Lin Gao Qiming

Chapter 780 Dongfeng Motor

A new one-horse-drawn two-wheeled carriage was trotting along the road from Bairen to Biye Mountain.This is a two-wheeled buggy "Dongfeng", the latest product of the vehicle factory, which is manufactured on the basis of the 1860s Huntsman carriage.Single Yu, two seats.Because it is a two-wheel structure, the front part of the car is omitted.The body structure is simple.Equipped with single-axle 60-inch 16-spoke hardwood wheels, the axle is made of steel and equipped with ball bearings.Leaf spring shock absorber, iron frame, wooden body.Equipped with a foldable canopy: there are two configurations, luxurious sheepskin or cowhide, and ordinary oilcloth; equipped with fixed lights and pedal-type bells.

One of the main reasons for the Dongfeng prototype car was that some people wanted to sell the carriage as a luxury; another reason was that some veterans began to feel that riding a bicycle to go to work was not enough, and wanted to build a carriage as a "public car".Play prestige.

Li Chiqi knows that using a carriage as a "bus" at this stage is a matter of no need to think about it-as far as the most basic element of horses is concerned, Nick can't even think of making a horse-the horse is now only Lingao. The "second master" other than the elders.Except for military and agricultural use, it can be allocated, and it is not allowed to be used.As for the plan that Skaide, Hong Huangnan and others hope to sell in Daming, it is hard to say whether there will be a market.However, he, who has already faded out of making Zidian Kai, gun carts and bullock carts, pretended to be confused and expressed his willingness to undertake this trial production task. At worst, he could use it for Guo Yi who was about to return to Guangzhou.

In the end, the vehicle factory produced a carriage under the guidance of Hong Huangnan, the former owner of the 4S shop and now the chief staff officer of the Logistics Command of the General Administration of Military Affairs. Hong Huangnan has a soft spot for carriages and has collected countless pictures and materials. Especially the very rare line drawings of various models of carriages.Dongfeng's manufacturing mainly relied on the information he provided.

Although Hong Huangnan insisted on calling it Mercedes-Benz, Li Chiqi thought that this name should be reserved for the later luxury models, so he called it "Dongfeng" following "Hongqi".

"Shouldn't Dongfeng be used for bullock carts or heavy-duty horse-drawn carriages?" Hong Huangnan, who was puzzled by the hand-made "Dongfeng" in the vehicle workshop, said that he couldn't understand.

"The first car in China was also called Dongfeng, which was knocked out by hand. Let's use this name for our car for good luck."

"It's better to be called Ji Li." Hong Huangnan resentfully said.

"No matter what it's called, this car looks really good." Li Chiqi said sincerely, "Let's go for a drive! Take a test drive!"

"We have to find a horse first."

Now all the horses and donkeys in Lingao are in the pastures of the high mountains, even the horses of the army are no exception.After using the training, it must be returned to the ranch immediately.It was Nick's policy to ensure the horses were well cared for and bred as many as possible.Fortunately, Hong Huangnan knew that a group of horses that had been spoiled by Qiongshan was going to be sent to Gaoshanling recently, so he stopped one of them halfway and declared that he would send it to Gaoshanling himself.

These were a group of Mongolian horses, very docile. After Li Chiqi had harnessed the horses, he found a driver to drive the cart, and the two of them rode to Mount Piye.

The road from Bairen to Biye Mountain has been hardened and the supporting works have been completed. The horse-drawn carriage ran smoothly on the cinder-paved road without feeling bumpy at all.This made Hong Huangnan feel that there is great hope for mass production-he is going to use this thing to empty the pockets of rich Guangdong.

After walking westward from Bairen City for less than 3-4 kilometers, we encountered the first traffic checkpoint.There are guard towers and sentries in the middle of the road.The entire Gaoshanling area is now designated as a green zone directly controlled by the Senate - all the original indigenous villages in this area have been relocated except for Damei Village, which was established by the elders themselves.Aboriginal and naturalized peoples are not allowed to enter the area without a specially issued "green zone pass".A company of the garrison battalion is responsible for guarding this area.

Their carriage passed the first checkpoint smoothly, followed by the second and third.On the road and on the hillside, soldiers from the garrison battalion can be seen patrolling from time to time.

"This place is really heavily guarded!" Hong Huangnan exclaimed in surprise, "It's even more fortified than around Bairen City!" It was the first time he had gone deep into the Gaoshanling area.

"Of course, this is the lifeblood of the Senate." Since Li Chiqi had participated in the "Prometheus" operation, he was not surprised that the security here was heavily guarded.There are not only pastures, a weather station, and a planned resort for veterans, but more importantly: this is the location of the Great Library and STC—the storage warehouse for the original standard equipment template.

Hong Huangnan didn't understand the true meaning of the lifeblood of the Senate, thinking he was talking about horses.He nodded and said, "Animal power is a big bottleneck—it is needed everywhere in military affairs and agriculture. If you want to sell horse-drawn carriages to the mainland, you have to provide customers with supporting horses. I don't know how many horses Nick has?"

