Chapter 289: The Difficult Birth of the Annihilate Eight

1930, Gu Lao was born in Hangzhou. At age seven, Japanese bombers flew overhead; the firelight and smoke from the explosions stimulated his heart. From then on, he resolved to serve the nation through aviation—only when the motherland grows strong can it resist foreign aggression!

With this idea, when applying to university, he chose the aviation major.

Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, and Modu Communications University all accepted him; finally he chose Modu Communications University. After graduation, he went north, where the newly established Aviation Industry Bureau of the Ministry of Heavy Industry was just set up, and thus began his life as an aircraft designer.

In the 1960s, the Annihilate Eight project was launched to meet the Air Force's urgent need for a high-altitude, high-speed fighter. As soon as development began, chief designer Huang Lao died in an air crash. Half a year later, his successor Gao Lao also died of illness.

For this project, it was an enormous blow. At the time, 35‑year‑old Gu Lao stepped forward, resolutely leading the team and starting development. When prototype production began, the chief engineer died as well, so Gu Lao took on both design work and the role of chief engineer in the factory, guiding the workers to turn blueprints into a prototype.

Thus the Annihilate Eight took flight, but encountered all kinds of problems. In that peculiar era, the project kept being delayed; not until the late 1970s did the prototype finally complete its test flights, after which work began in earnest on the all‑weather version.

The so‑called all‑weather version simply meant installing a radar in the nose, so that even at night, when pilots could not visually acquire a target, they could use radar to lock on and attack.

The matching 204 radar was started almost in sync with the Annihilate Eight project, and it too dragged on for over a decade, yet … it still failed to be finalized.

With the aircraft but no radar, it's merely a day‑fighter!

Now Gu Lao is anxious, and the engineers responsible for developing the 204 radar are also anxious…

"Gu Lao, we will keep researching—we must find the problem!" Engineer Zhu said.

Back then, to support the Annihilate Eight, the state specially created an airborne radar design institute. Later, during the boom of the Third Front, they moved to Neijiang and continued pushing the 204 radar's development; as chief engineer, Engineer Zhu also endured countless difficulties.

"I've heard that Ha Gong Da's technology is very advanced—they've studied many radars: ground‑based long‑range radar, anti‑infantry radar, even radar on helicopters. …Could we go ask them for help?" a young engineer said.

"Ha Gong Da? Even if they have helicopter radar, it's nothing like ours—there's probably nothing comparable."

"Yeah, instead of going to Ha Gong Da, we might as well go straight to Qin Miao—this guy can do anything; he'll surely solve our problem!"

"Right, I heard Qin Miao is currently in the Capital."

"Good, then let's make a trip to the Capital soon!" Gu Lao nodded: "Let's wrap up today's meeting here."

Everyone left.

Engineer Liu Jianshe walked with heavy steps toward the cafeteria, and just at the cafeteria entrance he unexpectedly saw an acquaintance.

"Lao Yin, what are you doing here?"

"I came to discuss some things with you; over in the Capital we've gotten hold of some good stuff…"

Liu Jianshe's eyes lit up at once: "Perfect—we were just planning to go to the Capital ourselves…"

"Good, let's go together!"

Capital, outside the Third Ring Road, less than ten kilometers from the Princess Tomb.

This place used to be farmland; now factories are springing up in a frenzy, with all kinds of construction equipment bustling nonstop.

At the gate, the sign for the Qingshan‑Benz Heavy Truck Factory has gone up—golden large letters that really catch the eye; the gate is even tiled, looking quite upscale.

Standing at the construction site's entrance, Qin Miao widened his eyes, looking at the … father‑in‑law wearing work clothes and a safety helmet.

"Dad, you don't really need to come in person—just a quick inspection would do. You were just pushing carts for the workers; don't throw out your back."

Zhang Wanhe gave him a sideways glance: "What do you mean? You think I'm old?"

"Cough, no, Dad, you're still young, but society does have a division of labor—those who labor with their minds govern, those who labor with their strength are governed. You…"

"Enough, stop talking about that. This factory is the top priority of the Capital's reforms—it received not a penny from superiors, built entirely by the enterprise itself. I'm very concerned about this project; I come by every few days to check. Once the workshop is finished and the equipment installed, we can start production. This construction efficiency is absolutely number one nationwide!"

"Hmm, Dad, how's the search for personnel going? Especially that Ge Lixi…"

"Ge Lixi will retire at year's end and come over next year."

"Good!" Qin Miao beamed. With this old expert, his factory is now secure!

"You little rascal, are you still going back to school?"

"Yeah, I haven't seen Miao Miao in ages—I don't even know how she's doing at school…"

"Hmph, you little rascal, you still know…"

Buzz, buzzzz!

Just then, a military 212 drove in.

"Comrade Qin Miao, Comrade Qin Miao!"

"Is it Lao Lin calling me back to a meeting again?"

"Yes, please come up quickly—this meeting… is very important."

Qin Miao glanced toward the Princess Tomb, then looked at Zhang Wanhe: "Dad, take it easy. I'll swing by home tonight to see Mom."

"All right, you little brat, dare to threaten your old man?" Zhang Wanhe glared; he understood the implication—if he kept working, Qin Miao would tattle to his mother‑in‑law.

Qin Miao hurriedly got in the car and fled in disgrace.

Princess Tomb, Aircraft Building.

"When we first built the heavy‑truck factory, the Air Force also gave us a lot of help—the warehouse area on that plot was also handed over to you." Lao Lin, seeing Qin Miao's reluctant expression, spoke up.

"Then I should still thank you, huh?"

"I've only seen one dad—my biological father I haven't even met yet—and I'm already being summoned back!"

"Don't mention it; this is what the Air Force ought to do. Come on, let's go to the meeting room—some problems still need to be solved by you lot from Ha Gong Da."

"Cough, Lao Lin, if it's… about the Annihilate Eight, better just forget it."

"Why?"

"Because we at Ha Gong Da really don't want to waste effort on a meaningless project—the era of high‑altitude, high‑speed fighters is over; we've seen so many advanced jets, and just the other day we watched an F‑16 demonstration. Do you think the Annihilate Eight still needs further development?"

Lao Lin sighed: "Yeah, foreign ones are certainly advanced, but we can't produce them—the Annihilate Eight is currently the strongest we have in China's aviation industry."