Chapter 127: Special Merit, Five-Star Medal!

The Rolling Mill's large loudspeaker sounded promptly at six in the morning, but today it was not playing the routine radio calisthenics, but rather an exciting battle report.

"Great news! Great news! The new type of anti-aircraft weapon developed by our factory has shown great power at the front line, shooting down over twenty enemy aircraft in one fell swoop and shattering the enemy's bombing conspiracy! It has established immortal merits for defending the motherland!"

Workers preparing to go to work stopped in their tracks upon hearing this, gathering under the loudspeakers located throughout the factory area.

"Is it real? More than twenty?"

"This can't be true, right? Last time we shot down two, they bragged about it for a long time."

"Isn't it the new type of rocket shell designed by Chief Engineer Li?"

Just as the discussion started, the large loudspeaker sounded again; this time, it was Factory Lou Changzhang speaking personally.

"Comrades, this is not bragging, this is true! The new type of rocket shell designed by Chief Engineer Li, combined with the Radar System, shot down over twenty enemy aircraft in one fell swoop, including the Star-Spangled Country's most advanced B-29 Bomber and F-86 Fighter! This is a great victory for our country's independently developed weapons, a victory of science and technology, and a victory of the wisdom of the working class!"

The factory area instantly boiled over; cheers and applause rose one after another, and some old workers were even moved to tears.

"Great! Well fought!"

"I just said Chief Engineer Li is no simple man!"

"Our Rolling Mill is mighty!"

In the workshops, in the offices, in the canteen, there were excited discussions everywhere.

In an instant, Li Mingyuan became the hero of the entire factory, and everyone mentioned his name with respect and pride.

At noon, a military jeep drove into the factory area, covered in dust; Li Shouzheng and Xiao Wang jumped out of the vehicle and were immediately surrounded by workers.

"Engineer Li, did we really shoot down that many planes?"

"Is it like in the movies, where with a 'boom', the plane just falls down?"

"How powerful is the Tungsten Alloy Shrapnel?"

Li Shouzheng's face was full of exhaustion but could not hide his excitement; he waved his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.

"It's much more powerful than in the movies!" His voice was hoarse but full of passion.

"That Tungsten Alloy Shrapnel is like a knife, shredding the wings of the enemy planes! Their B-29, which they are so proud of, became a fireball after one hit from our Rocket Shell!"

"The Triangulation System is too miraculous," Xiao Wang added, "The enemy planes were still two hundred kilometers away, and we already knew they were coming. The pilots didn't even see our shadows before they were knocked down by our Rocket Shell!"

The workers were dumbfounded, and then a deafening cheer erupted.

Li Shouzheng took a thick report from his bosom, "Where is Chief Engineer Li? I must report the situation at the front line to him in detail."

Factory Lou Changzhang hurriedly took Li Shouzheng to Li Mingyuan's office.

Li Mingyuan was waiting by the phone; seeing Li Shouzheng and Xiao Wang return, he immediately went up to them, "How is the situation?"

"Exceeding expectations!" Li Shouzheng said excitedly, "The effect of the Tungsten Alloy Fragmentation Warhead is even better than we imagined. The lethal radius after one Rocket Shell explodes reached 150 meters, a full three times higher than conventional ammunition!"

He opened the photos he brought back, "Look, this is the wreckage of the shot-down F-86; the fuselage was riddled with holes by the Tungsten Alloy Shrapnel, just like a sieve!"

Li Mingyuan examined the photos carefully and nodded, "How is the accuracy of the Triangulation System?"

"The error is controlled within 350 meters, completely within our fire coverage range," Xiao Wang replied, "Although there is still room for improvement, it is already enough to make the enemy planes suffer!"

"General Zhou asked me to tell you," Li Shouzheng lowered his voice, "Among the enemy planes shot down this time, there were 17 F-86s alone. These are the Star-Spangled Country's most advanced fighters, each worth millions of dollars! This battle really hurt the enemy!"

Li Mingyuan smiled slightly, not showing much surprise, as if all this was within his expectations.

He began to flip through the detailed report brought back by Li Shouzheng, nodding or frowning from time to time.

"The system still has room for improvement," he said while reading, "The reaction time of the Triangulation is too long and needs algorithm optimization; the Fuse System of the Rocket Shell can be more precise to avoid energy waste; and the sensitivity of the Radar also needs to be increased..."

Li Shouzheng and Xiao Wang looked at each other, just about to say something, when the phone suddenly rang.

Li Mingyuan picked up the phone, and Minister Zhao's urgent voice came from the other end, "Come to the Ministry for a meeting immediately, bring all the battle report materials! Top priority!"

Thirty minutes later, Li Mingyuan, with Li Shouzheng and Xiao Wang, arrived at the Ministry of Industry building.

The conference room was already full of leaders at all levels and Military Representatives, and the atmosphere was solemn and enthusiastic.

As soon as Minister Zhao saw Li Mingyuan, he stood up, "He's here! The protagonist is here!"

A burst of applause erupted in the conference room, and everyone stood up to salute the three of them.

Minister Zhao pulled Li Mingyuan to the side of the main seat, "We are holding this special meeting today to hear a detailed report on the victory at the front line and to discuss the next direction of technological development."

The Military Representative, a figure looking like a Lieutenant General, spoke first.

"According to the report from the front line, in this air battle, we shot down 23 enemy aircraft at a very small cost, including 3 B-29 Bombers and 17 F-86 Fighters. This is a major victory in the history of our military's air defense and an important milestone in our country's independently developed weapon systems!"

He turned to Li Mingyuan and gave a military salute, "Chief Engineer Li, please allow me to express my most heartfelt thanks to you and your team on behalf of the officers and soldiers at the front line!"

Warm applause sounded again in the conference room.

Next, Li Shouzheng reported in detail on the front-line combat situation and technical details, focusing on the precision of the Triangulation System and the power of the Tungsten Alloy Fragmentation Warhead.

Photos and battle damage data were passed around, causing bursts of exclamation.

"This is the power of science and technology!" Minister Zhao said excitedly, "This victory proves that as long as we master the Hexin technology, we can break the enemy's technological blockade and achieve independent control of weapons and equipment!"

"Not only that," the Military Representative added, "this victory is a heavy blow to the enemy's morale. According to intelligence, the enemy base is in chaos, and the Star-Spangled Country's Military Advisors are also at their wits' end. They never expected that we could shoot down their most advanced fighter jets!"

The meeting discussion gradually deepened, from technical details to strategic significance, from production expansion to front-line deployment; the parties debated enthusiastically, but one point was consistent—this technology must be put into expanded production as soon as possible and equipped to the front line.

As the discussion neared its end, Minister Zhao suddenly stood up and looked around the venue, "Comrades, there is one more important agenda item for this special meeting today."

His voice was solemn and excited, "In view of Comrade Li Mingyuan's outstanding contributions to technological innovation and national defense construction, after research and decision by the higher authorities, Comrade Li Mingyuan is awarded a Special Merit and presented with the Five-Star Medal! This is the highest honor obtained by our country's scientific and technical workers!"