After only one night of preparation, early the next morning, Li Hanlu and his party of ten people left Chang'an City and went to Guangzhou in the south of the Tang Dynasty to prepare for Li An's return, although they were not sure when Li An would be able to arrive, but it was also boring to stay at home, and it was not bad to go to Guangzhou and wait for a few more days.

"Sister, have you ever been to Guangzhou? I heard that the weather there is hot all year round, and there is no need to wear cotton clothes in winter, and no one there has ever seen what snow looks like. ”

On the express train, Li Yaer asked curiously.

Li Hanlu shook his head and said: "Of course I haven't been to the south so far, but the climate there is true, it is warm and hot all year round, and of course it won't snow." ”

Li Ya'er smiled: "The people there are really unlucky, they can't see snow all year round, it's so boring, they don't have snow, they can't build snowmen, they haven't even built snowmen, hahaha!" ”

He laughed as he spoke.

In Li Yaer's view, the most interesting activity in winter is to build a snowman, but people in the south can't build a snowman all year round, so the most interesting activity is missing in winter.

"Hmph, you know that building a snowman will always be a child who doesn't grow up, and southerners can't build snowmen, but southerners also have things we haven't seen, such as dragon boat racing, Songkran Festival, and many, many more, all of which we haven't seen."

Li Hanlu said with a smile.

Li Ya'er suddenly became interested and said, "Sister, then we should come all the way to see these, I haven't seen the dragon boat race and the Songkran Festival?" ”

"I'm playing a child's temper again, we're here to wait for my husband this time, but we can't forget about business, these things are nothing compared to waiting for my husband."

Li Hanlu opened his mouth to teach.

Li Ya'er was embarrassed, nodded again and again: "It's still my sister's thoughtfulness, I almost forgot, the purpose of our trip is to wait for my husband, I really hope to wait for my husband's return sooner." ”

"Don't worry! My husband will definitely return safely. ”

Li Hanlu said.

They are a group of ten people, and they take a high-end express train, of course, this express is relative, referring to the relatively high grade, the facilities in the car are relatively complete, in addition, only the more important stops along the way will stop, and they will continue to set off after replenishing fresh water and food.

In fact, the speed of this express train is not as fast as that of the green cars of later generations? It's just a lot faster than slower wagons and lower trains, and some slow trains need to stop along the way to make way for the faster trains behind.

In addition, although the train was designed and developed by Ang Lee, and the internal structure was also determined by Ang Lee, during the time when Ang Lee left Datang, according to the feedback of the magnates, the express train made a series of improvements to meet the travel needs of the magnates, for example, the original high-end private room was rebuilt to make it more functional, not only can all be solved separately, but also another ordinary outer suite should be set aside for servants and guards to live in.

Of course, according to the different grades, some private rooms occupy a whole carriage, and some private rooms only occupy half or less, of course, there are four people in a private room designed by Ang Lee, and the worst is also the standard of fifty people in a carriage, and there is no such a bad one, so such an express train is not for half of the people to sit, and ordinary people must choose cheaper trains.

Li An's mansion will naturally not be short of money, so when Li Hanlu goes out, he naturally has to choose a better private compartment, but because there are not too many people, there are only ten people, so they chose a private room with half a carriage, such a private room, there are four beds and tables and chairs in the inner room, and there are as many as eight beds in the outer room, and there is one inside and outside the Gong room, which is very convenient.

Because it is inconvenient for men and women to live together, Xiao Yin and Xiao Meng naturally accompany them to live in the inner room, and the outer room is two male servants and four guards, in addition, the two empty beds can be placed on top of some salutes, which is very generous.

In addition to a sliding door, there is a short aisle between the inner and outer rooms, and at the end of the aisle is a translucent curtain that can be opened to reveal the inner room.

There are windows inside and outside, however, the windows in the inner room are larger, the private room is brighter, and the outside room is slightly darker, the environment and equipment are not as good as the inner room, in short, the difference is quite obvious, after all, the inner room is for the owner to rest, and the outer room is for the next person, of course, the configuration can not be the same.

