A night of heavy rain finally made the hot Taihu Lake in Suzhou cool down in July.

The moist morning breeze gently blew across the lake, stirring up ripples like scales. The reeds on the lake were shrouded in water vapor, and when illuminated by the morning light before the sun rose, the colors were as rich as a splash-ink painting.

Suddenly, a red sun jumped out of the clouds, instantly dyeing the vast lake surface into a bright red, and also dyeing the billowing smoke from the numerous chimneys on Xishan Island into an enchanting purple.

There were chimneys from Jiangnan Cement Factory, Jiangnan Chemical Industry, and Jiangnan Steel. There were also some smaller chimneys belonging to the various laboratories in the research center.

As the first industrial base and test center of Jiangnan Group, the environment of Xishan Island is not as good as it was 20 years ago. Although the island is still lush and green due to frequent rains, the area around the factory is bare, smelly and looks disgusting.

Moreover, the Biluochun tea, the favorite of the group workers, has gradually become less fragrant.

The three white fish caught by fishing boats are becoming increasingly rare, and they taste a bit strange when eaten...

However, the group has already formulated a relocation plan, planning to close all factories within five years, and the research center will also be gradually transferred to Nan'ao Island in Chaozhou Prefecture. The group's propaganda caliber is that the mother lake of Jiangnan must not be polluted, but what the top management is really worried about, only they themselves know.

~~

"The achievements and teams that the research center has accumulated over the past 20 years are not only related to the future of the group, but are also the trump card for our national leading rivals and our most precious wealth!" On the carriage to the research center, Zhao Hao solemnly instructed Zhang Jian and Zhao Shizhen: "During the transfer process, we must ensure that everything is foolproof and properly kept confidential!"

"Yes, Master." The two of them nodded quickly in response.

Zhang Jian smiled bitterly and said, "But the people down there are all so overwhelmed. Over the years, we have finally saved up so many bottles and jars. I don't know how much will be wasted after this move."

"So you have to pack it carefully and handle it with care." Zhao Hao grew a neatly trimmed moustache. At the age of 36, he no longer needed to pretend to be calm and composed. He was naturally composed and alert.

"There are still so many that cannot be moved." Zhao Shizhen said with a wry smile.

"We can only rebuild it on Nan'ao Island. The ones here must be completely demolished without leaving a single tile." Zhao Hao emphasized again. His concern about the spread of technology has become almost pathological.

"Uncle, is the world really going to change?" Zhao Shizhen couldn't help but ask softly.

"Uh..." Zhao Hao didn't know how to answer him. He touched his chin and said, "Even if it changes, it won't be that fast. But the research center is too important. It's better to move to a safer place in advance so that we can feel at ease."

"That's not bad." Zhang Jian breathed a sigh of relief, "Each institute has a number of projects at a critical moment, and we can't give up halfway."

"Well, make a good plan and try not to interfere with the research." Zhao Hao nodded.

As the people in the car were talking, the convoy slowly drove to the closed iron gate of the research center. After checking the documents, the guards turned the winch and slowly raised the heavy iron gate!

The security of the research center is mainly undertaken by the special guard brigade under the Security Department. The security here is usually very strict, and today the martial law level is raised to the highest level. All institutes have received orders not to allow researchers and staff to leave the compound of their institutes, and violators will be severely punished.

This was the first time such an inhuman order had ever been issued. The researchers were angry but also very curious. What big event was going to happen today?

Their strong curiosity prompted them to stop their research and use their precious working time to gossip.

"Who is this important person that's so scary to look at?" said a skinny researcher wearing thick glasses at Institute 04.

"It's definitely not because of the visitor. The big boss never restricts everyone's freedom every time he comes," another researcher with thick glasses and sparse hair shook his head and said, "Who dares to act more arrogantly than the big boss?"

"That makes sense." Another bald researcher wearing thick glasses said, "Who is going to do something big today? And what they are going to do is an absolute secret that even our director cannot know."

"It's probably true." A bunch of researchers with gray hair nodded one after another: "Which institute is so awesome?"

"There's no way to guess or inquire now." The completely bald chief researcher said calmly, "Look back and see which institute they are from. You'll know if they walk with their noses up in the air these days."

"That makes sense!" Everyone gave a thumbs up. It turned out that the chief was extremely smart.

"Let's get to work!" The chief touched his shiny head, put on his glasses and said, "When we synthesize urea, let Qu apply for the same treatment!"

"Okay!" Everyone immediately became very motivated and no longer paid attention to what was happening outside the window. They continued to destroy the little hair they had left.

~~

The convoy did not stop in front of any research institutes within the second gate, which made the directors who were peeking out through the cracks in the doors breathe a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, at least I didn’t go into other houses…

"It seems that Institute 00 has come up with some killer weapon again." Xing Yunlu, director of the Institute of Optics, said to the deputy director beside him.

