The train driver in the courtyard

"Everything is ready now, except for my hydraulic press?"

"Your hydraulic press?"

"Your hydraulic press."

Inside the bumpy jeep, Li Aiguo finally figured out the truth of the matter.

I thought they were fighting over eggs, but it turns out it was over the hydraulic press.

Li Aiguo also wanted to see what the effect of firing a 240mm mortar would be, so he readily agreed.

"However, you should know that assembling a 2,000-ton hydraulic press is a difficult point."

"Don't worry, how could I, Zhou Mingming, be unprepared?"

The jeep stopped with a click, and Zhou Mingming pushed the jeep aside and got out, pointing to the soldiers lined up in neat rows.

"Look, these are the technicians carefully selected by the two institutes, and each of them has only a junior high school education."

He stood proudly amidst the billowing dust, exuding an aura of authority that truly inspired awe.

"Cough cough. Why does it choke?"

The only pity was that his composure didn't last two minutes before Zhou Mingming ended up with a mouthful of dust.

As expected, not everyone can show off.

Although Zhou Mingming may seem unreliable, he is actually very reliable.

These soldiers are highly skilled technicians; they are all promising talents.

In less than half an hour, the soldiers mastered the overall structure of the hydraulic press.

While the soldiers were studying the blueprints, Director Zhang quietly pulled Li Aiguo aside.

"Patriotism, sending a whole group of people here just to assemble a hydraulic press, isn't that a bit excessive?"

It should be noted that the Qianmen Locomotive Depot already has skilled assemblers, and if Harbin Military Engineering Institute needs them, they can be transferred over.

As for the loyalty of these assemblers, there's no need to worry; they are all members of the organization.

The question was answered when Section Chief Xing arrived.

"Five units! The Second Research Institute of the Fifth Ministry has ordered five hydraulic presses at once!"

Even Section Chief Xing, who always regarded money as dirt, now had his eyes sparkling with greed.

The Qianmen Locomotive Depot has so many people, and they all need money for food, drink, and sanitation.

Even if these five hydraulic presses are delivered to the Second Research Institute of the Fifth Ministry at the lowest cost, it will be enough to recoup the research and development expenses.

"Aiguo, the Second Institute has already mobilized raw materials from all over the country for military projects. Please keep a close eye on it recently."

"Don't worry, Section Chief."

Li Aiguo was amazed by the grand scale of the Five Ministries and the Second Institute, and his gaze towards Zhou Mingming immediately changed.

This guy isn't a show-off anymore, he's a god of wealth!

"Come, come, Professor Zhou, let's go to my office. I'll treat you to some tea."

"I won't drink." Zhou Mingming was now displaying the true colors of the client to the fullest extent.

"I have cucumbers here, fresh ones."

"That's great."

"Take me with you." Upon hearing this, Commander Wang joined in as well.

"Click, click"

After finishing off several cucumbers, Zhou Mingming wiped his mouth with a lingering sense of satisfaction and looked at Li Aiguo, saying, "These cucumbers taste pretty good. I didn't expect you to be an agricultural expert."

"You're too kind, it's just a hobby." Li Aiguo asked while munching on a cucumber, "Could you tell me more about that 240mm mortar?"

"Hey, you're interested? Those guys at the Second Gun and Cannon Research Institute all said I was dreaming." Zhou Mingming suddenly perked up, forgetting about stealing Li Aiguo's cucumber, and pulled out a pen from his chest to scribble and draw on a piece of paper.

Commander Wang followed Zhou Mingming in to monitor or supervise this unreliable genius military engineer, but he did not stop him at this moment.

Why?

Everyone, including those at Harbin Military Engineering Institute, the Second Research Institute, and Factory 302, knew that it was impossible to build the four-gun and one-instrument system.

This was just a pretext to purchase hydraulic presses under the guise of "four cannons and one instrument," and only a bookworm like Zhou Mingming was still kept in the dark.

The blueprints for the 240mm mortar were not complicated, and Zhou Mingming quickly drew most of them.

Li Aiguo lit a cigarette and, while looking at it, said, "Using a sliding breechblock instead of the traditional mortar front-loading mode allows the breech locking device to transfer recoil force to the diaphragm base. You're quite clever, kid."

“That’s right, the dean said I’m the most talented military engineer.” Zhou Mingming said proudly.

