Chapter 58: The Counterattack of the Bear Country!

Going to study under Su Dingping?

Xu Dongguo looked at the enthusiastic Lü Guangjun, asking in confusion, "Why are you suddenly going to study again? Did something go wrong with the 051C?"

"Reporting to the Chief, no."

"You still need to keep an eye on the construction of the subsequent 051C production lines! This concerns the future of our navy, you must take it seriously!"

"Chief, the other researchers at the 408 Research Institute are fully capable of shouldering the heavy responsibility of setting up the subsequent production lines!" After a brief pause, Lü Guangjun continued, "Besides, even if some issues really do arise, it's a quick flight for me from Qingdao."

Seeing Lü Guangjun so persistent, Xu Dongguo immediately asked with curiosity, "What is over there that attracts you so much?"

Lü Guangjun gave an embarrassed smile and said, "Chief, to be honest, transitioning from the 051B to the 051C has already felt somewhat beyond my abilities. Any further down the line and I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to keep up! If I stand still and make no progress, I'm afraid I'll fall far behind Sun Yongguo and the others."

"Chief, the gap between us and the West used to be so huge, and now that we've finally managed to narrow it just a little bit, this is the exact moment to catch up with all our might. I hope the Chief will grant approval!"

Had it not been for almost getting into trouble last time without seeking prior permission, he would have already met Sun Yongguo by now.

Hearing this, Xu Dongguo also felt it made sense.

Although warships had crossed the threshold into modernization, the gap with the West remained vast. He was gratified that they were not arrogant or complacent.

"Still the same group of people?"

"Yes, Chief."

"Very well, I approve." Changing the subject, Xu Dongguo added, "By the way, when you get over there, tell Zhou Qing磊 that even though they don't have warships to drill with right now, their routine training must not slack off! In just a few days, the 052 will arrive, and they'll have plenty to do then."

"Understood! Chief!"

Watching Lü Guangjun's happily departing back, a trace of a smile appeared on Xu Dongguo's face.

With hearts beating as one and efforts pulled in the same direction, why should our navy ever worry about not rising to prominence?

...

Northern Theater Naval Military Base, temporary classroom.

Su Dingping was leading 18 professors in an in-depth lecture on the 9M38 anti-aircraft missile.

The SS-N-22 Sunburn anti-ship missile and the Moskit supersonic anti-ship missile systems had basically been covered over the past few days, and the rest would require them to comprehend on their own.

Next up was the 9M38 anti-aircraft missile and the SA-N-7 Hurricane anti-aircraft missile system. Because the latter presented the greatest difficulty, Su Dingping had placed it at the very end of this course session.

"Everyone, today our topic is the 9M38 anti-aircraft missile."

Standing beside the 9M38 anti-aircraft missile, Su Dingping said.

"Compared to the Sea Red Flag on the 051B, it is not particularly advanced. Coupled with the foundation you already have from the SS-N-22 Sunburn anti-ship missile, I am only giving you two days. Two days from now, we move on to the SA-N-7 Hurricane anti-aircraft missile system!"

"The latter is much more difficult and may take a bit more time. Once you all have a solid grasp of it, the other 956E will be handed over to you to take charge of!"

"Does anyone have any questions?"

Sun Yongguo and the others shook their heads one after another.

Are you kidding? Having studied here for so long and having already managed the optimization and assembly tasks for the previous 956E, if they couldn't handle another 956E, they might as well just pack up, go home, and look after their grandchildren.

Patting the missile body, Su Dingping said, "Same old routine, we will first perform a physical disassembly of the 9M38 anti-aircraft missile..."

Just as everyone crowded around, a knock on the door interrupted Su Dingping's lecture.

"Are we interrupting if we come at this hour?"

Hearing the voice, everyone looked over and saw Lü Guangjun standing at the door accompanied by two vice presidents.

Su Dingping smiled and said, "Not at all, come on in."

"Will do."

Lü Guangjun and the two vice presidents walked in enthusiastically.

Upon entering the classroom and taking in the scene inside, Lü Guangjun felt a sudden shock in his heart.

He realized that Su Dingping was truly daring—taking a missile from a third-party country and personally leading a group of professors to take it apart with their bare hands.

