The train driver in the courtyard

"Has assembly already begun? I thought it would take at least two months."

In the Engineering Bureau, Director Chen received a call from Liu Guozhang. He seemed very happy when he learned that the assembly had begun.

"We at the railway don't know much about engineering, so we need your help during the test."

Hearing this, Director Chen was a little stunned.

All the tunnel drawings have been handed over to Engineer Dong, and there are so many technicians from the engineering bureau on site, why does he still need help?
Director Chen was also an old comrade, and he immediately realized that the credit had to be divided on the railway.

"What do the patriotic comrades think?" Director Chen did not agree immediately, but smiled and said.

"This is the suggestion of a patriotic comrade. Old Chen, when we were fighting, we believed in strength in numbers and united all comrades who could be united to form a united front. Now that we have been liberated and have started construction, we must not abandon this fine tradition."

The railway department was proposing a joint proposal. Considering that the Ministry of Railways had abolished the Progress Office, Director Chen felt that the wind direction seemed to be changing.

He knew very well that even if Li Aiguo was an advanced train driver in the country, it would be impossible for him to express his opinion on such a major event.

Even Liu Guozhang is not qualified.

Those who can make this suggestion,
Or is it higher level?

Director Chen was confused for a moment.

But he knew,
We should hold together!

Director Chen was a little excited and nodded without hesitation: "Brother Guozhang, I will take the best technicians over there now."

When the senior executives of the Engineering Bureau, represented by Director Chen, rushed to the Xiaoxishan construction site, Li Aiguo had already built a temporary factory building made of iron sheets in front of the tunnel.

After all, the installation of the cutterhead and the debugging of the shield machine need to be carried out in a stable environment.

"The railway big brother is indeed the big brother. If the shield machine is successful, we won't have to worry about digging tunnels in the future."

Director Chen took his team to visit the tunnel boring machine and gave it high praise.

"The cutterhead has been installed, but there are still some minor issues that need to be debugged."

Li Aiguo briefly introduced the progress and then made a request.

"The operation of the shield machine is relatively complicated, and the operator needs professional training."

"Once completed, this tunnel boring machine may be used in the excavation of the Beijing subway."

"Director Chen, are you going to select a group of operators from the Engineering Bureau?"

If it were in the past, Director Chen might have refused.

Now that they had formed an alliance with the railway, they agreed without hesitation.

Director Chen asked the Personnel Department to select a group of technicians from the Engineering Bureau who had excellent backgrounds, high ideological awareness, and had served on the battlefield, and had them come to the construction site as operators to learn how to drive a tunnel boring machine.

In the following few days, Li Aiguo debugged the shield machine while discussing with technicians how to excavate, and also taught the operators how to drive the shield machine.

When one person has the work of three people, life becomes particularly fulfilling and energy is consumed particularly quickly.

After persisting for a few days, Li Aiguo had the idea of ​​going back and getting some Linggui wine.

Director Chen came up with a good thing and asked the staff of the Engineering Bureau to deliver it to the construction site.

Looking at the two mooing cows, Li Aiguo was confused for a moment: "Secretary Zhang, what are you doing?"

"A cow."

"I know this is a dairy cow." Li Aiguo scratched his head as he looked at the obvious features. "Does your engineering bureau also engage in breeding?"

"Ah, here's what happened."

The Engineering Bureau has a major project in Qindao that is related to the Qindao Ranch Dairy Business Association.

The Pasture Dairy Business Association is the largest dairy company in Qindao. It has its own dairy farm and provides fresh milk to the citizens.

The guild and the company saw that the Engineering Bureau had done a great job and decided to give them a reward.

In this way, the Engineering Bureau obtained more than thirty dairy cows.

The Engineering Bureau was reluctant at first. They were in the engineering business, so what did they need this thing for?

Later I discovered the benefits of the cow - this thing is a mobile milk station.

Whenever there is a big project, people are sent to drive the cows there, where they are raised and milked locally and supplied to the workers locally.

It can be said to be both economical and environmentally friendly.