Li Aiguo flicked his cigarette ash and continued, "But have you considered the stability issue of the hydraulic state conversion device in the field environment?"

"This," Zhou Mingming said dejectedly, "I have of course considered it, but currently, the reliability of hydraulic components, whether domestic or foreign, is insufficient."

Looking at Zhou Mingming, Li Aiguo felt as if he were seeing himself from back then.

Despite having countless ingenious designs, they cannot be manufactured due to limitations in reality.

Fortunately, over the years, he has laid the foundation step by step, which has enabled him to solve one problem after another.

"I can make these hydraulic components!" Li Aiguo said, a cigarette dangling from his lips, a slight smirk playing on his face.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Mingming was instantly stunned.

You know, Harbin Military Engineering Institute has searched for hydraulic technology through various departments over the years, but to no avail. How did this train driver have such skill?
Before his thoughts had even settled, Zhou Mingming realized the problem: the railway department was independent and not part of the ministry system.

Take this hydraulic press as an example. If it weren't for Leader Chen from the First Ministry of Machinery Industry finding out by chance, they would probably still be worrying about how to forge the diaphragm base.

"You really can make this?" Zhou Mingming held his breath and asked again.

Li Aiguo laughed: "Have you ever heard of a tunnel boring machine?"

"Brother, you're my own brother, please give me the technology to manufacture hydraulic equipment." Zhou Mingming had naturally heard of tunnel boring machines, which were national treasures, and immediately grabbed Li Aiguo's arm.

Li Aiguo: "."

Zhou Mingming has the mentality of a child; once he sets his mind on something, he has to get his hands on it.

It took Li Aiguo a full twenty minutes to make him understand that the hydraulic equipment was manufactured jointly by multiple factories and could not have been completed by one person alone.

"So even if we have the hydraulic press, we still won't be able to build a mortar?" Zhou Mingming was as frustrated as a doll whose toy had been taken away.

"You can commission our Qianmen Locomotive Depot to do the work for you," Li Aiguo said with a sly smile.

To be honest, Li Aiguo was also interested in the cutting-edge technology of the 240mm cannon.

It satisfies one's curiosity and earns some money at the same time, so why not?

In particular, the 240mm gun might have been useless in the original timeline.

However, the timeline has changed now, and once the island landing operation begins, this thing will become a deadly weapon.

Zhou Mingming's eyes lit up instantly: "Hey, that's a good idea. You wait, I'll contact them right away."

After saying that, he didn't give Li Aiguo a chance to react at all, and turned around and ran out of the office.

Commander Wang, who was leisurely munching on a cucumber, suddenly opened his mouth wide: "What? I just didn't see him for a second, and Zhou Mingming is already causing trouble?"

"Ahem, you absolutely mustn't listen to him. No, no, I have to go and try to persuade him first." Commander Wang hastily left these words behind, turned around, and ran out of the office.

A voice came from outside: "Zhou Mingming, stop thinking about your cannon."

Li Aiguo picked up the blueprint, took out his pen, and continued to write and draw on it.

Even if Harbin Military Engineering Institute disagrees, he still has to find a way to get those 240mm cannons out.

Who hasn't dreamed of visiting an island?

Looking at the blueprint, Li Aiguo hesitated for a moment, then spent another hundred points to exchange for heavy mortar manufacturing technology from the system and improved the blueprint.

If we're going to do something, we should do it the best; we can't skimp on military industry, no matter how poor we

It was nearly evening. The blueprints were locked in a safe. Li Aiguo hopped on his bicycle and leisurely left the studio.

Jeeps are nice, but they always lack the feel of riding a bicycle.

Yan Jiecheng waited for Li Aiguo at the locomotive depot to go home together.

"Brother Aiguo, I want to learn how to drive a train from you."

“Sure, but you’ll still have to start as a stoker,” Li Aiguo said.

Yan Jiecheng is a smart man, but he's too clever for his job as a train driver.

"Thank you, Brother Aiguo, thank you, I understand." Yan Jiecheng nodded, but it was unclear whether he truly understood.

Back at the courtyard house, Chen Xueru was already back and was about to take a bath with the two children.

Today, the street was being cleaned of the drainage ditches, and mud was piled up outside.

These two, along with Xu Hua, Xiu'er from Nan Yi's family, and Nan Xiaoying, ran to the mud pond to play in the mud, getting themselves covered in mud.

