Chapter 107: The Numerical Control Plan

Li Mingyuan walked back to the table, picked up a pen, and began to sketch rapidly on the paper.

In his view, the Numerical Control Machine Tool would be the true revolutionary turning point for industrial production, far more important than the achievements already attained.

"Ordinary machine tools rely on manual operation, with precision controlled at most to 0.05 millimeters. But a Numerical Control Machine Tool can reach 0.005 millimeters, an increase in precision of 10 times!" Li Mingyuan wrote this number on the blueprint and circled it heavily with a red pen.

He continued writing: "Production capacity increases by 5-8 times, and the scrap rate drops from 15% to below 1%. One Numerical Control Machine Tool can replace 5-8 skilled workers, working 24 hours a day without fatigue."

Amidst his flying thoughts, Li Mingyuan's hand moved incessantly across the paper.

Soon, the preliminary design for a Numerical Control System was complete.

He picked up the blueprint and nodded with satisfaction: "The key is the control system, the servo motor, and the precision lead screw. With these three things, Long Country's industry will achieve a qualitative leap."

He stood up and stretched.

Although he had stayed up all night, the thought of the impending technological revolution swept away his fatigue, leaving him full of drive instead.

Tomorrow—no, today is the second day of the Lunar New Year, and according to the factory's schedule, work officially resumes on the seventh.

"Five days is enough time to prepare." Li Mingyuan muttered to himself, glanced at the still-lively courtyard outside the window, and decided to take a short nap to recharge his energy for the challenges ahead.

…………

On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, before dawn, Li Mingyuan got up.

After packing his things and pushing open the door, the Siheyuan was quiet, with only a few red lanterns swaying gently in the winter morning breeze.

"Chief Engineer Li, you're up so early?" At the entrance of the small courtyard, a security guard was already standing post.

"Yes, heading to the factory early; there is a lot of work to do in the new year." Li Mingyuan nodded with a smile.

"The car is already waiting at the entrance of the hutong," the security guard said respectfully.

Just as he reached the entrance of the hutong, before he could even get into the car, Xiao Liu, the driver sent by the factory, hurried up to greet him: "Chief Engineer Li, good news! Good news!"

"What good news?" Li Mingyuan asked curiously.

"The resource report you submitted has been approved! A large batch of supplies arrived at the factory this morning!" Xiao Liu waved his hands excitedly.

"Steel, copper, aluminum—everything is there! I heard the Military Industry Department issued a strict order to ensure your research and development needs are met no matter what!"

Li Mingyuan felt a surge of excitement. The approval of resources meant many of his plans could be implemented ahead of schedule.

"There's more!" Xiao Liu lowered his voice and said mysteriously,

"I heard from the Factory Director that the Ministry of Geology has already dispatched exploration teams to the Daqing and Bayan Obo regions you indicated. Although there are no results yet, the higher-ups attach great importance to this, and many leaders have personally inquired about it!"

"Really? So fast!" Li Mingyuan was somewhat surprised; he had originally thought the resource report would be shelved for a while, and he did not expect the higher-ups to react so quickly.

When the car arrived at the factory gate, Li Mingyuan saw Factory Lou Changzhang standing at the entrance from afar, rubbing his hands in the cold wind while waiting.

"Chief Engineer Li, Happy New Year!" Factory Lou Changzhang greeted him warmly, "You've come at just the right time; there are several documents waiting for your review!"

"What documents?" Li Mingyuan asked while walking toward the office.

"Good things! All good things!" Factory Lou Changzhang smiled until his eyes disappeared,

"First, the Military Industry Department has approved your 'Longxin-1' Engine mass production plan, and the First Automobile Manufacturing Plant is ready to receive the technology transfer."

"Second, the 'Long Guo International Trade Company' has been officially established!" Factory Lou Changzhang pulled a red-headed document from his briefcase, "You have been appointed as General Manager, and the deputy and technical team have all been assembled."

Li Mingyuan took the document and scanned it quickly.

Sure enough, this appointment letter was stamped with a bright red official seal, and the lines between the words exuded a sense of solemnity.

"Also," Factory Lou Changzhang lowered his voice mysteriously, "the Wajiaobu has notified us that delegations from multiple countries will be visiting soon for the purpose of negotiating arms trade."

Li Mingyuan nodded; these were all within his expectations.

However, things were developing even more smoothly than he had anticipated, which put him in a great mood.

"Then let's start with the Numerical Control Machine Tool," Li Mingyuan said confidently, taking a stack of blueprints out of his briefcase.

"This is the core component of the Numerical Control System I designed; please have the factory's most elite technical team start manufacturing it immediately."

Factory Lou Changzhang took the blueprints, flipped through a few pages, and his eyes grew wider and wider: "This... what is this?"

"The core control system for the Numerical Control Machine Tool," Li Mingyuan explained,

"Simply put, it allows the machine tool to automatically process parts according to pre-set programs, increasing precision by 10 times compared to manual operation, increasing production capacity by 5-8 times, and reducing the scrap rate from 15% to below 1%."

"My God!" Factory Lou Changzhang exclaimed, "If this can really be achieved, it is simply a revolution in industrial production!"

"Indeed," Li Mingyuan said with a smile, "With this system, we can mass-produce high-precision parts without relying on the skills and experience of skilled workers. One Numerical Control Machine Tool can replace 5-8 skilled workers, working 24 hours a day without fatigue."

"I'll arrange it immediately!" Factory Lou Changzhang treated it like a precious treasure, carefully put the blueprints away, and turned to leave quickly, fearing that he would lose this valuable information if he were a second late.

Li Mingyuan turned his attention to the preparations for receiving the foreign delegations.

These representatives mostly came from Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian countries; they had both resources and a need to purchase weapons, making them the exact trade partners Long Country needed most.

……

One day later, the first batch of foreign delegations arrived.

Inside the conference room, Li Mingyuan sat at the head of the table, with a translator and several Military Industry Department officials beside him.

Sitting opposite were members of delegations from five Middle Eastern countries and three Southeast Asian countries, all dressed in gorgeous attire with arrogant expressions.

As soon as the meeting began, the atmosphere became somewhat subtle.

"Distinguished representatives, welcome to Long Country," Li Mingyuan opened in English, appearing polite and refined, "We have prepared detailed product introductions and hope to meet your needs."

As soon as the translator finished speaking, Abdullah, the representative of the wealthy oil tycoon, gave a contemptuous snort.

He was a stout middle-aged man wearing a traditional robe, his fingers covered in gold rings; he looked like a typical "oil prince."

"Mr. Li, if I may be blunt," Abdullah said lazily, his tone full of disdain,

"Our trip here is more out of diplomatic courtesy. To be honest, we don't hold high expectations for Long Country's weapons."

Li Mingyuan's expression did not change; he only nodded slightly: "If Mr. Abdullah has any concerns, please feel free to speak."

"The Polar Bear's weapons are more reliable in quality and more stable in performance," Abdullah spread his hands, his attitude clear,

"This is a recognized fact. Our country's military is more accustomed to using equipment that has been tested in actual combat."