I, Emperor Chongzhen, have extended the life of the Ming Dynasty by five hundred years.

The two looked at each other, speechless for a moment.

Just then, a commotion was heard outside the brokerage.

Several Imperial Guards escorted an officer as he entered; it was none other than Commander Tian Dunji.

Just as Tian Dunji was about to speak, he suddenly saw Guan Shaoning and smiled meaningfully, "Scholar Guan, are you also here to buy land?"

Guan Shaoning's expression changed, and he said, "I was just passing by..."

Ignoring them, Tian Dunji suddenly raised his voice and announced, "His Majesty has decreed that all land within ten miles of the railway line shall be confiscated by the government and subject to unified planning by the imperial court, effective immediately!"

The brokerage firm erupted in chaos. Zhang Han anxiously asked, "What about the land deed we just bought?"

Li Daiwen said with a smile, "Don't worry, the imperial court will compensate us at market price."

Zhang Han quickly replied, "I paid a high price for it, five times the original price!"

"You chose this path yourself, so who can you blame?"

"This isn't fair, I paid for it..."

Zhang Han was anxious because he had just bought sixty acres of land with real money.

They had planned to wait for these lands to appreciate in value and make a fortune, but unexpectedly, the imperial court pulled this stunt.

Doesn't that mean all the money we just invested has gone down the drain?

Zhang Han grabbed Guan Shaoning's sleeve, stamping his feet in frustration: "Scholar Guan, you must stand up for me! The imperial court clearly issued an edict saying it would not interfere with market operations. How can they change their minds like this?!"

Guan Shaoning shook off his hand and said coldly, "Editor Zhang, watch your words! What does this have to do with me?"

Zhang Han's voice was trembling with tears, "The imperial court is competing with the people for profit, are you just going to sit idly by and do nothing?"

"Enough!" Guan Shaoning suddenly shouted sharply, "You're the one who can blame yourself for being so greedy? If you ask me, you deserve it!"

Zhang Han stumbled back two steps from the shout, clutching the land deed in his hand, muttering, "It's over, it's over, my money..."

Tian Dunji stepped forward, took the land deed, glanced at it, and sneered, "Wasteland in the eastern suburbs of Tongzhou? Wasteland isn't worth much; at most, it can only be compensated for 60% of the value of fertile land."

Zhang Han's face turned ashen, and his legs went weak, almost causing him to kneel on the ground.

Seeing this, Guan Shaoning secretly felt lucky that he had arrived late and hadn't had a chance to make a move.

In the brokerage business, those who bought land were devastated, yet there was nothing they could do.

Upon returning home, Guan Shaoning immediately summoned his youngest son, Guan Shicheng: "Hurry and catch up with your elder brother! Tell him the imperial court has begun requisitioning land, and he must return immediately!"

After Guan Shicheng left to carry out his orders, Guan Shaoning paced back and forth in his study.

As the opening date approached, he became rather curious about the steam locomotive.

That morning, he finally couldn't hold back any longer, changed into casual clothes, and went alone to the station outside Yongdingmen.

The entire station is constructed of concrete. The biggest advantage of concrete is that it ensures both strength and durability while also guaranteeing the progress of the project.

Such a large station would take at least ten years to complete if constructed using stone and bricks.

With the concrete in place, it only took a little over a year from project initiation to completion.

From afar, one can see a straight, dark railway track stretching out, gleaming coldly in the morning sun.

The platform was crowded with people, and the craftsmen were busy with the final adjustments.

"Isn't this Bachelor Guan?"

Guan Shaoning turned around and saw Yang Tingjian standing behind him with a smile.

He awkwardly cupped his hands in greeting: "Scholar Yang..."

"Scholar Guan, your timing is perfect. We're having our final test today, why don't we watch it together?"

In the center of the platform, a colossal steel behemoth was spewing white smoke.

Guan Shaoning subconsciously took a half step back: "This...this is a steam locomotive?"

"Exactly."

Yang Tingjian nodded and explained, "It can carry a load of up to 50,000 jin (25,000 kg) and travel 800 li (400 km) per day."

Guan Shaoning looked incredulous and asked, "This thing... is faster than the imperial court's 600-li express courier service?"

"Currently, the speed hasn't increased, but its strength lies in its endurance. It can keep running as long as it burns coal and adds water."

At this moment, Fang Yizhi stepped forward and said, "Scholar Yang, we can test drive the car now."

Yang Tingjian looked at Guan Shaoning: "Scholar Guan, would you like to go up and give it a try?"

"Maybe... forget it!"

Looking at the enormous thing in front of him, Guan Shaoning ultimately chose to back down.

He simply couldn't imagine that this thing could carry cargo and people, and that it could run on coal alone.

I can't figure it out, I've racked my brains and still can't understand it...

When he returned from the Academy of Sciences, he looked at the manuscript of literature and history in front of him, but he couldn't muster any interest in it.

To rise to the position of head of the Hanlin Academy, one must be an exceptionally intelligent person, and intelligent people never think only of what is in front of them.

Guan Shaoning had already foreseen the future trend. If this steam locomotive could truly travel 800 li a day, as Yang Tingjian had said, it would surely usher in an unprecedented era.

The soaring land prices along the route are just the beginning; coal mines, iron mines, steel mills... all these industries will benefit.

It's a pity I didn't pay attention before, and now that I've realized it, I probably won't even get a sip of soup.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he shouted, "Old Hu, Old Hu!"

Butler Hu came forward in response: "Master, what are your orders?"

Guan Shaoning's face was ashen. He said, "Take out all the cash in the manor right now! And borrow as much as you can from the banks!"

Old Hu was startled: "Sir, what's going on...?"

"Let's buy houses in Tianjin!" Guan Shaoning said excitedly, "Especially those near the train station, we'll buy as many as we can!"

"Well, well... we don't need any more houses..."

Guan Shaoning shook his head and said, "After the railway between Beijing and Tianjin opens, the distance between the two places will be shortened, and the price of houses in Tianjin will definitely skyrocket! The imperial court has only acquired the land, but hasn't touched the residences! It's not too late to act now!"

Old Hu suddenly realized what was going on and quickly said, "Please rest assured, sir, I will take care of it first thing tomorrow morning!"

Guan Shaoning sighed softly and muttered, "Steam trains are terrifying; they're probably going to change the world!"

In the days that followed, he kept a low profile and quietly kept an eye on news related to the railway.

With the opening date drawing ever closer, news about this topic has increased significantly.

This time, I saw my colleagues gathered in twos and threes early in the morning, each with a different expression.

"Have you heard? The price of houses in Tianjin tripled overnight!"

"More than that! Shops in Tongzhou are being snapped up like crazy!"

"My uncle just got back last night, and he said it's impossible to get any even if you try!"

Guan Shaoning raised the corners of his mouth slightly, about to speak, when he suddenly saw Zhang Han walk in looking haggard.

Someone asked, "Mr. Zhang, are you feeling better?"

Zhang Han sighed and said, "What's so good about it? Those damned Imperial Guards swindled me out of all my savings!"

"What happened?"

"Well, it's a long story..."

Zhang Han rambled on for a few moments, recounting her ordeal.

After hearing this, everyone sighed, saying that the court's policies could change so easily, which was hard to accept.

At this moment, someone suddenly asked, "Old Zhang, aren't you bedridden?"

Zhang Han looked embarrassed: "Okay, much better..."