The rumbling train is still moving.

It crossed hills, fields, villages, and finally arrived in the city.

This is Luoyang, about 170 kilometers away from Bianliang. In the past, it would take at least two or three days to walk here.

But now, if you take a boat or train at Luoyang Ferry, you can travel between the two places in just a few hours.

The rapid changes of the times have made it difficult for people to keep up. In recent days, countless poems about the new era have been published in Bianliang newspapers, praising the prosperous Song Dynasty.

The train entered Luoyang Station and then stopped at a parking track specially set up at the station. At this time, it was only noon.

Local officials in Luoyang hurried to greet them. Zhao Zhen and Zhao Jun had a meal in the local area with their company, and also walked on the streets to see with their own eyes this ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, which was also so magnificent.

Due to the influence of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, the population of Luoyang, the former eastern capital, dropped significantly, but it has been developing rapidly over the years, and its streets and alleys are still crowded with people.

When the common people saw many people surrounding a group of people, they thought they were high-ranking officials and did not dare to approach them from a distance.

However, Zhao Zhen did not shy away from this. He walked into every store, looked at the goods on sale, and asked the owner how business was going. He would also watch the pedestrians on the street from a distance, observing their clothing and their living habits.

They would even go to the streets and talk to the people, chatting about their daily lives and want to know whether they had enough food and clothing.

Under normal circumstances, local officials would have arranged for various agents, but there were simply too many people on the main street to make arrangements.

Secondly, the Imperial City Administration is watching closely. If they drive out the local poor people in advance and arrange some shills to deceive the emperor, or they can deceive the emperor, but if they dare to deceive Zhao Jun, then the outcome is unquestionable.

Therefore, local officials were trembling with fear and accompanied him carefully along the way. The surrounding Imperial City Guards watched closely and protected Zhao Zhen's safety at all times.

However, Zhao Zhen had nothing to do. He was wearing a casual Zhongshan suit and did not reveal his identity to the local people. He just held their hands and chatted with them for a while, asking with a smile about the local governance, whether their families had received land, and how their lives were.

Although asking in the city is somewhat distorted, if you want to ask, you should go to the countryside. However, people in the city do not necessarily live in the city. Many people go to the city to sell vegetables or find work, and there are also poor people.

So he always got some very useful information, which helped Zhao Zhen understand many things.

In the afternoon, Zhao Zhen not only visited the Luoyang Museum and saw the treasures there, but also went to Mangshan and saw the burial places of so many ancient emperors, which gave him a different feeling.

In the evening, the group returned to the train, which was about to depart again.

This time the journey was much longer. The straight-line distance from Luoyang to Chang'an was more than 300 kilometers, and the train distance was more than 500 kilometers, which took more than ten hours.

Strictly speaking, it is not difficult for a steam locomotive to reach a speed of more than 100 kilometers per hour, and the limit can even reach more than 170 kilometers.

The normal operating speed is maintained at 70 kilometers per hour. The total distance from Bianliang to Chang'an is more than 700 kilometers, which takes about ten hours, while it only takes about seven hours from Luoyang to Chang'an.

But Zhao Zhen was in the car and didn't dare to drive so fast, so he not only slowed down the departure speed of the cars in front and behind, but also maintained a constant speed of about 40 to 50 kilometers, which was still very slow.

Railway soldiers along the way were maintaining the tracks at all times, telegraphs were ringing non-stop, and they kept in touch at all times to prevent any situation that might cause a railway accident.

Zhao Jun was not so exaggerated even when he traveled.

But there's nothing I can do.

In addition to Zhao Zhen sitting on the train, Zhao Jun was also there.

These two people were the top two figures in the Song Empire in terms of power, status and national reputation, and Fan Zhongyan could only be ranked third.

Therefore, the Imperial City Bureau, which is responsible for protecting the emperor and the chancellor, and the Ministry of Railways, which is responsible for railway operations, must remain vigilant and not dare to make even the slightest mistake, otherwise they may lose their heads.

As the sun sets in the evening, darkness envelops the world, leaving only a brilliant patch of rosy clouds. The undulating Qinling Mountains in the distance appear hazy and orderly against the backdrop of the setting sun.

Zhao Jun picked up a cup of tea. The children were tired from playing at noon, and now Queen Cao and sister Cao Miaoxin took them to sleep in the next carriage.

He and Zhao Zhen were still sitting in this carriage enjoying the scenery.

"I've actually figured it out a little bit."

Zhao Zhen also picked up a cup of tea and suddenly said.

"Understand what?"

Zhao Jun asked.

"I figured out why you insisted on letting me walk among the common people."

Zhao Zhen smiled.

Zhao Jun asked curiously, "Oh, brother, tell me about it."

"Xunzi said that water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Mencius also said that the people are the most important, the country is second, and the ruler is the least important."

Zhao Zhen pondered for a moment and said, "I understood this statement before, but I often took it at face value, hoping for diligence, love for the people, and kindness and generosity towards the people. But now it seems that this is not the truth."

"Hmm."

Zhao Jun responded, took a sip of tea, and motioned Zhao Zhen to continue.

Zhao Zhen added, "The reason I stopped at the surface is because I never went down to the people to see what they are like. I don't even know what they are like, so how can I be kind and virtuous to them?"

He did not call himself "I", but called himself "I", which is very rare even in private conversations.

Obviously, Zhao Zhen had gained a lot of new insights this time.

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