On the second day, Yan Shu and others went to the ancient city of Kunyang to take a look. It has been designated as the new county seat of Yexian County, and the people are being organized to ram the city wall, which is a little messy. After returning from Kunyangming, I went to the other side of the Li River for a day. In one year, it has developed into a large town with a variety of shops and a lively city. In particular, almost all the products of the Iron Supervisor are sold here. Several people chose the goods they wanted, and ordered their followers to hire porters to transport them back to the office. Because it is for personal use, it is mainly enamel, plus some novelties.

In the early morning of the second day, Du Zhongxiao and Su Song accompanied the four of them on the train.

Looking at the monster lying on the railway, Yan Shu said: "The train used to look like this. Are so many cars linked together, walking together? ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Xianggong, these carriages are all connected together, and they are all driven by the front of the car, so they naturally go together." ”

Yan Shu nodded: "In this way, it is almost the same as a car and a ship." The boat on the Bianhe River is now a car and boat in front, and there are many boats in the back, if you connect for several miles and go upstream, there is no need for a slender man. ”

As they spoke, the crowd reached the car door. Du Zhongxiao was the first to get into the car, standing at the door of the car, answering a few people. Su Song walked last, and after they all got on the car, they went to the back car. Several members of his entourage followed and entered the carriage together.

Du Zhongxiao said to Shu Yan: "Xianggong, there are many carriages on this train, so you don't have to crowd them all here." Leave a few close listeners to the order, and the rest can follow Thirteen Lang to other carriages. ”

It was an experience that had never been experienced before, and several of them were a little inhibited. After listening to Du Zhongxiao's words, they all stayed with him, and let the others follow Thirteen Lang, listen to his arrangement, and were divided into two carriages in front and back.

Du Zhongxiao said to Thirteen Lang: "It will take three or four hours to go, you prepare some wine and meat, and drink and have fun with everyone." ”

Thirteen Lang made a promise, took Du Zhongxiao's personal entourage, and greeted several Zhizhou entourage.

At this time, the windows have been replaced with glass windows, so you can see the scenery outside. Yan Shu and a few people stood in front of the car window, looking at the station outside, the crowd of people coming and going, all kinds of people, etc., full of interest.

At this moment, a whistle startled several people.

Du Zhongxiao hurriedly said: "Ladies and gentlemen, as soon as the whistle sounds, it is time to drive." The car shook violently, but I still sat down to prevent falling. ”

There is a large table next to the window. Yan Shu sat in the first place, and Song Qi, Ouyang Xiu and Liu Zhi sat down one after another.

Liu Zhi heard Liu Yongnian talk about the situation when he was in the car, and he was a little nervous, and his hands firmly grasped the table.

Yan Shu saw it and said with a smile: "Something, this car is so big, and it is connected together, where can it go?" Why be so careful. ”

Liu Zhi said: "Xianggong didn't know that Liu Yongnian, the governor of Benzhou, had taken this car, saying that it was dangerous to drive and he fell if he was not careful. It is to hold on firmly, and when the car starts, it will not shake much. ”

Yan Shu laughed when he heard this: "How can the car shake?" Will it be like a ship—"

Just as he said this, the train was moving, and the inertia made several people be pushed violently. Yan Shu, who spoke, was unguarded and put his head on the table.

Du Zhongxiao smiled bitterly to himself, he was about to persuade a few people to take precautions, but he didn't want Yan Shu to be flashed. It's already hit, and it's not good to say anything about yourself.

With the sound of the incident, the train started moving, and in a short time the carriage became stable, only slightly shaking.

Liu Zhi let go of his hand and said with a smile: "How can Liu Dujian tell a lie? And so it was. ”

At this time, the other three were still in shock, their hands still firmly grasping the table. Seeing Liu Zhi let go of his hand, they looked at Du Zhongxiao together.

