Siheyuan, Shazhu: I have both parents in this life

Chapter 442 Lian Po is not old yet

That day, He Yuzhu had just finished playing chess with two old men and was drinking tea when a visitor arrived at his home, a visitor with a dark face.

The visitor was Lu Shanhe. This naval officer didn't look too good when he entered. He forced a smile and quickly greeted Xiaoman before entering He Yuzhu's study.

"Old He, you old bastard, you're not being fair!" Lu Shanhe had barely sat down when he couldn't help but complain, pointing a finger at He Yuzhu, "You're trying to poach our navy's talent?"

He Yuzhu was making tea when he heard this. He stopped what he was doing, looked up at him, and said in a calm tone, "Old Lu, what are you talking about? When did I poach anyone from your navy?"

"Still playing dumb?" Lu Shanhe glared. "We just trained a few promising talents over there, skilled in both marine engineering and navigation. We were planning to have them become non-commissioned officers and stay in the army long-term, but look what happened! Their discharge reports came in, and when we asked, they all went to your Yellow River Rescue Team! They said they were going to do some kind of ocean search and rescue, with good pay and career prospects! Isn't this just poaching our talent?"

He Yuzhu pushed a cup of tea he had just brewed in front of him and smiled, "Old Lu, don't be in such a hurry. Everyone has their own ambitions. It's normal for soldiers to leave the army and seek better opportunities. Besides, the Yellow River Rescue Team is a non-governmental public welfare organization that does good deeds such as disaster relief and maritime rescue. Wherever they go, they can still serve the country and the people with their skills. How can you call it poaching?"

"Nonsense!" Lu Shanhe picked up his teacup irritably, not caring that it was hot, and took a big gulp. "Do you know how much effort and resources it takes to train a qualified ship's backbone? He was just about to be able to stand on his own, and you reaped the rewards! How can I be happy about that?"

He Yuzhu knew that Lao Lu was cherishing talented people and understood his feelings.

He thought for a moment and asked, "Old Lu, let me ask you, if these soldiers stayed in the army, how much room for promotion would they have? If they can't find suitable jobs after they retire, wouldn't all their skills go to waste? Now that they've come to the rescue team, they can use their expertise, earn a decent income, and continue to do meaningful work related to the ocean. Isn't that a win-win-win situation for the country, the people, and themselves?"

He paused, looked into Lu Shanhe's eyes, and continued, "Moreover, the rescue team's work in ocean search and rescue enhances our country's overall maritime emergency response capabilities. In peacetime, they rescue people in distress, and I mean just in case, if there is any need in the future, isn't this force and these key personnel who are familiar with sea conditions and proficient in technology a valuable asset? Isn't this another form of reserve?"

Lu Shanhe fell silent, holding his teacup, lost in thought.

He understood this principle perfectly well, but he just couldn't get over it.

Because it wasn't just one or two people who ran to the Yellow River rescue team, it was a whole group of them, basically one person taking a group of people with them.

If it weren't for the limited number of spots in the Yellow River Rescue Team, he felt that his men would be sitting outside his office crying.

"Old He, could you go a little easier? It's not easy for us to train people." After a while, Lu Shanhe finally spoke up.

He Yuzhu pressed on, saying, "Hey Lao Lu, next time the rescue team recruits from retired naval personnel, we'll definitely consult with your relevant departments first and give priority to those who have no hope of promotion but do have expertise. Moreover, I can promise that the rescue team's training syllabus and some non-core data can be made available to you. If necessary, we can even accept your guidance or conduct joint exercises. We're not in competition; we should be complementary."

Hearing this, Lu Shanhe's expression softened considerably.

He put down his teacup and sighed, "You always have your reasons. Fine, we've come this far, it would seem petty of me to keep harping on it. But Zhu Zi, you'd better make sure you use these people well! If I find out they've been mistreated by you, or that they've lost their skills, I'll never forgive you!"

"Don't worry," He Yuzhu said with a smile, "Here, if someone is talented, I will definitely give them a stage to showcase their abilities."

“Alright, those who left before have already left, and there’s no way to get them to re-enlist now. I’ll keep an eye on this from now on.”

“No problem,” He Yuzhu said.

"My subordinates are driving me crazy about this. I haven't had a proper rest for days. How are you going to make it up to me?"

"How do you want to make up for it?"

"I don't ask for anything else, just cook a meal for me yourself, and I'll eat it." Then Lu Shanhe started ordering the dishes.

He Yuzhu was speechless. This guy was really impolite. But he still cooked a meal, after all, he had taken so many people from them.

After seeing off Lu Shanhe, who was in a better mood, He Yuzhu called the Yellow River Rescue Team to ask about their situation.

