Chapter Nine hundred and twentieth the effect is very good
The train opening ceremony officially begins.
High-ranking officials could sit on a high, improvised viewing platform, with the emperor's throne at the top.
The surrounding area, which is more than a mile away, is relatively empty. Except for high-level officials and imperial guards, even ordinary soldiers cannot approach the central area.
Outside the train station, a large train was slowly approaching the station.
"Woo..."
When the whistle sounded, it was so deafening that many people present couldn't help but cover their ears. A huge thing with thick black smoke and white gas from its chimney slowly entered the station under everyone's eyes.
"what?"
On the viewing platform, many people around Zhao Huang, Minister of Industry, were asking questions.
Everyone felt that since this thing had a certain "technological content", it must be a product of the Ministry of Industry. Logically speaking, it needs to be completed under the guidance and supervision of the Ministry of Industry, so Zhao Huang should be very clear about the structure and principles of this thing.
But Zhao Huang also looked confused and couldn't help but turn his head to look for Sun Jiao.
Unfortunately, Sun Jiao was also puzzled as to what this was. He was looking ahead with dumbfounded eyes, obviously greatly shocked. "Your Majesty, it's coming, it's coming!"
Before driving away, Zhang Zuo was anxious to introduce himself to Zhu Si.
In fact, Zhang Zuo was also confused about this thing, but this did not affect him in the slightest from showing off in front of the emperor. Zhu Si stood up.
From the viewing platform to the officials who were also watching the ceremony in the distance, and even the common people who were further away who were joining in the fun, they all looked at this rare thing.
When the train entered the station, Yutian Bo Jianglun, who was in charge of today's viewing ceremony, jumped off the train first. Under the escort of the royal guards, he excitedly came to the viewing platform, knelt down and said: "Your Majesty, the train has arrived at the station. Please give me your permission.
Unloading can begin later!”
The train had stopped at this time, and many people noticed that the train was not just a locomotive, but had a long carriage behind it, which seemed to be carrying something.
Just looking at this behemoth, it seems that it is very difficult to move. Coupled with the long carriage it pulls, it is impossible to imagine how much power is needed to start.
Zhu Si was so excited that he walked from the throne to the front of the auditorium, leaned on the railing and shouted loudly: "Let's begin!" "Yes! Your Majesty!"
Jiang Lun was full of energy, stood up, took out something from his arms, and everyone was shocked. When they saw it clearly, it was a blunderbuss. Jiang Lun pulled the trigger towards the sky, and then there was a loud "bang" sound.
There was a sound, and a streak of fire shot up into the sky amid steaming white smoke.
This is Zhu Hao's improved signal gun. It is not a lethal weapon and is only used to convey orders.
As the signal flare took off, the people on the other side of the train seemed to have known what to do next and immediately started unloading the goods.
One of the carriages was opened by the waiting people. It was not clear what was on it from the low position, but the people on the viewing platform could basically see clearly. It was filled with dark coal. Then a large number of machines came in. These machines
Most of them are designed with a lever structure. A large number of people get into the carriage and then start unloading operations in a seemingly complicated way.
A large amount of coal was transported along the caterpillar tracks to the carriages on the side. The carriages were filled and transported to the city.
The carriages at the back were opened one after another, and coal continued to be unloaded in a steady stream. What's even worse... there were several carriages specially designed to transport people, and many craftsmen and laborers got out of the carriages directly.
commence to work.
At first, everyone thought that this was just a flashy thing, but when they saw so many people being pulled there, and there were horse-drawn carriages transporting coal to the city, everyone felt that this was not just a big toy.
"Wow!"
The people watching were originally far away, but seeing this posture, they felt a sense of pride in their hearts. This sense of pride made them spontaneously start cheering, wave after wave.
There were seventy or eighty horse-drawn carriages coming to transport coal, but even so, a large amount of coal still had to be unloaded into the warehouse next to the station, which also showed how terrible the carrying capacity of this train was.
*The ceremony is still in progress.
Even if it's just one
In a performance show, there is just a simple performance on the field, and the audience just enjoys it. There is no interaction with each other, but it is still exciting to watch.
Here at the viewing platform, things have already exploded.
No one understood what was going on. Even Zhu Si himself saw a train for the first time and its terrible carrying capacity. Originally, Zhu Si was worried that he would be embarrassed today. He waited until he saw the actual operation of loading and unloading on the train.
After the drill, Zhu Si was elated and enjoyed the glorious moment of making the right decision.
"Comrade, you... come here for a moment."
Sun Jiao was sitting at a relatively high place. He didn’t want to join in the fun, but his angle was so good that he could directly see the whole process of unloading the train. Just when Sun Jiao had many emotions in his heart but had no way to vent them, the Minister of Civil Affairs
Qiao Yu came over and called him down.
Sun Jiao let out a long sigh and followed Qiao Yu to the side of the viewing platform. Here he could see a large number of carriages preparing to enter the venue to unload their goods. "Comrade, do you know what is going on?" Qiao Yu was curious.
asked.
Sun Jiaodao: "Aren't we just here to watch the ceremony today? Do you have any doubts?"
Although Sun Jiao didn't understand how the train worked, he still resisted in his words when faced with Qiao Yu's question. It was obvious that these traditional civil servants were shocked by the train's powerful cargo-carrying capacity.
You are just shocked, why are you coming to see me, Mr. Sun? This matter is not something that the government insists on.
