Chapter 114: The Excited Factory Director Lou

"Factory Director, you've come at just the right time," Li Mingyuan said with a smile, "I was just about to report this new technology to you."

Lou Changzhang walked up to the machine tool, looked at the completed pattern, and asked in shock, "This... is this processed by the machine itself? Without anyone operating it?"

"Completely automatic," Li Mingyuan nodded to confirm, "And it can mass-produce identical parts; there is no error from manual operation. Let me demonstrate a second test."

He changed to a new roll of paper tape and placed ten identical small metal pieces on the workbench.

"This time, we are going to have the machine tool continuously process ten completely identical parts."

Pressing the button, the machine tool began its automatic work again. Every time a part was finished, the workbench moved automatically to begin processing the next one.

The entire process was as smooth as flowing water, without any pauses or adjustments.

Ten minutes later, ten completely identical gear parts were neatly arranged on the workbench, each one looking exactly the same.

"Impossible..." Lou Changzhang muttered to himself, picking up two parts to compare them carefully, "Exactly the same, without any difference..."

Li Mingyuan took out the micrometer again and measured the critical dimensions of all the parts: "The error for every part is controlled within 0.01 millimeters; they can be assembled directly without any finishing."

Lou Changzhang was so excited his hands were shaking: "This... this is a revolution! A revolution in industrial production! One machine can replace five to eight skilled workers, working 24 hours without fatigue, and the product quality is even higher..."

He suddenly realized something and turned to say to Li Shouzheng, "Quick, close the door, this is top-secret technology!"

But it was already too late; outside the door, it was already crowded with workers who had secretly heard the news and rushed over. They witnessed all of this through the door cracks and windows, their faces filled with expressions of disbelief.

"It's miraculous!"

"The machine can do the work itself!"

"This is more magical than a magic trick!"

The sound of discussion rose and fell; the corridor outside the laboratory was already packed with people, everyone scrambling to get a look at this "machine tool that can work by itself."

Seeing this, Lou Changzhang immediately directed several comrades from the Security Section to maintain order: "Confidentiality! Everyone must keep this confidential! Whoever dares to spread this outside will be fired immediately!"

He turned to Li Mingyuan, so excited he was almost incoherent: "Chief Engineer Li, this is even more important than an engine! This is a fundamental transformation of industrial production! I must report this to the Ministry of Industry immediately!"

Without waiting for Li Mingyuan to answer, Lou Changzhang had already rushed out of the laboratory, heading straight for his office to make a call.

"Chief Engineer Li, can this thing really mass-produce?" Li Shouzheng asked eagerly, having recovered from his shock.

"Of course," Li Mingyuan replied confidently, "This is just a prototype. Later, we will manufacture more and larger Numerical Control Systems to apply to various machine tools like lathes, drilling machines, and grinding machines, thereby realizing automated production for the entire factory."

"Then... what about us old masters?" Zhang Shifu asked with concern, "Are we... all going to be unemployed?"

Li Mingyuan smiled and shook his head: "On the contrary, we need more experienced Technical Workers to operate and maintain these Numerical Control Machine Tools. Not only will you not be unemployed, but you will become the most sought-after talent, because you understand both the principles of mechanical processing and the various problems in actual operation."

He looked around at the six Technicians: "From today on, you are the first batch of operators and maintainers of the Numerical Control System in Long Country, and I will set up special training courses for you."

The eyes of the six people all flashed with excitement; the doubt and worry from just a moment ago were swept away, replaced by a longing and pride for the new technology.

"I... I am willing to learn!" Zhang Shifu was the first to state his position, his voice filled with determination, "This old man has followed machine tools his whole life; today I've seen the real deal, if I don't learn now, I'll truly be obsolete!"

The others also echoed him one after another, expressing their willingness to begin learning this new technology immediately.

Meanwhile, Lou Changzhang walked quickly on the way to his office, so excited that his gait was unsteady, stumbling several times.

"Numerical Control Machine Tool... automated production... this is simply... simply the atomic bomb of industry!" He muttered to himself, his eyes shining.

"With this, how many times can our Long Country's industrial productivity increase? Weapons manufacturing, mechanical processing, aviation parts... everything can use it!"

He almost jogged up the stairs, his heart racing, his palms sweating, his mind filled with the image of that magical machine working automatically.

"Must report to the Ministry of Industry immediately!" Lou Changzhang thought while pulling out his key to open the office door, pondering how to express it so his superiors could fully understand the revolutionary significance of this technology.

"Now, let's see what those self-righteous experts have to say! Chief Engineer Li has once again proven his genius; this time he has truly broken through the sky!"

The office door opened, and Lou Changzhang rushed straight to the telephone, his fingers trembling as he dialed, with only one thought in his mind: Long Country's industrial production is about to undergo a earth-shaking transformation!

Lou Changzhang stumbled into the office, almost pouncing on the black desk phone.

His fingers were trembling violently, and he pressed the wrong numbers several times, forcing him to hang up the receiver and dial again.

"Calm down, calm down," he took a deep breath and said to himself, "This is a big deal, I have to explain it clearly."

On the third attempt, he finally dialed the correct number.

After the phone rang a few times on the other end, a low male voice came through: "Ministry of Industry office, who is this?"

"I am Lou Zhicheng from the Rolling Mill! Put me through to Minister Zhao immediately! Emergency matter!" Lou Changzhang's voice was distorted with excitement.

"Minister Zhao is in a meeting, what is your—"

"Interrupt him! Just say we have invented a revolutionary machine tool that can process parts by itself! Precision of 0.008 millimeters! Go call him quickly!"

The person on the other end was clearly stunned; after a few seconds of silence, they said: "Please wait a moment."

The few minutes of waiting felt as long as several centuries. Sweat beaded on Lou Changzhang's forehead as he organized his words over and over in his mind, fearing he wouldn't be able to explain this earth-shattering invention clearly.

Finally, Minister Zhao's familiar voice came from the other end of the phone: "Old Lou? What's the rush?"

"Minister Zhao! A big deal! A huge piece of good news!" Lou Changzhang almost crushed the receiver,

"Our factory's Chief Engineer Li has invented a... a machine tool that can do the work itself! Automatic... completely automatic! No one operating it! Precision reaching 0.008 millimeters! It can mass-produce completely identical parts!"

There was a silence on the other end, followed by Minister Zhao's skeptical voice: "Old Lou, are you too excited? How can a machine tool work by itself? It must need someone to operate it, right?"

"It's true! I saw it with my own eyes!" Lou Changzhang was so excited he was incoherent,

"The machine tool is connected to a box; once you load the punched paper tape, it can move by itself! The cutting tool moves on its own! The parts it processes are even more precise than what workers do by hand! Ten parts exactly the same! Without any difference!"

"Punched paper tape?" Minister Zhao's voice sounded even more confused, "Are you saying the machine tool can read the instructions on the tape?"