A courtyard house; Li Yunlong, a subordinate of the deputy director of Harbin Military Engineering I

The next day, Zhang Renfeng was not idle.

He got up very early. The original framework of the five major departments was determined by Brigade Commander Chen and Soviet experts together: Air Force Engineering Department, Artillery Engineering Department, Naval Engineering Department, Armored Force Engineering Department, and Engineer Engineering Department. Each department had its own responsibilities, covering the main technical directions of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.

But Zhang Renfeng lay in bed tossing and turning for half the night, feeling that something was missing.

Having lived two lives, he knows better than anyone that rockets and missiles represent the future of national defense.

The homemade explosives and rockets we made in the Taihang Mountains back then were out of necessity due to circumstances.

If Harbin Military Engineering Institute doesn't separate its rocket program now, what's the difference between that and begging for food while holding a golden bowl?

He added a line after the five major systems—

"Sixth Department: Rocket Engineering Department"

He then added a question mark next to it, pondering how to explain this extra item to Lao Chen and the Soviet experts.

When Old Chen pushed the door open, he saw him staring intently at the plan. Leaning on his cane, he leaned over for a glance and clicked his tongue.

"You're really planning to build rockets? We don't even have a decent rocket expert. You can't expect Li Yunlong and his bunch of blockheads to build missiles, can you?"

Zhang Renfeng didn't even look up: "If we don't have any, we'll train them. Back in the Taihang Mountains, we didn't even have a single proper engineer, but didn't I still lead a bunch of country bumpkins and blow up the Japanese bunkers?"

He put down his pen and turned around.

"Old Chen, there's no room for discussion on this. The Sixth Department must be established, even if it's just a nominal one for now, and we can fill in the personnel later."

If you disagree, I'll submit a report directly to the Central Military Commission and the Ordnance Commission in my capacity as political commissar. If it gets approved, don't feel ashamed.

"Of course, besides that, I have another way, which is to put the rocket project under my Second Ministry of Machine Building. I believe that with my connections, it can be done..."

"Don't underestimate my connections..."

Old Chen was so taken aback by his words that he slammed his cane on the ground twice, muttering curses under his breath, "Your connections, your connections, are worthless... even if you throw them out there..."

Moreover, I, Old Chen, absolutely cannot lose a beast like Zhang Renfeng. Damn, the feeling of being manipulated is too unpleasant.

I thought the trivial matters in life were nothing to worry about, but now they've all become a nightmare.

After thinking for a moment, Old Chen gritted his teeth, determined not to lose Zhang Renfeng, and made up his mind.

The seriousness in his eyes had already set in:

"Fine, fine, you decide. But you'll have to talk to the Soviet experts yourself; I don't want to argue with them. Those people are all incredibly stubborn, saying things like 'the Soviet model is the most advanced,' I'm sick of hearing it."

"Moreover, these people are all proud and arrogant, and they are not easy to deal with. Don't think that just because you have made meritorious contributions, they will have to give you face. Trust me, they are not simple people."

Looking at his extremely confident expression, Zhang Renfeng smiled. "Don't be fooled by how formidable the Russians are now; decades from now, when the true strength is revealed..."

"Let's talk. Arrange a meeting, invite General Olekhov, and I'll speak with him personally."

That afternoon, Lao Chen organized a meeting in the conference room of the temporary command headquarters of Harbin Military Engineering Institute.

The Soviet delegation, led by Lieutenant General Olekhov, included five experts. On the Chinese side, besides Lao Chen and Zhang Renfeng, there were several cadres from the preparatory office and a translator.

Zhao Gang, along with several engineers and weapons experts, also attended the event.

Olekhov was the deputy director of the Leningrad Morzhesky Air Force Engineering Academy, and Zhang Renfeng had a deep impression of this general.

In my previous life, when I was studying at the National University of Defense Technology, there was a special chapter in the school's history dedicated to Olekhov, saying that he made great contributions to the Harbin Military Engineering Institute, almost giving his life there, and eventually died on the job.

When the two shook hands, Zhang Renfeng deliberately used a little more force.

Olekhov didn't stand on ceremony; instead, he opened his arms and gave Zhang Renfeng a big hug. When he let go, his face was full of smiles: "Comrade Zhang, your name shines throughout the world, but I never expected you to be so young."

He spoke with the hearty manner typical of an old soldier, patted Zhang Renfeng on the shoulder, and then took a half step back to look him up and down, as if to confirm that the person in front of him was really only thirty-three years old.

