Siheyuan: Game of Red Dust

Chapter 31 New Project
Only Chief Chen, Minister Wang and Li Weidong were left at the shooting range.

Chief Chen said, "Xiao Li, tell me what you think."

Li Weidong said: "Yes, Chief. Both Chiefs..."

"Weidong, don't call me chief. Just call me Old Wang and him Old Chen. There are no outsiders here." Minister Wang said.

Li Weidong: "Then I'll call you Mr. Wang and Mr. Li. Mr. Wang, Mr. Li, actually, to put it simply, my idea is to press an "eye" in the sky!"

"Put an eye in the sky?" Minister Wang and Chief Chen looked confused.

"Yes, it's like putting an eye in the sky. Through this 'eye', we can observe the enemy's movements and confirm the enemy's position. Then we can develop a long-range missile and launch a fire attack based on the position provided by the 'eye'."

When Li Weidong said this, Commander Li suddenly grabbed Li Weidong's hand and said, "Weidong, this is it, this is it. Whatever you need, the army will support you even if it sells everything it has."

Minister Wang pulled Chief Chen aside and said, "Old Chen, don't get excited yet. Let's listen to Weidong finish his story."

"Yes, yes, Weidong, please continue." Commander Chen said quickly.

"And this 'eye' can also provide navigation and communication for our aircraft, ships and vehicles.

"Building this 'eye,' or rather, a satellite like this, requires one essential item: a computer. "Mr. Wang should know what computers are used for," Li Weidong said to Minister Wang.

Minister Wang nodded and said, "Weidong, I won't hide it from you. We have received some computer data from Big Brother and are currently researching our own computers."

"Mr. Wang, Mr. Chen, I need computer information and various technical personnel. I will give you a detailed list of technical personnel in a while. Because the types of technical personnel required are too many, I will not list them one by one.

Let me explain my envisioned applications, that is, its potential uses. Beyond military applications, its greatest value lies in civilian applications. We could sell the rights to use it for navigation and communications, using them to expand or upgrade our satellite fleet. The remaining funds could be used to further research and develop equipment and weapons. When countries around the world become accustomed to its use, we will be the uncrowned king of the world.

When a country goes to war with us, we shut down their navigation and communications. They can't hit us, but we can hit them.

The computer I need is far superior to current computers. I need a computer that can perform hundreds of millions of operations per second. If computer research is successful, it can be applied to many fields that require computing.

This is my idea and the general direction of my next research. I won't go into detail about the accompanying energy, power, aerospace, etc. "After saying this in one breath, Li Weidong stood there waiting for the two leaders' response.

Minister Wang and Commander Chen took a deep breath and looked at Li Weidong intently after hearing his words. They had initially thought it was just a military product, used for reconnaissance or something like that. But after Li Weidong finished speaking, they realized the project was so broad and so significant that they were completely at a loss as to what to do.

The two exchanged glances and nodded. Minister Wang then spoke, "Weidong, Lao Chen and I have already learned about your project, but it involves so much and is so significant that we can't make the final decision. Don't worry, we'll report this to the Chief Treasurer as soon as we get back. We believe he'll agree to your plan."

Commander Chen also said, "Weidong, Lao Wang is right. We both definitely support this, but this project is so significant that we really can't make the final decision. Let's go back and report to our superiors immediately. We believe they will agree with your plan. Do you understand what we mean?"

"Mr. Wang, Mr. Chen, I understand. I am also a party member." Li Weidong said with a smile.

Minister Wang also smiled and said, "Okay, I understand. Weidong, if there's anything you need us to do in the future, just let us know. As long as it's within our capabilities, we'll help you."

Commander Chen nodded and said to Li Weidong, "Weidong, besides work, are there any difficulties in your life? Oh, you don't have a partner yet, right? I'll see if there's anyone suitable in our military compound. I'll arrange a date for you then. You can't just focus on work; you have to pay attention to your personal life, too. Marriage is the key to better work, right, Lao Wang?"

Minister Wang said, "Old Chen, you are quite right. However, you don't need to worry about Xiao Li's marriage. After all, Xiao Li is from our Ministry of Industry, and we have many young women of marriageable age in our Ministry of Industry. You don't need to worry about it, comrades in the army."

