People in the Song Dynasty were lawless

Chapter 336 A little shock of the industrial revolution
At the end of the sixth year of Qingli, the heavy rain came not long after.

This year's New Year's Eve, God was kind to me. It snowed in Hebei, but there was only a freezing rain in Henan.

Hubei, Hunan, Zhejiang and other regions farther south are sunny and sunny. Not to mention Guangdong, the temperature can make people wear short-sleeves.

This can also be regarded as evidence that the climate is slowly warming up after the third Little Ice Age.

At least until the arrival of the Fourth Little Ice Age in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, the Song Dynasty had a development period of three to four hundred years of good weather and no particularly major disasters.

Not long after the rain stopped, the New Year arrived.

Although the rain has stopped recently, the weather is still gray and cloudy even at noon. It did not clear up a little until New Year's Eve.

Emperor Zhao Zhen of the Song Dynasty held a grand sacrificial event on his thirtieth day.

Originally, according to the usual practice, the Song Dynasty arranged for the first few days of the New Year to be a nationwide celebration, with lights and colorful decorations on the streets to welcome the New Year.

Then on New Year's Eve, fireworks are set up on the city tower to celebrate the New Year with the people. The sound of firecrackers fills the city and celebrates the New Year lively.

It's not that I object to the trial run of the train, but that I object to Zhao Zhen going out of the palace to observe the ceremony.

At the beginning of the morning, around seven o'clock in the morning, just after dawn, Wang Shouzhong came over to report to Zhao Zhen.

It was said that the steam train was finally officially open to traffic. The officials took this matter very seriously, so they decided to go out to the palace to observe the ceremony in person during the trial run on the first day of the first lunar month.

In addition to him, Queen Cao also wore a hibiscus crown, a phoenix hairpin, a bu yaochai, and a queen's dress with large sleeves.

Moreover, he has not left the palace for more than 40 years in history. He is firmly imprisoned in this deep-walled compound and cannot leave even an inch.

At four o'clock in the morning on the first day of the seventh year of Qingli, Zhao Zhen got up early and started dressing up.

But this year is different. The sacrifice will be held on the 30th day, and there will be another arrangement on the first day of the lunar new year.

In fact, it usually doesn’t need to be so troublesome.

What's more, today is the first day of the Lunar New Year, and there is no need to go to the morning court.

Historical records record that after he was born, his father Zhao Heng ordered him to be separated from his biological mother, Concubine Li Chen, and raised by Empress Liu.

But today Zhao Zhen went out of his way to take good care of him. The maids and chamberlains went back and forth to make him clean.

As for the court, there were objections raised years ago.

have to say.

The first day of the Lunar New Year itself is actually the time for all parties to congratulate the Emperor of the Song Dynasty. Every year at the end of the sacrifice activities on the first day of the Lunar New Year, envoys from all parties come to congratulate the emperor.

It was just the last morning court. During the morning court, the sky was still dark and candles were lit in the room. The emperor couldn't see clearly when he looked up, so there was no need to wash up every day.

Many officials said that the emperor was the most important person in the country and needed to guard the palace to ensure peace of the world. He was not allowed to leave the palace without authorization.

Zhao Zhen believed this theory in history.

But for Zhao Zhen himself, he believed that today was an extremely important day, whether it was leaving the city or the importance of the train to the Song Dynasty.

Unexpectedly, this year the process was changed and he was directly involved in another matter, which also surprised many foreign envoys.

Now the prime ministers have switched sides, and most of the senior bureaucrats below have been replaced by the prime minister's people.

But no one can stop him now.

It is a bit sad that an emperor spent decades in that small palace, never going out to see the outside world, and only hearing about the lives of the people from other people's mouths.

Because in the past, it was the group of bureaucrats headed by the prime minister who tried to dissuade us.

Because officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the imperial court had informed them a few days ago that they should come to participate on the first day of the Lunar New Year.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, there is a grand ancestor worship, including worshiping heaven and earth, worshiping ancestors and other activities.

At this time, Zhao Zhen had just freshened up and put on a grand fiery red dragon robe.

of course.

This news was not only known to everyone inside and outside the country, but also to envoys from other countries.

In the midst of this rolling torrent, the seventh year of Qingli arrived.

But they have no ability to change, they can only accept it.

It takes almost an hour just to comb your hair, wipe it clean, and put on your hat.