In addition, the ticket sales of private rooms are uniform, and there is no such thing as buying a single bed in a private room, and if you want to buy it, you have to buy the entire private room.

And because the facilities of the private room are relatively complete, the price is much more expensive than the ordinary seat carriage, for example, a carriage has 50 seats, and some large private rooms occupy a carriage, and the equipment is higher, and the price is naturally more than 50 ordinary seats for passengers, and even more than 100 times.

In other words, the money that travelers who charter the most luxurious private rooms has to pay is more than 100 times that of ordinary travelers, or even higher.

Of course, some people will think that if there are 200 poor people, they will work together to charter a large box, and then all 200 people will be squeezed into this luxurious box, so that they will have a lot of money left.

This idea is naturally too naïve, and regardless of the structure of the large box that cannot accommodate two hundred people, even if it can be accommodated, the management of the train will not allow it, otherwise, it will make this group of poor ghosts dirty the luxury private room, and how will the powerful people sit in the future.

The large box has more than 20 beds, which can theoretically accommodate more than 30 people at most, and the extra servants have to buy additional tickets to go to the back, which is the rule, in order to protect the equipment of the carriage, but also to ensure the comfort of the powerful, and no one dares to violate this rule under normal circumstances.

Because the journey is very long, it can take days, or even tens, to reach the destination, so the train must be provided with sufficient food and water, which means that there must be a special dining car on board.

As the highest-level express train, it is not only equipped with a dining car, but also with two, one in the front and one in the back, which is not only responsible for cooking but also has half of the space for storing various ingredients.

Because the food on the car is unique, and the two dining cars belong to the railway department and belong to the monopoly operation, the price is naturally relatively high, even more expensive than the dishes in many high-end restaurants in Chang'an City.

However, people on the journey will rarely eat and drink, as long as they can fill their stomachs, a person only needs a bowl of rice and a few side dishes for a meal, even if the price is higher, it can be afforded, and it is really afraid of spending money and can bring their own dry food, and no one stipulates that passengers can not bring their own food.

However, passengers who bring their own food can only eat in their own seats and cannot eat in the dining car, so as not to affect business there.

"Ma'am, the meal is ready."

Xiao Yin and Xiao Meng pushed a dining cart into the inner room.

"Wow, that's so much, it's better than what we eat in the house, it should be very expensive!"

Li Ya'er said with excitement on her face.

Xiaomeng hurriedly replied: "Don't want money, these are filial to you, what do you need, they will send it immediately, the commander said, their father-in-law Yu has already explained, a few ladies can take the car of the railway bureau, that is their blessing, who dares not to serve wholeheartedly, will not be able to spare him." ”

Li Hanlu smiled lightly and said, "Hehe! This Yu Chaoen is quite good at being a man, and he will not take care of him in vain. ”

"Yu Chaoen, is that the eunuch who looks particularly ugly?"

Li Ya'er had seen Yu Chaoen, and it was in her own house, because this person was too ugly, so she remembered it after a glance.

"Ya'er, don't talk nonsense, if Yu Chaoen's people hear it, it won't be good."

Li Hanlu said busily.

"It's ugly, I'm telling the truth."

Li Ya'er pouted, like a child.

Li Hanlu smiled indifferently, and didn't know what to say.

In the waters of Malacca, Ang Lee's fleet has docked at the port, and according to the prior plan, this is the last supply point for the fleet to return to Guangzhou, that is, after the fleet is replenished in Malacca, it will not pass through the rest of the supply points, and will sail directly to Guangzhou.

From Malacca to Guangzhou, the distance is still very long, if you want to arrive at one time, you will need to sail for many days, so the supplies must be in place, so as not to run out of food and drink on the way.

This is the first overseas state and county established after Ang Lee went south, because the development time is the earliest, so the results of development are also the highest, which makes Ang Lee very satisfied.

