227: With this unmanned boat, I dare to beat Yuan Tai, no, Jingdong!

The two Chief Engineers were stunned: "Your Director is too polite; we can go by ourselves."

"By the way, may I ask your surname?"

Zhou Cun said: "Just call me Xiao Zhou. The car is outside. I will accompany you two to the airport."

"Xiao Zhou? You seem to have a Vice Factory Director who is also surnamed Zhou."

"Don't ask so many questions; let's not keep people waiting."

The two picked up their luggage and followed Zhou Cun to Qinchuan.

"Is this all your luggage?"

"We'll stay for two days at most; there's still plenty of work here."

Two days? He should be able to win them over, Zhou Cun thought as he helped the two Chief Engineers with their luggage.

When Zheng Zichang and Liu Buming arrived in Qinchuan, they received a warm welcome from Lu Shenwei and the others.

"You are too kind. Xiao Zhou took great care of us along the way."

"He was running around taking care of everything; you really should promote him."

Both of them were savvy; since Xiao Zhou had been taking care of them throughout the trip, they had to say a few kind words.

"Promote him? He is already the Vice Factory Director. If I promote him further, he'll have to be the Factory Director or the Director," Lu Shenwei joked.

Liu and Zheng were shocked: "Xiao Zhou? Vice Director Zhou?"

"We didn't recognize you in person; please forgive us."

Neither of them had expected that a dignified Vice Factory Director of Julong Steel, the third or fourth most important person in the steel factory, would personally go to Dalian Shipyard to pick them up.

"Our Director leads by example and teaches us to respect technical Experts," Zhou Cun said casually.

Lu Shenwei said seriously: "Don't worry about chatting; let's eat first."

As Chief Engineers of a large state-owned factory, the application for Liu and Zheng to enter the factory was approved by the higher-ups immediately.

In the staff canteen, Liu and Zheng looked at the moutai and the table full of dishes, hesitating: "Director Lu, is this appropriate?"

"Don't worry, Experts. We are a private steel factory, so we don't have that many restrictions. As long as it's not extravagant, it's fine."

Lu Shenwei poured drinks for Liu and Zheng. They said politely: "Director Lu, you are too kind; we can do it ourselves."

During the meal, Lu Shenwei introduced the R&D progress of the Dragon Shark Unmanned Boat to the two Chief Engineers. When they heard that the Unmanned Boat would be launched tomorrow, they were stunned on the spot.

"Launching so soon? Unbelievable."

"Director Lu, has your factory completed the 128 technical verifications before the ship launch?"

Lu Shenwei looked at Zhou Cun, who nodded and said: "Yes, we have."

"Did you find any problems?" Zheng Zichang asked.

Zhou Cun was honest: "No. It is precisely because we didn't find any problems that we asked the two Experts to come and take a look."

"This..."

The 128 technical verifications before launching are the final steps to check the quality of a ship. Every ship goes through this before launching, and of course, they usually find some problems.

After subsequent improvements and refinements, there would be no problems when it is launched again.

But Zhou Cun said there were no problems. How is that possible?

Even Southern Shipbuilding Heavy Industry would not dare to guarantee that no problems could be found in a ship about to be launched. How could Julong Steel, a shipbuilding novice, dare to?

"Is it hard to believe? We also find it strange, which is why we wanted to ask the Experts from Dalian Shipyard to take a look," Lu Shenwei explained.

Zhou Cun added: "We didn't find any problems with the power system or the avionics system, and the error in the anchor points at the bottom of the ship is also within the normal range."

Liu and Zheng looked at each other. Since Lu Shenwei and Zhou Cun dared to say this to their faces, it was clear that the Unmanned Boat from Julong Steel Factory was truly ready.

However, as Julong Steel Factory was building a ship for the first time, they seemed to lack confidence.

"We will take a look this afternoon."

Zhou Cun said politely: "Thank you for your guidance."

"Vice Director Zhou, you are too kind. It is a learning experience; let's learn together."

After the welcome banquet, the group didn't rest and headed straight to the dock.

Professor Wang joked: "I wondered who Xiao Jiang would send; isn't this Xiao Liu and Xiao Zheng?"

"Hello, five masters."

Liu and Zheng bowed in greeting. Professor Wang laughed and said: "Are you two kids here to check the craftsmanship of five old guys? How does that saying go? Right, the tides turn."

"Professor Wang, you are joking. How would we dare? I still remember when I was an apprentice, I didn't remember the equipment parameters and was always hit on the palm by you."

"You're quite vengeful; you still remember that?"

"Not at all. I am just reminding myself at all times not to forget your teachings."

Lu Shenwei asked in surprise: "Are the two Experts your students?"

"Indeed they are."

"Then you should have a good meal tonight and catch up."

Professor Wang waved his hand: "Don't talk about food; I've gained twenty pounds in just a few months."

The group walked towards the dock, chatting and laughing. When they saw the pitch-black Dragon Shark Unmanned Boat, Liu and Zheng's mouths hung open as wide as goose eggs.

"This... is this an Unmanned Boat? The design is quite exaggerated."

An aggressive bow, an exaggerated hull, and an integrated mast.

If they guessed correctly, there was a phased array radar on the mast, but the two couldn't figure out what the thick iron cylinder and the pit at the stern of the ship were.

It couldn't be a missile launch pit, could it?

Zhou Cun introduced the technical parameters of the Dragon Shark Unmanned Boat in detail.

The boat is 12 meters long, with a maximum speed of 82 knots, and a range of 960 nautical miles at a standard speed of 55 knots.

It is suitable for sea state 7 and has various driving modes, including fully autonomous, semi-autonomous, remote manual control, and manual piloting.

The ship is equipped with satellite communications, radar, and photoelectric equipment, and can be used for patrol and monitoring, close-in reconnaissance, target tracking, warning and expulsion, anti-terrorism, and anti-smuggling.

"After being scaled down proportionally, the Dragon Shark Unmanned Boat you see now is only 6 meters long, but it has all the basic functions."

Zhou Cun finished his introduction and looked at the two Chief Engineers. Zheng Zichang asked: "What are the iron cylinder on the mast and the pit at the rear of the ship for?"

"The iron cylinder on top of the mast is a reserved position for a water cannon module, and it can also be equipped with a 12.8 mm heavy machine gun."

Zhou Cun paused: "As for the pit reserved on the ship, it is prepared for parking high-performance small unmanned bombers or naval guns."

This... parking high-performance unmanned bombers? Installing a heavy machine gun? Naval guns?

Are you sure this is something a private steel factory could come up with?

"Director Lu, wasn't this Unmanned Boat supposed to be for the Fisheries Administration and the Coast Guard?" Zheng Zichang asked, stunned.

Installing small bombers on a ship for the Fisheries Administration? They would dare to ride their horses into the Mississippi, flatten Mount Fuji, and herd cattle on the Black Uncle's vast grasslands.

What frog island? They won't let my fishermen fish? We'll scatter your ashes to the wind!!!

"Hmm? Was there any rule saying we couldn't install that? No one told me," Lu Shenwei asked back.

Uh...

Zheng Zichang asked doubtfully: "Do the higher-ups not come to inspect you?"

"Huh? Inspect what? They have never inspected us," Lu Shenwei was also stunned.

Zheng Zichang explained: "The pre-review for the design of new weapons and equipment? Is there none?"

"Never." Lu Shenwei shrugged.

Little did Liu and Zheng know, the higher-ups had long ago told the military representative stationed at the factory to prohibit any interference with the equipment R&D of Julong Steel.

They were to let the equipment designers of Julong Steel unleash their creativity and let their imaginations run wild!