"Hey, hey! I'm Zheng Weiguo! Well, the safety of the experts is the first priority, we must escort them back safely, I am waiting for you in Lixian. Okay, well, I know the situation, I'll deal with it......"

"Headquarters!" Zheng Weiguo was on the phone, and Chief of Staff Zhou hurriedly rushed in from outside.

Zheng Weiguo waved his hand to signal him to wait, and after a few more words, he finally hung up the phone, turned around and smiled: "Chief of Staff, you came just in time!" I have great news for you! ”

"Headquarters!" Chief of Staff Zhou interrupted a little angrily: "Did you ask the experts to go to the front line with experimental shells?" ”

Zheng Weiguo said excitedly: "Ha Luha, the experiment has been successful!" Experts say that the approximate proportions have been figured out, and the next step is to assemble the fixed ammunition for the secondary explosion. Old Zhou, we are about to have a deterrent strike force. ”

Chief of Staff Zhou didn't have a smile on his face, and said angrily: "Chief Seat, have you ever thought about what if the experiment fails?" What if the experimental shell did not explode and was captured by the enemy? In the event of a counterattack by Japanese artillery, can you guarantee that those specialists will return alive? ”

Zheng Weiguo was stunned and explained embarrassedly: "In order to ensure the smooth progress of the experiment, these shells are all German-made fuses, and there is nothing particular about the experimental bombs. In the military, there is always a need for adventure. ”

"It's not a risk, it's a gamble!" Chief of Staff Zhou refuted unceremoniously: "If you interfere with my deployment like this, I will not be able to do the post of chief of staff." ”

Zheng Weiguo had never seen Chief of Staff Zhou get so angry, and he was stunned. In desperation, he had to promise: "It will definitely not be like this next time, and I will definitely ask your opinion first if there are any changes." Well, this time I was in too much of a hurry, it was my fault, and I apologize to you. ”

When Chief of Staff Zhou saw Zheng Weiguo's sincere eyes, his anger suddenly dissipated, and he hurriedly said: "The general seat is serious!" The humble post just said nothing, and please punish the general seat! ”

Zheng Weiguo smiled, patted him on the shoulder and said, "That's it." If you can point out my mistakes to my face, it shows that you are still my good brother. He sighed again: "Hey." Now the officials are getting bigger and bigger. Criticism is heard less and less. Sometimes I wonder, am I getting closer to the truth? Apparently not! It's just that I have fewer and fewer opportunities to hear the truth! ”

Chief of Staff Zhou said movingly: "General seat! ”

Zheng Weiguo smiled: "Forget it, let's not be numb." Wait for those experts to come to Lixian, and we will be ready to greet them. ”

Chief of Staff Zhou was stunned. He said, "Are you going to move the arsenal to Jizhong?" ”

Zheng Weiguo shook his head and said, "The arsenal moved over? Well. I'm afraid not for the time being. There's no guarantee at all! I have some weapons and industrial ideas, and I would like to hear the opinions of experts and have a face-to-face exchange. He also explained: "I was supposed to go to Ping'an County in person." But you see, when things get busy, you can't leave at all. ”

Chief of Staff Zhou said, "Can you arrive tonight?" ”

Zheng Weiguo nodded and said, "I have already sent a car to pick it up." Well, but they're tired from all the way, so we won't have a meeting tonight. We'll go back tomorrow morning. ”

Chief of Staff Zhou smiled: "The general seat is really thoughtful!" It's the first time I've seen you be willing to use a car for non-military operations. ”

Zheng Weiguo waved his hand and said: "These people are the treasures of our nation, what is a little gasoline?" ”

It is said that there was a shortage of talents during the Republic of China, but in fact, there were still many top scientists and engineers, but most of them failed to make the best use of them, wasting amazing talents in vain.

For example, after obtaining a master's degree, metallurgist Zhou Ren resolutely gave up his doctoral degree and a heavy investment in Moore Company in the United States for the sake of the motherland's steel as soon as possible, and resolutely returned to China. After returning to China, he was full of enthusiasm to work for Hanyeping, the only steel company in China at that time. Unexpectedly, after many contacts, there was no result, and finally I could only work as an engineering consultant in Jiangxi Jiujiang Electric Light Company.

Zhou Ren was one of the modern Chinese iron and steel metallurgists and one of the pioneers of ceramics, and the smelting of Baotou Iron and Steel and Panzhihua Iron and Steel came from his technical guidance, and even the Soviets were shocked by their skills. New China's special steel, alloy cast iron, and ductile iron were all developed under his leadership. Such a person can only instruct others to install electric lights, what else is there to say? And he is not no one above, he was Song Meiling's bridesmaid when he got married!

