~.-~   Long Xiao Daming Chapter 242 Tour of Europe (Sixth)

The incident in the Netherlands was just a small episode of China's visit to Europe. [Fê Overall, China's visit to Europe achieved great success at this time. Wherever the Chinese delegation went, it was warmly welcomed. At the same time, the delegation also showed a humble and friendly attitude in European countries. It did not appear to be superior as a big country, and was also unanimously praised by European countries.

This time, the goods carried by China were also very popular among European countries, but almost all buyers value the collection and commemorative value of the goods, rather than practical value. After several years, these goods have become popular goods in the European collection market.

However, after the goods were sold, the Chinese delegation also purchased a large number of items in various parts of Europe. Some of them were gifts brought to the country, but most of them were goods that the delegation believed could be introduced in China, and basically no extra money was left.

At the same time, China's first visit to Europe also triggered a Chinese boom in all European countries, and the impact of this boom on Europe was far beyond the scope of this visit.

For a long time after this visit, China has been a hot topic among European countries. Many Europeans are imitating Chinese habits and using Chinese etiquette. Everyone is proud of using Chinese items. If the homes of all the rich people do not collect a few Chinese collections, they will be embarrassed to say hello to others.

After Louis XIV later took power, he held a masquerade party in the palace. Almost all participants made themselves Chinese. The Chinese rockery and stone scenery decorated with Chinese landscapes, flowers, plants, insects, birds, fish and beasts in buildings, furniture, and furnishings were also popular in Europe. Even Chinese chopsticks have become one of the essential tableware for Western food. Various conditions have been constantly affecting European living habits.

Of course, China's influence on Europe is all-round, not only in terms of living habits, but also in terms of culture. Because before, Europe's knowledge of Chinese culture was both sparse and half-bare, and many of them were privately guessed. Although there were no academic masters in the Chinese mission this time, there were also many scholars who were familiar with poetry and books, so there were also a relatively comprehensive exchange between the East and the West.

Although Europe experienced the Renaissance, the Mongolian movement in this era, and the concept of emphasis on science and technology, humanities, rationality, and freedom appeared, these new concepts were only in the initial stage and did not form a perfect structure, and religious theocracy still had great influence. At this time, China's cultural thought had already formed a perfect ideological system. Compared with the new idea that Europe was still in a half-baked state, it still seemed mature and brilliant, and the wisdom of the Eastern style also made European scholars feel very novel.

Therefore, after this exchange between the East and the West, most European scholars praised China's culture as being more intelligent than Europe. On the other hand, it was also from the perspective of further opposing the religious theocratic power of Europe. It was believed that China coordinated social affairs by people's own moral level, which was much more progressive than that of Europe by the will of the Lord. The idea of ​​self-cultivation, character cultivation, family management, and country governance in Chinese culture was much better than the creed of the [Bible]. Therefore, the human ethics and moral authority emphasized by China was exactly what Europe, which relied on religious authority, lacked.

The imperial examination system in China is particularly admired by Europeans. "The Chinese do not talk about their family background. As long as they have good character and are talented and knowledgeable, they can obtain the right to be an official through the exam. Therefore, the European official system with hereditary titles and titles cannot be compared with the imperial examination products in China."

"In China, there is no religious war in the West, and it will not be killed indiscriminately because of different religious beliefs. It is a harmonious society of natural production and artificial production."

"China's enlightened political praise and benevolence, righteousness and morality are the peaks of the development of human ideal society;"

"The government of the vast Chinese Empire is commendable, it is a combination of fear, honor and morality."

Of course, there is a considerable reason for Europe's affirmation and praise of the Chinese cultural system to deny the old system of Europe and criticize the religious theocracy of Europe. There are also European scholars who question Chinese culture. Some people believe that Europeans overly idealize China's cultural system, and China's benevolence, righteousness and morality cannot help people avoid greed and deception. In China, officials also exploit the people, and the emperor's tyranny is common. The wisdom and aphorisms in Chinese culture can only be said to be a reflection on social ills, and there is no practical connection with the country if the country is governed well.

But overall, China's image is not high and good in Europe. China's social and political system is open, so it brings a richness of material life and a kind of image of light and hope to Europe. In the following years, major European countries opened Chinese studies in China, translated Chinese books, and had a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of China.

Afterwards, after the Chinese mission visited Sweden and Denmark, half of the country had passed in 1650. The Chinese mission was also beginning to clean up goods, sort out various information, and prepare for a trip to return to China.

