The new task given to Tan Renhao by the president was to ask him to meet with a group of German scientists and engineers who had come to Zhoushan with the German Navy delegation. Most of these people were in the service of the German Navy, and they were engaged in research related to the army. This includes Germany's best submarine designers, as well as aircraft designers, electronics engineers, and so on. It was precisely because Tan Renhao had worked in the Imperial Navy's Equipment Technology Office before, so Nie Renfeng asked him to temporarily take on this job.

"General, there is a major officer named Pan Zekang outside asking to see you."

Tan Renhao glanced at Du Xing by the door, hesitated for a moment, and then remembered that in the morning, Gan Yongxing called him and informed him that there was a major officer from the Equipment Technology Office who had arrived from Guangzhou as his new deputy, responsible for assisting him in negotiations with the German side.

"Invite him in, and besides, prepare an extra cup of tea." Tan Renhao closed the documents on the table and asked him, the commander of the fleet, to deal with the technical issues, which really made him feel a headache.

Pan Zekang is a young man less than thirty years old, he should be about the same age as Tan Renhao, although he also wears the standard rank of the Imperial Navy, but from his appearance, look, and figure, it can be seen that he is by no means an officer of a combat unit, but a civilian officer. In particular, in terms of complexion, the complexion of the officers and men of the naval combat units is relatively dark, especially those officers and men who have been carrying out combat missions abroad for a long time, while Pan Zekang's face is a little pale, which is a bit exaggerated. It's malnutrition, to put it mildly, overwork.

"Talk about the general. It's an honor to meet you. ”

"Major, please be seated. You're welcome. Tan Renhao smiled and nodded, and asked Pan Zekang to sit down.

Duchenne also brought in the tea, and then left the office in a funny way.

"Talking about the general, the lower official has heard the general's name for a long time, some time ago. I also wrote a few letters to the general, I wonder if the general can see it? ”

"Letter?" Tan Renhao frowned, "I'm really sorry, there are too many things during this time, and I haven't even sorted out those letters now." Major, you should know very well the reason why the chief of staff transferred you back this time, right? ”

Pan Zekang nodded a little panicked, and at the same time observed the environment in the office.

"I don't know much about our exchanges with Germany in terms of advanced technology. To be precise, I don't know much about the scientific side of things. It can even be said that it is not clear at all. Tan Renhao was very honest, "The chief of the general staff asked you to come back this time, hoping that you could provide me with some help." You should know too. The German delegation included a group of scientists and engineers, and they certainly did not come to Zhoushan for tourism. ”

"I know, General, these things are quite troublesome."

Tan Renhao laughed. "Yes. I know it's a bit of a hassle, can you explain it to me? ”

Pan Zekang nodded, pondered for a while, and said, "If you start from the beginning, this can be said to be more than 20 years ago. ”

Tan Renhao moved his ass and put on a deaf look.

"After the end of the last war, the development of science entered a golden age, to be precise, from before the last war, to the outbreak of this war in the past 30 years, the development of science has exceeded any period in history, a large number of scientific and technological achievements have emerged, and they have quickly entered the stage of practical use. For example, the monoplanes we use now, as well as aircraft carriers, submarines, etc., are the results of new technology. Pan Zekang didn't talk nonsense, and tried his best to explain in words that Tan Renhao could understand. It was also for this reason that at that time we had a secret agreement with Germany to assist each other in scientific research. It's basically a fair deal, and if we need access to new German technology, we have to provide our own latest results and complement each other, not just take it from others or help others selflessly. ”

Tan Renhao nodded slightly, he had already seen the secret agreement signed by the Reich with Germany. In fact, the content of the agreement is not complicated, and it is simpler than most military agreements. That is, the Tang Empire and Germany carried out in-depth cooperation in science and technology, and sent scientists to each other's key laboratories or to teach in each other's universities. It's somewhat similar to a military alliance, but it's not exactly the same.

After the end of the first global war, both the Tang Empire and Germany knew that the war was not actually over, and that the armistice treaties signed after the war were only to buy respite for the warring parties and get a chance to revive their armaments. After the end of World War I, science developed faster than anyone could have imagined, affecting not only the lives of ordinary people, but also the armies of various countries.

The emergence of new weapons such as tanks, advanced combat aircraft, heavy bombers, aircraft carriers, submarines, and so on is closely related to the progress of science and technology, and it can even be said that it is a large number of new technologies that have given birth to the emergence of these new weapons that will completely change the face of warfare. Under the circumstances at that time, neither the Tang Empire nor Germany was willing to lose the next war that was about to break out, so in addition to strengthening military alliances, they also strengthened cooperation in science and technology. This kind of scientific and technological cooperation is not as eye-catching as military alliances, but its impact is very enormous, even more significant than military alliances.

"So, what did the Germans send their scientific representatives to do this time?"

"Finalize some of the agreements we have reached with Germany before." Pan Zekang took out a document from his briefcase, "This is a number of technical cooperation agreements signed between us and Germany after the outbreak of the war, which include the supply of radar, steel smelting technology, engine manufacturing technology, chemical technology and other ...... to Germany"

"So what do we get?" Tan Renhao is not a simple scientist, since there is a pay, there must be a return.

"A lot, like the German radio guidance technology ......"

"What? Radio guidance? Tan Renhao frowned, this is a new term.

"It's the use of radio to remotely control bombs, or airplanes."

"Can you elaborate a little bit?" Tan Renhao immediately saw the benefits. If the bomb could be controlled, the hit rate would definitely be much higher.

"Specifically, it is to install a set of control mechanisms and radio signal receiving mechanisms on the bomb. Radio signals are then used to control the flight path of the bomb to improve the accuracy of hits. ”

Tan Renhao nodded slightly. Motioned for Pan Zekang to continue.

