Chapter 15: Everyone's Anger

Zhang Wengang had just woken up when he heard a sudden knocking at the door.

"What's wrong? What's wrong? What happened?!"

Zhang Wen, still half-asleep, opened the door, only to see Chen Shifu rushing in holding a newspaper.

"Factory chief, quickly look at this." Chen Shifu hastily put down the newspaper, pointing at the headline as he spoke to Zhang Wen.

Zhang Wen hastily picked up the newspaper and began to read it carefully.

"The Eagle Country Navy unreasonably intruded into our South Sea waters, ramming and sinking an innocent Chinese fishing vessel; our side strongly condemns this."

After reading it, Chen Shifu still fumed on the side, saying, "Condemnation, condemnation, all they do is condemn."

"They've even come right to our door!"

Zhang Wen hurriedly comforted him, saying, "The ship sent to intercept them is a torpedo boat."

"It poses absolutely no threat to the Eagle Country's destroyer."

"Then what can our navy personnel do?"

Zhang Wen retorted.

"So there's nothing we can do?" Chen Shifu angrily slammed the table.

"There is."

Zhang Wen said calmly.

"It's our project. It's the warship we're currently building."

"It's the ship whose steel plates were just cut this morning."

Upon hearing Zhang Wen's words, Chen Shifu finally seemed to truly understand what kind of ship this was.

Although he had previously known the ship's specifications, before the various weapons and equipment were actually installed, he really didn't know what use the thing he was truly building would have.

"Really, can we do it?" Chen Shifu said somewhat guiltily.

"Of course, I'm not questioning your design, Factory Chief; I just have some doubts about whether our factory's manufacturing capability is truly up to the task. After all, we haven't had a military order in nearly ten years."

Hearing Chen Shifu's concerns, Zhang Wen nodded.

"There's no need for such worries; domestically, we are the only ones with experience designing and building a twin-hull design."

"Moreover, the ship's overall manufacturing difficulty is actually not high; all the hull materials can be produced domestically, with no need for imports."

"Her overall difficulty and lethality depend entirely on the radar and missiles."

"Strong missiles make her strong."

"Do you understand?"

Zhang Wen looked at Chen Shifu.

Chen Shifu immediately straightened his posture.

"Factory Chief, I guarantee I can finish manufacturing it within three months!"

Looking at the solemn Chen Shifu, Zhang Wen knew he had taken a military oath.

"Alright, when you go back, tell our workers, tell them the significance of the warship we're building."

"Have them finish the work as soon as possible; nothing essential will be lacking, the cafeteria will guarantee meals during this period, and on the day the ship is completed, everyone's wages will be increased by one month."

Upon hearing this, Chen Shifu's eyes lit up instantly.

"Yes!"

Afterwards, Zhang Wen went to find Chen Chuang and the person in charge of the cafeteria.

Meanwhile, Chen Shifu went into the workshop.

He saw some workers cursing while holding newspapers.

After all, this is a military factory, so the workers naturally pay close attention to such matters.

"Chen Shifu, these little devils are really infuriating!"

"Is there no reasonable country left in this world?!"

"This is just too bullying!"

With each outburst of angry cursing,

Chen Shifu gradually approached them.

After listening for a while, the crowd finally noticed Chen Shifu standing behind them.

"Oh dear, Chen Shifu, sorry about that."

"Hmm." Chen Shifu replied calmly.

By the way, he saw everyone gathered together.

"Everyone, quiet down for a moment."

"I have a couple of things to say."

Chen Shifu waved his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.

"Are you all feeling stifled?" Chen Shifu asked the crowd.

The workers, filled with indignation, shouted, "Stifled!"

"Are you all angry?"

"Angry!" the workers' voices rose one after another, higher each time.

"Being angry is just right!" Chen Shifu threw his cap down.

"Do you know why our navy boys have no recourse?!"

"Because our ship is no good!"