Especially when the emperor thinks that Zhao Zhen is like this, it is even more sad.

Later, even when Liu E died of illness, he never left the palace after he succeeded to the throne.

Sometimes being an emperor is a sad thing.

Not only because he wanted to see the birth of the Song Dynasty steam train with his own eyes, but also because this was the first time Zhao Zhen had left the palace to see the outside world since he was born.

The imperial court formation, which originally formed cliques and worked independently, would sometimes become monolithic, and a few opposing voices would naturally not make any waves.

There have been rumors coming out of the imperial court recently.

From the perspective of future generations, there is no need to feel pity for an emperor who was well-dressed and well-fed.

"The official family, all the officials have arrived."

Zhao Jun has participated every year in these years, and followed the emperor and civil and military officials to offer incense to the ancestors of the Zhao family. It can be regarded that the descendants of the old Zhao family have not lost this filial piety.

Don't think that the emperor doesn't take good care of himself. In fact, as an emperor, he pays more attention to image, so he has to dress neatly and meticulously every day.

"Let's go."

When Zhao Zhen heard Wang Shouzhong's words, he took a deep breath and walked out of the newly built palace in the back garden with Empress Cao.

It had rained a few days ago, and the ground was dry. Only the dew on the grass in the back garden in the morning was still a bit wet.

The couple left the back garden and came to the Daqing Hall in the front palace. Daqing Hall has always been a place for holding celebrations and meeting foreign guests in the Song Dynasty.

But now the large square in front of the originally spacious Daqing Hall is missing by half, because after Zhao Jun expanded various departments, he needed to arrange some official offices.

Seeing that the school ground in front of Daqing Hall was quite spacious, he occupied part of it as the official residence of the remaining departments.

However, the school ground in front of the Daqing Hall was originally large. In the past, dozens of acres of open space were set aside to show off the grandeur. Now even if part of it is occupied, ceremonies can still be held.

But today it was not held here. As Zhao Zhen appeared behind the Daqing Palace, hundreds of officials and many envoys saluted, and then Zhao Zhen gave an order - leave the palace!
The officials and envoys followed the order and left southward from Daqing Gate, and then exited Xuande Gate.

Outside Xuandemen is the wide Imperial Street.

At this moment, the streets have long been cleared. A huge carriage is placed at the entrance of the palace, with various umbrellas and palace cards held high, and thousands of guards are clearing the way.

Zhao Zhen and Queen Cao boarded the carriage, and the guards on horseback on the left and right sides protected the carriage three levels away.

"The officials have left the palace."

"That's the official guard of honor."

"It's really majestic."

Pedestrians on both sides of Imperial Street have been squeezed almost to the edge of the pavement.

But that didn't stop them from craning their necks to see.

If it was during the Zhenzong period of the Song Dynasty, people would still have the opportunity to see what the emperor looked like when he left the palace.

After all, Zhao Heng also went out of the palace several times, such as going to Chanzhou to "conquer personally" and to Shandong to "consecrate Zen to Mount Tai".

However, Zhao Zhen has never left the palace in the twenty-four years since he succeeded to the throne. Even before he succeeded to the throne, he never left the palace when he was still the prince.

The people of Bianliang had not known what the emperor looked like for decades, and everyone wanted to take a look.

But unfortunately it was too far away, and I could only vaguely see two people in red robes boarding the carriage, and then disappeared.

"Have you looked at the appearance of the official family?"

"Didn't look at it."

"Yes, what kind of gods are officials? How can you see them?"

"Over the years, the officials have been strategizing in the palace, and the world has been governed in an orderly manner. It is really a saint descended from heaven."

"Isn't it true? Now that our Song Dynasty is prosperous, even the Liao Kingdom and the Western Bandits don't dare to underestimate us. We just don't know when we can avenge Chanzhou."

The people were talking a lot.

The people at the emperor's feet are different from the people in ordinary local counties and villages.

Even before the advent of newspapers, gossip was everywhere, and all kinds of things in the government and the public were well-informed.

The common people dared to talk about anything and discuss anything between tea and dinner.

Even after the sound of Zhu Ying's axe, there were still rumors among the people that Zhao Guangyi had killed Zhao Kuangyin, which made Zhao Guangyi ask Wu De soldiers to inquire about the news and arrest him everywhere in an attempt to silence the world.

