Before driving the next day, Guan Zhuofan rushed back to Taoyuangu Village.

When she came to say goodbye, Cixi saw the bloodshot in Guan Zhuofan's eyes. Thinking that he went back and forth overnight, he never slept peacefully, and couldn't help but be slightly moved, and deep down, there was even a faint feeling of "distress".

Although the north wind was cold, the weather was fine, and the team set off on time. Looking at the projection of the chariot and horse figures on the ground, it should be traveling in a southeasterly direction.

The more you walk, the less crowded it becomes, but strangely enough, the road is getting wider and smoother. After walking for nearly an hour, Luan drove onto a black road - this road is interesting!

This road, paved with a kind of black debris, is so compacted and strong that I don't know what it is. The pavement is painted with white paint, of varying lengths, and there are arrow-shaped marks in them, and I don't know what they are used for.

As the car walked on it, it barely felt any bumps and vibrations. The wheels are light and fast, like the wind. is as flat as a stone, don't say that the "official road" along the way is jaw-dropping; Even in the Forbidden City, the "Heavenly Street" paved with stones can't be compared!

This road is wide and straight, and the car of the Queen Mother is ridden, four side by side, more than enough.

It is really "thoughtful as a stone, and its straight as an arrow".

Cixi also noticed that on both sides of the road, in addition to planting trees, there was also a nullah dug, but it was covered with a lid with holes in the cover. The royal sister thought about it seriously and understood: this is for drainage.

Although the royal sister does not understand modern engineering, she is talented and intelligent, and her intuition tells her: this way. It's amazing!

This is the first cinder highway in China, and it is also the first modern highway in the true sense. Guan Zhuofan's planned route is to start from Qingxian Horse Factory in the south. To the north of Tanggu New Town, another branch line stretches out to the northwest to connect to Tianjin City. At this time, the project was not fully completed, and the main line was about two-thirds complete, and the branch line was about half complete.

At that time, asphalt had already begun to be used for road paving in Europe and the United States. But. This requires the support of a strong chemical industry, and for China, it is still not enough. The gold finger can't be opened that big for a while. Let's build the cinder road first.

The impact of this road on Cixi surpassed the "golden carriage" she was riding now.

This custom-made car in England does not say any glass windows and gas lights. It is not said that carved cutwork, gilt and silver. Let's just say that when driving, why is it so light and smooth? Our Chinese car will never be able to do it!

Guan Zhuofan has replied to the Queen Mother of God: the wheel has added a "steering mechanism", so the rotation is satisfactory; A "reed" is added under the body to absorb shocks, so the car runs smoothly; Also, the outer ring of the wheels is not wooden. It's made of something called "rubber" -- something that seems hard. In fact, it is elastic and has less friction with the ground, so it is fast and stable when driving.

The royal sister naturally praised "so wonderful life". But deep down, I still feel that this car is "tricky and ingenious", so I have to use it for "enjoyment", and it may not be able to come in handy. Therefore, the excitement on the mouth passed, and although I was in the car, I did not put it on a "higher level" in my heart.

But this path is different!

As a ruler of the country, although China was still an agrarian country, Cixi knew very well what the strong capacity of the roads meant - both for the national economy and the people's livelihood, and for marching and fighting. To understand this problem, you don't need any modern political concepts and scientific knowledge.

Before, the pontoon bridge when crossing the Haihe River had already given Cixi a faint stimulus - the reason was the same. Now, exercising on this wide, flat, straight black avenue, looking at the scenery outside the glass window, Cixi felt slightly dizzy. This is not because of "motion sickness", but a growing sense of unreality, surrounding the left and right.

This road seems to lead to a new world.

*

*

It didn't take long for the first pier to appear on the side of the road.

This is a sentry post: there is a gazebo on the platform, and inside is a soldier in a blue military uniform, holding a foreign gun with a bayonet, and standing with his head held high. The sentry saw the Empress Dowager's eastern tour from a distance, and when Luan approached, he put his legs together, carried a gun on his left shoulder, raised his right hand, put his five fingers together, and put them on his forehead.

Cixi saw this action of the sentry. In the past few days, she already knew what this gesture meant: the soldier was saluting herself.

The appearance of the sentry unmistakably declared: The Empress Dowager Luan has entered the garrison of the Xuan army.

Such a pier, every two miles or so, there will be one.

The procession stopped, and the Empress Dowager Luan drove the salute team to lead the way and turned onto a branch road, and the rest of the men and horses no longer followed.

The road was also paved with black crumbs, but it was about a third narrower.

After a while, a wall and gate appeared in front of me, and the destination was finally reached.

The door opened, and Luan galloped in.

Yo, where is this?

The ancient trees are meandering, the river is meandering, the blue waves are rippling, the leaves are green, the water birds are gathering, and the water is swirling.

Cixi's eyes widened in surprise.

Yu'er, who was sitting opposite, couldn't help but let out a soft "huh".

Why did you suddenly arrive in the water town of Jiangnan?

In Cixi's mind, two poems that Princess Dunrou told herself: "Luoxia and lonely birds fly together, and the autumn water grows together in the sky." ”

Although the time is not right, and the season is reluctant, this is what it means.

The lake is bright and the water is colored, and the vines and grass are in the sky, so after walking for about two quarters of an hour, a belt of green tiles and white walls emerge in front of you. Entering the gate, the car finally stopped.

The door of the carriage opened, and in the sun, the person standing next to the carriage, smiling, and stretching out his hand was not Li Lianying, but Guan Zhuofan.

Cixi was slightly dizzy. She bent down and stretched out her hand, grabbed Guan Zhuofan's arm, stepped on the pedal, and stepped out of the car.

In front of everyone, it is completely unthinkable to do this action in Beijing, whether it is in Fangjiayuan or in Wicker Hutong - the Imperial Palace, not to mention the Imperial Palace. But here and now, Cixi didn't think about it, so she did it; After making it, I don't feel anything wrong.

A qiē is so natural.

After Cixi got off the car and decided to do so, Guan Zhuo Fancai and Li Lianying "changed hands", and the hand of the royal sister was transferred from the lover's arm to Xiao Lizi's arm.

Yu'er followed and got out of the car.

If it was the twenty-first century, I should still stretch out my hand and take this little girl as well, so that I can be considered a gentleman. Now, alas, you're just going to get out of the car on your own.

Guan Zhuofan smiled and said: "This is the palace where Cijia is stationed in Tianjin, Rong Chen is leading the way in front, please be careful and pay attention to your steps." ”

Cixi raised her head, the sun was shining, and she was slightly dizzy.

Hmm, it's a big garden!

*(To be continued......)