Du Zhongxiao said: "I was in a hurry to get in the car today, and I didn't tell a few ministers in time, and I was guilty." The train runs much faster than the horse-drawn carriage, and whenever it starts and stops, people will be pushed as if they were being pushed, just like they had just done. Now it's open, unless it stops urgently, it's fine. ”

Ouyang Xiu slowly let go of his hand, tried it for a while, and asked, "How many hours has this car been driving, and it's all like this?" ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "You can't run for so long in one go, and you have to add coal and water in the middle." On our way, we stopped once in Qingtai Town, and after adding coal and water, we could go to Tangzhou in one go. There is no one else in the middle of the car, and there is no need to stop. ”

Song Qi said: "In this way, it is like a carriage. However, the horses were to be fed forage, and the cart had to be filled with coal and water. ”

While everyone was talking, the train had already left the area of the iron prison. Outside the window, the trees receded rapidly, and the scenery was constantly changing.

How many people have ever seen such a scene? Attracted by the window, he didn't speak, he looked out the window.

Du Zhongxiao called his entourage and ordered him to go to the front and let the dining car bring some wine and food. The road ahead is long, and a few people drink and eat food to pass the time.

After a short time, the soldiers came up with wine and food and laid them on the table one by one.

Du Zhongxiao said: "There is nothing to do left and right, let's use some wine and food." There are still two hours to go before Qingtai Town arrives, and the road is still long. ”

Ouyang Xiu smiled when he heard this: "I have walked this road, and I remember that it is more than two hundred miles to Qingtai Town. No matter how urgent it is, it will take three days. Now it only takes two hours, and the judgment still says that there is a long way to go. Those who walk the road of the previous day in an hour, and go to Jinghu as an official in the future, will thank you! ”

Everyone laughed together. Going to Jinghu and Guangnan as an official is not only the road, but also not counting the eunuch period on this long road, and the officials feel bitter. There are unlucky officials, who have been far away from the capital for several consecutive terms, and they have not been on the road for as long as they have been. Now with the railway, a thousand miles is only a day, I don't know how much more convenient. In the future, where there is a railway, there is no need to worry about the long distance, and many things will have to change.

For example, Fujian and Guangnan are different from other places in that they are served once every three years, which is equal to two terms in other places. Even so, officials are trying not to go to these places, and some even prefer to resign and not do it. In the future, when the railway is opened, it will inevitably be different. Even the officials appointed by the imperial court will be officials, and the principle of taking turns in either near or far will also change because of this.

After a while, the wine and food were all served, Du Zhongxiao raised his glass and said, "Xianggong, let's have a drink." ”

Raising his glass, Yan Shu looked at the stir-fry on the table, and said strangely: "What, can this car still cook and cook?" ”

Du Zhongxiao said: "Yes." With such a big car, the stove doesn't take up much space. Grain, rice, meat and vegetables, when stopping along the way, can be replenished. ”

Yan Shu was taken aback: "Doesn't that mean that if the railway leads to the frontier thousands of miles away, the train can never stop?" In a few days, you can travel thousands of miles! Just like Qinzhou in the northwest, starting from the capital, you can get there in a few days? ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "That's true." As long as coal and water are added along the way, the car can go on forever. From the capital to Qinzhou, if the railway is opened, it is estimated that it will only take four or five days to arrive, which is really much more convenient. ”

Yan Shu looked at the other people, and said: "It's not just a lot more convenient, the time on the road is short, how much less grain and rice to eat!" If there is a railway to Qinzhou, which can transport troops, and hundreds of thousands of troops in the capital will go to the northwest in a few days, this is a major event that affects the world! This sincerity can be described as an important weapon of the country! ”

Du Zhongxiao nodded: "Xianggong is right, it's true." The biggest influence of the railway in the world is that it can quickly mobilize troops. And not only can the soldiers be adjusted, but it is also convenient to replenish grain and grass. At that time, even if there were hundreds of thousands of troops all the way, it would not let the world move. ”