The story of the rescue team recruiting navy personnel dates back to after the 1998 floods.

The Yellow River Rescue Team's rescue work during the flood exposed many problems. He Yuzhu thought that since the work was going to be done in the water anyway, he might as well do the work at sea as well.

Then, the Yellow River Rescue Team established an ocean search and rescue team. Although it was called a team, He Yuzhu specified that it would have two rescue ships with a displacement of three to five thousand tons, and a considerable number of crew members and rescue personnel.

That's why Lu Shanhe came looking for us. Why did he come looking for us now? Because we didn't have a boat before, so we were all in the process of making preparations. When the boat arrived in 2000, the rescue team started their work.

A few days after seeing Lu Shanhe off, He Yuzhu set off south.

Instead of going to the special economic zone, he went directly to the Yellow River Rescue Team base near Huacheng.

The base has been expanded considerably since a few years ago, and is located in a quiet harbor adjacent to the mouth of the Pearl River.

The most eye-catching sights were the two large blue and white ships moored side by side next to the newly built dedicated wharf. The ships were brand new with strong lines and a displacement of about four or five thousand tons. The words "Yellow River Rescue" and the unique team emblem on the masts were very conspicuous in the sunlight.

Team leader Yu Yuntao and the head of the ocean search and rescue team, a former captain of a naval gunboat named Gao Zhan, couldn't board a destroyer because of the limited number of destroyers. So Gao Zhan decided to pursue a professional career and came to the Yellow River Rescue Team. Now he is Yu Yuntao's deputy.

The two were already waiting at the dock.

Gao Zhan was thirty-five or thirty-six years old, with dark skin, a straight posture, and sharp eyes, clearly someone who had been trained at sea for a long time.

"Boss, you've arrived." Yu Yuntao greeted him.

"Come and see your new guy, and you, Gao Zhan. Chief Lu came to my place and slammed his fist on the table," He Yuzhu said, half-jokingly, looking at Gao Zhan.

A hint of embarrassment flickered across Gao Zhan's face, but he quickly straightened his back and said, "Mr. He, thank you and the rescue team for giving me and my brothers this opportunity. We will certainly live up to your trust and support the ocean shipping business."

He Yuzhu waved his hand: "Let's not talk about the past. Come on, let's get on the boat and take a look."

The group boarded one of the ships, named "Yellow River Rescue No. 1".

The deck is spacious, and the tail section has a helicopter landing platform and hangar. Although the converted helicopters have not yet arrived, the land-based helicopters are used for training.

Several rescue speedboats and assault boats of different models were hanging on both sides of the ship.

Gao Zhan introduced them with great familiarity: "These two ships were designed and built by Hudong Shipyard, with reference to the designs of some naval rescue ships and oceanographic survey vessels. The main structure has been strengthened, making them suitable for sailing in rough seas. The power system consists of two domestically produced and improved diesel engines, with a range of up to 7,000 nautical miles."

He led He Yuzhu into the cabin. "This is the main control room, equipped with satellite communication, weather fax, GPS and Beidou dual-mode navigation, as well as a side-scan sonar imported from abroad, which can be used to search for underwater targets. The medical cabin is built to the standards of a small floating hospital and can perform emergency surgery. In addition, we have also installed two sets of high-power fire pumps and long-range water cannons to take into account maritime firefighting missions."

He Yuzhu carefully examined the equipment in the control room. Many of the instrument panels and screens were brand new, and the protective films on some of the buttons had not yet been removed.

"How are the crew and rescue personnel being deployed?"

Yu Yuntao continued, "According to your established staffing plan, the two ships require approximately 120 crew members and full-time rescue team members at full strength. Currently, over 90 have arrived. Core positions, such as captain, chief engineer, and communications and navigation, are mostly filled by veteran naval personnel brought by Captain Gao; their experience is invaluable. Among the rescue team members, over 30 are also retired from military maritime rescue units; they are strong swimmers and technically proficient. The remaining members are a group of key personnel selected internally, who are currently undergoing intensive sea adaptability training."

Gao Zhan added, "The biggest problem right now is the integration process. The ship is new, and we're using a lot of the equipment for the first time. Although our crew members are all skilled, it will take time for them to adapt to this new equipment and become combat-ready. Recently, we've mainly been operating in coastal waters to familiarize ourselves with ship handling and practice using the equipment. We've conducted several simulated search and rescue and personnel transfer drills, which have revealed a number of minor issues that we are addressing one by one."

He Yuzhu nodded; this was within his expectations. "Training can't just be done near the coast; we need to get out there as soon as possible. We can start by running along the coastline for medium to long distances to get used to different sea conditions. Have we prepared a rescue plan?"

