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Chapter 962: The First Passengers

This is a very celebrated day. The first official train in the Song Dynasty was set off from Youzhou. The whole train had a total of fifteen cars, and 5 cars were used to transport passengers. The rest were all equipped with products from Youzhou and other places.

Since returning to the Song Dynasty, Youzhou has been developing rapidly. In terms of industrial strength, it has even more prestigious... The train departed from Youzhou was equipped with 10,000 wool fleece, as well as furniture, new tractors, pumps, and fattening powder made of fish bones. It was filled with 10 cars and was ready to be transported to Qizhou for sale.

Those who are lucky enough to be the first passengers will naturally be either rich or noble. Among them, there are two very special passengers, namely their father Wang Liangjing and their mother Bai... Wang Liangjing has grown a lot in recent years, and Bai's eyes are full of wrinkles.

Although the Wang family is prominent, the family members are everywhere, and even during the Chinese New Year, they cannot reunite. Some time ago, I heard that there were Japanese pirates and Manichaeism in the southeast. The old couple were worried. Although they knew that Wang Ning'an was protected by strict security and there would be no mistakes, they were just worried as parents.

They finally waited for their son to return to Beijing, but were busy with government affairs. They wanted to go to Beijing but were afraid of disturbing them.

After waiting for a while, the railway was finally opened. According to convention, Wang Ning'an must go to Qizhou. They also took the train and happened to be reunited with their son.

Xu Yang was very considerate and prepared a special car for them to make the old couple feel more comfortable, but Bai Shi didn't listen. She piled up a lot of books and brought a lot of gifts in the car, leaving only a place to sit in the car.

Wang Liangjing complained, "Go to see my son, it's not moving, why are you bringing so many things? Besides, it's okay if you bring other things, but you also bring so many books! Tell me, who would like to read it?"

Bai was angry, "You old man, it's just that I'm old and old. Ten years ago, you dare to talk to me like this? And you said that no one reads my book? I tell you, this time I will publish it all over the world, and no one can stop it!"

The old couple started arguing, but their quarrel was quickly interrupted... With the sound of whistles, the train started and he really slowly left Youzhou.

The passengers in the car poked their heads out and waved their hands desperately, looking extremely proud.

On the platform, the people around them all stood on tiptoe and stretched their necks to look at them.

The locomotive was spitting out black smoke, the train was getting faster and faster, and the loud roar was almost deafing his ears.

But no one complained whether it was on the car or on the platform.

On the contrary, there were many young men in bright clothes and angry horses, who rode their horses and ran wildly in pursuit of the train.

It’s true that the speed of the train is not as fast as the horse. Many young people ride horses and whip them, grab the front of the train, and then wave their hands constantly, full of pride and arrogance, as if saying, what’s the use of your broken thing? It’s not as fast as the one I’m running!

Wang Liangjing stood at the window, as if looking at an idiot!

"I really don't know at least. Four-legged ones will never run away from the wheel!"

As a person who has participated in the public relations of steam engines, Lao Wang is very confident.

Sure enough, after running out for a quarter of an hour, the train speed did not decrease, but the horses gradually could not keep up, and they ran out of sweat. The same was true for the knights above, gasping for breath, and could only look at the train that was leaving, shaking their heads constantly, as if they had seen a ghost.

In this way, the train quickly moved forward, passed through Cangzhou, Dezhou, passed through the large iron bridge on the former Yellow River Road, and went to Qizhou. Many people stopped and watched along the way, and almost everyone saw it, they were stunned and disbelief.

The train ran for 12 hours and a day at a distance of 800 miles!

If it were in later generations, the high-speed rail might be enough for more than an hour, which is 20 times worse!

But in this era, this is speed!

The imperial court sent a letter to a maximum of 800 miles. I don’t know how many war horses would die along the way to send some valuable news to the capital.

But the train is different. Not only can it reach the speed of emergency delivery, but it can also carry huge amounts of supplies to the destination. What is most gratifying is that it does not require the help of civilians to carry it.

There were only two drivers and four coal shovelers in the whole train. They divided them into two shifts and transported hundreds of people and mountain-like supplies 800 miles away!

Wang Liangjing didn't sleep and rest for a day. He was excited and shocked throughout the whole process... As a veteran who had experienced a cruel battle, Wang Liangjing knew very well what this meant!

As long as the railway is built, the troops that took a month to complete in the past can be accomplished in one day, and it will also disturb the people along the way and do not delay the farming time.

How big is this progress?

In order to get Youyun back, there were more than one million civilians dispatched in Hebei and Jingji... If there were trains at that time, maybe only a few dozen would be able to solve the problem.

Wang Liangjing waved his fist hard, full of relief.

Bai's family is from a businessman, and they look at problems and are different from her husband. In the past, ten thousand pieces of woolen wool were only allowed to take the sea or rely on a carriage and transport them thousands of miles away.