Qiao Yu sighed: "From the very beginning, wasn't the Ministry of Household Affairs involved? I've asked the Ministry of Works, and they said...the Ministry of Works has had little to do with this." "Oh, you're wrong.
The Ministry of Household Affairs was not very involved in this. At most, after this summer, when the station and related supporting facilities were built, the Ministry of Household Affairs allocated 30,000 taels of silver... This batch of money was originally intended to be allocated to the inner government.
Mr. Yang Ge agreed and the court approved it. It was not the Ministry of Household Affairs that made the decision without authorization."
Of course Sun Jiao must disassociate himself from this matter.
Now is not the time to grab credit.
Qiao Yu said: "Then... how much money did the imperial court spend after such a huge project was completed?"
Sun Jiao was startled. He suddenly understood. Now the traditional civil servants must know that they can no longer attack the young emperor with the idea of "acting wildly." In other words, even the traditional civil servants recognized the powerful carrying capacity of this train, so they could only
The emperor's exhortation was based on the fact that he wasted money.
Sun Jiao shook his head and smiled bitterly: "If I said I only have these thirty thousand taels, would you believe it?"
Qiao Yu frowned, as if he understood what was going on, and said: "From mining to building trains, your Majesty allocated a total of 30,000 taels of silver from the Ministry of Household Affairs. Is this what you mean?"
"Um."
Sun Jiao actually didn't want to admit it.
But he still nodded, because this is the actual situation and cannot be faked.
Sun Jiao was also confused as to how much money the emperor spent on developing and manufacturing trains and railways. He had always wanted to put mining and railway construction under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Household Affairs, but the result was that even Yang Tinghe had not yet become an official.
result.
Since Yang Tinghe retired, matters such as mining have completely disappeared, and the emperor no longer needs to explain to anyone in the court.
The 30,000 taels allocated by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development does not involve the construction of railways and trains. It only involves the construction of supporting platforms and warehouses, and the opening of a market around the station to provide passenger and cargo trading services.
.
"Comrades, we have to discuss etiquette next, you..."
Qiao Yu wanted to bring Sun Jiao along with him on the issue of great etiquette.
But Sun Jiao understood his situation and immediately waved his hand and said: "I won't get involved and I won't cause any trouble to both parties. I'm sorry."
After saying that, Sun Jiao still remembered the rumbling sound of the train and the lively scene when unloading the goods. He had endless aftertaste. After saying goodbye to Qiao Yu briefly, he went back to the viewing platform to watch the excitement.
Even if you just glance at it with the corner of your eye, you will feel very comfortable. This is the beauty of industry.
******
"Okay! It seems that this railway should be repaired more often, so that it can be found in all parts of the Ming Dynasty, so that the goods of the Ming Dynasty can be transported
Transportation, as well as the transportation of soldiers, is no longer limited to water transportation!"
Zhu Si was talking to himself on the viewing platform.
His excitement infected everyone around him.
The three cabinet members headed by Jiang Mian came to the emperor. They did not come on their own initiative, but came upon summons. They were also a little embarrassed, probably because they felt that the emperor was deliberately showing off in front of them.
"Mr. Jiang Ge, what do you think about trains?" Zhu Si looked at Jiang Mian with a look full of pride and complacency.
Jiang Mian cupped his hands and said: "Your Majesty, this is a waste of money and people, and should not be built on a large scale. Furthermore... using such a track to carry such heavy goods, I am afraid that safety cannot be ensured, and it is difficult to form an effective
Transportation, and if we are attacked by foreigners, I'm afraid..."
As the chief minister of the cabinet, even if Jiang Mian knew that saying this was pouring cold water on the emperor's head, he would not hesitate to do so.
When the emperor's mind is overheated, it is the unshirkable responsibility and obligation of the First Assistant to properly cool him down.
Zhu Si squinted his eyes and looked over, and asked: "Mr. Jiang Ge, do you think that the technology of this train is very immature and it will break down after just a few days?" "This..."
Jiang Mian didn't know how to answer.
No one has ever seen this thing, and it makes people feel extremely shocked when it comes up. However, everyone only sees the scene of the train entering the station. Who knows how fast this train is transporting? How stable is it?
Liu Chun on the side said: "Your Majesty, with such a heavy iron lump and carrying so much coal, even if it is feasible on a flat road, I am afraid that it will be difficult to maintain stability when going up or down slopes or crossing bridges."
Another naysayer.
Zhu Si smiled and said: "Liu Ge is still pragmatic. From the first time I saw the construction of trains, I felt that the difficulty lies in how to cross the big rivers. Especially in the future, if I want to build a train bridge across the Yellow River, big rivers and other places, I'm afraid it won't work.
It’s easy, and even crossing the mountains is not easy... Mr. Liu Ge is very insightful.”
"Um?"
Hearing the emperor's words, not to mention Jiang Mian, even Liu Chun himself was surprised.
It’s also pouring cold water on the emperor’s head. Why can Liu Chun get the emperor’s praise? It seems...
The emperor seemed to be quite calm and was not dazzled by the victory. He actually knew that this thing had its drawbacks.
Zhu Si then said: "But if you encounter difficulties, then work hard to overcome them. Why stick to the rules, not know how to adapt, or even run away? If this thing can really communicate with the capital of the Ming Dynasty and everywhere in the northwest, all the goods of the Ming Dynasty can be easily transported in the future.
When I went to various places in the nine borders, I asked if the Tatars would have the opportunity to invade our borders in the future?
"At that time, Ming Dynasty will truly become the supreme power of the Celestial Empire, and no one will dare to offend me!"