Chapter 607: Task Completed Ahead of Schedule

"Imperial Sword?" Minister Meng laughed loudly.

"It seems choosing you wasn't a mistake; you didn't rashly jump into execution but first lay a solid foundation. Not bad, I'm now doubly confident. You can tell me your concrete ideas."

Seeing that Minister Meng was in a good mood, Lu Cheng continued.

"This is a huge project; my personal strength is limited, so we must rely on collective effort. Therefore I suggest establishing a Reform Committee."

Minister Meng nodded: "Hmm, forming a committee is necessary."

Lu Cheng immediately said: "The committee needs a chair and a vice‑chair; I'll take the vice‑chair. As for the chair…"

Lu Cheng said that while glancing over, and Minister Meng quickly caught on.

"Oh, so I am the Imperial Sword you mentioned."

Tang Qiusheng was both amused and exasperated; he had just rebuked Lu Cheng, yet now his boldness surged again.

Even such a request can be made; who is the minister? Lu Cheng as vice‑chair, the minister as chair—those who don't know might think Lu Cheng is a Deputy Minister.

"Minister Meng is busy every day; he has no time to follow you and guide the work. It's just chaotic. Find someone else."

Facing Tang Qiusheng's reproach, Lu Cheng did not flinch at all; for a large‑scale task, a decent patron is indispensable.

"If I'm to be in charge, I have just one condition; otherwise I can't get the work started. After all, I'm only a Junior Police Officer—any senior leader could crush me."

Minister Meng also knew that implementing Reform would be very difficult, thought for a while, and then had to say.

"Alright then, I'll put the chair's name on it, but the concrete work plan will be up to you."

Lu Cheng was overjoyed; with this Imperial Sword, any future task will be much easier.

"Thank you, Minister Meng, for facilitating this."

"Hey, don't say that; it's all for the Reform. I know forcing you to take this mission is indeed putting you in a bind, and the resistance is great, but you must stay confident. As long as your confidence is firm, I believe within three to five years we can fully complete the Reform."

Lu Cheng straightened up immediately: "I will certainly not betray Minister Meng's trust."

After discussing work, the few of them chatted for a while about Lei Zhan Ge's condition.

Lei Zhan Ge only told everyone to keep their focus on the work and not be distracted by his impending death.

After Minister Meng left, Lu Cheng could hardly hide his excitement; although this wasn't a promotion, the authority he now held actually increased.

This is a Reform Committee personally bearing Minister Meng's name, meaning that in the future any matter will get a green light.

Lu Cheng was the last to leave; just as he reached the doorway, he heard Lei Zhan Ge cough violently a few times, then with a thud he collapsed to the ground.

…

At six o'clock in the morning, the hospital gradually grew noisy.

On a chair in the corridor, Lu Cheng rested his head, and Lei Nainai came to his side.

"Xiao Lu, go back and rest; you've been busy all night."

Lu Cheng lifted his head: "Has Captain Lei woken up?"

Lei Nainai shook her head: "Not yet; the doctor said... he may never wake up."

Lu Cheng's heart instantly leapt, he stared blankly for a while, and couldn't help muttering to himself.

"Why can't he wake up? He must still have many things to say..."

At that moment, a Comrade from the team suddenly ran to the hospital.

"Lu Jingzhang, Lu Jingzhang, Shencheng Vehicle Factory is calling, ask you to take the call."

Since Lei Zhan Ge had previously insisted on being discharged, Lu Cheng had lost hope of producing the Internal Combustion Engine ahead of schedule; calculating the time, it had been nearly half a month since he last contacted Chief Engineer Tan Zonggong.

Now the call comes, possibly to discuss details of the Internal Combustion Engine.

Lu Cheng glanced at the emergency room, didn't budge, and Lei Nainai spoke.

"Go then, Xiao Lu. Even if Captain Lei wakes up, he wouldn't want you to stay here and neglect the work."

Lu Cheng could only nod: "Alright, Lei Nainai. If Captain Lei wakes up, send someone to inform me, and I'll rush to the hospital immediately."

"Hey, go get busy."

Lu Cheng took a car back to the team and called back the Vehicle Factory.

"Hello, this is Lu Cheng. Is this Chief Engineer Tan Zonggong?"

"Lu Jingzhang, it's me, old Pan."

Pan Jihai? He was originally the director of the manufacturing department at Shencheng Vehicle Factory, later promoted to deputy factory director thanks to the Snow Removal Machine Project.

Lu Cheng immediately greeted: "So you're Factory Director Pan."

Pan Jihai laughed on the other end: "Deputy of the deputy, and besides, I could promote this deputy factory director only because I borrowed your prestige back then."

Without Lu Cheng leading the development of the Snow Removal Machine, Pan Jihai wouldn't have had the chance to promote a deputy factory director.

Lu Cheng, not in the mood for small talk, said: "Factory Director Pan, why are you calling me? I thought it was Chief Engineer Tan Zonggong."

"Oh, the Internal Combustion Engine production matters have always been coordinated between Chief Engineer Tan and you, but in the past two days, Tan..."

Hearing the pause and the weighty tone, Lu Cheng couldn't help but worry.

"What happened to Chief Engineer Tan? Did something happen to him?"

Lu Cheng's tone was a bit agitated, and Pan Jihai hurriedly replied.

"Don't worry, Lu Jingzhang. Chief Engineer Tan is just overworked; he's been without sleep for over a week, and two days ago he suddenly collapsed at his desk. He's already been taken to the hospital, and the doctors say it's nothing serious—just need some rest."

Hearing that, Lu Cheng finally exhaled a sigh of relief.

At the same time, he couldn't help but sigh—many people of this era truly risk their lives for the country.

"Factory Director Pan, please convey my regards to Chief Engineer Tan, and tell him not to rush so desperately; just follow the normal procedures."

Considering Captain Lei's condition, already on the brink of exhaustion, the desire to ride a once‑accelerated train ultimately became a regret.

Lu Cheng was about to hang up when Pan Jihai said:

"There's no need to rush any more; this period has battered our factory inside and out. Fortunately, we ultimately completed the mission ahead of schedule—the Internal Combustion Engine has been successfully realized and assembled. When shall we dispatch this Internal Combustion Engine Train to the Capital City..."

Pan Jihai spoke for a while, paused, and said: "Lu Jingzhang, are you listening?"

Lu Cheng is listening, and he listens to every word very attentively.

It's only been half a month without contact, yet it has already been assembled.

Although Pan Jihai said it lightly, one can imagine how much effort many people have spent during this time; even Tan Kaiping collapsed from exhaustion at his desk.

"Oh, I'm listening."

"Then... when do you think we should send it to Capital City?"

Lu Cheng hesitated for a moment, then said, "Depart now; I'll set up a dedicated line for you immediately, the faster the better."

He hurriedly hung up, Lu Cheng suppressed his excitement and immediately called the dispatch office.

Within these days, all train tracks must yield, ensuring this Internal Combustion Engine Train can reach Capital City at top speed.