Chapter 821: Opening the Railway

"Xu, is this the rumored steam locomotive?"

Zhao Heng, dressed in a Dragon Robe and looking radiant, walked side by side with Imperial Concubine Mi Fei.

When Zhao Xu looked toward the steam locomotive, he also looked over.

Ever since arriving in Yancheng, the endless stream of novel things here made him feel as if he were living in a dream.

At the same time, he felt increasingly terrified of this ninth son of his.

The powerful clans did not lose unjustly.

"It is indeed," Zhao Xu said with a light smile. "This time, your son intends to take this steam locomotive to Jinghai and back. Is Your Majesty willing to come along?"

Upon hearing this, Mi Fei revealed the worried expression only an old mother could have. "Xu, is this thing reliable? You shoulder the heavy responsibility of unifying Great Song; you must not put yourself in danger."

"Mi Fei is overthinking it. To tell you the truth, when this steam locomotive was first built, your son had already ridden it," Zhao Xu said.

Mi Fei glared, raised her hand, and tapped Zhao Xu on the forehead. "Your courage is getting bigger and bigger now. Very well, this time your mother will be bold with you once."

"I will also be bold with you once," Zhao Heng hurriedly added.

Since he came to Yancheng and handed over power, Zhao Xu had treated him quite well.

He had not been neglected in terms of food, clothing, housing, or transportation, and on some major matters, he was given quite a bit of face as an emperor.

Now, with Wuji Palace to live in and no need to worry about his life, his days were quite leisurely and carefree.

Thinking back to his coldness toward the Ninth Prince in the past, he felt increasingly uneasy and guilty, and of course, a little afraid, so he had some intention of making amends and currying favor.

Therefore, when Zhao Xu invited him to ride the steam locomotive, he mustered his courage and agreed.

Seeing Zhao Heng agree, the Prince of Chun puffed out his belly and said, "If the Emperor is sitting, this younger brother will also sit."

"This subject will also sit," Yang Feng and the other Jinling officials said, naturally not wanting to be mocked for being timid.

One after another, they requested to ride the steam locomotive.

Zhao Xu smiled lightly and led everyone to the front of the steam locomotive.

At this moment, the front of the steam locomotive was tied with a large red flower.

A colorful rope was also stretched across the railway in front of the locomotive.

Soldiers stood in an arc in front of the locomotive, separating the commoners.

Once the ribbon was cut, the steam locomotive could officially begin operation.

Arriving at the front, Zhao Xu ordered Zhao Heng to stand in the middle and arranged the others on both sides of Zhao Heng.

It was Zhao Heng's first time experiencing a ribbon-cutting, and he found it very fresh, his face full of smiles.

The commoners crowded together, discussing it heatedly.

"What on earth is this steam locomotive, that even the Emperor and Yan Wang have come?"

"It is said that this thing runs as fast as a horse, but it doesn't need to eat grass; burning coal is enough."

"Really? There is such a thing?"

"..."

Just as they were discussing, the station master in charge of the Yancheng station came before them.

Clearing his throat, the station master said, "This test run of the steam locomotive will head to Jinghai. His Highness has ordered to pick a few brave ones to follow this locomotive to Jinghai and return. Who among you is willing?"

As the station master's voice fell,

the commoners in front suddenly fell silent.

They looked at each other, their eyes full of suspicion.

The timid ones lowered their heads, while some of the brave ones squeezed to the front and shouted, "I'll go, I'll go."

The station master immediately picked thirty commoners and ordered the railway staff to lead them to wait by the steam locomotive.

"Pop, pop, pop..." Just then, firecrackers were lit.

Zhao Xu, along with Zhao Heng, Yang Feng, Liu Fu, and others, cut the ribbon.

After the railway staff carried trays and scattered peanuts, dried fruit, and bits of Silver to bring good luck, he and the others boarded the carriages under the arrangements of Zou Rong.

After the first steam locomotive succeeded, the Locomotive Workshop began manufacturing carriages.

According to the design he provided, these carriages were basically similar to modern train carriages.

The sides of the carriages had Glass windows, and inside were benches with backrests, with cushions stuffed with cotton on the seats.

Because many people were going, the first five carriages were almost full, and the sixth carriage was left for the commoners.

Everything was ready, and Zou Rong ordered the train to depart.

Today, he was both excited and nervous.

The excitement was naturally that the Railway was now open, which was a great achievement for the Ministry of Works; the nervousness was that this locomotive must not have any problems, otherwise he would lose all his face.

"Woo— woo—"

As the order to depart was given, the steam locomotive let out bursts of whistles.

Then, "chug, chug..." sounds arose, and everyone discovered that the carriage they were riding in was moving slowly.

"It's moving, it's moving..."

The officials in the carriage let out bursts of exclamation.

Zhao Heng couldn't help but clutch Mi Fei's arm, his eyes wide open, his Adam's apple bobbing; he was clearly quite nervous.

Zhao Xu sat at a table adjacent to Zhao Heng, with Yang Susu by his side and Feng'er and Luan'er opposite him.

The three women were also staring fixedly outside, like curious cats.

"Chug, chug..." After the slow start, the speed of the steam locomotive picked up, the sound of the wheels rolling became rapid, and it pulled out of the station.

The commoners on both sides of the railway were stunned, staring blankly at the steam locomotive.

Some sharp-eyed ones shouted, "There is a woman in the locomotive cab."

The deputy conductor of the locomotive was a twenty-five-year-old woman named Li Xiulian.

When the Steam Locomotive was recruiting crew members, this Li Xiulian was one of the three women who signed up.

Later, after training, Li Xiulian performed excellently and was promoted to deputy conductor.

Seeming to hear screams, she turned toward the outside of the train, deliberately took off her hat to reveal her two capable braided pigtails, and even specifically waved her hand outward.

Among the commoners visiting, there were many women; little stars suddenly appeared in their eyes, and their withered, lonely hearts seemed to have a clear spring gush forth in an instant.

A voice told them that they should be as free and easy as this woman.

"Woo woo woo..."

Under their gaze, the Steam Locomotive puffed out a pillar of smoke and ran like the wind.

Inside the carriage, as the Steam Locomotive increased its speed, the nervous emotions of the crowd also reached their peak.

After running smoothly for a period of time, their nervous emotions finally calmed down.

Everyone stopped talking and just stared at the scenery constantly receding outside the window.

"Truly a masterpiece of supernatural craftsmanship." As the Steam Locomotive exited Yancheng and sped through the green fields, Zhao Heng let out a long sigh.

To be able to experience the Steam Locomotive in person in this life, he truly felt it was not a life lived in vain.

After all, a few years ago, he could never have imagined that such a thing existed in the world.

Zhao Xu only smiled.

The terrain from Yancheng to Jinghai is flat with no obstacles, so it was the first to have the Railway opened.

But this Yan Jing Railway is only a small section of the Great Song Railway network.

As time passes, every city in Great Song will be connected by the Railway, and people's travel and cargo transportation will be incomparable to the past.

Zhao Heng sighed, and once again, like the others, became mesmerized by the scenery outside the window.

Time slipped away bit by bit.

An hour and a half passed, and a city appeared in everyone's field of vision.

This city was none other than the Jinghai County seat.

The moment they caught sight of Jinghai County, whether it was Zhao Heng or ministers like Liu Fu, all of them revealed looks of shock.

They had truly arrived at Jinghai from Yancheng in only an hour and a half.

(https: //)

Set a small goal first, for example, remember in 1 second: Book reading mobile version reading URL: