Chapter 196: with translation of title

As for Lu Yuan joining the Ministry of War, you know.

No.

Absolutely not.

After all, his younger brother will surely join the Ministry of War later, so Lu Yuan has no need to go there again.

Moreover, whether it's the Minister of Works or the Minister of Revenue, what they say is correct.

Lu Yuan is still in the Ministry of Works, but he can exert his greatest effect in the Ministry of Revenue.

Furthermore...

Even if I let Lu Yuan go to the Ministry of War, he would absolutely not go.

After knowing each other for so long, Gu Qingwan still doesn't realize that Lu Yuan just wants a wife, kids, and a warm bed.

So, immediately, Gu Qingwan refused the Minister of War's words.

And this Minister of War seems to have just come out to try; since His Majesty doesn't allow it, the Minister of War also shouldn't say more.

Anyway...

Prince Lie will definitely come to the Ministry of War later.

The grand court assembly now has nothing else left.

It's also time to dismiss the court.

Or rather, Gu Qingwan is going to take the cabinet members to Chonghua Hall to wait.

It's so warm in Taihe Hall that letting these people stand and wait here is too much of a bargain for them.

Just let these people wait in the courtyard of Chonghua Hall.

Moreover, if they wait in Taihe Hall, these people will inevitably wonder whether Lu Yuan's side can't get the train moving, maybe they're repairing something.

Gu Qingwan doesn't want to hear these nonsense words.

So just take these people to Chonghua Hall.

And while Gu Qingwan is taking these cabinet members, the Minister of Works and the Minister of Revenue have proposed to follow along.

After all, we've just been going back and forth.

The premise of this matter is that the train must be able to start, right?

These two people naturally also want to take a look.

Besides these two people, the other officials want to see it even more.

The train, steam engine—these terms—everyone has been hearing and reciting them every day for the past two months.

But we just don't know what this thing is.

Even the people from the Ministry of Works aren't really clear what the locomotive looks like.

After all, Lu Yuan was assembling the train at the Forging Bureau for half a month back then, and nobody really saw it.

Everyone naturally also wants to see this miraculous thing.

Seeing that everyone wanted to go, Gu Qingwan thought for a moment, then nodded and waved her hand, and everyone followed.

Lu Yuan already said, this train is absolutely foolproof.

Such a great invention has come into the world; if only these few annoying cabinet members were present at the scene, that would truly be a pity.

In the end, everyone followed Gu Qingwan from Taihe Hall to Chonghua Hall.

And before entering Chonghua Hall, the Grand Eunuch beside Gu Qingwan personally instructed each person that they must not speak loudly upon entering Chonghua Hall.

Originally, the officials wouldn't dare speak loudly when entering Chonghua Hall.

This reminder from the Grand Eunuch means that if anyone wants to say something, they basically just whisper to each other.

Gu Qingwan didn't let these officials enter Chonghua Hall.

Of course, even if we let these officials in, they wouldn't enter.

Chonghua Hall is not accessible to all officials; only cabinet members can come to Chonghua Hall to present memorials.

The vast majority of officials, even the vice ministers of the Six Ministries, cannot come; only ministers can occasionally be summoned.

Many people are seeing the locomotive for the first time.

Now, everyone is surrounding that huge locomotive, looking left and right.

Of course, they can only look; they absolutely cannot go up, nor touch it, and must stay at least half a meter away.

Gu Qingwan is afraid these people will go up and mess around, potentially damaging the locomotive.

After all, even Gu Qingwan herself doesn't dare go up to look at it when Lu Yuan isn't around.

At the beginning, during rainy or snowy weather, Gu Qingwan still had the eunuchs build a shelter for the locomotive.

That is, later Lu Yuan said it wasn't needed, so Gu Qingwan stopped having them continue.

And Gu Qingwan had people lift the imperial throne out of Chonghua Hall.

Sitting under the eaves in front of the main gate of Chonghua Hall, they also didn't follow these officials to look at the train.

At this moment, everyone looking at the train inside Chonghua Hall is extremely surprised and curious.

Can such a big guy be started just with coal??

Hiss~~

To be honest, everyone really can't believe it.

Just this huge lump of iron—let alone coal—it's driven by a spirit power core; who knows how many spirit power cores would be consumed to run two li?

Not to mention, this thing can even pull tens of thousands of tons of cargo?

How does this thing pull...?

Many officials surround the locomotive, pointing and discussing, all guessing how this thing can be started.

Not long after, the chief eunuch brought people to report.

The Forging Bureau delivered the last few critical parts of the locomotive.

Regarding this, Gu Qingwan nodded, said nothing more, and just had someone place it beside her.

Everyone looked at the locomotive for a while but could see nothing special.

Afterwards, everyone came before Gu Qingwan.

Everyone felt a bit strange.

Hmm…

Then what?

Your Majesty summoned these people here, and then what?

Just stand here and watch?

Shouldn't Lu Yuan come out and then start?

