Chapter 27: I Just Want an Explanation—Why Are You Moving?

After pondering for a moment, Xu Dongguo asked, “Comrade Dingping, how confident are you?”

“Commander, no one can be one hundred percent sure,” Sun Yongguo replied without directly answering. “If we dismantle it, there’s a chance of failure. But if we don’t dismantle it, success is impossible.”

To gamble or not to gamble?

Xu Dongguo took a deep breath.

Finally, he said in a low, resolute voice, “Try! If it fails, we’ll try again!”

“Yes, Commander.”

Having made the decision, Xu Dongguo wasted no time and quickly issued the official approval.

“Tell Comrade Dingping to proceed boldly and with confidence! If he succeeds, the credit is his. If he fails, the responsibility is mine.”

Sun Yongguo’s face lit up with joy as he took the document and hurried away with Zhou Qinglei.

Watching their departing backs, Xu Dongguo rubbed his temples.

Now, he only hoped that Director Qian’s side would slow down on the order requests.

Otherwise, he really wouldn’t know how to explain it. There was no way to deliver a warship half-dismantled, could he? Director Qian’s blood pressure would surely skyrocket.

Less than an hour and a half later, Sun Yongguo returned with Zhou Qinglei.

“Director, Captain Zhou, how’s the situation?” Zhang Gongnong asked eagerly upon seeing them.

Sun Yongguo’s face was beaming with a smile. “The Commander has approved! He said, go all out!”

Hearing this, Zhang Gongnong excitedly slapped his thigh.

“For such a critical matter, Commander Xu made the decision alone—that’s bold!”

“It’s also because Dingping has some weight. If it were you or me, the Commander probably wouldn’t even bother listening to our nonsense.”

With the commander’s approval, everything became much easier.

Su Dingping immediately said, “Director Sun, get Professor Li and the others here right away! Bring all the equipment. Also, I want a batch of devices prepared in the next few days. We’ll start working right here!”

“Not going to the shipyard?” Sun Yongguo asked in surprise.

“No. Too many eyes and ears there; it’s too risky.”

Sun Yongguo suddenly understood.

Compared to a military base, the shipyard’s secrecy was naturally much weaker.

If the commotion was too loud, it would be difficult to keep the information from spreading.

“Alright, I’ll take care of this,” Sun Yongguo nodded and went aside to contact Li Mingrui.

“Professor Zhang, I’ll write a purchase order for you. Please follow this list to—”

Before Su Dingping could finish, Zhou Qinglei interrupted, “Comrade Dingping, I’ll handle this. I’m familiar with the base here; it’ll be easier to manage.”

“Fine!”

Soon, Su Dingping handed over several purchase orders.

Large machine tools, cranes, cutting equipment—all were included.

The moment Zhou Qinglei saw the purchase list, his eyelids twitched sharply.

This wasn’t dismantling; it was practically setting up a small shipyard here.

“Give me one day. I guarantee the task will be completed!”

After speaking, Zhou Qinglei hurried off.

Meanwhile, at Research Institute 335.

Li Mingrui was also troubled by Lü Guangjun’s determined attitude to stay.

Staying for three to five days, ten days or half a month—he had no problem with that.

But if the entire Institute 408 came complaining to the Commander that their director was imprisoned at Institute 335 and couldn’t return, that would be a serious problem.

“Director Lü, why don’t you go back to your work first? There must be a lot to do at Institute 408; you probably can’t spare the time. Once Director Sun returns, I’ll contact you immediately. How about that?”

Lü Guangjun leisurely sipped his tea. “Either your Director Sun comes back and explains things clearly to me, or I’m not leaving!”

“Anyway, the 956E breakthrough project is paused now, and the 051B improvement failed. I have time to stall Sun Yongguo.”

Seeing Lü Guangjun was stubborn, Li Mingrui sighed helplessly.

At that moment, an assistant rushed over. “Professor Li, a call from the Director.”

Li Mingrui quickly took the phone.

When he heard it was Sun Yongguo, Lü Guangjun hurried over.

“Director, it’s me.”

“Professor Li, pack up your things immediately and bring the remaining fifteen people over! From now on, our lectures will be held at the Northern Sea Military Base!”

“What? You’re really not going back?”

“We’ll discuss the details when you arrive! I’m giving you the afternoon. I must see everyone tonight!”

“Yes, Director!”

After hanging up, Li Mingrui shrugged at Lü Guangjun.

“Director Lü, you heard it too. Our director isn’t coming back. If you want to keep staying here, go ahead. I’m leaving soon anyway.”

He then hurried to gather the team.

Seeing the entire institute bustling with activity while he was completely sidelined, he was dumbfounded.

What’s going on?

I just came to demand an explanation from Sun Yongguo, yet he’s abandoning the institute and moving everything directly?

At this moment, he felt like a startled animal in a melon patch—aware that much was happening around him, but unable to partake in any of it, as if countless ants were gnawing at his heart.

Not long after, he saw Wan Long leading a team, loading sealed boxes onto a transport truck.

Tons of design blueprints—one truck couldn’t even hold them all.

Then, many wooden components were carefully loaded onto the trucks.

“Good heavens, they’re really moving!”

Seeing Professor Li’s determination, Lü Guangjun was completely convinced.

“Professor Li Mingrui, don’t move! I’m leaving! I’m not waiting for Old Sun!”

“Tell Old Sun one thing: he won. This matter is over.”

Lü Guangjun had no more fight in him; the other party was serious.

Was what happened at Harbin Institute of Technology that important? Even if they had to move, couldn’t they explain it to me?

“Director Lü, please move aside,” Li Mingrui said, carrying a box.

“I mean it, I’m leaving.”

Lü Guangjun had barely taken a few steps when he noticed something odd.

“This model, why does it look so much like the AK-630M close-in weapon system? Huh? Isn’t this a DTA torpedo launcher?”

He recognized these models—they were related to the equipment on the 956E.

He rushed over to the transport truck and peered inside.

Had he not looked, it would have been fine, but once he saw, he was shocked.

“MR-750 air search radar model, A/B friend-foe identification system model, ‘Warship Bird-MA’ air situation awareness radar model…”

Lü Guangjun was completely bewildered, his mind filled with questions.

Where did these models come from?

Wasn’t the 956E strictly forbidden from being dismantled? How did they manage to crack the internal structures?

If they were just rough replicas, he didn’t believe Professor Li would carry them with such care.

He quickly blocked Li Mingrui’s path again.

“Li Mingrui, what’s inside there—”

“Director Lü, haven’t you already seen for yourself?”

“I’m asking you where they came from!”

“Sorry, that’s classified.”

Li Mingrui stepped around Lü Guangjun and loaded the items onto the truck, then went back to get more.

Taking quick strides, Lü Guangjun climbed onto the first transport truck, looking at the sealed boxes, sensing there must be great secrets inside.

He then returned to the second truck, carefully examining the models, growing increasingly alarmed.

When Li Mingrui came out again, he saw Lü Guangjun approaching with a smile.

“Professor Li, come, let me help you carry!”