"Hey, seeing you two like this, I really don't want the baby anymore!" Chen Xueru looked at the two of them crying loudly, feeling both amused and a little angry. She told Li Aiguo to quickly fetch water and wash the baby clean.

While Li Aiguo was fetching water, a group of neighbors gathered around the pool, talking to Jia Dongxu.

"Dongxu, our family isn't doing well either, we don't have any money to lend you."

"That's right, Dongxu, you should borrow from Yi Zhonghai instead, his salary is higher."

"That's right, that's right, it's not that we're heartless, it's just that we really can't afford it."

Jia Dongxu's face flushed red. When he saw Li Aiguo walking over, he became even more embarrassed and turned around and ran away.

When these people saw Li Aiguo, they all greeted him: "Aiguo, are you off work?"

"Hmm, Uncle Zhang, have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet, Aiguo. Tell me, how could Jia Dongxu actually set his sights on us poor neighbors?" Uncle Zhang from next door said angrily.

Seeing a line of people ahead of him, Li Aiguo stopped and asked, "What's going on?"

"Isn't it because Jia Dongxu was fined a year's salary? He didn't have any savings to begin with, and he also owed so much gambling debt. Now people are pressuring him to pay back the money."

These days, neighbors get along very well; if anyone is in trouble, everyone is willing to help.

However, the neighbors would keep their distance from anything involving gambling.

Li Aiguo didn't say much. He chatted with Uncle Zhang for a few minutes, then quickly left after getting the water.

The two children were thrown into the basin of water and washed vigorously. Hey, they looked brand new!

Yes, it can still be kept.

Li Aiguo had just finished bathing his child when Xu Damao arrived: "Brother Aiguo, have you heard?"
Now Jia Dongxu is borrowing money all over the yard. It's said that he's already borrowed more than ten yuan from the factory.

Unaware of the situation, some people in the compound lent him seven or eight yuan.

That's not all; I heard he was ambushed on his way home from get off work.

Li Aiguo shook his head: "Gambling is harmful."

“Yes, Jia Dongxu has gone to find Yi Zhonghai now. I wonder if he can borrow any money,” Xu Damao added.

After chatting with Xu Damao for a while, Liu Lan called him home for dinner, and he left in a hurry. Li Aiguo strolled back home, picked up a book, and leisurely began to work on it.

At this time, Yi Zhonghai's family.

Yi Zhonghai looked at Jia Dongxu and sighed helplessly: "Dongxu, it's not that your master doesn't want to lend you money, your master was also fined a year's salary."

Yi Zhonghai couldn't understand how Jia Dongxu, after causing such a huge mess, could still have the nerve to come to his door to borrow money.

Jia Dongxu said awkwardly, "If I don't pay those people back, they threaten to chop off my hands and feet."

"What can I do?" Yi Zhonghai was about to say something more.

Seeing that Jia Dongxu was in a bad mood, an older woman quickly stepped forward to smooth things over: "Dongxu, I heard that Uncle San made a lot of money collecting recyclables. You can go and collect recyclables too."

"Collecting scraps? I, Jia Dongxu, am a man who does great things. Do you think I can afford to lose face like that?"

Jia Dongxu knew the two were fooling him, and stormed out of the house.

He had only taken two steps when a cool breeze blew by, and he couldn't help but shiver and wake up.

"Collecting scraps isn't impossible, it just depends on what kind of scraps you collect. I've heard that copper sheets and iron pieces are quite valuable."

Jia Dongxu stroked his chin, starting to ponder where to pick up these things.

****
At the Qianmen Locomotive Depot.

Before Zhou Mingming could send any news, Li Aiguo began manufacturing the membrane base needed for the mortar.

We happen to have some special steel that Ansteel delivered recently.

The parts are cut into small pieces, processed by a hydraulic press, and then sent to the maintenance workshop for welding. The diaphragm base can withstand a chamber pressure more than three times that of a regular mortar.

This method was invented by the Russians with the help of experienced workers at the Perm Machinery Factory, and it works very well.

The Russians are quite capable in heavy industry, able to produce excellent products in seemingly impossible ways.

The most difficult part of manufacturing the 204mm gun is the barrel, which requires a seamless forging process. It can only be ordered from Anshan Iron and Steel Group and also needs to be specially made.

Fortunately, nowadays, as long as you mention that you manufacture hydraulic presses, all departments will cooperate very well.