Everyone looked at each other, not knowing what it meant.

Finally, under Yan Chonghui's gesture, a cabinet official came forward to ask what was happening.

Gu Qingwan's answer was also very simple and direct.

Lu Yuan checked overnight yesterday and is now catching up on sleep; let him wait.

Whenever Lu Yuan wakes up, that's when we'll start.

Gu Qingwan said nothing else.

After Gu Qingwan finished speaking.

Everyone glanced at each other, but didn't say anything.

Your Majesty favors Lu Yuan; everyone already knows that.

Whether the train can start, everyone believes Your Majesty is actually more eager to know.

In this situation, Your Majesty cannot bear to wake Lu Yuan, so naturally nobody can say more.

After all, Your Majesty is sitting here waiting.

What else do we have to say?

Just wait.

At first, everyone could still chat a few words with those around.

Anyway, being idle is being idle.

However, after talking back and forth for about an hour or two, nobody wanted to speak anymore.

Mainly, there was nothing left to say.

Moreover.

Standing here all this time is really tiring.

Moreover, the weather today isn't great either.

It's chilly.

Before long, everyone fell silent and just stood waiting.

However, after everyone fell silent, Chonghua Hall became completely quiet.

Everyone then felt…… something…… seemed a bit off……

This…… who is snoring?!

Everyone could hear someone snoring in their ears.

At first, everyone thought it was some divine person who had dozed off while standing.

This isn't really unusual.

At some grand imperial sacrifices, officials stand all day, and indeed some can doze off while standing.

But soon, everyone realized…… something's wrong!

This snoring sounds like it's coming from inside Chonghua Hall.

For a moment, everyone was a bit dazed, looking toward Gu Qingwan.

At this moment, Gu Qingwan also felt…… this was somewhat…… embarrassing.

Although Lu Yuan is sleeping here, Gu Qingwan didn't intend to hide it from these people.

Since she brought these people here, she isn't afraid.

Only, the gazes of these officials……

Seemed to be saying, "Is someone sleeping in his own hall?"

This……

However, Gu Qingwan didn't need to explain further; she remained silent.

Around eleven-thirty in the morning.

The snoring stopped abruptly.

Lu Yuan stretched a big yawn on the bed, closed his eyes, let out an extremely comfortable sound, then opened his eyes.

After opening his eyes, Lu Yuan froze for a moment, then sat up with a swoosh.

He glanced at the wall clock.

Huh?

It's already eleven-thirty?

It's eleven-thirty and no one came to call me?

This grand audience has been going on a bit long, huh?

Lu Yuan sat on the bed, dazed for a moment.

Then, dressed in autumn clothes and pants, he stepped into his own shoes and walked out the door.

The hall had no one inside.

Hmm…

Where are the people?

Of course, if Gu Qingwan wasn't in Chonghua Hall, then those palace maids and eunuchs would naturally follow her elsewhere.

But Chonghua Hall always has some people left behind.

Lu Yuan planned to go out and find this group to fetch some water, wash his face, brush his teeth, and then wait for Gu Qingwan to return with her people.

Then he could start right away.

However, when he opened the door and saw the grand imperial throne and the court full of civil and military officials.

Lu Yuan was dumbfounded.

Likewise, seeing Lu Yuan emerge from Chonghua Hall in autumn clothes and pants, the court full of civil and military officials was also dumbfounded.

This…

…………

At 12:00 noon, Lu Yuan was installing equipment on the train.

At this moment, two extra carriages had been added behind the locomotive: one for hauling coal, and the last carriage for carrying people.

With so many people coming, it was natural for them to want to experience it.

Of course, it was ordinary officials who went in to experience it.

Like Gu Qingwan, plus the ministers and vice-ministers from various departments, and some individuals from the Imperial Cabinet were standing below to watch.

At this moment, Lu Yuan stood at the locomotive, watching the numbers in the hydraulic valve.

Once the pressure reached that level, Lu Yuan twisted the valve switch.

Afterwards, puffs of white smoke appeared at the train's wheels with a hissing sound.

Before anyone could say much more.

The single-stage air pump emitted a familiar ooh-ooh sound to Lu Yuan.

A huge column of white smoke shot up from the train's air pump!

The ooh-ooh sound startled many unprepared people.

However, everyone quickly steadied themselves.

After all, everyone were senior officials who had seen the world; being startled briefly, they quickly returned to normal.

The officials seated in the carriages all poked their heads out the windows to watch the white smoke jetting from the air pump on the huge locomotive ahead.

The air pump was located in the middle of the locomotive, with a smoke outlet at the very front.

At this moment it was belching thick black smoke.

After about three to five seconds, as the air outlet at the wheels puffed faster and faster, the train's wheels began to move.

Afterwards came that familiar clatter-clatter sound that Lu Yuan knew well.

The sound grew more urgent, and the train finally began to move.

With clatter-clatter, it belched thick black smoke on one side and billowing white steam on the other, as it set off around the huge Chonghua Hall.