"There must be one or two hundred horses." Li Chiqi said perfunctorily, "We will arrive at the pasture in a while."

The horseshoe is good, the road network in the restricted area of ​​Piya Mountain has been formed, and various bridges, road signs and drainage ditches are complete.Street trees were also planted.The carriage is very comfortable to drive on.Along the way, there are very few pedestrians on the side of the road, but from time to time you can see various buildings on the hillside and among the trees.

"I didn't expect the Executive Committee to hide so many things here!" Hong Huangnan was greatly surprised.As the chief logistics officer, he had been to Xixing Ridge when the construction of the Xixing Ridge Fort was completed, but he did not expect that it would become so mysterious in more than a year.

"Hehe, you are the chief logistics staff officer, don't you know that there are many military facilities hidden here?"

"I'm an 'unreliable' person, and I'm just a mere chief staff officer." Hong Huangnan was full of complaints, "There are so many logistics plans organized by me on my desk, and many of them are just a code name. It is not known where the work will be carried out."

Li Chiqi said: "I am not very clear about the details. But the army has indeed set up several secret facilities here."

"Could it be hiding an atomic bomb?"

"That's not so."

While speaking, the carriage had arrived at Nick's ranch.

This ranch is just to the southwest of Bald Touling, the main peak on Mount Viya: there is a small mountain here called Mopan Ridge, which is formed by overlapping two layers of circular flat-topped mountains, shaped like a millstone.The mountains here are gentle and there are not many trees. After renovation, it is a good place for mountain pastures.Now including several valleys under the mountain, all of them are enclosed within the scope of the pasture.

Li Chiqi said: "We have reached Castle Hill." Then he reminded Hong Huangnan, "When you talk about horses later, you must not use a contemptuous or casual tone."

"Understood, he is a lunatic." Hong Huangnan nodded again and again, "This place is called Castle Hill? It seems a bit like it."

"Hehe, this place is called Mopan Ridge. It's almost like a bunker. This is the place known as 'Nick's Castle'. Here he is the Emperor of Earth."

The carriage was parked in a square in front of the gate of the ranch.Hong Huangnan got out of the car and took a look. The scenery here is beautiful. The winter sun shines on Mount Piye, and the saplings of the economic forest and windbreak forest newly planted last spring sway in the breeze.The white mist has just dissipated.Although it is winter, the mountains are still lush with vegetation.On the pasture on the hillside, there are scattered horses in twos and threes, grazing and running leisurely.Some mares also have newborn foals.

In the valley are the crops that horses like to eat forage, the corn has just been harvested, and the fields are growing alfalfa.Several fermentation towers for fermenting green fodder stand upright.Below the hillside are stables with high pointed roofs.A windmill was turning slowly, and the sound of water flow could be faintly heard.Hong Huangnan felt that the scenery here was a bit like a pasture abroad.

A young man in a farm worker's uniform was stirring something in front of the warehouse. On the ground was a large wooden basin, which seemed to be a mixture of herbs and water.Yang Baogui was at the side instructing: "Stir it vigorously! Otherwise, you won't be able to eat it!"

Beside them, there are many covered wooden basins and wooden barrels, exuding the smell of herbs and chemicals.

Yang Baogui came here to treat the horse's illness.Horses are delicate and prone to various problems.Immediately after notifying the ranch of the arrival of a large number of captured horses, Nick invited Yang Baogui to prepare various common horse medicines in advance.Be prepared to start treating these trophies as soon as the horses arrive.

"This carriage is beautiful enough!" Yang Baogui looked at the Dongfeng carriage, "Where did you get your horse?"

"Borrowed." Hong Huangnan said, "Qiongshan is repatriating officers and soldiers, and the horses and livestock they handed over are being transported to Lingao. I'll borrow a horse-drawn carriage first to try it out."

Before the officers and soldiers who "peacefully withdraw" from Qiongshan boarded the ship, they handed over a large amount of spoils in accordance with the provisions of the treaty. It was his job as the chief logistics staff to organize the transfer.

"Now Nick is going to get rich." Yang Baogui called out to the young man who was stirring vigorously, "Shengbao! Go and call your master!"

Sheng Bao hurried over, and soon called Nick who was washing the horses from the stable.Nick was wearing torn work clothes, holding a towel on his head, with grass stalks hanging from his hair in a mess.The sleeves were rolled up to the elbows, and the arms were red with water.

"What? Just a horse?" Nick was disappointed, and asked again, "Where is the carriage?"

"From tomorrow onwards, we will arrive at the ranch in batches one by one." Hong Huangnan said, "Don't worry, there won't be a single one missing."

"I'm very worried!" Nick said, "I'm afraid the horse drivers have very little experience in taking care of horses, right?!"

"They all used to be grooms..."

"These grooms can only serve horses, they don't know how to care for horses!" Nick pulled off the towel from his head and squatted on the ground, "I should have gone there myself if I knew it!"

(End of this chapter)