Chapter 38

Ha Gong Da, Mechanical Engineering Department Metal Cutting Teaching and Research Lab Experimental Workshop.

Beside the big sign at the workshop entrance, another brand-new big sign was hung, with a line of large characters written on it: Truck Cannon Project Team.

At that moment, fierce arguing could be heard coming from inside the window.

"We, First Automobile Works, are the eldest son of the republic; our CA30 is the off-road vehicle with the longest service time and largest numbers in the troops; this time the truck cannon chassis should use our First Automobile Works's chassis!"

"Come on, your First Automobile Works' old broken car, its six-cylinder gasoline engine only has a hundred horsepower, the platinum contacts need polishing every few days, it constantly acts up; if we really used your chassis, it would definitely delay troop use, and if it broke down on the battlefield that would be a crime! We should still use our East Wind EQ240!"

"That's right, on the southern battlefield, our 240 has become the troops' most trusted merit vehicle!"

"Old Zhu, your East Wind off-road vehicle is indeed not bad, but... its load capacity is too small, only 2.5 tons, far from enough; in the troops, to tow a 152mm howitzer, you need our Extended Peace brand! Now, to modify a truck cannon, we need a heavy-duty truck; your medium trucks aren't enough!"

"Why isn't it enough? This is self-propelled, not towed!"

"This truck cannon project is unique nationwide, even unique worldwide; the procurement quantity may not be large, but this opportunity to show up internationally is rare and must be seized!"

"Professor Yuan watched the noisy crowd, feeling like his head was about to explode; we originally planned to develop quietly, but we didn't expect to attract so many people!"

"Old Yuan, hurry up, just tell us if our First Automobile Works' off-road vehicle will work or not!" First Automobile Works representative Xu Guangyuan looked at Professor Yuan, asking in Northeastern dialect. "We're all old Northeastern folks; you should look after your fellow townspeople!"

"Bang!" Just then the door opened.

Qin Miao, having finished his teaching task, passed by to take a look, then headed to the cafeteria for a meal; seeing the room full of people, he was first stunned, then quickly retreated: "Sorry, I took the wrong way."

"Qin Miao, come in!" Professor Yuan hurriedly shouted: "You came just in time!"

Upon hearing the name Qin Miao, with a clamor... everyone stood up and instantly surrounded Qin Miao.

"Everyone, everyone, what are you doing?"

"Qin Miao, these are all domestic automobile factories; they want to provide us with chassis, quickly pick one for us." Professor Yuan said, stood up, picked up his lunch box: "I'll go get you a meal!"

"Don't slip away!"

"Cough cough, this is... Everyone, don't rush, let me first put forward our requirements."

Qin Miao looked at the crowd: "First, the vehicle's load capacity must be over seven tons."

First and Second Automobile Works were dumbfounded; their vehicles have a load capacity of only 2.5 tons. Of course, on highways they could run with ten tons loaded, but that's just civilian use; military load capacity needs to handle various complex road conditions—mountains, hills, even muddy ground—as smoothly as walking on flat ground!

Even the representative of Extended Peace Factory, Huang Yuqun, was dumbfounded; their Extended Peace SX250 has a load capacity of only five tons! However, its towing capacity can reach 6.5 tons, precisely because of its strong pulling power, which is why it became the tractor for the Type 66 152mm howitzer.

"Your cannon isn't just one or two tons, is it? What do you need such a large load capacity for?" Huang Yuqun couldn't help but ask.

"We're building a truck cannon, equivalent to a self-propelled howitzer; it's not just about mounting the cannon!" Qin Miao looked at the crowd: "On the truck's rear, we need to install spuds to absorb recoil; beside the cannon, we need a semi-automatic loading mechanism—these all add weight, and the truck cannon itself must carry a certain amount of ammunition; if the vehicle is too small, how can it suffice?"

After saying that, Qin Miao stood up: "If you don't have that kind of load capacity, then forget it!"

"Not only do we lack it, the whole country lacks it! Only the Benz NG2026 we imported two years ago can reach..."

"Oh, thank you!" Qin Miao looked at Huang Yuqun: "Thanks for the reminder; we'll coordinate with the troops to get two Benz vehicles."

It's not that Qin Miao doesn't support domestic goods; it's that at this time, Eastern truck industry is too backward! Lacking standardized production, trucks fresh out of the factory may break down; Qin Miao has no mood to deal with truck breakdowns all day, so we must say import vehicles, especially Benz!

Benz NG2026 is the military model of Benz's new-generation truck NG73 series, equipped with an OM402-type V8 engine, power 260 horsepower; the on-site largest Extended Peace brand has only just 200 horsepower.

Total weight twenty tons, maximum off-road load capacity 7.5 tons; using this military vehicle for modification is the best choice!

In 1978, the country imported a thousand units, each priced as high as 220,000 marks! Only elite units can be equipped! On the southern battlefield, other vehicles got stuck; if there was a Benz nearby, it could pull them out right away!

While these people were dazed, Qin Miao turned and left: "Professor Yuan, you're going too far! I'll go intercept you at the cafeteria and get you to cook me some meat dishes!"

After eating and drinking his fill, belching contentedly, Qin Miao leisurely followed Professor Yuan back; before reaching the main gate, he heard the conversation from the side window.

"Everyone, as long as you support our Institute 202's truck cannon project, we will definitely use your chassis! Whether First Automobile Works, Second Automobile Works, or Extended Peace, we can fit these vehicles' chassis!"

Professor Yuan's face was flushed with anger; just before he was about to shout, Qin Miao shushed him: "Don't rush, listen to what they're saying inside!"

"Ren Gong, does your Institute 202 also want to undertake the truck cannon project?"

"Exactly! Our Institute 202 is the professional cannon maker! Although Ha Gong Da has researched the 155mm howitzer, howitzers have many test items, and our Institute 202 has many evaluation criteria; when the Ha Gong Da people arrive, we'll discuss mutual cooperation."

"Great, this is a case of bandits coming to rob us!"

"Ha Gong Da has already developed the 155mm howitzer, earning enough merit; this truck cannon must be placed in our Institute 202, and the foreigners' research funds must also be handed over to us..."

"Bang!"

Hearing the door-kicking sound, Qin Miao could only shake his head helplessly; Professor Yuan is still too impulsive; let us listen and see what scheme they are plotting!

"Damn, trying to snatch the project from Ha Gong Da's hands, you're asking for a beating! Look, I won't beat you bastards to death!"

"Old Yuan, Old Yuan, stop, don't be impulsive!"

A crowd came to mediate; the few engineers from Institute 202 were dumbfounded; they were here boasting, hoping to first win over these people, then pressure Ha Gong Da together, but didn't expect to be overheard!

When they arrived, the Ha Gong Da people had been driven away by the automobile factory folks; they had also left a lookout at the door, but now, where did that lookout go?