Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 294: Mathematics and Science Are Inevitable, the Ming Railway Network Takes Shape! [Subscribe]

The reason why Huang Zicheng came to join the King of Yan was that he hoped to create a new situation for Confucianism in the overseas vassal states of Yan in the future.

If the King of Yan worshipped Buddhism, he would most likely look down on Confucianism. After all, governing the country with Confucianism and governing the country with Buddhism are two completely different things and are difficult to reconcile.

In this case, his purpose of coming to join the King of Yan would be thwarted.

Thinking of this, Huang Zicheng directly tested the issue, "I didn't know that the King of Yan was interested in studying Buddhism."

Daoyan was a very smart man. When he heard this and looked at Huang Zicheng's expression, he knew that the other party was hostile to him, or was worried that Prince Yan would worship Buddhism.

He then explained, "Mr. Huang has misunderstood. His Highness the Prince of Yan does not enjoy studying Buddhism, but has only dabbled in it. As for me, although I am a monk, I am not very knowledgeable about Buddhism. On the contrary, before I became a monk, I had a deep understanding of military science, Confucianism, and Taoism."

Huang Zicheng was not stupid, otherwise he would not have passed the imperial examination. After hearing Daoyan's explanation, he realized that he had misunderstood.

He felt relieved and said with a smile, "It turns out that Master Daoyan has dabbled in many fields. I am not very talented. I only know Confucianism and specialize in the Book of Changes, the Book of History, and the Spring and Autumn Annals."

"Among them, I learned the Book of Changes from Shihu Nong Gong, the Spring and Autumn Annals from Shimen Xiansheng, and the Book of History from Zhou Yugong."

After saying this, Huang Zicheng showed a sense of pride between his brows.

Because his teachers of these three classics were all famous Confucian scholars in the late Yuan Dynasty and early Ming Dynasty, and Daoyan was well versed in Confucianism, he must have known the reputations of these three people.

Before Monk Yan could reply, Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi asked, "Since Mr. Huang is a successful candidate, doesn't he know mathematics and natural sciences?"

Mathematics and natural sciences again?!

Huang Zicheng's eyes twitched slightly, and he almost burst into a curse.

He was planning to go abroad, so why couldn't he avoid mathematics and natural sciences?

By the way, I heard that the Crown Prince of Yan and the Second Prince are also studying in that main hall. They must have been bewitched by the Lord of Science and Technology.

It seems that I have a long way to go after joining the Yan vassal state - I must let the Prince of Yan know that Confucianism is the foundation of governing a country. As for mathematics and natural sciences, they are nothing more than techniques, or even evil ways. Although they can bring some convenience to the country, they are not enough to rely on.

Coming back to his senses, he smiled stiffly and said, "I also know a little about mathematics and natural sciences, but I'm not as proficient in them as I am in Confucianism."

Zhu Gaochi said "Oh" and seemed to be about to ask something, but fortunately Daoyan spoke up at this time.

"I happen to be quite knowledgeable about the I Ching. How about exchanging some ideas?"

Huang Zicheng was really afraid that Zhu Gaochi would test his knowledge of mathematics and natural sciences on the spot - although Zhu Gaochi was only eight years old, he was a student of the science and technology professor, and who knew what he had learned. If he didn't know the answer to the questions, it would be embarrassing.

Therefore, upon hearing Daoyan's words, he immediately responded, "I'm very happy to do so."

At the same time, he no longer had any hostility towards Daoyan, but instead had a better impression of him.

Then the two of them started discussing the "Book of Changes" in front of Zhu Gaochi.

The I Ching is the most difficult of the Five Classics of Confucianism. Even if the eight-year-old Zhu Gaochi was smart, how could he understand it? He felt drowsy for a moment.

Daoyan saw this and ended the conversation early, finding an excuse to let Zhu Gaochi leave. He then communicated with Huang Zicheng alone...

···
On March 25, the 19th year of Hongwu, the Pingding Railway (from Beiping to Zhending) was opened!
At this point, the Ming Dynasty had built two new railways, one north of the Yellow River and one south of the Yangtze River. There was also the Pinghu Railway that passed through to connect the north and the south, barely forming a simple railway network.

On this day, Zhu Yuanzhang summoned Liu Kuan to Fengxian Hall to discuss matters.

After learning the news that the Pingding Railway was successfully opened, Lao Zhu was obviously in a good mood and had a smile on his face when he saw Liu Kuan.

"Once the Pingding Railway is opened, we can use it to transport food and fodder to Taiyuan and Datong more conveniently."

"With the benefits of the railway, coupled with Shanxi's own accumulated food and fodder, the central route of the army heading north to attack the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty next year will not be short of food and fodder. Liu Kuan, you have contributed to this as well."

Liu Kuan quickly said, "I only proposed the route of the Pingding Railway. I did nothing else. I really don't want to take any credit for it."

"You're quite modest," Zhu Yuanzhang said with a smile. Then, changing the subject, he asked, "After the Pingding Railway is completed, the Railway Bureau can start building other railways, right? What suggestions do you have for the planning of new railway routes?"

Liu Kuan thought for a moment and said, "I think the next railway line might be from Zhengzhou to Hanyang, so as to connect the Yellow River and the Yangtze River from the Central Plains."

"Zhengzhou?" Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to have not expected Liu Kuan to mention this inconspicuous place.

Although the city of Zhengzhou existed very early, the place name Zhengzhou did not appear until the Sui Dynasty. In the subsequent Tang, Song and Yuan dynasties, Zhengzhou was not an important place.

Especially after the Song Dynasty established its capital in Kaifeng, Zhengzhou, as an area surrounding the capital, became more easily overlooked.

