Chapter 24

Going to Shanghai, there were five people in total. Besides Yang Yue and Yang Yuanzhao, there was an old family member named Uncle Guang. He joined the convoy in Taiping, and it wasn't until they set off that Yang Yuanzhao learned he would be coming along. Yang Yue didn't say much about Uncle Guang, only mentioning that he was Yang Shitang's deputy, specifically in charge of the merchant convoy.

For the trip to Taiping, Yang Yuanzhao was already mentally prepared for the Yang family's immense wealth. Even in all of Shanxi, the Yang family was one of the top families. After a brief inquiry about the Yang family's business, the merchant convoy controlled by Yang Shitang was undoubtedly the most important part, with an annual turnover exceeding ten million taels and profits over a million. This could be considered the foundation of the Yang family's vast fortune, a significant part of their extensive business.

Besides Uncle Guang, there were two robust men, one named Zheng Daniu and the other Qin Shuanzi. They were tall and strong, typical of the sturdy men from the northwest. They were there to ensure safety, and from the moment they entered the train station, they kept a vigilant eye on their surroundings, one hand in their pockets, the bulge in their waist indicating they were carrying guns, handguns.

In the late Qing and early Republic of China, firearms were almost inevitable for merchants. On the journey from Baotou to Taiyuan, the convoy had over 30 guns, both long and short, which was the root of their safety. They encountered the Red Line Squad, and if not for the protection of the knife fighters, they might have been robbed. Later, Yang Yuanzhao learned that the Red Line Squad, with dozens of guns, was considered a powerful force among the bandits in the northwest. At that time, bandits had not yet entered the era of firearms, mostly using cold weapons. Powerful merchant convoys generally didn't fear them. According to Yang Yuanzhao's knowledge, large merchant convoys in Baotou had rarely been robbed, with smaller merchants and vendors being the main targets.

In later times, Yang Yuanzhao had taken trains, even during the peak of the Spring Festival travel rush, where it was literally packed with people. The trains of the Republic of China, especially the first-class compartments, were clearly different. The first-class compartment, to be precise, consisted of two carriages. One was for daytime use, with sofas and tea seats, and had fewer than twenty fixed seats. The carriage behind it was for accommodation, with ample space for each person, making one appreciate the difference in treatment.

Taking the opportunity to stand up, Yang Yuanzhao touched the two bodyguards. The bodyguards were very alert but didn't expect Yang Yuanzhao to touch them. Neither of them reacted in time, and they collided head-on. At the moment of impact, a mechanical voice sounded: "Browning 1900 detected. Do you want to copy the blueprint?"

"Copy!" Yang Yuanzhao said firmly.

The Browning 1900, also known as the "luzi" pistol in old China, was the gun that sparked World War I. The Serbian youth who assassinated the Austro-Hungarian Archduke used a Browning 1900, as did the assassin who attempted to kill Lenin. This pistol was famous in modern Chinese history. Yang Yuanzhao had thought he would only get the blueprint in Shanghai, but he unexpectedly obtained it here.

In turbulent times, guns were fundamental, especially easily concealable handguns. The Committee 1888 he had previously made couldn't be openly displayed to a certain extent, whereas the Browning 1900 had decent power, was relatively small, and was perfect for self-defense.

"Be careful, Young Master Yang!" Zheng Daniu supported Yang Yuanzhao, his eyes showing a hint of suspicion.

Yang Yuanzhao stood up and slowly walked towards the toilet, leaving a suspicious Zheng Daniu behind. He hadn't reacted in time, but later, he realized that Yang Yuanzhao had deliberately bumped into him, though he didn't know why. Out of duty, he took a step back and followed.

In the toilet, he locked the door, entered the all-in-one machine, found the Browning 1900, and began manufacturing. In the manufacturing room, a corner was piled with 1800 Committee 1888s and a large number of bullets. Unfortunately, there was no sales channel; otherwise, 1800 original Committee 1888s would have been worth at least 50 yuan each, and guns were always in high demand.

