The disgraced official I took care of was actually Zhu Houcong's childhood friend.

Chapter 581

Yang Yiqing followed his grandson all the way into the Southern Garrison Command.

If it were just Yang Yiqing, it would be more troublesome to enter the Southern Garrison Command, since the Southern Garrison Command is a key location for the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and non-Embroidered Uniform Guard personnel are generally not allowed to enter.

Even though Yang Yiqing is the Grand Secretary, he still needs a good reason to enter the Southern Garrison.

But things were different when he was with Yang Shengzhai. To facilitate the research of Hai Rui, Yang Shengzhai, and others, Zhou Chu granted them considerable authority. Not only could they freely enter and leave the Southern Garrison Command, but they could also command the artisans of the Southern Garrison Command at their behest.

Yang Yiqing followed his grandson to the South Garrison Office, and soon saw a steel monster in the backyard of the South Garrison Office.

It was none other than the steam engine that Hai Rui, Yang Shengzhai, and others had improved upon and adapted for trains.

Yang Yiqing was extremely shocked when he saw the steel monster in front of him, even though he was very knowledgeable.

"This is the train you were talking about?"

Yang Yiqing looked at Yang Shengzhai and asked.

"This isn't a train, it's just the train's power system, called a steam engine. Let me demonstrate it for you."

As Yang Shengzhai spoke, he beckoned to the several Imperial Guards who were waiting nearby.

"Add water, burn charcoal, and get the steam engine running."

Yang Shengzhai said.

Upon hearing this, the Imperial Guards nearby began to bustle about in an orderly manner, some adding water and others burning charcoal.

This steam engine was not just a steam engine; in order to develop a train, they also attached many transmission shafts to it. The whole steam engine, along with these extended transmission shafts, looked quite impressive.

"No! No! No!"

As the temperature of the steam engine continued to rise, the steam inside finally burst out, and the entire steam engine began to operate, accompanied by the roar of the steam engine.

The exaggerated sound left Yang Yiqing, who was standing to the side, dumbfounded.

"This is a steam engine. The steam engine generates power by burning charcoal and turning water into steam. These are drive shafts, which will be connected to the train wheels, and the wheels will turn faster and faster, thus increasing the speed."

When it came to physics, Yang Shengzhai became exceptionally serious. He patiently explained to his grandfather, trying to help Yang Yiqing understand the working principles of steam engines and trains.

However, Yang Yiqing was completely confused. He didn't understand anything about steam or drive shafts. But when he saw that the drive shafts were being driven by the machine in front of him and that the speed was getting faster and faster, he understood what his grandson meant by the power of the train.

"Could I take a look at the blueprints for the train?"

Facing his grandson, Yang Yiqing felt uneasy for the first time. He knew very well that if the emperor did not allow anyone else to see the blueprints, even he did not have the authority to do so.

"You can look at it, but the current blueprints for the train are just sketches drawn by the teacher. Many parts are not correct, and others can't understand them either. They can only see the exterior."

As Yang Shengzhai spoke, he led Yang Yiqing to a room next door.

Inside the room, Hai Rui was discussing with others how to design the transmission shaft to efficiently transfer the energy of the steam engine to the train wheels.

"Shengzhai, why are you only arriving now?"

Hai Rui saw Yang Shengzhai and said somewhat anxiously.

"His Majesty has already issued an edict to build a railway. This is my grandfather, the Grand Secretary. The imperial edict must be reviewed and approved by the Cabinet before it reaches the Ministry of Revenue, and only then can the Ministry of Revenue allocate funds. He doesn't understand what a train is all about, so His Majesty sent him to ask me."

Yang Shengzhai said with some helplessness.

Hai Rui didn't react much to these words; he was more pleased that the emperor had issued an edict to build a railway, which meant that once they got the trains out, they could start running immediately.