"We have a preliminary plan." Gao Zhan took out a thick folder. "We've developed procedures for several common situations, including merchant ship distress, people falling overboard, maritime medical rescue, and ship firefighting. But in real-world, complex situations will require on-the-spot judgment. We plan to conduct a comprehensive exercise in the South China Sea next month, simulating the search and rescue of an 'out-of-control' vessel in complex sea conditions."

“Okay, real combat is the only standard for testing. In the future, you will need to take on more difficult tasks, not only rescuing ships, but also rescuing people.” He Yuzhu approved the plan and put forward his requirements.

"Yes."

"Any other help do you need?"

Yu Yuntao thought for a moment: "There are two main issues. First, helicopters. Without air power, the efficiency and scope of search and rescue are greatly limited. Second, the coordination mechanism with relevant departments such as maritime affairs and coast guard needs to be refined. After all, we are civilians, and we need to report and obtain permission to enter certain areas or participate in specific operations."

“There’s no rush with the helicopters. The modified helicopters will be in place soon. You already have your own pilots, so I won’t help you find one. As for the coordination mechanism, I’ll have the group office set up a regular communication channel with the relevant departments.” He Yuzhu said thoughtfully, “Your current task is to make good use of the existing personnel and ships and train them to be proficient. Ocean rescue is not only a technical job, but also a test of will and teamwork.”

Standing on the deck, gazing at the distant horizon where the sea and sky meet, he slowly said, "Our maritime territory is becoming increasingly vast, and there are more and more ships coming and going. The Yellow River Rescue Team has established an ocean-going group; the responsibilities ahead will be quite heavy."

Gao Zhan and Yu Yuntao exchanged a glance, their expressions solemn: "Understood! Mission accomplished!"

After spending two days at the Huacheng Rescue Team base and learning in detail about the construction and training of the ocean search and rescue team, He Yuzhu was preparing to return to Beijing when he received a call from Wu Qianli.

"Zhu Zi, I heard you've arrived in Huacheng? Perfect timing! Don't rush off, come over here." Wu Qianli's voice on the phone carried an undeniable enthusiasm, mixed with a hint of barely perceptible urgency.

"Old Wu, what are you up to now? I was just about to head back to Beijing," He Yuzhu said into the microphone.

"Why go back to Beijing? We have important business! Yu Yan's 'Sharp Blade' squad is going to represent us at the international 'Hunter School' training camp next month. That's a tough battle, with a high mortality and injury rate. I'm a little worried about them. You come over and give these kids a lesson, a good talking-to, and broaden their horizons." Wu Qianli paused, lowering his voice slightly. "The training manuals are all based on what you left behind years ago. As the grandmaster, you should at least show your face to your disciples and grand-disciples and set the record straight, right?"

He Yuzhu held the microphone and remained silent for a few seconds.

He had heard about the brutality of international special forces training; it was indeed a crucible for testing the limits of a nation's soldiers.

He felt that what he had accumulated during his time on the Korean Peninsula and in his subsequent experiences should be useful to future generations and should even be taken abroad to compete with. For both public and private reasons, he felt it was worthwhile to go and see.

"Alright, stop flattering me. Send me the address, I'll go take a look." He Yuzhu finally agreed.

"Great! I'll send a car to pick you up!"

A few hours later, He Yuzhu's car drove into a military-controlled area deep in the mountains of Lingnan.

The area was heavily guarded, and the atmosphere was completely different from that of the rescue team's base. The air seemed to be filled with a mixture of gunpowder and sweat.

Wu Qianli, Wu Wanli, He Yuyan, and others were already waiting in front of the brigade headquarters building. The major rank on He Yuyan's shoulder gleamed. When he saw his elder brother, he straightened his chest and saluted. His eyes showed both the warmth of seeing his elder brother and a hint of nervousness about being inspected.

"Brother Zhuzi."

"Big brother."

Wu Wanli and He Yuyan spoke one after the other.

Wu Qianli stepped forward and patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder forcefully: "Old buddy, we've been waiting for you. Come on, let's go straight to the training ground, the 'Sharp Blade' team is doing acclimatization training."

The group arrived at the comprehensive tactical training ground.

On the field, seven or eight soldiers in training uniforms with their faces painted were taking turns providing cover and conducting a small-group assault drill.

Their movements were swift and their teamwork seamless; the direction of their guns and their movement routes exuded an aura of elite skill.

Wu Qianli said to a lieutenant next to him with a cold expression and hawk-like eyes, "Chen Feng, assemble the troops."

