Royal Gold Medal County Magistrate

A huge prototype of a steam engine was placed in the backyard of the Taoyuan County government office.

Several tables of banquets were set around, and the rich wine and dishes were already full, but only Li Yuanzhao was leisurely drinking small wine in the seats.

Emperor Jing and the officials kept circling around the steam engine to observe it.

From time to time, someone would reach out and touch it.

Looking at this strange-looking iron lump, although everyone didn't understand its meaning.

But it was obviously inextricably related to the train they took today.

When Fang Zheng arrived, the officials immediately rushed forward impatiently: "Master Fang, why are you here now? Hurry up and tell us, you've been keeping us in suspense for long enough, hurry up and explain it to everyone."

Fang Zheng smiled and raised his hands: "Everyone should be hungry too, I'll explain while you eat and listen, I'll explain it to everyone clearly right away."

"Today is a historic moment that is destined to be unforgettable for everyone, please sit down!"

A historic moment?

Hearing Fang Zheng say it so grandly, everyone's expressions became solemn.

If anyone had dared to make such arrogant remarks before, they would have sneered at it.

But today, after experiencing the iron behemoth like a train, they really believed most of it in their hearts.

That was a sensory impact that they had never experienced in their lives!

When Emperor Jing and the officials took their seats, although many people were already hungry, no one moved their chopsticks and all stared at Fang Zheng with their eyes blinking.

Fang Zheng took a deep breath and walked to the steam engine under the expectant gaze of everyone.

He patted the steel body with emotion and said softly: "This is the heart of the train, the steam engine."

"As the name suggests, its power source comes from the steam generated by boiling water, just like the power of a waterwheel is a river, and the power of a carriage is horses. And the inspiration comes from my understanding while reading the books of sages at night and boiling tea around the stove."

"Water is good at benefiting all things, and its form is infinitely variable. With this discovery, I combined the wisdom of the ancients with the current science and began to organize manpower to study how to use this power," Fang Zheng said unhurriedly.

This traditional culture is first-class in controlling people, pursuing stability, but for science, it is sometimes really a saline-alkali land. No matter what the ancestors say, first put it on, stack up the buffs, and seize the moral high ground.

Whoever opposes the steam engine is opposing the wisdom of the ancestors!

Sure enough, when Fang Zheng talked about the way of water, many people showed satisfied expressions.

I thought so... Sure enough, the ancestors had already insight into such a magical thing!

Fang Zheng continued: "As for how to use the power of steam, there are countless difficulties. From Taoyuan County to the completion and smooth opening of the railway today, the total amount of silver invested exceeds ten million taels!"

"I, Fang Zheng, can say frankly that I have dedicated everything for Your Majesty and for the country..."

Obviously, no one listened to the second half of this sentence, and everyone was immersed in the shock of ten million taels.

Everyone knows that Fang Zheng is rich, after all, many people like to travel to Taoyuan County when they have nothing to do.

There are many kinds of goods here, the atmosphere is open, and there are many tricks. It can be said that the people are all rich!

Since the people are so rich, then Fang Zheng's greedy character, I don't know how rich he is!

It's just that how much wealth he has has always been a mystery.

But today, everyone seems to have caught a glimpse of the 'tip of the iceberg'.

Emperor Jing was deeply moved.

Fang Zheng had promised earlier to contribute 20% of Taoyuan County's income to the internal treasury.

Although he regularly sends twenty to thirty thousand taels of silver every year.

But compared to the prosperous development of Taoyuan County and Fang Zheng's many industries, coupled with his dreamlike ability to attract money, 20% should be far more than this amount of money.

Although he wanted to ask him in person a few times, he finally held back. At first, it was out of trust in Fang Zheng, and later he became a son-in-law. He couldn't take the initiative to reach out to his half-son for money.

Twenty to thirty thousand taels a year is really a lot, he doesn't have any son-in-law who offers as much as Fang Zheng!

Today, the confusion in my heart is completely eliminated.

It turns out that everything is for the country!

"Your Majesty does not think that I am humble, but condescends to me, and asks me about the affairs of the world in Taoyuan, so I am grateful and promise to serve Your Majesty..."

"Ahem! Master Fang, talk about the main thing!" An angry reminder came from the crowd.

Fang Zheng restrained his expression and continued: "From the initial idea of the steam engine to the present, it has been more than ten years, and finally the railway train of today has been achieved!"

"Then everyone must be curious about whether the train can really stand the test of time. According to the internal test data of Dongjiao University, I can clearly tell everyone that this car..."

Fang Zheng lengthened his tone when he said this.

It wasn't until everyone's eyes changed from anxiety to anger that he announced loudly: "The locomotive equipped with the latest steam engine can currently reach a maximum traction of 60,000 catties!"

"And the resources it consumes every half an hour are the coal used to boil water, which only costs a mere five taels of silver in exchange! Five taels!"

Fang Zheng stretched out his arms, spread his ten fingers, and his voice suddenly became impassioned: "Ten taels! Can transport a total of 60,000 catties of people and goods for hundreds of miles, this is a miracle! The history of my Great Jing can write a new chapter from today."

"Can you understand? From today onwards, history will be divided into two parts, before the train and after the train!"

Change history!

Emperor Jing and the officials had already been struck by lightning, and their brains collectively fell into chaos.

A load of 60,000 catties, fast speed, as long as cheap coal.

What kind of canals and bridges will be ruthlessly crushed under such crazy efficiency!

Fang Zheng readjusted his emotions and said in a low voice: "Today is just the beginning."

"Please imagine, if one day in the future, the railway will be fully laid in my Great Jing, what will the world be like?"

"The troubles of the border towns will be completely eliminated from now on. If it were the time when the Jin Kingdom's military strength was at its peak in the past, the strong soldiers of my Great Jing could arrive at the border in the morning and evening!"

"The imperial examinations do not have to be held once every three years. Some poor scholars have to travel thousands of miles and prepare to go to the capital for the exam more than half a year in advance. With the train, they will not suffer from the fatigue of the journey!"

"The imperial court's decrees will be more accessible than ever before. It is no longer a fantasy to complete things today and tomorrow. Many national chronic diseases will be vulnerable!"

"And the cost of transporting goods and grain will be reduced several times. If there is another grain disaster like Jianjiang, my Great Jing can deliver all of them to the disaster area within ten days nationwide."

"From now on, exile will become the dream punishment of all corrupt officials and traitors..."

Fang Zheng's voice became more and more impassioned.

Emperor Jing's hands had begun to tremble, and the sound of the train rumbling in the minds of the officials began to ring.

But Fang Zheng still didn't mean to stop, and continued to shout loudly: "Do you think this is the end?"