"Singing of the willow catkins, the blooming flowers reflecting in the water were breathtakingly beautiful. Where is the pure heart now? The mountain moon hangs high, illuminating the snow..."
In the Luoshen Palace, Zhen Mi gazed at herself in the mirror, with Xiao Qing arranging her hair and makeup. She couldn't help but softly recite, her heart pounding like a little deer.
Xiao Qing, seeing the young maiden blossom before her, was also captivated. Mimicking Liang Xiao's playful pinch from years ago, she secretly pinched Zhen Mi's cheek with a mischievous grin.
"Mi'er is exactly eighteen this year, and has achieved fruition~"
"It's all thanks to you sisters," Zhen Mi replied shyly, and then pinched her own thigh hard.
The pain was so real, she had doubted countless times if she was dreaming.
The big brother who had saved her from the brink of starvation and death, who had draped his fox fur cloak around her, now successful and renowned, was going to marry her...
Marrying him! This had been her deepest fantasy since childhood.
It had come true!
"Where... where is he?" Zhen Mi suddenly remembered something and asked timidly.
"He's observing the steam locomotive with Zhang Yang and the others, and then going to see the former barbarian captives," Xiao Qing answered.
"Oh, is the steam locomotive effective?"
"You must trust the Ministry of Works; it now gathers the nation's elites, working in unison, led by the one he admires most, Zhang Yang. As your Brother Xiao said, after recovering the Southern Regions and Jiaozhou, we can cultivate and collect rubber there in the future. If we can make 'tires' to maintain the wheels, steam locomotives can travel more reliably in the future, without necessarily relying on rails."
"Since the steam engine was put into operation, the nation's steel output has been increasing at a visible rate. We've poured steel without regard for cost to construct railways, yet only four hundred *li* have been built, and steel is used in critical sections. The steel required for every *li* could equip thousands of soldiers with armor and weapons, plus countless workers would be needed. But these four hundred *li*, if put into use, properly maintained and guarded, represent an immeasurable improvement for the nation."
"But we believe that in the near future, such railways will connect all parts of the country, allowing commoners to travel a thousand *li* in a single day, traversing mountains and rivers, no longer needing to leave their homes for many years and finding it difficult to return."
"That's amazing?" Zhen Mi was both surprised and delighted, then suddenly realized, "Then, as long as supplies can be delivered to the supply station on the other side of the railway, the military and civilian supply to the western border can be greatly strengthened. It's a contribution to the present and a benefit for generations to come!"
Xiao Qing smiled slyly and said, "Then, let's name this railway the 'Zhen Mi Railway' and consider it a dowry prepared by your sister for you?"
"No, I'm too shy. Sister Shuang'er, can you think of a more discreet name..."
"Then let's call it the Luoshen Railway!" "Let's call it the Da Qian Railway, it's so auspicious, won't you, Sister..." "Mi'er is so good and beautiful, I'll do as you say~"
That railway was named the "Da Qian Railway," and later when Xiao Qing informed the officials, they all praised it.
The capital city, residential area in the southwest district.
The residents here were all former barbarian captives, living in apprehension.
This grand ceremony seemed to have nothing to do with them.
Here, they bore the humiliation of their past lives.
Fortunately, the people of the capital did not discriminate against them, but they did not dare to interact with the outside world, and could only live under the supervision of the court.
The barbarians here were just one group of two thousand people; tens of thousands more were distributed throughout the country, in similar situations.
Just as they felt their lives were bleak and out of place, the arrival of a group of people broke the silence.
"The Emperor is here!"
The barbarian people, who were gathered for a feast, all put down their work and rushed to greet Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao's gaze swept over them. He saw that they were all pale-faced and trembling. He then summoned the "District Chief" specially set up for them and informed them of the policy.
"Da Qian and Man Huai had a deep-seated enmity. Most of you supported your men going south, thus you needed to undergo a few years of punishment. Now that your sentence is served, from today onwards, the ban on marriage and childbearing for barbarians can be lifted, and the court will return your children who were taken away."
When the news spread, everyone could not believe it, and looked at Liang Xiao with eager eyes.
"But there are conditions. Remember, from now on, you must never mention the old days of the barbarians to your children, abandon your former barbarian culture, and henceforth become citizens of the Qian Dynasty, accept Qian Dynasty culture, and live equally with all Qian Dynasty citizens. You must also intermarry with Qian Dynasty citizens. Can you do it?"
Hearing Liang Xiao's question, they all knelt and kowtowed, overflowing with gratitude, and solemnly vowed.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your magnanimity! We swear to be loyal forever!"
The day after the grand ceremony of unification, the court also announced this matter to the world.
The commoners learned through the newspapers: After four to five years of assimilation, these barbarians had almost all accepted Da Qian culture. Now, they had reformed and sworn allegiance to the Qian Dynasty, thus becoming citizens of the Qian Dynasty.
The prestige and credibility of Liang Xiao and Xiao Qing among the soldiers and civilians of Da Qian were now unparalleled. The people finally accepted these barbarian people, who were mainly the old, weak, women, and children.
From then on, there were no more barbarians within the borders of Da Qian; they were replaced by citizens of the Qian Dynasty.
Even though the barbarians were pardoned, the barbarian Chanyu, due to his grave sins, was still placed under house arrest, never to leave his home.
The Chanyu knew he was in the wrong and could only continue to live like a prisoner, daring not express any dissatisfaction.
Here, as long as he worked diligently, he would eat the same food as ordinary people, and at least his life was saved.
The next day, the news of the successful trial run of the steam locomotive also caused a sensation throughout the city.
"I heard that it's a divine vehicle that can travel two thousand *li* a day with ease in the future?"
"The imperial palace has announced that steam engines and related machinery will be promoted nationwide. We are fortunate!"
The commoners, unable to suppress their curiosity, flocked to the outskirts of the capital. However, the railway was guarded by troops, and they were only allowed to watch from afar.
As people watched the steam locomotive, still on its test run, gradually disappear into the distance, they whispered to each other, with smiles on their faces.
"This is the idea our Emperor provided to the nation, and Minister Zhang led the way to realize it!"
"I heard that the Emperor and Minister Zhang were already good friends when they were commoners. The Emperor found so many rare talents for our Qian Dynasty early on!"
"Minister Zhang said that building the steam locomotive was not his sole achievement, and the efforts of other participants must not be erased. From now on, we must be clear: it is 'Minister Zhang and his team from the Ministry of Works,' understand!"
While the people were grateful to Liang Xiao, they did not forget those who had realized his vision.
The people of this land could now afford to study, and slowly, they could understand more things.
On the third day after the grand ceremony of unification, the An Guo Hou Manor, which had been converted into the Emperor's Residence, was bustling with visitors. The commoners spontaneously brought red cloth and red flowers from their homes, decorating the road for ten *li* from the entrance all the way to the palace gate.