Daming: If I find a great-grandson, I will teach an emperor through the ages

Chapter 111

The sound of the train running drew the people of Yingtianfang City out.

They looked at the big guy slowly stopping with white smoke coming from its head, and were amazed.

"What is this thing that can run on its own?"

"This thing is so long, I looked at...it seems like there's someone sitting in it?"

At this time, another well-informed person began to speak out.

"Don't you know this? This big iron thing is called a train. It was built by Master Cao of the Western Suburb Manufacturing Bureau. It is said that it can pull a thousand people to run thousands of miles day and night!"

Suddenly, the crowd exploded.

"My dear mother, run ten thousand miles!"

"There are no horses in this train. Could it be that the people inside are pulling it?"

"After running ten thousand miles, the people there will be exhausted."

At this time, ordinary people had never read two books and could not understand how the train they saw for the first time ran.

While everyone was talking about it, Cao Wei took the lead and jumped out of the car holding his nose.

"Get out of the car!"

After that, the people of Yingtian saw that people began to file out of the long carriage, as if there was no end!
Seeing this scene, everyone opened their mouths wide, "Is there really 1000 people here?"

Zhu Yuanzhang also got out of the carriage with the help of Zhu Xiongying. Both of them looked calm, and Emperor Hongwu's physique was still strong.

In the team of officials behind Zhu Yuanzhang, there were about ten people who were staggering around. Even though they had already got off the train, they still couldn't help but feel the heat in their stomachs. From time to time, they would cover their mouths and retching several times, in a state of utter embarrassment.

Zhu Yuanzhang pointed to the officials who were motion sick and asked Cao Wei, "What's going on with them?"

Cao Wei replied: "Your Majesty, the train does not need to be as private as a carriage. There are dozens of people in one carriage, and the air cannot circulate. It is normal for some weak people to feel dizzy and nauseated. They will be fine after a while."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded and looked at the train in front of him.

This time, the steam train's ability to carry thousands of people was something that everyone could really see. No one would say anything like "strange and cunning".

The train stopped two feet in front of the boulder at the end of the track. Seeing this, Zhu Yuanzhang asked Cao Wei again: "How should I turn back when the train reaches the end of the track?"

This is a practical problem, the train cannot run in only one direction at a time.

Cao Wei chuckled and replied, "Your Majesty, we only need to lay an extra loop at the end of the track, and the train can turn around and go in the direction it came from. However, the seven or eight miles of track laid this time is already tight." Hurry up, there is no extra time to lay the circular track..."

Ring track, also called bulb ring or U-shaped track.

The original trains, whether steam trains or internal combustion engines, did not support two-way travel, so the trains had to solve the problem of turning around after reaching the end.

The original U-turn method was to disassemble the locomotive and install it on the other end of the carriage, or to set up a rail locomotive turntable, which eliminated the tedious process of tossing the locomotive back and forth.

But these methods are too time-consuming and labor-intensive. When one train is turned around, other trains have to wait behind.

So later there were light bulb rings and U-shaped rails. The train only needed to make a circle along the track to turn around smoothly.

This time, the railway track from outside the imperial city to the manufacturing bureau had been built in a hurry, and there was no extra time to lay the circular track.

Naturally, this time the steam train could only turn around using the most primitive method: dismantling the front end of the train and moving it to the other end of the carriage.

Song Pingping and others also used this method to turn the train around during the trial run after the rail construction was completed.

Following Cao Wei's words and gestures, Zhu Yuanzhang probably understood what Cao Wei meant.

Since the train turning around is not a problem, then everything is easy to say!
This steam train can be put into practical use as soon as possible!

By then, all parts of the Ming Dynasty can be said to be connected in all directions, and there will no longer be any incomprehension of government orders!
Sending troops to local areas, reinforcing border areas, providing disaster relief... these things used to be very time-consuming and troublesome, but if the train is rolled out throughout the Ming Dynasty, a lot of manpower and material resources can be saved!
OK!Our Daming is getting better and better!

Zhu Yuanzhang turned to look at Zhu Xiongying beside him. He was satisfied with leaving such a great Ming in Zhu Xiongying's hands.

"Your Majesty, do you want to take the train back to the manufacturing bureau?" Cao Wei asked.

Zhu Yuanzhang's chariot is still in the manufacturing bureau.

Zhu Yuanzhang thought for a while and finally nodded.

The train was so novel to all Ming people that even Zhu Yuanzhang was willing to try it more.

Cao Wei immediately called for a group of craftsmen, who hurriedly disassembled the front of the car, and gathered everyone's efforts to install the front of the car at the other end of the carriage.

