Wang Ye hurriedly arrived at the entrance of the machinery factory. The people from the steel plant didn't deliver the goods into the factory area, perhaps because the strict security checks from the previous military factory had left them psychologically scarred.
"Hahaha! Little Director Wang, long time no see!"
"We've delivered the goods. Take your time to inspect them. If there's any problem, this will be our standard for future deliveries."
"If there are defective products, just come directly to me, no questions asked!"
At the entrance of the machinery factory, Wang Ye met Director Liu Hai from the steel plant. With his white hair and calloused hands, Director Liu Hai, obviously a former worker, looked excited, unlike the despondent figure from a few days ago.
"Alright! I'll make sure to inspect thoroughly!"
Regardless of whether Director Liu Hai was being courteous, Wang Ye intended to inspect rigorously. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Wang Ye waved his hand, and several young men approached with measuring tapes, calipers, silk threads, wooden sticks, triangles, protractors, and small hammers.
"The length is sufficient, with minimal deviation."
"The wall thickness of the pipes is even, with a roundness deviation of less than five thousandths."
"The curvature is normal, without stress expansion."
With Wang Ye's actions, the initially jovial Director Liu Hai and the others from the steel plant became inexplicably nervous. Wang Ye's professionalism was evident.
Finally, Wang Ye picked up a small hammer, made a hushing gesture, and tapped the pipe walls.
"Ding, ding, ding."
A crisp metallic sound echoed, clear and distinct. Wang Ye then tapped a few more spots, furrowing his brow as he listened intently. The steel plant's people couldn't help but feel anxious.
At last, Wang Ye smiled again, putting down the small hammer.
"Not bad! Not bad at all!"
"The steel plant truly lives up to its reputation as a former military component supplier."
"Both the processing level and the workers' skills are commendable!"
Upon hearing Wang Ye's praise, Director Liu Hai and his team breathed a sigh of relief. Director Liu Hai even wiped the sweat from his forehead and forced a smile.
"Of course! Director Wang, rest assured. We'll deliver according to this standard in the future."
"Now that the samples are fine, we'll take our leave."
After saying this, they hastily boarded the large truck with seven or eight workers and left with a rumble. Wang Ye also breathed a sigh of relief. It would have been troublesome if the steel plant had let its workers go after all these years of setbacks!
"Alright! Let's move them back carefully! Be cautious!"
"Whether we'll be eating lamb, pork, or salted fish and pickles in winter depends on this!"
As Wang Ye finished speaking, laughter erupted on the scene. Subsequently, a group of people carefully transported the twenty-two steel pipes back into the workshop. Inside the workshop, the head of production and a group of workers were already prepared!
"Let's begin!"
With Wang Ye's command, everyone started bustling about.
The design drawings for the rocket shells had been distributed to the heads of the technical and production departments two days prior. They had organized the workers for training and had even produced many components in advance, such as the tail fins and nozzles.
In fact, Wang Ye had designed two types of rocket shells.
The first type used tail fins for stabilization, similar to conventional missiles with four tail fins. The advantage was low cost, low manufacturing difficulty, and easier launch, requiring only a single mount.
The second type used spin stabilization and had to be launched from within a launch tube. Upon launch, the curved tile-shaped tail fins would spring out, and during flight, the rocket would spin to maintain stability. The advantage was longer range and higher accuracy, but the manufacturing difficulty and cost were slightly higher.
However, for the first batch, Wang Ye planned to deliver only the tail-fin type.
"Be careful! Ensure stable welding!"
"Yes, begin threading! That's it, slowly! Slowly!"
"Watch the angles! Angle precision is crucial!"
Inside the workshop, the head of production kept circulating, inspecting the entire production process.
Meanwhile, Wang Ye sat nearby, observing. He then asked the head of the technical department who was also watching:
"Director Xu, is our propellant being stirred up?"
Since the upcoming launch would be for the tail-fin type, Wang Ye planned to deliver only the shells, allowing the customers to fill them with propellant and explosive charges themselves. This, in a way, was tailored for General Basque's indigenous weapons program.
"It's currently being stirred up, won't delay."
Director Xu replied, and Wang Ye nodded in satisfaction.
"Make sure they pay attention to safety."
Director Xu earnestly nodded.
"I've reminded them, and besides, they were previously responsible for explosives. They know what they're doing."
Then Wang Ye turned to Li Baojun, a young man standing nearby.
"How's the site? Any progress?"
Unlike the gas cylinder test last time, the rocket shell test this time was on a much larger scale and required a larger area for safety reasons. So, Wang Ye and a group of young people had surveyed the entire mountainous area behind the factory and designated a specific area for this.
"The manpower has been dispatched, equipped with walkie-talkies, and there haven't been any issues reported yet."
"However, it might take some time to set up the cameras."
Wang Ye nodded approvingly at this response. Then he returned to his office to attend to his own tasks.
At two o'clock in the afternoon.
At the weapons test site behind the machinery factory, twenty launch platforms were already prepared. Ten platforms formed one group, and the metallic-colored rocket shells were already installed. They were connected to the launch point two hundred meters away via electrical igniters. The left group, Group A, had a higher launch angle, aimed at a target range ten kilometers away. The right group, Group B, had a lower launch angle, aimed at a mountain two kilometers away.
"Report to the director!"
"The products are ready, and testing can begin at any time!"
Li Baojun rushed over to report with a serious expression. For reasons of discretion and confidentiality, these young people didn't refer to the steel pipes as "rocket shells" but simply as "products," which seemed rather cool.
"Excellent. Group A for long-range is ready. Prepare for testing!"
"Make sure the cameras are working!"
With the reports from the nearby camera watchers and walkie-talkie updates, Wang Ye raised a red flag overhead and then waved his hand.
"Launch!"
As soon as the command was given, a young man guarding the igniters pressed the button!
"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!"
At that moment, flashes of fire erupted near the Group A launch platform. Black shapes soared into the sky, the thunderous roar reverberating, and huge tail flames swept up clouds of smoke!
"Damn! This is heavy firepower! That's some power!"
When all ten rockets in Group A had been launched, the head of production excitedly clapped his thighs. After all, the machinery factory had only produced light weapons and small-caliber mountain guns in the past, and they had never dealt with such large-scale equipment!
Soon, enthusiastic applause erupted on the scene!
At the same time, at the Guotou Mountain Air Force Radar Station more than thirty kilometers away, the radar screen in the radar room suddenly showed rapidly moving dots. Although the dots weren't moving toward the station, the on-duty soldier was bewildered!
After all, he had been stationed here for five years and had never encountered such a situation before!