The Qing Dynasty

Chapter 648 General Manager Duan
the next morning.

Duan Qirui woke up at the beginning of the morning hour. Enduring the slight pain in his temples, Duan Qirui took the pocket watch on the bedside table to check the time.

Although it was still early, Duan Qirui sat up with some difficulty and carefully recalled what happened yesterday.

After Zhao Bingjun left yesterday, Duan Qirui did not leave immediately, but sat alone in the restaurant for a long time, and then began to drink by himself.

Not only did he silently drink up the pot of rice wine he ordered and the remaining two bottles of beer, he even ordered another pot of rice wine.

Duan Qirui continued drinking until the evening, when he was helped back to the inn by two groomsmen.

Duan Qirui, who seldom drank alcohol, still felt a bit hungover after getting up. It was not until he quickly washed up and drank two cups of hot tea brought by his nephew that he felt relieved.

The inn does not provide breakfast, so meals can only be eaten outside. After the three of them had packed up, they left the inn with their simple luggage and ordered a few bowls of wonton and some sesame cakes at a wonton stall on the street. Then the three of them sat at a table on the street and started eating.

Maybe it was because of the hangover, or maybe it was because of the meeting with Zhao Bingjun yesterday, Duan Qirui reluctantly ate a bowl of wonton and put down his chopsticks.

In order not to disturb the two grooms from continuing to eat, Duan Qirui simply bought a pack of cigarettes from a cigarette vendor nearby and lit one.

However, after taking just one puff, he started coughing due to choking.

Before the two grooms had finished their breakfast, Duan Qirui saw the driver from yesterday hurrying over with his rickshaw.

And he was not alone, he brought two rickshaw-pulling companions with him. Three rickshaws stopped outside the inn.

The groom who went to buy tickets yesterday also saw the driver who drove them yesterday and hurriedly said to Duan Qirui.

"Sir, when I bought the tickets yesterday, not only the first-class tickets to Tianjin, but even the third-class tickets were sold out. It was said that people from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue had reserved two first-class carriages."

"However, the driver's relative is indeed the patrol captain at the station, and he is very enthusiastic. He came out to tell me personally that he also needs to rush back to Tianjin Station tomorrow to handle some things. He has reserved a compartment in the first-class car, and you can go with him."

Seeing that Duan Qirui had frowned, his nephew smiled and said, knowing that Duan Qirui never wanted to take advantage of others.

"Uncle, Shanzi wanted to tell you yesterday, but you fell asleep when we got back to the inn last night, so I didn't make it."

The nephew added, "When we get to the station, we'll just give the ticket money to the station patrol captain according to the price."

Although Duan Qirui was unwilling to share a box with a stranger, he had no tickets left and the journey would not take long, only five or six hours to reach Tianjin. Duan Qirui had no choice but to nod and said nothing more.

Suddenly, Duan Qirui remembered something and asked the groom called Shanzi again.

"In addition to the fare, did you give the driver some extra hard work money yesterday?"

He shook his head without authorization and said, "Sir, I didn't give you any extra money because I didn't buy the ticket, but I made an agreement with him that he will come to pick you up today."

Duan Qirui nodded. Seeing that both of them had finished eating and that it was almost time, he asked his nephew to pay the bill and walked towards where the three coachmen had parked their car with the two grooms.

Seeing Duan Qirui and his two companions coming, the driver had already trotted over, greeted Duan Qirui, and was about to help Duan Qirui's nephew carry Duan Qirui's suitcase.

The suitcase contained all of Duan Qirui's belongings, but the nephew refused to give them to the driver and insisted on carrying them himself on the rickshaw.

When we arrived at Majiabao Railway Station, we saw from afar that the three ticket gates of the station were already crowded with people. Due to the large crowds, we had to wait a long time to enter the station.

Although there were a lot of people, the big iron gate at the entrance was still not opened.

This big iron gate is specially used for carriages and sedan chairs to enter and exit. It will only be opened if there are special circumstances, such as when the guest has a special status and must enter the platform by carriage or sedan chair.

Duan Qirui took out two silver dollars and handed them to the driver. Without waiting for the driver to speak, Duan Qirui spoke in a friendly manner.

"Thank you for your trouble, little brother. Apart from the fare for the three cars today, the rest will be your reward."

"Thank you for the reward, sir!"

The driver happily took the money and said to Duan Qirui.

"Sir, let's go find my relatives now."

