Chapter 25

Uncle Guang noticed Zheng Daniu's gaze and asked in a low voice, "Daniu, what's wrong?"

Zheng Daniu spoke in a muffled voice, somewhat simple-minded, but he was a qualified bodyguard. Yang Yue was very familiar with him and followed up with a question.

"Master, be careful of those few. Clearly, they are soldiers!"

Only then did Yang Yuanzhao carefully observe these more robust figures. Compared to the relatively thin people of this era, they were much more muscular, exuding strength all over. The most critical aspect was their spirit, which radiated a vigorous aura.

As Yang Yuanzhao and his companions watched them, it seemed to catch their attention. The few of them turned their heads in unison, their sharp gazes sweeping over Yang Yuanzhao and finally landing on Zheng Daniu, scrutinizing him without restraint.

Soldiers often identify the greatest threat to them first. Yang Yuanzhao felt that the one sitting in the center seemed somewhat familiar. He seemed to have seen him somewhere but couldn't recall where.

Yang Yuanzhao was very clear that he had no acquaintances in this era. The familiarity he felt might be due to some of the great figures from Chinese history. He took a second look before turning his gaze away.

As the departure time drew near, more and more people gathered. Compared to the Zhengtai Railway with only seven carriages, the Pinghan Railway had more passengers and more carriages. This was not the starting station, but it was a major station. The train stopped for 20 minutes at the Pinghan Railway. Following the crowd, Yang Yuanzhao boarded the train and let out a slight sigh of relief. The environment of the second-class ticket was relatively good, much better than the hard seats of the future, somewhat like a first-class ticket on a high-speed train. The seats were longer and could recline for rest.

The five of them could sit in a row. Yang Yuanzhao and Yang Yue sat with Uncle Guang, while the other two bodyguards sat behind them.

The Pinghan Railway was relatively safe, unlike Shanxi, which had many mountains and gorges. The Central Plains had more plains and was a well-developed area. They could often see densely populated villages and towns.

The group began to relax. Just as they settled down, footsteps came from the front. The three figures that Yang Yuanzhao had noticed in the waiting room slowly approached him. They looked at their tickets, hesitated for a moment, and then, with a nod from the leader, they sat down.

Unlike others who slouched when sitting, they sat straight and upright, clearly exuding a military demeanor.

Yang Yuanzhao glanced out the window. More people were boarding, and among the crowd, there were many foreigners. When passing by the first-class carriages earlier, he had glanced inside and saw that they were mostly foreigners, giving it a feel of an international conference. In late Qing China, one could only see so many foreigners on trains or in big cities.

Less than 15 minutes after boarding, with a high-pitched whistle, the train slowly started. Compared to the Zhengtai Railway, this train was slightly faster, generally traveling at over 20 kilometers per hour. The Pinghan Railway was longer than the Zhengtai Railway, and the entire journey was a daunting 1,200 kilometers, taking two full days.

The 249 kilometers from Shijiazhuang took 16.7 hours, and the 800 kilometers from Shijiazhuang would take about two and a half days. The Pinghan Railway was relatively busy and generally did not stop at night, allowing for 24-hour operation. The daily travel distance was much better than on the Zhengtai Railway.

The train swayed. Although Yang Yuanzhao had slept well the previous night, he still felt drowsy and eventually drifted off to sleep. When he woke up, the snoring in the carriage was continuous. The three opposite him had their eyes closed, but when Yang Yuanzhao moved, they quickly glanced over, scanned him, and then looked away, showing high alertness.

"Master Yang, you're awake!" Uncle Guang said.

Yang Yuanzhao looked around. The train seemed to have stopped, and the scenery outside was still. Why had it stopped again?

"Earlier, the conductor came and said we would stop for 20 minutes. Why don't we go to the dining car for a meal?" Uncle Guang glanced at the sleeping Yang Yue and lowered his voice. "Master has already eaten!"

In this era, there were few convenience foods. On the train, besides the dining car, people carried their own provisions. Without a first-class ticket, one could go to the dining car for dinner.

Uncle Guang led Yang Yuanzhao and another bodyguard to the dining car. It was already 2 PM, not a typical mealtime, but money had its charm. For 20 yuan, one could have a decent meal even in the city. The dining car was no different, with four dishes and a soup, prepared by the chef. The hot, steaming food was quickly served. The dining car had not yet adopted the style of the future, with dishes like salted eggs and smoked fish and meat. The train traveled slowly, with frequent stops, and many dishes were purchased at local stations.

At this time, there were still many foreigners in the dining car, mostly British. The Yangtze River basin had always been a key area controlled by the British. If one were going to Shanghai, they might travel by sea from Tianjin, but for Wuhan or cities in Hunan and Hubei, the Pinghan Railway was their only choice.

Yang Yuanzhao's English was excellent, and while eating, he listened to the conversations of the foreigners nearby. Unfortunately, they were mostly casual chats about the weather, and he didn't hear much. After finishing the meal, Yang Yuanzhao slowly returned. The train had not yet departed and was parked on a vacant track. Including the time before and after the meal, it had been about an hour. It seemed this train would definitely be delayed.

In the late Qing, each railway line was often operated by a separate company, making management easier but the service quality dependent on the company's strength.

"Uncle Guang, did you ask why we're stopping?"

Uncle Guang said solemnly, "I asked. The rain from the day before damaged the roadbed. We must travel slowly now. The train ahead is about to pass through!"

The one who looked more honest among the three opposite them cursed, "Damn, this broken railway always stops!"

Yang Yuanzhao was delighted. He was just worried about how to strike up a conversation. He said, "Brother, do you often travel this route? The Pinghan Line has so many stops!"

"Not often, but in the past few trips, two out of three have been delayed. It's really a headache!"

"It seems the railway quality is poor. When I was in England, I never encountered so many stops unless there was a major landslide due to heavy rain. There hasn't been much rain recently, has there?"

"Who says it isn't? Hundreds of kilometers, it's far behind foreign countries. You look like a student, did you study in England?"

"Oxford University. What about you three?"

The one in the center glared at the speaker but did not refuse Yang Yuanzhao's inquiry. "We are soldiers!"

"Soldiers, no wonder you walk and sit so formally. You must be outstanding soldiers!"

"Of course, who doesn't know our Feng..."

"Enough!" The leader coldly snorted and glared at the honest one. The atmosphere became cold, but Yang Yuanzhao's eyes lit up. Looking at this face, it seemed increasingly familiar, overlapping with the figure in his memory. His smile grew wider.

The page with ads begins.

The page with ads ends.