Chapter 49: My Navy Has Struck Gold!

Su Dingping?

Who is he?

Qian Wenbing and Xiao Chongjun looked at each other, even more confused.

They had never even heard this name before.

Unlike Lyu Guangjun, who had been so shaken that he specifically investigated the incident at Harbin Institute of Technology and, out of respect for his teacher, held the student Su Dingping in high regard, leading to subsequent events.

The two of them had no time to pay attention to such matters and were naturally unfamiliar with Su Dingping.

Liu Huaming, however, frowned slightly.

The name "Su Dingping" sounded somewhat familiar.

He felt certain he had heard or seen this name somewhere before.

Just as Xiao Chongjun was about to speak again, he heard Liu Huaming say, "Comrade Dongguo, I seem to have heard the name 'Su Dingping' before."

"Yes, Chief. On the rank application forms from half a month ago, there was a 'Su Dingping'."

Prompted by Xu Dongguo's reminder, Liu Huaming's reaction was instantaneous.

"So it's him! That 20-year-old Captain!"

Regarding Su Dingping, he had also been quite surprised when he signed off on it at the time, but considering it was a process submitted by Xu Dongguo, he hadn't asked further.

After all, he had great confidence in how Xu Dongguo handled things.

A 20-year-old Captain?

Qian Wenbing and Xiao Chongjun were stunned.

Looking across their two fleets, there was no such precedent.

To be commissioned as a Captain at such an age meant the individual must have made significant contributions.

Recalling more details, Liu Huaming continued, "I remember you also applied for a First-Class Individual Merit for him previously, didn't you?"

"Yes, Chief."

Another First-Class Individual Merit! Another exceptional promotion to Captain!

Just what extraordinary thing had this person done?

Qian Wenbing and Xiao Chongjun grew even more curious.

"Old Xu, stop keeping us in suspense," Xiao Chongjun urged. "Tell us, what does this Su Dingping have to do with the successful second modification of the 051B! Don't tell me this kid participated in the 051B modification?"

Qian Wenbing chimed in, "If this kid truly made a major contribution to the 051B modification, an exceptional promotion would be reasonable!"

"But what does that have to do with your dismantling of the 956E?"

As soon as Qian Wenbing spoke, Xiao Chongjun interjected.

"Don't be in such a hurry, Old Qian. Let Old Xu explain things one by one."

"Su Dingping indeed made a major contribution to the 051B modification, but he did not participate directly."

As soon as Xu Dongguo spoke, both Qian Wenbing and Xiao Chongjun frowned.

If he didn't participate directly, how could he make a major contribution?

That didn't make sense.

Xu Dongguo said calmly, "The matter must start with the 956E."

Now, Qian Wenbing and Xiao Chongjun were even more bewildered.

Weren't you supposed to explain things one by one? Why are we back to the 956E again!

Even Liu Huaming was getting lost in Xu Dongguo's narrative.

"In early July last year, the second phase of the 956E key technology breakthrough began. Comrade Zhang Gongnong from the 335 Research Institute..."

Xu Dongguo began to explain slowly.

Hearing that Zhang Gongnong had asked his protégé to design a warship, the expressions of the others remained unchanged.

But upon hearing about the "answer sheet" Su Dingping submitted in early December, the expressions of Qian Wenbing and Xiao Chongjun changed instantly. Although Liu Huaming's expression remained steady, a great wave of emotion surged within him.

A senior undergraduate student, submitting a Master's thesis design after five months, had actually provided the core technology for the 956E!

"How is that possible! The three major research institutes and nine top military industry experts spent seven months and invested 1.5 billion in R&D, yet the results were unsatisfactory. He is just a student—no funding, no guidance, he couldn't even touch a complete 956E, how could he..."

Halfway through his sentence, Qian Wenbing's body jolted, and he blurted out, "I remember now! You went to Harbin Institute of Technology at the beginning of last month, and it caused quite a stir! Could it be..."

Xiao Chongjun said tentatively, "Old Xu, could it be that the answer sheet that kid submitted was correct?"

