Chapter 959 Witness History

The next day, Neverwinter City ushered in the fourth holiday after autumn, which was also the first weekend of mid-autumn.

Since there are no legends such as Genesis in this world, most people have to be busy at all times to fill their stomachs. Ever since Roland promulgated the rule of taking a day off every seven days, the people of the land have attributed this gratitude to him - he can take a complete day off without deducting his salary. What can be faulty for such a kind and loving lord?

Especially the refugees who moved from other places, after personally experiencing the living environment of Neverwinter City, they are all determined to settle here. Even the city hall's propaganda about the devil cannot curb this momentum—— Even the threat of the devil became less important than hunger and poverty.

However, Barov's report showed that after the official promotion of the rest day system, the production situation in Neverwinter was not greatly affected. The main reason is that taking a break is not compulsory, and there are many people who choose to continue working and earn extra money. However, the city's trading activities have increased significantly. Every weekend, the square area is always overcrowded. Not only local businessmen, but also businessmen from other places have heard of the news and choose to come here to set up stalls and sell on this day. The rest of the time is used for purchasing. Specialty products from the Western Region and resold to other places.

This weekly flow of goods was unimaginable a year ago, but now with the increasing number of cement ships, the pace of trade has become faster and faster. In large inland cities like Chishui City, you can even eat fresh sea fish sent from Shoal Port and soaked in ice. In the past, the nobles and businessmen there could only eat salted and dried fish.

In view of this, Roland simply put major lectures, achievement displays, and various award ceremonies and other activities on the rest day, using the habits of the masses to further promote the activity of commercial trade - the so-called wool comes from the sheep, pay more The salary can be fully recovered from sales tax and consumption. It is simply a multi-purpose strategy.

Today's weekend is no exception. The remaining warmth of summer has not dissipated. The cloudless blue sky is blowing with a gentle breeze. It is obviously another good weather for traveling. The streets were crowded with people, and from the inland dock area to the northern wall of the city, you could see the eagerly awaited figures of the residents.

The difference is that this time they are not going to the convenience market to buy a few kilograms of good meat, but are waiting to witness His Majesty the King's new invention.

The first trial run of an unprecedented means of transportation - the "train".

Jewelry merchant Victor is also one of them.

After learning about the propaganda in the city hall, he even left the big deal he was discussing to his subordinates and boarded a cement ship from the old capital to Neverwinter overnight.

If there is anyone who has been extremely deeply touched by the changes in the Western Territory over the years, Victor is undoubtedly one of them. He had visited the lord here when it was still a remote town. He didn't leave much of an impression on the person in charge. He only remembered that he was a middle-aged nobleman with a bloated body. He complained that it was his turn to manage this barren land. If he hadn't occasionally found one or two rough gemstones of good quality from the other party, he would probably have stopped at Changsong Fortress.

Even so, Victor visits the Westland at most once a year, and no matter when he comes, this border town is almost the same as the previous year, dilapidated and decayed. But in the past three years, his visits here have become more and more frequent, especially after Roland Wimbledon announced the establishment of the city, which has basically reached the point of once a month.

The western realm of Graycastle seems to have become another world.

Here, a day is no longer a day, but a month; similarly, a month is no longer a month, but a year. Otherwise, it would be difficult for him to explain why the changes in Neverwinter City can be so rapid.

Victor walked into a pub facing the street, and the owner immediately greeted him with a smile, "I knew you would come, so I specially reserved a seat by the window for you on the third floor."

He casually took out a silver wolf and threw it to the other party, "Take me up."

"Yes, please come with me."

As a frequent visitor to this tavern, Victor naturally does not have to choose to crowd the streets with civilians - although there are many people gathered on the third floor, at least the view is much wider.

People around are already discussing today's display in a lively manner.

--0---0---Xiao--said---This is the gorgeous dividing line--Let go of that witch 00 novel netizens please note: please pay attention to resting your eyes when reading for a long time. 00 novel recommended reading: Genius fortune teller: Rebirth of a billionaire little rich woman -0--0---Xiao--said---This is the gorgeous dividing line---br/>"That narrow street is where the train waits Which way should we go? It’s too far from the central square and residential areas.”

"Street? I don't know anything about it. It's called a track system, something used in mining areas." Then someone laughed and said, "Since it's not for people, of course it has to be far away from crowded places. Do you think the train is a carriage?"

"Are you talking about the stuff sold in the mines of Silver Light City?"

"Yes, it was originally produced here and needs to be used with a steam engine."

Victor couldn't help but join in the fun and said, "I've also seen trailers pulled by steam engines. Its advantage is that it doesn't care about the terrain. If it is placed on flat ground, mules and horses can completely replace it. That's it, the city hall probably won't publicize it. Will it become a "transportation tool across the ages"? "

"Maybe it's just a gimmick," another person muttered.

"Go," there was a burst of cheers from all around, "Is this your first time in Neverwinter? His Majesty Roland never boasts about his reputation in this area."

The man was unconvinced and wanted to say something more, when a high-pitched whistle suddenly sounded in the distance.

“Woo——————————————”

"It's coming, it's coming!" The room suddenly burst into excitement. Everyone leaned out of the window and stared at the small street on the side of the castle area without blinking. Some of those who had been prepared even took out the food from their arms. Lookout glass.

Victor also looked towards the source of the sound——

I saw a long black dragon slowly driving out from behind the covered house, gradually coming into view. It is huge in size, and its head is like an iron barrel on wheels. The top of the barrel is spitting out billowing gray smoke, which is no different from the appearance of a steam engine when it is running.

Next to the front of the car, there was also a four-wheel carriage running parallel to it - the carriage was pulled by two groups of horses, and its speed was equivalent to that of the train, and it looked like they were competing with each other. However, since there is a carriage full of ore, it is quite difficult for the horses to take every step. This can be seen from the driver's constant waving of the whip. If it were not for the cast iron wheels, the carriage would have been crushed. .

As the train gradually came into full view, Victor couldn't help but feel goosebumps rising on his back.

Behind the front of the car are pulling carriages one after another. Each of them can hold up to four or five carriages, and they are also filled with ore. In terms of weight, they are probably the same as a river sailing ship specially used for transportation. .

The problem is that it carries several trains of carriages at the same time!

People’s exclamations were endless for a while!

"Four...the fourth one!"

"Five!"

"There can't be more later, right?"

"By the gods, six!"

"Come out, the seventh one!"

The monster-like locomotive dragged a whole train of seven carriages through the open space in front of the castle at an extremely steady speed.

The question in Victor's mind was also answered.

A steam engine fixed at the entrance of a mine and specially used to pull mine carts in and out, and a steam engine that can move autonomously are two completely different concepts.

The latter means that wherever a railroad track is built, it can transport a large volume of goods. Weight is no longer a bottleneck limiting land transportation. On the contrary, its transportation capacity is more powerful than shipping. If His Majesty is willing, he can even evacuate a city in a short time.

Victor, who came from a merchant family, naturally knew the importance of transportation. It was not without reason that most cities were built near rivers. The emergence of this kind of delivery vehicle will bring infinite possibilities to the flow of resources. It is no exaggeration to say that it transcends the times.

He felt an indescribable throbbing welling up in his heart, which contained both satisfaction and loss... He felt that he was witnessing history, but at the same time he was abandoned by history - in other kingdoms, the lords were still intoxicated in sensuality, Their mode of travel is still horses and mule carts, and their roads are still paved with bricks and full of mud.

But they are totally unaware of it and take it for granted.

An idea couldn't help but appear in Victor's mind.

The future is already here, it's just not evenly distributed.