After listening to the translation, Zhang Renfeng turned to the young translator and said, "Xiao Hu, tell Comrade Olekhov that although I am young, I have served in the military for twenty-three years."

The translator relayed the message, and Olekhov's eyes widened upon hearing it. His expression shifted from surprise to admiration, and finally to a heartfelt exclamation:

"This is incredible. Our Marshal Zhukov would love to meet you, or rather, many of our high-ranking Soviet generals would love to meet you."

We studied your two decisive battles in Korea for a long time in Moscow, especially your tunnel decoy system; we even held a special seminar on it.

Zhang Renfeng waved his hand, half-jokingly saying, "I'm very busy. My son is almost a year old, and I haven't even met him yet. My wife is still in Beiping. I'm planning to go back and have a few more children. Can we talk about it when I have more time?"

He finished speaking and then laughed, revealing a row of white teeth.

Upon hearing this, Old Chen, who was standing nearby, almost lost his temper and quickly stomped on Zhang Renfeng's foot: "Can't you be normal for once? They're here to discuss serious business!"

Olekhov, however, disagreed and burst into laughter: "Yes, Comrade Zhang, you're absolutely right. His wife is young; he needs to go back and discipline her with a stick more often."

As he spoke, he gestured with his hand as if swinging a stick, which made several Soviet experts in the conference room laugh, and the atmosphere immediately relaxed.

Zhang Renfeng turned his head, looking at Old Chen's expression that seemed to want to disappear into a crack in the ground, and raised an eyebrow: "See? I told you, don't be polite with him, be more enthusiastic, relax a bit. Do you know why you can only call him 'colleague'?"

He paused, then added, "You don't drink."

Old Chen showed no expression upon hearing this, but secretly rejoiced.

This silly boy, why do you think I absolutely need you?

Isn't it because you, Niu Ma Zhang, can drink a thousand cups without getting drunk?

His little scheme churned in his mind, and he thought to himself that this trip was truly worthwhile. Sending Zhang Renfeng to deal with the Russians' drinking culture was like prescribing the right medicine for their illness.

With Zhang Renfeng by your side, even the Su family would bow down to you. What kind of drinking capacity do you rely on?

He won again.

Zhang Renfeng smiled at Olekhov, and this time, without waiting for a translator, said directly in Russian, "You understand me."

The meeting room fell silent for a second.

The translator, Xiao Hu, stood there dumbfounded, while Old Chen looked on in astonishment. The Soviet experts present exchanged glances, none of them having expected that this young Chinese general could speak such fluent Russian.

Old Chen, in particular, stared wide-eyed, forgetting even to use his cane: "No way, you really can? I thought you were just bragging. How could you...?"

Zhang Renfeng turned to look at him, his face full of disdain: "Unlike some people, who are unambitious, ignorant, and only know how to take advantage of others." He spoke in a relaxed tone, but the smugness in his eyes was impossible to hide.

Actually, it's not Zhang Renfeng's fault.

In later generations, which frontline commander or soldier who participated in peacekeeping forces didn't know a little bit of a foreign language?

English and Russian are the common languages.

In addition, both the old political commissar and his mentor in this life were his teachers. One forced him to learn original Russian tactical textbooks during the Yan'an period, and the other was even more direct, saying, "How will you deal with the Russians if you don't know a foreign language?"

Over the years, he has improved his spoken English, but he has never had the chance to show it off. Today, it finally came in handy.

That's why his master asked him if he wanted to go into diplomacy.

As for Old Chen....

He could speak it too, but only in everyday language; he was nowhere near the level of Zhang Renfeng, who could discuss technical details with Soviet experts.

Olekhov's eyes lit up, and he laughed, "I didn't expect that Comrade Zhang Liangshi would know our language. That's wonderful, it saves us a lot of trouble."

As he spoke, he glanced at Old Chen sitting next to him, then lowered his voice and said to Zhang Renfeng, "Well, your Dean Chen is frail and sickly, and he doesn't drink a drop of alcohol. Actually, none of us like him."

He just wants us to do more work every day. I don't mind, but my colleagues will definitely mind later. Now that you're here, I feel relieved.

After hearing this, Zhang Renfeng turned to the translator, Xiao Hu, and said in Russian, "Xiao Hu, there's no need to translate that last part, lest Old Chen have a heart attack."