To the First Emperor of Qin: The state has decreed this!

Chapter 383 Steam Train!

"Hmph, a unique method? You can create a divine creature that can travel a thousand miles a day just by going to a brothel to listen to music?" Zong Yu sneered, about to continue his sarcastic remarks.

"That's enough!"

Ying Zheng slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping coldly over the two of them.

With just one glance, Zong Yu and Li Si immediately shut their mouths, sat up straight, and dared not utter another word.

"I don't care where he went, I only care if he can create what I want."

Ying Zheng's voice was as calm as a deep pool: "If he can't produce it, let alone go to a brothel, even if he hides in the highest heavens, I will not forgive him."

If you can produce it…

Ying Zheng paused, his gaze indifferent. "If he can produce it, he will be a meritorious official of my Great Qin! He wants to move the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) to the Gewuyuan (Imperial Academy), and I have granted his request!"

Upon hearing this, Zong Yu felt a chill run down his spine and secretly gritted his teeth.

Today, we must use facts to definitively condemn Zhang Fan for the crime of deceiving the emperor!

"Whoa..."

With a long shout from the coachman, the carriage slowly came to a stop in front of the gate of the Gewu Academy.

"Your Majesty, we have arrived at the Imperial Academy of Natural Sciences," a court eunuch respectfully announced from outside the carriage.

A glint of excitement flashed in Zong Yu's eyes as he lifted the curtain and got out of the carriage first.

Li Si followed closely behind.

Finally, with the help of eunuchs, Ying Zheng slowly stepped down from the carriage.

The Gewuyuan (Gewuyuan) covers a vast area and is surrounded by high walls, making it heavily guarded.

Outside the gate, a dozen guards knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" upon seeing the Emperor's arrival.

"Go and call Zhang Fan out."

Zong Yu spoke impatiently, eager to see Zhang Fan's miserable state.

However, just as the guard got up, before he could even run into the courtyard...

"Bang!"

A side door of the Gewu Institute was suddenly pushed open with a loud bang.

Immediately afterwards, a figure rushed out from inside the door in a flurry of activity.

Everyone stared intently, then froze in place.

The person who rushed out was none other than Zhang Fan, the one they were looking for.

But at this moment, Zhang Fan was wearing a hempen coat, which was covered with a thick layer of furnace ash and coal slag.

Not only that, his hair was also a mess, like a bird's nest.

His face was the worst part.

Zhang Fan's left cheek was blackened by the smoke.

He was running outside with a rag in his hand, wiping the sweat from his forehead with it, which made his face even darker.

"Cough cough cough... I'm choking to death..."

Zhang Fan, coughing, stumbled and ran to Ying Zheng.

"Your humble servant... Your humble servant Zhang Fan, was unaware of Your Majesty's esteemed presence. I have failed to greet you properly; I deserve death!"

Quiet.

A deathly silence.

At the entrance of the Gewu Academy, everyone looked at Zhang Fan with extremely complicated expressions.

Zong Yu had prepared a whole host of impeachment words, but seeing Zhang Fan's appearance, he swallowed them back, his face turning red with embarrassment.

This...this guy went to a brothel to listen to music?

Who would go to a brothel to listen to music and end up looking like this?

Are those spies pigs?

Li Si was also taken aback, but then his eyes immediately showed deep emotion.

Take a look!

Take a look!

Those who spread rumors in the imperial court that Zhang Fan spends his days traveling and enjoying life, don't you have any conscience?

The immortal master was in such a sorry state for the sake of the Qin Dynasty's foundation and for overseeing the creation of divine artifacts!

That's incredibly dedicated!

Loyalty!

Ying Zheng, standing at the very front, had a calm expression.

After all, it was Li Gonggong, whom he himself had sent, who went to inform Zhang Fan.

That brat!

That was a pretty convincing performance!

Ying Zheng's eyes welled up with tears, but he strode forward and personally grasped Zhang Fan's hand, which was covered in coal dust.

