Siheyuan: I eat melons while doing scientific research

Chapter 1243 Could it be him? (5k)

The National Defense Industry Committee put in a lot of effort to secure this task, but it had a trump card in this regard.

—Gao Zhendong.

This thing is clearly civilian equipment; we can't just dig it up under the guise of military industry, that would be too disrespectful.

However, Gao Zhendong's presence forced the Eleventh Ministry of Machine Building to concede. In the eyes of those who understood the situation, he was clearly a member of the National Defense Commission.

The Eleventh Ministry of Machine Building felt that it had already gotten a good deal, after all, it had obtained quite a few good things from Gao Zhendong.

The Eleventh Ministry of Machinery Industry consoled itself by saying, "Let Jiu'an Machinery do the research on this vehicle; we won't have to pay for it ourselves."

At this moment, two comrades from Jiu'an Machinery Factory were sitting in the reception room of the Third Branch Factory, looking at the young comrade in front of them with a hint of curiosity.

They were really young. The two looked at each other and seemed to see what the other was thinking.

"Hello, comrades." As soon as Gao Zhendong spoke, the two felt a sense of kinship.

"Judging from his accent, Chief Engineer Gao seems to have worked in the Southwest region?" This is why the two felt a sense of familiarity.

Gao Zhendong laughed: "Yeah, I've been to Guizhou Province and stayed there for a while. I also stayed in Chongyi." After all, he was from Guizhou in his previous life. Although he didn't stay in Guizhou for long, his accent had been somewhat corrected.

Moreover, these two were from Shuangqing, and Gao Zhendong unconsciously picked up a bit of their accent.

For Shuangqing people, the Chongyi accent is even clearer. Although the southwestern accent sounds similar in other places, there are actually slight differences between different regions, but they can all understand each other.

"I see. It seems Chief Engineer Gao has a strong language learning ability."

Gao Zhendong chuckled, which reminded him of a fat friend from his past life who could perfectly mimic the local accent of any girl he met and strike up a conversation with her.

After exchanging a few jokes, they got down to business.

"We've come to bother you today because of the popular mini-car," Factory Director Ou said, getting straight to the point.

"Yes, the National Defense Commission also told me." Gao Zhendong was a little surprised when he received the call from the National Defense Commission. Was this thing being handed over to Shuangqing?

Although he didn't know about Longjiang 46, he had seen plenty of cars from Jiu'an Company in his previous life. In their area, which was influenced by Shuangqing, all microvans were collectively called "Jiu'an cars," regardless of where they were produced, just like how for a time all off-road vehicles were called "jeeps."

Moreover, Jiuan Company is one of the four manufacturers of another type of microcar—the Alto.

According to the National Defense Industry Committee, Jiu'an Machinery Factory is also going to produce microvans; history really does come full circle. Only this time, Gao Zhendong didn't prepare an Alto for them, but a different kind of car.

"I have prepared the materials. It's a rough design. You can take a look and make improvements as needed. After all, I'm not in the automotive industry, so there may be many aspects I haven't considered."

As Gao Zhendong spoke, he handed over the materials he had brought to them.

He said he wasn't in the automotive business, which left the two colleagues from Jiu'an Machinery somewhat at a loss for words; their words were quite offensive.

They had no choice but to take the documents from Gao Zhendong. They weren't very thick, as they were just an idea and a partial design, not detailed enough to include production drawings.

"This car...it looks quite cute. It even has a roof rack!" Chief Engineer Wu took a liking to the car as soon as he saw it.

That roof rack isn't actually standard on every car of this model, but Gao Zhendong liked it so he just added it. Given the size of this car, having a roof rack is quite useful, considering it's only 3.3 meters long and the trunk can't hold much.

This car is actually one of the representatives of the Japanese K-car. It was introduced and produced in the 90s by Qianfei Company.

This is also why Gao Zhendong was able to obtain information about this vehicle; it has a deep connection with Qianshan.

—The Flying Lark of Guizhou.

Broadly speaking, it can be considered to be in the same category as the Alto, but this one is rather special. Its original manufacturer, Subaru, is a company that comes up with many unique ideas for its cars.