"Comrade Patriot, I see you've been working hard lately, so I sent these two here." The engineering bureau official pointed at the cows and said, "This is a great tonic, and it's also very convenient to eat. If you need it, you can go over and take a sip."

After taking two sips, Li Aiguo couldn't help but take two steps back.

"Don't worry, the cows are used to it. Many of our workers like to suck it after eating."

"Hehe, let's find a milker." Even though Li Aiguo had worked on many projects, he still couldn't adapt to the rough style of engineers.

Brother Civil Engineering, life is hard.

The officer from the Engineering Bureau thought that the train driver was a bit pretentious. Milking was a waste of manpower and resources, and it was not as enjoyable as sucking.

However, Director Chen specifically instructed them to meet all of Li Aiguo's needs, so he could only send an aunt from the Engineering Bureau who was in charge of cooking to serve as a milkmaid.

At noon that day, Li Aiguo drank the steaming milk.

This thing doesn't have any sweetness at all, but rather a bit salty and fishy.

But the effect is great.

Especially hungry.

Time passed day by day, and with the nourishment of milk, our Li Aiguo became strong again. The cutter disc was installed smoothly, and an operating team composed of technicians from the Engineering Bureau was formed.

After communicating with Engineer Dong and the Engineering Bureau, the construction technology and process were finally determined.

On Monday morning, the leaders of the Engineering Bureau came to the Xiaoxishan construction site.

Director Chen looked at Li Aiguo and said, "Comrade Aiguo, you will announce the start."

Li Aiguo did not back down either. He raised the small red flag and waved it down heavily: "The test begins!"

Boom boom boom!
The shield machine began experimental operation, with bursts of black smoke spewing out of the chimney and the tracked walking part slowly moving forward.

The steam engine drives the connecting rod to rotate rapidly, and the hydraulic mechanism connected to the axle drives the vane pump and the piston pump at the same time, causing the cutter disc to rotate violently.

Ka Ka Ka Ka
The originally extremely solid rock becomes like a block of tofu under the action of the special blade.

Although the railway soldiers had long known that this big guy was extremely powerful, they were still shocked by the scene.

"It's moving, it's moving, damn, this thing is too sharp."

"In the past, we had to use blasting to break off the rocks, but now they are crushed just like this."

"This thing is too powerful, Comrade Aiguo is a genius!"

Amid the discussions, the stones were cut into gravel and fell onto the conveyor below. The conveyor, under the action of the drive disc, transported the gravel to the discharge port at the rear.

The engineering bureau's truck had been waiting nearby, and the gravel quickly filled the truck bed through a wooden chute, and then another truck rushed over.

When encountering particularly hard rock, the shield machine has some difficulty.

At this time, the operator started the auxiliary diesel engine in accordance with regulations, and the gear set next to the cutter disc rotated rapidly, doubling the speed of the cutter disc.

This auxiliary power can only last for half a minute at most. If it lasts too long, the connecting rod will not be able to hold on. However, it is enough to cut hard rocks.

Every half meter forward, Li Aiguo would personally calibrate the excavation direction using mechanical guide rods and a spirit level, and then use a jack to adjust the shield machine's posture.

“If the Red Star Computing Institute could develop a computer program suitable for shield machines that could adjust parameters such as thrust and speed in real time, it wouldn’t need to be so complicated.” After Li Aiguo made the adjustments, he gave a signal to the operator.

Under the operator's operation, the shield machine continues to work.

When the progress exceeded 0.5 meters, the construction workers started the diesel blower at the entrance to avoid oxygen deficiency in the tunnel.

When the progress exceeded 1 meter, water accumulated in the sump at the bottom of the shield machine, and the construction workers started the water pump that had been installed under the shield machine.

When the progress exceeded 2 meters, the manual hydraulic jack at the tail of the shield machine was started. With the help of the jack, the construction workers used prefabricated cast iron segments to form temporary supports through manual assembly to prevent tunnel collapse.

Concrete was then pumped into the tunnel to reinforce areas that were at risk of collapse.