"Zhang Qing, you... have suffered."

Ying Zheng's voice was deep and gentle, filled with emotion, "I am late. You have worked so hard for the Great Qin, and you have come to this state."

I am deeply gratified!

Zhang Fan was completely stunned by Ying Zheng's deeply affectionate handshake.

Then came a wave of cheesy sweetness!

A sudden chill ran down my spine.

But seeing the admiring look in Li Si's eyes, Zhang Fan opened his mouth, but ultimately swallowed the explanation that was on the tip of his tongue.

"cough……"

Zhang Fan took a deep breath. "To be loyal to His Majesty and to serve the Great Qin, this humble subject... would not hesitate to die ten thousand deaths!"

What's a little bit of coal ash compared to that?

"Good! What a wonderful statement, 'willing to die ten thousand times over'!" Ying Zheng's face lit up with joy, his lips twitched, and he patted Zhang Fan's shoulder heavily.

Seeing the deep affection between the emperor and his minister, Zong Yu almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

He gritted his teeth, unable to bear it any longer, and abruptly interjected, "Lord Zhang is indeed working hard. But I wonder, with you toiling so much, what about the steam train you promised a month ago…?"

How is the construction progressing now? Could Your Majesty and your ministers be shown it to them?

Zong Yu stared intently at Zhang Fan.

So what if it's dirty?

If you can't produce anything, I'll still take your life today!

Upon hearing this, Ying Zheng and Li Si turned their heads at the same time, their gazes fixed intently on Zhang Fan.

Zhang Fan wiped the grime off his face, a confident smile curving his lips.

He turned around, pointed to the tall, black iron gate, and said loudly:

"Your Majesty, Your Excellencies, the first steel behemoth of the Great Qin Dynasty is ready!"

"Please come in for inspection!"

Ying Zheng, Li Si, and Zong Yu stepped into the backyard.

The next moment, all three of them stopped in their tracks.

A heavy object stands in the center of the courtyard.

It was a locomotive made entirely of refined iron, with a boiler cylinder in the center, iron wheels arranged on both sides, and a chimney standing on top.

Sunlight shines on the steel shell, reflecting a metallic luster.

In an era when people relied entirely on wooden horse-drawn carriages for transportation, such a heavy object cast in steel would have been visually striking.

Many Mohist disciples were busy around the iron chariot, and the sound of knocking could be heard continuously.

"This...this is a steam train?"

Li Si's eyes widened, his voice trembled, and he took a half step back. "In this world, there is such a massive iron artifact?"

Ying Zheng took a deep breath; even though he was usually composed, his eyes were filled with shock at this moment.

The Qin Dynasty revered black and iron, and this iron chariot fulfilled its expectations.

Zhang Fan, standing to the side, found their shocked expressions amusing.

This is nothing more than a scaled-down steam locomotive.

A real modern train can pull hundreds of carriages; it certainly wouldn't be this small.

In the midst of the shock, Zong Yu was the first to regain his senses.

He stared at the iron cart, his heart filled with horror, but reason told him that this was impossible.

"Zhang Fan! Don't try to fool His Majesty with some lump of iron!"

Zong Yu pointed at the train and loudly questioned, "Such a massive iron object must weigh at least tens of thousands of pounds! It couldn't be pulled by less than a hundred fine horses! How can this inanimate thing travel a thousand miles a day? Does it think it can run on its own?"

Zhang Fan glanced at Zong Yu, snapped his fingers, and shouted to the Mohist disciples in the distance, "Old Mo, ignite! Increase the pressure!"

"Yes!" Mo Feng, who had just changed his clothes and rushed over, responded.

Zhang Fan turned to Ying Zheng and explained, "Your Majesty, this steam train doesn't eat fodder, it only consumes water and coal. It's currently boiling water, and once the water boils and produces steam, it will start moving!"

Please wait a moment, Your Majesty!