For example, while most other K-cars at the time used front and rear torsion beam suspensions, this one did not.

"Huh?? This car has a MacPherson strut front suspension, and the rear suspension... I've never seen a rear suspension before, but it looks like an independent suspension." As a technician, General Manager Wu was very familiar with car suspensions.

Gao Zhendong nodded and smiled, "Yes, this is a double-link trailing arm independent suspension. Compared to a torsion beam suspension, this suspension has better handling and is more comfortable. If you think it's too complicated, you can actually switch to a torsion beam suspension."

This is the trick Subaru pulled on the REX 2, the prototype of the Arknights. They gave this independent suspension to a K-car that was struggling to run and was designed to save money.

However, it's not that it can't run. This thing is very light, weighing only a little over 500 kilograms, so the 0.54-liter twin-cylinder water-cooled engine, although it only has a power of 40 horsepower, is not too heavy to carry.

"Torsion beam... No, let's stick with this one. It performs better and is more comfortable. A mass-market car should be one that ordinary people can ride in comfortably. Besides, you've already drawn the schematic diagram; it would be a waste if we didn't give it a try." Chief Engineer Wu was quite ambitious.

Gao Zhendong did not object, mainly because he himself did not have the ability to change the original front MacPherson strut and rear independent suspension into a torsion beam, so he simply copied it.

"This...this car is a rear-wheel drive car!" Chief Engineer Wu was even more surprised when he flipped the car over to the back.

Compared to front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive is more complex, takes up more interior space, is more expensive, and is more troublesome to maintain. But there's no way around it, this car is inherently a rear-wheel drive vehicle.

That's why Subaru is always pulling off some amazing feats. This small car is designed with a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration, making it a true performance car.

Aside from that weak 0.54-liter twin-cylinder engine, this little car looks like a sporty model from every angle.

“Yes, rear-wheel drive cars have better off-road capability and better cornering performance. The road conditions are not good right now, so rear-wheel drive is more suitable.” Gao Zhendong blurted out, spouting nonsense without even thinking.

This is not just a casual remark. The vans that later became famous for their "unknown power source, but stronger against stronger opponents" and roamed the mountains were largely due to their rear-wheel drive.

As for the problem of oversteer and difficulty in handling due to rear-wheel drive, none of that matters with this car's weak engine; it doesn't have that much horsepower, you know?

Gao Zhendong's words struck a chord with Chief Engineer Wu, a veteran in the automotive industry: "Yes, yes, Chief Engineer Gao is very thoughtful. I was only thinking about simplicity and saving money, without considering the people who would use this car. The issue of interior space could have been alleviated by the roof rack."

At this point, he increasingly felt that Gao Zhendong's design was ingenious.

His words made Gao Zhendong's face burn with embarrassment. Actually, it wasn't that good; it was mainly because he didn't know how to change.

Gao Zhendong was too embarrassed to talk about that, and instead brought up the last and most important point: "For the engine, you can consider using a 263 twin-cylinder 1-liter engine. 60 horsepower is more than enough for this car."

Since they're both twin-cylinder engines anyway, this car can fit the little brother of the X63 series engine. Plus, this engine can also be used in microvans, which saves Jiu'an Machinery Factory, which is already producing microvans, a lot of trouble.

At this moment, Gao Zhendong had no idea that his haphazard actions would unintentionally create a classic car model.

—This small car, weighing just over 500 kilograms, has become a true sports car thanks to its 60-horsepower engine, rear-wheel drive, front MacPherson strut and rear double wishbone trailing arm suspension.

At least in this era, its athletic performance is top-notch.

Affordable price, compact size, and good handling make it the perfect choice for tofu shops.

Holding this set of materials, Factory Director Ou and Chief Engineer Wu were overjoyed. Cars were simple these days, and it could be said that their car was already half-finished.

The rest is up to them to figure out when they get back.

Before parting, Gao Zhendong couldn't help but make a small request, as a way to fulfill a regret of his hometown. The Qianfei Skylark in his previous life didn't have a good ending.

