Bringing the Railway to Daming

Chapter 5: Please ask Mr. Liu to come ashore [Please read]

Zhu Biao looked at Liu Kuan with a smile and said, "Could you possibly answer my previous question?"

Liu Kuan looked at Tang He and the other two and asked, "Your Highness, are you sure you want them to listen together?"

Zhu Biao said, "These three are Tang He, Duke of Xin, Mu Ying, Marquis of Xiping, and Lan Yu, Marquis of Yongchang. They are all founding heroes of the Ming Dynasty and my father's beloved generals. I trust them very much."

Upon hearing this, Tang He and Mu Ying did not show any special reaction, but Lan Yu puffed out his chest, raised the corners of his mouth, and looked both happy and proud.

Liu Kuan withdrew his gaze from the three people and said slowly, "This bridge and I both come from six hundred years in the future."

Zhu Biao and the other three were stunned.

Then he realized what Liu Kuan said.

Then comes doubt.

'From six hundred years in the future?'

'Did I hear that wrongly?'

'Or is this person just making things up?'

Similar thoughts emerged in the minds of several people.

After coming to his senses, Zhu Biao asked in confirmation, "Your Excellency just said that this bridge and the one above are from six hundred years from now?"

Liu Kuan nodded.

Zhu Biao was shocked and still couldn't believe it or understand it.

He couldn't help but ask, "How could someone from six hundred years later come to this moment?"

Liu Kuan shook his head and smiled bitterly, "I was riding my bike on this bridge when suddenly a thick fog came up, and then I, this bike, and the bridge came over. As for how we got here, I have no idea."

Zhu Biao didn't know what to say for a moment.

At this time, Lan Yu beside him said, "Will people in six hundred years be able to build this cross-river bridge?"

Liu Kuan said: "The cross-river bridge is indeed a miracle, but in my time, it was already very common."

"In order to facilitate transportation, we could not only build bridges across rivers, but also drill through mountains and even travel under the sea."

After Liu Kuan finished speaking, Zhu Biao and the other two were still in shock and thought. Lan Yu couldn't help but question him, "You said you could build bridges across rivers and dig through mountains. That's plausible. But you could build bridges across the sea? How is that even possible?"

Liu Kuan smiled and pointed to the ground below. "Before today, do you believe anyone could build a bridge across the Yangtze River?"

Lan Yu was momentarily speechless, but quickly retorted, "How can you sail across the seabed? What are you trying to achieve?"

Liu Kuan actually didn't know much about this, but he didn't want to show weakness in front of the Ming people.

He gestured and said, "We can build a pipe to keep the seawater out, so that vehicles and people can naturally travel through the pipe - we call it an underwater tunnel."

"This type of underwater tunnel can also be built under rivers. Several tunnels have been built under the Yangtze River in this area."

"As for the purpose, it's naturally for convenience. Some places are blocked by mountains and seas. Building a tunnel directly through them would be like building a bridge, shortening the road by an incalculable amount."

Lan Yu was stunned when he heard this.

The same is true for Zhu Biao and others.

After coming to his senses, Lan Yu still refused to admit defeat and snorted, "You are really good at making up stories."

Liu Kuan was too lazy to say more to Lan Yu.

He said to Zhu Biao, "Your Highness, although I have come to the Ming Dynasty, I may not stay there forever. Perhaps in a while, I will follow a bridge and return to six hundred years later."

"So, I hope His Royal Highness will allow me to stay on the bridge. If I leave the bridge, I might be left behind and left in Ming Dynasty forever."

Although Liu Kuan still spoke slowly, the content of his words was quite complex.

It took Zhu Biao a while to understand the meaning after listening.

Zhu Biao frowned and asked, "Can you and this bridge go back six hundred years?"

Liu Kuan nodded, "Maybe."

After getting the confirmation, Zhu Biao was still thinking, and Tang He frowned.

Mu Ying said directly, "Your Highness, if that's the case, we'd better get down quickly—it's so high up here, if the bridge suddenly disappears, we'll fall."

