Chapter 70: Another New Invention?!

Factory Director Lou shook his head, having long since grown accustomed to Li Mingyuan's "wild fantasies":

"Use it as you please; the place is just sitting idle anyway. But... those materials look quite dangerous, so be careful."

"Thank you for your understanding, Factory Director." Li Mingyuan finally looked up, his eyes flashing with excitement, "In three days, I will give you a surprise."

Early the next morning, Li Mingyuan took a few trusted young workers and began to get busy in the abandoned warehouse.

A "Danger, No Entry" sign was hung at the entrance of the warehouse, but it could not block the curious gazes.

"I heard Chief Engineer Li is tinkering with some kind of new weapon inside," the young worker Xiao Wang whispered to his companion.

"Shh, keep it down, this is classified!" the other person looked around vigilantly, "I heard it's even more powerful than those cannons that can pierce tanks."

Rumors spread through the factory like wildfire, and even Li Shouzheng couldn't help but come to join in the excitement, only to be blocked outside the door by Li Mingyuan with a smile:

"Wait two more days; I guarantee it will be an eye-opener for you then."

Inside the warehouse, Li Mingyuan led the workers to begin assembling the first 107 mm Rocket Launcher.

According to the simplified design, the barrel was manufactured in three sections, with the interfaces using a specially made locking device to ensure airtightness and strength.

"This interface must be precise to 0.01 millimeters; not a fraction more or less is acceptable." Li Mingyuan patiently instructed the workers on adjusting the machine tool parameters and personally checked the precision of every part.

The preparation of the propellant was the most dangerous step.

Li Mingyuan performed the task himself, in a small room in the furthest corner of the warehouse, carefully mixing the various raw materials according to the formula.

The workers were strictly ordered to wait outside; only Li Mingyuan went in and out of that mysterious little room.

"Chief Engineer Li, should we find professional personnel to help? Something this dangerous..." an old worker asked worriedly.

Li Mingyuan shook his head: "The formula is classified and cannot be leaked for the time being. Don't worry, I have experience."

The next day, the body and tail fins of the first Rocket were assembled, and the workers curiously crowded around to watch this strange metal tube.

"Is this the legendary new weapon? It looks unremarkable," someone muttered softly.

Li Mingyuan smiled mysteriously: "Don't be deceived by appearances; the power of this little thing is enough to make the enemy tremble with fear."

Filling the propellant was the final critical process.

Li Mingyuan operated it himself, filling the prepared Nitrocellulose-Paraffin Mixture into the Combustion Chamber at the tail of the Rocket Shell, then installed the ignition device and safety lock.

"Alright, the first test shell is complete." Li Mingyuan carefully placed the Rocket Shell into a specialized case, "Tomorrow, we go to the Shooting Training Ground to test it."

……

Early the next morning, Li Mingyuan found Li Shouzheng and said mysteriously:

"Lao Li, help me call a few Hexin technical personnel to the Shooting Training Ground; I have some new things to demonstrate."

Li Shouzheng was stunned: "What new things?" He immediately realized he shouldn't ask too much and hurriedly nodded,

"Fine, I'll arrange it right away. Should I notify the higher-ups?"

"Notify Yang of the Military Industry Department; just say I have another major invention that needs reporting," Li Mingyuan said nonchalantly, as if he were just discussing today's lunch menu.

Li Shouzheng immediately dialed Yang's number, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:

"Yang, it's me, Li Shouzheng. Chief Engineer Li has another major invention and wants to report it to you!"

Yang on the other end of the phone was stunned at first, then let out a wry laugh:

"What? Again? It's only been a few days; I haven't even finished writing the report on the last Converter Technology..."

After a moment's pause, seemingly already numb to Li Mingyuan's "genius inventions," he said, "Fine, I will organize the Expert Group to go over immediately. Where is the location?"

"The Shooting Training Ground behind the Military Industry Department," Li Shouzheng replied, his heart also filled with curiosity about what earth-shattering thing Li Mingyuan was going to pull off this time.

Yang hung up the phone, shook his head, and smiled bitterly: "This Li Mingyuan is simply a treasure; you can never finish digging him out."

He immediately called his secretary, "Call all the experts from the Military Industry Department, especially Professor Zhang and Professor Wang. Also, notify the higher-ranking leaders and say that Li Mingyuan has another major invention that may involve national defense security."

The news spread rapidly through the Military Industry Department like a whirlwind, and the technicians speculated and discussed it one after another.

"Have you heard? Li Mingyuan is coming out with something new again!"

"The last Converter was already scary enough; what could it be this time?"

"I guess it's a new type of machine tool; I heard he's researching some kind of automated production line."

"No, it must be a weapon, otherwise why would it be at the shooting range?"

By noon, more than a dozen cars were parked outside the Shooting Training Ground, with black sedans lined up in a row, showing that the identities of those who had arrived were extraordinary.

Li Mingyuan stood at the entrance of the simple warehouse with a calm smile on his face, welcoming the Military Industry Department experts and leaders arriving one after another.

"Greetings, everyone, please follow me." Li Mingyuan led the crowd into the warehouse without haste; inside, there were only a few simple workbenches and a metal tubular object that looked like an ordinary pipe, completely unremarkable.

Yang was somewhat disappointed and couldn't help but ask: "Chief Engineer Li, just this? It looks like a water pipe."

The experts around them also looked confused, clearly not seeing anything special about this thing.

Li Mingyuan was unhurried, his tone as calm as if he were stating the most ordinary fact:

"This is a 107 mm Rocket Launcher, a guerrilla artifact developed by us independently."

"Rocket Launcher?" An old expert wearing glasses pushed them up,

"Chief Engineer Li, don't joke around. A Rocket Launcher is a high-precision, advanced weapon that requires a sophisticated Guidance System and launch device; it can't be this simple."

Li Mingyuan smiled slightly and walked straight to the metal tube, gently uncovering the cloth draped over it.

The expressions of the experts present froze instantly, their eyes widened like copper bells, and their jaws nearly hit the floor.

That was no ordinary pipe; it was clearly a well-designed Rocket Launcher!

The inner wall of the barrel had been specially treated, the tail was equipped with a precise ignition device, and the storage slot for the folding tail fins could even be seen at the muzzle.

Although the entire launcher was minimalist, every detail revealed a shocking level of craftsmanship.

"This... this is impossible!" An old expert took off his glasses, unable to believe his eyes, "A technology that our research institute hasn't conquered in three years, and you just..."

"Let me briefly introduce it," Li Mingyuan said as if he were explaining an ordinary craft item,

"107 mm caliber, effective range of 5000 meters, maximum range of 8000 meters, 1.3 kilograms of warhead explosive, blast radius of 15 meters, single-tube weight of only 25 kilograms; an ordinary soldier can carry it and walk."

The experts looked at each other, too shocked to speak.

An old professor with hair as white as snow felt his legs go weak, trembling as he steadied himself against the wall: "This... this is exactly the weapon we have been dreaming of! Portable, high-firepower, easy to operate—it is simply tailor-made for guerrilla warfare!"