"The Zumwalt launch plan has been delayed, and major problems may arise in various technologies."
A few days later, the release of this news surprised everyone who paid attention to 055 and Zumwalt.
After all, in the eyes of most people, the Zumwalt project represents the most advanced technology, the highest quality project management, the most sufficient resources, and the largest talent team in the world.
How could such a project be delayed due to technical problems?
It doesn't sound that believable.
To talk about delays, it should be the 055 delay - but the blame lies here. Not only was the 055 project not delayed, but it was abnormally announced that it would be launched in mid-November.
When is mid-November?
It’s now November 10th.
As early as the next day, or as late as 10 days later, this legendary 10,000-ton ship will be ready for real use.
Most people still have good intentions and want to see what improvements this ship has compared to the previous generation destroyer.
But it is undeniable that not all expectations are well-intentioned.
There are also some people, the reason why they continue to pay attention to the progress is to wait until the day it launches, watch China's jokes, and use Zumwalt's technology and strength to humiliate 055.
But unfortunately, their expectations were dashed.
It can't even be made, how can it be compared to a hammer?
At least in terms of speed, the United States has lost one round.
However, those people with bad intentions did not give up because of this. In their eyes, cheap products are not good products, and fast products are not good products. Anyway, as long as it is related to China, there is definitely no good product.
Therefore, during the period when 055 was about to be launched, the negative news about it almost reached its peak.
But even Li Xiang was too lazy to deal with these public opinions.
Because he knew that within a few days, all these people's faces would be swollen from being slapped.
Jiangnan Shipyard.
Wen Xingdong sat in his office with a rare serious look on his face, carefully checking the report in front of him.
"Have all checks been completed? How are things going?"
Opposite him, the assistant engineer nodded and replied:
"The structure, equipment, and center of gravity balance have been completed, and most of the material inspection has been completed. The basic fire-fighting and life-saving equipment is currently complete. Some living equipment has not yet been put on the ship. It is estimated that it will be completed within the next two days."
"After the material inspection is completed, all inspection work will be completed and you can sign at that time."
Wen Xingdong hummed and continued to ask:
"Have you contacted Mr. Ma yet? We agreed before that he would come over again to do a full electrical equipment test. When does he plan to come over?"
"Mr. Ma will arrive tomorrow morning - but in fact, we have already completed the test under his remote guidance, and no problems were found."
"It's different. After all, Mr. Ma is the first person responsible for the integrated power system. This is also the first time this system has been used on a combat ship. If he doesn't come, we won't worry, and he won't worry either."
"There are still four days left. There is still time. If problems are found, the worst case scenario is to push it back a day or two."
"Understood, I'll set up a backup schedule first."
As he spoke, the assistant silently wrote a date of "November 17th" in his notebook, but he had a strong premonition in his heart:
This date must be useless. There is no way anything could go wrong with the ship before it is launched.
Because all possible pitfalls had been eliminated a few months ago.
The rest of the time is just a matter of sprinting forward.
——
There is still room for a sprint.
This feeling is like that of a 5,000-meter long-distance runner who suddenly discovers that the track is only 4,000 meters away. The finish line is almost here before his physical strength is exhausted to the limit.
How could one still fall under such circumstances?
The current caution is just to strictly implement the process regulations.
He raised his head again and looked at Wen Xingdong behind the desk. After noticing the tired look on his face, he said:
"Mr. Wen, please get off work early today."
"The rest of the work does not require your presence to direct it."
"In the past few days, I suggest you take a good rest and replenish your energy."
"After all, the 15th is a big day. It will be broadcast live across the country, and many overseas media will also broadcast it."
"As the chief engineer, you must keep your mental state in good shape, otherwise, if they catch a bad shot, they will definitely make a big fuss."
Hearing the assistant's words, Wen Xingdong nodded solemnly.
This may seem like a small thing, but based on past experience, it’s actually not that small.
