Chapter 200 In this respect, we have finally caught up with and surpassed the other side of the ocea

After leaving the Dalian Shipyard, Zhao Ping'an returned to Shenyang.

It was already dark when the special train arrived at the station.

It was windy on the platform. Old Zhou from Factory 331 was waiting there with a few people. When he saw Zhao Ping'an get off the train, he quickly came to greet him.

"Minister, you've come all this way so late."

Zhao Pingan waved his hand and got into the car.

The car arrived at Factory 331 very quickly.

As soon as the workshop door was pushed open, a wave of heat rushed out.

Dozens of people were busy inside; the conveyor belt was turning, and the workers, dressed in overalls, sat at their workstations.

Below him were missiles being assembled.

Old Zhou walked ahead, introducing things as he went:

"This is the final assembly line, operating on two shifts. Over there is the guidance head testing area, and behind that is the engine test bench."

Zhao Ping'an walked to a workstation and stopped.

The worker is loading something into the missile; his fingers are very steady.

Rows of missiles, already loaded, were stacked up next to them, their warheads gleaming coldly.

Old Zhou explained, "We started copying the drawings you gave us in April as soon as we got back."

The seeker head, servo motor, and engine were tackled one by one.

In the first two months, they wore out several sets of blueprints from working on them so much that the senior engineers stayed up until two or three in the morning every day.

He pointed to a row of missiles over there: "The prototype of the guidance head will be out in June, but its sensitivity is not enough."

We disassembled and rebuilt it, tried three different materials, and went through more than forty trials before finally meeting the standards in August.

"The same thing happened with the engine; the thrust couldn't go up. Later, the materials department provided a new formula and changed the combustion chamber structure. In the first test run in September, the thrust was 5% greater than the original version."

Zhao Ping'an listened quietly, nodding in response from time to time.

This is Lao Zhou again praising these hardworking staff members.

It is also a way to express joy after success.

Just like a primary school student who gets 100 points on a test, the first thing they think of is going home to share it with their family.

Old Zhou continued, "The chips started being supplied in August, and the first batch of prototypes with the chips were test-fired in September."

The first shot hit. Then fourteen more shots were fired, and not a single one missed; they all hit.

Then Lao Zhou paused for a moment.

"Minister, from April until now, more than eight months, we have not let you down and have accomplished the goals you assigned us."

"Old Zhou, you've worked hard, well done. We'll compile the list later, and the ministry's commendation will arrive before the new year. There will be a broadcast at the end of the year. Although we can't mention your names or our factory number, there will be a letter of commendation in front of the whole nation for you comrades who have contributed to the defense of the Republic." Zhao Ping'an shook Old Zhou's hand and announced loudly.

"Really? Minister?" Several young technicians nearby looked up and asked. Everyone knew that Minister Zhao was a high-ranking official, but they didn't know exactly how high-ranking. So when they first heard the news, they were mostly incredulous. It was a letter of commendation in front of the entire nation! Even if it were broadcast on the radio, many people would have heard it, right?

"Go away, go away, go away! Get back to work properly. If the quality isn't up to standard, you'll see what I do to you!" Old Zhou hurriedly shooed away the obedient young technicians.

"Haha, Lao Zhou, it's alright. I'll answer this comrade's question right now. That's for sure; I have the ability. Besides, our factory's contribution deserves national recognition. It's just that the exact time on the radio station is uncertain right now," Zhao Ping'an replied with a smile.

"Haha, haha, that's good, that's good!" Old Zhou rubbed his hands together excitedly, a stark contrast to when Zhao Ping'an was handing out bonuses and benefits.

Zhao Ping'an couldn't help but sigh again, realizing that the comrades of this era were indeed simple and honest, and valued spiritual rewards more.

Zhao Pingan looked at the rows of missiles and asked to confirm the data he already knew.

What is the current production capacity?

Old Zhou said, "We can produce 100 pieces this month, but we weren't very familiar with it before, so there was a certain scrap rate. Now the workers are all skilled. Producing a stable 1,000 qualified products a year shouldn't be a problem."

Zhao Ping'an nodded.

"Old Zhou, after the new year, I need you to expand the production line. At the same time, you need to start training new employees by having experienced ones mentor new ones, on a six-month cycle, aiming to expand to four production lines by the end of the year, and also double the number of technical personnel..."

"So, boss, after expanding the production line, will the production target also be increased?" Old Zhou pressed.

"Start with 2500 units, and try to improve the production qualification rate and efficiency. Next year, focus on training personnel to improve quality," Zhao Ping'an assigned the task.

"Yes, mission accomplished."

Not long after I left Shenyang and returned to Beiping, Mr. Qian came.

As soon as he entered, he placed a roll of blueprints on the coffee table and sat down.

Zhao Ping'an put down his pen and got up to make tea for Old Qian.

With a smile, Mr. Qian asked, "Comrade Ping An, you know about the BeiDou project?"

Zhao Pingan replied, "Of course, Liu Ying has been there all along, hasn't she? Although she's mainly in charge of the chip-related matters, she's also in charge of the satellite aspects, so I have a general understanding of the situation. Four satellites were put into orbit in September, and the ground stations were completed. One each in the Northwest, Beijing, Xinjiang, the Northeast, and Yunnan. The ones in Central China, East China, and South China are still under construction."

Old Qian nodded. "I thought I could give you another surprise, but it turns out you sent me a little 'spy' here. By the way, what about the matter of replacing the chips in the naval receiver?"

