How could Lin Chenran possibly deceive a top military leader of Flame Nation like Old Wei?
Wouldn't that be like a birthday boy hanging himself—tired of living?
He wasn't an idiot!
After Lin Chenran confirmed it repeatedly, a burst of hearty laughter came from the other end of the phone. "Haha, good! Very good!"
"Making you the director of the 077 Machinery Military Factory was truly the wisest decision we ever made."
"From the Type 59 Civilian Engineering Vehicle at the beginning, to the later Second Generation Main Battle Tank, and now this Special Steel Material, everything has proven just how correct our original choice was."
Old Wei spoke with satisfaction.
Lin Chenran nodded inwardly. Just as I thought.
In fact, Lin Chenran had long wondered why he had been able to become the director of the 077 Machinery Military Factory.
Now, Old Wei's words had finally completely solved that mystery.
"You're the type who never comes calling without a reason. This call definitely isn't just to share good news with me, is it?"
"Go on, what else is it?"
Old Wei smiled as he guessed Lin Chenran's true purpose for calling.
Lin Chenran scratched his head awkwardly.
Seeing this, Song Xiyun quickly walked aside and laughed. He truly couldn't hold it in anymore.
That only made Lin Chenran even more embarrassed.
His toes could practically dig out a three-bedroom apartment.
When Old Wei on the other end of the line saw that Lin Chenran still hadn't answered, he impatiently urged, "Lin boy, do you have something to say or not? If not, I'll hang up and come to the 077 Machinery Military Factory myself to take a close look at the Special Steel Material you're making."
With that, he made as if to hang up.
The moment Lin Chenran heard that, he panicked and hurriedly shouted, "Don't, don't, don't, Old Wei! Please don't hang up yet!"
Old Wei secretly felt pleased. He knew this kid had something to ask of him, but he pretended to be impatient. "What is it now? Hurry up and say it!"
Lin Chenran quickly explained, "Old Wei, you're truly perceptive! I really do need your help with something, and only you can solve this matter."
Hearing that, Old Wei's lips curled upward slightly, and he secretly rejoiced. Hmph, I refuse to believe I can't tame this little monkey.
Still, he suppressed his smile and asked solemnly, "Oh? Is that so? Then tell me, what could possibly be something only I can help with?"
"Say it! If I can help, I definitely will!"
Lin Chenran went straight to the point. "Old Wei, I want to use a T-72 tank to test the Special Steel Material produced by our 077 Machinery Military Factory."
After firmly stating his intentions, he continued, "You also know that the main weapon of the Type 59 Tank is only a 100mm smoothbore gun. Its performance and power are relatively outdated."
"Our future second-generation Main Battle Tank will face fierce competition from Main Battle Tanks of every nation. Without detailed data to support us, how can we ensure that our tank will hold an advantage?"
"I heard that a few years ago, the military imported a T-72 tank from another country and handed it over to the 617 Machinery Military Factory for various measurements and reverse-engineering work."
At that point, Old Wei instantly understood!
Using a Type 59 Tank to test the Special Steel Material would make it difficult to prove its true strength, even if the Special Steel Material ultimately won.
After all, the Type 59 Tank was a product from before the 1950s, while they had now entered the 1980s.
As technology advanced at breakneck speed, military equipment was changing with each passing day.
If they used the outdated Type 59 Tank to test the Special Steel Material, the resulting data might not be accurate.
After all, the Type 59 Tank's performance had long since become extremely outdated.
Now that Lin Chenran proposed using a T-72 tank to go head-to-head with the Special Steel Material produced by the 077 Machinery Military Factory, there was nothing unreasonable about it!
Old Wei did not even need to think about it before deciding to strongly support the idea.
However, Old Wei did not know the current condition of that T-72 tank.
"Lin boy, your proposal is indeed good, but the problem is that I don't know whether the T-72 tank in the hands of the 617 Machinery Military Factory can still operate normally or fire armor-piercing rounds."
"After all, that tank has been sitting at the 617 Machinery Military Factory for several years. We'll have to ask them to find out its exact condition."
Old Wei first expressed his approval of Lin Chenran's idea, but he also poured cold water on it, reminding him not to be overly optimistic.
There was still uncertainty over whether that T-72 tank could drive normally and fire armor-piercing rounds.
"I know. I just want to try for it!"
Lin Chenran continued, "You need to be the one to speak up about this. After all, your influence is greater than ours."
"Although we have a good relationship with Old Zhu, the senior leadership at the 617 Machinery Military Factory isn't made up of Old Zhu alone!"
Lin Chenran took the opportunity to flatter him, saying that Old Wei still needed to step forward for this matter.
After all, people kept their true thoughts hidden, and no one knew what others might be thinking.
Lin Chenran also did not want to put Old Zhu in a difficult position.
If the military leadership directly notified the 617 Machinery Military Factory, then even if they had grievances, they could only swallow them.
Besides, that T-72 tank did not belong to the 617 Machinery Military Factory. It belonged to the Flame Nation military.
In order to better develop new tanks, the Flame Nation military had placed the T-72 tank at the 617 Machinery Military Factory for various dismantling and blueprinting efforts.
Old Wei instantly understood and smiled faintly. "You really never come calling without a reason. Every time, you bring me some mess to clean up."
"Now I finally understand why you didn't go to Old Man Lin. So you laid the trap here and waited for me to jump into one of your making."
Just as Lin Chenran wanted to explain, Old Wei's tone changed. "No problem. I'll contact the 617 Machinery Military Factory and have them try their best to get that T-72 tank working."
"If it truly can't be repaired, you'll have to think of another way."
Old Wei gave Lin Chenran a warning in advance.
"No problem. If that T-72 tank is really scrapped, I'll find another way to test the Special Steel Material we produced."
Seeing Old Wei agree to his request, Lin Chenran secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Then wait for my call!"
"If possible, I'll arrange for someone to deliver that T-72 tank to the test site at your 077 Machinery Military Factory."
"And I'll come to your 077 Machinery Military Factory in three days."
After Old Wei finished speaking, he hung up in an instant before Lin Chenran could react.
"Beep, beep, beep..."
Lin Chenran did not react for a moment.
Song Xiyun walked over from the side.
"Old Wei has agreed to our request and will come to our 077 Machinery Military Factory for a close inspection in three days."
"You should make the arrangements. A leader of his stature cannot be received carelessly."
Lin Chenran gently set down the receiver and then spoke to Song Xiyun.
"No problem. I know what to do!"
Song Xiyun then left the factory director's office to make all the necessary arrangements.
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