Those media will indeed deliberately vilify the image of Chinese scientific researchers and leaders in their reports. To this day, they even force many military spokespersons to undergo strict training to control their blinking frequency before taking the stage.
——
Of course, for Wen Xingdong, the requirements are not that exaggerated.
But with his current clothes, sunken eye sockets and disheveled hair, there is absolutely no way he can go out to meet people.
At least I need to get a haircut, get some sleep, and tidy myself up.
Therefore, the assistant's suggestion can be said to be very pertinent, and Wen Xingdong did not refuse it.
He lowered his head and glanced at his watch. It was already four o'clock in the afternoon. Wen Xingdong packed up his things and walked out of the office. He announced to everyone who was still working that he would leave work early and let everyone who did not have urgent work at hand go back to rest.
Everyone cheered, but their excitement was not because of "getting off work", but because when Wen Xingdong said the words "you can rest", it only meant one thing:
The inspection results were all normal, and the final sprint of No. 055 was also normal.
Someone stood up excitedly and asked Wen Xingdong:
"Mr. Wen, do you want to change the time? It's definitely the 15th, right?"
Wen Xingdong nodded and replied:
"I'm not sure. How can such a thing be certain! Don't ask, just do your job and just wait. Are you in such a hurry to have a baby?"
The people around burst into laughter, and then someone asked:
"Mr. Wen, what should I wear on the 15th? Is there a unified standard?"
The person who asked the question was a technician with a non-military background. Unlike others, he could not wear a military uniform directly, but if he wore a suit, he felt something was wrong, so he asked directly while Wen Xingdong was there.
This question really stumped Wen Xingdong. He hesitated for a few seconds and finally answered:
"Suits are OK, Chinese tunic suits are OK, and factory uniforms are OK. There's no need for too much red tape. Just make sure you have a good image."
"I don't want anyone to be photographed by foreign media wearing casual clothes on the 15th, do you understand?"
"Understood!"
Everyone answered one after another, Wen Xingdong explained a few more words, turned around and walked out of the office.
He was really tired and needed a rest.
But not many people followed him out of the office.
Halfway there, he suddenly felt something.
Looking back, what came into view was a picture that was incompatible with what they were discussing.
The room is filled with piles of drawings and books. It is messy and retro. If a new person comes in, they might even think that this is the office of some publishing house.
The old man who spoke incomprehensible Shanghainese was lying on the table using a pencil and a T-square to draw paper. Young people who had returned from studying abroad were watching and interjecting a few words from time to time. English, Chinese, and Shanghainese were mixed together. If he hadn't come from To those who participated in the discussion from the beginning, it probably sounds like a holy book.
Most people still drink from cans and bottles, and there are enamel rice bowls and plastic lunch boxes on the table, which also contain half of the fried dough sticks that were not finished in the morning or noon.
On the broken sofa covered with gray cotton cloth, two technicians who had been busy all day were reclining and resting. When they moved slightly, the springs creaked.
There are two books placed under the desk in the corner under the window sill on the right, with "Dune" written on the cover.
There are potted flowers placed on the terrazzo windowsill, but at this season, they have completely withered and it is impossible to tell what they are.
This is where 055 was born.
It was in such a simple and even crude environment that these people designed the most advanced warship in the world.
——
Of course, there's no denying that Starfire, and the man behind Starfire, played a huge role in this process.
But without the people in this office, 055 Drive would only be a castle in the air.
Looking at this scene, Wen Xingdong suddenly remembered a past incident.
In 2003, he once met a certain captain of the North Sea Fleet.
The navy at that time was so poor that it was almost unseemly.
At the same event, more than a hundred people from the Army came, but only two or three from the Navy.
The only thing that can outdo the Army is the handsome uniform of the Navy.
At that time, Wen Xingdong also teased the captain, saying that you wear this white military uniform every day, aren't you afraid that it will get dirty and difficult to wash?