Hearing this, Qian Wenbing's heart leaped into his throat.

This exceeded his understanding; he had never heard of such a thing. Yet, deep down, he desperately hoped Xu Dongguo would give an affirmative answer.

Xu Dongguo looked at Xiao Chongjun and said solemnly.

"Following the evaluations by Comrade Sun Yongguo, Comrade Zhang Gongnong, and Comrade Li Mingrui of the 335 Research Institute, Comrade Huang Ren of the National Defense Armaments Department, and Senior Colonel Zhang Zhaoxin of the Naval Equipment Demonstration and Research Center, the 956E core technology conquered by Su Dingping is absolutely flawless!"

They had all heard those names.

The fact that Xu Dongguo directly cited these individuals showed that the weight of Su Dingping's thesis was beyond doubt.

"No outside help?"

Xu Dongguo shook his head.

"Is there anything wrong with the kid himself?"

Xu Dongguo shook his head again.

The meeting hall fell into a brief, deathly silence.

Qian Wenbing and Xiao Chongjun could clearly feel their hearts pounding.

To outshine nine top military industry experts from the three major research institutes and lead the Navy out of a predicament single-handedly—such a person could no longer be called merely "talent"! Calling him a "genius" would not be an exaggeration in the slightest.

"At the time, Su Dingping said he could teach Sun Yongguo and the others in one or two months..."

"What? One or two months?"

"Considering the time was too tight, I gave him a three-month deadline."

"Three months?" Liu Huaming was highly dissatisfied.

Wasn't that pushing a talent into a corner? If three months weren't enough, how would he account for it?

That was the 956E!

Liu Huaming asked, "So, the dismantling of the 956E is related to this?"

"Yes and no. There is a small episode involved."

Xu Dongguo recounted the day Sun Yongguo took Su Dingping to tour the 956E.

When he heard that Su Dingping had merely taken a walk around and, through a comparison of measured data and technical derivations, discovered the problem with the 956E, Qian Wenbing was shaken to the core: "Truly?"

Xu Dongguo nodded. "That is why the 956E dismantling plan was initiated! After dismantling it, we indeed discovered that the Russians had left a 'hand' in the 956E!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Qian Wenbing and Xiao Chongjun were filled with shock.

A genius!

A true genius!

Xu Dongguo said to Liu Huaming, "Chief, due to the special circumstances and to avoid causing too much of a stir, I had to act unilaterally!"

"Comrade Dongguo, you did well! Special circumstances require special handling; your unilateral decision this time was correct."

Changing his tone, Liu Huaming continued.

"However, Comrade Dongguo, I must criticize you on one point! Three months—you were a bit too impatient! You cannot be so hasty with talent. You must give them sufficient authority and enough space to operate. Every extra layer of restraint adds another layer of concern!"

"Indeed, Old Xu, what you did was a bit unfair!" Xiao Chongjun was also dissatisfied.

Who treats a genius like that?

If it were at my Eastern Naval Base, I would treat him like royalty.

Qian Wenbing pressed further, "What about the 051B? What is his connection to the 051B?"

"Lyu Guangjun once took people from the 408 Research Institute to study under Su Dingping for half a month. They gained immense knowledge, and upon their return, they completed the second modification of the 051B!"

Hearing this, the hearts of Qian Wenbing and Xiao Chongjun trembled violently.

To achieve such results after only half a month of study?

It wasn't over; Xu Dongguo continued his previous topic.

"Furthermore, just the day before yesterday, I received news from Sun Yongguo: the 956E breakthrough was successful! Currently, it is estimated that they have reached the final stages of assembly!"

"A total of one and a half months! Comrade Su Dingping has exceeded the mission requirements!"

At this moment, even Liu Huaming was so shocked he was speechless.

He had thought that giving Su Dingping three months was a constraint on a genius that would affect his performance. He never expected—he never could have imagined...

This wasn't just a genius!

This was a treasure!

A treasure for our Navy!