Soldiers Assault: Starting from the 7th Steel Company

Chapter 257 What's so great about America?

Shanghai is the largest modern metropolis in China, with a permanent population exceeding 2000 million. Pudong New Area, in particular, is the leading area for economic development.

Right now, in a conference room at the Peace Hotel, the Chinese negotiating team, led by Chen Jiang, is engaged in a heated debate with the military trade representatives of the United States.

"I hope your country will show some sincerity. I need to make it clear that we are here to discuss business, not to sign a humiliating treaty!" Chen Jiang said, his voice becoming increasingly heated.

He anticipated that the United States lacked sincerity, but he did not expect them to be so shameless.

Not only did they sell a small interceptor cable for an exorbitant price, but they also made many other unreasonable demands, such as demanding the "sharing" of data parameters of my country's J-11B fighter jets and allowing their aircraft carrier fleet to conduct military exercises in the South China Sea.

These conditions are something that no Chinese person with a conscience, let alone Chen Jiang, would agree to. If they did, what difference would that be from betraying the country?
"Hehe, we never wanted to sell in the first place, and this technology is almost an insurmountable barrier. Without it, the aircraft carrier you buy is just a toy." The other party finally stopped pretending and laid their cards on the table.

Now everyone could see their ugly faces clearly; they never wanted to give us this kind of thing in the first place.

After a moment's thought, Chen Jiang thought it was a good thing, as it would allow those in China who still harbored illusions about others' "good intentions" to finally see the truth.

"You yourselves said it's almost impossible, not impossible! And if you can develop something, why can't we Chinese? You used to say we couldn't develop atomic bombs, hydrogen bombs, and missiles, but look what happened! Now we have everything!" Since the matter was already out of the question and there was no point in continuing the discussion, there was no need to pretend to be humble anymore.

"Tch, that's from a bygone era," the other party said with disdain. "The technology required for aircraft carriers these days is far too advanced; you simply can't overcome it! I can tell you with certainty that you won't be able to build an interceptor cable in less than a hundred years!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiang and the others changed color in shock. Chen Jiang even stood up abruptly, glaring at them coldly.

"I can also tell you with absolute certainty! We will definitely build the interceptor cable, and it will happen within the next year or two!"

Seeing the other party laugh heartily at his words, Chen Jiang coldly continued, "Every dynasty and every country has its rise and fall. We were once incredibly powerful, unrivaled in the world! We are indeed not as good as you now, but I believe that every Chinese person will work hard. Just wait and see, we will catch up with and surpass you sooner or later!"

After he finished speaking, he left the meeting room without looking back. The other Chinese representatives also left in a huff, leaving only a group of foreign negotiators looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Director Chen, what you just said was excellent! I felt so satisfied!" A young technical expert caught up with Chen Jiang, and he greatly admired Chen Jiang's performance.

"I've long been disgusted by these hypocritical scoundrels. Director Chen is truly amazing!" A female expert exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with admiration for Chen Jiang.

Chen Jiang gave a wry smile. "It's pointless to be quick with words. We still need to think of a way to solve this problem. Otherwise, it will be useless even if our aircraft carrier is launched."

"Back to the research institute." Chen Jiang opened the car door, his voice steady. "Notify all relevant technical personnel in all units that there will be a meeting in one hour."

An hour later, the atmosphere in the conference room of a national defense research institute was very serious.

Chen Jiang stood in front of the projector, his gaze sweeping over the dozens of top Chinese engineers and scientists present: "Everyone knows the situation. The Americans believe we can't build an interceptor cable, and even assert that it will take a hundred years."

The meeting room was silent, except for the gasps of discontent from the crowd.

"When the aircraft carrier style went viral online, people all over the country cheered for the launch of our aircraft carrier." Chen Jiang's voice was not loud, but every word was as heavy as a thousand pounds. "But they didn't know that without arresting cables, carrier-based aircraft cannot land, and the aircraft carrier is really just a 'toy' as people say."

An elderly expert with white hair pushed up his glasses: "The difficulty of interceptor cable technology lies in the fact that it must be strong enough to withstand the huge impact of a fighter jet landing on the carrier in an instant, while also having just the right amount of elasticity so as not to bounce the aircraft back or break it. Materials science, structural mechanics, and dynamics are all facing unprecedented challenges."

