The door of the courtyard house has been welded dead

In the sweltering summer of 78, the oppressive heat of the Bohai Bay swirled above a nearby shipyard, weaving a dense, impenetrable net with the salty sea breeze.

Flocks of seagulls circled in the sky, sometimes letting out sharp cries, sometimes swooping down to the sea, splashing up tiny waves.

The factory area was unusually quiet; the usual clanging and banging sounds and the roar of machines seemed to have been swallowed up by the heat.

Only the cries of seagulls echoed in the empty factory area, adding to the sense of desolation.

The shipyard workers who were so busy just a few days ago have all left, and in their place are Hongyan brand off-road trucks arriving one after another.

The truck was covered with a tarpaulin, and even the rear of the truck was completely hidden, making it impossible to tell what was being transported inside.

Only by looking at the sailor shirts behind the windshield can one roughly determine that they belong to a naval transport company.

Inside the somewhat stuffy carriage, everyone remained silent, communicating only through eye contact. After years of secret training, they had a rough idea of ​​where their journey was headed.

As the vehicle swayed, sitting in the co-driver's seat of the driver's cab was none other than Jiang Defu, who had left the Red Star Factory and returned to the naval establishment.

Compared to his appearance when he was in the security department of Hongxing Factory, Jiang Defu's appearance has changed even more significantly. He has lost a noticeable amount of weight, and when he takes off his hat and wipes his sweat, you can see that he has a few more gray hairs on his head.

He remained silent, gripping the doorframe handrail with his right hand. Even though he was a lieutenant colonel, he could only sit in the truck.

The morning sunlight slanted into the spacious shipyard, gilding the gantry cranes and cranes standing in the factory area with a layer of gold.

Despite being eroded by sea winds year after year, mottled rust covers the bodies of these steel behemoths, yet it cannot conceal their majesty honed by the passage of time.

The towering gantry crane stands like a loyal guardian, protecting this land that carries national secrets for a long time. At this moment, its steel beams still bear the scratches left from the days when giant steel plates were hoisted. Every mark is a testament to the sweat and toil of countless workers.

The crane's massive mechanical arm stretched out silently, like a frozen sculpture. Only the slight swaying of the hook in the wind made one realize that it was not asleep, but waiting for a crucial task to arrive.

The smell of engine oil on them mixed with the salty sea breeze in the air, creating a unique aroma that belonged exclusively to the shipyard.

As the roar of engines grew louder, a convoy of military green jeeps filed into the factory area.

The convoy was perfectly aligned, with each vehicle maintaining the same distance, like well-trained soldiers.

The tires rolled over the gravel road, kicking up clouds of dust that, under the sunlight, formed streaks of golden dust.

After the jeep came to a stop, the soldiers in military uniforms quickly got out of the vehicle, their movements clean and efficient.

The name tag hanging on his chest gleamed in the sunlight, displaying different numbers and job titles. He always carried a black leather briefcase when getting on and off the bus.

Representatives from the shipyard emerged from the office building and began shaking hands with the naval personnel who had disembarked.

Everyone's gaze kept drifting towards the direction of the shipyard's No. 1 dry dock, but the huge dry dock was completely covered by tarpaulin, and no one could see inside at all.

Clearly, both the shipyard and the navy were aware of the situation. They didn't discuss much, and after completing the handover procedures, they began to leave in an orderly manner.

The shipyard was completely cleared out at this time, and the entire shipyard was taken over by naval personnel. Soldiers dressed in dark blue uniforms arrived at their designated positions, including two soldiers standing guard with guns on the gantry cranes at the top.

As the transport vehicles arrived, trucks lined up in the parking lot, one after another, and the cadres in the cabs jumped out of the trucks one by one.

The tarpaulin at the rear of the train was untied, and the sunlight that had just risen shone into the carriage. The passengers breathed in the fresh air and listened to the sound of the waves crashing against the wave cones in the distance.

"Clang!" The rear door panel came down.

Jiang Defu, who was in the driver's seat, was the first to jump out of the vehicle. Standing in the air in the parking lot, he adjusted his military bearing. He felt that his close-fitting sailor shirt was soaked with sweat and was now clinging tightly to his back.

The blue canvas briefcase in his hand had been worn rough at the edges, but he still hadn't given it up. The documents inside were the culmination of countless sleepless nights over the past few years.

Soldiers, also dressed in dark blue uniforms, jumped off the vehicle in unison from the rear, the two ribbons on their sailor hats resembling waves surging in the deep ocean.

Jiang Defu mingled in the crowd, his resolute gaze fixed on the dock covered by tarpaulins, his heart pounding uncontrollably.

After years of highly classified, closed-door training, acquiring comprehensive knowledge of submarine weaponry, he is finally about to witness the handover of this massive vessel, the culmination of countless hours of hard work.

