Looking at the scenery outside through the glass window, He Fengsheng and others could feel that the steam train was still accelerating.
However, when they sit in the train, they don't feel the feeling that when riding in a carriage, once the speed increases, it can jolt people to pieces!
On the official road running parallel to the train, when pedestrians saw the steam train passing by again, they all stopped and turned to look.
However, He Fengsheng and others could not see clearly. Those fences with gaps between them, at the speed of today's steam train, could no longer clearly see the faces of pedestrians through the gaps.
However, when I crossed the fence and saw the other side of the official road, I could still see the faces of the passers-by, all of them looking very curious and envious.
Many of them were pointing and saying something. Judging from their expressions, they probably wanted to sit down.
Finally, He Fengsheng and 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 could return so quickly! And they were very sure that it was definitely not cheating!
The cold wind outside could not blow into the carriage; at such a fast speed, the people inside the carriage did not feel much bumps. In other words, the bumps of the steam train were completely within their tolerance.
In the carriage, although there were many of the most senior officials of the Ming Dynasty, no one spoke. Only the "clang" of the train filled the carriage.
I don’t know how long it took, but suddenly I heard Zuo Maodi, the Minister of Civil Affairs, say with emotion: "This is truly a masterpiece!"
Hearing this, there was finally a noise in the carriage, and other people also started talking.
"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 is really unheard of and unseen!"
Even the old stubborn Huang Zongzhou shook his head and sighed: "And this steam train does not need feed, it only needs to burn coal, so it can run tirelessly day and night! At this speed, it is really amazing!"
"No!" When Zuo Maodi heard this, he immediately became excited and said with a little excitement, "If this steam train can drive to the south of the Yangtze River, wouldn't it be ten days and a half, or even three or four days, five
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, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, said quietly: "It is estimated that in the future, if people who travel far away take this steam train, they will definitely choose this steam train. As long as the price is not too outrageous, I will definitely not hesitate."
After a pause, he added: "Also, this steam train can transport a lot of goods. Those merchants are absolutely willing to use this train to transport their goods. I don't know how much they can receive if the train transports it once.
Money!"
Hearing this, almost everyone turned to look at him, feeling a little enlightened in their hearts.
Zuo Maodi shook his head and said: "No wonder why Your Majesty was so generous in giving up the cement, but only wanted the railway, and changed the guard post into a railway corps, which belongs to the Railway Department of the Inner Palace!"
They can all predict that once this railway is rolled out across the country, it will really be equivalent to a cornucopia, providing a steady stream of wealth.
After Zuo Maodi finished speaking, the carriage became quiet again. Obviously, they were all thinking about things about the railway.
No, after a while, Chief Assistant He Fengsheng said first: "This can be considered a good thing. Think about it, with such fast transportation, you don't know how much money and food you can save on the road in the future!"
"That's true!" After hearing this, Huang Zongzhou followed suit and said, "If we want to transport troops to the south of the Yangtze River, we can do it within a short time. Also, from now on, with this steam train, our capital of the Ming Dynasty can travel to the southeast, northwest and northwest territories.
, will no longer be so out of reach! This kind of steam train is really a powerful weapon for a great country!"
If it is a small country, it will reach the border in a short time, and there is no need for such fast transportation.
However, for big countries, it is different!
Let's just say that in the Ming Dynasty, even if the capital was far away from northern Xinjiang, it was really far away from the south, and the same was true for the west.
Thinking about this, Zuo Maodi remembered a regretful thing, and said: "If we had this steam train after the founding of the Ming Dynasty, and could build the railway to the south, then Annan would still be under the direct jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty.
It won’t be like this now where you are not a king!”
During the Yongle period, the Ming Dynasty reorganized Annan into Jiaozhi and established three divisions and fifteen prefectures, with jurisdiction over thirty-six prefectures and one hundred and eighty-one counties. Five prefectures, including Taiyuan, were also established under the direct control of the Chief Secretary, with jurisdiction over twenty-nine counties.
.
But later, the people there started a rebellion, and Xuanzong of the Ming Dynasty felt that it was too far away and beyond his reach. After Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong and other ministers took the opportunity to make suggestions, Xuanzong of the Ming Dynasty decided to stop the army and ordered Wang Tong and others who were still in Annan to lead the army.
More than 80,000 people returned to the north, the Chief Envoy of Jiaozhi was abolished, and Annan was separated from the direct jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty.
"Abandoning Cochin" may seem like nothing on the surface, but the negative impact it has caused is really long-term and fatal.
