Chongzhen and I became partners

Chapter 320

Looking at the scenery outside through the glass window, He Fengsheng and the others could feel that the speed of the steam train was still accelerating.

However, when they were sitting in the train, they didn't feel that when they were in a carriage, once the speed increased, they could shake people to pieces!

On the official road parallel to the train, the passers-by over there stopped and turned to watch when the steam train passed by again.

However, He Fengsheng and the others couldn't see clearly. Those fences with intervals, at the speed of the steam train today, could no longer clearly see the faces of pedestrians through the gaps.

But after crossing the fence, I saw the other side of the official road, and I could also see the faces of those passers-by, all of whom looked very curious and envious.

Many of them were pointing and talking, and judging from their expressions, they seemed to want to sit down very much.

Finally, He Fengsheng and the others felt that the train seemed to be running smoothly and no longer seemed to be accelerating.

But at this speed, they finally understood why the steam train returned so quickly!Moreover, they are very sure that there is absolutely no cheating!
The cold wind outside could not blow into the compartment; at such a fast speed, the people inside the compartment did not feel much jolting.In other words, the turbulence of the steam train was completely within their tolerance.

In the carriage, although there were quite a few of the most senior officials of Ming Dynasty, none of them spoke. Only the sound of the train's "clang" filled the carriage.

I don't know how long it took, but suddenly I heard Zuo Maodi, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, say with emotion: "It's really a masterpiece!"

Hearing this, there was finally a sound in the carriage, and the others followed suit.

"It's really unimaginable!" He Fengsheng said with the same emotion, "Such a heavy car can drag such a heavy thing, and the speed is not only fast, but also very stable. It's really unheard of, never seen before!"

Even the old stubborn Huang Zongzhou shook his head and sighed: "And this steam train doesn't need feed, it only needs to burn coal, so it can run tirelessly day and night! It's really amazing at this speed!"

"That's not it!" Zuo Maodi immediately became excited when he heard this, and he said excitedly, "If this steam train can go to the south of the Yangtze River, wouldn't it be ten and a half months, or even three or four days, five days?" Can we get there in six days? Wouldn’t it be much more convenient to travel between the capital and Jiangnan in the future?”

After hearing this, Ni Yuanlu, Minister of the Household Department, said in a low voice: "It is estimated that people who travel far in the future, if they have this steam train, they must choose this steam train first. As long as the price is not too outrageous, it must be the same."

After a pause, he added himself: "Also, this steam train can carry a lot of goods, and those merchants are absolutely willing to use this train to transport their goods. I don't know how much I can get by transporting the train like this once. money!"

Hearing this, almost everyone turned their heads to look at him, feeling a little enlightened in their hearts.

Zuo Maodi shook his head and said: "No wonder why His Majesty gave up the cement so generously at the beginning, but only wanted the railway, and changed the guards into railway soldiers, which belonged to the railway department of the inner palace!"

They can all predict that once the railway is rolled out across the country, it will really be equivalent to a cornucopia, which can continuously provide wealth.

After Zuo Maodi finished speaking, the carriage became quiet again.Obviously, they were all thinking about the railway.

No, after a while, Chief Assistant He Fengsheng first said: "This is a good thing. Think about it, with such fast transportation, you don't know how much money and food you will be able to save on the road in the future!"

"That's true!" Huang Zongzhou heard this, and then he said, "If you want to transport troops to the south of the Yangtze River, it will happen sooner or later. Also, from now on, with this steam train, my capital of the Ming Dynasty can travel to the southeast and northwest , will not be so far away! This kind of steam train is really a powerful weapon of the great power!"

If it is a small country, you will reach the frontier in a while, and you don't need such a fast means of transportation.

However, for big countries, that's different!

Let’s just talk about Daming, the capital is far away from the northern border, but it’s really a hundred and eight thousand miles away from the south, and the west is the same.

Thinking of this, Zuo Maodi remembered a regrettable thing, and said: "If we have this steam train after the founding of the Ming Dynasty, and if we can build the railway to the south, then Annan will still be under the direct control of the Ming Dynasty. It won't be the way it is now that it is not a king!"

During the Yongle period, the Ming Dynasty took Annan and changed it to Jiaozhi, with three divisions and fifteen prefectures, 36 prefectures and 180 counties under its jurisdiction.There are also five prefectures including Taiyuan, Zhili Chief Secretary, and 29 counties under its jurisdiction.

But later, the people over there rebelled, and Ming Xuanzong felt that it was too far away, and he was a bit out of reach. After Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong and other ministers took the opportunity to speak, Ming Xuanzong decided to stop the army and ordered Wang Tong and others who were still in Annan to lead the army. More than [-] people returned to the north, and the chief envoy of Jiaozhi was revoked, and Annan was separated from the direct administration of Ming Dynasty.

"Abandoning Cochin" seems to be nothing on the surface, but the negative impact it has caused is really long-term and fatal.