Over the next two days, Li Aiguo wrote an application and submitted it to the department.

When Section Chief Xing saw that a 240mm special seamless steel pipe was needed, he didn't understand why, but he signed the document without thinking.

Early on the third day, Li Aiguo arrived at the studio on his bicycle and saw Zhou Mingming and Commander Wang standing at the door.

"Comrade Aiguo, the dean has approved it, here is the approval document!" Zhou Mingming was very happy to see Li Aiguo and reached out to hand over the top-secret approval document, but fortunately, Commander Wang quickly stopped him.

According to the regulations on confidentiality, access to such top-secret documents is subject to a full-process registration and filing system, so how could they be shown to just anyone?

Li Aiguo was a little curious. How did this guy live to be so old? Could it be because of that Dean Chen?

Li Aiguo led Zhou Mingming into the studio, handed him the revised drawings, and took the opportunity to ask, "Professor Zhou, who is Dean Chen?"

"Dean Chen is indeed Dean Chen." Zhou Mingming's eyes were fixed on the blueprints, unable to look away.

His breathing gradually became rapid.

After a full five minutes, he finally managed to utter a single word: "Seconds!"

Zhou Mingming suddenly looked up at Li Aiguo: "Did you design this?"

"Just amateur level." Li Aiguo raised his head, looking nonchalant.

Kid, when it comes to showing off, you're still a long way off.

Zhou Mingming: "."

He felt that compared to Li Aiguo, he lacked the unique flavor of an old pretentious jerk.

Commander Zhang asked in confusion, "Professor Zhou, isn't this design excellent?"

"Very good? That's an insult to this blueprint!"

Holding the blueprints, Zhou Mingming excitedly said, "Let me put it this way, the 240mm mortars produced according to these blueprints will have at least 50% more power and a range of 30 kilometers."

This is not critical.

Crucially, the improved 240mm mortar can be loaded with various types of ammunition and can be subsequently mounted on tracked vehicles, becoming a true self-propelled mortar.

Commander Zhang listened blankly, only knowing that this thing was very good. Remembering the old dean's words, he nodded: "Then let's get started."

The old dean's abilities far exceeded Li Aiguo's expectations.

The special alloy steel seamless steel pipes, which originally required a special application and would take half a month to arrive, were placed in front of Li Aiguo in just three days.

The breech locking device was transported by a transport aircraft.

The spiral lifting and balancing mechanism was escorted by a specialist from the Second Gun and Cannon Research Institute.

We have whatever you need.

Li Aiguo had never fought such an easy battle before.

"Alright, now all that's missing are the shells." Ten days later, Li Aiguo clenched his fist excitedly as he looked at the assembled 240mm mortar.

"Shells? That's easy." Zhou Mingming was about to call for reinforcements again.

Li Aiguo waved his hand at him: "There is no 240mm artillery shell production line in China at present. Even if we wanted to manufacture them, those laboratories would take some time. So, let's make them ourselves."

"Make it yourself?" Before Zhou Mingming could figure out what Li Aiguo meant, he saw that the guy had actually prepared brass for making shell casings.

First, the brass is cut into cylindrical blanks, then heated to 1200 degrees Celsius. The hot blanks are placed into the hydraulic press mold and axial high pressure is applied.

After a series of teeth-grinding squeaking sounds, the extension, the bottoming out, and the closing were all completed in one smooth motion.

To prevent readers from accidentally creating cannonballs, details will not be provided here.

Finally, the dimensions are precisely calibrated at room temperature using a hydraulic press to improve the surface finish, and then the threads are machined on a lathe.
As the shell gradually took shape, Zhou Mingming was momentarily dazed. Was this workshop a mechanical manufacturing laboratory or a military laboratory?

And this train driver... he's really neglecting his duties.

"Alright, this will do. Anyway, this thing is powerful, so it doesn't need to be too precise." Li Aiguo was also a little excited as he held the "hand-made" shell.

This is authentic craftsmanship.

"How do we deal with the explosives?" Zhou Mingming asked timidly.

Regiment Commander Zhang also looked at Li Aiguo.

"This is easier. Follow me."

Li Aiguo led the two to the Armed Forces Department of the Qianmen Locomotive Depot, and said to Minister Niu with a smile, "Uncle Niu, are those howitzers still in the Armed Forces Department's armory?"

"Hey, what's up? Need it?"

"I want to dismantle it and get some explosives."

