As the representative from the machinery military factory openly voiced his doubts, the venue immediately erupted into commotion.
The Flame Nation military brass began whispering among themselves.
They were filled with confusion and concern, having long hoped that the Second Generation Main Battle Tank would be equipped with a more powerful 120mm Smoothbore Cannon.
Yet reality dealt them a heavy blow.
212 Machinery Military Factory's performance on this crucial project was extremely disappointing. Its 120mm Smoothbore Cannon project remained on paper to this day, with no progress whatsoever.
This situation left the military brass helpless and anxious.
They knew full well that time waited for no one. If this issue could not be resolved as soon as possible, it would severely affect the nation's military strength and strategic planning.
Still, 212 Machinery Military Factory could not really be blamed.
Without military funding, ensuring the project proceeded normally would be little more than a pipe dream.
Especially during the early days of Reform and Opening-Up, everything had to give way to the economy.
The Flame Nation military budget had been cut again and again.
Major third-tier military factories had all fallen into hardship.
212 Machinery Military Factory was no exception!
Even workers' wages and benefits were difficult to guarantee.
How could it possibly have spare funds to invest in research for a new 120mm Smoothbore Cannon project?
Being able to develop a 115mm Smoothbore Cannon was already incredibly impressive.
The 120mm Smoothbore Cannon project was still stuck at the planning stage, but as long as sufficient funding was invested, success would surely come soon.
Moreover, research on the Second Generation Main Battle Tank was not something that could be accomplished overnight.
Even under the smoothest conditions, the verification phase would likely take several years to complete.
It was especially worth emphasizing that the Second Generation Main Battle Tank design and development proposal put forward by 625 Machinery Military Factory was an entirely new concept, and many aspects needed to be re-evaluated from scratch.
Su Yiming, standing on the stage, naturally understood all of this.
He replied in an even tone, "Although the 120mm Smoothbore Cannon is unlikely to appear in the short term."
"The Second Generation Main Battle Tank will likewise require considerable time, from verification and testing to official rollout."
"I believe in 212 Machinery Military Factory's capabilities. As long as it is given sufficient funding, it will certainly be able to design and develop the 120mm Smoothbore Cannon."
Su Yiming spoke with great confidence.
Just as the machinery military factory representative was about to refute Su Yiming, Lin Chenran, seated in the last row, suddenly raised his hand, seemingly wanting to speak.
Seeing this, Old Wei's lips curled slightly upward. He nodded, signaling that Lin Chenran could speak.
After receiving permission, Lin Chenran stood and gave everyone present a deep bow.
Then, in a clear and resolute voice, he said, "Perhaps everyone is still unfamiliar with me, so please allow me to introduce myself first."
"I am the representative of 077 Machinery Military Factory. My name is Lin Chenran."
After Lin Chenran finished introducing himself, the entire venue instantly became lively as everyone began discussing him among themselves.
"So he's Lin Chenran, the director of 077 Machinery Military Factory!" someone said in surprise.
"What a promising young man!" another person praised.
"I heard the idea of converting the Type 59 Tank into a civilian engineering vehicle came from him."
Upon hearing this, Old Wei immediately waved his hand, signaling everyone to quiet down.
Sure enough, the conversations among the machinery military factory representatives gradually died away.
Lin Chenran continued, "If our Second Generation Main Battle Tank uses a 110mm or 115mm smoothbore cannon, then dreaming of reaching world-class standards in the tank field would be nothing but wishful thinking."
His tone was firm and grave, and everyone could not help falling into thought.
"Everyone should know that military powers such as the Bear and Eagle Country have long equipped their Main Battle Tanks with 125mm Smoothbore Cannons, and have used them for many years."
"Even some second-rate countries have already adopted 120mm smoothbore cannons. Are we still going to remain at the 110mm or 115mm smoothbore cannon stage?"
"That would be willingly choosing to fall behind."
Lin Chenran's words rang in everyone's ears like an alarm bell.
At this point, Old Zhu also stood up and voiced his agreement with Lin Chenran. "That's right. Although our nation's 120mm Smoothbore Cannon has not yet been successfully developed, with our scientific research capabilities, we will certainly achieve a breakthrough within a few years."
His resolute gaze swept across everyone present as he continued, "We cannot focus only on immediate interests. We must also look toward future development. Only by possessing advanced weapons and equipment can we ensure national security and the military's combat strength."
Old Zhu then revealed a piece of information. "The Second Generation Main Battle Tank from our 617 Machinery Military Factory will also mount a 120mm Smoothbore Cannon as its main weapon."
Although 617 Machinery Military Factory and 625 Machinery Military Factory were locked in fierce competition.
Right was right, and wrong was wrong.
They could not harm national interests simply because 617 Machinery Military Factory and 625 Machinery Military Factory were competitors.
Old Zhu was hailed as the "soul of Flame Nation's tank industry." With his outstanding wisdom and profound expertise, he was a legendary figure who had supported half the history of Flame Nation's tanks.
Every decision he made influenced the direction of Flame Nation's tank development.
When he now declared his support for using the 120mm Smoothbore Cannon as the main weapon of Flame Nation's second-generation tanks, the decision undoubtedly became the final verdict.
Sure enough, the representatives who had yet to introduce their own machinery military factories' second-generation tank design and development proposals immediately turned extremely ugly.
These representatives groaned inwardly. They had originally been brimming with confidence, ready to present their proposals to everyone.
But now they discovered that the Second Generation Main Battle Tank design and development proposals they had brought possessed no advantages whatsoever!
They had previously believed their proposals were far superior to the first two.
Although they also used 110mm or 115mm smoothbore cannons, they were superior in speed and armor protection.
Yet reality dealt them a crushing blow—any Second Generation Main Battle Tank design and development proposal without a 120mm Smoothbore Cannon was directly rejected outright by the Flame Nation military.
The conference room fell into dead silence. Only the second-generation tank design and development proposals from three machinery military factories survived.
These three fortunate factories were 625 Machinery Military Factory, which had just taken the stage; 617 Machinery Military Factory, to which Old Zhu belonged; and 077 Machinery Military Factory, where Lin Chenran, who had just strongly supported Su Yiming, was based.
Faced with such a situation, everyone looked at one another, unsure of what to do for a moment.
Some wore expressions of shock, seemingly unable to believe what had happened before their eyes;
Others frowned deeply, lost in thought;
Still others parted their lips, wanting to say something, only to choose silence in the end.
The entire conference room was permeated by a tense, oppressive atmosphere, as though a storm was about to break.
"This..."
"That..."
All sorts of exclamations and questions intertwined, making the already chaotic scene even more complicated.
077 Machinery Military Factory was actually this forward-thinking?
It had staked the main weapon of its second-generation tank on the "120mm Smoothbore Cannon."
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