"Yes, sir!" Lieutenant Chen Feng, the captain of the "Sharp Blade" squad, gave a short whistle, and the soldiers training on the field immediately stopped, quickly lined up in front of him, and the whole process took less than ten seconds. The team members were all breathing steadily, their sharp eyes looking at Wu Qianli, He Yuzhu and the others, with the unique arrogance of an elite force.

Wu Qianli stood at the front of the formation and announced loudly, "Let me tell you! This is Comrade He Yuzhu, your former company commander, and one of the founders of many of our training subjects. I've specially invited him here today to give you pre-departure guidance. All of you, pay attention, listen carefully, and learn well!"

All the team members' eyes were focused on He Yuzhu.

Seeing that he was wearing an ordinary jacket, and although he was tall and upright, he was obviously not young. His face was weathered and he looked more like a retired cadre. Many people's eyes flashed with a hint of doubt.

Are you suggesting that these elite soldiers, selected from across the entire army, should be instructed by an old man?
He Yuzhu took in everyone's expressions but didn't say anything.

He slowly walked to the front of the line, his gaze calmly sweeping over each young and unruly face.

“Hunter School, I’ve heard of it.” He Yuzhu spoke, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching everyone’s ears. “Extreme physical fitness, survival behind enemy lines, brutal interrogation. To put it bluntly, their approach is to push people’s physiology and psychology to the brink, to see if you break down or can be tempered into steel.”

He paused, then pointed to the 400-meter steeplechase track on the training field next to him: "What's your fastest record on that thing?"

Chen Feng stepped forward and answered loudly, "Report! One minute and thirty seconds!"

This achievement is among the top in the entire army.

He Yuzhu nodded without commenting, but instead asked a seemingly unrelated question: "If you had a fractured shinbone, were being pursued by the enemy, and needed to reach the rendezvous point within a specified time, how would you get through this obstacle course?"

The team members were stunned for a moment. Some of them subconsciously wanted to answer "persevere" or "overcome," but when they saw He Yuzhu's calm and unwavering eyes, they swallowed their words.

This is clearly not about listening to slogans.

He Yuzhu stopped asking questions, turned around and walked towards the starting point of the obstacle course, saying to Wu Qianli, "Old Wu, mark the time."

Wu Qianli was stunned for a moment, then understood He Yuzhu's intention and quickly said, "Old He, you're not young anymore. If you get into trouble with me, your sister-in-law will fight me to the death."

He Yuzhu didn't answer but looked at He Yuyan, who had already taken out a stopwatch and was looking expectant.

"Old He, you're not joking, are you?" Wu Qianli said.

"Are you kidding me? Find me a training uniform and a pair of shoes." He Yuzhu took off his jacket and started to move his joints, making a slight clicking sound.

"Alright then, but you'd better be careful. If something really happens to you, I can't handle it," Wu Qianli asked again.

"Alright, I know my own body condition," He Yuzhu said.

Wu Qianli prepared clothes and shoes for He Yuzhu. After He Yuzhu changed, he stood casually behind the starting line.

"Ready, go, beep!" He Yuyan shouted and blew the whistle, and He Yuzhu suddenly started moving!

He didn't have the explosive starting speed of younger players, but his movements were exceptionally coordinated and fluid, as if he had calculated the landing point for every step.

He didn't climb over the high and low walls; instead, he used his momentum and arm strength to push and push, sliding across as if his body were weightless. On the ladder, he used both hands and feet, his rhythm incredibly steady, without the slightest sway. On the log bridge, he traversed it as if it were flat ground, maintaining his speed without diminishing.
His movements showed no signs of showing off, only an efficiency that had been honed through countless trials and tribulations and was ingrained in his very being.

Every movement was perfectly timed, with not a single ounce of energy wasted, as if facing not a cold obstacle, but a familiar old friend.

Wu Qianli stared intently at the field, as did He Yuyan, but the deputy captain next to He Yuyan looked at the numbers jumping on the stopwatch with increasing shock in his eyes.

When He Yuzhu crossed the finish line, slightly out of breath but with a normal expression, He Yuyan pressed the stop button.

He looked at the numbers on the stopwatch, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he said incredulously, "One, one minute and twenty-eight seconds."

The venue was completely silent.

The arrogance on the faces of the "Sharp Blade" team members vanished, replaced by deep astonishment and disbelief.

This man, who looked about the same age as their grandfather, easily broke their record in their proudest project!
Moreover, judging from his calm and composed demeanor, it seems he hasn't exerted his full strength yet.