If anything went wrong, the losses would be immeasurable.

As expected of a genius; his operational style was both bold and crazy. No wonder he was always a step ahead of them.

While feeling a deep sense of admiration internally, Lü Guangjun was also immensely glad he had arrived in time, otherwise who knew how far Sun Yongguo and the others would have left him behind.

Sun Yongguo chuckled, "Old Lü, did you specifically check the calendar before coming over?"

"Hahaha, I just followed the scent here," Lü Guangjun replied with a beaming smile.

Su Dingping looked at the three of them and said, "President Lü, it's been almost a month. You've certainly made quite a stir! Everyone has heard about it."

"Dingping, please don't say that! If we hadn't spent that time studying under you previously, we'd still be pulling our hair out wondering how to even begin the secondary upgrades for the 051B!"

Lü Guangjun grasped Su Dingping's hand and said excitedly, "Dingping, thank you. We didn't have time to come before, so we made a special trip this time to thank you."

The two vice presidents also expressed their gratitude.

Being held by the hands and relentlessly thanked by people two or three generations older than him, Su Dingping suddenly felt rather embarrassed.

Sun Yongguo chimed in just in time, "Old Lü, you two can't possibly have come all this way just to express gratitude, right?"

"Old Sun, that's why they say our hearts beat as one! On one hand, I'm here to give thanks. On the other hand, I also want to stay and continue my studies." As he spoke, Lü Guangjun looked at Su Dingping and said, "Dingping, the three of us are here and we're not leaving."

"That's fine, we have plenty of space."

With Su Dingping's words, the three of them finally felt completely at ease.

"As for the earlier lessons on the SS-N-22 Sunburn anti-ship missile, you can exchange notes with President Sun and the others when you have time. If you run into any problems, you can come to me."

Changing the topic, Su Dingping continued, "Alright, let's begin today's lecture."

By the end of the class, the three newcomers looked at each other with mixed expressions, filled with deep emotion.

They had managed to complete the upgrades for the eighth batch of YJ anti-ship and Sea Red Flag anti-aircraft missiles, yet they still found themselves immensely inspired.

They instantly felt that coming here was the right decision.

That evening, after concluding his lecture and stepping out of the temporary classroom, Su Dingping saw Zhou Qinglei and his men drilling outside.

"Captain Zhou, still not resting this late?"

"Dingping, the 052 is arriving in the next couple of days. I'm afraid the brothers will slack off and grow unaccustomed to it when the time comes, so I'm getting them started on drills early."

The 052 was arriving?

Thinking of the core technology of the 052D he was currently decoding, a strange glint flashed in the depths of Su Dingping's eyes.

I need to push myself even harder!

After briefly greeting Zhou Qinglei, he hurried back to his quarters.

Two days later, at the Northern Fleet Command Headquarters, Xu Dongguo was busy reviewing documents.

*Knock, knock, knock*—

A hurried series of knocks interrupted his work.

"Reporting to the Chief, there is an urgent military intelligence report!"

"Come in!"

The guard walked in briskly and handed over the intelligence dossier.

Xu Dongguo took the document, flipped through it for a long moment, and his eyes narrowed instantly.

The report recorded relevant data on the fourth Kongō-class guided-missile destroyer currently under construction by Japan, and these were core, highly classified technical parameters!

The overall combat capability of this vessel surpassed the first three, bringing it nearly on par with the United States' Burke-class destroyers.

Even the optimized 956E fell significantly short.

"Is the source of this intelligence accurate?"

"Reporting to the Chief, it is not yet confirmed, but there is one rather unusual detail."

"Speak."

"Reporting to the Chief, according to investigations by the intelligence department, this information doesn't seem to have been voluntarily leaked by the Japanese side!"

Xu Dongguo raised an eyebrow slightly.

He had thought this was Japan's counterattack and provocation against their purchase of the 956E from the Polar Bear Country, but it didn't sound like it.

"Have you uncovered any other news?"

"Reporting to the Chief, based on the relevant clues investigated, the Intelligence Analysis Department has concluded that this matter is connected to the Polar Bear Country."

The Polar Bear Country?

Xu Dongguo's gaze instantly sharpened.