This incident was a heavy blow to the Ming Dynasty's reputation in the Nanyang region and shaken the Ming Dynasty's status as a suzerain. In other words, losing Annan meant losing Nanyang.
These ministers also experienced this when Emperor Chongzhen sent envoys to Nanyang to request the vassal states to donate grain, but they were all rejected.
However, God gave another opportunity to the Ming Dynasty. During the Jiajing period, there was civil strife in Annan, and the powerful minister Mo Dengyong usurped the throne. After being unable to withstand the counterattack of the original Li Dynasty monarchs and ministers, he sent envoys to Zhennanguan to ask for surrender, and presented the Annan land register and household registration to the Ming Dynasty.
Daming.
Emperor Jiajing took the opportunity to demote the Annan Kingdom to the Annan Dutong Envoy Department, and the subordinate country to a territory. He changed its 13th Road to the 13th Xuanfu Department, each with Xuanfu, Tongzhi, Deputy Envoy, Qian Shi, and Tingdu Tongtong.
Zhi.
However, the reason is that the distance is too far. Although it was nominally returned to the Ming Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty still had no actual jurisdiction over Annan. People did not take the Ming Dynasty seriously, and it was just civil strife.
At this moment, after feeling the benefits of the steam train, I felt that the world was so big and suddenly became a little smaller. For the ambitious officials of the Ming Dynasty, of course they wanted to bring the land of Annan back into the true direct jurisdiction of the Ming Dynasty.
Perhaps it opened his mind, Zuo Maodi didn't wait for others to speak, and said again: "There is also the Western Region in the prosperous Tang Dynasty. With this steam train, it should be able to recover. No matter what, I, the Ming Dynasty, must be able to defeat
During the prosperous Tang Dynasty, when the territory was being expanded, you and I, as well as Your Majesty, can all be remembered in history, and we are a generation of rejuvenating monarchs and ministers!"
Speaking of these, he himself started to yearn for it a little bit.
For the ancients, what was the greatest achievement? Besides obeying the dragon and rescuing the enemy, it was also opening up new territories!
After Zuo Maodi finished speaking, there was silence in the carriage for a while. Suddenly, Huang Zongzhou said immediately: "No, such a good and important weapon of a great country cannot just be used for making money in the inner palace!"
Upon hearing this, Ni Yuanlu, the Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, nodded and agreed: "That's right, it can't just be relegated to the inner palace!"
Hearing what they said, Chief Assistant He Fengsheng had to remind them: "Don't forget, we made an agreement with the emperor about the cement before. The cement is also very important. We ignored it.
,How to tell the emperor?"
Having said this, he paused and reminded again: "Also, regarding this steam train, there is a bet with His Majesty. Don't forget it!"
After hearing this, the car became quiet, and only the sound of "clang, clang, clang" sounded rhythmically.
"Hey!" Suddenly, Zuo Maodi looked out the window and said to the others, "Look, we are coming to Tongzhou now!"
Maybe it was the reason for the meeting, but of course, it was more likely because the speed of the steam train made them feel that they had reached Tongzhou in just a short time!
As a result, they lost interest in the discussion and began to look at the situation outside through the glass window.
After all, this is the first time they have seen this situation, and it is still very new to them.
In the first carriage, the warblers and warblers were chirping and chattering almost all the way. As for the scenery outside the window, even if there was only a little greenery at this time, they were so impressed that they basically entered the palace and never left again.
The woman passing by the palace marveled at the beauty of the scenery!
As for Emperor Chongzhen, in fact, he had never left the capital in his life. This time, he took the steam train he "invented" to leave the capital, and his interest was also very high. It can be said that Long Yan was very happy!
The steam train slowly stopped at Tongzhou Railway Station. The place was already on alert, 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 off the train.
As soon as Emperor Chongzhen got off the bus, deafening voices rang out from inside and outside the station: "Long live my emperor, long live, long live!"
Emperor Chongzhen let them level up with a smile, turned 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: "Gentlemen, what do you think? Are you willing to admit defeat?"
The facts are all there. Don't say that the person in front of them is Emperor Chongzhen. Even if he is not, they don't have the face to deny it!
"I am willing to admit defeat!"
When Emperor Chongzhen heard this, he burst out laughing, obviously in a very good mood!
After a while, he stopped laughing and said, "Let me tell you, this steam train..."
As he spoke, he pointed behind him, and then continued: "It is all scientific knowledge, which can be regarded as the study of things to achieve knowledge. Let more people learn this scientific knowledge, it will benefit all people in the world."
At this point, Emperor Chongzhen suddenly turned serious and said, "Let me tell you the truth, even if you don't agree, I will do this!"