"Because that torpedo boat, when it hits the Eagle Country's destroyer, can't even scratch the paint!"

"Our boys need stronger, better weapons! Only then can they take on those damned Eagle Country folks!"

You say it's correct, right?

Yes! the crowd shouted like a mountain's call and a sea's roar.

You still remember the confidentiality regulations, right?

We're all old-timers now.

Let me tell you: the ship we're building now is the next-generation new ship!

Our youngsters will use her to fight the Eagle Country people!

If we finish this ship a day earlier, we'll suffer one less day of bullying.

Chen Shifu said excitedly in front of everyone.

What? This is actually the next-generation new ship?

I had no idea about this before!

The crowd discussed heatedly, but all were moving in the same direction.

Build it soon, and kill the Eagle Country people!

Chen Shifu looked at the workers below and was very pleased.

The factory director said: lately the cafeteria has had enough meat! And on the day of completion, everyone in the factory will get an extra month's wages!

Wow!

Long live the factory director!

Alright, get back to work! But remember, from now on our youngsters will take her into battle; speed must be guaranteed, and quality even more so must be guaranteed! Chen Shifu, looking at the excited crowd, happily reminded them.

Yes!

Don't worry! Chen Shifu, you know our skills!

Alright! Let's get to work! Chen Shifu had everyone disperse.

Inside the finance office of Qingtian Equipment Manufacturing Factory.

The summoned cafeteria manager and Chen Chuang stood together in the office.

Zhang Wen explained the relevant matters to them one by one, then left the office.

The hull design needs no worry; it's been handled by factory workers who've been there for over ten or even thirty years.

There won't be any snags; what he's worried about now are problems with other sub-modules.

There's no problem with the power system; the twin-hull design naturally accommodates two engines.

This now gives us fully sufficient power reserves.

The hull's stealth design and materials are naturally lacking, but a factory far in the great northwest has solved it.

The maintenance of the all-aluminum hull design later on is naturally also an issue, but the ship is light—just hoist it up when not in use.

Most problems have been solved, but what still troubles Zhang Wen are the radar and missile issues.

At this moment, Zhang Wen anxiously awaits news from Director Liu.

After half a month, Director Liu finally called.

Director Zhang, come quickly!

Zhang Wen, who had been crouching by the phone, jumped up at once.

He told Chen Shifu beside him.

Chen Shifu, I'll be away for a few days; you keep an eye on the factory.

Then he rushed straight to Representative Wang's office.

There's news over there. Let's go!

Zhang Wen said anxiously.

Representative Wang, upon hearing there was news,

He immediately stood up, grabbed Zhang Wen, and left.

He even specially dispatched a military plane to ferry Representative Wang and Zhang Wen over.

After some time of bumping along, Zhang Wen and Representative Wang finally arrived beside that previously inconspicuous small building.

Upon getting out of the car, they saw Director Liu anxiously waiting for them at the gate.

Director Liu, how did it go?

Zhang Wen, upon getting out of the car, anxiously asked.

It's done, successful.

Director Liu said weakly.

Zhang Wen saw his eyes covered in thick dark circles; he surely hadn't slept much lately.

Come with me. Director Liu had no time for pleasantries, directly bringing Zhang Wen and Representative Wang into a concealed small room.

Facing a huge piece of equipment, he said to Zhang Wen: "This is the radar made according to your method."

We've tested it; its performance is strong.

Is it stronger than Eagle Country's radar? Representative Wang asked curiously.

Director Liu gave Representative Wang a white eye.

He then explained in detail: "This Ocean Star main radar consists of four phased-array radars, with no blind spots in 360 degrees."

Its performance is extremely formidable; not to mention destroyers, even the radar on Eagle Country's Nimitz-class aircraft carrier can only match it.

We also specially made an anti-air radar for him.

Its performance is equally formidable.

As for missiles, we've also finished producing them.

Director Liu said in a somewhat mysterious tone: "Absolutely, it'll give you a big surprise."