Fox of France

After seeing off the British Navy's visitors on the first day, the "Free Trader" opened to the French nationals the next day. And after the opening of the day. The "London Businessman" suddenly reported a big news.

"According to what we have learned from the French Ministry of Foreign Trade, the 'Free Trade' steam frigate may be a commodity on the shelves at the next Pakistan Fair. After the visit to the UK, the 'Free Trade' will continue to visit other countries..."

The British also had a lot of speculation in advance about the purpose of the French action. But most people thought it was the French demonstrating against the British. Many people wonder if the French are planning to make some kind of moth out of Ireland or somewhere else. Now it seems that the French don't mean that at all, the French...

"The French really want money, don't they?" the butcher said with a twisted mouth. "The French really...as long as you give them money, they are even willing to sell you the noose they used to hang themselves."

"Butcher, you're right," said Fagin, who had just returned to Petticoat Lane from Ireland, "however, when you look at this question, your field of vision is still a little narrow. The French love money, but the French love money." It’s also very big, and they’re not only looking at the money from selling a few boats. Their purpose of doing this is actually to demonstrate.”

"What's the demonstration for?" Buck asked. "Are France and England going to war again?"

"The French don't want to, so they hope to use this method to let the British government clearly see how much it will cost Britain if there is a war between the two countries. In fact, just think about who benefits peace, and you will know Know who wishes for peace."

"What a pity," said Buck.

"Barker, don't pin your hopes on such things. The liberation of the British people, in the final analysis, depends on themselves. First and foremost, let the people realize their own strength."

"The power of the people?"

"Yes, the power of the people. That's the most important thing I've learned from this trip to France and Ireland. You see, those people in the French government today love money too. Honestly, love of money is most people's Naturally, there's not much to blame for this, but the French government would never dare to drive peasants off their land and send them to factories with three or four years' reprieve, as the British did.

The land in France is far more fertile and warm than that in England, and it can naturally produce more food. When I was in France, I saw that the government allocated funds to build canals and install electric water pumps for those farmers. Copper prices in Europe have risen a lot. And France's agricultural tax is the lowest in Europe. French farmers plant fertile land, no nobles collect land rent, and the country's tax revenue is small—not even enough to build those water conservancy facilities for them. Why does the French government treat them so kindly, even to please French farmers? "

"Why?" said Buck.

"Because they showed their strength," Fagin said. "In the Revolutionary War in France, most of the soldiers came from the countryside, they were peasants. They formed a collective in the army. Even after recovery, they still had mutual respect. These demobilized soldiers organized the peasants in France. So if the French government wants to do anything harmful to their interests, these people have all fought and rebelled. God knows They can do anything. Therefore, the French government not only dare not bully them, but even try to please them.

Also, you know I spent a lot of time in Ireland, and the situation there bears that out. "

"Master Fagin, tell us something about Ireland," said the butcher.

"Well, that's fine, let me tell you something. You know, since Britain and France achieved peace, the British government also signed a ceasefire agreement with the Irish Resistance Army, but this agreement is actually..."

The British Governor's Office in Ireland and the rebels reached a temporary ceasefire agreement. The large-scale conflict between the two sides has stopped, but this does not mean that the two sides have really achieved peace. Small-scale frictions happen almost all the time.

In the "democracy zone", the stronghold of the United Irish Federation, preparations for war were almost never let up. Prior to this, part of the weapons and equipment of the Irish Independence Army came from French aid, and the other part came from the capture of the British army. But now, the Irish Independence Army has another source of weapons-self-made.

The United Irish Federation recognizes that the present peace is not necessarily secure. Whenever possible, the British will make a comeback. However, after the signing of the armistice agreement, the aid from France has gradually decreased, which is normal, because aid costs a lot of money, and there is no urgent danger now, so the aid will naturally gradually decrease. reduce.

"'In the final analysis, revolution and independence are our own affairs. We can't rely on the French for everything. The French are our friends. Our friendship with the French is higher than the mountains and deeper than the sea. But we can't do anything. Everyone counts on their friends. If a person counts on his friends for everything, but he can’t do anything himself. Then what do we call this kind of person? Are we going to call this kind of person a waste? Our comrades in the Federation can’t be like this Waste.' This is what President Russell of the Federation said to their fighters. So during this period of time, they insisted on self-reliance, and even established their own arsenal." Fei Jin introduced.

"Their arsenal? A group of farmers also built an arsenal?" Tie Ya asked in amazement, "What can they produce?"

"Some simple and effective weapons, such as mines. However, more importantly, they have stockpiled a large amount of materials during this period, and they are constantly strengthening their organization. Strengthening organization is the most fundamental the secret.

Butcher, Buck, Iron Fang, do you know that the most important thing I learned in France and Ireland is that we must have an organization, and we must establish a wide-ranging organization in order to gather strength and serve our people. Fight for benefits. I decided that we were going to reorganize our organization, expand it, and first bring in workers from the neighborhood. "

"And then?" asked the butcher.

"Then the trade union we organized came forward to represent the workers to appeal to those who run the factory, and then naturally it was a struggle, a non-violent struggle on the bright side and a struggle that we are more familiar with on the dark side. First of all, we The goal should not be too big, but start from a small place where the workers can feel it..."

"Well, you are the boss, so you have the final say." Buck said, "Then what is the name of our new gang?"

"We do need a new name," said Fagin. "Well, we preach the true Gospel of God, of salvation, of liberation. Let's call it 'Christian Bottoms'. These days, I'm in France , and discussed doctrinal issues with some priests. I feel that I am one step closer to understanding God's will."

"Tell us, boss," said the butcher.

"Well, in Toulon, I met a priest named Torres who was involved in the Revolution. He talked to me and he mentioned his experience in the Revolution. I asked him: 'What do you think of the French Revolution?' He replied to me, "The Great Revolution was the will of God, and it was God's correction of the church that had strayed from the way of salvation." So he told me a story.

A woman of forty—who looked as old as seventy—appeared to him after Mass and said sadly, "Father, I did not confess before receiving Holy Communion."

"How did you come here, my child?" he asked her.

"Father," she replied, "I came late, when you had already begun to distribute the Eucharist. For three days I had nothing to eat but water; I was dying of starvation. When I saw you When Holy Communion was distributed, that little slice of white bread was distributed, I went to Holy Communion just to eat that little bit of bread."

Tears welled up in his eyes, and he remembered Jesus' words: "My meat (bread) is real food... Whoever eats me will also live because of me." '

That night, in prayer, he had a whole new revelation. He said:

‘Man is created in the image and likeness of God, the voice of the poor to live is the voice of God, God is not the God of death, but the Lord of life who can hear the voice of God’s people. The judgment of history is the final judgment. What is done to the poor and humble is what is done to Jesus. The Savior that Christians believe in is present in these faces distorted by poverty. Christians cannot remain indifferent in the face of such history. Theology that contemplates the mysteries of heaven in peaceful colleges must die, theology must put its feet on the ground, take up the cross of history, and fight for the life and liberation of the poor. This is the redemption of the Messiah. Salvation is liberation. '

In his view, the church has committed a series of mistakes, so that it has strayed more and more from the way of Jesus. So God will use the Great Revolution to correct it with blood and fire.

He told me: ‘This kind of history cannot be missed. Missing this kind of history means missing the revelation of God and the opportunity to become a true Christian. '

I think this kind of thinking and this kind of interpretation of the Bible is very good and very useful. Father Torres sent me a notebook for reading the Bible. Among them, there are a lot of his reflections on the Bible. In the future, we will use this kind of theological thinking to arouse and organize the workers. "