"Comrades, if it's alright, let's name this car 'Skylark'," Gao Zhendong said to the two comrades with mixed feelings.

"Lark? Great name! Great name!" Factory Director Ou readily agreed. "You designed the main body of this car, so what name you want to give it is just a matter of your word."
"Hmm, the Skylark, soaring into the sky, what a wonderful name! What a wonderful name!" Chief Engineer Wu's technical praise sounded quite "down-to-earth." The skylark belongs to the lark family, its call is melodious and loud, and it soars vertically into the sky, singing its song. In that sense, it is indeed a wonderful name.
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As the Spring Festival draws near, people across the country begin to look forward to the new year, but on the high seas, soldiers responsible for protecting their homeland are still working hard.

In the southeastern sea, an electronic surveillance ship was conducting a routine monitoring mission. "Team leader, this batch of messages has been deciphered. Should we send them back to center immediately?"

A colleague sat in front of the computer, flipping through pages of documents, asking his team leader a question.

The team leader leaned over to take a look, nodded, and said, "Okay, if it's been checked and there are no problems, then send it back."

Thanks to computers, deciphering telegrams is now much faster than before. This makes timely information truly useful.

Half an hour later, a colleague from a certain center looked at one of the telegrams, stood up abruptly, quickly printed it out, grabbed it, and rushed toward the leader's office.

"Colonel Guo XX, Director of the Secret Investigation Bureau, will be flying to Japan on a C-47 special plane at 7:2 AM two days from now to investigate bandit activity transiting through Japan?" The leader looked at the telegram with a serious expression: "It's him?"

This telegram is very detailed, even including the aircraft number. It should be a telegram from the Secret Investigation Bureau requesting a transport plane from the puppet air force.

The reporting comrade said, "Under normal circumstances, how could a colonel-level section chief of the Secret Investigation Bureau be qualified to travel on a special plane? Unless this person is very important, has made great contributions to them, and his mission on this trip is also very important, there aren't many who meet all these criteria. Besides, Guo XX, isn't that his former name?"

"You mean, it's definitely him?"

“I think so. Look here, what is this colonel from the Secret Service doing? It’s exactly his job, and the name matches up.”

"If it really is this blood-stained traitor, then this is truly a good opportunity. This man is ruthless and insane, and he still owes a blood debt to a whole plane full of our foreign affairs comrades. Over the years, he has caused us great losses, and the news that finally came back recently also indicated that it was this man who orchestrated the arrest and defection of our people over there, resulting in the sacrifice of more than a thousand people!"

At this point, the comrade said, "Leave the telegram here, and I will handle it."

Two days later, at an airport south of Songjiang, two Z-7 fighter jets, their tail flames blazing red, took off in the morning light and flew southeast. This direction, about 300 kilometers away, was the flight path from Danggui to the Japanese islands.

Meanwhile, in the waters below this route, an electronic reconnaissance vessel is patrolling.

Meanwhile, on Dangui Island, a C-47 aircraft bearing the insignia of a fake air force took off with a loud roar as its propellers spun and flew northeast.

"Director, the plane will arrive at its destination in about 2 hours. You can rest now."

The director was resting with his eyes closed, a member of the Secret Investigation Bureau reported respectfully.

"Okay, I understand." The section chief replied expressionlessly.

"Tell the pilots to fly at top speed." Seeing his subordinate about to leave, the section chief opened his eyes and gave him instructions.

Although there is a certain tacit understanding now, tacit understanding cannot be used as an agreement. The two sides are still theoretically at war, and anything can happen, especially since my identity is special and I am someone the other side is determined to eliminate.

Although I can travel by private jet, there are differences between private jets, and I am not entitled to an escort. Besides, judging from the air combat in recent years, it is hard to say how much of a role an escort can play.

He betrayed the country for so many years, risked his life for this side for so many years, and shed so much blood, yet he is still only a colonel.

Thinking about this, the section chief felt it was somewhat ironic.

Being a traitor isn't easy.

"Yes, Chief." The attendant saluted and turned to walk towards the cockpit.