By this time, during the Ming Dynasty, although Zhengzhou governed four counties, it was under the jurisdiction of Kaifeng Prefecture, not a prefecture directly under the provincial government, and was equally insignificant. Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang was quite surprised when Liu Kuan mentioned this place.

After coming to his senses, Zhu Yuanzhang asked: "Why not choose Kaifeng?"

"This..." Liu Kuan thought for a moment and said, "In the future, Zhengzhou will not only be the capital of Henan Province, but also a very important railway transportation hub."

"My humble opinion is that since future generations chose Zhengzhou, there must be a reason for it. For example, Kaifeng is located relatively downstream of the Yellow River. If the Yellow River bursts its banks, it will easily be flooded."

"By choosing the route that future railways will take, we can avoid encountering unknown difficulties during the construction process and after the railway is opened."

Zhu Yuanzhang drummed his fingers on the imperial desk after listening to the proposal, thinking for a while, and then said, "Well, let's start the construction of this railway from Zhengzhou in the north. At worst, we can build a short-distance railway to Kaifeng in the future."

Liu Kuan added, "In fact, with the railway craftsmen and engineers trained by the Railway Bureau today, they can already build two railways at the same time."

Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes lit up when he heard this. "Oh? If this is the case, why didn't the Railway Bureau report it?"

"First, it was probably for the sake of stability, worried that building two railways at the same time would be difficult to take into account. Second, it was naturally due to financial considerations."

"After all, the three existing railways have yet to turn a profit, and building a new one would cost a fortune. The Railway Bureau is probably afraid of criticism from the court."

"What are you criticizing?" Zhu Yuanzhang said with dissatisfaction, "Building the railway is a century-long plan for the Ming Dynasty. No one can compromise!"

"Also, the new crops we brought back from America last year, such as sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn, will all be cultivated more extensively this year. In just two to three years, they will be available nationwide. By then, our Ming Dynasty will no longer be short of food."

"As for money, we in the Ming Dynasty have no shortage of it. The gold mine on Sado Island can produce hundreds of thousands of taels a year. After a few years, when we control Japan, we'll even have the Iwami Silver Mine to mine silver."

"Two copper mines were discovered in Yunnan last year, and mining has already begun. As long as there is no shortage of gold, silver, and copper, then our Ming Dynasty will never be short of money."

"The sooner the railway is built, the sooner the country and the people will benefit. Since the Railway Bureau can build two railways at the same time, why shouldn't it?"

Liu Kuan praised, "Your Majesty is wise, and I think so too."

"If we were to build a new railway, how would you plan the route?"

Liu Kuan said, "Your Majesty, you may choose the route of Zhending, Lincheng, Xingtai, Handan, Anyang, Jixian, and Yuanwu."

Zhu Yuanzhang remembered the map of the Ming Dynasty much more clearly than Liu Kuan, and the corresponding railway routes appeared in his mind after listening.

Then he nodded slightly and said, "It is connected to the Pingding Railway and then to the Zhengyang (Zhengzhou-Hanyang) Railway. It almost runs through Hebei, Henan, and Huguang. It is indeed a good choice."

···
While Zhu Yuanzhang and Liu Kuan were discussing the future construction plans of two new railways, Huang Zicheng was seeing Qi Tai off outside the Beijing Railway Station.

However, the four leading candidates who organized the Wumen Remonstration, including Qi Tai and Yao Shan, were exiled to America and had to go to the Beiyang Navy for some training first.

Because there were no official ships going to Dengzhou in recent days, Qi Tai and others were taken by train to Jinan, and then by water to Dengzhou.

"Brother Shangli (Qi Tai's courtesy name), I heard that this journey to America requires crossing an ocean of 10,000 to 20,000 miles. I wonder how many storms and dangers you will encounter. You must take care of yourself."

Huang Zicheng held Qi Tai's hand and said goodbye reluctantly.

Although Qi Tai had been detained in the Ministry of Justice for more than a month, he was allowed to reunite with his family before being escorted away. He also washed up and changed his clothes. Therefore, although he looked much thinner, he did not look haggard.

He pulled his hand away awkwardly, bowed, and said, "Didn't Zicheng say he was going to Tsushima Island to meet the King of Yan? If Zicheng stays there long enough, maybe we can meet him again when we pass by Tsushima Island on our way to America in the future."

"However, from now on, I will be in America, and Zicheng will be accompanying the Prince of Yan to an overseas fiefdom. Unless the Prince of Yan chooses to be a fiefdom in America, I don't know when we will meet again."

Thinking of this, Huang Zicheng was also quite emotional and sighed: "Yes, I am afraid that after this separation, we will hardly meet again in this life."

At this time, the patrol officer in charge of escorting them urged: "Hurry up and say goodbye! Don't dilly-dally! We still need to get to the station early to wait for the train!"

Upon hearing this, Qi Tai said, "Zicheng, I've thought about it. Exiling Yao Shan and I to America and Southeast Asia isn't necessarily a bad thing. The decline of Ming Dynasty Confucianism is inevitable, so we should continue to spread Confucianism overseas."

"Perhaps a hundred years from now, our disciples overseas will still be needed to bring Confucianism back to the Ming Dynasty. Since you have made this plan, I hope you will put your heart into it."

Huang Zicheng was delighted to see that Qi Tai had "thought it through" and shared similar aspirations. He bowed and said, "Brother Shangli, rest assured. I will do a good job on this matter in Yan Clan!"

Qi Tai nodded, said no more, turned around and entered the train station with other exiled prisoners under the escort of patrolmen.

　Second update.

　　Good night~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)