"Attention all units, the naval vessel reception team has officially moved in. All personnel are requested to be prepared!"

A loud command shattered the silence of the factory area. Soldiers jumped from the trucks and lined up in an orderly fashion, their faces beaming with excitement. The shipyard, the dock, and the previous closed training sessions—the soldiers disembarking now seemed to see themselves embarking on their own journeys aboard warships into the ocean. Finally shedding their land-based naval roles, how could they not be excited?

Jiang Defu, with a stern face and meticulous expression, faced the line of people gathered in front of him, while his peripheral vision glanced at the leaders near the dock.

"Report your numbers!"

"one two three……!"

"At ease! Attention! Right turn! March!"

The group, dressed in dark blue naval uniforms, carrying no guns or extra equipment, and with leather bags tied to their backs, joined other groups under Jiang Defu's leadership and headed towards the dock to form a unified whole.

Salute, return the salute, report, stand at ease. In front of Dock No. 1, the salty sea breeze caressed everyone's faces, and all eyes were focused on the front of the formation. One hundred and twenty people were neatly lined up in a square formation, with the commanders of all departments standing at the front of the formation.

"Reporting to Comrade ***, all personnel of Project 092 have assembled. Please provide instructions!"

"At ease!"

"Attention!"

"Comrades, today is a milestone day in the history of our navy's development! We are about to take over command of our first ballistic missile nuclear submarine. This is not only an honor, but also a heavy responsibility!"

The officer in white uniform spoke with a firm and resounding voice. Jiang Defu nodded slightly, his military posture perfectly standard. The naval officers and soldiers behind him also subconsciously straightened their posture, their eyes filled with a resolute look, and an indescribable sense of emotion welled up in their hearts.

"From this day forward, Project 092 is complete. You will soon receive your official naval unit designation, but one final hurdle awaits you!"

"From the start of the project to its conclusion today, you have prepared for countless days and nights. The political commissar and I have witnessed it all. We also remember many of the outstanding individuals. I hope you will continue to maintain this spirit of overcoming difficulties!"

"Because this hurdle is extremely difficult, but now, the biggest challenge is right in front of you. Whether you can overcome it depends on yourselves!"

As the leader finished speaking, the engine started, the dock's steel cables emitted a heavy hum, and the dark green waterproof tarpaulin covering the No. 1 dry dock slowly moved like a curtain, folding together.

The salty sea breeze suddenly froze, and more than a hundred naval soldiers receiving their equipment turned their heads in unison. Their liberation shoes made a soft rustling sound as they rubbed against the concrete. All their eyes were drawn to the strategic nuclear submarine, which was gradually revealing its true form, as if drawn by a magnet.

The first thing that catches the eye is the smooth, cigar-shaped outline of the submarine's conning tower. The dark gray pressure hull gleams coldly in the sunlight, like the scales shed by a deep-sea monster.

The moment the tarpaulin was fully lifted, the 120-meter-long hull resembled a giant sword piercing the sky, the sonar fairing at the bow was like the sharp teeth of a giant beast, and the tortoise-shell-shaped missile launch tubes looked like they carried thunder that could tear the sky apart at any moment.

Steam rising from the dock enveloped the submarine, adding an air of mystery to this steel behemoth.

"All of you! Stand at attention!"

The command suddenly rang out, but it couldn't mask the gasps that rose and fell.

Everyone unconsciously clenched their fists until their knuckles turned white. These soldiers, who generally had only a high school education, had touched submarine models countless times in the simulation chamber since they enlisted more than three years ago. Now, with the real steel behemoth so close, they felt a sense of unreal dizziness.

"This is Project 092?"

Jiang Defu couldn't help but mutter to himself, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

The captain at the front clearly heard the low murmur of the weapon chief, Jiang Defu, behind him, but his hands remained in perfect, standard position. However, his slightly trembling eyelashes betrayed the turmoil in his heart. This was their submarine.

He had witnessed the handover of conventional submarines at a port before, but the imposing presence of this strategic nuclear submarine far exceeded all his expectations. In terms of size alone, it was incomparable to any conventional submarine.

The cabin layout and power system that were repeatedly studied on the blueprints have now become real behemoths, with every weld and every steel plate bearing the hard work of countless researchers.

"Everyone saw it!"

"Today, we have no grand acceptance ceremony, no applause or cheers for us, only the roar of the waves crashing on the shore, and a group of scientific and technical personnel with tears in their eyes!"

"It is the first ballistic missile nuclear submarine that my country has independently produced. However, building this nuclear submarine is only the first step."

"The heavy responsibility of mastering it, protecting it, and making it a true force to deter the enemy now rests on your shoulders. Every action and decision you make is related to the safety of the country and the dignity of the nation!"

"Are you all ready?" (End of Chapter)