Sima Qi said, "Adding more carriages is impossible, as it would affect the speed. Twenty carriages is already the limit."
Zhou Chao said, "Then is it possible to further improve the steam engine compartment to increase the speed of the train?"
"Theoretically speaking, there is no problem, but it requires major adjustments to the structure of steel and steam engines, and it cannot be done overnight."
Zhou Chao continued, "If it's an improvement or replacement, how long will it take?"
"At least ten years, at most twenty years!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Chao felt quite sad. He was already seventy-eight years old, and it was a question whether he could live another ten years.
But he suddenly realized that trains are indeed a good thing!
If the Song Dynasty had trains everywhere, trade would have flourished like never before.
The imperial court's control over local areas will also be more convenient.
Seemingly sensing Zhou Chao's sadness, Zhao Huan said, "Minister Zhou, there is no need to worry. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."
"Your Majesty is right."
Zhao Huan was quite pleased: "Each generation should do its own thing."
The assembled officials exclaimed in unison, "Your Majesty is wise!"
Waaaaah...
Thick smoke billowed from the locomotive, emitting a whirring sound, and the heavy train slowly began to move along the tracks, gradually increasing its speed.
Watching the train depart into the distance, Zhao Huan seemed to see the rise of an industrial powerhouse.
Suddenly, for some unknown reason, a horse-drawn carriage appeared out of nowhere.
Horse-drawn carriages travel very fast; they are faster than trains.
But gradually, the train caught up with its speed.
Old things will eventually be replaced.
A few days later, reports were submitted by the various prefectures along the train line from Tokyo to Youzhou.
Puyang, Daming Prefecture, Zhengding Town (Shijiazhuang), Zhending Prefecture, Youzhou.
The Kyoto-Yushu Line departs from Tokyo, passes through these towns, and makes all the stops without any issues.
The transport of grain and cloth went smoothly and safely.
In a small county town in the south, the winter sun was shining brightly, but one family looked gloomy and distressed.
Xu Churen, the former Grand Chancellor of the Song Dynasty, is now old and bedridden, unable to move.
He Liming, the chief commander of the Imperial City Guard in Kaifeng Prefecture, suddenly came to visit today.
"Lord Hou, I am unable to rise. Please forgive me."
Xu Churen's face was lined with deep wrinkles, and his expression was gloomy.
He seemed to have completely changed after only a year and a half of being dismissed from office.
In just one and a half years, I've aged ten years.
"No need for such formalities, Master Xu. His Majesty sent me to visit you."
The people behind him placed the herbs and treasures brought from the capital on the table, along with the imperial sword bestowed by the emperor.
"Lord Xu, His Majesty was very worried when he heard that you were bedridden, so he specially ordered me to come."
"Your Majesty still remembers this old minister."
"His Majesty has always kept Minister Xu in his heart."
"Lord Xu, the train from Tokyo to Youzhou has started running. It can transport up to 160,000 catties of grain to Youzhou in one trip, and it only takes two days."
"Oh..." Xu Churen's breathing was a little weak, "That's wonderful, His Majesty has never let us down, has never let the people of the world down..."
"To serve the country to the bitter end, to be a wise prime minister of the Song Dynasty who ushered in a prosperous era, this is what His Majesty wants to say to you."
Lying on the bed, Xu Churen burst into tears.
A full ten years!
Xu Churen felt that these ten years had been more meaningful than the previous sixty-five years.
During these ten years, under the emperor's imperial blueprint, he participated in the beginning of an era.
For the past ten years, he has not had a single night of restful sleep.
"Your Majesty!" Tears soaked his clothes, and Xu Churen's cloudy eyes were already blurry.
"The Emperor also said that you can make a request, and he will fulfill it." He Liming had always respected Xu Churen.
Despite the Zheng family incident, He Liming believes that this does not negate the contributions of this Minister Xu to the Song Dynasty.
He was in charge of the Imperial City Guard in the capital, and had previously dealt with Xu Churen frequently.
In his memory, this prime minister truly did his best.
How difficult it is to hold a high position! In the past ten years, the political situation has been turbulent, the border troubles have been constant, and the people have undergone tremendous changes. It is no ordinary person to support such a situation!
"If you wish to return to the capital, the Emperor will grant your request."
He Liming sighed inwardly. The emperor had always been perceived as a ruthless monarch, but deep down he was a man of affection and righteousness.
After Xu Churen was demoted, the emperor would ask his subordinates every few days how Minister Xu was doing in Guangnan.
Upon hearing that Master Xu was ill, I couldn't help but speak out.
He Liming knew that his arrival represented the emperor's attitude, an attitude that was opposed to that of the officials in the court.
Having just demoted Xu Churen for a year and a half, the Emperor has sent someone to visit him again. Is the Emperor trying to exonerate Xu Churen?
Are you going to let past cases of illegally possessing armed forces go unpunished?
The difficulty for those in positions of power lies in the fact that their every move can be exploited and disrupted.
Xu Churen remained silent for a moment before saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I am ashamed to return to the capital. I have only one last request."
"Please speak freely, Mr. Xu."
"I wish to go home."
He Liming's nose tingled, but he forced a smile: "Of course."
A few days later, I packed my bags.
The former Grand Chancellor of the Song Dynasty boarded the carriage to respond to the call of Heaven.
Outside, the wind howled, but Xu Churen leaned against the car, his face calm and serene.
It was as if one could hear the sound of hammers striking steel freshly taken from the furnace, and the deafening roar of muskets and cannons echoing across the vast battlefield.
Closing my cloudy eyes, I seem to see overlapping buildings, and literary figures vying to leave behind timeless poems in the city of Tokyo.
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