These steps are linked together and are sufficient to ensure the safe excavation of the tunnel.

The captain of the railway troops watched the entire operation and suddenly rushed over.

Gave Li Aiguo a bear hug.

"Thank you, patriotic comrade. Thank you so much. With this thing, we railway soldiers can have more babies."

Li Aiguo rubbed his greasy hands on his clothes and asked, "What does this have to do with having a baby?"

"The project is progressing quickly, and everyone has some time off. Can't they go home and do things with their wives?"

"."

Li Aiguo felt that the captain's thinking was too divergent.

A day passed, and when the shield machine stopped for the first maintenance, the technician also reported the progress of the project: "Ten meters, we completed ten meters of excavation today."

"Ten meters. That's equivalent to a team of three to five thousand people." Even though the captain of the railway troops knew that this thing was fast, he couldn't help but gasp.

"From the perspective of the engineering workload, it is true. But can three to five thousand people fit into this tunnel?"

"And this thing is safe. There hasn't been a single rockfall incident all day today."

"The key is that I feel comfortable now. In the past, after a day's work, I was so tired that I had to sit on the ground and couldn't move. Look, now I can run, I can jump, and I can even jump very hard!"

"Big satellite, this thing is definitely a big satellite."

No one knew who shouted at the scene, but there was warm applause.

It was the first time for Director Chen to see such a grand scene. He was already quite excited, and when he felt the atmosphere on the scene, he could no longer hold back.

"Old Liu, you really got a good student!"

"Old Liu, to be honest, I always thought you were incompetent. When you were chased away for making slogans, you ran too slowly. I didn't expect you to have a good eye for people."

"It's just so-so. This kid still has a lot of room for improvement." Liu Guozhang said Versailles.

"Old Liu, I think I underestimated this shield machine." As he said this, Director Chen suddenly strode into the tunnel.

At this time, Li Aiguo was already checking the shield machine and the situation inside the tunnel. The maintenance work of the shield machine was in progress, and steel drills were also inserted around the rock working face.

Several construction workers are pouring concrete to prevent collapse.

Li Aiguo originally planned to develop a grouting system.

However, the grouting system required power support, and the steam engine was already struggling to drive the cutter disc, so they abandoned the grouting system and used manual labor instead.

Seeing Li Aiguo coming, the squad leader of the operation class came over to report the situation, and Li Aiguo gave his comments.

"Operator Liu, there was nothing wrong with your operation today overall, but you didn't adjust the baffle in time to cope with the geological changes. Otherwise, there would be no need to turn on the auxiliary diesel power."

"Comrade Patriot, I have noted it all down. Don't worry, we will train all night tonight and ensure that similar incidents will not happen again." Liu Gongyao nodded heavily.

Li Aiguo understood the temperament of these old comrades and patted him on the shoulder with a smile: "Don't be nervous, this is just the first time to operate a shield machine, you have done a very good job.

Don’t work overtime at night. Get enough rest and be energetic so that you can better deal with emergencies.”

Li Aiguo's attitude made Liu Guanhao secretly relieved.

It is an extremely honorable thing to be a member of the shield machine operation team.

Liu would not allow himself to hold back the operations team because of personal technical reasons.

At this time, Director Chen came in and asked about the situation.

Director Chen heaved a sigh of relief when he learned that everything was normal.

"Your shield machine has completed ten meters of excavation today. Is it possible to increase the speed further?"

As soon as Director Chen said this, he felt that he was being a little greedy.

The excavation distance of ten meters was beyond the imagination of half of the engineers.

Li Aiguo took the towel from Liu Guangong, wiped his hands and said, "This is still in the experimental stage. After improvement, it may be able to be increased to twelve meters."

"Twelve meters" Director Chen's face was somewhat moved, and he asked again: "How to arrange such large equipment?"

Liu Guozhang came over and said, "Let's leave the manufacturing work to our Railway Research Institute. The Qianmen Locomotive Depot will be responsible for the specific manufacturing, and the Railway Corps will be responsible for the maintenance."