After saying that, the driver took Duan Qirui and the other two to the three-story red brick building where the station staff worked and rested.

At this time, in addition to the waiting room that can only be entered through the entrance, Majiabao Station also has a newly built three-story office building.

This office building has a gate that allows direct access to the station from outside the station through the passage inside the building, but this gate is for station personnel to enter and exit.

In addition, officials above the fourth rank can also enter the station from there, but other people are not allowed, so there are usually two station patrolmen in black uniforms standing guard at the door.

However, for some reason, there were a lot more guards on the steps today, more than a dozen of them, and they were all carrying Mauser pistols.

Although the patrol uniforms at the station are the same color as those of ordinary Zhili patrol uniforms, the style is not very different. Although the railway patrol police and Zhili patrol police are both under the jurisdiction of the Beiyang Patrol Headquarters, there are still some differences between them. Not only are their uniforms of better quality, they also wear leather shoes. Even their weapons are all Mauser pistols.

Since the current Lu-Han, Jin-Zhang, and the Tianjin-Fengtian railways that have already been built were all built by Zhili or the Beiyang government in the past, and are now under the jurisdiction of the newly established Beiyang Railway Administration, the patrolmen at all stations and on trains in the north are now dressed like this.

Before Duan Qirui and the other two followed the driver to the front door of the building guarded by the patrolmen, a police officer with a Browning pistol on his waist walked out from among the patrolmen and looked at the driver.

The driver said with a smile when he saw the officer coming out from the patrol.

"Cousin, this is the gentleman I was talking about."

The police officer smiled and nodded at Duan Qirui, "What's your name, sir? Where are you on business?"

Duan Qirui did not show any displeasure at the police officer's questioning, after all, he was a stranger.

Duan Qirui bowed to the police officer and replied with a smile, "My surname is Duan. I used to work at the Baoding Military Academy, but now I am an idle person."

Then Duan Qirui thanked him again, "May I know your name, officer? I am really grateful this time! Thank you for your help!"

When the police officer heard Duan Qirui's last name and that he had worked at the Baoding Military Academy, he couldn't help but smile.

"My name is Zhang, and I am now the sheriff here."

Before the police officer had finished his words, a loud shouting was heard in the square in front of the station.

Officer Zhang frowned and looked at the crowd behind Duan Qirui.

Duan Qirui was confused and looked back, only to see two long lines of rickshaws rushing into the station square. A man who looked like an official on a rickshaw in front kept shouting at the passengers waiting for the rickshaw and the vendors moving through the crowd to get out of the way.

There were more than twenty rickshaws in this wave of rickshaws rushing over, but they did not seem to be coming from the same direction.

Among the dozen or so rickshaws in front, except for two fourth-rank civil servants in official uniforms, the rest were dressed as minor clerks, and there were even a few people who looked like legal advisors.

The team of rickshaws at the back were all filled with officers wearing Shuntian Army uniforms, led by a middle-aged man with the rank of colonel.

Without asking, Duan Qirui could guess that these people were from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of the Army. They were probably going to Tianjin to audit the accounts of Zhishan Province and supervise the reduction of the Zhi Army. They were probably all on this train to Tianjin and happened to meet each other. Moreover, it seemed that they were also heading here. Obviously, they would not enter the station through the entrance like ordinary guests.
Officer Zhang just glanced at these officials and Shuntian Army with displeasure and even some disgust, and then spoke politely to Duan Qirui.

"It's nothing to bother you. It's just a small favor. Please follow me, Mr. Duan."

After Duan Qirui and his two groomsmen walked up the steps, Officer Zhang spoke to a patrolman leading the team.

"Check all their tickets carefully. No one without a ticket will be allowed to enter the station, let alone get on the train."

"Also, after checking their tickets, ask them to wait for a while. When the entrance lets people in, they will be allowed in."

"Yes!" the patrolman leading the team answered with his chest puffed out.

Then the patrolman shouted at the dozen or so patrolmen who were on guard duty on the steps.

"Brothers, be alert and don't let these blind people look down on us."

After the patrolmen responded loudly, they immediately formed a horizontal line behind Duan Qirui and others to block the gate.

As Officer Zhang passed through the passage and walked out of the building, he arrived at the station.

Although this is the capital city, there are only two platforms, so the station is not big.

On Platform No. 1, a train from Hankou had already stopped. All the passengers on the train had already gotten off and the train was currently adding more carriages.

