Chapter 533 33. Xiao Pingtai's Fame Spreads to Rome

Kodaira was not afraid of the Hojo clan opening the port, because there was almost no conflict between the two trade goods. Yamanouchi mainly exported raw silk, while the Hojo clan definitely mainly exported sulfur.

This was determined by the special natural environment of the region. Shinano has many mountains and waters, which is suitable for mulberry planting. Many farmers' families raise silkworms as a sideline. Later, Perry forced Japan to open the port. The first to open up the world market and receive wide acclaim was the raw silk of Koshu and Shinshu.

The main production of rice and wheat in the Kanto Plain where the Hojo clan is located. But Izu has hot springs and volcanoes, rich in sulfur, and some other minerals, even obsidian.

Sulfur may not be of much use in ancient times, but now is the era of gunpowder weapons. Any area that produces sulfur and saltpeter will automatically become a center of trade.

Even if Shimoda produces hundreds of thousands of catties or millions of catties of sulfur every year, it will not affect Hamamatsu's trade. At most, the Nanman merchant ships will go one more stop and stop at one more port.

Raw silk is needed by the Nanman merchant ships, and sulfur is also needed by the Nanman, and this will not change because of any event.

But what about missionary work?

Could it be that the country's gates were really opened by 72 cannons?

This statement seems to be the most reasonable and realistic. After all, no matter how strong the city walls are or how brave the soldiers are, they will be destroyed by the roar of cannons.

The Hojo family did not bow to Kenshin Uesugi who was holding a sword, but bowed to the Nanman who had cannons.

"Father William didn't come back?" Xiao Pingtai looked at Nanaki who ran back to report the news.

"The priest went to Shimoda to establish a church. He said that his kingdom of God has come."

"The kingdom of God has come?"

William opened the door of a pagan country with a population of more than one million. As long as the news was passed back to Rome, his name would definitely reach the papacy of St. Paul's Cathedral. It is almost inevitable to be canonized after death, and there will be miracles and grace in the future.

Even if Hojo Ujinao converted, it would not be impossible for the Roman Pope to travel thousands of miles to make a golden crown for him as the king of Japan.

In the future, there will be a Saint William and a Saint Hojo, the patron saints of the heaven on earth!

No wonder William agreed to teach Hojo the cannon casting technology and artillery skills. In his heart, spreading the glory of his master is more important than anything else.

"Are you coming back to report this to me first? Where is Heiroku? And the troops of the Yamanouchi clan?"

"Stay in Shimoda for the time being to help Father William take over the Kosen Temple and convert it into a hall for the Nanman religion."

"It seems that the Hojo clan will soon master the cannon casting and artillery techniques, and they should not be underestimated." Hosokawa Harumiya was a little worried.

The territory of the Hojo family is enough to mobilize 45,000 to 50,000 people. Although they have to put out fires and deploy troops everywhere because there are almost all hostile forces on all sides, this does not hinder the reality of the strong strength of the Hojo family.

In the next year's battle in Kanto, perhaps we will find that the Hojo army is pulling the arquebus and firing merciless artillery fire at the enemy army that is still holding the sword and spear.

"Just be prepared, what else can we do?" Uncle Tsunayoshi sighed.

"Eat, eat, Nanaki, sit down and eat with us." Life must go on, and it is impossible to stagnate just because the Hojo family has the arquebus.

Naturally, the few people are like chewing wax, and they have no taste for food.

…………

"The spokesperson of the Lord God of all glory on earth, the Lord of the great holy city of Rome, the successor of the apostle Saint Peter, sits on the right side of the Holy Father.

Your humble servant, Guillaume of Wallonia, pays you the highest respect.

Since leaving Rome fifteen years ago and coming to the Land of the Rising Sun, my years of hard work have finally received the favor promised by the Glory Holy Father!

The three most powerful grand dukes in the entire East Japan, Grand Duke Ashikaga of Shinano, Grand Duke Hojo of Sagami, and Grand Duke Echigo Grand Duke Fujiwara of the Kingdom of the Rising Sun has allowed the spread of the Lord's Gospel under the inspiration of the Holy Father.

The entire Kingdom of the Rising Sun has 12 million people and 66 states, of which about 20 states with 4 million people will soon become lambs in the arms of the Lord.

Recently, I baptized Earl Uto, the uncle of Grand Duke Hojo, who has 1.7 million people and 10 states. Grand Duke Hojo has a great interest in Catholicism. Although he is a pagan, this is just to maintain the unity of faith with his subjects.

I believe that as long as we continue to work hard, the above three Grand Dukes may all be in the arms of the Lord.

In addition, there is Earl Fujiwara in the Kingdom of Shinano. He serves as the national judge of the Kingdom of the Rising Sun, and also serves as the tutor and prime minister of Grand Duke Ashikaga. This is a nobleman who is full of wit, brave and courageous, and has great goodwill towards Catholicism.

It is said that his family can be traced back to the time of Charlemagne, with a clear origin and is the most standard noble. If it were not for the acceptance of this earl, the missionary work in East Japan would not be so smooth.

In the absence of Long ago, he even donated a huge building complex of more than five acres to the church for free as the church's hall in Mikawa Country.

He himself knows much more about this world than ordinary Japanese. The Grand Duke Ashikaga, whom he assists, is a member of the same clan as the current King of Japan and has the supreme claim to the throne. But the current King of Japan has no children and is surrounded by many challengers.

Perhaps this is the most precious part of their kindness.

Here, your humble servant Guillaume once again pays you the most sincere respect.

I hope the church will continue to send more missionaries to Hamamatsu, where there is already a large Catholic community with thousands of believers and magnificent synagogues.

There are more lost lambs waiting for the Lord's salvation! "

William was filled with excitement and wrote this long letter with trembling hands and sealed it with wax. He entrusted the ship owner of the East India Company to send the letter to the Jesuits in Macau, and the Jesuits will forward it to the Pope in Rome.

Although it may take three years or even longer to receive a reply, William's fifteen years of foreign missionary experience has sharpened his firm mind and he can wait.

He looked at the Xingquan Temple hall, which was still full of Buddhist decorations. Although the Buddha statues and scriptures had all been taken away by the monks, including the ten thousand characters in the courtyard and the inscriptions on the walls, The murals of Arhats, the lotuses on the beams and pillars, etc., were all preserved.

All the Buddhist marks had to be erased. Anyway, William had learned painting and architecture, so he could do it himself. Now there were hundreds of people helping him, and his ambition was even greater. He wanted to turn this temple into a Catholic cathedral in one day, full of various holy paintings.

Of course, he didn't know that the Jesuits in Macau had decided to consecrate him as the bishop of the Hamamatsu Diocese, and sent four deacons to Hamamatsu to help him establish a church school to train local missionaries in Japan.