Zhao Ping'an served the tea to Elder Qian, saying, "Elder Qian, this is a batch that I had the Navy take to test."

Old Qian looked at Zhao Ping'an and said, "The chip will be available in August, and the replacement will begin in September."

The first batch of receivers, installed on the C28A, have been at sea for half a month. The data arrived at my office yesterday.

"The positioning accuracy is slightly worse than the original, at around 50 meters, while the original is 15 meters."

But it works. And the chip is our own, which is a huge relief.

Zhao Ping'an nodded, waiting for Elder Qian to continue. Elder Qian rarely came to his office without a reason.

As for the monthly private family dinners between the two families, Mrs. Qian would directly call the secretariat to schedule the time.

As expected, Old Qian was silent for a few seconds before speaking, "I'm here today to ask you for the people."

Zhao Ping'an looked at Old Qian, raised his hand, and gestured for him to proceed.

Qian continued, "The Dongfeng-2A missile has been finalized, and the two bombs have been successfully combined. Next, there's a lot of work to be done on the Dongfeng-3 and satellites. There are also some aerospace talents that need to be trained. According to the major, medium, and minor categories in your previous industrial report, there is currently a shortage of personnel, a significant lack."

Zhao Ping'an stood up, walked to his desk, opened a drawer, took out a document, and handed it to Mr. Qian.

"Take a look at this first."

Mr. Qian took it and opened it.

Page 1:

National worker statistics: 5836 million (excluding personnel in construction, railway, power, water conservancy and other projects)

Number of skilled workers in the factory (including Level 2 skilled workers and above)

A total of 2485 million people have been trained, with an annual training capacity of 650 million people.

Old Qian looked up. "Is that all?"

Zhao Pingan smiled and replied, "Keep reading."

The second page:

In 1957, it was estimated that there would be 131 million university graduates, with science and engineering majors accounting for 86%.

A total of 537 million graduates (data as of July 1957, including those who graduated in 1957).

Mr. Qian carefully examined the document for a long time before putting it down.

Zhao Ping'an sat down with a smile. "How many people do we need, what majors do we need? As long as the political review is passed, except for those in the military industry, which we need to discuss, we'll provide as many as we need. Our lives are gradually getting better now. Although the quality of our talent is not as good as that of the other side of the ocean, the quantity is already at a similar level."

Moreover, if we include industrial workers in projects such as railway construction, water conservancy, and hydropower, our number of workers already exceeds that of the other side of the ocean...

"It's time we started living a more comfortable life."

Mr. Qian leaned back on the sofa, staring at the document for a long time.

"Great, great, that's wonderful!" After praising it, she acted swiftly and decisively.

"Okay, I'll have them select people from universities later. I have other things to do, so I'll be going now."

As he reached the door, he suddenly stopped and turned back.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing. The Dongfeng-3 project has been approved. The target range is over 2,500 kilometers."

Zhao Pingan paused for a moment, then nodded.

Mr. Qian stood at the door, his hands in his coat pockets, as if he had suddenly remembered something.

Then he suddenly laughed, took something out of his pocket, and placed it on the coffee table.

"Here, take this."

Zhao Pingan looked down and was stunned.

It's a watch. A digital watch with a black dial displaying numbers; the design looks familiar.

He picked up the watch, looked at it from all angles, and suddenly remembered.

"This..." He looked up at Mr. Qian, "...it looks a bit like the one I gave you back then."

Old Qian laughed: "It's not just somewhat similar. It's a copy of yours."

Zhao Ping'an was stunned.

Mr. Qian walked back, sat down on the sofa again, and said:

"I've always worn the watch you gave me back then. A few months ago, when Beidou was launched and the satellites started transmitting signals, I realized—that's what your watch was for."

He pointed to the watch in Zhao Ping'an's hand.

"For location tracking, right?"

Zhao Ping'an didn't speak, just stared at the watch.

Mr. Qian said, "Are you afraid I'll get lost? You got me this watch."

Zhao Pingan smiled.

"Someone as important as you," Zhao Ping'an put down his watch.

"I absolutely need to know where you are at all times, just like your food needs to be inspected first."

Only the boss, Fu Shuai, and I know about this, so don't worry about anything else.

Mr. Qian nodded. "Were you just trying to ask how this watch was copied?"

Zhao Ping'an looked up at him.

Professor Qian explained, "Logically speaking, our current technology cannot replicate this. We cannot make the chips inside."

Zhao Ping'an remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

Mr. Qian pointed to the watch: "The chip inside was replaced from a Beidou receiver."

Zhao Pingan was stunned for a moment.

Mr. Qian said, "Didn't you ask the Navy to switch to domestically produced chips?"

A batch of other receivers were also replaced. I took a few pieces from the replaced ones and had the students study them to see if they could be used.

"After studying it, I found that this thing is similar to the one inside the watch."

The student made a new one based on the one you gave me back then.

Zhao Pingan looked down at the watch.

Professor Qian said, "Consider this a return gift. You've given us so much—equipment, technology, blueprints—this is something the students did to show their appreciation."

Zhao Pingan picked up the watch and looked at it for a while.

The numbers on the dial jumped steadily and accurately.

"Okay, Professor Qian, go back and tell the students to thank them. I accept this gift; it's one of the best gifts I've received this year."

Mr. Qian nodded, stood up, and this time he was really leaving.