It's better to conquer them than to command the steel torrent

Chapter 24｜Generate electricity!
While Jian Keqiu went back to pack her luggage, Shang Ke went to a stall outside the train station and bought two kilograms of oranges.

With nothing to do, he walked around the train station. The flow of people had increased significantly compared to a week ago, and the Spring Festival travel rush still exists today.

However, the imperial court...or the controlling government actually deliberately controlled the development of Xijing, not wanting the capital to grow explosively.

Therefore, there is no overcrowding here.

The sky gradually darkened, but Jian Keqiu was nowhere to be seen. Shang Ke couldn't help but feel worried - it was really difficult to find someone these days without mobile phones for real-time communication.

When it was exactly six o'clock in the evening, the familiar figure finally appeared, and he finally felt relieved.

The orange light shone on Jian Keqiu's face. She said helplessly, "There are still a lot of trivial matters. I couldn't find my tutor for a long time, so I just left a note and left."

Seeing that she was only carrying a handbag, Shang Ke asked doubtfully, "You really only brought a bag?"

"That's enough. The more you bring on a long trip, the more cumbersome it becomes."

"Uh... Miss Jane, you are really special."

If the lunch they had was quite luxurious, then their dinner was much more down-to-earth.

The steaming hot臊子面 is sprinkled with chopped green onions and coriander, and the fragrance is everywhere.

After a bowl of noodles and half a bowl of soup, most of the coldness of the winter night was dispelled.

First-class tickets cost twice as much as second-class, so many seats were empty. After checking with the attendant, Jian Keqiu occupied the entire compartment to herself.

She said to Shang in a serious tone, "When you go to sleep at night, go to the next cubicle."

The latter laughed dumbly and jokingly said: "Okay, okay, if you meet a bad guy, just don't be afraid."

Jian Keqiu still didn't buy it.

She tilted her head slightly, her eyebrows raised slightly, and replied calmly, "We've only known each other for a short time, so it's necessary to keep some distance."

The boiler is roaring! Superheated steam rushes through the copper pipes into the cylinder!

The passenger train departed on time and quickly disappeared into the dark night after leaving the city.

In this age without electronic devices, one can imagine how boring long-distance travel can be. Most people choose to pass the time by reading or chatting.

Shang Ke opened the file bag since the start of the trip and read attentively the dozens of photos collected by Jian Keqiu.

Mechanical industry, metallurgical industry, electrical industry, chemical industry...

Through these review papers or journal articles, he was able to form a clearer judgment on the level of hard power of the Grand Federation.

Compared with the United States across the sea, the country's automobile industry is inferior. In the past 247 years, a total of 3080 million cars were produced, but it is still five times that of the United Kingdom and seven times that of the Varland Empire; and the power generation is truly far ahead, as high as billion kilowatt-hours, twice that of the United States and fifteen times that of the Republic of Marianna.

The terrifying installed capacity has brought about an abundant aluminum smelting industry, and the light alloy production capacity of the Great Unified Federation is equivalent to the total of the rest of the world.

Electric Age! Boy!
Overall, at least on paper, it has no shortcomings and is regarded as a pure industrial Cthulhu and an ultimate war monster.

Shang Ke fell into deep thought. In theory, such industrial capacity could build a mechanized army at the level of the early Cold War in advance - if supported by the correct guiding ideology.

He decided to find a way to write a book or a report to systematically explain the policies and routes he had formulated based on local conditions.

But before that, I can propose to start a brainless but useful project - build a few large professional wind tunnels!

He thought, "I hope my cheap dad's connections can save me some trouble."

For some reason, Jian Keqiu found that she really liked watching Shang distracted and thinking. She herself couldn't describe the feeling and the reason.

She pointed at the briefcase beside him and asked, "By the way, why do you always carry that bag with you?" "Because..." Shang Ke looked up at her and replied nonchalantly, "Theoretically, I'm on a mission now and need to take this bag to the destination."

Jian Keqiu said "Oh" and didn't ask any more questions.

Among the veterans and non-commissioned officers who retired this year from the 1st Mobile Division, three are from Suzhou. Their files need to be transferred to the local National Defense Force Office in Suzhou to officially transfer to the reserve force.

According to regulations, this is a Class C military and political matter - it needs to be delivered by a special person, but it is not urgent and there is no urgency to arrive on time.

Therefore, the Director of the Political Affairs Department asked Shang to take on this small task part-time to avoid having to send additional people.

Eleven o'clock at night.

There was endless darkness outside the car window, and a light white frost condensed on the glass.

Jian Keqiu had already drawn the curtains, turned off the lights and went to bed. Shang Ke read a book in the next compartment and felt hungry, so he got up and walked towards the dining car.

Depending on the model of steam locomotive, the National Railway Group has developed many passenger train formation plans. For example, this train, excluding the coal and water cars, has a total of sixteen carriages in order - seven seating carriages, five second-class sleeper carriages, one dining carriage, one service carriage, and two first-class sleeper carriages.

He bought a freshly made roujiamo (a type of pork bun) and overheard two train police officers munching on their buns while talking worriedly. They seemed to be complaining about the numerous train robberies in the past three days and the countless petty thefts.

To be honest, Shang Ke felt that the current security situation was a bit similar to that of his parents' generation in the original dimension when they were young.

I hope this trip goes smoothly and there are few troubles. He thought so and sighed.

The moon sets and the sun rises.

Luoyang, Kaifeng, Shangqiu, Xuzhou...

Passengers were getting on and off, and the seats in the carriages were changed almost twice. The carriage where Shang Ke and Jian Keqiu were located had the least changes.

While chatting and laughing, the boring journey became a little more interesting.

That night, the train arrived at Suzhou Station.

On the platform, a group of young men wearing cotton jackets and carrying bags were watching coldly.

Gao Dayu, who has committed countless bad deeds, is the leader of this gang. As the New Year is approaching and people carry more money than usual, it is a good opportunity to open a business.

According to their plan, after finishing the job, they would jump off the train when it slowed down and approached Haozhou Station, where their accomplices had prepared a truck to pick them up.

"After you go up, walk to the left. Don't gather together. Spread out."

"Whatever happens, don't panic."

"Hurry up! Don't delay!"

The night was hazy, and the incandescent bulb emitted a dim yellow-white light.

Cold, sleepy, tired, and noisy, the seven of them were inconspicuous among the hundreds of passengers.

Half a quarter of an hour later, the train set off again.

Next stop, Haozhou Station.

At midnight, seeing that the time was almost up, Gao Dayu nudged his accomplice and whispered, "Get your weapons out! Get started!"

The seven men pulled out knives and sharpened iron pipes from their sleeves or bags.

(End of this chapter)