“Professor Wang is right,” another materials science expert chimed in. “Our lab has already analyzed the few samples we could obtain. The smelting process and internal structure of this special steel are very unique.”

Chen Jiang nodded: "From now on, we will establish a 'Blocking System Breakthrough Project Team,' with myself as the team leader. All departments should break down barriers and share resources. I want to see progress every week."

Over the next few months, the project team entered a state of near-frenzied work.

In the materials laboratory, the research team has conducted countless alloy proportioning experiments.

“Another failure.” The assistant shook his head as he looked at the broken sample once again.

“Record the data, adjust the carbon-manganese ratio, and add trace amounts of vanadium.” An elderly expert, his eyes bloodshot, remained resolute.

The mechanics simulation center has a supercomputer that runs 24 hours a day to simulate various extreme situations when carrier-based aircraft land.

"The impact force is 12% greater than we initially estimated!" Everyone exclaimed as they looked at the curve on the screen.

Three months have passed, and there has been no substantial progress on the materials issue.

Like everyone else, Chen Jiang worked through the night and was exhausted, but when his superiors called to ask about the progress, everyone felt the pressure increase.

The atmosphere at this week's work meeting was more somber than usual.

Seeing that everyone was silent, Chen Jiang became very depressed.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly asked, "Do you remember how our predecessors built the atomic bomb in 1960?"

The people in the conference room looked up.

“When the Soviet Union’s experts left, they took all the data with them. They said we wouldn’t be able to build an atomic bomb in 20 years.” Chen Jiang stood up and walked to the window. “But our predecessors managed to calculate all the data using an abacus and created a miracle with the most rudimentary conditions.”

He turned around, his eyes blazing: "Why? Because they know that some things can't be waited for or begged for; you can only get them by yourself!"

"Our conditions are now a thousand times better than they were back then! I refuse to believe this nonsense. We all have one head and two shoulders, so why can they do it but we can't?" The experts in the conference room were stirred up by Chen Jiang's words, but the technological barriers in front of them were like Mount Everest, insurmountable and unattainable.

Just as things were getting tense, a female technician who was in charge of organizing the data suddenly let out a soft "Ah!" and frowned, staring intently at a list of supply chain data in her hands.

Chen Jiang looked over with slight dissatisfaction.
Why are you making such a fuss? You're so easily flustered.

Just as I was about to criticize,
“Director Chen… wait a minute…” Her voice trembled with disbelief. “Look at this. This is a list of suppliers of non-core components for the US interceptor cable that our security department obtained.”

Chen Jiang frowned, walked over, picked it up, and looked at it.

The technician pointed to the name of one of the second-tier suppliers—"TEDA Heavy Industry." "Do you remember? Three months ago, when we were researching domestic high-end rigging production capacity, we came into contact with TEDA Heavy Industry. They are a long-established private rigging factory in Shandong, specializing in exporting high-end special steel wire ropes. They've also supplied Beihai Shipping and ZPMC. The strength and data of their samples were astonishing; we were quite surprised that a domestic private enterprise could reach this level."

Chen Jiang's pupils contracted sharply: "You mean?"

“In this list of suppliers, ‘TEDA Heavy Industry’ is listed as a second-tier supplier! Because they mainly do contract manufacturing and don’t directly deal with end customers, they themselves probably don’t even know where the products they make are ultimately used!”

Chen Jiang also became somewhat excited, "Do you have the specifications for their products?"

The technician replied, "We can send colleagues from our Shandong research branch to the company to investigate; it won't take long!"

"Okay, get it done right away! No, I'll make the call myself!" Chen Jiang immediately started making calls in the conference room to make arrangements. The other party didn't dare to be careless and immediately sent experts to collect samples and worked overtime to analyze the data.

Chen Jiang and his team waited anxiously in the conference room.

Finally, the technician rushed in excitedly, "It matches! It matches! Specifications, material standards, special process requirements—everything matches! They are one of the overseas manufacturers of the core components for the beautiful aircraft carrier's interceptor cables! Because of their excellent cost and quality control, they have been supplying for many years!"

