The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 160 The Russians are coming

"Comrade Zhiqiang, there's an unexpected task that I need you to complete."

Early in the morning, Zhou Zhiqiang had just sat down in his office when he received a phone call from the Machine Tool Administration Bureau of the First Ministry of Machine Building.

Director Ren's serious and solemn voice came from the other end of the phone: "The elder brother has a team of mechanical engineers who want to visit your machine tool factory. They were the team that previously assisted Liaoyang No. 1 Machine Tool Factory."

After learning that we have high-precision coordinate boring machines capable of machining precision missile components, they requested a factory visit and may even be interested in purchasing some.”

"Visit for procurement?"

Zhou Zhiqiang was taken aback when he heard the news. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Director Ren, our relationship with them has deteriorated. Why are they still coming?"

"Comrade Zhiqiang, it's fine if you just say it to me, but please don't say it like that in public."

Director Ren on the other end of the phone interrupted him, then instructed him, "The relationship between our country and Big Brother is very complicated, and it's not something people of our level can interfere with."

Moreover, at present, the Big Brother has only stopped providing material and technical support; their scientists in cutting-edge defense fields are still in our country.”

After Director Ren mentioned it, Zhou Zhiqiang did indeed remember.

He had a somewhat confused sense of time and kept thinking that his relationship with the Russians would break down, and that they might even become enemies in the future.

Before June of this year, the two sides were just arguing and expressing different opinions, and the argument was about the military matter.

But the support can continue. China can also buy supplies and high-precision coordinate boring machines from Russia. It is the precision parts and manufacturing technology purchased from Russia that enable the production.

However, after June, it will be impossible to purchase supplies, and the Russians will gradually recall their experts in China.

However, this recall will be gradual until the middle of next year, around the year 1960, when the relationship between the two sides will truly reach a freezing point and become tense.

It's mid-August now, and the Russians have only withdrawn twenty or thirty experts. There are still hundreds of technical experts working on various projects.

If Zhou Zhiqiang's words were to get out and be used by someone with ulterior motives, he could be accused of seriously damaging diplomatic relations between the two countries.

"I understand, Director Ren, but what can he possibly see when he comes to our factory?"

Zhou Zhiqiang asked, "If he wants to see the most core technological changes or ask for technical drawings, should we refuse him directly?"

"We'll have Comrade Nianjun handle this. He'll accompany the Russian technical experts there."

"Is Deputy Director Liu coming too?"

Zhou Zhiqiang was somewhat surprised after hearing this, so he asked, "What rank is the person who came? That Deputy Director Liu would personally receive them?"

"The chief engineer of the First Machine Tool Plant in Liaoyang, who was assisting the elder brother, came to Beijing to meet with his comrades and then made this request."

Director Ren sighed when he got to this point, and then continued, "The news came from the Northwest."

The experts over there, seeing how quickly we manufactured the precision components needed for missiles, soon learned of the existence of high-precision coordinate boring machines.

"We have no way to guard against or keep secrets from the senior engineers over there."

After all, Ms. Qiu and the other projects still need the older brother's engineers to teach them, and they can't be stopped from seeing the machine tools if they want to.

If even a machine tool is kept secret from their engineers, and the other party gets angry and stops Ms. Qiu's research and development, then the country will suffer an even greater loss.

So that's how the news spread: Russian engineers saw that domestically produced missile components were slightly more precise than those produced in their own country.

Shocked, they relayed the news to the Russian chief engineer of the Liaoyang No. 1 Machine Tool Plant. Coincidentally, they were about to come to Beijing to hold a meeting with Russian cadres, so they made this suggestion.

'They're supposed to be the recipients of aid, so why are they suddenly operating machine tools that are even better than theirs?'

I guess that's what they were thinking when they decided to come to the Second Machine Tool Plant.

"That's settled then, Zhiqiang. The ministry will send some supplies to your factory later. If the Russians don't leave at noon, you can entertain them at your factory."

The ministry knew that the Second Machine Tool Plant was short of supplies, and that the plant might only have a little pork left; they couldn't let the Russian experts eat minced meat and radishes.

After Director Ren finished speaking, he earnestly reminded him, "You used to have some dissatisfaction with the older brother's people, but you must not show it this time no matter what."

If there are any problems, listen to Comrade Nianjun, understand?

"Director Ren, don't worry, I'm not stupid, I definitely won't show it to your face."

Zhou Zhiqiang readily agreed, and then chatted with Director Ren about some other issues before hanging up the phone.

Zhou Zhiqiang had roughly figured out what had happened, but how to deal with it was a real dilemma for him.

We'll definitely have to entertain him, but Zhou Zhiqiang has never done this kind of thing before, so he'll just have to follow Deputy Director Liu's instructions.

However, he needed to discuss this matter with Secretary Li and the others before Zhou Zhiqiang stood up and left the office.

After finding Zhang Yaoguo, he said to him, "Yaoguo, go to Director Liu in the office and ask him to go to Secretary Li's office. There is something important to discuss."

Whatever he's doing, tell him to drop what he's doing and come over right now.