Before returning to the team, He Yuzhu's breathing had calmed down. He looked at his teammates and said calmly, "I'm not teaching you how to run faster. I want to tell you that in extreme conditions, it's not about explosive power, but about how to complete the task with minimal exertion and the most stable mindset. If you have a fracture, find a way to reduce the force exerted by that leg and utilize the terrain and your arm strength. You can't just have the thought 'rush through' in your mind; you need a route, a method, and absolute control over your own condition."

He walked up to a particularly burly team member, and suddenly struck, his fingers moving like lightning, gently pressing down on a spot under the man's ribs.

The team member groaned, half of his body went numb instantly, and he almost knelt down, his face filled with horror.

"In combat, in that kind of place, the goal isn't to strike a pose," He Yuzhu said calmly, withdrawing his hand. "It's about incapacitating the enemy as quickly as possible. The human body has many vulnerable points; you don't need much strength, the key is accuracy and speed."

He then looked at the rifle carried by another team member: "I believe your marksmanship is excellent, whether you're shooting at stationary or moving targets. But when you're exhausted, your vision is blurred, and your hands are shaking so much you can't hold the gun, how do you guarantee a first-shot hit? It's not the scope, it's here." He pointed to his chest, "It's the muscle memory formed by millions of practices, and the breathing control that allows you to maintain a stable firing position in any situation."

For the next few hours, He Yuzhu did not give any complicated theoretical explanations. Instead, he focused on making extremely subtle adjustments and providing guidance to the team members on their specific movements during the training session.

This includes how to remain alert when extremely fatigued, how to use the natural environment for camouflage and stealth, and how to protect critical information during interrogation after being captured.

He didn't say much, but every word he spoke hit the nail on the head. It was experience he had truly gained on the brink of life and death. The team members listened with rapt attention, their previous disdain completely gone, their eyes filled with awe and a thirst for knowledge.

After the instruction session ended, He Yuzhu put his coat back on.

Chen Feng, along with all the "Sharp Blade" team members, stood tall and gave him a perfect military salute.

"Thank you for your guidance, Commander!" The roar was deafening, filled with heartfelt respect.

He Yuzhu returned the greeting and said to Wu Qianli and He Yuyan, "You're both good prospects, with a very solid foundation. When you get there, stay calm and remember what you represent. Come back alive, and bring back your skills." He Yuzhu stayed in the special operations brigade for three days before leaving amidst the reluctance of his team members. On the way out of the special operations brigade, Wu Qianli sighed with emotion, "Zhuzi, your skills are still sharp as ever! It seems you've even improved. Did you secretly go and practice on your own?"

"What's there to practice? I'll just practice some boxing right now."

Wu Qianli looked unconvinced, and He Yuzhu laughed and said, "Why don't you step down and come back to Beijing with me? Then you'll know what I do every day."

"Well, it'll be soon. I'll retire at the end of this year," Wu Qianli sighed.

"How about it, want to come to Beijing and keep me company?" He Yuzhu asked.

"Let's talk about it then."

"That's up to you. By the way, is Old Mei retiring too? You can retire together," He Yuzhu said.

"I'll ask him when I get back." Wu Qianli was clearly not in a good mood; it's no wonder he felt bad about leaving the place he had lived his whole life.

The car drove out of the mountains and headed towards the airport.

He Yuzhu felt that the trip to the south was worthwhile, as he witnessed the extension of rescue efforts and the growth of a new generation of elite soldiers.

Not long after He Yuzhu returned to Nanluoguxiang, someone came to his door again. Xiaoman complained in a low voice, "Look at you, you're always making so many things happen, you're never free."

“If we are no longer needed, I will feel even worse,” He Yuzhu said with a smile.

The visitor was Factory Director Song. He entered He Yuzhu's study and, without even exchanging pleasantries, plopped down on the sofa and let out a long sigh.

"Old He, we're in big trouble this time." Factory Director Song rubbed his temples, his voice hoarse.

He Yuzhu poured him a cup of strong tea and waited for what was to come.

"Two things are urgent." Director Song held up two fingers. "First, the core components and key technical data that were originally planned to be imported for our new model of aero-engine have been blocked there. They've postponed it indefinitely under the pretext of end-user verification. Without those things, our progress will be delayed by at least two or three years!"

He paused, observing He Yuzhu's reaction. Seeing that the other party remained calm, he continued, his tone becoming even heavier: "Secondly, the production capacity of the J-10 fighter jet can't keep up."

"Hmm?" He Yuzhu raised an eyebrow slightly. "Didn't you say the production line debugging went smoothly?"

