Chapter 454: Young Master Bai's Steam Locomotive
It didn't take long for Bu Zhan Ni, despite his initial advantage, to be utterly routed and sent fleeing northward in disarray.
His fifty thousand rebel troops were useless, unable to even touch a hair on Wang Cheng'en's head. They were utterly crushed and sent scrambling, with no option but to flee.
Unfortunately, the rebel forces were too vast. Although Wang Cheng'en, with his smaller numbers, could win, he couldn't trap Bu Zhan Ni, and could only watch as Bu Zhan Ni's main contingent made their escape.
Hejin County was reclaimed.
However, what was reclaimed was a desolate wasteland strewn with corpses.
Three to four tenths of the city's inhabitants had been slaughtered, another two tenths conscripted into the rebel army, leaving less than half of the original population as surviving commoners.
Moreover, those who survived had seen their homes stripped bare of all valuables. With vacant eyes, they sat amidst the burned city, staring at the smoke-billowing ruins of their houses, unable to even shed a tear.
Wang Cheng'en, his face grim, walked through the city streets and alleys until he entered the county yamen, sinking into the magistrate's chair with a long sigh. “It's always like this...” he muttered. “How is this any different from a city sacked by the Jiannu?”
Shi Jian couldn't help but ask in a low voice, “Is it the same when the Jiannu attack a city?”
Shi Jian was speechless.
Wang Cheng'en sighed. “The common folk of Hejin County will struggle to survive. I can only write a letter to the imperial court on their behalf, requesting that funds and grain be allocated to relieve the suffering here.”
Hearing this, Li Daoxuan's finely drawn brows furrowed. Even without much thought, he knew the letter would be fruitless; the imperial court wouldn't offer a single copper coin in relief to the people of Hejin.
He lowered his voice, speaking into Shi Jian's ear: “Tell him that Gao Family Village will provide grain for relief, on the condition that he grants us use of the Dragon Gate Ferry.”
Shi Jian, hearing the faint voice in his ear, brightened. With the Heavenly Lord's divine decree, things would be much simpler. He cupped his hands in a salute. “General Wang, our Chengcheng County still has some grain in storage. We can transport it by boat from Heyang County's dock to the Dragon Gate Ferry, helping these common folk survive this ordeal.”
Wang Cheng'en's spirits lifted at this, but a worried expression quickly crossed his face. “You've already lent a great deal of grain to this general. Wouldn't it be quite difficult to provide further relief to the people of Hejin County?”
Shi Jian replied, “Difficulties are certainly present, but we do not fear them. Saving a life is more meritorious than building a seven-story pagoda. Wherever we can lend our strength, we will exert ourselves to the utmost.”
Wang Cheng'en nodded. “Very well! I'll leave this matter to you.”
Shi Jian cupped his hands again. “This subordinate dares to request permission to take command at Dragon Gate Ferry, personally overseeing the escort of the grain.”
Wang Cheng'en was not a civil official and had little interest in interfering with matters of civilian welfare. Hearing Shi Jian's request, he thought to himself: *This fellow, a ‘connection’ placed in my army by Liang Shixian to gain military merit, must be a bit scared after experiencing a major battle. He probably doesn't dare go to the front lines anymore and wants to hang back to handle logistics.*
*Fine, that's not unacceptable! If this ‘connection’ dies, I won't have the gall to ask Liang Shixian for grain again in the future. Let him stay behind and manage logistics; I'll just share a small portion of my military achievements with him, helping him secure a promotion later.*
With that thought, Wang Cheng'en ceased further discussion, waving his hand. “Alright, arrange it as such. I'll send a hundred garrison soldiers with you to guard Dragon Gate Ferry and ensure the safety of the grain transport route.”
Shi Jian was delighted. “Many thanks, General.”
He cupped his hands again, then pulled Bai Mao out of the council tent. Once they were behind the tent, away from prying eyes, Shi Jian said, “Wang Xiaohua, I'll be temporarily stationed at Dragon Gate Ferry. After we’ve provided relief to the refugees here, you can rejoin the main force. You continue to stick with Wang Cheng'en for now.”
Bai Mao chuckled. “Alright, I'll handle things up front.”
Shi Jian leaned his shoulder against Bai Mao's. The Puppet Heavenly Lord doll, perched on Shi Jian's shoulder, stirred. With a soft thump, it hopped onto Bai Mao's shoulder, settling down with a cheerful look.
Bai Mao's heart thumped with excitement. *The Heavenly Lord has come to bless me.*
Shi Jian bowed deeply to the doll, then turned and walked out, calling over the hundred garrison soldiers Wang Cheng'en had assigned him, and set off towards Dragon Gate Ferry.
Bai Mao, meanwhile, returned to the council tent and stood beside Wang Cheng'en.
Wang Cheng'en lifted an eyelid, glancing at Bai Mao. In surprise, he asked, “Shi Jian gave you his doll?”
Bai Mao smiled. “Indeed! It's his protective charm. He entrusted it to me to ensure my safety on the battlefield.”
Wang Cheng'en shook his head. *These ‘connections’ are truly eccentric,* he thought. *To rely on a cloth doll for comfort, what a soft-bellied soldier! Which of my battle-hardened generals, who fight to the death on the front lines, would ever rely on such a thing for protection? Tsk!—*
Meanwhile, at Gao Family Village's Number Two Railway Station.
Young Master Bai's greatest invention in his lifetime, the steam locomotive, was finally ready for its trial run.
The long railway tracks stretched from Gao Family Village all the way to the Valley of Exiles, covering the same six *li* distance as Li Daoxuan's very first railway line.
For people of that era, this distance was far from short. Young Master Bai had expended immense effort to lay these six *li* of track.
Because of its “experimental” nature, San Shier hadn't supported him regardless of cost. He hadn't allocated vast amounts of funds and grain from the village treasury, nor had he hired a large workforce of laborers.
He had merely allocated a modest sum for “research funding,” strictly adhering to the Heavenly Lord's previous directive for “moderate support for scientific researchers.”
With this meager “research funding,” Young Master Bai hired three blacksmiths and a hundred laborers. Beside the tracks of the electric miniature train driven by the Heavenly Lord, he cleared a new path, laid down sleepers and rails, and constructed the new line.
These six *li* of tracks alone took a full six months to complete.
Of course, the road itself was relatively simple. The real challenge lay in the massive iron vehicle placed upon the tracks.
To build this contraption, hundreds of thousands of *jin* of iron were consumed.
As for the technology employed in the locomotive, it embodied all the physics knowledge understood by Gao Family Village School. Countless technologies were utilized: steam engines, gears, axles, levers...
Young Master Bai, despite his youth, had nearly pulled out all his hair creating this locomotive. Now, the moment had finally arrived to verify its feasibility.
The tension was palpable!
It was truly nerve-wracking!
Countless people had gathered to witness the experiment. Even Liang Shixian, the Magistrate of Chengcheng County, and Feng Jun, the Magistrate of Heyang County, had been invited to observe the spectacle. Bai Yuan had also rushed back specifically from Qichuan Ferry to see his son's monumental invention.
Madam Bai, meanwhile, had paid a large group of young women to prepare for a grand cheering session.
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