Traveling Back to the 1960s: The Entire Internet Teaches Me How to Build Missiles

Upon hearing Dean Qian's points out these problems, Zhou Yunxiao touched his nose, realizing that he had been making some assumptions before.

Lightning-inducing rockets are far more complex than you might imagine!

He asked in a low voice, "Dean, so you don't think this project is promising?"

Unexpectedly, Dean Qian's reaction was not to shake his head, but to smile and pat him on the shoulder.

"Comrade Xiao Zhou, it's good to have ideas. Now the higher authorities are strongly encouraging scientific research and innovation. No matter what achievements you make, you are contributing to the construction of Dongguo."

"Although the lightning-guided rocket project has many uncertainties, did we have absolute certainty when we first proposed the Dongfeng-1 and Project 596?"

"Therefore, I support you in undertaking this project. Be bold, take initiative, and forge ahead!"

Zhou Yunxiao was overjoyed upon hearing this and excitedly grasped Dean Qian's hand: "Really? Thank you, Dean! I will definitely live up to your expectations and strive to get it done as soon as possible!"

"Hey, don't get too excited yet."

Dean Qian shook his head, then spread his hands, "I still have to be clear from the start, I can only support the lightning-guided rocket project on a moral level, as for material support..."

As you know, we are in a difficult period right now, and all construction is in a state of disarray. Apart from the Dongfeng Project and the 596 Project, there are countless other bases across the country that are desperately in need of funding. There is no money for you to conduct research.

So you'll have to figure out how to fund the development of the lightning-inducing rocket yourself. If you can really complete it independently without relying on government funding, I'll give you a huge credit later!

Zhou Yunxiao's initially excited expression immediately wilted.

This sounds like empty promises.

Dean Qian blushed slightly and said earnestly:

"However, you can produce a few prototypes first. If it really makes a name for itself, the Fifth Research Institute can handle the sales and get some funding from the meteorological department, the agricultural department, and the air force. There shouldn't be any problem."

Zhou Yunxiao nodded. "I understand, Dean."

"In addition, the premise of conducting research is not to delay serious work. Dongfeng-2 will be of great use in the future. Many of the technical standards of Dongfeng-1 can no longer be used and need to be rewritten."

Dean Qian pulled him aside and instructed him, "You'll have to put in extra effort for things like infrastructure upgrades, radar sites, and operating procedures. Represent the Fifth Academy and urge the comrades at the base to implement these as soon as possible..."

……

Early June.

Most of the technical team members in the first division chose to return to the Fifth Research Institute in Jingzhou for a rotation.

Only Zhou Yunxiao, Xiao Su, and Director Zhang of the technical team chose to stay.

As a "veteran" member, and with his outstanding performance in the Dongfeng-1 launch mission, Comrade Xiao Zhou was transformed into the core group leader of the technical team.

Xiao Su then took on the role of team leader for the data processing group.

Along with Director Chen, a formal official letter issued by the Dongfeng Base was also brought back to Jingzhou.

The official letter was immediately sent to the Surinamese Embassy, ​​where it was personally reviewed by the Ambassador.

The official letter was personally drafted by Political Commissar Sun of the base, and its content was full of praise, highly commending Comrade Xie Lieping of the Surinamese expert group for carrying forward the fine tradition of diligence, thrift, and hard work of the Bolsheviks in the canteen of the First Division.

He took the initiative to set an example by scooping out the leftover food from the slop bucket, resolutely preventing a food waste incident and giving all the officers and soldiers at the Dongfeng Base a vivid lesson in ideology...

The official letter, nearly two thousand words long, was entirely dedicated to praising Comrade Xie Lieping's spirit of enduring hardship.

The news quickly reached the Surinamese expert team. Xie Lieping held the official letter that had been copied to him, read it over and over again against the sun, and then tapped his head.

Could it be that my memory of that day was playing tricks on me?

Is the glorious and majestic figure in this passage really referring to himself?

But soon, Xie Lieping, who was well-versed in internal power struggles, realized that this must be a "conspiracy" by Political Commissar Sun, a case of flattery to kill!

He's preemptively striking, putting himself in a very difficult position!

Thinking of this, Xie Lieping gritted his teeth in anger.

He crumpled up the complaint letter he had just written for the General Staff and the embassy, ​​which accused the base of having a bad attitude and mistreating scientists, and threw it into the trash can.

There was nothing Xie Lieping could do; since Political Commissar Sun had already showered him with praise, he had no choice but to swallow his pride and reluctantly admit his "glorious and magnificent" reputation.

……

Soon, Ye Ling and Political Commissar Sun convened a brief mobilization meeting with the middle and senior-level cadres and technical personnel of the five major experimental departments.