"It's going smoothly, but the demand has changed!" Factory Director Song lowered his voice. "The reconnaissance planes from the south and east are becoming increasingly audacious, with the number of close-in flights skyrocketing. The military is under immense pressure, demanding a faster pace of equipment replacement to create regional deterrence. But our existing production lines, even with three shifts, can only produce so little annually. The higher-ups require us to increase production capacity by another 30% by the middle of next year! How is that possible? You can't cook without rice!"

He Yuzhu pondered, this must be something the other side did on purpose.

"Regarding the engine, haven't Huagao Technology and several materials and power research institutes been working on alternative solutions?" He Yuzhu asked.

"We are working on the key technologies and have made some progress, but there is still a gap between that and complete replacement, especially in terms of stability and lifespan to meet the original design specifications. Some special alloys and precision casting processes cannot be mastered overnight," Director Song said with a wry smile. "Hua Gao Ke is already operating at full capacity. Several core laboratories are practically using people like animals for avionics, radar, and your own projects. I came here today to discuss with you whether it's possible to have Huanghe Heavy Industry and Jinggong allocate some of their most elite resources to Hua Gao Ke's aero-engine development team for deep collaboration. They have unique expertise in heavy machinery processing and special processes. Now is not the time to hide it; we must concentrate our efforts and form a powerful force!"

He Yuzhu did not answer immediately.

He knew what this meant. Heavy industry and precision manufacturing were the foundation of the Yellow River system's manufacturing industry, involving a large number of civilian applications and some special orders, and could not be easily touched.

But the problem that Director Song mentioned also needs to be solved. After weighing the options, He Yuzhu said, "Directly agreeing is definitely not an option. I'll have Yuxin and the person in charge over there liaise with you to establish a joint project team. Resources and personnel will be given priority. But Lao Song, let me make this clear from the start: we must have the right to use the non-classified materials we develop."

"Don't worry about that!" Factory Director Song perked up a bit when he saw He Yuzhu agree so readily. "And what about the production capacity?"

“Production capacity? Isn’t that something you should solve yourselves? I don’t manufacture airplanes. Besides, you already have a batch of airplanes, you can just modify them,” He Yuzhu said.

"not enough."

"Then go ask your superior for help. I'm not your superior."

"If my superiors had a solution, why would I need to ask you?"

"Are there no other state-owned factories in China that can take the orders?"

"Baoji does have them, but their equipment is too outdated."

"Then what do you mean?"

"Hehe, equipment, I really can't think of anyone else who can help me solve this problem."

"No, no, don't flatter me, I'm afraid I'll get dragged out."

"We'll pay for you, that's the market price."

"Even at market price, it's not enough; we can't buy it." He Yuzhu shook his head.

"So, there's absolutely nothing we can do? With that thing hovering overhead every day, and the soldiers waiting anxiously, I'm really worried..." Director Song began to appeal to emotions.

Looking at Director Song's expression, He Yuzhu couldn't help but chuckle, and he spoke up.

"Old Song, it's not that I don't want to help. Building airplanes is completely different from building cars or machine tools. Precision and heavy industry do have some resources, but how many special processes, special tooling, and non-standard equipment does your airplane production line involve? These are not things that our existing general-purpose equipment can handle. Even if we follow the blueprints exactly, if the precision and stability don't meet the requirements, would you dare to install the parts on the airplane?"

Factory Director Song opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but couldn't find the words.

He knew He Yuzhu was telling the truth. In aircraft manufacturing, even the slightest error can lead to disastrous consequences.

As He Yuzhu spoke, he had already begun to check his space. He remembered that when he was working on the SU33, he had a batch of equipment. After returning, he did not take it out directly. Later, the SU33 and the large ship were handed over together, and the equipment was left in his space to gather dust.

"What equipment are you lacking?" He Yuzhu asked.

Factory Director Song immediately pulled out a pre-prepared document from his briefcase: "It's all here! From five-axis CNC machine tools to special welding workstations, from skin stretching machines to composite material autoclaves. A total of twenty-seven categories and fifty-three sets of key equipment."

He Yuzhu's face darkened as he looked at the thick stack of documents. "Why didn't you just let me bring you back an airport?"

"It would be even better if you could move it back; I'll go and ask for credit for you," Old Song said with a fawning smile.

"Take that fawning attitude off to your boss, don't try it on me," He Yuzhu said irritably.

Factory Director Song's smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression. "Old He, I know you have wide connections and many ways to get things done. Some things can't be obtained through official channels, but perhaps, perhaps there are some unofficial channels? Price isn't an issue; as long as the goods can get in, we'll sell everything we own!"

"A gap?" He Yuzhu snorted. "Old Song, do you think those people are just sitting around doing nothing? Don't you know how closely they've been watching us all these years? You and Lao Fan can probably guess how many men I lost and what price I paid for those things, but I've never mentioned it. Now you're talking about dozens of embargoed devices. Aren't you really afraid I'll just disappear tomorrow?"