And the captain's half-joking answer was still fresh in his memory to this day.
The man said:
"Our navy only has this kind of appearance. Although the equipment is not much or advanced, my military uniform is worth 6,000 tons and a 300-ton submarine hunter. As long as I stand on it, it will be Ticonderoga. Can I move?"
The captain said it very easily, but in Wen Xingdong's ears, there was only sadness.
Later, the captain quietly asked Wen Xingdong.
"You are engaged in shipbuilding. Tell me, can we board our own aircraft carriers and 10,000-ton ships in our lifetime?"
Wen Xingdong didn't answer at that time.
But he actually has the answer in his heart.
He believes that within 20 years, such a goal will not even be considered.
However, five years later, the situation has changed dramatically.
The captain at that time had only been promoted to major for a few months, and 055 was about to be launched.
In two months, 001 will be launched.
I have to say that my generation is lucky.
This magnificent era, this era heading towards the deep blue, has finally caught up.
Wen Xingdong breathed a long sigh of relief, turned and left the office.
Following the assistant's advice, he went to the barber shop to tidy up his hair, and personally sent his uniform to the logistics department for dry cleaning and ironing. Then he went to the vegetable market to buy groceries, and then returned home to cook a simple but extremely attentive meal. dinner.
His wife and parents were surprised by his rare free time today, while his son kept pestering him with questions.
Although this child is not very old, he has inexplicably developed a strong interest in ships. There are all kinds of model toys in the house.
He obviously also saw the news on TV that 055 was about to be launched, so he asked:
"Dad, is our boat about to be launched? Is the new boat powerful?"
Due to confidentiality requirements, the family does not actually know the specific work of Wen Xingdong, but the project is coming to an end, and everyone knows many things even if they are not said.
Seeing the innocent look on his face, Wen Xingdong couldn't help but smile.
He replied:
"It must be powerful. Our ship is the most powerful ship in the world. No one can compare with it."
"Yeah! Is that more powerful than the American destroyer Burke? Is that more powerful than Ticonticonderoga?"
"Better than them all!"
Wen Xingdong nodded.
"Great, I will also join the navy in the future. I will drive warships and defeat them all!"
Hearing this, before Wen Xingdong had time to reply, the grandfather on the side quickly said:
"My dear grandson, if you like warships, you can become a designer like your father, but you can't go to war."
"Now we are still far away, but we can't beat them."
"Why can't you beat me?"
the son asked in confusion.
"Well, here's the problem. You see, fighting requires a lot of things."
"For example, if you watch the TV series "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms", in ancient times, to win a war, your sword must be sharpened to be sharper than others, you must have more food than others, you must win the hearts of the people, and you must have strategies."
"This is not a fight between you and your classmates in preschool. It's not like whoever is stronger can win."
Hearing the old man's words, Wen Xingdong smiled helplessly.
In fact, the old man had no ill intentions, nor did he have no confidence in the country. He said this simply out of love for his grandson.
It’s normal to not want any accidents to happen to your descendants.
Therefore, he did not refute immediately. After all, he was still confident in the education his son had received.
It is impossible for him to shake what he believes in just because of a few simple words.
Sure enough, after thinking for a few seconds, the son said:
"Grandpa, if you say so, we can definitely beat them."
"That's not necessarily true. We haven't had a war in decades, and they fight every day."
The old man still wanted to "follow the instructions", but a sentence suddenly came out of his son's mouth that surprised everyone.
He said:
"Grandpa, that's not right."
"Even though we haven't fought for a long time, we have been sharpening our swords."
Wen Xingdong's hand holding the vegetables stopped in mid-air.
A thought suddenly came to his mind:
How long will it take to sharpen this knife?
When it is unsheathed, can it kill all incoming enemies in front of it?
Four days later, November 15th.
The 055 destroyer was officially launched at Jiangnan Shipyard.
On this day, the Republic's sharp maritime sword was unsheathed.
(End of chapter)