"That's easy, I'll have someone bring it over for you right away." Minister Niu waved his hand, and an officer went into the armory and came out carrying a shell.

Zhou Mingming: "."

Regiment Commander Zhang: "."

They felt that the Qianmen Locomotive Depot wasn't for operating trains anymore; the whole place had become a military factory.

Li Aiguo made two types of shells. One was made with pure explosives, which was more powerful in destroying buildings. The other had steel nails and steel pillars added, making it more lethal.

After installing the fuses, Li Aiguo looked at the two enormous shells and suddenly realized something.

"Where will we conduct the experiment?"

Zhou Mingming suggested, "Let's do it in the grove next door. I think it's a pretty secluded place. Let's have some fun there."

"Aiguo, shouldn't we report this to higher authorities first and let them arrange the experiment?" Commander Zhang suggested hastily, worried that Li Aiguo might be as unreliable as Zhou Mingming.

These two cannonballs are extremely valuable, with immense power. If they were to explode in the capital, they would likely startle the Imperial Guards.

“That’s true.” Li Aiguo understood Commander Zhang’s concerns and called Chen Baiya to invite Section Chief Xing.

"Where did this come from?" Section Chief Xing asked curiously, looking at the 240mm mortar.

“We made this ourselves,” Li Aiguo said cleanly.

"Huh?!" Section Chief Xing was a little confused.

When he saw the parts being delivered, he thought it was for the production of hydraulic presses. Now we can even manufacture mortars ourselves?

Why am I talking about myself? Isn't the workshop the same as the one at the Qianmen Locomotive Depot?
"Let's report this to our superiors again," Section Chief Xing said, circling the mortar and offering a sincere suggestion.

“That’s easy, I’ll call the dean.” Zhou Mingming said, as if he had someone backing him up.

"Who is the dean?" Section Chief Xing asked curiously.

“The dean is indeed the dean.” Zhou Mingming left the studio with his hands behind his back.

Section Chief Xing: "."

Half an hour later, Zhou Mingming brought back a message.

"The dean has already made contact with the authorities in Beijing. We can choose a suitable location to conduct the experiment, and the local authorities in Beijing will cooperate with us."

Sure enough, having someone backing you up makes all the difference. Li Aiguo had already vaguely guessed the dean's identity.

Only that big shot would be so indulgent towards a genius military worker like Zhou Mingming with such an eccentric temper.

Subsequently, Officer Liu from the Armed Forces Department of a certain district in Beijing arrived at the Qianmen Locomotive Depot.

When the security officer of the front-door locomotive depot learned the purpose of the visit, he was puzzled. Why would a locomotive depot like ours need a mortar?

However, I still managed to contact the studio by phone.

When Officer Liu from the Armed Forces Department arrived at the studio entrance, Li Aiguo and the others were already waiting.

"Commander!" Officer Liu saluted immediately upon seeing Commander Wang.

"Zhou Meng, you've arrived at your destination, kid?" Commander Wang returned the salute and asked, touching Zhou Meng's hand.

Seeing that the two were having a pleasant conversation, Li Aiguo felt confident that the deal was likely to go through.

Sure enough, after learning in detail about the powerful capabilities of the 240mm mortar, Officer Liu immediately selected a testing site.

It was an enemy fortification located in the suburbs of Beijing. The heavy concrete structure stretched between two streets, east and west, and had been hindering urban planning for many years.

The district had long wanted to demolish this obstructive construction site so that the two streets could be opened up and several new apartment buildings could be built to solve the workers' housing problem.

However, this concrete structure is exceptionally sturdy and cannot be moved by ordinary methods.

Now, with the 240mm mortar, this long-standing problem can finally be solved.

"Don't worry, we've already contacted the engineering corps. They'll be here soon with professional demolition tools. Even if the firepower isn't enough, it's fine." Officer Liu was worried that the cannon wouldn't be powerful enough, and that the old regimental commander would lose face.

“It’s alright,” Li Aiguo replied, “Shouldn’t we clear out the nearby residents first?”

"That's easy. That area is a restricted zone, and nobody usually passes by there. I'll have the local street office put up banners to notify residents passing by, and then send people in to check it out. There won't be any problems."

This wasn't the first time Officer Liu had cooperated with this kind of work; the plan was very detailed.

These preparations will take some time, and the experiment will be scheduled for two days later.

(End of this chapter)