Others, disgusted by the dark rule of the Nationalist government, turned to politics, and as a result, they became ghosts under the gun. Among the more famous ones is the physicist and ballistician Zhou Junshi. In 1913 and 1922, he went to the Technical University of Berlin in Germany to study mechanics, ballistics and the principles of relativity, and he listened directly to Einstein's lectures. In 1924, after returning to China, he set up industry with science and technology, trying to embark on the road of "industry to save the country". But this ideal was unexpectedly shattered, in the era when Zhou Rendu could only be an electrician, how could the industry be able to do it?

Of course, there are also those who are more fortunate to live until after liberation, and experience relatively short and glorious days. However, the country was in turmoil. These old experts either lost their lives or were imprisoned in the cowshed. Wu Youxun, one of the four great masters of modern physics in China, said to his family in 1977: "There is too much work to do, but unfortunately I am 80 years old, if only I could be younger." But the next day, he died of a ruptured aneurysm that caused massive hemorrhage and died at his home at No. 84 Di'anmen East Avenue in Beijing.

It is their misfortune that these people live in such an era. And it is the misfortune of our nation to let them work as electricians, squat in the cowshed, and die unexpectedly. If China can embark on a healthy and scientific development path since the Republic of China period, what kind of situation will our country be? I'm afraid it's not far from the Chinese dream!

Seeing Zheng Weiguo stunned there, Chief of Staff Zhou hurriedly stretched out his hand and shook it in front of his eyes, and said, "General seat!" What are you thinking? ”

Zheng Weiguo sighed and said with a smile: "Old Zhou, you disturbed me with a good dream!" The phone on the table rang suddenly, and Zheng Weiguo hurriedly picked up the phone and said a few words.

Chief of Staff Zhou asked, "The experts are already in Lixian?" ”

Zheng Weiguo nodded and said, "Hmm." I have arranged the shelters for the local authorities and sent the 341st Regiment to escort them. ”

There were two groups of experts who arrived that night, one came directly from Ping'an County, and the other came back from the front line in Shijiazhuang. Because of the distance and departure time, the two groups of people arrived in Lixian almost at the same time. Even though it was late at night, the experts were very excited. Especially those who came back from the front line, they were on the battlefield for the first time. Although I only heard a sound, I felt my blood boiling. In particular, seeing the shells developed by himself destroy the enemy's warehouse, a sense of pride arises, and there is no rest along the way. Talking excitedly.

The car drove all the way for more than three hours. Stopped at a small village on the southern outskirts of Lixian. As soon as everyone got off the train, another train arrived. Everyone took a look through the light and found that they were all acquaintances, so they hurriedly greeted them.

Chemist Zhuang Changgong pushed his glasses. Take a closer look. Huan said: "Tree man." Zhengzhi, ha, you have also arrived! ”

Tree man is the word of physicist Rao Yutai. He is one of the founders of modern physics in China and the first academician of Academia Sinica. He has made important contributions to the study of low-pressure mercury arc discharge mechanism in the gas conduction process. At the same time, he has also made significant research achievements in the inverted Stark effect and molecular spectroscopy.

Wu Youxun, a master of physics, participated in the pioneering work of Compton's X-ray scattering research, and verified the Compton effect with superb experimental skills and excellent theoretical analysis. In 1924, he collaborated with Compton to publish "Wavelengths of Molybdenum Ka-rays after Light Element Scattering". Compton greatly appreciated Wu Youxun's talent, and in his later years, he once told Yang Zhenning that Wu Youxun was the most proud student in his life.

"Ha Luha, Pi Ke! Jun Shi, Shu Wei, Shu Yong! Rao Yutai and Wu Youxun happily greeted them, hugged them one by one, and smiled mysteriously: "Hey, I heard that a few of you have made great contributions this time, is it true?" ”

Pi Ke is the word Zhuang Changgong; Jun Shi is a physicist and ballisticist Zhou Junshi; Shu Wei is a chemist, Zeng Zhaoluan; Shuyong is a chemist Ren Hongjun, and this experimental cannonball is the work of several of them. Among them, in addition to Zhou Junshi, who is a ballisticist, Zeng Zhaoluan, Ren Hongjun, and Zhuang Changgong are all chemists. The three of them, plus Hou Debang, who invented the joint alkali production method, were the four kings of chemistry during the Republic of China. It's a pity that Hou Debang was busy running a business this time and didn't succeed. Otherwise, it is also a beautiful thing to gather the four major physicists, four chemists, and four major engineers of the Republic of China.