"It's only been a little over a year, and it's changed so much!"

Li An looked at the large port that was originally a broken beach, and said excitedly.

This is the newly built port personally selected by Li An, after leaving here, he handed over the major task of building this port to his subordinates, unexpectedly, this is only a year, this port has been completely built, and it has been put into operation for a long time, which not only greatly facilitates the berthing of merchant ships, but also provides sufficient financial revenue for the Malacca region, and greatly reduces the financial pressure of the imperial court on the construction of overseas states and counties. So that the imperial court can invest more money in more important strategic projects such as the Datang Canal.

"The lowly position does not dare to take credit, this is all designed by Li Shilang, and the lowly position is just according to the drawings given by Li Shilang, so that the craftsmen can work according to it, and I really dare not take credit."

The subordinate said modestly.

The more modest he was, the more happy Li An became, and he was very satisfied with the strict implementation of his own design by his subordinates, patted his subordinates on the shoulder, and said: "You have done a very good job, this official is about to return to the imperial court, I will definitely ask for credit for you, continue to work hard, you can do better." ”

"Yes, the lowly will continue to work hard, and it will definitely live up to Li Shilang's cultivation."

The subordinates were very excited.

Li An looked at the large number of merchant ships in the port, and was naturally in a very good mood, paused, and asked with great concern: "How is the situation of the pirates?" It's been a year, and there are no pirates robbing merchant ships nearby! Not beat around the bush. ”

The subordinates were stunned for a moment, and then said: "Back to Li Shilang, most of the pirates have been wiped out by you, and the remaining ones can't set off any storms, so they can only occasionally rob a small merchant ship that is lonely, my Datang Navy has taken the initiative to attack many times, and in more than a year, more than 50 pirate boats have been sunk, one hundred and twenty-six pirates have been captured, and the pirates who drowned in the water are estimated to be more than one hundred. ”

When Li An heard this, he was naturally very happy, smiled, and said, "These pirates are really not angry!" It was eliminated so easily, and the official originally wanted to practice his hands, but I'm afraid I won't need it now, hahaha! ”

"Yes, yes, yes."

The subordinates chimed in.

Since Malacca is the last supply point to return to the Tang mainland, it is natural to rest for a few more days to replenish all the food and fresh water resources.

In these days of docking at the port, Li An naturally can't be idle, this is the Datang overseas territory he created himself, many construction plans, although there are subordinates who are busy, but Li An also has to inspect and care about it, in order to boost morale, and at the same time, also look at their achievements.

Along the way, Ang Lee is getting more and more satisfied, after all, the longer the construction time of the place he arrives at, the greater the results of the construction, which makes people very satisfied.

The existence of the Datang Navy has completely discouraged the pirates in the waters of Malacca, most of the pirates have changed careers, and the remaining diehards have also gone to the east of the Heling Kingdom far away from the Strait of Malacca to try their luck, although they will not meet the Datang Navy there, but there will also be no oil and water to fish there, after all, the eastern part of the Heling Kingdom is sparsely populated, the market is not so big, and the commercial interests are too small, and the Datang merchants will not risk being robbed by pirates for such small commercial interests. Only some of the brave merchants of the Heling Kingdom dare to try their luck, and if they are lucky, they may be able to escape the robbery of pirates and obtain some commercial benefits for themselves.

Although there is almost no trace of pirates in the waters of Malacca, the existence of the Datang Navy here cannot be changed, if you rashly transfer the Datang Navy back to the mainland because there are no pirates in Malacca, the pirates in the distance are likely to make a comeback, and it will cause huge losses to the Datang Maritime Silk Road, so you can't transfer the Navy away because you don't need the Navy to go out at the moment, and you must always be on guard to prevent the pirate force from running rampant again.

After three consecutive days of inspection and guidance, Ang Lee knew almost everything about the situation in Malacca, and was very satisfied with the existing results achieved by the division of labor and cooperation among his subordinates, and encouraged his subordinates to continue to work hard and strive for better results.