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

Under Zhou Yunxiao's guidance, the renovation of the liquid oxygen production workshop was successfully completed according to the established plan.

A week later, the first batch of liquid oxygen produced using the new process was delivered to the laboratory.

Upon hearing the news, Ye Siling and Political Commissar Sun rushed over and grabbed Zhou Yunxiao's arm, asking:

"Xiao Zhou, how's it going? Are you confident that the liquid oxygen produced this time will meet the standards?"

Xiao Wang from the lab happily said, "Gentlemen, please rest assured. We conducted small-scale tests privately, and the purity of the liquid oxygen is completely up to standard!"

Zhou Yunxiao nodded in agreement, "The test values ​​for the liquid oxygen's oil content, acetylene explosion characteristics, and mechanical impurity filtration all exceeded the 99.5% purity threshold!"

Political Commissar Sun breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good. Now I can finally relax."

Ye Siling said, "Hmph, let's see what the Soviets have to say now!"

Before long, the Soviet expert team arrived at the laboratory.

According to the East Soviet cooperation agreement, any tests related to Dongfeng-1 must be supervised by Soviet experts.

Unexpectedly, it was Xie Lieping himself who came this time.

Ye Siling's face darkened the moment she saw him, and she turned her back, not wanting to talk to him.

Left with no other option, Political Commissar Sun had to play the bad cop. He straightened his faded green military uniform and went over to shake hands:

"Thank you for your hard work, Comrade Xie Lieping. Shall we begin the testing now?"

Xie Lieping said in a deep voice, "Wait a minute. Regarding the performance testing of the new batch of liquid oxygen, I believe that the laboratory conditions in Dongguo are outdated and unreliable for testing liquid oxygen at a concentration of 99.5%. Therefore, I brought a new gas analyzer, which you can borrow for free."

After he finished speaking, two tall and sturdy experts behind him came over with bottles and jars of instruments and placed them on the table.

Zhou Yunxiao and Ye Ling exchanged glances, all of them knowing what the Russians were really up to.

It's simply a concern that the Eastern Kingdom's testing error is too great, causing them to measure 99.5% of the 99% concentration of liquid oxygen as 99.5%, thus embarrassing Surian.

Political Commissar Sun did not object and readily nodded, saying, "No problem, Xiao Wang, you assist the two experts from the side!"

The sound of bottles and jars clattering echoed in the laboratory.

The test results wouldn't be available for some time, so the representatives from both sides of the Soviet Union stood on opposite sides, patiently waiting.

Zhou Yunxiao accompanied Ye Linghe and Political Commissar Sun, chatting and laughing casually.

Shelepin, who was not far away, ordered the Soviet translator to come closer and listen to what they were saying.

After a while, the translator returned hesitantly to report:

"They...they were discussing the hunting party's first destination: the Qilian Mountains, the Mazong Mountains, or Lake Gurrinae. They were also arguing about whether gazelle meat or wild rabbit meat tasted better..."

"What?"

Xie Lieping felt like he had punched cotton.

While I was anxiously awaiting the test results, they were carefree and discussing hunting.

Aren't you worried at all about the test results for the liquid oxygen?

Or are they simply very confident in this new batch of liquid oxygen?

impossible!

Xie Lieping quickly interrupted this unrealistic idea.

How could Dongguo possibly produce liquid oxygen with a purity of 99.5%?

Based on that pile of junk they brought from the fertilizer plant?

Sultan's Siberian liquid oxygen plant is far more advanced than that of the Eastern Kingdom. It takes a lot of effort to produce liquid oxygen with a purity of 99.5%. How can these people surpass it?

Thinking of this, Xie Lieping's anxiety subsided slightly.

After an unknown amount of time, the sounds of the instruments in the room finally stopped, and a brand-new test report was signed by two Soviet experts.

The personnel from both sides of the Eastern Soviet Union were reassembled.

Xie Lieping eagerly pressed, "How were the test results? Did they not meet the standards?"

Ye Ling snorted coldly from the side.

Unexpectedly, the two Soviet experts turned around, stared at Shelepin as if he were a fool, and each shook their heads.

This made Xie Lieping's heart skip a beat.

Xiao Wang, unable to contain his excitement, held up the test results and read aloud:

"Report! After three sampling tests, and rigorous titration and purity analysis by technical personnel from both East and Soviet Union, the purity of this batch of liquid oxygen has reached 99.55%!"

The new liquid oxygen has passed the production line inspection and meets the latest refueling requirements for the Dongfeng-1 missile. Please advise, Commander!

