141: Unthinkable

After half a night of effort, Xu Ning finally completed the design blueprints for the second-generation naval gun.

For him, drawing design blueprints was already second nature, and he used various drawing tools with ease.

Finally, he carefully checked the thick stack of blueprints in his hand one more time, and only after ensuring they were correct did he put them away with satisfaction and go to the next room to rest.

Early the next morning, Xu Ning reluctantly got out of bed.

He only had two days left and couldn't waste any more time lying in bed, so he quickly called for Security Guard Lie.

"Mr. Xu, is there something you need?" Security Guard Lie asked doubtfully after entering the room.

Security Guard Lie didn't understand why Xu Ning would suddenly seek him out; he had been extremely busy with the Gongda Family's affairs recently and had no time to pay attention to Xu Ning and their trip to the Tailayev Shipyard yesterday.

Initially, Xu Ning's speech had indeed temporarily quieted the Gongda Family, but now, a few days later, a few troublemakers in the factory had started causing a fuss again.

To maintain the superficial peace of the factory, the security officer was already exhausted and estimated that in another two days, he would no longer be able to control these workers.

Originally, Security Guard Lie had planned to discuss this issue with Xu Ning today, but instead, he received Xu Ning's summons first, which made him very curious.

At this moment, Xu Ning was leisurely drinking tea and reading the morning report; he didn't like drinking tea from those fancy cups and missed the simple feeling of a zisha teapot, but here, he could only follow local customs.

Today's report still had no news about the leader, nor any information about reforms; everything seemed unusually calm.

However, Xu Ning knew that beneath the calm often hid turbulent undercurrents, and he himself was a part of them.

When the security officer came in, Xu Ning didn't say much, just smiled and said, "Mr. Security Guard Lie, I have something important that requires your help."

"Can you tell me how many workshops are producing naval guns?"

Security Guard Lie replied, "There used to be two workshops doing it, but now there's only one workshop slowly producing, and it's estimated it will take another half a month to complete one."

Due to the lack of new orders, Security Guard Lie had to slow down the production speed, extending the time it took to complete a naval gun from two weeks to over a month.

Xu Ning then asked, "If I ask you to complete a naval gun within two days, can you do it?"

Security Guard Lie looked at Xu Ning in surprise: "Oh my, Mr. Xu, are you joking?"

Xu Ning said seriously, "I know it's difficult, but I've calculated that if we mobilize workers from other workshops to work together, it should still be possible."

Xu Ning handed Security Guard Lie a design blueprint and said, "Yesterday, we made a bet with the Tailayev Shipyard; if we can make a better naval gun than them within two days, they'll have to cooperate with us from now on."

"The naval gun business is too important for our Malyshev Military Industry, so we can only bite the bullet and go for it."

"We happen to have a semi-finished naval gun here, and my new design is an improvement on the original basis; many parts can be used, so completing it in two days is possible, Security Guard Lie."

Security Guard Lie heard that this concerned the future of the factory and had to suppress the urge to curse, taking the blueprint and examining it carefully; as a workshop director, he knew how difficult it was to design a new cannon, and even experienced designers like Adrian took two years.

And now, Xu Ning said he wanted to make an improved naval gun within two days, which sounded like a fantasy, but for the sake of the factory, Security Guard Lie still decided to look seriously.

He flipped through the blueprints page by page, becoming more and more surprised as he read.

"This... how is this possible?"

Security Guard Lie understood in his heart that if manufactured according to the parameters on the blueprint, the effect of this cannon would be astonishing.

He repeatedly checked every detail, afraid that he had misread something, but the more he looked closely, the more incredible he found it, especially when he saw the complete sketch on the last page; he could hardly believe his eyes.

Because the design of this double-barreled naval gun, although with some modifications, was clearly based on Adrian's previous design plan; one should know that only he and Kadeyafu had seen that design plan, so how did Xu Ning know about it?

All of this was simply unbelievable, as if he was still in a dream.

He asked doubtfully, "Mr. Xu, is this really your design? Can you tell me when you completed it?"

Xu Ning took a small sip of hot tea and replied, "Just last night."

Security Guard Lie felt as if lightning had struck his head, looking at Xu Ning with eyes full of surprise.

Xu Ning didn't pay attention to Security Guard Lie's reaction; after he had recovered, he asked, "Any other questions, Mr. Security Guard Lie?"

"No..." Security Guard Lie swallowed and said, "I will immediately integrate resources and start modifying the existing naval gun according to your blueprint as soon as possible; there should be enough time."

But then he frowned again, "However, the new mechanical parts..."

Time was tight, with less than two days left; even mobilizing workers and equipment from the tank workshop would be difficult, plus the troublemakers in the factory might cause problems.

Seeing the security officer's troubled look, Xu Ning said, "Don't worry, I know making new parts isn't easy; I will operate the CNC machine to cut the new parts."

"We need to speed up to adapt to this situation; how about this, Mr. Security Guard Lie, you first gather the Gongda Family, and I will preside over a mobilization meeting."

Security Guard Lie hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to tell Xu Ning the situation: "Mr. Xu, there is one more thing you must know; the factory has been open for several days, but wages haven't been paid, and some troublemakers have already started causing trouble."

"If you hold a mobilization meeting now, I'm afraid they might disrupt it."

Xu Ning fell silent for a moment, calculating in his heart.

"It is indeed a tricky problem."

"Without a mobilization meeting, it will probably be difficult to boost the workers' morale."

"If the rush job fails, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"As for the funding issue..."

"I estimate Kakanov will be back with the funds soon; persisting for another day or two should be fine."

After clearing his thoughts, Xu Ning said, "I am currently handling the wage issue, and I can announce it at this mobilization meeting; Mr. Security Guard Lie, please go prepare first."

Security Guard Lie nodded in agreement after hearing this and hurried away to make the arrangements.

Next, Xu Ning called Zhao Zhide and instructed him to go to the town to observe Kakanov's movements.

After arranging everything, Xu Ning finally had a moment of rest.

Soon, Security Guard Lie sent word, and Xu Ning straightened his clothes and went to the naval gun workshop.

At the same time.

Zhao Zhide, who had received the task, was driving a jeep and had just set off for less than ten minutes when he saw a black BMW driving towards him.

In this area, the common vehicle is the domestically produced volga, while imported BMWs are extremely rare.

Due to high taxes and prices, most people cannot afford them.