Chapter 960 The weapons of the imperial guards must be different, right? Looking at the steam train slowly approaching from a distance, the herdsmen
recruits were all stunned. They even forgot to eat the food in their hands and just stared at the train. Some even shouted into the canteen, calling on the recruits to come out and see the train. The train whistled and slowly stopped at the station. It was a freight train loaded with cement and steel bars, but in order to take these recruits away later, twelve empty passenger carriages were specially hung at the back. Watching the long train slowly passing by in front of them, one by one, it seemed that there was no end. It took more than 30 carriages to pass by. The recruits all opened their mouths in surprise, and even the officers who brought the recruits had the same expression. They had heard about the existence of trains when they were in the three counties of Honghu in the grassland, but their impression of trains had always remained in other people's legends. Today was also the first time they saw this huge steel train, and they were shocked. "Oh my God, this car is so long, it must be several hundred meters long?" "How can such a big car run without cattle or horses pulling it, and there is no one in sight, how is it controlled? Can't it run on its own?" "Don't be ridiculous, according to you, this huge steel thing is still a living thing? How is that possible!" "Could this be a train? Otherwise, why would such cars run here? This place we are in now is called a train station, right?" "Train, train, is it a fire-powered car?! I seemed to see smoke coming out of the round front of the car just now, is it called a train because of this?" The recruits were discussing it in a buzzing manner, and the officer leading the team also came over and explained to them. "Yes, this is the train of our tribe. It is made of steel and can run by burning charcoal. It can pull several cargo ships. It is called a land transport ship. This train can carry the cargo that can only be carried by several ships. It is a new means of transportation developed by our Han tribe. Currently, there is only such a train between Xingang County and Weishan County." "So that's how it is, Captain. You know a lot. How do you know this? Have you ever been on this train before?" The recruits beside him immediately asked with admiration after hearing the words of the leading officer. They didn't know, but the captain could explain it clearly. This is because the captain is more knowledgeable than them. People with knowledge are of course worthy of admiration. However, the captain smiled awkwardly after hearing this, and then explained. "I also heard it from others. Before I went to Kaiyuan County, our Han tribe didn't have such things. These trains in front of you were just built this spring, just a few months ago. I have been staying in Kaiyuan County, so naturally I have never ridden them. "But we will have a chance to ride one soon. The official in charge of reception in Weishan County just told me that after we finish our meal, we will all take the train to Xingang County, and then transfer to Fuma Pass from Xingang County, and finally walk to the military camp to report. I heard that the military camp of your Shen Ce Wei is in the mountains. "If I am not mistaken, this train that just came is here to take us." "Is it true? Can we also take this kind of train to the military camp?" "This car is really amazing. It can carry so many people at a time." "Hey, you say, since this train can pull so many things without cattle and horses, can we still sell our cattle and horses in the future?" Because this group of new recruits are all herdsmen, they naturally think of the cattle and horses on which they depend for survival after seeing the train. Before the advent of trains, large livestock had always been strategic materials, not only as the main force of transportation, but also for combat purposes. But now, the Han tribe has fast sailing ships in the water and trains that can pull a lot of things on land. Will the Han tribe still need cattle and horses? This is something closely related to their lives, and the herdsmen recruits will inevitably think more. "Don't think too much, cattle and horses are definitely still needed. Even if they don't pull carts, cattle are still needed for farming. Horses are still the main land transportation livestock in most counties of the Han tribe. Even if horses are really not needed to pull carts one day, the tribe's cavalry will always be needed. No matter what day it comes, horses will not be eliminated. You worry too much." When the recruits were discussing whether the Han tribe no longer needed cattle and horses, the leading officer quickly analyzed and explained, hoping that the recruits would not think too much and cause unnecessary trouble. It would be bad if these herdsmen had a psychological barrier against the Han tribe. "Well, what the captain said makes sense. Cattle and horses will never be eliminated. Even if there is a day when they are eliminated, they will definitely have other uses, such as