The fuel used by steam locomotives is naturally coal.
Fortunately, Jiannan Road produces coal, and the utilization of coal is very low in this era.
Long before that, Li Min had bought some of the largest coal mountains in Jiannan Road.
Li Min had already ordered people to mine the coal and sent it here.
Now just fill the train with coal and add water.
Next, Li Min called all the dozens of apprentices he personally selected to the train and taught them some driving knowledge.
This journey to Chang'an was naturally driven by Li Min.
Li Min will also look for a conductor among these people.
While Li Min patiently explained the principles of train driving to these people, on the other side, someone arranged by Li Min added coal and water to the train.
Others loaded mirrors and glass into the truck compartment.
This was the condition that Li Min promised to the people of the five surnamed Qiwang and other aristocratic families.
Families such as Wu Xing and Qi Wang funded the construction of the railway. After the railway is repaired, Li Min will use the convenience of the railway to help them transport the mirror to Chang'an.
This time, since we were going to Chang'an, we just sent the mirror to them directly.
In half a day, all the knowledge was explained.
Li Min discovered that among these apprentices, one named Su Pengcheng had the fastest acceptance ability.
This name has been quietly engraved in my mind and has been included in the key observation list.
If his practical ability is also very strong, then he can be trained as the conductor of the Datang Pioneer train.
And over there, ten train cars are filled with glass.
Next, it’s time to set sail.
This time, Li Min decided to take Li Yuanfang with him, plus a hundred escort soldiers.
As for Xue Rengui, just stay in Yizhou.
Xue Rengui is very busy now.
Xue Rengui is currently in charge of training the five thousand new troops recruited.
Xue Rengui was ready to hand over even the errand of the escort team.
Even the candidate has been identified, and he was selected from the escort team. His name is Liu Zhixiang, and he is currently acting as the escort team.
The bodyguard Shen Wei given by Concubine Yang to Li Min was also left by Li Min to Wu Meiniang.
Of course, the two shadow guards given to Li Min by Li Shimin to protect his safety are not subject to Li Min's orders and are still secretly protecting Li Min's safety.
And Xue Xiaoxiao, naturally followed Li Min to protect his safety.
In addition, Li Min also brought some gifts.
For example, Li Min used preservation methods to preserve sweet potatoes, peanuts and corn.
This time I brought it back to give it to others.
For example, a batch of perfume, soap, shampoo, etc. will be shipped to Chang'an this time.
On the one hand, I have to give it away, and on the other hand, I have to go to Chang'an to advertise.
This time, Li Min was not going to hand over the business to others.
In the past, Li Min did not have his own channels and had many businesses, so he had to find others to cooperate.
But now, Wu Meiniang is here.
Wu Meiniang was a business genius, and now behind her was Li Min, the King of Shu.
For more than half a year, Wu Meiniang has not been idle.
Letters were sent out one after another, and many channels for the Wu family's business had been won over by Wu Meiniang.
These people are all willing to take refuge in Wu Meiniang.
Of course, on the surface, they are still channels for the Wu family.
If you betray him now, it will attract the attention of the Wu brothers.
Wu Meiniang had to wait for a sure opportunity before taking action on the Wu family's business, ensuring that the Wu family would be killed at once.
Everything is ready and the train is about to start.
…
The boiler started to ignite, and several strong men worked hard to add coal to the boiler.
Thick black smoke came out of the chimney above the steam engine.
The entire locomotive made a huge roar.
The earthquake shook people within a few miles around, with a trembling feeling.
This made the people from nearby official families who came to watch, as well as spies from Tubo, Tuyuhun, Nanzhao and other places, as well as the people who came to watch, all have expressions of infinite horror on their faces.
It's really scary that this huge thing can smoke, scream, and make such a loud noise.
Could it be that this magical thing called a train can really run?
After half an hour, the warm-up was successful and the instrument showed that everything was normal.
So, under Li Min's control, the train started slowly.
"It's moving! It's moving!"
"You can really run!"
"Oh my God! How many things are pulled on this divine object?"
"The coal alone weighs several thousand kilograms. And with so much cargo loaded, it weighs tens of thousands of kilograms."
"Is this train so powerful?"
"Isn't this a fairy weapon from a god?"
Amidst the discussions of countless onlookers, the train began to speed up little by little.
Kucha, kucha, kucha...
The speed was getting faster and faster, and under the astonished gazes of countless people, it drove away like lightning, and soon became a small black dot and disappeared from their sight.
"Oh my god, why are you so fast?"
"He's such an idiot. Even the fastest horse can't outrun this train, right?"
"They are still hauling tens of thousands of kilograms of stuff!"
"Is this the railway we built?"
"Fairy! Fairy! This is definitely the trick of the fairy family!"
On the train, the lightning-fast speed made everyone who was riding the train for the first time, except Li Min, look panicked.
Even Li Min's personal bodyguard Li Yuanfang is no exception.
Well, in fact, even Li Min himself looked a little pale.
The speed of this train is said to be two hundred kilometers per hour, which is currently unreachable.
Two hundred kilometers per hour is the speed of an empty car under optimal conditions.
To carry so much cargo, the speed is only 150 to 60 kilometers.
But the problem is that this train is still a bit primitive after all, and its shock absorption and comfort levels are much worse.
When Li Min took the train in his later generations, where did such a train ride? Where did he experience such bumps?
Fortunately, although it was a bit bumpy, at least Li Min was not afraid.
As long as the railways are intact, trains can be said to be the safest means of transportation in this era.
There is only one train and there will never be a collision.
As long as there are railroad tracks, there will be no derailment.
The guards held the seats tightly with their hands, their faces turned green.
When I took a look at the scenery outside the window that was rapidly retreating, I was so frightened that I screamed in horror and almost vomited.
Then I didn't dare to look anymore and closed my eyes tightly.
They have never experienced such a fast speed, and they have never experienced such excitement.
And Li Min found that among the crowd, Su Pengcheng was extremely calm.
You can even perform some simple operations under Li Min's guidance.