"Of course they are. They are the only ones who are so mysterious all day long." The deputy director nodded.

"It's right to keep it strictly confidential." Xing Yunlu said calmly. He was Zhao Hao's disciple, so he naturally knew more.

The power and manufacturing methods of the weapons behind the three doors are far ahead of this era...

~~

After the carriage entered the third gate, it started to move through the courtyard of the Ordnance Research Institute. The current 00 Institute is several times larger than it was before, and it takes a long time to walk from one end to the other.

There was no other way. As the weapons developed by the Ordnance Institute became more powerful and had a greater range, the places they were needed in became larger and larger. The noises of gunfire and artillery fire became louder and louder. Other research institutes could no longer be their neighbors. So they simply gave the entire Chenjiawu to the 00 Institute and let them do whatever they wanted in the mountains.

"Uncle, why don't you go to my place first and give my fellow brothers more time to adjust the system." Zhao Shizhen said to Zhao Hao with a smile.

Apparently, Institute 00 is still not Zhao Hao’s destination today…

Zhao Hao took out his pocket watch, opened the pure gold cover with a snap, and looked at the hands on the dial through the glass mirror. It was just a little after eight o'clock. He was indeed too impatient today.

If I go there so early, the young people will laugh at me.

"Well, okay." Zhao Hao nodded and said, "But don't fire the cannon yet, so as not to scare the people over there."

"Okay, no problem." Zhao Shizhen nodded hurriedly, but he thought to himself, they have been used to hearing us firing cannons all day long...

The convoy stopped at the manufacturing and research workshop of the gun institute. Zhao Shizhen jumped out of the car first, moved the stool to Zhao Hao and said, "Uncle, you haven't been here for a few years."

"Oh, really?" Zhao Hao stepped on the bench and got out of the car, stretching his waist slightly. His waist was a little sore from the intense exercise last night, it's really not as good as it used to be.

"Yes, the last time was when the Wanli rifle was finalized." Zhao Shizhen complained, "That was in the eleventh year of the Wanli reign, four years ago."

"Really." Zhao Hao also showed a dazed look, patted his forehead and said: "There are too many things to worry about now. It will take a year to walk from east to west."

He patted his nephew comfortingly, looked at Zhang Jian and smiled at him: "This shows that the guns and cannons you developed in the past are good enough to use! Right?"

"Yes, yes." Zhang Jian agreed with a smile: "No matter from performance to quality, it is the best in the world. I really don't see the need for upgrading in the short term..."

"Then at least put it into service on a small scale like the Wanli rifle." Zhao Shizhen looked at Zhao Hao eagerly and said, "Uncle, it's too uncomfortable to walk in the night in fine clothes. Oh no, it's that we don't know how to improve it without the troops using it."

"Nonsense. I've given you so many experienced gunners, isn't their advice enough?" Zhao Hao rolled his eyes at him and said:

"I think you just can't get the chance to show off your discomfort."

"Uncle, you know me. I'm not the kind of person who likes to show off." Zhao Shizhen said aggrievedly, "It's mainly the doubts of the officers and soldiers that make me feel uncomfortable. They say things like 'Zhao Lang has run out of ideas and can't make a more powerful cannon'! What they say is true, but they don't know that our cannons have been developed for several generations now!"

"Would you rather let them look down on you and feel bad? Or would you rather let the enemy learn from you early and feel bad?" Zhao Hao's expression turned serious.

"I've said it countless times. There is no insurmountable technological barrier between us and the Europeans. As soon as we put something into service, they will have a chance to get it and then copy it... For example, the telescope. It is said that the French have copied the hot air balloon. And our tactics, the improvement of warships and tactics - never underestimate the learning ability of the opponent! And every bit of progress they make may cause our soldiers to suffer greater casualties!"

"Finite generation theory..." Zhao Shizhen muttered softly.

"Yes, maybe in a decade or twenty years, you won't care. But this is a long game that our descendants will have to play. We are already ahead now. Playing the trump card will not help us win more. Instead, it will make our opponents more alert and accelerate their imitation of us!" Zhao Hao patted his shoulder vigorously and said, "So why don't you hold it in your hands first and let our descendants play?"

"I understand, uncle." Zhao Shizhen lowered his head in shame.

"Okay, let's go in and see what good stuff you have come up with in the past few years?" Zhao Hao smiled and comforted him, "Don't worry, gold will shine sooner or later! Think about it, our competitors are struggling to catch up with products that are just a few generations old. Isn't it a great thing?"

"That's right." Zhao Shizhen couldn't help but laugh, and regained his spirits. He asked the guard to open the door of the manufacturing workshop and said, "Uncle, please take a look first. How are we making gun barrels now!"