Chapter 423: Destroying the Church

"Father, these people have been washed clean; what can we do with them?" Zhu Qiongjiong walked over.

"Mining, farming, road building—anything they can do. Aren't Europeans already not bathing? From now on they'll bathe every day; if they don't clean themselves, they're not allowed to eat."

Zhu Qiongjiong grinned and said, "Father, your method is good; those people's bodies smell like a cesspit, stinking enough to cloud one's mind."

Zhu Yong patted his son's shoulder, turned and walked toward the camp.

In the deep part of the camp, several high-ranking Castilian nobles were locked up, captured yesterday from the castles around Toledo.

Five of them, all great nobles above the rank of count, held territories spread across several provinces surrounding Toledo.

They were confined in a separate tent; their treatment was somewhat better than ordinary prisoners, but not much better.

The tent was strewn with straw; the men crouched in a corner, their faces pallid, eyes full of terror.

Seeing Zhu Yong come in, the men hurriedly stood, bowed deeply, and muttered something under their breath.

Wang Gui stepped forward from behind and translated, "Lord Wang, they say they are willing to submit to Great Ming, only asking to preserve their family's land and property."

Zhu Yong looked at the trembling Spanish nobles and was silent for a moment.

These people are of the same character as those Portuguese; when the enemy arrives they surrender, after surrender they beg for mercy, and after that they betray again.

He knew from studying European history in his previous life that European nobles excel at shifting allegiances, siding with whoever is strong, with no loyalty at all.

"Tell them, the land will be confiscated, the property registered, and the people sent to mine."

Wang Gui translated that.

The five nobles' faces turned pale at once; the oldest, a count with a white beard, trembled his lips and said a few words.

Wang Gui, after listening, turned and said, "Lord Wang, they say their family has lived on this land for several hundred years, pleading for your mercy."

Zhu Yong looked at him and said lightly, "Hundreds of years? What about the common folk on this land? How long have their ancestors lived here?"

"Your family has enjoyed hundreds of years, while the people have been exploited for hundreds of years; now, it's time to return it."

Wang Gui translated that; the five nobles collapsed onto the ground, faces ashen.

Zhu Yong no longer looked at them, turned and walked out of the tent.

At dusk, Zhu Di returned from outside the city, bringing a military intelligence report from eastern Castile.

He had spent several years in the Western Regions, developing a habit of carrying a map wherever he went; scouting, reconnaissance, enemy analysis—he was proficient at all.

"Second Prince, there's movement in Aragon," he spread the map on the table.

Zhu Yong walked over, looking at the map.

Aragon lies east of Castile; the border between the two nations is a chain of mountains, with only a few mountain passes usable.

King Alfonso V of Aragon has gathered about twenty thousand troops at the border, apparently intending to loot the chaos.

"Twenty thousand men, not many, but Aragon's terrain is more complex than Castile's; many mountains, few plains, cavalry can't maneuver, and artillery is hard to transport."

Zhu Di traced several lines on the map and said, "If they hold the mountain passes, it'll be hard for us to break through."

Zhu Yong thought for a moment and said, "If we don't break in, we'll let them come out."

Zhu Di's eyes lit up and asked, "Second Prince means, lure the enemy deep?"

"The King of Castile fled to Aragon; if Alfonso V is wise, he should hand over the people and negotiate with us. If he's not wise and tries to take advantage, then we'll let him take it."

Zhu Yong pointed to a plain east of Toledo on the map and said, "Here, the terrain is open, suitable for our artillery and Flintlock Guns to be effective.

"Pull the main force back here, exposing Toledo; if the Aragonese don't come, it shows they're cowardly; if they do, we can finish them right here."

Zhu Di nodded, "Alright, I'll make the arrangements."

He turned to leave, but Zhu Yong called him back.

"Fifth Brother, send someone to Porto to deliver a message, and have Fourth Brother also prepare; if Aragon truly attacks, we'll strike from east and west, leaving them no way out."