When Tang He heard this, he finally realized what was wrong and quickly said, "Your Highness, Mu Ying is right. Let's leave!"

Zhu Biao also realized that the situation Mu Ying described would be very dangerous.

But he also realized that meeting someone from six hundred years later might be an adventure that would be hard to come by in several lifetimes.

If he missed this opportunity, he would definitely regret it later.

He recalled the overall scene of the bridge he had seen earlier, and suddenly an idea came to his mind. He said to Lan Yu, "Marquis Yongchang, quickly go to the bridge and see if there is the river below."

Lan Yu immediately understood what was going on and easily stepped over the low steel crash barrier and reached the sidewalk.

He looked out and said with a smile, "Your Highness, there's a riverbank below this bridge. If the bridge really disappears, we'll fall into the river. Just have the navy arrange boats below, and we'll be safe."

Tang He cursed at Lan Yu, "Wuyou is bullshit! Your Highness is worth a fortune, how can you take risks? If anything happens to you, can you bear the responsibility?!"

Lan Yu stiffened his neck and said, "If I fall into the river with Your Highness, even if I die, I will still bring Your Highness to shore!"

Tang He was about to say something else, but Zhu Biao stopped him.

"Don't worry, Duke Xin. Mr. Liu only said that the bridge might disappear, but it's not certain to disappear. Besides, I have something important to ask Mr. Liu, and even if it's a little risky, it's worth it."

Tang He didn't expect Zhu Biao to become so stubborn. He could only say that he was worthy of being Zhu Yuanzhang's son.

Seeing that Zhu Biao would not listen to his advice, he could not help but said anxiously: "Your Highness, your safety is the most important!"

Next to him, Liu Kuan didn't expect that several Ming Dynasty people would suddenly start arguing.

He was thinking about how to persuade her.

Mu Ying took a step toward him, grabbed his arm, and said, "This strange black road is connected to the bridge. If we can go back six hundred years, we must go back together. So, why do you insist on staying on the bridge? Why not come with us to the shore and wait?"

Hearing this, Tang He also reacted. If he couldn't persuade Zhu Biao, how could he not deal with this kid who claimed to be from six hundred years later?
He was afraid of this person because he mistakenly thought he was a visitor from heaven.

But since the other party is just a mortal, even if he comes from six hundred years later, what is there to be afraid of?

Tang He immediately said, "Mu Ying is right. We can invite this Young Master Liu to the shore. There is this strange road there, and we can also take Young Master Liu back six hundred years later."

After saying this, he saw Lan Yu still leaning on the bridge railing to look at the scenery, so he shouted angrily: "Lan Yu! What are you standing there for? Please ask Master Liu to come ashore!"

Lan Yu turned around, smiled, walked a few steps to Liu Kuan, and grabbed Liu Kuan's other arm.

Liu Kuan was still wondering whether it was the same on the road and on the bridge when he was controlled by Lan Yu and Mu Ying.

He asked anxiously, "What are you doing? Are the people of the Ming Dynasty so rude?"

Then he said to Zhu Biao, "Your Highness, make them stop!"

At this time, Zhu Biao was making all kinds of calculations in his mind.

As Zhu Yuanzhang's eldest son, he was taught by Zhu Yuanzhang for many years, so he was kind and gentle as jade.

But he can clearly distinguish between right and wrong, and the pros and cons.

At this time, although he felt that it was rude to forcibly take Liu Kuan away from the bridge, he also judged that this was the most beneficial option for the Ming Dynasty.

Firstly, he didn't have to take the risk of communicating with Liu Kuan here - even if he didn't care about his safety, if his father came later and wanted to talk to Liu Kuan, would he stay in this dangerous place?

Secondly, if Liu Kuan was taken off the bridge, he could stay in the Ming Dynasty. Even if Zhu Biao was disrespectful once, what would be the harm?

After figuring this out, Zhu Biao bowed to Liu Kuan and said, "Master Liu, it would be more appropriate for us to discuss this on shore. If Master Liu is unwilling to cooperate, we will have no choice but to offend him."

