctantly brought out a set: “Here you go, sir. The complete set is seven volumes. It’s not even finished yet, only up to the part where the Deity uses magic to bring down the magical car…”
Wang Zheng opened the comic book and studied it intently. What was this so-called ‘magical car’? This thing… this was clearly science!
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