The aircraft noticeably accelerated, no longer maintaining cruising speed.

Not long after the plane took off, a radar operator on an electronic reconnaissance ship reported from the sea: "A suspected target aircraft, whose signal characteristics are basically consistent with a C-47 or DC-3 similar in size."

"Keep a close eye on it!"

"Yes!"

At the same time, two Z-7 fighter jets that took off from Songjiang South also received a notification from the electronic reconnaissance ship and were converging on this air route.

The C-47 transport aircraft is just a transport aircraft and does not have sophisticated electronic warfare equipment, or even any electronic warfare equipment at all. The pilots on board are completely unaware of the electromagnetic waves densely scanning the fuselage and continue to fly at top speed.

Suddenly, the plane lurched, and the C-47 bounced up and down in the turbulence. The director of the Secret Investigation Bureau suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. Although he knew it was a physiological reaction caused by the weightlessness of the plane, he was well-versed in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms and remembered that Liu Bei had sensed something before Zhang Fei's death.

At this point, he was better off believing it was true, so he called his aide and said, "Tell the pilot to circle around to the east!"

The C-47 has sufficient range, and taking a slightly longer route poses no danger, but it can give you peace of mind.

"Suspected target moving eastward! Direction XXX, bearing XXX, 70 kilometers from our ship, 80 kilometers from your aircraft!" the radar operator on the electronic reconnaissance ship reported.

At this point, the electronic reconnaissance ship, C-47, and Z-7 formed a rough triangle.

Upon hearing the news, the two fighter-7s engaged afterburners, determined to get there as quickly as possible.

The more this suspected C-47 moves, the more suspicious it becomes.

Even with its own speed, the C-47's maximum speed of less than 400 kilometers per hour is still very slow compared to the Zhan-7, covering a distance of 80 kilometers.

"Target spotted!" Almost simultaneously, the two fighter-7s reported to each other.

The pulse-Doppler radar in the large nose is no joke; for an aircraft the size of the C-47, its detection range was considered quite far for that era.

At this point, there was no need for electronic reconnaissance ships to provide guidance; their own radar was sufficient to lock onto the distant C-47.

The electronic reconnaissance ship stopped locking onto and scanning the C-47, and instead turned its attention to the entire airspace, just in case it wasn't that one.
"Two holes, two holes, let's move closer and confirm visually!"

The two lead fighter jets of the Z-7 issued an order that this time the target must be visually confirmed before launching an attack; if it was not the target, it would be acceptable to let it pass.

"I understand perfectly!"

As time went on, the two fighter-7s became visible to the naked eye to the C-47s in the sky.

"Aircraft type confirmed, it's a C-47!" Pilot recruitment is known for its strictness; even those with asymmetrical buttocks can be rejected. Pilots with excellent eyesight can recognize enemy aircraft in the sky at a glance.

"Move closer and confirm the aircraft number!" came the command from the relay command center aboard the electronic reconnaissance ship.

Although the two fighter-7s were fully armed and carried multiple air-to-air missiles, these missiles were more intended for potential enemy escort fighters and were of little use to the C-47s, which required visual confirmation.

Since we want to avenge the comrades who have sacrificed their lives over the years, we might as well lay a solid foundation before taking action. For ordinary enemies, their lives are worth less than the fuel cost of an airplane.

At that moment, the colonel in the C-47 seemed to hear a roaring sound, which showed how close our plane was.

A roaring sound?
This startled him so much that his hair stood on end! Could there be other planes?

He looked out the porthole in a panic, but it seemed he hadn't found anything, which reassured him somewhat.

He was overthinking it... Just as he thought this, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a pointed airplane nose out of the corner of his eye.

Terrified, he struggled to turn his gaze to the plane that was gradually revealing itself from back to front.

It was a beautiful fighter jet, with a red five-pointed star and two characters in the middle on its silver fuselage.

It's them! It's them! They've come! They've come to get us!
At this moment, the colonel, who was usually calm, completely lost his composure and shouted, "Enemy planes! Enemy planes! Drop altitude! Drop altitude!"

(End of this chapter)