producing milk. If that doesn't work, we can eat beef and sell cowhide." "Why are you talking about this? Aren't we talking about whether we can take the train? We are all soldiers. Our job will be to eat military pay and work hard in the future. Why are we still thinking about these things?" "Yes, captain, when can we leave for the barracks?" The officer in charge was relieved when he saw that the recruits' attention had shifted back to the train, and said, "Hurry up and eat. I'll go ask someone first. This trip may take two or three hours, so be prepared." After saying this, the officer took his meal and left. He finished the remaining food in two or three bites, then went to find the clerk in charge of reception to ask about the departure time in a while. There are only two trains running on the Xinwei Line, and they are currently parked at the train station in Weishan County. The one that was loading cargo before is Xinwei Car No. 1, which is now full of six carriages of lime and coke, and there are more than a dozen carriages left to be loaded. However, in order to transport this batch of new recruits, Car No. 1 will not wait any longer. The staff at the station are re-adjusting the road and attaching carriages to Car No. 1. Car No. 1 will only transport the six carriages that have just been filled, and the twelve passenger carriages that have just been delivered by Car No. 2, for a total of eighteen carriages. After the carriages are mounted and the locomotive is refilled with water and coal, it can be set off immediately. The crew is also taking this opportunity to rest and eat. After a while, when Car No. 1 has reattached the carriages, the locomotive has also been refilled with fresh water and fuel, and the crew and the new recruits have finished their meals, this Car No. 1 is ready to set off. "Everyone, line up in rows of ten and get ready to board the train!"
Hearing the order from the leading officer, the herdsmen recruits quickly lined up on the platform of the station. Looking at the long train in front of them, they were very excited. This was their first time to take a train. When they returned, they could brag to their fellow villagers that they had taken a train before.
After seeing the recruits lined up, the leading officer began to give orders.
"Okay, now start boarding the train, starting from carriage No. 7 to carriage No. 18. There are 50 people in each carriage. Pay attention to discipline and line up to board the train. If I see anyone dare to cut in line, I will let him run back to the station with the train!"
"Yes!" The recruits responded in unison and began to board the train under command.
Teams of recruits boarded the train in an orderly manner and immediately looked around curiously. However, to their disappointment, the carriage was empty, without even a seat. Could it be that this was a car specially used to transport goods?
But think about it, isn't the four-wheeled carriage of the Han tribe just a large rectangular cart? When used to transport people, everyone sits directly in the carriage, so there seems to be nothing wrong with designing the train like this, and it is very consistent with the style of the Han tribe.
So many people just sat on the floor against the wall of the carriage. Everyone followed suit and soon sat down. Even the officer in charge was stunned when he got on the train. However, seeing that the recruits sat on the floor, the officer in charge also sat down. After all, it was his first time to see a train.
When the Weishan County clerk in charge of reception and the train attendant saw this scene, they were speechless. However, they had never seen a train, so they were willing to do such a thing.
"Ahem." The clerk coughed to cover up his embarrassment, and then said.
"Everyone, there are seats on the train. It's on the wall behind you. Do you see the protruding wooden board? Put it down from the wall and it will be a seat."
The clerk demonstrated to everyone while speaking, and put down the three-person seat at the front of the carriage. Everyone suddenly realized that it was like this. Now they are embarrassed!
"So there are seats. We didn't notice it at first. Why didn't you say it earlier?" The officer in charge said with some complaints.
"Oh, I'm negligent, I forgot to remind you that because the Xinwei Line railway rarely transports passengers, our Han tribe does not have dedicated passenger cars for the time being.
"What you are sitting in now is called a passenger and cargo carriage. When it is not carrying people, the seats are fastened to the wall and are used to load some clean goods, such as food and the like. This is an empty car that has just been transferred from Xingang County, so the seats are not put down."
Hearing the complaint of the leading officer, the clerk immediately explained that he swears to God that he really did not mean to embarrass the other party on purpose.
It's not that he looks down on the other party for his lack of knowledge. In fact, trains have only been out for a few months, and how many people have seen them? Not to mention those who have ridden them in person.
