Chapter 74

Zhang Han was indeed very happy today, clinking glasses with everyone, accepting all comers. The alcohol here, because Xinping Fort was a cold and harsh place, was mostly high-proof liquor. The distillation techniques had matured, and the liquor was not much different from the high-proof spirits of later times. However, the liquor of today was definitely made from pure grains, unlike the adulterated spirits of later times. It was rich and fragrant, smooth on the tongue, and only after it reached the throat did one feel a warm heat flowing down the esophagus, making one feel very invigorated. Zhang Han also liked high-proof spirits in later times, but after a few rounds of liquor, he realized he had been a bit careless today.

Fortunately, he was the master, and when he felt it was wrong, he stopped drinking. No one dared to really force him to drink. At the end of the banquet, Zhang Han still managed to arrange for Li Shenming to stay in the guest room. Although the Zhang residence was not too large, it still had several courtyards. Li Shenming and his companions were arranged in the side courtyard of the first entrance, with three main rooms and two side rooms, enough for them to stay and store their luggage.

Zhang Han himself now lived in the second courtyard, while Chang Shi lived in the third, which was more exquisite and had a small garden with a pile of artificial rocks and a circle of flowers. There was also a small pavilion, and a garden path paved with pebbles around it. After meals, Chang Shi liked to take a walk in this small garden to exercise, a suggestion made by Zhang Han. After getting used to it, not walking would make her feel uncomfortable.

Recently, Zhang Han planned to buy a larger residence in the fort, with at least ten courtyards, and a larger garden, preferably with rocks and a pond, so that his mother could enjoy her old age more comfortably. However, Chang Shi firmly refused, saying they could talk about it in a few years. There were many places that needed money now, and even if they had some silver, they couldn't spend it on such things. Zhang Han knew his mother was right and dropped the idea.

When he returned to his residence, two maidservants came to greet him. Normally, Zhang Chun would serve him, but tonight, with the chaos, Zhang Chun was helping Li Shenming. Chang Shi, knowing no one was with Zhang Han, sent them over. When Zhang Han arrived, one maid was lowering the gauze window, and a small bundle of mugwort was burning under the window to drive away mosquitoes. It was already June, and mosquitoes were around. Zhang Han didn't like mosquito nets and there were no air conditioners or fans, so the thick nets were unbearable. The family had to use this method to help him ventilate and drive away mosquitoes.

"Why do you smell of alcohol?" Yang Liu, though inwardly delighted, complained.

She was about the same age as Zhang Han, a head shorter than him, but taller than other young maids. Her figure was well-proportioned, especially her long legs and slim waist, which often made Zhang Han drool. Normally, Chang Shi was strict, and Zhang Han had no chance to get close. Today, seeing him unsteady on his feet, Yang Liu quickly came forward, though she complained, to support him.

Zhang Han looked at her sideways and saw her large eyes staring at him. Her skin was white and smooth, and her neck was also white and tender, inviting thoughts. Because she was supporting him, her face was very close to his, and her breath was near. Zhang Han's thoughts became amorous.

Zhang Han smiled and said, "Yang Liu, you are really beautiful."

Yang Liu's heart raced. She pursed her lips, not knowing what to do. Should she throw herself into the young master's arms or what? This kind of thing, the maids often talked about in private, but when it came to the moment, she realized she knew nothing. Even though she yearned to be close to the young master, her body resisted.

Zhang Han felt a warmth and a unique fragrance of a young girl. His body immediately reacted, and he found it hard to control himself. Yang Liu lowered her head, and the white skin below her neck was stunning. Looking further down, his imagination made him even more excited, wishing to strip her naked immediately. At that moment, another maid came with a bowl, smiling and said, "I'm not sure if you ate enough at the banquet. Here is a bowl of tofu pudding, freshly made. Would the young master like it?"

Zhang Han turned his head and saw the white tofu pudding with black soy sauce and red chili sauce. The three colors together made him think of the bandit he had shot and the gruesome scenes on the battlefield. Suddenly, a wave of nausea rose in his chest, and he couldn't hold it in, vomiting on the ground.

...

Six days later, Zhang Han and Li Shenming set out.

It was the end of June, and the weather was extremely hot. Walking through the streets of Xinping Fort, waves of heat chased each other. Only under the shade of houses and trees could one feel a cool breeze.