This matter can be regarded as a heavy blow to the Ming Dynasty's prestige in the Nanyang region and shaken the Ming Dynasty's suzerain status.In other words, losing Annan means losing Nanyang.

On this point, since Emperor Chongzhen sent envoys to Nanyang to ask the vassal states to donate food, but they were all rejected, it can also make these courtiers realize a thing or two.

However, God gave Daming another chance. During the Jiajing period, during the civil strife in Annan, the power minister Mo Dengyong usurped the throne. After being unable to resist the counterattack of the original Li Dynasty monarchs and ministers, he sent envoys to Zhennan Pass to surrender and dedicate the Annan land book and household registration to the Ming Dynasty. Ming dynasty.

Emperor Jiajing took the opportunity to demote Annan Kingdom to Annan Metropolitan Commander, subordinate countries to territories, and changed its thirteen departments to Thirteen Xuanfu Divisions, each with Xuanfu, Tongzhi, Deputy Envoy, and Qianshi, and all of them were deposed. Zhi.

However, the reason is that the distance is too far away. Although it has returned to Daming in name, Daming still has no real jurisdiction over Annan, and people don't take Daming seriously, only internal strife.

At this moment, after feeling the benefits of the steam train, I feel that the world is so big that it suddenly becomes smaller.For the aspiring officials of the Ming Dynasty, of course they want to bring the land of Annan back into the real direct control of the Ming Dynasty.

Perhaps because he opened his mind, Zuo Maodi said without waiting for others to speak: "There is also the Western Regions in the prosperous Tang Dynasty. With this steam train, it should be able to recover. No matter what, if I, Ming, can overcome In the prosperous Tang Dynasty, under the expansion of the territory, you, me and others, as well as your Majesty, can all be famous in history, and they will be a generation of ZTE monarchs and ministers!"

Speaking of these, he himself was a little yearning.

For the ancients, what is the greatest contribution?In addition to the merits of Conglong and rescue, it is to expand the territory!

After Zuo Maodi finished speaking, there was silence in the carriage for a while, and suddenly, Huang Zongzhou immediately said: "No, such a great weapon of great power cannot just be used for making money in the inner palace!"

Upon hearing this, Ni Yuanlu, Minister of the Household Department, also nodded and agreed: "That's right, it can't just belong to the inner palace!"

Hearing what they said, Chief Assistant He Fengsheng had no choice but to remind them: "Don't forget, we had agreed with the emperor about the cement before. The cement is also very important. We ignored it , how to tell the emperor?"

Speaking of this, he paused, and reminded again: "Also, there is a bet with His Majesty about this steam train, don't you forget it!"

Hearing this, the carriage became quiet, only the sound of "Kang Dang, Bang Dang" sounded rhythmically.

"Hey!" Suddenly, Zuo Maodi looked out the window and said to the others, "Look, we are going to Tongzhou!"

Maybe it was the reason for the discussion, of course, it was more likely that it was the speed of the steam train, which made them feel that they arrived in Tongzhou in just a while!
As a result, they lost interest in discussing matters and began to look at the situation outside through the glass window.

The current situation, after all, is the first time I have seen them, and they are still very fresh.

And in the first carriage, Yingyingyanyanyan, chirping, almost talking all the way.As for the scenery outside the window, even if there is only a little greenery at this time, they are amazed at the beauty of the scenery by this group of women who have basically entered the palace and never left the palace!
As for Emperor Chongzhen, he was actually the same, and he had never been out of the capital in his life.This time, he left the capital on the steam train he "invented" himself, and his interest was also very high.It can be said that Longyan Joy!
The steam train slowly stopped at Tongzhou Railway Station, which had already been guarded, with soldiers on the outside and factory guards on the inside.

The accompanying soldiers and factory guards got off the train first. After everything was ready, Wang Chengen, He Fengsheng and others got off the train first, and then went to the first carriage to welcome Emperor Chongzhen to get off the train.

As soon as Emperor Chongzhen got out of the car, there were deafening voices both inside and outside the station: "Long live my emperor, long live, long live!"

Emperor Chongzhen let them lie down with a smile, turned his head to look at Tongzhou Railway Station, and then looked up at the sky. He was in a very good mood, and asked He Fengsheng and others with a smile: "How about you, my lords? Are you willing to accept the bet?"

The facts are all there, don't say that the person in front of them is Emperor Chongzhen, even if not, they don't have the face to deny it!
"The minister is willing to gamble and admit defeat!"

When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he immediately burst out laughing, apparently in a very good mood!

After a while, he stopped laughing and said, "I'll just tell you, this steam train..."

While speaking, he pointed behind his back, and continued: "It's all scientific knowledge, which can be regarded as the result of studying things. Let more people learn this scientific knowledge, which will benefit all people in the world."

Speaking of this, Emperor Chongzhen suddenly said with a serious expression: "Let me tell you the truth, even if you disagree, I will do this!"

(End of this chapter)