A pistol, weighing only a few hundred grams, appeared in front of him almost instantly. With a few more clicks, a pile of bullets appeared, and he loaded them into the pistol. Holding the pistol, he felt a certain sense of security. He turned off the safety and tucked the gun into his waistband, making sure there were no loose ends before leaving the toilet.

Just as he emerged from the toilet, the train whistle blew, and the conductors approached, informing them that the train was about to depart, with the next stop in two hours. They could choose to have coffee here or go to the sleeping car for a rest.

The Zhengtai Railway was an important railway connecting Beijing to the northwest, having only opened last year. The speed was not fast, probably around 20 to 30 kilometers per hour, swaying gently, with the trees on both sides moving slowly backward.

No wonder there were railway guerrillas during the war. This speed was similar to that of a fast horse. When turning or crossing bridges, the speed would slow down, and a person running quickly could easily board the train. No wonder railway guerrillas were so frequent during World War I. The reason was that trains were relatively slow, especially when turning or crossing bridges. At that time, China's railways were mostly light rail, with old tracks, and their load-bearing and grip capabilities were weak. When turning, the speed would not exceed 12 kilometers per hour, making it easy for a person running quickly or on horseback to board the train.

During the Republic of China period, there was a major train robbery where a group of bandits directly hijacked a train. In later times, this would have been impossible. Even ordinary trains could reach speeds of around 100 kilometers per hour after leaving the station, making it suicidal to board at that speed. The swaying train made people drowsy, and soon, Yang Yuanzhao felt sleepy and decided to return to the sleeping car to rest.

Even though Yang Yuanzhao had overestimated the speed of the railway, the Zhengtai Railway, which was 249 kilometers long, took 15 hours to reach Shijiazhuang from the afternoon of 1 PM, arriving the next morning. After inquiring with Yang Yue, he learned that the train had stopped for a while during the night. Thus, it took 15 hours to cover 249 kilometers, which was slightly faster than a caravan.

After a night's sleep, the train's speed was not fast, and the swaying was not too severe, allowing for a relatively comfortable sleep. Shijiazhuang was not yet a city but a small town. However, as the intersection of the Zhengtai Railway and the Pinghan Railway, it was developing rapidly, with numerous markets and warehouses formed around the railway. The Yang family even had an office here.

"The train tickets are just in time. I booked tickets for 10 AM, and they will be delivered soon!" The group got off the train, and the early morning mist enveloped the Shijiazhuang station. Compared to the calm Taiyuan, there were more tracks here, and on the platform, two freight trains were parked. After a quick meal at a snack stall, the tickets were delivered, and it was only 8:30 AM. They would wait for two hours at the Shijiazhuang station before boarding the Pinghan Railway to Hankou.

The Shijiazhuang station was a transportation hub connecting Central China. Several railways that had been built converged near Shijiazhuang, and travelers from the south and north, including various passengers, needed to transfer here. As a result, the Shijiazhuang railway was much busier. From 6 AM, seven trains had already passed through the station, with a higher frequency than Taiyuan.

The journey from Taiyuan to Shijiazhuang was shorter in distance but more expensive in price, exceeding 25 yuan, a considerable sum. This time, the Yang family, due to urgency, did not get first-class tickets but only second-class tickets. The responsible person from the Yang family repeatedly apologized, but Yang Yuanzhao was not concerned. The journey from Taiyuan to Shijiazhuang had fewer people, but the Pinghan Railway was a true artery, connecting Beijing and Wuhan. If the Yangtze River were included, even foreigners would often travel on it.

In the waiting room, there were many people, most of whom were traveling on the Pinghan Railway, with a few coming from Tianjin to travel on the Zhengtai Railway to Shanxi. Amid the bustling crowd, Yang Yuanzhao noticed that Zheng Daniu seemed to be paying more attention to one direction, often looking in that direction.