A nation's industrial development begins with junior engineers.

"That's how it is. To avoid waste, all submitted projects must be reviewed, and some key projects even require cross-review..."

After hearing the minister's explanation, the little brat finally realized that the sudden appearance of the review team was actually his fault.

However, it's good that it's not windy.

It turns out that the higher-ups were quite alarmed by the sheer number of obstacles in a mere aircraft project. Given the current frustrating situation, they simply tightened restrictions on all project applications, requiring review and approval for everything, regardless of size.

Anyway, it won't take much time to look for pests while we're in hibernation.

Fortunately, there aren't many projects nationwide at the moment; otherwise, the assessment team would have to be hundreds of times larger to be able to investigate them all.

Why was the steel rolling mill the first one selected by the review panel?

It can withstand scrutiny! Make sure you understand, it can withstand scrutiny!

The review panel members are all shrewd; they know that those at the top aren't actually after a result, but rather to intimidate certain individuals during the process. If they discover any loose ends along the way, that would be even better.

Therefore, this matter should be carried out with great fanfare, but it must also be done with discretion.

The goal is to avoid impacting the factory's actual production, but also to make others aware of the seriousness of the situation—a show of force, like striking a chord to intimidate the enemy. You can't actually knock the mountain down; only a seasoned veteran like yourself can truly grasp the nuances…

"No wonder those people weren't heading for the blueprints, but instead started chanting slogans..."

The little brat suddenly realized.

It doesn't matter, as long as it doesn't interfere with my own affairs.

Besides, there are several layers of secrecy protecting them. If the military's secrecy doesn't work, then they'll just post photos.

"You little brat, you'd better tell me clearly what other projects you have on hand later, lest the flood washes away the Dragon King's temple..."

Seeing that Jiang Xia understood the main purpose of this audit, Minister Xia looked serious. With Li Changfu absent, this little brat became the focus of attention.

"Uh, 'A limited exploration of ship-launched missiles based on a dual composite mode of radar wave and infrared guidance', 'A feasibility study of external armor based on existing nickel-free steel'?"

"Oh, and there's also a preliminary exploration of a controllable angular velocity detection device based on stimulated emission of light?"

"There are also ignition tests on the 301 Project test line?"

"Also, there's transistor computers with large-capacity portable storage."

Watching the little brat start counting on his fingers, Minister Xia: ...

"Speak plainly, do you have any civilian-use versions? I have dozens of meetings a day, I don't have time to give you 'based' advice! The First Ministry of Machine Building has been split up! It's been split up, understand?"

Listening to the list of projects that the young man was listing, none of which overlapped with the current management scope of the Ministry of Machine Building, Minister Xia was very distressed.

Let's not even talk about that string of "based on"—although I didn't quite understand it, that convoluted and incomprehensible language was definitely from the Second or Third Ministry of Machine Building. Even Project 301, strictly speaking, was jointly managed by multiple ministries…

I used to eat lots of fatty meat, but now it feels like I can't even get a simple cabbage to eat? My little rascal's changed his mind!

"Those are the two self-propelled excavators and bulldozers. Minister, saying they're for civilian use is a bit more accurate; 'mining use' would be more appropriate."

"mine?"

"Hehehe, Minister, why don't you try finding a few open-pit coal mines? That little job at the stadium can be done in two days. Haven't the power plants been complaining about a coal shortage lately?"

"The Ministry of Metallurgy and the Ministry of Electric Power, huh? Hehehe." A glint of shrewdness flashed in Minister Xia's eyes.

"But is your machine really that effective?" Minister Xia hadn't witnessed the excavator's incredible power, so he still had some doubts.

"That's right. Even the company commander in the veterans' workshop said that the excavator did the work of an entire shift in ten minutes. Just imagine, once we get to the mine, a few digs and a truckload of ore will be ready..."

"Oh!!" Minister Xia closed his eyes and imagined it.

"That's really great."

The two, one big and one small, exchanged a glance and couldn't help but chuckle again.

"Producing such a large machine must require a lot of space, right? Isn't a motorcycle factory a bit too small?"

Minister Xia is ambitious; he's already starting to consider the size of the factory area.

"No, it's enough. The grassland tractor factory said they'll provide the chassis, so all we need to do is build the upper control room. We can raise the workshop a bit, so it won't take up too much space..."

"No, if we're going to do it, we have to do it big. In a while, the restrictions will tighten even further. If we don't get approval soon, it'll be difficult later... Damn it, God!"

Seeing Minister Xia sighing deeply, Jiang Xia felt a pang of sadness in his heart.

He can't exactly say that things will get better next year just because we've gotten through this year...

During the winter break, we should quickly get a batch of excavators out and use them to repair more water conservancy projects. Oh, and we should also send a few more to the fertilizer plant under the Ministry of Chemical Industry to speed up their construction progress.

The old man and the young man pondered their respective problems, and the scene fell silent for a moment.

"Boom! Crash!!"

A large hole suddenly appeared in the wall not far from the two of them. As bricks fell, a large shovel emerged from the hole and swung it around arrogantly.

"Hahaha! This huge thing is amazing! Tell me, which wall do we need to tear down to build the kind of frame structure you mentioned?"

On the bulldozer, Yang Youning, who looked like a "third brother," excitedly asked an engineer in the same cab.

The engineer was also excited: "Wow! That's amazing! Uh, and that pillar at the motorcycle factory is pretty well done. We can tear it down and put the steel structure on directly. If you guys aren't picky, the workshop can be built in a week..."

"By the way, Brother Yang, once we've finished demolishing the wall, we need to hurry to the stadium; the boss is waiting..."

"Hahaha! Got it! Sit tight, brother will show you the thrill of bumping into things again!"

With a deafening roar, the bulldozer's tracks crushed the red bricks into powder, which was then dumped away. It then veered around a corner and rumbled towards a wall.

"Uh, Minister, you saw that, right? It's that powerful..."

Jiang Xia kindly removed a few crumbs from Minister Xia's head and then checked the old man's scalp for any damage.

It's alright, it's alright, there's only a slight bump.

Yang Youning probably won't be hung on the top of the city wall; at most, he'll be hung on Old Wang's anti-aircraft gun...

"Hehe, it's nothing. Uncle here is an old man who came from the war years. This little fright is nothing..."

Minister Xia's smile remained unchanged as he gently patted Jiang Xia's hand.

"Let's leave work early today and go home to type up the report for the factory expansion. Your mentor isn't here, so you need to take good care of this task..."

"Go back quickly..."

Minister Xia smiled gently.

"Okay, Uncle Xia, I'll be going now..." The little brat suddenly felt like he could smell gunpowder.

Danger! It's best to get out of here!

As he watched Jiang Xia leave, Minister Xia waved a kindly wave.

As Jiang Xia stepped out the gate, he heard a loud shout behind him.

"Yang Youning! I need to take you back to the hospital!"