Factory Director Song's expression froze on his face; he truly hadn't expected something so life-threatening.

He sighed heavily, leaned back on the sofa, as if all his strength had been drained away in an instant.

After a long pause, he finally spoke: "I understand, I was just being presumptuous. This matter, alas, is indeed asking the impossible."

He rubbed his face abruptly, his voice weary, "Well, forget it then. I'll think of another way and truthfully report the difficulties to the higher-ups."

Seeing how much older he looked in an instant, He Yuzhu remained silent for a moment, a complex light flashing in the depths of his eyes.

There were indeed several key pieces of equipment lying in his space, including a riveting machine and a special welding system, but these things could not be taken out easily. Their source had to be legitimate, and Director Song could not be made to feel that they came too easily.

"Leave the list," He Yuzhu suddenly said, interrupting Director Song's dejection.

Factory Director Song looked up abruptly, a spark of hope rekindling in his eyes.

"Don't get too excited yet." He Yuzhu raised his hand to stop him. "I haven't finished speaking. I can't get everything on this list for you, and no one can."

He picked up the list, quickly scribbled a few marks on it, and then handed it back to Factory Director Song: "I might be able to figure out a way to deal with the circled categories. But don't ask where they came from, and don't rush me. If I find them, I'll let you know. If not, just pretend I didn't say anything."

Factory Director Song took the list and looked at the circled items, his breathing quickening.

Although it's only a small part of the list, every single item is a critical piece of equipment that poses the greatest threat to our technological advancements! He was so excited his hands trembled slightly: "Old He! This...this..."

He Yuzhu ignored his excitement and continued, "Most of the remaining unmarked areas can be solved through technical breakthroughs and upgrades to existing equipment. We'll leave that to the joint project team. If they succeed, it will be a permanent solution."

Factory Director Song nodded repeatedly, like a chick pecking at rice: "Good! Good! I'll go back and submit a report to get the team up as soon as possible!"

"Also, don't forget that Huang He must have the right to use and dispose of the technological achievements and non-core patents derived from joint research. Otherwise, I won't release him."

"No, no!" Factory Director Song immediately assured him, "It's only right! Resource sharing, results sharing! I can write all of that into the cooperation agreement!"

With the deal settled, it felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from Director Song's heart, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out considerably.

He regained his previous smile: "Old He, when do you think this equipment will be ready?"

"Wait." He Yuzhu shuddered for no reason, then interrupted him crisply, "I'll let you know when there's news. Now, take your list and hurry back to prepare for the joint project. I also need to arrange manpower on my side."

"Understood! Understood! I'll be leaving now, I won't bother you any longer!" Factory Director Song quickly stood up, and as he was about to put away the marked list, he asked, "Do you need to make a backup of this?"

"No need, I've got it."

"what"

After seeing Director Song off, He Yuzhu picked up the phone and connected with He Yuxin.

"Yuxin, it's me. There's a joint project with Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group regarding breakthroughs in aircraft manufacturing equipment. You'll need to personally oversee it. The personnel should be highly capable, and the security level should be set high. I'll have my secretary send you the specific requirements and contact person later."

After hanging up the phone, he pondered for a moment.

Those devices need to be revealed at the right time and in the right way; perhaps an unexpected gain can be arranged.

Then, He Yuzhu thought of Tianjin.

The batch of scrap iron and second-hand equipment that was brought back through special channels was a mixed bag, and many of them were piled up in several rented old warehouses, which were watched over by people hired by Li Chengru and had not been touched for many years.

There are indeed some machine tools and heavy industrial equipment inside, although most of them are old, but it's perfect as a front to mix in some new things.

He picked up the phone and connected with Li Chengru in Tianjin.

"Chengru, that's me."

"Boss, what are your orders?" Li Chengru's voice was very respectful.

"Get ready, I'll be going there in the next few days. Those old warehouses we rented in the eastern part of Tianjin Port area, they were used to store that batch of miscellaneous goods from years ago, remember?"

"I remember, I remember! It's been sealed up as you instructed, and there are regular inspections. It hasn't been touched." Li Chengru felt a little strange. Why did the boss suddenly remember that batch of scrap metal?

"Okay. Take a few absolutely reliable experienced workers with you beforehand, preferably those who participated in the takeover back then and know a thing or two. Take a quick look first, focusing on whether there are any large things inside, like machine tools or special welding or riveting equipment. Don't go in too deep, just look at the exterior and make a rough note of it. We'll talk about it when I get there."

