Watching the steam train slowly approach in the distance, the pastoral conscripts were all so stunned that their jaws dropped. They even forgot the food in their hands, staring fixedly at the train. Some even shouted into the mess hall, calling for the other conscripts who had come with them to come out and see the train.
Woo-woo-woo-woo—
Blowing its whistle, the train slowly pulled into the station. It was a freight train loaded with cement and steel bars, but since it would be taking these conscripts along shortly, twelve empty passenger carriages had specially been attached to the rear.
Watching the long train slowly pass before them, carriage after carriage seeming to stretch endlessly, the conscripts stared in amazement with their mouths agape. It took more than thirty carriages before the entire train had gone by. Even the officers who had brought the conscripts here wore the same expressions.
They had heard of trains long ago, back when they were in the Three Commanderies of Hong Lake Grassland, but their impression of trains had remained confined to other people's tales. Today was their first time seeing this steel behemoth, and they were utterly shaken.
"My heavens, this train is so long! It must be several hundred meters, right?"
"A train this huge can run without oxen or horses pulling it, and I haven't even seen anyone inside. How is this thing controlled? Could it be that it runs by itself?"
"Don't be ridiculous. By that logic, are you saying this steel giant is alive? How could that be possible?"
"Could this be the train? Otherwise, why would all these trains come here? The place we're staying at now is called the Train Station, right?"
"Train, train—is it a vehicle that burns fire?! I think I saw smoke coming from