Chapter 11: Before the Restart, You Must Not Give Up!

Turgenev watched Zhang Gongnong’s retreating back, his expression shifting between light and shadow.

Reminiscing about the past? How could they possibly be reminiscing!

In the face of national interests, any old friendship was a lie.

He had intended to explain the stakes to Zhang Gongnong straightforwardly, emphasizing that mastering the core technology of the 956E was an impossible task, hoping to make the other party lose confidence and thereby facilitate the negotiations.

After all, selling a few tens of millions of dollars more was a significant income for the Russian military-industrial complex.

Who would have thought that Zhang Gongnong would use the atomic bomb incident from back then to fiercely refute him.

Years ago, when the Russian nuclear research experts withdrew, they burned a large amount of critical data and declared: "With our protection, you have no need to build one. Besides, even if you waste your whole lives, you won't be able to research it!"

As it turned out, only a few years later, China successfully tested its atomic bomb.

Now that Zhang Gongnong had brought up the old matter, Turgenev was naturally very displeased.

"Hmph! Zhang Gongnong, we shall see!"

Leaving the reception room, Zhang Gongnong headed straight for the Dean’s office.

At this moment, his heart was filled with confusion.

Why, for no good reason, were they pursuing the purchase of two more 956Es?

The original two 956Es had cost nearly 900 million USD, already far exceeding the market price. Now they weren't even pretending anymore; it was a blatant robbery!

1.8 billion USD—that was equivalent to 14.9 billion RMB. The entire naval budget for this year was only 8 billion!

If these 14.9 billion were dumped into this, how would the Navy develop? Where would the funds for development come from? They might as well just sit around with their four 956Es and celebrate the New Year.

Zhang Gongnong was burning with anxiety.

*Bang—*

He pushed the door open and shouted inside: "Dean Sun? Dean Sun!"

Dean Sun, who was hunched over his work, looked up and adjusted his reading glasses. Seeing who it was, he said, "Comrade Gongnong, I was just about to look for you."

Zhang Gongnong went straight to the point: "Dean Sun, when was the second purchase of the 956Es decided? Why didn't I hear a single word about it? 1.8 billion USD! Are you all crazy?"

"It happened just last month; the two sides are still discussing it! Our side certainly won't accept 1.8 billion USD."

Dean Sun offered an explanation.

"We already have two; why spend double the money to buy two more? It’s unnecessary! If we took that much money for research, we could..."

"Comrade Gongnong, this isn't something I can decide alone."

"Was it those two old geezers? Dean, you’re being foolish!"

Zhang Gongnong immediately thought of the other two institute deans.

He was a vice dean, and since he hadn't participated in the vote, this must have been decided by a vote among the three deans.

Dean Sun said in a low voice: "Of the three deans, two voted in favor. What else could I do besides abstain?"

"Dean, why didn't you dare to fight them? If you don't dare, I do! I have to give them a piece of my mind!"

As he spoke, Zhang Gongnong rolled up his sleeves and started to head out.

"Zhang Gongnong, come back! Don't think that just because you were a soldier for a few days, you can come in here and bark orders at me!" Dean Sun slammed the table and scolded.

Zhang Gongnong was desperate: "Dean, they are cutting off the path to our Navy's independent research and development!"

"Do you think I don't understand? But do you know that just two months ago, the fourth Kongō-class guided-missile destroyer of the Eastern Ocean officially entered production! By then, they will possess four complete Eight-Eight Fleets!"

Dean Sun’s tone was urgent.

"The people from the Eastern Ocean Maritime Self-Defense Force have declared they can annihilate our Navy in one hour! You are the one researching the 956E; you know the gap between non-modern warships and modernized ones! The 956E is already quite a bit worse than the Kongō-class! You know better than anyone how large the gap is between us and the Eastern Ocean Maritime Self-Defense Force! Without two more Sovremenny-class ships, what will the Navy use to protect the safety of our waters?"

"But..."

Zhang Gongnong was about to speak, but Dean Sun interrupted him.

"There is one more thing I must tell you! The 956E research project is suspended!"

"What! Such a massive project, and you're just suspending it like that?"

Zhang Gongnong stood frozen in place.

The two bombshells had left him completely stunned.

"Dean, you can't suspend it! We’ve finally made some progress; if we stop now, it will all be for nothing!"

Dean Sun sat in his chair and let out a heavy sigh.

"Our country needs money for everything right now. Mastering the 956E is difficult enough, and with the purchase of two more 956Es, there simply isn't enough military budget to support it."

"Dean, I don't understand. Right here in this office, under this red flag, you told us that we must develop modernized warships at any cost!"

"That's right, I said that."

"You led us in taking that oath."

"Yes, we took it together."

"What difficulty is there that we cannot overcome?"

"The 956E research program has been going on for seven months. Do you know that the three institutes have invested a total of 1.5 billion in military funds? How many departments had to have their budgets cut for this money? How many projects were halted because of it? And what was the result? 1.5 billion! If you threw that into the water, the ripples would be bigger than the progress we've made in seven months!"

Dean Sun’s expression was sorrowful.

"Do you know how hard it is for me every time I report our research progress to the superiors? Do you know how much I suffer inside every time the superiors look at me, hoping to hear good news?"

"Now it's fine, they want to buy! Fine, let them buy!"

Zhang Gongnong stumbled, nearly losing his footing.

The news was like a bolt from the blue; his heart was bleeding.

"Dean, it shouldn't be like this. We can do it."

His voice was hoarse. At this moment, it felt as if all his strength and drive had been drained away.

Dean Sun stood up, walked over to Zhang Gongnong, patted his shoulder, and said earnestly

"Comrade Gongnong, the organization will keep a few people on to continue the research, in preparation for a comeback. You are one of them! In the days to come, you will be a lonely lurker, waiting for us to get through this difficult period. Before we restart, you cannot give up."

"Then when can we restart?"

"I don't know! Promise me, before we restart, you cannot give up!"

Zhang Gongnong nodded heavily.

"Go back and rest for a few days. You've been tired enough over the last six months."

A shell-shocked Zhang Gongnong didn't even know how he had walked out of the office.

Standing in the sunlight, the glaring rays shone down on him, but they couldn't dispel the chill in his heart.

Zhang Gongnong looked around, suddenly not knowing where to go.

The belief he had held onto was gone, and he felt completely lost.

Just then, his phone rang.

He picked it up and saw it was Professor Li.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Professor Li lowered his voice.

"Old Zhang, come to Harbin Institute of Technology quickly, there’s a major discovery!"

"Old Li, I don't have the heart to deal with that right now. Do you know the project is suspen..."

"You're being foolish! If you don't come now, your protégé is going to be snatched away! Do you know your protégé... it's not convenient to talk on the phone, just hurry back."

"Old Li, I..."

"Zhang, shut your damn mouth! I’m giving you half an hour to get back here! If you’re even a second late, I’ll burn your laboratory to the ground when I get back!"