Chương 646: Divine Martial Ship

"... As you command!"

The messenger's legs were trembling as he left, not from fear, but from excitement. All the fatigue from running all the way was washed away by those words.

A few moments of silence fell over the hall, then someone slapped their thigh...

"It's done... it's fucking done..."

Cheng Yaojin shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice so loud it shook Zhang Fei's melon seeds to the ground.

"I, Old Cheng, never thought I'd see such a metal lump running on the road in my lifetime! It's all worth it! It's all worth it!"

Minister of Rites Guan Ning silently bent down to pick up the memorial from the ground, muttering under his breath:

"Nine hundred li... then... then four hours?"

Liu Ce heard this, but without turning around, he simply said:

"It takes more than four hours. Once the double track is laid, the signal is sorted out, and the train frequency is increased... it will be even faster in the future."

The ministers in the hall looked at each other, and all swallowed hard.

For years, some people had been thinking that "the world is about to change," and now it was no longer just a premonition, but a real, clattering event that came crashing down the railway tracks, faster than anyone else.

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

One month later, at Luojing Railway Station.

It's called a "station," but it's more like an upgraded version of a large-scale construction shed...

The main building is a waiting hall made of blue bricks, with a glass skylight with an iron frame embedded in the dome. It is a new invention of the Ministry of Industry Research Institute, which allows sunlight to shine directly in and cast diamond-shaped light and shadow on the ground.

The platform is covered with cast iron drainage gratings, and several tracks, like the legs of a giant iron centipede, extend from both sides of the building, plunging into the morning mist and disappearing into the distant fields.

The air was filled with the smells of coal smoke, hot engine oil, and new paint, all mixed together. It was a bit pungent, but strangely, it had a lively quality to it... the smell of something new about to emerge, which instantly invigorated you.

The platform was packed with people. Civil and military officials stood around, while nearby residents crowded outside the cordon, craning their necks to look at the other side of the tracks, chattering like they were at a market. Some even brought dry food, ready to watch all day, afraid of missing a single bit of the excitement.

The vendors selling candied hawthorns weaved through the crowd, their shouts rising and falling.

Liu Ce wore a dark black casual outfit, not a dragon robe, for ease of movement, and only a jade pendant hung at his waist.

Behind him followed a grand procession of officials. The ceremonial guards had been simplified considerably, but the pomp and circumstance were not diminished at all, with banners fluttering in the morning breeze.

Song Yingxing, who was leading the way, had lost weight and was several shades darker, but his eyes were frighteningly bright, and he was as energetic as an old man who had just held a big, fat grandson. He walked with a brisk pace, and his mouth was almost stretched to his ears.

He walked along pointing and gesturing, like a tour guide, speaking rapidly like a torrent of beans:

"Your Majesty, look... This is Platform One, which connects to the departure track; over there is the locomotive depot, where all locomotives are inspected, refilled with water and coal, and run day and night; that row of buildings in the distance is the signal room, where all dispatching will be done from now on, using flag signals and kerosene signal lights to ensure there are no rear-end collisions."

As the group crossed the platform, a gust of hot wind suddenly tore through the morning mist...

It's right there.

The massive, dark iron contraption, still warm from the previous night, lay silently on the tracks, like a steel behemoth with its claws folded.

The boiler was round and plump, with drive wheels taller than a person and connecting rods as thick as an arm, the bolts on it all polished to a shine.

A brass nameplate was welded to the side of the boiler, shining brightly in the morning light, and it was engraved with "Made by the Ministry of Works Research Institute in the Spring of the Tenth Year of Shenwu".

A red ribbon was wrapped around the top of the chimney, crooked and uneven, clearly tied secretly by the craftsmen last night for good luck; the ribbon fluttered gently in the morning breeze.

Song Yingxing caught a glimpse of the emperor's gaze sweeping over the red silk, and his old face flushed almost imperceptibly. He added in a low voice:

"The children are just fooling around, doing it for good luck. I'll have them tear it down later."

"Don't take it off." Liu Ce waved his hand with a smile.

"It's fine, it's festive. Keep it, we'll tie one to the front of every new car from now on, as a tradition."

"Your Majesty..." Song Yingxing cleared his throat, his palms inexplicably sweating, and his voice tightened slightly.

"This is the first passenger and freight steam locomotive built after the entire line was completed. Its traction force is 40% higher than the trial version, and the boiler can withstand the pressure... It's very stable. However..."

He looked at Liu Ce, hesitated, and moved his lips a few times.

"Just what? Speak plainly, don't beat around the bush."

"... It just doesn't have a name yet." Song Yingxing lowered his head, his voice softening, as if afraid of startling something.

"The craftsmen all say that the first iron dragon to successfully run this road must be named by His Majesty himself to keep it in check. We... dare not presume to do so. Everyone is waiting."

Liu Ce remained silent for about three breaths.

He walked up to the locomotive and reached out... not to touch the nameplate, but to place his palm directly on the boiler shell.

The sheet metal was still slightly warm, and a subtle vibration came through, like touching the pulse of a living creature, steady and powerful, one beat after another.

He withdrew his hand, his gaze sweeping upwards along the massive drive wheels, past the chimney pointing straight to the sky, past the riveted brass protective plates on both sides of the cab, and finally settling on the empty flagpole at the front of the vehicle...

"It's called 'Shenwu'."

The sound wasn't loud, but it was crisp.

The officials nearby were stunned for a moment, then began to whisper among themselves:

"Name it after His Majesty's reign title... Excellent!

'His virtue is divine, his military prowess pacifies the four directions,' a wonderful meaning!"

"No, there's another layer of meaning... This iron dragon possesses divine power, carrying the prosperity of our Han Dynasty's martial arts!"

"Hey, stop nitpicking! Don't you understand?

'God' means this iron thing has a soul, just like it's alive, and 'Martial' means wherever the Han's iron hooves trample, people submit!"

Cheng Yaojin interrupted in a loud voice, speaking in plain language, which ironically hit the nail on the head.

Liu Ce chuckled, "You've got a lot to think about. Actually, I only have two criteria: first, it has to sound imposing; second, it has to be easy to recognize on train tickets.

'Shenwu' is simple, powerful, and easy for everyone to remember. Besides..."

He glanced back at the crowd, a hint of disdain in his smile.

"My reign title is Shenwu, and what else should my train be called if not 'Shenwu'?

'Slowly Swaying'?"

"Pfft..." Everyone almost couldn't hold back, and several young officials were so choked up that their shoulders twitched and their faces turned red.

Song Yingxing was the first to cup his hands in greeting, his voice booming like a bell: "Divine Martial Title, a fine name! Thank you, Your Majesty, for bestowing this name upon me!"

He turned to his men and said, "What are you all standing there for?! Go! Engrave the nameplate! Bronze lettering! Gilded! It has to be shiny! Get it done today!"

Several craftsmen immediately grabbed their tools and ran over, moving swiftly as if afraid of being a step too late.

After touring the exterior, Song Yingxing led everyone up the train via a side staircase.

The train consisted of eight carriages: after the locomotive and the water car, the first carriage was the Emperor's Special Carriage. Although it was called a "special carriage," it was actually only half a foot wider than the other carriages. The seats were covered with cowhide, and the window frames were decorated with copper. Compared to the actual imperial pomp and circumstance, it was as simple as it could be.