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

Chapter 603

"Your Majesty, I am also willing to go!"

Another official from the Ministry of War also stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, I am willing to go on a mission to the Western Regions."

.....

As officials from the Ministry of Revenue stepped forward one by one, fearing that someone else would snatch the mission to the Western Regions from them, Jiajing smiled knowingly.

However, on the surface, Jiajing still had to pretend to be in a difficult position.

"Oh dear, I need to think about this matter some more, think about it some more."

Jiajing waved his hand and said.

"Gentlemen, we should not rush into this matter. If we want to advance westward, the railway must catch up first."

"That's what Zhou Chu said from the side."

"Oh, Lord Zhou, look at how old I am, I don't know how many more years I have left to live. I just want to see the Ming Dynasty reach its peak and surpass the Han and Tang Dynasties. Lord Zhou, please grant me this wish!"

Wang Xian held Zhou Chu's hand, pleadingly.

"Lord Wang, there's no need to be anxious. The railway on the grasslands has been under construction since a year ago. I believe it will be completely completed in six months at most. After all, it's the grasslands. It used to be difficult to transport many raw materials there, but now it's different. Trains can run. With trains, these raw materials will be delivered to the grasslands continuously. Lord Wang should urge the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works."

Zhou Chu smiled.

Upon hearing this, Wang Xian immediately perked up and went to Zhang Cong.

"Lord Zhang, has the Ministry of Revenue's allocation arrived yet?"

"Don't worry, Lord Wang, the Ministry of Revenue will not dare to withhold a single penny of the funds for railway construction."

Zhang Cong smiled wryly.

"Wei Gang, the Ministry of Works has been urging us on. Don't worry, Lord Zhou is right. It will definitely be completed within six months."

The Minister of Works saw Wang Xian approaching and hurriedly said something.

Only after hearing this did Wang Xian return to Jiajing's presence with satisfaction.

"Your Majesty, the railway on the grassland will be completed in six months. I hope Your Majesty will make preparations as soon as possible."

Wang Xian bowed and said.

Jiajing really didn't know how to deal with Wang Xian's quick temper. After all, Wang Xian was getting old, and who wouldn't want to make contributions to the Ming Dynasty while he was still in power?

"You really are an impatient person. In that case, your Ministry of War should discuss it and see who is suitable to be the envoy to the Yarkand Khanate."

Jiajing said with a hint of helplessness.

"I will live up to your Majesty's trust."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xian immediately perked up.

An envoy mission usually consists of two envoys, a chief and a deputy. Wang Xian knew very well that the officials in his Ministry of War would probably fight tooth and nail for these two positions.

However, he is not capable of being the envoy. First of all, he is too old, and he would probably die on the way.

Secondly, Wang Xian already holds a high position and has everything he needs, so there's no need for him to work so hard.

Those who were willing to risk their lives were mostly officials of the fifth or sixth rank, like Ouyang Bijin before him. He was willing to sacrifice his life to ensure his son was ennobled, so it was all worth it.

Yang Yiqing originally intended to retire within the next year or two, but the current situation has given him, like Wang Xian, a sense of urgency that time waits for no one. He also wants to take advantage of his time in office to continue expanding the territory of the Ming Dynasty westward.

"Your Majesty is holy."

Yang Yiqing said.

"Your Majesty, Holy Might!"

With Yang Yiqing taking the lead, all the civil and military officials echoed his sentiments.

At this time, the officials' attitudes toward Zhou Chu were extremely divided. Yang Yiqing and the officials of the Ministry of War wished they could worship Zhou Chu, because their future success depended on this commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

However, many officials did not want the trains to be fully operational, because the operation of the trains would bring too many changes to the Ming Dynasty, changes that they had not anticipated at all, and were even unable to accept.

Major changes mean that many existing interests will be broken, and new interests will be divided.

But whether the new benefits will be allocated to them, or even whether they can be comparable to the previous benefits, is a big question.

For them, it's best to avoid change if possible.

"Go away."

Jiajing waved his hand, indicating that the train operation had come to an end.

Zhou Chu had just returned home when he saw Lin Yao.

Over the past year, at the behest of Jiajing and Princess Deqing, Lin Yao has been spending almost every day at the Zhou residence. Originally, Lin Yao wanted to do this, but due to her status as a county princess, she had to consider the impact of whatever she did.

But now, with the emperor's and her own mother's approval, Lin Yao had no more scruples and wished she could live in the Zhou residence.

"Brother Weighing Instrument, did the train run successfully?"

Lin Yao looked at Zhou Chu with some trepidation.

These days, Lin Yao's biggest concern is whether today's train can pull 500,000 jin of coal.

She had heard plenty of sarcastic remarks about Zhou Chu these past few days, and several times she couldn't help but lose her temper. So Lin Yao had been holding back her anger, and she cared more about the outcome than Zhou Chu did.

"Success."

Zhou Chu nodded and took a piece of melon from the fruit plate next to Lin Yao and ate it.

"Really?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yao looked at Zhou Chu with a face full of surprise.

"Of course it's true. Now the entire court knows. You can go and give those young ladies who spoke ill of me a good scolding."

Zhou Chu looked at Lin Yao and teased her.

Zhou Chu no longer addresses Lin Yao as "County Princess," a result of Lin Yao's repeated insistence.

Lin Yao knew very well that if Zhou Chu continued to address her as "County Princess," their relationship would be difficult to advance further.

Lin Yao blushed when Zhou Chu saw through her thoughts.

"It's all their fault. They kept saying those nasty things. I just couldn't stand it anymore, so I cursed at them."

Lin Yao explained somewhat awkwardly.

“You are the county magistrate, so they have to endure your scolding. They can be scolded all they want, especially since they are in the wrong.”

As Zhou Chu spoke, he picked up a piece of cold melon and handed it to Lin Yao.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yao felt as happy as if she had drunk honey, and immediately took the cold melon from Zhou Chu's hand and began to eat it.

Meanwhile, those officials who colluded with the salt gang, after leaving the platform, quickly gathered together under the deliberate coordination of certain individuals.

“If this continues, the Salt Gang will cease to exist, everyone.”

The leading official looked at these people and said.

"To be honest, this matter is both difficult and simple. As long as the train has a problem and there is a certain danger, we can submit a memorial to the emperor, and salt should still be transported by river in the future!"

Another official said.

Previously, there had been several heated arguments in the court over the issue of salt transportation. Originally, after the sea ban was lifted, salt should have been transported by sea, but these officials insisted on submitting memorials to the court, citing the dangers of sea transportation, and asked the court to continue using river transport.

At the time, Zhou Chu was not in the capital, and the Ming Dynasty was at war on all sides. In order to stabilize the situation, Jiajing did not bother with these people, which allowed the salt gang to gradually recover over the next three years.

"This method works!"