The front of the car was very heavy, but it couldn't hold up to a large number of people. It only took a quarter of an hour, and with the combined efforts of nearly seven to eight hundred craftsmen, the work of turning the front of the car was successfully completed.

Then, everyone scrambled to get into the carriage again, except for those officials who were prone to motion sickness and were ruthlessly left behind.

After a simple cleaning of the foreign objects in the car, the smell was much lessened, but if they were to do it again, it would be really unbearable!

The train set off again in the direction of the manufacturing bureau, and everyone gradually adapted to this feeling. Until the train stopped next to the manufacturing bureau, everyone no longer felt the discomfort they felt the first time, and were once again surprised in their hearts by how powerful the train was. The weight-bearing capacity is no less than that of a galloping carriage, and the speed is as fast as lightning.

Zhu Yuanzhang got off the train and pulled Zhu Xiongying onto the carriage.

After the chief eunuch who had been waiting here said "Let's drive back to the palace", the chariot began to move slowly towards the palace...

Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the chariot and said with a smile to Zhu Xiongying beside him: "After riding the train, I feel that this chariot is too slow. We all want the train to go directly to our imperial study."

After saying that, before Zhu Xiongying could speak, he burst into laughter.

"This Cao Wei is really a treasure!"

This time Zhu Xiongying nodded quickly, "Zhong Tianhou's wisdom is as profound as the sea. Ying'er has benefited a lot from being by his side. With him around, Ming Dynasty will definitely get better and better."

Zhu Yuanzhang grinned.

Although this child left Cao Mansion, he still cared about Cao Wei...

Returning to the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang did not hold any more court meetings. Instead, he called Zhao Mian, the Minister of Household Affairs, to the Imperial Study Room.

"I am here to see you, Your Majesty!" Zhao Mian entered the imperial study, bowed politely, and looked haggard.

Two days ago, Zhao Mian's father-in-law Liu Sanwu was imprisoned for a crime, and his wife Liu was also implicated and arrested. Although there was no execution yet, there was no difference between death and immortality. Zhao Mian has been troubled by this matter. , restless.

Zhu Yuanzhang raised his head and looked at Zhao Mian, "Zhao Mian, we arrested your wife and her family and imprisoned them, can you blame us?"

Zhao Mian pursed his lips and said, "I don't dare. The country has national laws and the family has family rules. Since my father-in-law has committed a crime, it is natural for His Majesty to order the punishment."

This time Zhu Xiongying returned, not only Huang Zicheng, Liu Sanwu and others were imprisoned for crimes, but even the emperor's grandson Zhu Yunwen was missing.That's the emperor's grandson!They were supposed to be the most powerful people in the Ming Dynasty, but where are they now?I'm afraid it's not much different from the beggar on the roadside!
Even the emperor's grandson is like this, which is enough to show the importance Zhu Yuanzhang attaches to this time. Just a member of the Liu Sanwu clan was executed, and no one can say that Zhu Yuanzhang is not good at all!

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded solemnly. He didn't care whether Zhao Mian's words were true or false. He just wanted Zhao Mian to do his job conscientiously.

After all, Zhao Mian is not Cao Wei, and there are not so many Cao Wei in the world...

Zhao Mian is just a minister of the Ministry of Revenue. If he does not do well, there will be a large number of people waiting to take his place.

Furthermore, the emperor should be afraid of his subordinates!

"As long as you understand this truth, no one can stand in the way of Ming Dynasty's future!" Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.

"You also saw the train at the Western Suburb Manufacturing Bureau today. The technology is mature and can be implemented throughout the Ming Dynasty. In this matter, the laying of railway tracks is the top priority!"

"You are the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue and are in charge of the country's territory. It is up to you to send people to complete this matter. If this matter is done well, we will reward you heavily."

Zhao Mian cupped his hands and said, "I obey your order!"

"If there is nothing else, I will retire."

Zhu Yuanzhang responded, and when Zhao Mian was about to exit the imperial study, he said another sentence.

"Hou Zhongtian is a man of great talent. He was the first to propose the idea of ​​laying railways across the country. You can go to him to discuss it."

Zhao Mian bowed and exited the imperial study.

At this time, Zhu Xiongying, who had been beside Zhu Yuanzhang, said: "Grandpa Huang, since you asked the Ministry of Household Affairs to start planning for the construction of Ming Dynasty railway tracks, why not in addition to this, let officials from all over the country check the land and fields again? This matter can be coordinated with the Ministry of Revenue."

Since Zhu Xiongying returned to the palace, Zhu Yuanzhang began to teach him how to review memorials. For most of the day, the two of them were inseparable.

