Forged in the fires of war: The Qi family's generals rewrite the fate of eastern Hebei.

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Subsequently, a technical meeting was held to discuss the three-step indicator project for the frontal protection system of the third-generation tank turret.

The final decision was made to increase the frontal protection of the third-generation tank turret from the two-step standard (600 mm) to the three-step standard (700 mm) in order to meet the needs of future warfare.

After five years of testing, the third-generation main battle tank was finally finalized at the end of 1998.

However, at this juncture, Fang Zhenhua urgently needs the third-generation main battle tank, which has brought considerable trouble to Factory 617.

Therefore, Factory 617 also submitted a report to its superiors.

They hope that Fang Zhenhua can come to Jiuyuan so that the two sides can have a close meeting and communication to see if there are any other solutions.

It is obvious that Factory 617 is currently unable to produce the third-generation tank that is under development, so perhaps we can find a workaround.

Chapter 126 The One-Armed Chief Engineer

After returning to the DA Division headquarters, Fang Zhenhua found Liang Sanxi, and the two then boarded a train together to Jiuyuan.

From the southeast to the grasslands, a distance of several thousand miles, the two of them spent quite a while traveling at the current train speed.

We finally arrived at Jiuyuan Railway Station, where Factory 617 had already sent people to greet us.

Looking at the sign held high, Fang Zhenhua smiled and said to Liang Sanxi.

"Our people have arrived."

The two walked up to the greeter, and the young man put down the sign in his hand and smiled.

He looked at Fang Zhenhua and asked seriously.

"Excuse me, are you Commander Fang?"

"I am Fang Zhenhua."

"Commander Fang, I am the secretary of the director of Factory 617. I have come here on the director's instructions to welcome you. Our factory is ready. General Manager Zhu is already waiting at the factory."

Upon hearing the factory director's secretary's words, and then hearing the name of General Manager Zhu, Fang Zhenhua's face gradually became serious.

Is General Manager Zhu at the factory now?

"Yes, when he heard that you were coming, he specially came from the research and development team just to meet you."

Mr. Zhu is over 70 years old this year. He is the chief designer of the third-generation main battle tank and a national hero.

Fang Zhenhua quickly said to the factory director's secretary, "To have such an elderly person specially waiting for him at the factory."

"Thank you for your help. We'll head back to the factory immediately. We can't keep General Manager Zhu waiting like this!"

"Commander Fang, I drove here. The car is right outside the train station."

"sorry to bother you."

After Fang Zhenhua and Liang Sanxi left the train station, they got into the factory director's secretary's car.

The three of them then headed towards Factory 617.

As my country's most important tank production base, the address of Factory 617 is extremely secretive and will never be known to outsiders except for internal personnel.

It took nearly two hours to drive from the train station to Factory 617.

The factory director of Factory 617 was already waiting at the factory gate. As soon as Fang Zhenhua and Liang Sanxi got out of the car, he immediately came to greet them.

"Excuse me, are you Commander Fang?"

"I am Fang Zhenhua."

"Commander Fang, welcome to Factory 617! I am Liu Wensheng, the factory director of Factory 617."

"Director Liu, I'm sorry to have caused you trouble this time."

Liu Wensheng chuckled and patted Fang Zhenhua's arm.

"Look at what you're saying. Isn't the main task of our Factory 617 precisely to develop advanced main battle tanks and armored vehicles for the military?"

"As a commander in the army, it's perfectly normal for you, Commander Fang, to have expectations for the work of our Factory 617!"

Liu Wensheng's words sounded fine at first glance, but upon closer examination, one could not detect even a trace of resentment in them.

This is actually quite normal.

As the developers and manufacturers of weapons and equipment, military industrial units are naturally very concerned about every piece of weaponry and equipment they develop, as it embodies their hard work.

Fang Zhenhua was not satisfied with the Type 88 main battle tank, and Factory 617 was aware of this, so it was normal for Liu Wensheng, the factory director, to have some complaints.

It's perfectly normal for Party B to have grievances against Party A, isn't it?

However, as the director of Factory 617, Liu Wensheng still had a great sense of the big picture.

After saying that, he quickly continued.

"Commander Fang, General Manager Zhu is already waiting for you at the factory. Shall we go in and take a look?"

"Director Liu, thank you all for your help this time."

"No trouble, no trouble."

Fang Zhenhua and Liang Sanxi, led by Liu Wensheng, entered this mysterious tank production base.

It was also here that Fang Zhenhua met with Zhu, the chief designer of the third-generation tank.

In the conference room of Factory 617, General Manager Zhu, with his silver hair, stood up from his chair with a smile and extended his left hand.

Fang Zhenhua looked at President Zhu's empty right arm, quickly took a few steps, came to President Zhu's side, and grabbed President Zhu's left hand.

"President Zhu, thank you for your hard work this time. You made a special trip for us, and we have added to your workload."

Mr. Zhu just smiled and shook his head.

“Commander Fang, there is no such thing as a burden in revolutionary work. If the country needs it, the army needs it, then we military workers must do everything we can to meet all the requirements.”

Looking at this legendary one-armed chief designer, Fang Zhenhua gave him a thumbs up in his heart.

Before accepting the task of designing the third-generation main battle tank, General Zhu had absolutely no experience in tank design.

In his words, "How did I, someone who works with artillery, end up working with tanks?"

What a spirit this is! How could one dare to take on such a heavy responsibility without being passionate about revolutionary work?

"General Manager Zhu, no matter what, as the mentor of the DA division, I must express my heartfelt gratitude to you."

After everyone sat down, President Zhu did not speak, but Liu Wensheng spoke first.