As the two of them were talking, they started arguing about introducing a girl to Li Weidong.

Li Weidong quickly interrupted their quarrel and said, "Mr. Wang, Mr. Chen, I'm still young and not yet the legal age for marriage. So there's no need to rush."

Chief Chen glared at Minister Wang and said to Li Weidong, "Weidong, you're not old enough, can we date for now? Besides, you've made so many contributions to the country and are planning to continue developing new projects. The country will take care of your worries and make special arrangements. I believe the head manager will agree when he hears about it."

Minister Wang was not to be outdone and immediately said, "Weidong, don't worry, I'll arrange your marriage." Commander Chen glared at Minister Wang and said, "Old Wang, don't try to play that game with me. What's wrong with the Ministry of Industry? Can't the Ministry of Industry look for partners outside? At most, we can compete fairly. Maybe Weidong likes the girls in our army."

Minister Wang also said, "Okay, let's make it clear first. We'll compete fairly. You can't use the same tactics you used when you were younger."

Chief Chen's face was filled with gloom. He turned to Minister Wang and said, "Old Wang, why haven't you finished this matter yet? Why are you still bringing it up?"

Minister Wang said angrily: "What's wrong with mentioning it? I will remember you for the rest of my life. If it weren't for you, I would also... woooo"

Without waiting for Minister Wang to finish, Chief Chen covered Minister Wang's mouth, carried Minister Wang and walked towards the car. He turned back and smiled at Li Weidong, who was secretly eating melons, and said:

"Weidong, let's go back and report your plan to your superiors. You can go back to the steel mill and wait for notification!"

After Chief Chen finished speaking, he drove Minister Wang and quickened their pace towards the car.

After the two men got in the car and had a conversation inside, Chief Chen got out of the car and called Captain Zhou, asking him to arrange a car to send the new firearms to the *** so that the chief could take a look and continue to test them there.

Then he left with his men.

Li Weidong looked at his watch and found that it was past six o'clock. He said goodbye to Captain Zhou, took the soldiers of the guard squad, and got on the steel rolling mill's car to go back.

On the way back, Squad Leader Wang hesitated several times to speak, which made Li Weidong unable to hold back and asked:
"Squad Leader Wang, what's going on? Just tell me if you have any questions. I'll definitely help if I can."

Squad Leader Wang smiled awkwardly and said, "Engineer Li, that's right. I've recently observed that our laboratory's security still has some loopholes, especially in terms of air defense and how to deal with enemy armored units. I've also discovered that our squad's firepower isn't enough to handle many situations. Could you please help us solve this problem?"

The issue of laboratory security, well, this concerns my own safety, so I must help.

Air defense? Is someone flying a plane to bomb me?

Armor? Is the Eight-Nation Alliance coming again?

Firepower configuration? Two heavy machine guns are already enough for the security mission of a small laboratory. Is that not enough? Do we need cannons? Or tanks?

Li Weidong was instantly confused. He actually understood. Squad Leader Wang had taken a fancy to the new equipment and wanted Li Weidong to make it for them. Using it for lab security wasn't a violation of discipline. After all, it was experimental equipment being used for lab security, and they hadn't replaced the equipment.

Li Weidong said to Squad Leader Wang, "Squad Leader Wang, tell me what you like. I'll make it for you when I get to work tomorrow."

Squad Leader Wang chuckled and said, "Can Engineer Li take them all?"

Li Weidong smiled and said, "Okay, but I have to remind you that the recoil of an anti-material sniper rifle is very strong. It must be used by a strong person, and you must be careful when using it, otherwise you will really get hurt."

Squad Leader Wang said, "Don't worry, I know everything. I'll explain it to the soldiers when I get back."

"Okay, then give me a quantity tomorrow and I'll make the parts for you when I get to work. You'll also need to install them when the time comes."

"Okay, Mr. Li." Squad Leader Wang said happily.

You see, don’t people who grow flowers all have a bit of a fear of insufficient firepower?

Squad leader Wang asked the driver to send Li Weidong back to the courtyard first, and then they drove back to the steel rolling mill.

Li Weidong watched Squad Leader Wang and the others go away before entering the courtyard.

(End of this chapter)