Chapter 24: What Really Happened That Day?

On the special aircraft, Sun Yongguo spoke earnestly.

"Dingping, the real 956E is a completely different experience from the model! That sense of awe is something photos simply cannot convey."

"All your research has been based on accessible data. If you see the actual 956E warship, you might find some new inspiration."

Su Dingping had never encountered a real 956E before, yet relying on his own talent, he had reverse-engineered and conquered most of the 956E's core technologies based on relevant parameters.

Would he gain new insights if he came into contact with the real warship?

Sun was looking forward to it.

In truth, this was also a measure of last resort for him. If it were any other talented young person, he could have kept them by his side and mentored them well given their foundational knowledge. But Su Dingping was different; for these past few days, it was mostly Su Dingping who had been teaching them.

He often warned himself inwardly that catching up to Su Dingping’s pace was not the point; the point was that a talent like Su Dingping must never be limited by the predicament of the Navy.

The Navy could afford to lose one Sun Yongguo, but it could absolutely not afford to lose Su Dingping.

A warship is the best teacher.

Su Dingping naturally understood Sun Yongguo’s well-intentioned efforts and replied immediately, "Director Sun, I was thinking the same thing, which is why I wanted to come and see it."

"It won't be long now. We'll be there in another two hours or so."

...

After seeing off Sun Yongguo and his group, Professor Li strode back to the classroom. With Su Dingping away today, he was the acting instructor.

"Everyone, Comrade Dingping is not here today, so I will be filling in for the lecture!"

"If you have any questions, I will answer whatever I can! If I cannot answer them, you will have to wait until tonight or tomorrow when Comrade Dingping returns!"

"Alright, let's begin!"

He had only been teaching for a short while when someone suddenly knocked on the door.

"Deputy Director, Director Lu is here."

Lu Guangjun?

Why was he here? Had something happened recently?

Lately, they had been pouring their heart and soul into their research, with no time to concern themselves with outside affairs.

Professor Li waved his hand and said, "Tell him that Research Institute 335 has no time to entertain him today."

A short while later, the person returned.

"Deputy Director, you really should go and see him! If you don't go, Director Lu is going to charge right in."

"Does this Lu Guangjun really think Research Institute 335 is his home?"

With that, Professor Li walked outside.

Outside the gates of Research Institute 335, Lu Guangjun was trembling with rage. As the dignified director of Research Institute 408, he held the same rank as Sun Yongguo, yet today he was being blocked outside the gates, not even allowed entry.

Standing guard, Wan Long was also having a massive headache.

After investigating Su Dingping's background a few days ago, Xu Dongguo had personally ordered Wan Long to station at Research Institute 335. Without travel documents, no one was allowed entry. Although a few oblivious people had tried to get in over the past few days, he had simply had them apprehended and taken away.

But this time was different; Lu Guangjun was a Senior Colonel and the director of Research Institute 408. He was a treasure of the Navy; if anything were to happen to him, who could bear the responsibility?

"Major Wan, are you determined to block me?" Lu Guangjun asked.

"Director Lu, the Chief said that without travel documents, no one can enter. I am merely following orders."

"I have a matter of great importance to discuss with Sun Yongguo! If this matter is delayed, can you bear the responsibility?"

Faced with Lu Guangjun's verbal threats, Wan Long stood his ground firmly.

"I apologize, Director Lu, but these are the regulations."

"Either you call the Chief right now, and as soon as the Chief gives the nod, I will let you through immediately! Or, have Director Sun call me personally; otherwise, I cannot make that decision."

Lu Guangjun was livid. He had come to settle scores with Sun Yongguo, only to be blocked at the door. If Cheng Yiqiang found out that he had come to confront him and couldn't even get past the gate, he would lose all face.

"Don't try to scare me with the Chief! You tell Sun Yongguo: if he doesn't come out today, I'm not leaving!"

Just as the two were locked in a standoff, Professor Li's voice drifted over from a distance.

"Director Lu, what brings you here?"

"Li Mingrui, where is Sun Yongguo?"

"I'm very sorry, Director Lu, but Director Sun just left today. I'm not sure when he'll be back," Li Mingrui said truthfully.

Lu Guangjun sneered. He certainly didn't believe such words.

"What, did he do something shameful and now he's afraid to see me?"

Seeing Lu Guangjun attempting to force his way in, Wan Long glanced at Li Mingrui, who nodded at him. Immediately, Wan Long stepped back and cleared the path.

Li Mingrui cautioned, "Director Lu, by special approval of Chief Xu, Research Institute 335 is the Navy's highest state secret! Once you step through these doors, leaving won't be quite so easy."

With a cold snort, Lu Guangjun paid no heed to the warning.

Upon entering the institute, he took out a document and handed it over.

"The results for the 051B are in, and there is a huge gap from what we expected! Do you realize now how significant two extra 956Es would be for our Navy?"

Looking at the data on the document, Li Mingrui was not surprised. The results of the 051B's upgrades were within his expectations. Through his in-depth research over these past few days, he had felt keenly the gap between their own warships and modern ones.

To upgrade and modify the 051B without a sufficient technological foundation was simply impossible. The reason they had been working themselves to the bone day and night was to break through that threshold as soon as possible.

After Li Mingrui finished reading, Lu Guangjun finally spoke.

"Tell me, what exactly happened that day at Harbin Institute of Technology? Why did Chief Xu's attitude change so abruptly afterward?"

Li Mingrui returned the document to Lu Guangjun with a calm expression.

"I am very sorry, Director Lu, but I know nothing."

"You—forget it. Get Sun Yongguo out here; I want to talk to him."

Li Mingrui suddenly said meaningfully, "Director Lu, even if that day finally comes, would two extra 956Es really change the situation?"

Lu Guangjun’s tone faltered, and his momentum weakened by a third. Of course, he knew that two extra 956Es wouldn't have a massive impact on the real battlefield, but it would provide a bit more confidence, wouldn't it?

Finding no answers within, he had to seek help from the outside.

"What we need is not two more 956Es, but to truly step into the modern era! As long as our technology is controlled by others, our Navy will never be able to stand tall!"

Hearing this, Lu Guangjun instinctively sensed that something was off. He strongly suspected that something must have happened at the Harbin Institute of Technology that day. But try as he might, he couldn't figure out where the issue lay. He didn't even consider the possibility that the core technology of the 956E had been cracked, as that was simply too inconceivable.

"Of course I know that days where our technology is controlled by others are difficult, but we can't build it ourselves right now, can we? We have to find a way to make it through these hard times first, don't we?"

After searching the laboratory and the director's office, Lu Guangjun still couldn't find Sun Yongguo.

He was stunned. Sun Yongguo really wasn't here!

Meanwhile, Sun Yongguo and his party had arrived at the Northern Sea Military Base.

"The three of you, the documents are in order. This way, the 956E is over there in the port."

A moment later, the group arrived before the 956E.

Looking at this behemoth, Sun Yongguo subconsciously glanced at Su Dingping. He had expected Su Dingping to be shocked upon seeing the actual 956E warship—after all, he and a crowd of military industrial experts had been stunned for a long time when they first saw it—but to his surprise, Su Dingping’s expression remained unchanged.

"Director Sun, let's go up and take a look."

"Let's go!"

The group stepped onto the gangway and boarded the 956E.

After walking around the ship for a while, Sun Yongguo suddenly noticed that Su Dingping’s complexion had turned strange.

"Dingping, what's wrong?"

"Director Sun, there is something wrong with this 956E!"