"Okay, everyone put down your seats and sit down quickly. The train is about to leave. "The officer in charge didn't know what to say anymore. He reminded the recruits and asked them to sit down obediently and prepare for the journey. "
Woo-woo-woo--
the locomotive blew its whistle, and the loud sound spread throughout the train. The soldiers were excited and curious about the scenery outside the window.
"Whoosh
, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh,"
the car body shook violently, and the powerful steam engine finally began to drag the train forward.
Puffs of black smoke and steam came out of the chimney, and the train began the initial acceleration stage.
The recruits felt the speed of the train and were shocked.
"This train is really amazing. One carriage can seat fifty people, and there is such a large empty space in the middle. If people can sit in the middle, I'm afraid it can accommodate seventy or eighty people? ! "
That's for sure. You're talking about using it to transport people. How many people can it transport? Look at the remaining upper half of the carriage. If it is used to load goods, it can be directly filled up. Such transportation capacity is terrifying." "
It seems that we were right to join the Han tribe in the first place. No wonder the Han tribe can build a powerful weapon like a cannon. Who else has this ability to make a car made purely of iron except the Han tribe? I guess even if you give other tribes a train and ask them to copy it, they can't make it."
"What you said is all nonsense. Let's not talk about whether it can be built. It may be difficult for other tribes to come up with so much iron."
"That's right, hehehe."
"Hey, brothers, now our tribe is so powerful that we can even build something as magical as a train. What kind of armor and weapons do you think the Shen Ce Guard we are participating in this time will be equipped with? Aren't they said that the Shen Ce Guard is the leader's imperial guard? Imperial guards must be a little different, right? Can you guess what our weapons are? Will there be artillery?"
"Artillery?! Well, I guess we should have some. The conscription order says that we are going to the north to fight some monster. I heard that thing is bigger than a cow. To fight such a powerful thing, we must have artillery, right?"
"It's hard to say, but I guess there will be some. After all, they are the chief's imperial guards. If they don't even have a cannon, wouldn't it be a loss of face for the chief?"
A group of recruits had nothing to do on the train, so they began to discuss their upcoming military career.
Besides, what's more, what's more, what's more,
the wheels pressed over the joints of the rails, making a sound of vibration, but the recruits didn't care at all. The wooden wheels were still squeaking, and the train even had iron wheels. Isn't it normal for it to bump into things when running?
At this moment, the recruit who had been staring out the window felt something and immediately said to everyone.
"Everyone look outside, do you think this train runs faster than a horse?"
"Huh? "
As expected, the train was running at a speed of more than 20 kilometers per hour, which was indeed higher than the speed of a horse. Of course, if a warhorse was sprinting, it could run at 70 to 80 kilometers per hour in a short period of time, but that extreme sprinting speed could only be maintained for about one kilometer at most, and the horse would begin to get tired.
Although the train could not run at that speed, it was more durable.
As long as there was enough water and coal, it could keep running at this speed.
Everyone was impressed by the speed and capacity of the train, and what impressed them even more was the speed of development of the Han tribe. It was said that since the current Luo Chong became the leader, it had not been more than ten years, and the Han tribe had developed from a small tribe to its current powerful level.
The Xinwei No. 1 train did not appear halfway. There was no problem. As usual, they arrived at the midpoint of the journey, Xingang County Railway Station, smoothly.
It was already night when the train arrived at Xingang County. The recruits stayed in Xingang County for another night. The next day, they began to march on foot, heading south from Xingang County, passing through Fuma Pass, and finally arrived at the Shen Ce Wei garrison in the mountains north of Hanyang County, Hanyang County.
Half a month has passed since the conscription order was issued to various counties. The simple military camp of the Shen Ce Wei has been built long ago, and the recruits have been assembled. There are 1,600 people from the eight northern counties, plus 600 herdsmen recruits from the three counties of Honghu in the grassland, which makes a total of 2,200 people. Only the 200 recruits from the farthest Takuhai County have not arrived yet.
However, a batch of weapons for the Shen Ce Wei have been rushed out, and they have arrived at the Shen Ce Wei military camp together with the herdsmen recruits.
(End of this chapter)
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