My Pen Pal Zhu Yuanzhang

Chapter 314 The Train Whistles Away
The Annan prisoners of war worked so hard that the supervisors just let them do what they wanted. Do they really want to stop people from working? Isn't that crazy?
But when you think about it, it seems a little unbelievable. Isn't it just some meat and sugar that are given to the prisoners of war as rewards? How can their mentality change so suddenly?

Before this, they were slacking off every day and causing trouble every now and then. It was useless even if several groups of people were killed.

But since the Shangshu organized a meeting of several managers, and reorganized the prisoners of war, letting the Annanites supervise the Annanites, and also set up some kind of performance appraisal, the only price was a slight increase in treatment, but unexpectedly, it made the attitude of these Annan people become positive.

In fact, in the eyes of supervisors, those treatments were just that, far worse than those of ordinary people.

Moreover, the cost has not increased, but has actually decreased compared to before. I can’t understand how they did it.

One steward even had the courage to ask the Shangshu, but the Shangshu just said lightly, "What is worrying is not the lack of wealth but the uneven distribution of wealth," and then sent the steward away.

This made the managers even more confused. They really regretted not having read enough books when they needed them. Otherwise, the other person was a second-rank Minister of Works, while they were just a small eighth-rank manager. It seemed that the difference between reading more and reading less was quite large.

What is worrying is not the lack of wealth but the inequality of distribution. What does this have to do with the hard work of the prisoners of war? However, those prisoners of war did work really hard to earn points so that they could get higher scores in performance appraisals and receive rewards.

You have to make your children study hard. Yes, they should go to the newly built school of the court. If they are not serious in school, they will be whipped!
The speed of railway construction was faster than expected. Not only did it make up for the time wasted in the early stage, but it also increased the speed and shortened the time much more than the originally scheduled time.

Soon, thanks to the efforts of the Annan prisoners of war, the last section of the railway from Yingtianfu to Maling Iron Mine was successfully connected.

At this point, the first railway in the Ming Dynasty was completed perfectly. Because it was a dedicated railway for transporting iron ore, the starting station in Yingtian Prefecture was the locomotive factory in the industrial plant area, which went directly to the Maling Iron Mine. The total length was 165 miles.

Taking into account that more trains will be used for both freight and passenger transportation in the future, several stations have been planned along the route so that construction can start immediately when needed.

The first train of the Ming Dynasty was also successfully produced after the successful trial production of the steam locomotive.

The train has a total of twenty carriages, with a total length of more than 400 meters. It can run 80 miles every hour, and each carriage has a load capacity of about 60 tons. In other words, a single train can transport more than 1,200 tons of iron ore directly from Maling to the factory in just over two hours!

If this had happened in the past, not to mention the amount of manpower and animal power required to transport 1,200 tons of iron ore, it would have taken at least two days just to use a horse-drawn carriage to drag the iron ore a distance of 160 miles.

After hearing that the railway was completed, Zhu Yuanzhang was overjoyed. He called the famous sorcerer Yuan Gong and carefully selected an auspicious day to hold the launching ceremony of the first train of the Ming Dynasty.

On this day, the locomotive factory was crowded with people, decorated with lights and colorful lanterns everywhere, and it was extremely lively and full of joy.

Zhu Yuanzhang led civil and military officials, as well as representatives of the literary world, to attend the ceremony, and countless workers, technicians, and researchers also attended the scene.

Everyone was deeply shocked when they saw the huge train lying on the rails like a giant steel dragon.

The sun was shining beside the newly built railway in the capital. Zhu Yuanzhang stood on a high platform, his eyes penetrating the dust of time and falling on the first train of the Ming Dynasty.

With a long whistle like a dragon's roar, everyone's heart seemed to stop beating at this moment. As the train started slowly, steam rose like a dragon leaping into the sky. His heart was filled with emotions. This giant steel dragon was not only a leap in technology, but also a new chapter in the destiny of the Ming Dynasty.

At this moment, Li Han's figure became taller and taller in his heart. He was the initiator of all this and the first contributor to the Ming Dynasty's rise to glory. At this moment, how great it would be if Lao Li could go with him to see this more prosperous and powerful Ming Dynasty.

Civil and military officials lined up on both sides, and the eyes of industrial officials flashed with unprecedented light. They knew that at this moment, the industry of the Ming Dynasty would be like a wild horse running free from its reins, galloping across the world, and a new era had begun.

On the other side, the hearts of the conservative ministers were surging like the tide, with contradictions and struggles intertwined into a complex picture. Some of them frowned, with their eyes showing both shock at the miracle of the train and worry that the ancient tradition would be overturned.

They knew very well that the roar of this steel dragon was not only a victory of technology, but also a major challenge to the traditional order. The glory of the aristocratic literary world seemed to become shaky at this moment, and the values ​​​​and lifestyles passed down from generation to generation were facing unprecedented shocks.

At the same time, an indescribable awe surged in their hearts.

The industrial force represented by this train was so powerful and irresistible that it made them realize that no matter how much they adhered to tradition, they could not stop the wheel of history from rolling forward.

They began to reflect on whether they should let go of their stubbornness and prejudice and embrace the coming new era.

In such contradictions and struggles, the conservative ministers seemed to be experiencing a fierce struggle in their hearts.

They are angry and helpless about the passing of traditions, and also nervous about the impending changes.

However, no matter how they struggled internally, they could not change the fact that the Ming Dynasty had already stood at a new historical starting point and was moving towards a more glorious future.

The workers and technicians hugged each other tightly, their faces filled with indescribable joy and pride.

Although their hands are covered with oil stains due to long-term labor, this is a symbol of their hard work and wisdom.

The breathtaking train masterpiece they created together seemed to have turned into an endless light of glory, illuminating everyone's heart at this moment.

As the roar of the train resounded through the sky, the workers' hearts were filled with immense excitement and pride. They knew that this was not just the start of a train, but also the prelude to a new era of Ming Dynasty industry.

At this exciting moment, they all shouted in unison: "Long live His Majesty! Long live His Majesty! Long, long live His Majesty!"

The cheers that resounded through the sky were not only a celebration of the successful start of the train, but also an expression of immense respect and gratitude to His Majesty the Emperor.

It was Your Majesty who made these craftsmen hold their heads high in front of the literati for the first time. It was also Your Majesty who made them realize that craftsmen can also create miracles!

The train was speeding up and soon disappeared from everyone's sight. It passed through Yingtian Prefecture and came to the countryside.

Along the way, the people looked at this huge creature in amazement. Many people even thought that a big monster had come. They knelt on the ground and shouted "Buddha bless you".

The train sped all the way and arrived at the Maling Iron Mine two hours later. At this time, the Annan prisoners of war at the iron mine station were dumbfounded when they saw the huge behemoth coming towards them with a roar that could pierce the sky.

It turns out that the railway they built was prepared for this steel monster!

Many people also cheered along with the supervisors, and like the Ming officials and workers, they felt a different kind of pride in their hearts.

At the same time, a concept that they had long known was once again clarified in their minds: the Ming Dynasty is absolutely invincible!
(End of this chapter)