Both of these have obvious disadvantages. For example, shipping can only be transported to coastal ports and still needs to be transported. Moreover, the sea is windy and waves, and the materials are easily wet. If the wool is stained with sea water, it will basically be scrapped.

If you use a carriage, you will need at least hundreds of carriages, and one carriage will also have to accompany the driver. If the horse is injured or dead on the road, it will also be included in the road fee.

Slow speed, high transportation costs, and high risks... These all plague merchants engaged in long-distance trafficking.

But the train is different, and a few cars solve the problem... The travel fee is at least 90% lower than before!

What’s even more terrible is that a month’s journey can be shortened to one day!

Just imagine, in the past, when we talked about business, it took a month from south to north, and after the negotiation, it was shipped back, and it would take another month, at least two months... Now, I took the train to negotiate business, and when I came back, I could handle the goods by train, and I could handle it in a few days!

The efficiency has been improved by dozens of times, and the fastest speed can be used to deliver new products to customers, and the business will of course be much easier.

Bai's thought more about efficiency improvements, not just these. For example, in the past, he had been engaged in trafficking, and had to travel at most two or three times a year. But if there were trains, he could even travel dozens or hundreds of times a year!

What does this mean?

Of course, the transaction volume increases in geometric multiples, and the capital turnover accelerates, alleviating the pressure on merchants to occupy funds!

The benefits are endless!

Bai Shi was all moved. If she had been younger for ten years, she might have been like those excited businessmen to join this luxurious business feast... The old couple all felt a strong sense of pride. This is what our son insisted on doing, and only he could accomplish such a miracle!

In addition to pride, pride is also!

...

Qizhou is the later Jinan. As the capital of Jingdong East Road, many merchants gathered, including the textile factory in Yanzhou. They also carried tens of thousands of pieces of cotton cloth waiting to be sold to Youzhou for sale. Everyone's faces were full of brilliance.

"Ji Fu, thank you for your hard work." Wang Ning'an smiled.

Lu Huiqing immediately said: "It's nothing. It's really a feeling of regret in this life that my disciples can preside over such a large project... Half a year later, the section from Qizhou to Xuzhou will be opened to traffic. When next year, the section from Pukou will be opened to traffic. The entire railway will be connected, and the disciples will be able to rest in peace even if they die!"

Wang Ning'an laughed, "Stop saying depressed words, there are so many things waiting for you to do!" After a pause, Wang Ning'an said, "Prepare to go back to Beijing and go to the Censorate to be a deputy to Mr. Wang."

Lu Huiqing took a breath. Although he was busy with railway affairs, he was still staring at the movements of the court.

"Master, can you dare to ask for advice? Should you leave the position of Prime Minister to the absolute husband?"

Wang Ning'an did not hide it from Lu Huiqing, but sighed: "The next government is actually the most difficult. We have to take on my burden and create a new situation. We have to do it without great courage and great responsibility... You are all young and have shallow qualifications. Suddenly we are at the top of the market, which is to encourage growth!"

Lu Huiqing understood what his master meant very well, and he did not think that he would become the prime minister directly. If he could serve as the second-in-command of the Censorate, he would naturally be able to be upright and reach the top in one step.

"Disciples and others, although they don't have enough qualifications, Brother Junshi, he is two years older than his absent husband!"

Wang Ning'an said meaningfully: "Ji Fu, can you still have contacts?"

"Yes!"

This is how Lu Huiqing is smart. At critical moments, he never plays tricks with Wang Ning'an. He works hard to do what the teacher teaches. In front of the teacher, he is a blank piece of paper, open and honest, and does not make any plans in the dark room.

"Master, not only disciples, but also other fellow disciples, I think Brother Junshi is more suitable! Everyone is convinced of him!"

Wang Ning'an shook his head, "It is because of this that I am worried! Jun Shi does things without any leakage, is moderate and smooth, and is indeed very popular... But because of this, he took my position and will definitely not change the master's national policy, and he is not capable of changing. But the situation changes every day, and he is self-confidence and dare not reform. Sooner or later, there will be problems." Wang Ning'an shook his head, "I have not made up my mind yet... But no matter what, I will leave a suitable position for Jun Shi. With him, you people will not be bullied!"

Lu Huiqing nodded on the surface, but laughed in her heart.

The master also became long-winded... Just like in the eyes of the father, the child will never grow up, and the teacher Wang Ning'an is also very worried.

But he ignored Lu Huiqing, Zhang Dun, Zeng Bu, and Su Che. These people were originally geniuses. After so many years of experience, they wanted to bully them, a joke! It would be nice if they didn't join forces to bully others!

The master and apprentice talked, and suddenly the crowd began to jubilate. They also walked out of the station room, stood on the platform, looked up, and a train roared over.
Chapter completed!
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