Zhuang Changgong avoided talking about it, and said with a smile: "Hehe, this needs to be kept secret, you know!" ”

Physicist and engineer Zhou Ren just jumped out of the car and said angrily: "Hmph, now I know that I have to keep it secret, why didn't you say it when I was begging me to make special steel!" ”

Wu Youxun and another physicist, Yan Keats, who were Zhou Ren's students, hurriedly stepped forward to support them and said, "Teacher, be careful! ”

Zhou Ren waved his hand and smiled: "It's okay, don't look at how many years older I am than you, my body is good!" ”

……

Several people laughed for a while. Li Fugui hurried over and said respectfully: "Professors, the general herald said that it was too late today, so I won't disturb you to rest." Let's arrange for you to stay first, the supper is ready, if you want to take a shower and sleep, you can also arrange it immediately. ”

When everyone heard this, they had no choice but to obey. Originally, I was still a little uncomfortable, but as soon as I entered the village, I realized how much attention the Jicha War Zone attached to them. Almost everyone has a dedicated chef, and it's specially chosen according to their tastes and preferences. Although the bathhouse is simple, it is clean and bright, and there are special scrubbers and masseurs. In the words of Ma Biao, the commander of the 341st Regiment in charge of the guards, it is "Ge Laozi, who is the one who served as the ancestors!" ”

Early the next morning, Zheng Weiguo, Political Commissar Cheng, and Chief of Staff Zhou rushed over, accompanied by Xiong Dazhen, director of the Supply Division of the Equipment Department. He is also a physicist, and he is also a protégé of Master Ye Qisun, one of the four great masters of physics. When he was a student at Tsinghua University, he specialized in infrared photography. At that time, infrared photography was still an extremely secret military technique in the world, and there was no information in China and a lack of funds. However, Xiong Dazhen used the spectroscopy laboratory of the Department of Physics and X-ray diffraction to study film, and achieved a series of breakthrough results.

On a dark night, he stood on the top of the Ghost Sorrow Peak in Xiangshan and took a panoramic view of the entire Tsinghua Garden and the entire Beiping City. This incident caused a great sensation in Tsinghua University and even in the higher education circles of the whole country at that time. It was later confirmed. This precious photograph became the first infrared photograph in China.

Among these experts and professors, Zhou Ren and Zhou Zijing are the oldest, and they get up early in the morning to walk around. Li Fugui didn't dare to slack off, and hurriedly arranged a squad of soldiers to escort him. As soon as the group arrived at the entrance of the village, they happened to bump into Zheng Weiguo and them.

The squad leader hurriedly saluted: "Report to the general seat, the humble position is Hu Xiaobin, the squad leader of the third platoon and the sixth squad of the fifth company of the second battalion of the 341st regiment, who was ordered to protect the safety of Professor Zhou Ren, please instruct!" ”

Zheng Weiguo saluted back and said, "Well, you guys did a great job. Pay attention to the increased vigilance. He stretched out his hand to Zhou Ren again. smiled humbly: "Contemptible Zheng Weiguo, I have admired Mr. Zhou's name for a long time." ”

"Oh, it turns out that you are the famous Commander-in-Chief Zheng!" Zhou Ren didn't hold the expert's shelf, and hurriedly stretched out his hand to hold it. Laughing: "We're all the way." They are all discussing what kind of person Commander-in-Chief Zheng is. Thinking of Commander-in-Chief Zheng's great military exploits. I thought it was a martial artist with a length of eight feet and a waist of ten girths. ”

Zheng Weiguo said: "What about after meeting now? ”

Zhou Ren joked: "After meeting, I realized that my guess was not false at all, and he was still a beautiful man like me." Zhou Ren also has a long hair. The two of them stood quite amusementably, and both couldn't help but laugh.

After joking for a while, Zhou Ren said again: "Commander-in-chief, now I have time, or my subordinates will report to you about the steel mill!" ”

Zheng Weiguo nodded and said, "It's okay!" He ordered again: "Go, don't move a stool for Professor Zhou!" ”

Zhou Ren hurriedly said: "The commander-in-chief is really too polite, let's just stand and talk!" He then described the recent production of special steels and alloy cast iron. The situation is very encouraging, and the current steel and iron production has even reached a situation where supply exceeds demand. Of course, this is mainly due to the fact that the production of other departments has not kept up, and there are too many rail steels seized some time ago. Months simply don't run out.

Strictly speaking, the steelmaking technology of the base arsenal can only be regarded as reprocessing. That is, on the basis of rail steel, the optimization is carried out to further improve its performance and meet the requirements of barrel steel and low-pressure gun barrel steel. Nonetheless, it was also a remarkable step forward, indicating that the base area had the capacity for initial industrialization.

Zheng Weiguo was very happy when he heard this, and hurriedly asked: "Then can our barrel steel make light and heavy machine guns?" ”

Zhou Ren hurriedly said: "Of course you can!" However, our electric furnace and power supply equipment are not yet fully completed, and the output may not be high. Up to three hundred barrels are produced in a month! ”

Zheng Weiguo said happily: "This is very good! Professor Zhou, I want to ask for credit to you in the war zone! "Three hundred barrels, based on one machine gun with three barrels, you can make a hundred light machine guns in a month. And over time, production will surge. At that time, each squad will be equipped with more than two light machine guns.