Zhu Yuanzhang turned to look at Zhu Xiongying, his eyes filled with meaning, "Why does Ying'er want to do this?"

"Zhong Tianhou once said that if we want to extend the life of the Ming Dynasty for 500 years, we must eradicate land annexation and achieve public ownership of land. Ying'er feels that this matter should be done sooner rather than later. It is always good to make early plans."

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded with pleased eyes. His eldest grandson has already begun to have the mentality that a country's ruler should have to be prepared for danger in times of peace. This is good!
"Okay, we have this intention, but we haven't had time to come up with a plan. Since you said so, Ying'er, then I'll let you try to come up with a plan. If you can, we'll ask the Ministry of Revenue to start communicating with various places. Officials begin preparations."

Zhu Xiongying knew that this was Zhu Yuanzhang's test for him, and nodded solemnly, "My grandson knows."

the other side.

After Cao Wei was busy in the manufacturing bureau for a long time, he returned home.

Although he was already the second-grade Zhongtian Marquis and had the responsibility of protecting the army, Zhu Yuanzhang never assigned him a specific position. He was only responsible for supervising the Manufacturing Bureau. Sometimes he would go to Kaihai Bureau to help.

Now Cao Wei didn't have much time left. He wanted to do something more, but time didn't allow it, so he simply lay down and enjoyed the last few days of the life of the Ming Dynasty Zhong Tianhou.

"Xiaoyu, come and beat your legs for the master." Cao Wei returned to Cao Wei, sat down in the lobby, and shouted to the maid Xiaoyu.

After these days, Cao Wei and most of the servants in the mansion are already familiar with each other. Xiaoyu is responsible for Cao Wei's daily life and food, and the two of them are even more familiar with each other.

While beating Cao Wei's legs, Xiaoyu said with a crooked face: "I went out to buy groceries today, and I heard someone said that the master built a train that can carry more than 1 people. He is really awesome!"

"Cough...cough..."

Cao Wei almost choked to death on his own mouthful of water, "Ahem, where did you hear this?"

"People are saying, they even said they saw with their own eyes, 1 people got off the train, too many to count." Xiaoyu said it truthfully.

Cao Wei smiled helplessly and shook his head, is this three people becoming a tiger?

In just half a day, things had already spread like this...

"Master, do you think we can take that train?" Xiaoyu asked again.

Cao Wei's eyes were a little divergent,

"Yes, I definitely can... When the Ming Dynasty builds railways across the country, you can all take the train. Xiaoyu, your family is in Yunnan, right? Then you will take the train and go home often..."

Xiaoyu asked happily: "Really?"

Cao Wei nodded again, and he clearly felt that the strength in Xiaoyu's hand increased a bit.

He developed the train, which was a good thing for the people of Ming Dynasty.

It's just that he probably won't be able to see it that day...

If you leave Daming, will you disappear directly?Do you want to inform Ying'er...

It was the next day when Zhao Mian found Cao Wei.

[Countdown to return: 04 days, 13 hours, 18 minutes and 31 seconds]

After the morning court, Cao Wei arrived at the manufacturing bureau. Soon, Zhao Mian followed him, bringing with him a lot of maps of various places in the Ming Dynasty.

After clarifying his purpose, Cao Wei did not refuse Zhao Mian's request for help.

Judging from the current situation, Zhao Mian is quite miserable, poor man.

Zhao Mian came to see Cao Wei because he wanted to discuss a more complete plan with Cao Wei.

After all, if you want to lay railways throughout the Ming Dynasty, you can't just talk about it. How many difficult terrains are there across the country?
Even in the early stages of railway construction, only a few important towns were taken into consideration. To build railways between them, there were still a lot of mountains, rivers and lakes to go through.

When encountering mountains, the railway must go around them because Ming Dynasty does not yet have the mature technology to dig tunnels.

When we encounter a river, can we build a bridge and build a road?This should also be concluded based on field surveys.

And when designing railway routes, how to deal with obstacles in towns and cities...

These problems need to be solved one by one.

Cao Wei and Zhao Mian spent a long time looking through the Kan map and comparing and drawing before roughly dividing the main railway lines.

"Henan is located in the hinterland of the Central Plains, and the terrain is mostly flat. It is most appropriate to establish Henan as a major railway hub," Cao Wei drew a circle on the Kan map with a pen.

Zhao Mian nodded, "That's true."

Cao Wei rubbed his brows and put down the pen in his hand, "The rest requires field surveys. Without actual data, no matter how much we talk, it's just talk on paper."

Zhao Mian put away the map, thanked Cao Wei again and left.

Looking at Zhao Mian's back, Cao Wei felt empty again...

(End of this chapter)