The Ministers of Works and Revenue standing below first raised their arms and shouted excitedly!

The officials inside the carriages also immediately burst into cheers, clapping.

The dream has come true!

Everyone knows just how powerful the train is.

This thing can practically be called epoch‑making.

Not to mention its incredibly strong transport capacity; most importantly…

The Great Zhou Dynasty has freed itself from reliance on spirit‑power cores, and coal is extremely cheap.

Using coal to drive such a steel beast, even a fool can picture how prosperous the Great Zhou Dynasty will become.

The benefits this brings are too many to count.

Just by relying on this single train, it wouldn't be an exaggeration for the Great Zhou Dynasty to build a temple for Lu Yuan.

Everyone sees the spirited Lu Yuan on the train and knows that as long as he doesn't cause trouble—like rebelling or meddling in politics—he'll be fine.

Lu Yuan absolutely deserves to be enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple!

Gu Qingwan watched the white steam bursting from the wind pump in the middle of the locomotive and recalled the scene of the pressure cooker releasing steam she had seen at Lu Yuan's house that day.

Others merely thought Lu Yuan was impressive.

But for Gu Qingwan, the shock was several times greater.

That Lu Yuan could devise something so amazing from a tiny pressure cooker left Gu Qingwan nothing but astonished.

After a few rounds, the train stopped.

Lu Yuan jumped down from the train, and the officials also slowly disembarked from the carriages.

At that moment, Lu Yuan approached Gu Qingwan, pulling something from his pocket as he said:

"The train can let the Forging Bureau operate at full power, and my concept for the train is simply two pull, one push."

"Two pull, one push?"

"What does that mean?"

Then Lu Yuan explained:

"It means two locomotive engines pull in front and one pushes from behind, which can greatly increase transport capacity."

"Besides, while building Huochezhan everywhere, we must also pay attention to setting up safety signs, guard posts, and maintaining the railways at intersections."

Lu Yuan finished speaking and then handed over a stack of documents from his pocket.

Although it says how the railway is to be laid, Lu Yuan doesn't care, but regarding some train knowledge and such, Lu Yuan needs to be prepared.

Lu Yuan wrote a mature railway system plan; when the time comes, he just needs to follow his own plan.

Gu Qingwan, looking at Lu Yuan with eyes full of affection, took the document, flipped two pages, and then handed it to the Minister of Works beside her, saying:

«The Ministry of Works must do exactly as Lu Yuan said, not allowing the slightest deviation. »

The Minister of Works hurriedly took it with both hands and said solemnly:

«Yes, Your Majesty. »

At the same time, everyone around had already prepared in their hearts congratulatory words for Lu Yuan, for the Empress, and for the Great Zhou Dynasty.

And Gu Qingwan also sat back on the imperial throne, also prepared.

The upcoming procedure is very simple.

Praise Lu Yuan well for me!

After the praise, we will start rewarding merit!

Then the Ministry of Rites will prepare a victory banquet and also announce it to the world.

And a series of other matters.

And as the protagonist of this matter, Lu Yuan naturally cannot avoid any of it.

At the head of the Six Ministries, the Minister of Personnel was preparing to take the lead in offering auspicious congratulatory words.

Lu Yuan, meanwhile, was wiping off the oil smudge on his hands from installing parts just earlier, while gazing at Gu Qingwan seated on the imperial throne, and said:

«Sister, what was dug up over at Little Green Mountain? »

And when Lu Yuan finished speaking, everyone was stunned.

This??

How could he directly call her 'sister'?!

Although this is not in Taihe Hall, and it's not during court audience.

But after all, all civil and military officials are present, this??

But at this moment, the cabinet members all felt a sudden joy in their hearts.

Look!

Look look look!!

Lu Yuan's tail has already shot up to the heavens!!

Lu Yuan has already begun to act arrogantly!!

Dare to directly call Your Majesty 'sister'!!

Your Majesty, look!!

He doesn't even use honorifics, directly calling her 'sister'!

This is calling her 'sister'!!

This is literally slapping your face!!

Are you not going to manage this?!

Thanks to Zero Degree Hurt Dust Elder Brother for the 5000 book coin tip, thank you very much~

Thanks to Strict1112 Elder Brother for the 500 book coin tip, thank you very much~

Thanks to Book-loving Wise Brother and A Quan Elder Brother for the 100 book coin tip, thank you very much~

Recently these past two days, how did the monthly tickets surge so wildly? Yesterday it directly went over six hundred in a day, while I normally only get over a hundred monthly tickets a day—did someone send out red packets?

Don't send that thing, it's purely wasting money; normal people can't grab it, it's all bots.

Moreover, I don't really want that thing either; mainly because we can't even get into the top ten, and only the top ten on the monthly ticket list get bonuses, I can't even get in, so it's basically useless.

If you have it, vote; if not, don't vote. Don't waste that money; saving it for a subscription is just fine.

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(End of chapter)