333: Chapter 333 Secretly Dismantling the Rails

Yan San was a street thug who often engaged in petty theft.

After being caught red-handed, he was escorted to the local government office.

He had a knack for lock-picking; taking advantage of the darkness, he stealthily picked the iron lock of his cell and successfully escaped.

Yan San did not dare to return to his village, and having heard that Yunmeng Marsh was a paradise for outlaws, he went to seek refuge there.

When Huang Long was selecting recruits, he chose Yan San.

Thus, Yan San became a member of the Vanguard Battalion.

Being a flexible and quick-witted man, Huang Long entrusted Yan San with the mission of scouting the freight situation of Great Qin's steam train.

By asking for no wages and only enough food to fill his belly, Yan San successfully stood out from the crowd and secured a job as a cleaner.

After three years of development under Zhao Fusu, Great Qin's grain production had significantly increased.

Although the time for his first five-year plan had not yet concluded, every household now had surplus grain.

With Zhao Fusu vigorously promoting commerce, Great Qin's business sector gradually flourished. Money had become more important to the people of Great Qin today.

When Yan San said he didn't want money, the other competitors were left speechless.

Time passed quickly, and before he knew it, a week had gone by.

Yan San had also basically figured out the patterns of the steam train freight transport.

Since only one train traveled back and forth within a single section.

To improve transport efficiency, the railway station usually mixed freight and passenger cars.

A single steam train would not only carry cargo but also have passenger carriages attached behind the freight cars.

These freight cars contained a large quantity of goods transported from Chang'an City, including milk, Wool Sweater, glass products, xifeng wine, steam rotary tiller, and steam thresher.

Yan San reported all the intelligence he had gathered to Zhang Liang.

Zhang Liang had also arrived in Kuaiji Commandery; he would personally arrange the attack plan.

With Huang Long's experience as a guide, the subsequent nine hundred men safely bypassed the Water Gate and arrived in Kuaiji Commandery.

In Zhang Liang's view, attacking a steam train was simple.

However, successfully hauling away the contents of the freight cars was the most difficult part.

This was why he planned to arrange for half of his forces to provide support and coordination.

Zhang Liang was a cautious man; even if the sneak attack failed, having half the men for support would allow them to escape danger in time.

This was also the key reason why he had been able to escape unharmed after his failed assassination attempt on the First Emperor in his youth.

Zhang Liang went to Mount Laohong to scout the location.

According to his observations, a steam train passed through Mount Laohong between 3:00 and 3:30 AM.

He observed the railway tracks.

He discovered that the tracks were fixed in sections onto concrete sleepers using bolts.

As long as the nuts on the bolts were unscrewed, the rails could be pulled apart.

Zhang Liang ordered the Mohist Disciples to forge tools capable of unscrewing the nuts.

Early morning

A dark night with high winds was the perfect time for mischief.

Zhang Liang, the Six-Fingered Black Knight, and a group of Mohist Disciples stealthily approached the tracks.

Every section of the track was patrolled by inspectors.

There wasn't much time for Zhang Liang and the Six-Fingered Black Knight.

Using a homemade tool, the Six-Fingered Black Knight was forcefully turning the nut on a fastener.

The rail was held in place by the fastener, which had a bolt passing through its center.

The bolts had been pre-embedded when the concrete sleepers were cast.

Once the concrete sleepers solidified, the bolts became integrated with them.

There were threads circling the surface of the studs.

When fixing the rails, the fastener was placed over the stud, followed by the nut. By continuously tightening the nut, the fastener was secured onto the rail.

"How is it?"

Zhang Liang asked.

"It moved! It moved!"

The Six-Fingered Black Knight said, his voice full of pleasant surprise.

"As long as it moved!"

Zhang Liang said with satisfaction, "See if you can dismantle a section first."

"Alright."

The Six-Fingered Black Knight nodded in response.

After unscrewing the nuts one by one and removing the fasteners, the rail immediately became loose.

"It's done."

The Six-Fingered Black Knight directed several men to dismantle the rail.

"Good!"

Zhang Liang watched this and said, "Reinstall the rail for now."

"We strike tomorrow night!"