Although Li Chengru was full of doubts, he immediately agreed: "Understood, boss! I'll take people over first thing tomorrow morning."

"Keep this a secret, don't tell anyone."

"do not worry!"

A few days later, He Yuzhu appeared in front of those remote old warehouses in the Tianjin Port area.

Li Chengru, along with two older workers in their fifties dressed in work clothes and a group of warehouse managers, were already waiting.

Upon seeing He Yuzhu, Li Chengru approached and whispered, "Boss, I've checked it as you instructed. The things inside are piled up like a mountain, covered in a thick layer of dust. There are indeed several large machines that look like machine tool bases, and several large tanks that look like pressure vessels. I can't tell what they're for; the labels are all covered up."

He Yuzhu nodded and said to the two experienced workers, "Master Zhang, Master Wang, thank you for your hard work. When you go in later, please help me carefully examine the tools and see if there are any that are still usable or can be repaired, especially those related to machining and welding."

The two experienced craftsmen readily agreed.

As the heavy warehouse door opened, a blast of air, a mixture of rust, dust, and musty smells, rushed out.

The warehouse was extremely spacious, with metal equipment, crates, and wooden boxes of various shapes piled up haphazardly, covered with a thick layer of dust and cobwebs. The lighting was dim, with only a few rays of sunlight streaming in through the high windows, illuminating the dust columns dancing in the air.

He Yuzhu strolled casually through the massive mountain of garbage, while Li Chengru and two experienced workers followed behind, carefully identifying the trash.

“Boss, look at this,” Master Zhang pointed to a huge base half-covered by a canvas, “This looks like the bed frame of a floor boring machine, but too many parts are missing.”

"Well, you don't need to follow me. I'll just wander around." He Yuzhu didn't comment and continued walking forward.

The others dared not follow. He Yuzhu walked to a corner, stopped, and released several large boxes that he had specially processed to resemble the items in the warehouse.

"A few people, come and open these up and take a look," He Yuzhu shouted.

Li Chengru and his two mentors rushed over with their men, and the warehouse manager stepped forward to pry open the boxes.

Two experienced craftsmen stepped forward to identify it.

Master Wang approached a nameplate, carefully tore off a corner of the oil paper, shone a flashlight on it, and squinted to make out the details: "This, this looks like... wait, is this a five-axis riveting machine? Judging from the structure, it looks like it's used for aircraft skin?"

His voice trembled with disbelief.

Another experienced worker inspected the equipment next to him and gasped, "This, this is a special electron beam welding machine! How did this thing get here?"

Li Chengru was also stunned. He looked at the equipment and then at He Yuzhu, who had a calm expression. His mind was in complete chaos.

Weren't these items in the warehouse bought cheaply as scrap metal and secondhand goods back then? How come there's equipment of this caliber here?
He Yuzhu's face showed a hint of surprise at the right moment, which quickly turned into understanding. He gently patted the cold casing of the equipment and sighed, "It seems that those Russians back then would really dabble in anything to get alcohol. These things were probably mixed in as ordinary old machines."

He turned to the dumbfounded Li Chengru and the two master craftsmen, his tone becoming serious: "Everything you saw today is classified as top secret of the group and must not be mentioned to anyone. Chengru, immediately bring over the group's most reliable security personnel to guard these warehouses 24 hours a day. Without my personal written order, no one is allowed to approach, inspect, or move anything."

"Yes, boss!" Li Chengru immediately obeyed the order.

“Master Zhang, Master Wang,” He Yuzhu then looked at the two veteran workers, “you are senior members of the group and technical experts. Next, you will work with Cheng Ru to organize an absolutely reliable expert team to conduct a preliminary cleaning, inspection, and evaluation of these devices. Note that you are only evaluating them; disassembly and in-depth debugging are not allowed. I need to know their approximate condition and value.”

"Understood, Chairman!" the two experienced workers replied, both excited and nervous.

After making the arrangements, He Yuzhu walked out of the warehouse, took out his phone and made a call to Factory Director Song, his tone indifferent.

"Old Song, I might have made a bit of an unexpected discovery."

On the other end of the phone, Factory Director Song's heart jumped: "What discovery?"

"Among a batch of old equipment I acquired years ago, it seems a few machines were mixed in, which might look a bit like some of the items circled on your list," He Yuzhu said casually.

Factory Director Song nearly jumped up on the other end of the phone, his voice trembling: "Old He! You, you really found it?"

"You'll see once you bring your people over to take a look. As for the price..."

"Price is negotiable! Price is negotiable! As long as the product is right, the price will definitely satisfy you! I'll bring someone over to handle things right away!"

"toot toot"

(End of this chapter)