Liu Kuan didn't expect Zhu Biao to say such a thing.

This is obviously different from the "leniency and kindness" described in some novels.

At the same time, Liu Kuan also knew that he was unable to resist.

If you show an attitude of being completely unwilling to cooperate, I'm afraid you will be treated even worse.

He then said, "Let go, I'll walk by myself!"

Mu Ying and Lan Yu looked at Zhu Biao.

Zhu Biao nodded and said, "Let go of Master Liu."

After Mu Ying and Lan Yu let go, Liu Kuan put on his backpack, picked up the bicycle, and got on.

"Let's go."

After Liu Kuan said this, he pedaled his bicycle towards the Ming army.

Zhu Biao and the others looked at each other, then immediately followed and looked curiously at the bicycle under Liu Kuan's crotch.

When Liu Kuan rode to the front of the Ming army, the Ming soldiers showed no sign of giving way, so he simply stopped and waited for Zhu Biao and others to catch up.

After Zhu Biao and his four companions returned and mounted their horses, the Ming army soldiers made way for them and surrounded Zhu Biao, Liu Kuan, Tang He and other generals, heading south along the highway.

Because the team was not moving very fast, after walking for a while, Zhu Biao could not help asking, "Is the iron horse under Master Liu called a bicycle?"

Liu Kuan said: "It's just a name. It can also be called a bicycle or a pedal bike."

Zhu Biao savored it for a moment and said with a smile, "I think the name 'bicycle' is more appropriate for it."

Liu Kuan said, "It's not difficult to make a bicycle. If Your Highness is interested, you can ask a Ming Dynasty craftsman to build one. Of course, due to the lack of certain materials, it will definitely not be as comfortable as mine."

Zhu Biao asked, "Can this bicycle only be ridden this fast?"

"of course not."

After Liu Kuan answered, he began to accelerate.

Because this section was downhill, he quickly increased his speed, getting faster and faster.

Zhu Biao and others subconsciously rode their horses to catch up.

Soon the rumbling sound of horse hooves could be heard, causing the road surface to tremble slightly.

Zhu Biao was worried that the strange black road would be damaged or even collapsed, so he quickly signaled the cavalry to slow down. He then said to Mu Ying and Lan Yu, who were following him, "You two will follow me to chase Master Liu. Duke Xin will lead the rest of the troops and proceed at a leisurely pace."

"As ordered!"

Afterwards, Zhu Biao, Mu Ying and Lan Yu sped up their horses, while Tang He led more than 600 cavalrymen and trotted behind them.

Liu Kuan hadn't ridden a bicycle so fast for a long time. In fact, he hadn't touched a bicycle for several years before that - he usually rode an electric motorcycle or drove or took a bus.

Therefore, when the bicycle speed increased, he stopped pedaling hard.

He maintained this speed, and Zhu Biao and the other two quickly caught up with him on horseback.

Lan Yu laughed and said, "Your iron horse isn't very fast."

Liu Kuan glanced at Lan Yu on his horse, wondering why this guy wanted to compare himself with him.

In addition, he felt that Lan Yu looked like he deserved a beating.

He then said, "My bicycle doesn't need any grass or water. I can leave it at home for a year and still ride it. Is your horse the same?"

The smile on Lan Yu's face froze. She tilted her head and looked at the bicycle under Liu Kuan's crotch again.

At this time, Zhu Biao smiled and said, "Bicycles don't need food or drink, but Master Liu does, right?"

Although Liu Kuan wanted to build a good relationship with Zhu Biao, he was not prepared to be a lapdog. Upon hearing this, he immediately retorted: "Your Highness, do you not need to eat and drink when you ride a horse?"

Zhu Biao said, "Riding a horse should be less tiring than riding a bicycle."

Liu Kuan smiled and said, "Then why don't we try changing trains?"

Zhu Biao was interested and asked, "Is this bicycle difficult to ride?"

Liu Kuan said, "Over here, children can learn it very quickly."

　Please collect and read, thank you!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)