These three are units with relatively high confidentiality levels.

"This is the most appropriate way." Li Aiguo nodded.

Director Chen also nodded in agreement.

The Engineering Bureau obtained the right to use the first tunnel boring machine, the Railway Technology Research Institute obtained the right to provide technical guidance, the Qianmen Locomotive Depot obtained the production order, and the Railway Corps obtained the maintenance "order".

Each of the four families received a steamed bun.

With ideals in place and now common interests, the four units, which were already closely related, are now even more united.

"What about the size? Your shield machine is designed according to this tunnel. The cutterhead size is ten meters. Is it possible to make it smaller or larger?"

Director Chen looked at the shield machine and explained: "The current domestic tunnel standard is that the width of a single-track tunnel is 4.9 to 5.6 meters, and the width of a double-track tunnel is generally 8.8 to 10.6 meters."

"The size can indeed be reduced or enlarged." Li Aiguo pointed to the walking part at the back and said, "This thing was designed based on trains. Now it is used to dig train tunnels. There is no need to worry about the size."

"That's right." Director Chen understood what Li Aiguo meant.

Li Aiguo used steam power as the power for the shield machine only out of necessity, but he unexpectedly found it to be a blessing in disguise.

Director Chen looked at the tunnel boring machine and was more and more amazed.

The size of the shield machine can be changed, which means that in the future the shield machine can not only be used in subways, but also in railway tunnels. The speed of domestic railway industry construction will be greatly accelerated.

What does it mean to promote industrial development on one's own?

That’s it!

In the following days, Director Chen was not idle either. He brought senior leaders from various departments to visit the construction site.

Of course, the relevant confidentiality work has been done. The outside of the shield machine is covered and all the key pipelines are camouflaged.

"Mr. Liu, this tunnel boring machine can dig up to a depth of one hundred meters, and it is very safe."

"Minister Zhang, look, our patriotic comrade has come up with something interesting. If our subway is buried deep, there will be no technical pressure at all."

Director Chen's goal is to create momentum and unite the forces that can be united.

In fact, these senior leaders were originally inclined to keep the plan in mind, but they did not express their opinions due to technical pressure.

Now that they have seen the existence of such a powerful tool as the tunnel boring machine, they have expressed their support for the Engineering Bureau's deep burial proposal at the conference.

For a time, the debate over shallow burial or deep burial underwent a fundamental change.

Li Aiguo had anticipated this and did not get involved. Instead, he focused on digging the tunnel.

After all, only by completing the tunnel excavation work on time and proving the strength of the shield machine can the opponent be speechless.

However, today Li Aiguo had to take time out to accompany Director Chen and Liu Guozhang to receive a leader.

"Chief, train driver Li Aiguo reports to you!" Seeing this leader who liked to drink, Li Aiguo realized that he had underestimated the impact of the shallow burial and deep burial controversy.

The leader organized the Yijiangshan Island Campaign, and then took charge of the Jinling Military Region, vigorously carrying out mass military training activities.

Now that they have come all the way to Xiaoxishan, I'm afraid it's not just to take a look at the big machine, the more important purpose is probably to support the Engineering Bureau.

The chief shook hands with Li Aiguo and said, "You are Li Aiguo, you only have a pair of eyes and a nose. The old regiment commander praised you like a flower on the phone. I thought you were a man of many talents."

"You're welcome. I'm just a train driver. The old commander is showing me such a favor." Li Aiguo smiled modestly.

Commander Xu looked him over and said, "The old commander told me on the phone that Li Aiguo is good in every way except that he is too modest. Don't be fooled by him."

Li Aiguo: "."

Can this be spread randomly?!
Director Chen, who was standing nearby, almost popped his eyes out.

The old team leader actually knew Li Aiguo, and it seemed that they had a special relationship.

"Old Liu, your student seems to be extraordinary." Director Chen touched Liu Guozhang's arm and said in a low voice.

"That is."

Liu Guozhang smiled. This was also the first time he knew about this.

