Chương 729: The Army Returns

He looked down at the faces below, some old, some young, these ministers who had followed his father and the Han Dynasty all the way, and his tone was firm:

"All of you, rise."

Today, we have railways that stretch for thousands of miles, an industry that is unparalleled in the world, a powerful army equipped with all kinds of firearms, a fleet that can sail across the two oceans, and a population where nearly half are literate.

We broke free from the old cycle of dynastic changes and entered a new era of steam and steel.

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled civil and military officials, sharp as a sword, yet filled with fervent expectation:

"But this is not the end. Twenty years is just the beginning, and there is still a long way to go."

Railways will be laid to every provincial capital, the spark of electricity will be slowly ignited, overseas territories will be gradually expanded, and children all over the world will have access to education.

What Your Majesty and I desire is not a short-lived prosperity, but a foundation for all ages.

Centuries later, when people talk about this era, they will know that it was the Han Dynasty that opened the curtain on modern times; it was the Han Dynasty that led the world forward.

The road ahead is long, let's keep going.

"Your Majesty, we obey!"

All the civil and military officials bowed in unison, their voices clear and uniform, filled with anticipation for the future and an indomitable spirit.

Two decades of trials and tribulations, from a blank sheet of paper to an industrial empire, this answer sheet is perfect.

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

The 21st year of Shenwu, the 10th day of the third month.

Spring had long since arrived in Luoyang. The peach blossoms in the south of the city were blooming in a lovely pink, and the willows along the roadside had sprouted new green leaves. When the wind blew, the willow catkins would drift up like snow.

Chengnan Railway Station is ten times busier today than during the Spring Festival.

As dawn broke, people flocked to the station from all directions, carrying baskets, banners, and homemade steamed buns and boiled eggs. They crowded the station square like a bustling market, with no end in sight.

The vendors, drawn by the aroma, arrived immediately, weaving through the crowd with their wares, shouting at the top of their lungs, each one more adept at capitalizing on the buzz than the last.

"Sugar figurines and sugar paintings! Commemorative editions for the Great Victory of the Western Expedition! Five coins each!"

"Boiled eggs! Hot boiled eggs! For the victorious soldiers to fill their stomachs!"

"Fresh flowers! Freshly picked peach and apricot blossoms! Offered to His Majesty and the generals! To share in the joy of their triumphant return!"

There were also vendors selling small flags, red with black dragons, palm-sized, two for five coins each, and almost every child had one, waving them around.

The toddlers, barely out of their teens, darted through the crowd, waving small flags and shouting "Long live the Han Dynasty!" Their parents would grab them by the back of the collar and drag them back, kicking and yelling as they did so.

"I want to see the giant iron dragon! I want to see General Zhang!"

"Don't push! The train will be here soon! Be careful not to step on people!"

The soldiers patrolling the streets shouted to maintain order, strolling back and forth, but they also had smiles on their faces and spoke in a soft tone... Today is a joyous day, everyone is happy, so it's okay if it's a little crowded.

At the very front of the square, Crown Prince Liu Chen stood with all the civil and military officials, each dressed neatly, their court robes pressed straight, their ceremonial tablets gripped tightly.

It has been three years since His Majesty began his western expedition.

During these three years, the Crown Prince oversaw the country, assisted by three veteran ministers: Xun Yu, Fang Xuanling, and Du Ruhui. He ensured that domestic affairs, railways, maritime trade, and immigration were all well managed, the national treasury grew thicker and thicker, and the people's lives improved more and more, without the slightest disturbance.

But since it was the first time he had been in charge of the household alone for so long, Liu Chen was still a little nervous, like someone who had handed in an exam paper and was waiting for the teacher to grade it.

She both longed for her father to come back and feared that she might have done something wrong and be criticized.

He quietly adjusted the collar of his court robes, then rolled up his sleeves, and whispered to Xun Yu beside him:

"Uncle Xun, what do you think...? Did Father Emperor's journey go smoothly? Is he satisfied with things in the capital?"