Zhu Di responded, "Understood," and strode out.

Zhu Shuang walked in from outside, holding a list.

He had spent five years in Australia; his work became increasingly efficient, and Zhu Yong felt at ease entrusting him with inventory tasks.

"Second Prince, the city's food inventory is complete; it's enough for us for three months, and with the supplies from Portugal, six months is no problem."

The armory holds many Sword and Spear, bows and arrows of average quality, far inferior to ours; there is plenty of gunpowder, but its quality is poor, with low nitrate content and insufficient power.

Zhu Yong took the list, glanced over it, and nodded.

European gunpowder technology indeed falls short of Great Ming; nitrate purification is inadequate, reducing the powder's potency.

Flintlock Guns are even worse; Europe's firearms are still matchlocks, slow to load, short-ranged, and unusable in rain.

"Keep the gunpowder for future improvement; melt the Sword and Spear, bows and arrows into farming tools; retain the warhorses—Castilian horses are fine, larger than Mongol horses, comparable to Arabian horses."

Zhu Shuang responded, turned to make arrangements, then halted and said, "Second Prince, what shall we do with the church items—the Gold and Silver vessels, the Bibles, the crosses, and so on?"

Zhu Yong thought for a moment.

In his eyes, European churches are much like Great Ming temples—places that gather hearts and amass wealth.

But European churches are more domineering than Great Ming temples; the Pope's authority exceeds that of the Emperor, and even kings must obey him.

Such an organization cannot remain.

"Melt the Gold and Silver vessels into silver ingots; burn the Bibles and crosses together; convert the church into a school, so children can learn to read and write."

Tell them Great Ming does not believe in God; we believe in the Dao of Heaven rewarding diligence, self‑strengthening, and that a good life depends on oneself, not on God.

Zhu Shuang was startled for a moment, then grinned, "Second Prince, you're right—relying on God—does God give you food?"

Zhu Yong said nothing.

He turned, walked to the window.

Toledo's night is quieter than the day; in the distance, the church bells continue to toll, one after another, dull and lingering.

The city's church influence is tangled and extensive; there are more churches than restaurants, and more priests than officials.

Those church bells will soon be replaced by Great Ming's bells.

At night, Zhu Yong sat in his study writing a letter.

The letter was addressed to Zhu Biao, a thick stack of paper on which the battles of the past few days were written from start to finish.

The capital of Castile, Toledo, was taken; the king fled, the nobles surrendered, and the common folk were settled.

Gold and Silver treasure was counted: gold 60,000 taels, silver 1,200,000 taels, gems over 30 boxes.

Castile's lands are being redistributed, churches confiscated and turned into schools, priests who are willing to return to lay life get parcels to farm, those who refuse are sent to Australia.

When he finished writing, he paused, then added a few more lines:

"Brother, the religion the Europeans believe in is far more domineering than our Buddhism or Taoism; the Pope is in Rome, and the kings of all European nations must obey him, his power knows no bounds.

Such a religion cannot be kept; otherwise, even if we conquer Europe, decades later it will still be chaotic. The churches have already become schools; priests who should return to lay life do so, and those who should be sent away are sent away.

Later, send some Taoist priests and Confucian scholars over, so the Europeans can also read our classic of saints and sages, learn our teachings: Taoism preaches following nature, Confucianism preaches benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness, which are far more reliable than that God."

After finishing, he folded the letter, slipped it into an envelope, and handed it to the Imperial Troops outside.

"Fast horses, send it back to the Heavenly Prefecture."

"Yes."

After the Imperial Troops withdrew, Zhu Yong stood up and walked to the window.

Moonlight leaked through the gaps in the cloud layer, illuminating Toledo's city walls, and the stones glowed with a bluish‑white light in the Moonlight.

In the distance, the spires of the churches flickered in the night, like fingers pointing toward the sky.

Those fingers will soon be cut off.