I originally thought that I would have to be a big tree for Li Aiguo in the future, but it seems that he was worrying too much.

With the old captain around, Li Aiguo doesn't have to worry even if the storm is strong.

"Hey, that guy is having a great time in the frontier, and I can only stay in Nanjing and train the troops, which is too boring. So, I happened to go to the capital for a meeting, and Lao Chen insisted on dragging me over to see something new. I didn't expect to meet you."

Seeing that Li Aiguo was speechless, Chief Xu laughed and patted Li Aiguo on the shoulder: "Aiguo, take me to see your shield machine."

At this time, the captain of the railway troops who had been waiting nearby finally got the chance.

He first stepped forward and saluted the leader, then looked at Li Aiguo and said, "Comrade Aiguo, the maintenance of the shield machine has been completed."

"Start immediately. We must complete the scheduled tasks today." Li Aiguo nodded.

With an order, the shield machine started with a roar.

The chief's expression was somewhat moved: "Good fellow, to be able to make this thing, you are much more powerful than a man with three heads and six arms."

"This is not just my credit, everyone has contributed." Li Aiguo said.

Leader: “.”

He felt that this kid was quite stubborn.

The leader stroked his chin, looked at the shield machine, and suddenly asked a question.

"Patriotism, if this thing can be used in the military"

The leader was halfway through his words when he suddenly frowned and denied his own statement: "This is impossible. This thing is too heavy and too slow. Even if we dig a tunnel and launch an attack from underground, the enemy may discover it in advance."

"Xiao Mei's family announced a weapons research project a while ago. It's called a ground-penetrating nuclear bomb. It uses nuclear power and can sneak underground on its own, just like a submarine, and carry the nuclear bomb deep underground to the target city."

"Now it seems that this weapon is a scam."

As expected of him, he is the "God of Wine and Tiger General". He is very good at drinking and his military ability is top-notch. He understood Xiaomei's family's thoughts with just one glance.

In fact, Li Aiguo also wanted to use the tunnel boring machine for military purposes.

But they soon encountered a problem that could not be solved by following the rules of physics: how to deal with the soil discharged by the shield machine.

You know, the shield machine is not just a big machine, it is actually a complete system that requires the cooperation of various equipment and personnel.

In later generations, the Russians were fooled by the Americans and decided to develop a nuclear-powered earth-drilling weapon called the Combat Mole.

The result can be imagined.

This project has achieved nothing except a waste of money.

"What a pity, what a pity. I had originally planned to..." The leader stopped talking halfway, as if he realized that he was about to reveal a secret, and did not continue.

Seeing the commander still shaking his head, Li Aiguo said with a smile: "Commander, if you're talking about digging trenches, I might be able to help."

As soon as these words came out, the chief was immediately happy: "You are really a cunning fellow, tell me what good idea you have. If this idea really works, I will give you the two boxes of Moutai liquor at home."

Adjutant Xiao, who was smoking leisurely, changed his expression slightly and said, "Commander, those Moutai were given to you by **."

"Give it to me, and it's mine! As long as Aiguo can make equipment to quickly dig trenches, let alone Moutai, I can even pass on the Mantis Blade Technique to him."

Li Aiguo's eyes widened in excitement.

The chief once learned martial arts in Shaolin Temple and became a disciple of an eminent monk in the temple.

He later inherited his master's martial arts, and based on his own observations of mantises, he cleverly created a set of martial arts called "Mantis Sword Skills", which made him a devastating force on the battlefield.

This good stuff must be obtained.

"Commander, there is a machine called a trench digger. It can not only dig trenches quickly, but also build roads through mountains, build bridges across water, and clear mines and obstacles."

Li Aiguo glanced at the system panel and saw the information about the trench excavator, and gave a brief introduction to the situation.

It only costs 300 points in total, and we can take out the trench excavator. It will come in handy when the leader goes to the south to fight monkeys in the future.

By the way, you can also learn the mantis sword technique, which is really killing two birds with one stone.

(End of this chapter)