The entire corridor fell silent instantly.

Everyone was stunned by this sudden discovery.

"So, in other words," one of the senior experts said, his mouth agape, almost speechless, "that a private company in our country has been building interceptor cables for the American aircraft carriers? And now, we're being held back by this very technology?"

"Yes, the key is that the other party's price is only $40 per piece, while the price that the United States is offering us is dozens of times that! This is a consumable item."

Absurd! The sheer absurdity dispelled everyone's previous frustration and anger.

Chen Jiang's bitter smile transformed into an extremely complex expression, a mixture of shock, absurdity, and ultimately, a hint of triumphant joy.

He slammed his hand on the table: "Quick! Contact TEDA Heavy Industry immediately! No, prepare a plane right now, I'll go to Shandong myself!"

Several hours later, in the general manager's office at the headquarters of TEDA Heavy Industry in a city in Shandong.

The general manager, looking at the several unexpectedly high-ranking "clients" and the imposing plainclothes officers at the door, nervously rubbed his hands together: "Sir, our special steel wire ropes absolutely meet the highest export standards, and the quality is absolutely guaranteed. This is our honor. Look, these are all export orders. We haven't done anything illegal."

Chen Jiang didn't offer much explanation, but simply presented the relevant documents and calmly said, "From now on, all of your company's personnel and resources are being requisitioned by the state. We also hope that you will cooperate and sign the relevant confidentiality documents."

The general manager's face turned pale instantly: "This is a private enterprise, and our customers are mostly overseas, from the United States. We also have a large number of supply contracts that haven't been fulfilled yet."

"From this moment forward, the relevant agreements will be taken over and exempted by the state." Chen Jiang's tone left no room for argument. "The products you produce are precisely the treasures we desperately need!"

The general manager froze on the spot, as if struck by lightning.

Over the next period of time, materials experts from all over the country conducted thorough and meticulous testing and inspection of the products manufactured by this company.

The results are encouraging: TEDA Heavy Industry has not only fully mastered the manufacturing technology of the core components of the interceptor cable, but also, considering the good habit of our private enterprises to "keep something in reserve," the interceptor cables they have kept under wraps have material heat treatment processes and fatigue life test data that are even higher than the current standards of the United States.

To ensure everything went perfectly, Chen Jiang and his team repeatedly tested and calculated the relevant materials and data.

The result was still excellent.

After inquiring, it was learned that many of the United States' military products were outsourced to overseas companies. Since TEDA Heavy Industry was on the verge of bankruptcy at the time, they offered extremely high prices and provided corresponding technical support, so there was no reason for TEDA not to do it.

The key issue was that no one knew what such sturdy steel cables were for, because no one had ever seen a real aircraft carrier. So the cooperation continued until Chen Jiang and his team figured out the secret.

Chen Jiang submitted a final report, his tone filled with pride and relief: "Reporting to the leader, the situation has been thoroughly investigated and verified. Shandong TEDA Heavy Industry Co., Ltd. of our country is indeed one of the overseas suppliers of core components of the interceptor cables of the US's active aircraft carriers, with a supply history of more than seven years and zero complaints about product quality."

"More importantly, through technological assimilation and reinvention, the key technologies mastered by this company (such as the micro-alloying control of special steel wires, the stress dispersion design of multi-layer braiding, and unique heat treatment processes) have surpassed the original design standards. Based on their technological reserves and our integration capabilities, we can not only immediately achieve 100% localization of the intercepting cable, but its performance is also expected to be more than 20% better than their current products, with a 30% extension in fatigue life!"

This report caused a huge uproar at the highest levels.

It is said that after hearing this, a leader couldn't help but burst into laughter, pointing at the report with his finger: "Excellent! What a wonderful 'lucky accident'! What a 'master among the people'! This is truly a resounding slap in the face to those arrogant fellows!"

The higher authorities have given clear instructions: "Establish a national-level research and production center with TEDA Heavy Industry as the core. Draw on the strongest resources nationwide to cooperate in producing, as quickly as possible, the first fully domestically-owned, superior carrier-based aircraft arresting system!"

(End of this chapter)