"The Germans have already done several experiments, and the results are much better than expected, which can greatly improve the accuracy of the bomb's hit. Previously, Germany had already proposed this new technology to the Reich Army Aviation, hoping that the Reich would be able to mass-produce this new type of bomb. It was then used in strategic bombing, but after making a preliminary analysis and conclusion, the Army Aviation believed that the use of this new type of bomb in strategic bombing was not very large, so it refused to produce this kind of bomb. ”

"Isn't it costly?"

"Cost is an issue, in fact, this is mainly incompatible with the tactics of the army aviation, so the army aviation refuses to use it."

Tan Renhao pondered and let Pan Zekang continue.

The German side said that it could provide this technology to the Imperial Navy in order to increase the bombing efficiency of naval bombers in combat, especially when fighting against the sea. This can work very well. ”

"Well, is there anything else?" Tan Renhao was also thinking quickly if the accuracy of the bomb could be improved. This can indeed improve the combat efficiency of the navy, but the relevant problems still have to be solved one by one, and it may take some time before it can be put into practical use, and whether it can be put into practice in the end. It depends on whether the relevant argumentation work can be passed.

"And then there's German submarine technology."

"I've heard this, we have sent a group of officers of the submarine force to Germany, it should be related to this matter, right?"

"Yes, the design of the new submarine for the German Navy has been completed and is being prepared for mass production." Pan Zekang quickly came up with another document, "And we have also reached an agreement with the German side, Germany will provide the most critical technical assistance, and we will design new submarines based on Germany's new submarines." ”

"So, what are the most critical technologies?"

"This ......" Pan Zekang was obviously not engaged in submarine design, and after he looked through the documents, he said, "There are three main aspects, one is the new submarine appearance, which is different from all our previous submarines." The second is the new battery technology, which can enhance the submarine's submersible capability, judging from the test results of the German side, this new battery can increase the submarine's submersible capability by at least three times. Finally, there is the new torpedo technology, a new type of torpedo that can be controlled by sound. ”

Tan Renhao also showed a look of surprise, especially for the last point, he didn't think of it at all.

"In addition to submarine technology, Germany also promised to provide some basic industrial technology, such as the processing technology of artillery barrels for German warships, as well as tank manufacturing technology, and so on."

"The Army is also trading with the Germans?" Tan Renhao looked at Pan Zekang.

"It's not very clear about this subordinate." Pan Zekang shrugged his shoulders, "However, there is one more important thing. ”

Tan Renhao nodded and motioned for Pan Zekang to continue.

"I wonder if General Tan knows about the package we made with Germany last time?"

"This ......" Tan Renhao hesitated for a moment, and then looked at Pan Zekang with a little surprise. That was the collective name for all the agreements reached between the Reich and Germany on the future strategic general disposition during the last time in Tehran, and this must have been the top secret of the Reich, and Pan Zekang, a major officer, was not entitled to know these secrets.

"Xia Guan also found out today." Pan Zekang was also a little hesitant.

"Okay, so what do you know?"

"As far as the officials know, did we hire a group of German scientists?"

Tan Renhao laughed. "To be honest, I don't know. The last time we signed a package agreement with Germany, I was only responsible for the direction of the naval strategy, and other aspects were taken care of by someone else. ”

"Xiaguan also understands, but Xiaguan heard that several of these German scientists are engaged in atomic physics."

"This ......" Tan Renhao touched his forehead, "I don't know much about this, this is very important?" ”

"Talking about generals is not an alarmist statement, and subordinates can be guaranteed with their lives, which is not only very important, but also directly related to the final result of the war and even the post-war world pattern."

Tan Renhao immediately became serious. "Major Pan Zekang, you should know what the consequences of your words will be."

"Talking about generals, the lower officials are by no means playing tricks here, and what the lower officials do is also serving the empire." Pan Zekang's expression immediately became serious, "If General Tan has any doubts, you can look at the two letters written by the subordinate to the general, especially the first letter." ”

Tan Renhao hesitated for a moment, then handed Du Xing in, and asked Du Xing to send in the letterheads that he hadn't had time to read. There were indeed two letters sent by Pan Zekang, the first letter was sent a few months ago, because Duchenne didn't know who "Pan Zekang" was, so he didn't give the letter to Tan Renhao. The second letter was sent only a few days ago, and Tan Renhao was so busy with affairs that he didn't have time to read it at all.

When Tan Renhao finished reading the first letter, his expression became serious. Tan Renhao can be said to have no understanding of atomic physics at all, but when he was at the Military Academy, he learned some basic knowledge, and it was an elective course, so he didn't study it at all, and of course, there was no need to seriously study these purely theoretical disciplines.

"Talking about the general, what the subordinate said is actually beyond the scope of the subordinate official's authority......"

"I know what you mean, so are you sure this is important?"

"Very important." Pan Zekang hesitated slightly, "I wonder if General Tan has heard of Einstein?" ”

Tan Renhao thought for a moment, then nodded slightly. Albert Einstein, a German-Jew, was one of the few German scientists to win the Imperial Royal Academy of Sciences' Soong Ying-sung Prize in Physics at the time of 11.

"In fact, the relevant basic research has been very deep, and what is missing now is practice."

"Major, maybe we'll have to talk somewhere else." Tan Renhao stood up as he spoke, "You'd better sort out your thoughts, it's not me that you need to convince, but the other two people." ”

"Who?" Pan Zekang also stood up.

Tan Renhao glanced at the major, who looked a little malnourished, and said, "The marshal and the chief of the general staff, they have the right to decide, but I don't. ”