As a result, the government and the public were angry and resentful, and hundreds of officials attacked in droves, forcing Zhao Guangyi to take back the power of Wude soldiers.

Now Zhao Zhen's image is no longer that of Empress Dowager Liu's puppet emperor.

From the beginning, Zhao Jun was vigorously supported and decisive in killing, making the people think that Zhao Zhen was a good emperor who was determined and perseverant to carry out reforms.

Later, when Zhao Zhen invented fertilizer, cement, glass, hybrid broad beans and other messy things, the popularity changed. Some people said that he was not doing his job properly, while others said that he was serving the country and the people. Anyway, everyone disagreed.

In recent years, Fan Zhongyan, with the support of Zhao Zhen, has implemented the Qingli New Deal five times, and his reputation has instantly soared to the extreme.

In particular, Zhao Jun and Fan Zhongyan often blamed Zhao Zhen for their political achievements. As a result, the people all over the world were grateful and grateful. People's evaluation of Zhao Zhen was very positive. In many places, shrines were built in his honor.

In the final analysis, the people have a strong balance in their hearts. Fan Zhongyan's reforms over the years may not necessarily benefit everyone in the world, but they will definitely benefit most people in the world.

Most people can feel the changes in their lives.

In the past, taxes and miscellaneous taxes were severe and people lived in poverty. Nowadays, taxes are reduced and life is prosperous. It doesn’t have to be rich, but it is still much better than starving to death before.

Therefore, most people take this change seriously. As it will be in later generations.

Serving the people is never an empty word. Nor is it for officials to serve tea, water, and warmth to the people.

Instead, you need to have enough courage and wisdom to change and benefit!

Really change the lives of ordinary people.

If you do it, your prestige will increase, and your name will be remembered by the people.

Just like the vision of great men and chief architects.

now.

Under the gaze of the people, Zhao Zhen and his wife's carriage slowly traveled south.

Each official had his own carriage, and thousands of guards formed a huge convoy and left Bianliang City in a mighty manner.

In the imperial carriage, Zhao Zhen curiously opened the curtains and looked outside.

Queen Cao wanted to stop it.

Because the emperor had to maintain his majesty, it would not look good if the people saw him secretly lifting the curtains and peeking out with half of his face.

But thinking that the officials had never left the palace and couldn't bear to do so, they didn't say anything.

After a while, Zhao Zhen took the initiative to lower the car curtain and said, "I didn't expect such a scene in the city."

"The officials feel a little disappointed?"

Queen Cao asked.

"No, I am happy with the changes in the Song Dynasty today."

Zhao Zhen shook his head.

Just because he's been in the palace for a long time doesn't mean he doesn't know anything.

In fact, just like Zhang Zeduan, there were painters in the palace who would draw scenes outside the palace for him to see.

But now Bianliang is changing so fast that sometimes even when standing in the palace, you can see the high-rise concrete buildings outside the palace and the continuous construction of new buildings.

This was completely different from the Bianliang in his impression.

Empress Cao gave a rare compliment: "This is because the official family has benefited all the people."

"Yes, throughout history, there have been several emperors as courageous as me."

Zhao Zhen didn't give any credit at all.

Because he really doesn’t need to push gong.

There were emperors who were willing to delegate power while still holding real power, such as Liu Chan.

But Liu Chan did not succeed after all.

And he succeeded.

And in the future, it is very likely that we will achieve achievements that are unprecedented and unprecedented.

This is enough to leave a name in history and be praised by the world.

After all, if it were another emperor, Zhao Jun would definitely not be as comfortable as he is now in reforming.

The convoy slowly left Bianliang City.

There was already a huge team behind him.

In addition to the civil and military officials and the Royal Forest Guards, there were also envoys from all directions and guests from various countries.

Then came the people in Bianliang watching the excitement.

There were probably tens of thousands of people huffing and puffing, like a surging ocean of people, arriving on the outskirts of Nancheng.

Grandstands had already been set up in the suburbs, and fences were put up around the train station.

After Zhao Zhen's motorcade arrived, they were led to the stands. All the officials came to the stage one after another and looked at the station not far away.

At this time, I saw that a brand new steam train had been installed in the station. Its appearance was made of silver-black steel, and it looked like a ferocious beast. It made people feel stunned and shocked.

No one thought about how this giant steel beast was born or what it was doing there. They only knew that it seemed to have an abyssal mouth and seemed to swallow everyone.

