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Cao Wenzhao looked at his nephew and saw that he was clenching his fists and full of fighting spirit. He suddenly became calm, put his hand on his nephew's shoulder and asked, "Have you really decided?"

"Decided!" Cao Bianjiao nodded vigorously and replied without hesitation.

Cao Wenzhao patted his nephew on the shoulder, said nothing, turned around and walked back to the main seat to take his seat.

Cao Bianjiao saw him from behind and asked with a little surprise: "Uncle, do you agree?"

Hearing this, Cao Wenzhao suddenly turned around, stood facing Cao Bianjiao again, and asked with a hint of hope: "If uncle wants to transfer you to Denglai, how about you go to Lu Zhongcheng's side?"

As soon as he heard this, Cao Bianjiao knew that his uncle still had not given up and wanted to change his decision. He thought of the heroic Lu Xiangsheng, and for a moment, he seemed to hesitate.

When Cao Wenzhao saw it, he immediately added: "Lu Zhongcheng is very fond of you. After you pass, not only will you not have to start from scratch, I believe that with Lu Zhongcheng's ability, you will not have no chance to make meritorious deeds. How about it?"

Cao Bianjiao didn't answer immediately after hearing this. He lowered his head and thought for a while, then suddenly raised his head and asked, "Uncle, even if my nephew goes to Lu Zhongcheng's side and makes great achievements, he will at most be the same as Wu Sangui. Right?"

"..." Cao Wenzhao was speechless when he heard this. Your uncle and I are just deputy generals. From what you say, do you even disdain the commander-in-chief?

Seeing his expression, Cao Bianjiao obviously guessed his uncle's thoughts, and immediately explained: "Uncle, don't blame me, my nephew just wants to surpass Wu Sangui. Under my uncle's teachings on cavalry and archery, I believe my nephew is no better than Wu Sangui." He's bad!"

Cao Wenzhao felt very comfortable and his face looked much better. Just as he was about to speak, he heard Cao Bianjiao say resolutely: "My nephew believes that with his ability, he will definitely have a place in the new army! As my uncle said, the emperor must have high hopes for the new army. If the new army If the army can really become a powerful army, at that time, the nephew's backer will be the emperor! Only in this way can the nephew be able to surpass Wu Sangui in the future! In addition, even if he goes to Lu Zhongcheng's side, the nephew doesn't think he can There’s this opportunity!”

At this point, he clenched his fists to his chest and said decisively: "My nephew must be better than Wu Sangui!"

Listening to Cao Bianjiao's oath, Cao Wenzhao looked at him blankly for a while, then suddenly stepped forward, reached out and patted his nephew heavily on the shoulder, and praised loudly: "Good! You have such ambition, uncle will no longer Stop you! After all, you have to walk this road by yourself, so you have to let uncle take his own way out!"

Cao Bianjiao was overjoyed when he heard this. He immediately clasped his fists in a salute and said firmly and loudly: "Uncle, don't worry, my nephew will definitely work a hundred times harder and make a big difference!"

The next day, the second day of the Lunar New Year, the Minister of Rites, as the imperial minister overseeing the nationwide promotion of sweet potatoes, went to the Wenhua Hall to bid farewell to the emperor.

Hu Guang has high hopes for this matter. But he also knows that if sweet potatoes are to be popularized across the country, it will take at least a few years to see a harvest. Now Xu Guangqi's trip is just sowing seeds across the country.

After some encouragement, Hu Guang suddenly felt that Xu Guangqi seemed to have something to say but was hesitating, so he asked curiously: "Xu Qing, if you have any other concerns, tell them all. I will make the decision for you!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Guangqi seemed to have made up his mind, and immediately reported to the emperor: "Your Majesty, after the news came out that I was leaving the capital, several missionaries in the capital came together to see me."

Having said this, he paused and then said with a sincere look on his face: "I believe that your Majesty is very knowledgeable, and it would be fine even without those missionaries. However, your Majesty has many things to do, and those Western knowledge still have to be taught to the people of the Ming Dynasty by others. The minister recommended Sun Yuanhua, a doctor, to learn Western knowledge from these Westerners, and then he was able to educate the people of the Ming Dynasty."

Upon hearing this, Hu Guang understood what Xu Guangqi meant. He still wanted to intercede on behalf of those missionaries, hoping to abolish the ban caused by the Nanjing Mission Case so that Sun Yuanhua could learn Western learning from Western missionaries.

After thinking for a moment, he asked Xu Guangqi: "What is Sun Yuanhua's foundation in Western learning?"

"Your Majesty, Sun Yuanhua is my student. He also converted to Catholicism like me and studied Western learning from Western missionaries. He is better at learning Western artillery." Xu Guangqi replied quickly when he heard that the emperor seemed to be moving.

When Hu Guang heard this, he nodded and said: "If you are busy with the sweet potato business, I will ask Sun Yuanhua to sort it out for me. If you don't understand anything, just give it to me. As for those Western missionaries, I have already said before, No room for bargaining!”

Xu Guangqi was happy to hear it at first, but when he heard it later, he found that the emperor still hadn't changed his mind. He couldn't help but become a little anxious, and quickly said: "Your Majesty, the court is in troubled times now. There are injustices everywhere in the Ming Dynasty. Your Majesty is dealing with many things every day..."

"Xu Qing!" Hu Guang heard this, interrupted Xu Guangqi's words, and said slightly seriously: "I said that these missionaries came to our country not just to preach. They have evil intentions. Don't be fooled by their current behavior. deceive!"

"Your Majesty, I really can't feel it. I hope your Majesty..." Xu Guangqi felt that the emperor was really biased. At least in his opinion, those Western missionaries really had no ill intentions, so he wanted to give one more advice before leaving the capital.

Hu Guang interrupted Xu Guangqi again and ordered him: "Since you don't believe it, just send those Western missionaries to see me. You are listening by the side."

Xu Guangqi really didn't believe it. When he saw that the emperor wanted to see those missionaries, he couldn't help but feel happy. He believed that as long as the emperor was willing to contact them, he would feel their profound knowledge and broad mind, and they would be willing to travel thousands of miles to preach in the Ming Dynasty and spread Western learning.

The missionaries knew that Xu Guangqi would give advice to the emperor again today, so they all waited for the news outside the Meridian Gate. Therefore, it didn't take long before they met the supreme ruler of the Ming Dynasty in the Wenhua Palace.

Seeing them coming in, Xu Guangqi immediately winked at the leader, Tang Ruowang.

Tang Ruowang and the other five people took a deep breath, faced the emperor, stretched out their hands to caress their chests, and said in a Chinese accent unique to Westerners: "...I have met His Majesty the Ming Emperor!"

Seeing this, Wang Chengen, the eunuch on duty next to Hu Guang, suddenly shouted loudly: "How dare you not kneel down and salute?"

Xu Guangqi was stunned after hearing this. What's going on? In the past, when monks and Taoists entered the palace, they did not need to kneel down and kowtow! Even if this father-in-law is young, he should know this!

Tang Ruowang and others were stunned after hearing this, and then Tang Ruowang, who took the lead, replied: "Your Majesty, we are missionaries sent by God to the Ming Dynasty. We salute Your Majesty according to my Catholic etiquette..."

Thanks to Sui Lian and dhb for the reward!