"Here are your tickets. Your train to Baoding will take another hour. You can go to the waiting room and wait."

Officer Zhang took out two tickets from his pocket on the platform and handed them to Duan Qirui's nephew.

Duan Qirui's nephew took the ticket, took a look at it and couldn't help but exclaimed.

"Officer Zhang, we want to buy third-class tickets, and these two are first-class."

Officer Zhang smiled and said, "I know, but all the third-class tickets are sold out, leaving only a few first-class tickets."

Duan Qirui had already sensed something was wrong and said to Officer Zhang with a smile.

"Officer Zhang, I'll give you the extra money for this ticket."

"But, I don't know why Officer Zhang is so concerned about us? Could it be that Xingfu arranged for you?"

Duan Qirui's sudden words not only surprised Duan Qirui's two groomsmen, but also made Officer Zhang's face freeze and then a little embarrassed.

After hesitating for a while, Officer Zhang said with an awkward smile.

"General Manager Duan, there are some things that I cannot say. Please forgive me!"

Although Officer Zhang did not give a clear answer, he had already acquiesced to Duan Qirui's judgment.

Duan Qirui sighed lightly and said to the two groomsmen.

"Take the train tickets. When you return to the Baoding Military Academy, study hard. After you graduate, if Teng Xingfu hasn't left Beiyang, you will join the Zhi Army."

"As for me, you don't have to worry."

The two guards naturally knew that Duan Qirui and Teng Yuzhao were classmates, and they knew that Duan Qirui would not be in any danger.

The scene that followed was a bit awkward, but fortunately the door of the additional carriage opened quickly, and Officer Zhang hurriedly helped Duan Qirui carry the suitcase into the car.

This carriage was an additional one because two fourth-rank officials from the Ministry of Revenue requested to ride in a private room, but the room had already been booked, so an additional carriage had to be added.

This carriage has been parked at the station as a spare carriage.

There were already four patrolmen standing in the aisle of the carriage. When they saw Officer Zhang leading Duan Qirui onto the train, they all saluted Officer Zhang.

Officer Zhang led Duan Qirui into the box and introduced him to him.

"There are only four compartments in this carriage, and each compartment is large and comfortable."

"In order to keep things quiet, in addition to the two officials from the Ministry of Revenue, there is also General Manager Duan."

Without Officer Zhang's introduction, Duan Qirui had already seen the situation in the box clearly.

The box was indeed spacious and comfortable. Not only was there a soft bed for lying down and sleeping, and clean white bedding, but there was also a small table by the window and two leather sofas.

There is even a small wine cabinet in the corner, which contains not only a bottle of red wine, but also several bottles of beer and two exquisite high-heeled glasses.

As it is still a sunny day today and it is still very hot outside, all the platforms in the station are open-air. When the carriages are exposed to the sun, it is not cool inside but a little stuffy.

Officer Zhang lifted the car window and opened a half-foot-wide gap to let some wind from outside in, then spoke respectfully to Duan Qirui.

"General Manager Duan, would you like tea or wine?"

"If you want beer, I can arrange for someone to go get a few cold bottles."

Hearing about drinking, Duan Qirui couldn't help but smile bitterly.

"Let's not drink wine, let's drink tea instead."

"Okay!" Officer Zhang agreed and opened the door of the box, and shouted from outside.

"Li Baoshan, go to my office and make a pot of my good tea and bring it here."

After giving instructions to the patrolman outside, Officer Zhang turned around and said to Duan Qirui with a smile.

"General Manager Duan, if you have anything to say, just tell the patrol officer outside."

After Duan Qirui nodded, he was about to get more information from Officer Zhang to resolve his doubts, but Officer Zhang seemed to see through Duan Qirui's thoughts and hurriedly spoke.

"General Manager Duan, I need to go out and take a look to prevent those people from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of the Army from disturbing the passengers."

After saying that, Officer Zhang hurriedly opened the door and walked out of the box as if escaping.

Looking at the box door hastily closed by Officer Zhang, Duan Qirui couldn't help but smile bitterly again, then turned his head to the window.

Those officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of the Army had already walked onto the platform cursing. Although the two fourth-rank officials from the Ministry of Revenue did not say a word, their expressions were very ugly.

Duan Qirui knew that these people must have been harassed by the patrol police at the gate.

What made Duan Qirui even more amused was that there were a dozen patrolmen following behind them, as if they were escorting them.
(End of this chapter)