On the eighth day of the fourth month of Great Mandate Year One, the newly built makeshift Train Station in Xingang Commandery was as lively as if a festival were about to begin. The Prefects of all Eight Commanderies of Hanyang had arrived, as had You Fu, who happened to be home for the moment. Tang Yao, preparing to return to her hometown, had also arrived with Luo Chong.
Lin Fei of the Power Research Institute in Xingang Commandery was there as well, along with a whole host of researchers. They were the true stars of the day.
The First Institute on Lake Heart Island and the shipyard in Liuyang Commandery had each sent representatives to attend this inaugural test run and the follow-up trials.
A huge red flower had been hung on the front of the locomotive, and its painted body had been polished until it gleamed. The whole thing looked just like a bridegroom about to be married. The occasion had been made into quite a spectacle, with several photographers holding cameras and constantly snapping pictures of everyone.
Luo Chong was the busiest of them all. First, he had to take a commemorative photo with the eight Prefects beside the locomotive. Then he had to pose with the workers and researchers from the Power Research Institute who were responsible for developing the train. These people were all heroes of the Han Tribe, and every one of their names deserved to be recorded in history. Of course, these photographs would be recorded in history as well.
After that came commemorative photos with the other guests, such as You Fu, representatives from the shipyard in Liuyang Commandery, representatives from the Comprehensive Research Institute, and Tang Yao, the envoy from the Tang Tribe. Everyone stood together for another group photograph.
That