Chương 640: Groundbreaking Ceremony

"If we only choose flat places to build, what challenge is there? I want the whole world to see that no matter how difficult the terrain, the workers of the Han Dynasty can lay railway tracks! Don't worry about money. The initial investment is large, but the profits will be even greater later."

Once the railway is completed, the savings in canal transport fees, the reduced grain loss, and the increased commercial tax revenue will be enough to build half a railway again. Think long-term, Shen Aiqing, don't just focus on the immediate financial gains."

Shen Wansan opened his mouth, but in the end he lowered his head and said dejectedly:

"Your Majesty... I obey your decree. I will go and allocate the funds immediately. When I get back, I will go through the account books to see which treasury the money will be taken from."

Liu Ce stood up and made the final decision: "It's settled then, the Luoyang-Chang'an Railway will be established immediately, and the groundbreaking ceremony will be held one month later. Song Yingxing will be in charge of the project, with the Ministry of Works taking the lead, the Ministry of Revenue providing funding, the Ministry of War dispatching 10, 000 soldiers to assist in the construction, and local prefectures and counties providing full cooperation."

The ministers exchanged bewildered glances, then bowed in unison: "Your Majesty, we obey!"

As the court session ended, Shen Wansan fiddled with his abacus, sighing as he walked, the beads clattering loudly.

"Nine hundred miles of railway... how much money will that cost... my money... another national treasury is going to be emptied..."

Cheng Yu patted him on the shoulder, offering words of comfort in a serious tone:

"Be content. You're lucky you weren't asked to build your territory in the Western Regions. If you really had to build your territory there, you'd be scheming like crazy."

Upon hearing this, Shen Wansan's face fell even more, and he let out a wail before quickly walking away.

..................

A month later, the open fields thirty miles west of Luoyang were packed with people.

It's not an adjective; it's a real sea of people.

Looking out, a sea of heads stretched from the platform all the way to the foot of the distant mountain, ten times more lively than the Lantern Festival.

At the front were the workers from the Ministry of Industry's Research Institute, all wearing navy blue short-sleeved shirts with a silver steam turbine badge embroidered on their chests. The badge simply depicted a gear and flywheel, giving them a spirited look.

They stood tall and straight, like soldiers in a parade, their measuring tools gleaming, their faces radiating pride.

Behind them were tens of thousands of recruited laborers, carrying shovels, picks, and carrying poles, forming a neat square formation.

Everyone's face was filled with anticipation. Many had heard that the wages here were high, with three meals a day provided, and meat served on the fifth day of each month. It was much better than farming at home.

People even asked each other, "Which village are you from?", "How long will you work here?", and "I heard that room and board are provided."

Further on came the locals who had heard the news, bringing their families along. There were elderly people with canes, children carried on their parents' shoulders, and small vendors who seized the opportunity to sell candied hawthorns, sesame cakes, and herbal tea. Some even sold "railway commemorative sesame cakes" with a small train pattern printed on them. These were twice as expensive as regular sesame cakes, and people were scrambling to buy them. Their shouts could be heard from afar.

Many people climbed trees and squatted on the earthen slopes just to get a better view, chattering amongst themselves.

"Have you heard? They're building that 'railway' today. Soon, those metal wagons will be able to run on it, faster than horses!"

"Is that a lie? That heavy lump of iron can't possibly run? The government must be lying to us, right?"

"Why not! They've been driving around the outskirts of Beijing for a month! My second uncle saw it with his own eyes, hauling nearly a hundred tons of coal, just whooshing past in a flash, white smoke billowing from the chimney, it was so impressive! Louder than thunder!"

"Really...? So, if we go to Chang'an in the future, will we be able to make a round trip in one day?"

"Absolutely! I heard that if you leave in the morning, you can arrive in the afternoon and even have a bowl of mutton soup before coming back! I've also heard that the mutton in Chang'an is better than that in Luoyang!"

A high platform was erected in the very center of the construction site, covered with red silk and surrounded by colorful flags that fluttered in the wind.

Liu Ce stood on the platform, followed by civil and military officials, all dressed neatly.

Song Yingxing stood at the very edge, his hands clenched so tightly they were sweating, and the hem of his robe was wrinkled from his grip. He was even more nervous than when he first built a steam engine, muttering to himself as if he were reciting a poem.

Cheng Yaojin stood among the generals, a wine flask tucked into his robes, thinking he'd sneak a sip to celebrate once the work began. Zhang Fei saw him and whispered:

"Give me a bite, and I'll pretend I didn't see anything."

Cheng Yaojin chuckled and made a "shh" gesture.

Liu Ce stood in the center of the high platform and simply raised his hand. The hundreds of thousands of people below fell silent instantly. Even the vendors stopped hawking their wares, and the children had their mouths covered by adults. Only the wind was blowing and the flags were waving.

The spring breeze, carrying dust, blew over and lifted the hem of his clothes.

He didn't carry an imperial edict, nor did he speak in official jargon; he simply shouted at the top of his lungs in plain language, his voice carrying far on the wind:

"Fellow villagers, I am standing here today, not to speak those empty words of classical literature, nor to perform those formalities of three kowtows and nine prostrations."

A soft laugh rippled through the audience, instantly lightening the atmosphere.

"I have only one thing to say: starting today, the road from Luojing (Luoyang) to Chang'an will undergo a major change."

He pointed to the ground beneath his feet, his voice loud and clear, resounding:

"From Luoyang to Chang'an, it's nine hundred li. In the past, goods were transported by oxcarts and mule carts, and half the animals would die from exhaustion after a single trip..."

"But starting today," Liu Ce raised his voice, "once this railway is completed, you can leave Luoyang in the morning and arrive in Chang'an in the afternoon! You'll be able to eat hot mutton in time! The cargo carried by one train is equivalent to that of two hundred oxcarts!"

Shipping costs? Less than a tenth of what they are now! In the future, your grain, cloth, and porcelain will be easily sold to Chang'an, fetching higher prices and generating greater profits; Chang'an's medicinal herbs and furs will also be transported to Luoyang cheaply, ensuring that the common people can enjoy high-quality goods!

A buzz of discussion began in the audience. Some people were counting on their fingers, and as they did so, their eyes widened in disbelief.

Someone excitedly gestured to the person next to them, saying that their family's dates would be able to be sold in Chang'an in the future; Someone even exclaimed, "That will make it much easier to visit my daughter in Chang'an!"

This drew good-natured laughter from those around them.

Liu Ce smiled and waited a few seconds before continuing, "I know some people are wondering—'Can this iron lump really run on the road?'

'Aren't you afraid that if these rails are laid on the ground, someone will steal them and sell them as scrap metal?'"

The audience roared with laughter, and many people shouted at the top of their lungs.

"Yes! That's what I'm worried about!"

"It's worth stealing it to make hoes! They're so heavy!"

Liu Ce himself was also amused: "I assure you, firstly, the train has been running in the suburbs of Beijing for a month now, and it's very stable. It carries a lot of cargo and runs fast. If you don't believe me, just ask any fellow villager in the suburbs of Beijing."

Secondly, the railway tracks are indeed worth some money, but I bet you all that once the railway is completed, land prices along the line will rise faster than the tracks themselves. At that point, anyone who steals the tracks will be a fool. Isn't it better to hold onto the land and collect rent than to sell scrap metal? One acre of land will be worth a hundred railway tracks."