"Commander Fang, we heard that you are not very satisfied with the Type 88 tank and hope to have a third-generation main battle tank, is that right?"

The purpose of this trip to Jiuyuan was to resolve these issues, so Fang Zhenhua felt he had nothing to hide and spoke frankly.

"That's right. As the army's top unit, the DA Division undertakes a lot of experimental work. Since it's laying the groundwork for the entire army, we can't use outdated weapons and equipment."

"Of course, I'm not saying the Type 88 tank is bad. Compared to other units, the Type 88 is still a powerful main battle tank."

"However, within the DA Division, it no longer meets the development needs of the DA Division. In order to meet the needs of future warfare, the DA Division must be equipped with the latest third-generation main battle tanks."

"We need to plan and design new tactics based on the third-generation main battle tank. I know that without the cooperation of Factory 617, it would be impossible to complete all of this."

Liu Wensheng gave a wry smile, then glanced at President Zhu before speaking to Fang Zhenhua.

"We have indeed started the research and development of the third-generation tank. In fact, we started quite early, and it has been six years now."

"However, we have very high requirements for the third-generation main battle tank, so we are developing and improving it at the same time, with the goal of developing the most advanced main battle tank."

Fang Zhenhua nodded in response to Liu Wensheng's words.

He doesn't deny this point; the name "Type 99" is well-known to him, and it is indeed one of the most advanced main battle tanks in the world.

However, just as Fang Zhenhua was about to speak, a commotion broke out outside the conference room.

"Let me in. I want to see what's wrong with the Type 88 tank."

Upon hearing this voice, Fang Zhenhua glanced at the conference room door and then at Liu Wensheng.

Seeing the rather embarrassed expression on Liu Wensheng's face, he knew why.

Chapter 127 The Angry Chief Engineer

Fang Zhenhua is an extremely intelligent person.

Seeing the expression on Liu Wensheng's face, combined with the voice at the door and the meaning conveyed in his words.

Fang Zhenhua found out that he had offended someone.

This person is none other than Mr. Fang, the chief designer of the Type 88 main battle tank.

Although General Manager Zhu is very capable, he is not a graduate of tank design. He is actually a latecomer to the field, having previously worked on artillery.

And Mr. Fang is my country's most professional tank designer.

In 56, he graduated from the tank design major of Beijing Institute of Technology. For more than 30 years, he has been engaged in the design and manufacture of tanks and armored vehicles.

He has led the research and development of various projects, including the Type 69, Type 80, Type 88, and later the Type 96, as well as the Type 90 wheeled armored vehicle.

Based on his experience, all of my country's main battle tanks were developed and researched under his leadership.

In the field of tank design, he is arguably even more capable than General Manager Zhu.

This is why Liu Wensheng felt somewhat embarrassed when his voice came out.

Mr. Fang's contribution is too great; it's really not appropriate to say much more.

Moreover, Liu Wensheng's deliberate indulgence also played a part, since Fang Zhenhua was not satisfied with the Type 88 and he was somewhat uncomfortable with it.

However, there are some things that he, as the factory manager, cannot say, unless he doesn't want to leave the factory.

But Mr. Fang is a researcher; he doesn't get involved in politics, so he naturally doesn't need to care about these things.

Moreover, Mr. Fang was the chief designer of the Type 88 tank. The Type 88 main battle tank was like his own child to him. Who could say anything when he stood up for his own child?

Ultimately, these are things that Fang Zhenhua himself needs to handle.

Of course, this can also be seen as a test for him from above. If Fang Zhenhua wants to reach a higher level in the future, he will inevitably have to deal with these military industrial units.

How to balance the forces of all parties is also what the higher-ups want to see from him.

Fang Zhenhua smiled at Liu Wensheng, then asked softly.

"Director Liu, if I'm not mistaken, the person outside is General Manager Fang, right?"

Liu Wensheng gave a thumbs up.

"Commander Fang is indeed amazing; he saw through it at a glance."

"Please let Mr. Fang in. I also need to apologize to the senior colleague. Besides, I have some other ideas. Mr. Zhu is busy with the development of the third-generation tank and may not be able to get away. So I'll have to ask Mr. Fang for help."

Fang Zhenhua was upright and honest. He did not feel that he had done anything wrong. Everything he did was for the public good and for national defense.

Liu Wensheng stood up, walked to the door, and opened it.

At this moment, an engineer in his fifties appeared in front of Liu Wensheng.

"Mr. Fang, what brings you here?"

"I'm looking for the guy who said my Type 88 rifle is no good. Is that Fang Zhenhua here?"

"General Fang, Commander Fang just told me, please come in!"

When General Manager Fang entered the conference room, Fang Zhenhua, dressed in military uniform, immediately stood up and saluted him.

"President Fang, I must apologize for some of my previous remarks. I made a huge contribution to the country's tank development, and I had previously overlooked your feelings."

Mr. Fang then sat down in a chair. After hearing Fang Zhenhua's words, he couldn't help but snort coldly, but he still refused to look at Fang Zhenhua.

Mr. Zhu couldn't help but laugh, then looked at Mr. Fang and said.

"Old Fang, Commander Fang is apologizing to you."

"I heard."

As he spoke, Mr. Fang turned to look at Fang Zhenhua and then continued to ask.

"I'd like to hear from Division Commander Fang why the Type 88 main battle tank, which I led the development of, is not worthy of being equipped by the DA Division?"

He's definitely an expert in the engineering industry! He's so stubborn; he won't give up until he figures things out.

This is precisely what science and engineering require; when doing research projects, what you need is this kind of meticulousness.

One is one, two is two.