Zhou Ren waved his hand and smiled: "The total seat has won the award." Then he asked, "Well, Commander-in-Chief." The last time you sent a telegram about ductile iron, I never understood the principle, so I wonder if I could ask the commander for more details? ”

Ductile iron is a kind of high-strength cast iron material developed in the fifties of the 20th century, its comprehensive properties are close to steel, it is based on its excellent performance, has been successfully used to cast some parts with complex stress, strength, toughness and wear resistance. The so-called "iron instead of steel" mainly refers to ductile iron.

It is said that this is a product of modern technology, and it is very difficult to manufacture it in the conditions of the base area. However, archaeologists have found an iron stalk made of ductile iron in the iron smelting site of the middle and late Western Han Dynasty in Tieshenggou, Gongxian County, Henan Province. After research, it was found that this was obtained by craftsmen in the Western Han Dynasty about 2,000 years ago by softening and annealing low-silicon pig iron castings. This is a major achievement of China's ancient iron casting technology, and it is also a miracle in the history of metallurgy in the world. Similarly, there is hemp steel, which can be used to make springs. It's a pity that these techniques have been lost.

Zheng Weiguo thought for a while and said: "Actually, I don't know how to operate it, I just saw it in a document, saying that two conditions must be met, one is that the silicon content must be low, and the other is to soften and anneal the pig iron casting, and the carbon in the iron will be spheroidized and inoculated." It is said that the addition of magnesium will have a good effect. ”

After hearing this, Zhou Ren fell into deep thought for a moment, probably because he had communicated with those elemental spirits, and it took him a long time to come to his senses. Seeing that Zheng Weiguo and the others were still waiting quietly on the side, he hurriedly said apologetically: "I'm sorry, I was so absorbed in my mind just now." ”

Zheng Weiguo waved his hand and said: "Professor Zhou has worked hard for our national defense cause, what a crime! He also sighed: "Today, I learned that it is not accidental that Professor Lu Daozhou can achieve world-renowned achievements, without this infatuation, if you can understand the true meaning of science!" I just don't know if I had an epiphany just now? ”

Zhou Ren smiled slightly, and said with a slight meaning: "Not bad! It is true that I have already gotten a glimpse of the way, but this is thanks to the commander-in-chief. If you hadn't shown me the way, I wouldn't have been able to think about it for another year! ”

Zheng Weiguo said with a smile: "I'm just painting a tiger from a cat, and the specific principle is purely ignorant." ”

Zhou Ren said with some doubts: "Commander-in-chief, according to your statement, the performance of ductile iron is only close to steel. What's the use of producing such a thing? I think it's better to concentrate manpower and material resources to get the high-bore pressure cannon steel out so that we can produce our own cannons! ”

Zheng Weiguo nodded and said, "Well, the high-bore pressure cannon steel must be engaged." However, ductile iron is also important. This cast iron has the properties of both steel and iron, which can withstand the harsh environment inside the gun chamber and produce a large number of fragments, which can be used to produce artillery shells and grenades. And it's much cheaper than steel. ”

Zhou Ren suddenly realized, and hurriedly promised: "I see, please rest assured, commander-in-chief, even if I don't sleep when I go back, I will get the ductile iron out as soon as possible!" ”

Zheng Weiguo hurriedly said seriously: "This is not good, you are much more precious than ductile iron." How can I do all the stupid thing of fishing for nothing! ”

Zhou Ren smiled embarrassedly and was about to speak. A few people suddenly came to the village and greeted them from afar. Everyone hurriedly looked back, but it was Zhou Ren's two students, physicists Yan Kici and Wu Youxun. The two of them came to the base earlier, and they had met Zheng Weiguo once before, so they were more casual.

"Hello Commander-in-Chief!" The two stepped forward to salute.

Zheng Weiguo also hurriedly arched his hand and said with a smile: "Long time no see!" ”

Yan Kheati joked: "Teacher, you are not authentic, and you actually blocked the commander-in-chief at the entrance of the village." Commander-in-chief, don't listen to the teacher's words, scientific research funds can't just be given to metallurgical projects. ”

Wu Youxun hurriedly said: "Commander-in-chief, don't blame, Huating is the person who smells of copper. When I wrote a love letter to my brother and daughter-in-law, I reported my financial situation over and over again. ”

Yan Keats's face turned red, and he hurriedly argued: "I used a roundabout tactic, is it the commander-in-chief?" ”

When everyone heard this, they couldn't help but laugh.

Zheng Weiguo saw that more and more people were coming, so he proposed: "Everyone, let's talk in detail in the advanced village!" Everyone nodded, and they rushed to the ancestral hall in the village, which was spacious enough to accommodate dozens of people. Li Fugui had already made the charcoal fire, and the house was as warm as spring. (To be continued......)

PS: It's still more late, crying!