Xun Yu stroked his gray beard, smiling broadly with an air of certainty:

"Your Highness, rest assured. His Majesty is exceptionally powerful and has pacified three empires in the west. How could things not go smoothly?"

As for Beijing, in the past three years, more than a thousand miles of railways have been built, maritime trade has increased several times, spring planting has yielded bumper harvests every year, and the national treasury surplus is 30% higher than three years ago.

"Your Highness has done so well; His Majesty will surely be pleased and may even reward you."

Fang Xuanling also chimed in, his tone sincere:

"Exactly. The Fourth and Fifth Five-Year Plans were exceeded, and major achievements such as industry surpassing agriculture were accomplished. No one could have done it as well as Your Highness. His Majesty is overjoyed and would never criticize you."

Liu Chen nodded, feeling a little more at ease, but his eyes remained fixed on the railway tracks to the west, as if he could see right through them.

The veterans' families also crowded at the front, forming a small circle, chatting as they waited.

Cheng Yaojin's wife, Madam Zheng, stood on tiptoe and peered towards the other side of the railway tracks, muttering to herself:

"That fatso, he's been gone for three years, I wonder if he's lost any weight. Stop eating and drinking outside, he's gotten even fatter, he can barely ride a horse now."

Wang, Zhang Fei's wife, who was standing nearby, smiled and chimed in, carrying a food box in her hand:

"It's good to be a little chubby, a little chubby and strong. My husband, I guess he's fighting with bayonets every day, he's as black as charcoal. I packed him some braised meat and steamed buns, I knew he'd crave them on the road."

Zhao Yun's wife, Xiahou Qingyi, smiled gently and said:

"As long as they come back safe and sound, that's all that matters. After three years of fighting, not being injured or sick is better than anything else."

"That's right, that's right, safety is the most important thing." The ladies nodded in agreement.

He said he didn't care about weight or skin color, but his eyes never left the direction of the railway tracks, gazing longingly.

The group waited for half an hour.

Two quarters of an hour is neither long nor short, but waiting for someone makes every moment feel agonizing, as if half a day has passed.

At that moment, a plume of white smoke rose from the western horizon, like a white dragon, slowly drifting towards this side.

Immediately afterwards, a long, muffled "whoosh" could be faintly heard, like distant thunder.

"They're here! They're here!"

Someone in the crowd shouted, and it instantly caused an uproar.

Everyone pushed forward, craning their necks like geese, their eyes all fixed on the west, as if afraid of missing anything.

"It's really here! I see smoke!"

"The giant iron dragon! It's the giant iron dragon!"

The children jumped and shouted, clapping their hands excitedly, waving their little flags even faster.

Liu Chen's heart skipped a beat. He quickly straightened his back, straightened his clothes, and turned to wave to the honor guard and musicians behind him:

"Quickly! Get everything ready! Musicians and flag bearers, perk up! His Majesty will be out in a moment, and the Triumphal March will be played!"

"promise!"

The honor guard quickly lined up, the musicians picked up their instruments, and the drummers held their breath, their cheeks puffed out like toads, ready to play as soon as the train arrived at the station.

The officials also stood in line, some adjusting their court robes, some stroking their beards, some clearing their throats, each with a solemn expression, yet unable to hide the joy in their eyes.

The white smoke drew closer, and the whistle grew louder and louder, "woo-woo-woo," each blast clearer than the last, making people's ears ring.

The rails began to vibrate slightly, and the ground trembled as if a giant beast was lurking underground.

Before long, a dark steam train, puffing out white smoke, came clanging and rattling from a distance.

The large chimney at the front of the car was billowing white smoke, looking like a black dragon riding the clouds, full of imposing presence; The front of the vehicle was tied with a thick red ribbon, adorned with a large red flower, giving it a festive look.

"Wow--"