"Oh my God, what is this?"

"What a huge beast. Is it the Nian Beast?"

"Why is there such a thing here?"

Not to mention the people of Bianliang, even the civil and military officials were stunned and looked at its existence in surprise.

Although steam trains are not particularly secretive, they are limited to a small circle.

There are three places: the Constitutional Yuan, the Ministry of Industry, and the Institute of Physics.

Even the workers who were constructing and laying the railway tracks had no idea what the railways were used for.

So for most people, this is the first time they see its existence.

This is undoubtedly a huge shock.

The envoys from various countries opened their eyes even more, wondering what this thing was.

For a time, whether in the stands or the people watching the excitement, there was a lot of discussion, and the sound of discussion was endless.

At this moment, Su Shunyuan, the minister of the Ministry of Industry, ran over and reported to Zhao Zhenhui: "Your Majesty, the train has been inspected and can officially depart."

Zhao Zhen had long wanted to see the train pass with his own eyes, so he immediately said: "Let's go!"

"Yes!"

Su Shunyuan raised the small flag in his hand.

Seeing this, the flagman watching from a distance also waved a small flag, and then the starter blew the whistle and waved the flag: "Let's start!"

"Start!"

Officials from the School of Physics, who were responsible for driving the train, began shoveling coal and lighting fires.

Now the train has just been put into trial operation, and it is not even officially allowed to buy tickets. Naturally, there is no Ministry of Railways and train drivers.

On-site command and dispatching are all handled by the Ministry of Industry, and train departures are handled by scholars and officials studying steam engines from the School of Physics.

Among them, Su Song is now the starting driver and is blowing the whistle again.

"Uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!"

As the fire in the boiler burned more and more fiercely, steaming white smoke came out of the chimney after more than ten minutes.

"What weird sound is this?"

"It's still emitting white smoke."

"terrible."

Many people who were watching were shocked. It was very similar to the first time the train appeared in public view during the Qing Dynasty.

People at that time also didn't know what this monster was. Even the highest ruling class, Lafayette, thought it was very scary and would damage the dragon vein of the Qing Dynasty, so they did not allow the use of steam locomotives and chose horse-drawn trains instead.

At this time, when the steam in the boiler finally reached a certain pressure, Su Song opened the engine valve, and the wheels below immediately began to rotate slowly, moving slowly forward.

Now the people watching were shocked, and some even backed away, thinking that the monster had resurrected and was going to start eating people everywhere.

Even the Liao envoy, who had a Mediterranean-style shaved head with two pigtails left on both sides, was so frightened that his face turned pale. The surrounding envoys from other countries were not much better, and they all looked at all this with shocked eyes.

"What on earth is this? Did Song State create a huge monster?"

"We must report it to His Majesty, report it immediately."

"We must tell the king as soon as possible that the Song Dynasty is no longer strong enough to stop it."

The envoys from Liao and Xixia whispered in private.

The Goryeo envoy boldly came to Zhao Zhen's stage, raised his hands and said: "Jin Zuoren, the junior minister of the country, has met His Majesty the Emperor of the Song Dynasty."

"What's wrong with the messenger?"

Zhao Zhen asked.

Jin Zuoren said hurriedly: "I want to ask what this is?"

Zhao Zhen laughed and stood up from the chair, raised his hands in vain, looked at the steaming white smoke in the distance below, the rolling train, and said excitedly: "This is my most important weapon in the Song Dynasty, a steam train! This thing can travel every day." Thousands of miles away, you can travel between Bianliang and Weishi in one hour!"

"This is a sacred object. Long live the Song Dynasty! Long live the Emperor of the Song Dynasty!"

When Jin Zuoren heard this, he was even more excited than the others. He also raised his hands high and knelt down to worship Zhao Zhen.

Everyone knows that Goryeo has now re-allied with the Song Dynasty.

As long as the Song Dynasty becomes more prosperous, Goryeo will be as stable as Mount Tai in the face of the threat of the Liao Kingdom.

The envoys from the other countries below had different expressions.

Especially the envoys from Xixia and Liao.

His face was pale.

Following Jin Zuoren's words, all the officials shouted in unison: "Long live the Song Dynasty! Long live the official family!"

For a moment, the mountains roared and the tsunami roared, which was spectacular!
(End of this chapter)