Chapter 392 Specially Appointed Engineer Compared to Qian Lao's enthusiasm, Colonel Li Wanshan appeared much more cautious. His sharp eyes, like an eagle's, scrutinized Su Tang from head to toe, seemingly trying to see right through her. Could a female soldier still in the reserve battalion design something like that? He harbored some doubts.
“Comrade Su An,” Old Qian said eagerly, carefully taking out several drawings from his briefcase. They were the recoil control design drawings that Su Tang had drawn. “We old guys in our institute have been studying your drawings overnight.”
He adjusted his glasses, his eyes filled with barely suppressed admiration and amazement: "Multi-chamber structure, gas back-jet, asymmetrical openings to suppress muzzle rise... these design concepts are so advanced! They're simply genius ideas! Young comrade, tell us the truth, how did you come up with all these things?"
All eyes instantly focused on Su Tang.
This is the real test.
Su Tang had already prepared her explanation. She couldn't reveal her identity as a time traveler, but she also couldn't act like a clueless village girl.
She hesitated for a moment, organizing her thoughts, before slowly speaking: "Reporting to the commander, I... I've been interested in these lumps of iron since I was a child. I used to find some foreign military magazines left over from before liberation at secondhand bookstores, which contained some scattered introductions to weapon design. I just read those and figured it out on my own."
She paused, then added, "As for this muzzle brake, it was actually a coincidence. I noticed that when water was poured from our unit's canteen, the body of the canteen would experience a reaction force. I thought, could we use a similar method to apply a force in the opposite direction to counteract some of the recoil when the gunpowder gas is ejected from the muzzle? Those asymmetrical holes are designed to direct the gas upwards at an angle, which would suppress the muzzle rise. Many of these ideas came to me on a whim, and they're not very systematic, so please excuse my poor performance, sir."
This explanation is flawless.
She attributed the inspiration to "foreign magazines" and used the easy-to-understand metaphor of the "kettle theory" to explain the original intention of the design, perfectly packaging a complex design that was ahead of its time as a "flash of inspiration" by a "genius girl" in a specific environment.
After hearing her explanation, the caution and doubt in Colonel Li Wanshan's eyes visibly disappeared, replaced by a deep shock.
And Mr. Qian was so excited that he slapped his thigh!
"The kettle theory! Wow! This analogy is brilliant! The greatest truths are the simplest! The greatest truths are the simplest!" His gaze towards Su Tang was no longer just admiration; it was as if he were looking at a living national treasure!
"Comrade Xiao Su," Colonel Li Wanshan cleared his throat, leaned forward slightly, and his expression became extremely solemn, "We are here today on behalf of the Fifth Academy, entrusted by the Party Committee of the Ministry of Ordnance Industry and the General Armaments Department, to formally extend an invitation to you."
He spoke each word with conviction: "We hope you can immediately finish your training in the reserve camp, transfer to Beijing, and join our Fifth Research Institute as a specially appointed young engineer in the Light Weapons Design Institute. We will provide you with the best resources and the most professional team. Several of our institute's national treasure-level senior experts can serve as your deputies! You will be able to fully display your talents!"
He paused, seemingly feeling that wasn't enough, and added another bombshell: "Of course, we will also resolve your military status and rank issues. With the merit of your design, it would be more than enough to report to the Central Military Commission and directly award you the rank of Technical Lieutenant! Comrade Su, you will be the youngest technical officer in the history of our Dragon Nation!"
Specially appointed engineer!
Technical Lieutenant!
A meteoric rise to power!
In 1968, this was an honor that a "new recruit" who was still in the reserve battalion and did not even have a formal military rank could not even dream of!
Sun Dahai, who was standing to the side and not entitled to sit down, was already trembling with excitement upon hearing these words, his eyes reddening. He seemed to see a new star rising in the military industry!
However, Su Tang's reaction was unexpected by everyone.
Faced with this enormous olive branch that could change her life, she felt no excitement, no joy, not even the slightest ripple of emotion.
She simply stood up quietly and gave a standard military salute to the officers, neither humble nor arrogant.
"Thank you for your kindness, sir. It is my duty to contribute to the country's defense."
She neither immediately agreed nor refused.
Old Qian was an extremely astute person, and he immediately saw the hesitation beneath her calm exterior. He assumed she was reluctant to leave the army and her uniform.
He laughed and smoothed things over: "Haha, Comrade Xiao Su, you don't need to answer us now. We know you're still participating in training and have feelings for the military. It's not too late for you to make a decision after the training ends. The doors of our Fifth Academy are always open to you!"
Zheng Hongyi also spoke up at the right time, looking at Su Tang with a hint of inquiry in his eyes: "Comrade Su An, if you have any concerns, you can bring them up in person. The organization will do its best to resolve them for you."
Su Tang shook her head, the unease in her heart growing stronger.
"Reporting to the commander, I have no concerns. I will obey all arrangements made by the organization. It's just that... the training is not over yet, and as a member of the Third Battalion, I hope to see it through to the end with my comrades."
This reason is plausible and irrefutable.
Professor Qian and Vice Dean Li exchanged a glance, both seeing a higher regard for this female soldier in each other's eyes. Calm and composed, with a strong sense of loyalty and righteousness—truly rare!
"Good! Well done, you finished what you started!" Li Wanshan nodded with a big smile. "Then we'll wait for you! We'll contact you again as soon as the training camp is over!"
The next hour or so turned into a high-level technical seminar.
Professor Qian and Vice President Li completely set aside their airs and pulled Su Tang aside to talk about everything from the multi-chamber structure of the muzzle brake to the improvement of barrel materials, from the optimization of ballistics to the ergonomic design of future rifles.
They had thought that Su Tang's design for the recoil mechanism had reached the limit of her inspiration.
The more they talked, the more alarmed they became.
The more they talked, the more excited they became.
They discovered that this female soldier, who looked only eighteen or nineteen years old, possessed an unfathomable treasure trove of military industry knowledge!
...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