"Yes, leader." The two then split up; Zhang Yaoguo went to call Director Liu, while Zhou Zhiqiang found Deputy Factory Director Sun and called him to Secretary Li's office.

After Director Liu arrived, Zhou Zhiqiang relayed everything that Director Ren had told him to Secretary Li, Deputy Factory Director Sun, and Director Liu.

“I remember the older brother’s engineer, who was also the chief engineer of the Liaoyang Machine Tool Project. He also sent people to the Second Machine Tool Plant to provide assistance for a period of time.”

After recalling for a while, Secretary Li quickly remembered something and continued, "It seems his name was Petrov. He didn't come in person, but he sent someone else."

I never expected him to come in person this time. It seems our factory's machine tools have developed to the point where Petrov has to take them seriously.

“Deputy Factory Director Zhou, since they are technical experts and have come to observe the technology, you should receive them.”

Upon hearing this, Deputy Factory Director Sun quickly nodded and said, "Yes, Deputy Factory Director Zhou, it would be better if you did it. Neither Secretary Li nor I are quite suitable."

The Russian technical experts sounded very troublesome; moreover, due to the language barrier, even with a translator, the discussions would mostly revolve around technical matters.

One of them is in charge of files and discipline, and the other is in charge of logistics. What are they doing getting involved? They can't just stand there like wooden stakes the whole time.

We just need to know that the Russian technical experts are coming to the factory; there's no need to rush to find them. Besides, they're just visiting, not providing on-site assistance.

"Okay then."

Seeing that both of them were reluctant to go, and knowing that he couldn't very well refuse, Zhou Zhiqiang had no choice but to agree.

"Director Liu, go and inform the logistics department that the ministry will be sending a batch of supplies to entertain the Russians soon, and the cooks may also be coming along."

You'll handle this personally. If the Russian technical experts stay for lunch at the factory, I'll have Zhang Yaoguo notify you then.

"Call the technical department again and tell them to watch out for oncoming traffic."

Upon hearing this, Liu Aihua quickly replied, "Yes, then Deputy Factory Director Zhou, I'll go and make the arrangements right away."

"Go ahead, they'll be here soon."

Zhou Zhiqiang glanced at his watch, pointed, and said, "We'll probably arrive around 9:30. There's still about an hour to go, so there's no need to rush."

Director Liu nodded, but quickly left to make the arrangements.

After exchanging a few words with Secretary Li and Deputy Factory Director Sun, Zhou Zhiqiang went back to prepare.

Although neither of them is involved, this matter still needs to be communicated; they may not participate, but they cannot be unaware of it. If we bypass them and fail to notify them, that would be a sign of a lack of unity among our comrades.

Before long, several vehicles slowly drove toward the Second Machine Tool Plant.

Upon arriving at the gate, a security guard quickly came out and stepped forward to verify my identity.

After verification, the gate was immediately opened to allow the five vehicles to drive into the factory. By this time, the gatekeeper had already called the factory office to report the situation.

After Deputy Director Liu, the Russian technical experts, and other comrades got out of the car, Zhou Zhiqiang led his men downstairs.

"Deputy Director Liu."

Upon approaching, Zhou Zhiqiang first greeted Deputy Director Liu, and then glanced at the Russians.

Five people came in total. One of them mumbled something in Spanish and pointed at Zhou Zhiqiang.

The assistant brought by Deputy Director Liu originally wanted to step forward to help translate, but Zhou Zhiqiang said directly in Russian: "Yes, I am the person who improved the machine tool. In our country's terms, I am a level 5 engineer."

However, their technician and worker levels were largely based on those of the Russians, so Petrov could understand even a Level 5 engineer.

As for Zhou Zhiqiang, he learned Russian very early on; if you don't know some Russian, you can't even understand a lot of technical documents if you're a mechanical engineering major in college.

At this time, Russian is almost a must-learn for university students majoring in science and engineering or with strong professional skills.

Moreover, Zhou Zhiqiang's brain was enhanced multiple times afterward, and he learned several foreign languages, with Russian being just one of them that he had mastered.

After listening to Zhou Zhiqiang's words, Petrov stepped forward with some surprise and shook hands, saying, "I didn't know you were so fluent in our language. Then we don't need anyone else to translate."

Could you take us to see your coordinate boring machine workshop? I'm very curious about your technological development; I remember this factory didn't develop this rapidly just a few years ago.”

Petrov said a lot at once, and his mouth was like a rolling tongue, making it really hard for people who are not fluent in Russian to understand.

Zhou Zhiqiang listened and nodded. After he finished, he turned to Deputy Director Liu and said, "Sir, he wants to visit the workshop in the factory that manufactures high-precision coordinate boring machines. He probably wants to learn about the technology."

"Then take him there."

Deputy Director Liu nodded and said, "Deputy Factory Director Zhou, since you understand Russian, there's no need for my assistant to translate for you."

Now you are free to receive Petrov and his party. If anything causes you any trouble, let me know immediately, and I will handle it with them.

　Third update, please vote for me!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)