At the meeting, Ye Ling subtly conveyed the recent changes in the situation and the potential impact of the increasingly deteriorating relations between the East and Soviet Union.

Political Commissar Sun conveyed the latest instructions from the leadership team:

First, we must go all out to make full preparations for the field tests of the Dongfeng-2, Hongqi-1, Pili-1, and Haiying-1 missiles!

Secondly, in our spare time, we organize hunting teams to hunt in the Qilian Mountains, Mazong Mountains, and Gurinai Lake area. We catch any living creatures, whether they are gazelles, rabbits, sandgrouse, or wild ducks!

Third, we can no longer rely on local grain supplies; we must organize the reclamation of wasteland for farming, engage in production for self-reliance, and achieve a life of plenty!

Fourth, night schools were set up to conduct literacy education for the entire base. Anyone who failed the exam was sent back to their original unit or transferred to the Beidahuang Military Reclamation System!

The first four instructions were largely uncontroversial among the attendees.

This is all part of my job.

As for night school literacy classes, that's also appropriate.

When the Dongfeng Base was first established, everything was in ruins and there wasn't enough manpower to be drawn from various units, let alone intellectuals.

Now that conditions are better, it's natural to improve overall quality.

But the fifth instruction that Political Commissar Sun gave next caused an uproar among the comrades—

Fifth, a new wave of learning from our elder brother Suriname has been launched again within the Dongfeng base!

Jiang Weimin complained from his seat, "Haven't we been learning from our big brother all along? What else is there to learn?"

Hearing this from the stage, Ye Ling coughed lightly and said seriously:

"During this training, we must maintain a more enthusiastic, thoughtful, and considerate approach, and do our utmost to safeguard our relationship with the Surinamese expert team!"

"Whatever the experts' needs, we must do our best to meet them. In short, even if they want the stars in the sky, we'll find a way to pluck them down—it's that simple!"

After announcing the five directives, a commendation ceremony was held at the venue to recognize the successful launch of the Dongfeng-1 satellite.

Zhou Yunxiao and more than a dozen comrades, wearing big red flowers, went on stage and received a five-minute round of enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Zhou Yunxiao received a commendation order for "Second-Class Merit" and a medal from the logistics minister, as well as two catties of flour, two catties of eggs, one catty of pork, one catty of fruit candy, ten feet of cloth ration coupons, and a bonus of 50 yuan. He returned home with a full load of goods.

That night, he dragged his roommate Jiang Weimin to a feast, and they ate until their mouths were greasy and they exclaimed how delicious it was.

……

No one dared to raise any objections to Ye Linghe and Political Commissar Sun's instructions.

Despite the many comrades' complaints, they still carried it out without fail.

The day after the meeting, all sorts of banners were hung in the office buildings and canteens of the various branches of the Dongfeng Base, making Xie Lieping, who came to eat, feel a little insecure.

—"Learn from the Surinamese experts! Learn from advanced science and technology!"

"Long live friendship! Long live cooperation! Long live science!"

—"Learn from the advanced, catch up with the advanced, and strive to be advanced!"

—"Learn from the serious and rigorous scientific approach, the meticulous work ethic, and the thrifty spirit embodied in the use of swill!"

When Xie Lieping saw the last banner, his lips twitched.

What tricks are these people up to now?

First, they sent an official letter to the embassy praising themselves, and now they're launching a new trend of learning from experts in a big way. Something's not right.

Could it be that Ye made them repent and realize that their past attitude towards learning was incorrect?

Or perhaps the previous incident was so disgraceful that Ye Ling and his team were severely criticized by the General Staff, forcing them to "repent and mend their ways"?

Xie Lieping couldn't figure it out, so he simply stopped thinking about it.

He seems to be enjoying being the center of attention.

Wherever I went, my colleagues from the Dongfeng Base greeted me warmly and enthusiastically.

"Hello, Comrade Xie Lieping!"

"Thank you for your hard work, Team Leader Xie Lieping!"

"Salute to the glorious Comrade Xie Liepin!"

He couldn't even be bothered to listen to the complaints of the Sullian experts around him.

Sergei Popovkin, an expert who also opposed the "steel sect" ideology and switched to the "wheat field sect" ideology, said:

"Comrade Xie Lieping, recently the comrades at the Dongfeng Base have been like they're possessed, constantly chasing after us to ask us questions."

"When we're operating the equipment, these people are like they're playing basketball, watching each other closely. Even when we go to the toilet, someone follows us. Sometimes there are even more than a dozen people surrounding one of us."

"If this continues, they'll learn all our skills!"