A huge steam engine prototype is placed in the backyard of Taoyuan County Government.
There were several banquet tables set up around, filled with sumptuous food and wine, but Li Yuanzhao was the only one sitting there, drinking wine leisurely.
Emperor Jing and all the officials kept circling around the steam engine to observe it.
From time to time someone reaches out and touches it.
Looking at this strange-looking lump of iron, everyone didn't understand its meaning.
But it is obviously inextricably linked to the train we are taking today.
As soon as Fang Zheng arrived, all the officials immediately crowded forward impatiently, "Master Fang, why did you come just now? Tell us quickly. We have been waiting for you for long enough. Tell us quickly."
Fang Zheng smiled and raised his hands: "Everyone should be hungry now. Eat while I talk. I will explain everything to you in a minute."
"Today is a historic moment that is destined to be unforgettable for you all. Please take a seat!"
A historic moment?
After hearing Fang Zhengyi's words, everyone's expressions became solemn.
If someone had dared to make such a bold statement before, they would have sneered in disdain.
And after experiencing the steel behemoth that is the train today, they have really believed it for the most part.
It was a sensory impact that I had never experienced in my life!
When Emperor Jing and all the officials sat down, although many of them were already hungry, no one picked up their chopsticks. They all blinked and stared at Fang Zhengyi.
Fang Zhengyi took a deep breath and walked to the steam engine under everyone's expectant gaze.
He patted the steel body with emotion and said softly: "This is the heart of the train, the steam engine."
"As the name suggests, its power comes from the steam generated by boiling water, just like the power of a waterwheel is the river and the power of a carriage is the horse. The source of inspiration came from what I realized while reading the books of sages and brewing tea around the stove at night."
"Water benefits all things, and its forms are infinitely varied. With this discovery, I combined the wisdom of the ancients with current science to start organizing a team to study how to utilize this power." Fang Zhengyi narrated slowly.
This traditional culture is first-rate in governing people and what it pursues is stability, but for science it is sometimes really a salt marsh. No matter what our ancestors said, we just stick to it first, stack up the buffs, and seize the moral high ground.
Whoever opposes the steam engine is opposing the wisdom of our ancestors!
As expected, when Fang Zheng explained the method of releasing water, many people showed satisfied expressions.
I knew it...it turns out that our ancestors had already known about such magical things!
Fang Zhengyi continued, "As for how to utilize the power of steam, there are countless difficulties. From the beginning of Taoyuan County to today when the railway was completed and opened to traffic, the total amount of silver invested exceeded 10 million taels!"
"I can honestly say that I have dedicated everything for your majesty and for the country..."
Obviously no one listened to the second half of the sentence, as everyone was immersed in the shock of the tens of millions of taels.
Everyone knows that Fang Zhengyi is rich. After all, many people like to travel to Taoyuan County when they have nothing to do.
There are a wide variety of goods here, an open atmosphere, and many options. It can be said that the people are all very rich!
Since the common people are so rich, then Fang Zhengyi, with his greedy character, I wonder how rich he is!
However, how much wealth he actually possessed has always been a mystery.
But today, everyone seems to have seen the 'tip of the iceberg'.
Emperor Jing was deeply moved.
Earlier, Fang Zhengyi had promised to put 20% of Taoyuan County's income into the treasury.
Although twenty to thirty thousand taels of silver are sent regularly every year.
However, compared with the booming development of Taoyuan County and Founder's numerous industries, plus his fantastic ability to attract money, 20% should be far more than this amount of money.
Although he wanted to ask in person several times, he finally held back. At first, it was because he trusted Fang Zhengyi, and later, he became his son-in-law. He couldn't take the initiative to ask for money from his half-son.
Twenty or thirty thousand taels a year is really a lot, and he has no other son-in-law who pays as much as Fang Zhengyi!
Today, all the confusion in my heart is gone.
It turns out that everything is for the country!
"Your Majesty did not regard me as a humble and mean person, but visited me twice in Taoyuan and consulted me on current affairs. I am grateful for this and I have promised to serve Your Majesty..."
"Ahem! Lord Fang, let's get down to business!" An angry reminder came from the crowd.
Fang Zhengyi calmed down and continued, "It has been more than ten years since the idea of the steam engine was first conceived, and it has finally become the railway train of today!"
"Then you must be curious whether the train can really stand the test of time. Based on the internal test data of Dongjiao University, I can tell you clearly that this train..." Fang Zheng stretched out his tone when he said this.
It was not until everyone's eyes turned from anxious to angry that he announced loudly: "The locomotive equipped with the latest steam engine can currently pull up to 60,000 kilograms!"
"And the resource it consumes every half hour is the coal used to boil water, which only costs five taels of silver! Five taels!"
Fang Zheng stretched out his arms, spread out his fingers, and suddenly his voice became excited: "Ten taels! It can transport people and goods weighing 60,000 jin for hundreds of miles. This is a miracle! The history of Dajing can write a new chapter from today."
"Do you understand? From today on, history will be divided into two parts, before the train and after the train!"
Change history!
Emperor Jing and all the officials were struck by lightning, and their brains were in chaos.
With a load capacity of 60,000 kilograms and a very fast speed, all it needs is cheap coal.
Any canal, road or bridge will be ruthlessly crushed by such crazy efficiency!
Fang Zhengyi adjusted his mood and said in a low voice: "Today is just the beginning."
"Please imagine, if the railway is laid all over our Dajing one day in the future, what will the world look like?"
"The threat to the border town has been completely eliminated. If it were the time when the Jin Kingdom was at its peak, our Dajing's strong troops could march out in the morning and arrive the next day, heading straight to the border!"
"The imperial examination does not have to be held every three years. Some poor scholars travel thousands of miles to Beijing more than half a year in advance to prepare for the examination. With the train, they will not have to travel so long!"
"The imperial court's orders will be more effective than ever before. It will no longer be a fantasy to complete today's tasks tomorrow. Many of the country's chronic diseases will no longer be vulnerable to a single blow!"
"And the cost of transporting grain will be reduced several times. If there is another grain disaster like the one in Jianjiang, our Dajing can deliver all the grain to the disaster area within ten days across the country."
"From now on, exile will become the dream punishment for all corrupt officials and treacherous officials..."
Fang Zhengyi's voice became more and more excited.
Emperor Jing's hands had begun to tremble, and the rumbling sound of a train began to sound in the officials' minds.
But Fang Zhengyi still had no intention of stopping and continued to shout loudly: "Do you think this is the end?"
......
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