For Zhang Han, the lack of air conditioning made sleeping uncomfortable, but the actual heat was bearable. Having lived in the heat island of a modern city, he knew what real heat was. In ancient times, environmental protection was also average, but without the heat island effect, the air was much better. Wearing a thin silk robe, a breeze would rustle through, and the heat would be swept away.

Li Shenming was also not afraid of the heat. As a merchant of his status, he was used to traveling south and north, busy with his business, both his own and the tasks assigned by his superiors, which could not be delayed.

When they left the fort, Zhang Han and Li Shenming were leading horses, with their followers behind. They happened to encounter a convoy of about twenty large carts, all newly made by the mule and horse team. The carts had been modified, with new wheels, springs, and steering axles. Although they were far from the European four-wheeled carriages in Zhang Han's mind, they were far superior to the existing Chinese carts. Li Shenming approached, looked them over, and praised, "Wenlan, I am amazed by your first-rate managers. Now I see that your craftsmen are also first-rate."

The carts were actually made under Zhang Han's guidance, including the design of the steering axles. However, he didn't say this openly, just smiled.

Li Shenming asked, "How much can each cart carry?"

Zhang Han replied, "The original large carts could only carry two thousand pounds if they wanted to go fast, and three thousand pounds would make them very slow. These new carts can carry four thousand pounds and still go fast. If the road is good, they can carry six to seven thousand pounds."

Li Shenming was first amazed, then lowered his voice, "So, in the future, you will use these carts to transport goods to the Tartars?"

"To the Tartar territory, the carts will need to be even more sturdy."

Leaving the Great Wall, whether from Xinping Fort or the Xuanfu line, the journey after leaving the fort was several thousand miles, mostly on grasslands with few roads like the official roads of the Ming Dynasty. Zhang Han had already considered that the iron parts of the large carts would need to be more robust, better made, and the parts should be interchangeable for easier maintenance. The old Chinese carts were clumsy and mostly wooden, making repairs difficult. The new carts, with more iron parts and better quality iron, would have a lower failure rate and be easier to maintain over long distances, making them extremely powerful and profitable.

If the carts could become what Zhang Han envisioned, even the grasslands beyond the Great Wall would be navigable. Russia, with its vast territory, had few roads. The Cossacks, from Europe to Central Asia and Siberia, had been fighting and migrating for centuries, and the entire Russian Empire relied on large two-wheeled and four-wheeled carts for harvesting, migration, and supporting expansionary wars. The role of carts was even more important than firearms and cannons. Without logistics, how could gunpowder, bullets, and supplies fall from the sky?

If the Russians could achieve this with carts, why couldn't Zhang Han and his men?

Therefore, the trip to Lingqiu was inevitable. In the future, a lot of iron would be needed for cart production, and they couldn't keep buying it. The iron reserves in Xinping Fort and Datong were limited, and buying from distant places would increase costs, making it very impractical.

Zhang Han raised his horsewhip, pointing to the carts entering the fort, and smiled, "Zunlu, in the future, we can travel in the passenger carts of He Yusheng, which are more comfortable than riding horses."

"Let's see. Riding horses is more enjoyable."

Li Shenming had traveled by cart before, finding it bumpy and stuffy, and preferred riding horses. Although he was amazed by the design and capacity of the carts, he didn't believe Zhang Han could make a vehicle more comfortable than riding a horse.

Zhang Han didn't say more, raised his whip, and rode ahead. Li Shenming laughed and followed.

...

"Zunlu, this is my third uncle."

After a dusty journey, they arrived in Lingqiu at the beginning of July. The trip took five days, with a rest day in between. Riding dozens of miles each day was tiring, even for Zhang Han and Li Shenming, who were used to riding. The Jiang brothers and Liang Xing, who were also skilled riders, were all exhausted when they reached Lingqiu.

Zhang Xueceng had arrived two days earlier, meeting some relevant people. When Zhang Han's advance party arrived in the city, Zhang Xueceng led a group to greet them outside the city. Although Zhang Han was dusty and tired, he had to muster his energy to introduce Zhang Xueceng to Li Shenming.

"Mr. Li," Zhang Xueceng had not yet spoken when a middle-aged scholar stepped forward, clasping his hands and smiling, "I am Li Dayong. I once visited the general in Datong and saw Mr. Li from a distance."