Looking at the tall Kaifeng city gate, Du Zhongxiao let out a sigh of relief and said to Tao Seventeen beside him: "After entering the city in a while, I will first find an inn to live in." Rest and I'll visit some of the old ones. ”

Tao Qiqi looked at the sun that was about to set in the west, and said with his hands crossed: "Official, it's not early, it's better to rest early, and it's not too late to visit the guests tomorrow." It's our first time in the capital, so it's better to be careful. ”

Du Zhongxiao looked at the sun, thought for a while, and said, "Okay, that's it, let's go to Daxiangguo Temple." ”

At the beginning of the lanterns, Du Zhongxiao took Tao Seventeen and Thirteen Lang to the street outside. Chen Qin was pestered by Lu Saisai to take a look at the prosperous capital, and he didn't know where to go early on.

Looking at the flow of people, Thirteen Lang praised: "Sure enough, it is the most prosperous place in the world, not only there are many people here, but also many people sell things." You look at the clothes of these people, their complexions, and their expressions, which you can't see anywhere else. Ah, it's really the capital! ”

Du Zhongxiao smiled: "It's good if you know." It's okay to walk around during the day, just wander around the lively place, and don't wander around. As soon as you speak, you will be heard to be a foreigner, so be careful of being trapped. ”

The three of them walked around the Bianhe River and felt a little tired, so they found a wine shop and sat down to drink.

Du Zhongxiao came to the capital for the second time, and everything around him was still the same as before, but his mood had already changed. The last time I lived here, in order to prepare for the imperial examination, I was tired and dizzy every day, where was I in the mood to enjoy the scenery. Later, I won the Jinshi, and I drank and feasted every day to celebrate with the same year, but I didn't have time to take a look at the most prosperous place in the world. This time I revisited the old place and relaxed, which is naturally different from before.

Tao Seventeen and Thirteen Lang drank wine, appreciating the surrounding architectural scenery, and the pedestrians on the road enjoyed themselves.

It wasn't until late at night that Du Zhongxiao took the two of them away.

Standing up, Thirteen Lang said: "It's a pity that the taste of the wine is a little bland, if the wine has more strength, it will be very good tonight." ”

Tao 17 said: "When we come to the capital, we will sell wine." The wine of Yongcheng is here, and it will definitely sell well! ”

Du Zhongxiao smiled and didn't speak. There has long been bad liquor sold in the capital, but the taste has always been bad, and there are few liquor stores for sale.

When I returned to the inn, I saw a person standing outside, and when I saw Du Zhongxiao coming back, I hurriedly stepped forward and saluted: "The official is back, and the little one is waiting here anxiously." The officials of my family will set up a feast by the Bianhe River outside the city tomorrow to catch the wind for the officials, and hope that the officials will condescend. ”

Seeing that it was Han Jiang's family, Du Zhongxiao hurriedly surrendered his hand: "I must be early in the next day, and I will come to tell you." ”

After speaking, he invited the man in to drink tea, but he refused to live or die, and left in a hurry.

Han Jiang completed his previous term in Chenzhoutong's sentence, recruited the academy, entered the pavilion for the pavilion to proofread, and concurrently served as the Tongzhi Taichang Rite Academy, and went to the capital one step before Du Zhongxiao. He grew up in the capital since he was a child, and when he heard that Du Zhongxiao had entered Beijing, he hurriedly sent his family to invite him.

In the second year of Qingli, Han Jiang is now the highest official position. He had been an official for many years before Zhongjinshi, and after serving a term of general judgment, he entered the pavilion, a place of cultivation, and his future was limitless. Not to mention Du Zhongxiao, there are few Jinshi over the years who have risen so fast.

Back at the inn, Thirteen Lang and Tao Seventeen were so excited that they couldn't sleep, and they got together to discuss the interesting things they encountered on the way. Du Zhongxiao lay on the bed, thinking about what he should say when he came to the capital this time and was going to face His Majesty.

The emperor doesn't just want to see him, he has to arrange shifts. Before Du Zhongxiao entered the city, he had already informed himself of the date of his arrival in Beijing. For this young jinshi with outstanding political achievements, the emperor himself also attached great importance to it, and gave priority to the ranking, ranking five days later.