The UK has already made preparations. After discussions by the British Parliament, it has decided to send a mission to visit China and conduct further negotiations with China to strengthen trade relations between the two sides and expand trade volume. It is best to stay with each other to better handle the exchanges and trade issues between the two countries.

Although the UK had sent a mission to visit China before, it was organized by the British East India Company, and the British mainland was only a powerful force. This time, it was organized by the delegation of the national protectionist Cromwell and the British Parliament. After all, the momentum of China's visit to Europe this time is not too bad compared to the UK.

The final result was that the UK sent three warships, Lion, Hindustan and Jackal, with more than 200 members of the formal mission, including diplomats, scholars, doctors, painters, musicians, technicians and servants. If sailors and soldiers were included, the entire mission would reach more than 1,000. After the mission arrived in India, the British East India Company would send one to two ships to participate. Although it was still not as large as the Chinese mission, in the history of Britain, such a large mission had never been sent in the entire Europe. The commander and envoy of the mission this time was a Scot, named Ochin Rek Macartney, and the deputy envoy was George Sdondong.

The British side was so prepared, and other countries in Europe were also organizing missions to visit China. Spain used Marquis Gonzalez as envoy to dispatch two ships, with a total of about 500 Schwarzers. Of course, France would not miss this opportunity, and also dispatched two missions, about 600 Schwarzers. The envoy was Finance Minister Baptiste Colbert; Portugal and the Netherlands also sent one ship each, and even the church broke through the land and sent one mission to China on Spanish ships. In addition, Sweden and Denmark also came to join in the fun, each sent one mission to take a French ship.

As a result, when he returned to China with the Chinese mission, he carried a total of seven European warships, a total of seven missions from the country. The size of the fleet also doubled.

The fleet departed from London on August 20, 1650, on the 24th of the seventh year of the sixth year of China's post-Next. The British side sent another fleet to escort them to the Dabida port in northern Africa before returning.

The fleet was on October 26, 1650, on the tenth day of the sixth year of the late Ming Dynasty in China, and bypassed the Cape of Good Hope at the southern end of Africa. When the mission came, a stone tablet erected here was still there, which made people feel quite touching.

But on the third day after bypassing the Cape of Good Hope, the fleet encountered a big storm and suffered heavy losses. China and Britain each lost a small boat, and the entire fleet suffered 300 people. The cargo was also greatly damaged. However, this was the case in this era. It was very lucky to have a long time and basically no losses, but when it returned, there was no good luck.

After the storm, the fleet continued to sail and spent the New Year of 1650 on the sea. On January 17, the 26th day of the 12th leap year in the next sixth year, he arrived in India. On the way, another French ship unfortunately hit a reef and sank. Fortunately, it did not encounter a storm, and other ships also provided help. Therefore, not only did not suffer any casualties, but most of the cargo was rescued.

In India, the Chinese delegation also learned about two major events in China. One is that the Chinese army won the Central Plains War and the defeat of the Qing court was a foregone conclusion. The other is that on October 18 this year, November 11, 1650 in the Gregorian calendar, Shang Yi officially proclaimed himself emperor in Nanjing, established the Chinese Empire, and changed the reign of Hongxian, so now is the first year of Hongxian.

After knowing that Shang Yi had already proclaimed himself emperor, the Chinese delegation was full of joy, and other countries also expressed their congratulations to the Chinese delegation. It happened that the Chinese New Year was about to come, so the Chinese delegation also celebrated in India and spent the first New Year of the Chinese Empire in India. Of course, other delegations also rested in India.

On January 10, the first year of Hongxian, March 1, 1651, the fleet set off again. The British East India Company sent two ships to join the fleet, and the French mission also purchased a ship in India, so the total number of fleets remained unchanged.

The routes behind were much more familiar, so it was much easier to walk. After crossing the Strait of Malacca, Dutch ships first left the fleet and went to Batavia. The other fleets continued to sail and arrived in Luzon on March 5, the first year of Hongxian, on April 24, 1651, AD.

The fleet rested in Luzon for five days and sent a flying scissor boat to return to Nanjing to report the news. Before departure, the Dutch ship arrived in Luzon and joined the fleet. The authorities of Batavia in the Netherlands also sent a ship to join the fleet. Several other Nanyang countries also sent missions to China on Chinese ships to worship Shang Yi. Li Huamei, the highest officer of Luzon, also sent a fleet to escort the fleet to Taiwan.

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Chapter completed!