Chapter 110: Debate with a Group of "Confucian Scholars" (Asking for Monthly Votes)

In the reception room on the west side of the cathedral, Archbishop Beaumont's face was full of surprise: "Your Highness, how can this be done?

"Potatoes will never appear on the Passover table..."

What he was talking about was exactly the scene shown in the scroll of "The Last Supper" - on Passover day, Jesus sat down with the 12 disciples to have the last supper together, and publicly revealed that someone had betrayed him.

Joseph smiled and said: "Archbishop Beaumont, how do you know there were no potatoes on the table at that time?"

"this……"

"I remember that in the earliest "Last Supper", God only took a piece of bread in his hand. Later, in Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting, various kinds of food became more abundant. So, it is okay to add another kind Accepted, right?”

A senior priest next to him carefully interjected: "Your Highness, as far as I know, there should be no potatoes in Jerusalem before Good Friday..."

Joseph immediately stood up and said with righteous indignation: "What are you saying? Are you questioning the omniscience and omnipotence of the Lord? How can there be anything in this world that the Lord has not eaten or seen? Let alone potatoes that even you have eaten! "

The priest was startled and hurriedly shrank back, crossing himself desperately on his chest and begging the Lord to forgive his sins. He did not question the Lord's intention.

Archbishop Beaumont was stunned for a moment, and then thought of a breakthrough, and hurriedly said: "Your Highness, potatoes have never appeared in the Bible, so I think it is not suitable to be included in the painting."

Joseph turned to him with a friendly smile: "Archbishop, the tea you drink every day has not been recorded in the Bible. The corn used by the poor in Paris to maintain their lives is also not recorded in the Bible. But these are also given to us by the Lord, and we can only thank the Lord, Amen.”

He made the sign of the cross on his chest, and the priests around him quickly followed suit and said, "Amen."

"But," Beaumont has not encountered any rivals in interpreting scriptures for believers for decades, but he has never seen anyone as tricky as the Crown Prince. He immediately showed the professionalism of a clergyman and retorted, "Your Highness, there are many things. Although it is not recorded in the Bible, we can find their similarities in the Bible.

"For example, tea leaves are in the same category as leaves. And corn and grains are also in the same category. As long as they are of the same category..."

Joseph had done his homework on the way here and immediately said: "Archbishop, you are right. It is recorded in the Bible that the roots of rotten can be used as food, and potatoes are the same kind of things. You see, they are all Blocks dug out of the ground.”

"no……"

Another high-ranking priest said leisurely: "Your Highness, the edible crops in this world are all produced by the mixing and breeding of male and female. This is true for grains, corn, and tea. But potatoes are not divided into male and female. You can cut them by yourself. One piece can breed offspring, so it is obviously a blasphemy..."

Joseph turned around and smiled: "You can discuss this with Count Lamarck. I believe he will be happy to tell you."

Beaumont glared at the priest. He is very knowledgeable and naturally knows that potatoes also have flowers and seeds, but people don't want to plant them because they grow too slowly.

When Joseph saw that the priests were silent, he waved his hand vigorously and said: "Everything in this world is created and given by the Lord, and the same goes for potatoes.

"I believe everyone knows that potatoes have saved countless lives in Prussia, Austria and other places. This shows that they are the food used by the Lord to save people in the world and are the Lord's mercy.

"Your mission is to let the world accept the Lord's gifts and become more grateful and pious, isn't it?"

He glanced at the large number of low-level priests eavesdropping outside the house and said loudly: "This time we are not just adding two potatoes to the scroll. The government has decided to promote potato cultivation throughout France. This requires the church to send people to assist and tell the farmers This is a gift from the Lord. All priests who assist in the promotion can receive a monthly subsidy of 10 livres.

"In addition, if the people in your area are highly receptive to potatoes, your church will receive a reward of 300 livres."

Seeing the joyful appearance of the priests outside the house, Beaumont hesitated for a long time, and finally sighed and said to Joseph: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince, maybe you are right, potatoes can be added to the Last Supper."

He shook his head silently in his heart: However, this will not have any effect. Even if the church agrees, those people will not let potatoes be planted on their land.

…

Soon, a new version of "The Last Supper" appeared in oil painting shops in Paris. In the painting, there are two more potatoes on the plate in front of Jesus, and a small bowl of mashed potatoes in front of Peter.

Major newspapers in Paris also began to publish this painting. Although it was in black and white and the drawing board was not very finely carved, anyone could tell that the two uneven balls were potatoes.

In front of the "whirlwind potato tart" stall of the royal chef Barnabas, the citizens were still very hesitant - hundreds of years of habits cannot be changed easily.

However, there are people at home who are in very difficult circumstances. They can't help but feel a little moved when they see the homeless children who ate potatoes a few days ago are still jumping up and down without appearing to be poisoned or sick at all.

Finally, someone was determined to die and ate a bunch of free fried potatoes, which were so delicious that they immediately smashed them in the mouth.

In other places in Paris, mashed potatoes, French fries, etc. made by the royal chef were quickly taken away for free. Although there are still very few people who dare to try, cracks have appeared on the invisible giant dam.

…

At the same time, the Tuileries Palace was already bustling with activity.

Hundreds of carpenters, masons, and glaziers were repairing doors, windows, walls, chandeliers, etc., because they had been abandoned for too long, more than 80% of the more than 2,000 rooms needed repair.

The president of the Paris Chamber of Commerce, Fleiselle, who was dressed elegantly but had a dusty tricorn hat on his head, was directing his men to coordinate the deployment of personnel and materials.

As the president of the newly established "Paris Fashion Week Preparatory Committee", his brown eyes were already bloodshot, but he had no intention of taking a break.

At the request of the Crown Prince, the Preparatory Committee has made a plan to complete the restoration of the Tuileries Palace within a month. Now that the financial allocation has been in place, it is time for all staff to work hard.

On the east side of the Royal Palace Square, a large T-stage built with maple wood and more than 50 meters long has been completed by nearly half. A large number of workers, like ants, carried materials up and down.

Fleiselle watched all this with excitement. He knew very well what this fashion event would bring to Paris.

That is prosperity!

It is prestige!

It is huge benefits!

In a hall of the West Palace of the Tuileries Palace, Joseph looked at the dozens of ladies in front of him with beautiful faces but strange steps and strange body movements, and couldn't help shaking his head.

Thanks to: Shuai Peng, Zaoan Qing, Changan Yi, Si Zizai, Shuyou 20230301101521800 for their generous rewards to this book! Tian Haishan is grateful!