Chapter 114: Section 22: Hitching a Ride

On the way home Huang Shi thought about the Catholic issue again. He turned it over and over in his mind and still wanted to use religion. Confucianism does not speak of disorder, force, monstrosities, or spirits, and if he did not occupy the ground of faith, others would. He certainly could not encourage soldiers to believe in Buddhism — that went without saying. Daoism was also of no great use. The Boxers' invulnerability to blade and bullet might have had good effects early on, but the after-effects and side effects were too severe, so none of these were acceptable.

Using Catholicism could also bring technical and personnel support from the Jesuits, and in the long run the benefits were considerable. However, the doctrine had to be changed. Huang Shi intended to keep this faith in his own hands. If this religion could be spread widely, then Huang Shi, as its spokesman, would also gain broader support, which would benefit his grand plan for the future.

……

"One husband, one wife is no problem, as long as buying concubines and maids is not a sin." On this issue Huang Shi and Deng Ken quickly reached a consensus.

"Ancestor worship cannot be touched. This is a tradition of our Huaxia."

"That is not very good," Deng Ken said, still somewhat hesitant.

"The Jesuits put propagation first, and only second the flawless perfection of doctrine, correct?" Huang Shi had hit on exactly the Jesuits' own wishful calculation.

"This is... very well." Deng Ken felt this could be amended later — the Jesuits thought the same — so he agreed.

"Original sin cannot stay. Believing in the faith is accumulating virtue and doing good deeds, not atoning for sin. This must be changed." The Catholic doctrine of original sin was too terrifying; by that theory the soldiers' ancestors were all in hell, and this the soldiers would absolutely, absolutely never accept.

"No." Deng Ken looked on the verge of losing his temper.

"Why are you so stubborn? You can say that those who do not believe go to the Middle Hall — a place much like the mortal world — and cannot ascend to the most glorious Heaven. Those who believe can also bring their ancestors to Heaven..." Huang Shi talked for a long time and finally added, "Everything is for the sake of propagation; we can deal with the rest after it is propagated."

"Very well." Deng Ken compromised.

"Warriors who die in battle go straight to Heaven, no need to discuss belief or unbelief." Huang Shi certainly hoped that believers would not fear death, but he did not wish for non-believers to fear death either.

"This absolutely cannot be changed." Deng Ken and Huang Shi argued for a long time. In the end Deng Ken produced a compromise: these warriors who died in battle could become heroic spirits, which sounded somewhat like Japanese Shinto.

"No." Huang Shi immediately objected. He still had his bottom lines.

Deng Ken earnestly and patiently explained some of the advantages, but the more Huang Shi listened, the more it sounded like Bushido. "No, I do not like this idea." Who in their right mind would go looking for trouble for themselves?

In the end they decided to adapt Norse mythology. Of course the inevitably doomed final battle of Ragnarok had to be discarded, but the valkyries who served as camp women were clearly to be kept — this would be no small spiritual reward for Huang Shi's unmarried soldiers.

"...In summary, the Lord God, in His venerable wisdom, gathers warriors fallen in battle for the decisive battle on Judgment Day. In the military camp of Heaven, every soldier may eat meat in great chunks, drink wine from large bowls, and have a group of goddesses to bed. That is how it is." With an air of utter seriousness Huang Shi summed up the doctrine and gave the dumbstruck Deng Ken a shove: "Write it down!"

"Very well." After Deng Ken finished recording, he added, "The Jianzhou slaves are the army of hell. Since the General says we must conform to Chinese linguistic habits, let us call them the Yanluo Demons. How about that?"

Yanluo Demons? The term sounded vaguely familiar to Huang Shi, though he could not recall its source. But that was not the point. He flatly rejected it: "No. The Jianzhou slaves must not be linked in any way to hell or devils."

"Why? Would killing the Jianzhou slaves not then be pleasing to the Lord of Heaven — no, pleasing to God?"

Deng Ken's expression as he spoke looked very bewildered, and Huang Shi shook his head helplessly.

"Mr. Deng Ken, you truly do not understand us Chinese... us Great Ming people. If we put it as you say, it is very likely to harm morale. Some individual soldiers would not dare to fight the Jianzhou slaves!"

"Why?" Deng Ken's spittle flew.

"The Devil is the sovereign of hell, and Chinese people will feel that the big boss of hell is not to be trifled with either. I assure you, if we preach according to your Jesuit doctrine, the soldiers will secretly burn a stick of incense to the Devil as well. Offending neither side — that is the kingly way... Never mind, you do not understand what the word 'kingly way' means."

The final formulation was this: Huang Shi was the General of the Faith, so when soldiers of the faith fought for the General of the Faith, they pleased God. The Later Jin were merely savages sent as a trial. In any case, obeying the words of the General of the Faith could never be wrong, and after death one could go to the military camp of Heaven to feast and drink and play with the goddess girls.

"There is no temptation of the Devil. The Devil can give nothing... There is only the trial of the Lord of Heaven. Those who fail are dispatched to hell... What does the Devil need souls for? Hmm, let me think about that."

Huang Shi pondered for a moment. "I have it. It must still conform to the Chinese way of thinking: the souls are taken to refine magical treasures. Those souls will suffer a living death, burned day after day by yin fire, unless someone intercedes before God before both body and soul are extinguished. That is how it is. Write it down."

As long as he could control a religion, Huang Shi did not mind what name it bore. If one day China could fight its way to Rome, he saw no problem even with saying that God and the Han people made a covenant at the Qinling Mountains. Since for now this name could be exchanged for resources, he would use it first. In any case, the right to amend doctrine was in his hands; Huang Shi felt the name was merely a label.

After several busy days all the issues were finally settled. Before arriving at Zhangsheng Island, Deng Ken flipped through the recorded material from the beginning and stared blankly at the doctrine that had been altered beyond recognition. "Is this still Catholicism?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Huang Shi retorted dismissively, patting the draft doctrine. "This is Catholicism with Chinese characteristics."

"If that is the case..." Deng Ken rapidly wrote down one line: Clergy may marry.

……

Huang Shi had no intention of fooling the officers along with the men, and besides, they might not be so easily fooled. If this matter did not gain the support and understanding of a few trusted Company Commanders, it probably could not be carried out.

"My lord, your subordinate does not agree! The Master did not speak of disorder, force, monstrosities, or spirits."

As soon as he had barely revealed a hint of the plan to promote Catholicism, He Baodao, as ever, was the first to leap out.