Thinking of the expression of the chamberlain who informed him of the date of entering the palace, Du Zhongxiao wanted to laugh. In the eyes of the chamberlain, it was a great thing to be received by the emperor within five days of entering Beijing. In order to thank him, Du Zhongxiao also gave a piece of silver. But in Du Zhongxiao's opinion, he had to wait five days for his advance notice, which shows how difficult it is to see the emperor.

When officials enter Beijing, they merely go through formalities and go back and forth between various yamen, which is protracted. Du Zhongxiao doesn't need to be short, but the procedures that should be done are the same, the official notice has to be changed, plus the official uniform and so on, there is no half a month that can't be done.

Listening to Tao Seventeen and Thirteen Lang next door talking endlessly, Du Zhongxiao was lying on the bed and couldn't sleep for a while. This time, the monarch and the ministers replied that it was extremely important to their own future and must be carefully considered. Du Zhongxiao didn't know what the emperor would ask him, and it was not easy to guess, he could only try to collect all kinds of taboos, and he shouldn't say anything at that time.

The Qingli New Deal that has just passed cannot be mentioned, and this reform began with great momentum and soon ended without a problem, so there is nothing to say. The party in the northwest cannot be said, and the controversy over peace and war still exists, but the overall situation has been decided, and there is no need to mention it again. This is a taboo, Du Zhongxiao is not clear about the various interests involved in the future, and he does not dare to participate rashly. It would be better to talk more about how you govern the place, how you reclaim wasteland, and how you organize the people together.

The night in Tokyo was no different from that in other places, and Du Zhongxiao eventually fell asleep.

Early the next morning, Du Zhongxiao asked Shisanlang to go outside to buy some goods, and he brought Tao Seventeen all the way to the New Song Gate.

As soon as he got out of the city gate, he heard a dull "suddenly, suddenly" sound, Du Zhongxiao's heart moved, and he immediately recognized that this was the sound of a steam engine. Could it be that Han Jiang brought the Chenzhou-made cars and ships into the capital? Chenzhou has the Cai River to communicate with the capital, but it is not difficult to open here.

Han Jiang had already sent his family to wait at the city gate, and when he saw Du Zhongxiao and the two, he hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

All the way to the restaurant by the Bianhe River, Han Jiang had already brought a few young pavilion officials to wait there. When he arrived at the pavilion on the second floor, the guest and host of the ceremony sat down, and Han Jiang pointed out the window and said to Du Zhongxiao: "Wait for Xiao, what do you see?" ”

Du Zhongxiao went to the window, looked up, and saw the general wooden cars and boats on the Bianhe River, with black smoke emitting from them, moving slowly.

Looking at the car and boat, Du Zhongxiao said happily: "I didn't expect this car and boat to be really made!" ”

Han Jiang laughed: "I have been in Chenzhou for three years, and with your help, I was able to make this boat and run on the river." When I returned to Beijing this time, I took this boat and drove along the Cai River. A few days ago, Shengshang watched the boat, and also felt that this thing was promising, so I made a new one and put it on Jinming Pond. ”

Du Zhongxiao lay in front of the window, looking at the cars and boats moving in the river, his heart was surging. For so many years, I have spent countless efforts on the steam engine, but it has not been practical, and it has become a heart disease. Sometimes I even wonder if we will be able to make a practical steam engine in our lifetime. It wasn't until today that I saw the steam car and ship on the river that I let go of the barrier in my heart. In time, the steam engine will be perfected. With a steam car and ship running on the river, others will see the benefits and get all kinds of support.

Turning around, Du Zhongxiao sat down and said to Han Jiang: "I don't know if the current car and boat are good or not." ”

Han Jiang said: "It's not very easy to use. One is that there is too much charcoal burned, and the strength is not enough, so it can only push this kind of small boat. Then there is the loud sound, which makes it difficult to fall asleep and very annoying. But this is not a big deal, as long as you put more effort into it, you can eventually make something better. The beauty of this thing is that even if you sail against the current, you can do without manpower, and this alone is worth a lot of effort. ”