Ye Ling and Political Commissar Sun finally smiled, while Xie Lieping's face turned somewhat pale.

Ye Ling took the initiative to walk over and reach out to shake Xie Lieping's hand, asking in a 'friendly' manner:

"Comrade Xie Lieping, the special liquid oxygen in Dongguo has now met the standards. You can't go back on your word again, can you? According to the previous agreement, you must sign off on the launch test of the Dongfeng-1 missile, right?"

As he said this, Ye Linghu narrowed his eyes and clenched his fists tightly, as if he would strangle Xie Lieping on the spot if Xie dared to refuse again.

With things having come to this, Xie Lieping had nothing more to say. He nodded with a humiliated expression, "I will keep my promise, Ye Siling..."

Before he could finish speaking, his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

The accompanying Soviet experts immediately rushed over and started pinching his philtrum, shouting excitedly.

……

After sending Shelepin to the base hospital and waiting until the Soviets were out of sight, Ye Ling couldn't help but clap his hands and burst into laughter.

"Heh heh, Xie Lieping really shot himself in the foot this time, he's really messed up! Let's see how he explains himself when he gets back to China!"

Even Political Commissar Sun couldn't help but pat Zhou Yunxiao on the shoulder and say approvingly:

"Xiao Zhou, you did a great job this time. You deserve credit!"

Zhou Yunxiao said modestly, "Everyone has worked hard; this is a collective achievement."

Ye Ling walked over and said, "You're quite conscientious, kid. Don't worry, everyone who participated in this liquid oxygen experiment will be reported for commendation, but you're guaranteed the top credit."

Xiao Wang from the lab asked, "I saw Xie Lieping's expression when he heard the results; it was like the sky was falling. Was it really that bad? It's just a lost bet, isn't it?"

As he was talking, a sudden inspiration struck him, and he patted his forehead.

"Oh, I see! Shelepin originally wanted to use the liquid oxygen issue to manipulate us. But we were forced to develop our own special liquid oxygen, so we no longer need to exchange grain for Surinamese liquid oxygen."

By a twist of fate, Shelepin essentially caused Suriname a huge foreign exchange loss, which is why he fainted from fear, right?

Ye Ling and Political Commissar Sun looked at Zhou Yunxiao, the former asking with a smile:

"Comrade Zhou, what do you think?"

Zhou Yunxiao said thoughtfully, "I think the foreign exchange loss is secondary. The most important thing is that Xie Lieping has repeatedly delayed the delivery of liquid oxygen, which should have been tacitly approved by the senior management of Suriname."

His fundamental aim was to delay the progress of Project 596 without escalating the conflict. But now, not only has he failed to delay it, he's become an asset to the launch of Dongfeng-1. He'll probably be placed under quarantine and investigation by the KGB when he gets back.

Ye Ling hummed in agreement. "You're right. Xie Liepin's behavior will be seen as serious political incompetence by the Surinamese leadership, so he's in big trouble. But I'm reminded of someone else..."

Political Commissar Sun said, "Suweiluo!"

Zhou Yunxiao also remembered this young expert who had a strong sense of justice.

It is said that he was confined by Xie Liepin for ten days and came out much thinner.

Commissar Sun sighed, "Comrade Su Weiluo is one of the few 'steel-hearted' among these experts. He is loyal to us, but such a comrade is being treated so harshly, and there is nothing we can do about it."

Xiao Wang said, "I heard that this group of experts will be returning to their country soon. Comrade Suweiro will be under just as much scrutiny as Shelepin, and he might even end up in a KGB prison!"

Ye Ling suddenly had a bold idea: "Why don't we just persuade him to stay?"

Upon hearing this, Political Commissar Sun agreed that it was a good idea.

He nodded and said, "I'll find an opportunity to meet with Comrade Su Weiluo alone later and try to persuade him. If we can convince him to stay in China, our huge Dongfeng base can easily support a Surinamese expert!"

Zhou Yunxiao, standing to the side, was not so optimistic.

Although he didn't know much about Suvero, he felt that this young man, who hated evil as much as he wanted, was not someone who would betray others easily.

Ye Ling gave a few more instructions to Political Commissar Sun, and finally said to Zhou Yunxiao:

"Comrade Zhou, don't go back to Base No. 1 today. Stay in the lab and work with Xiao Wang to finish the liquid oxygen testing report. I'll submit it together, and try to set the maiden flight date for Dongfeng-1 as soon as possible!"