141: Chapter 141 Garrison

Liu Yemei could clearly sense that after Miss Chen received her affirmative answer, her tone became noticeably lighter and more cheerful.

She knew this feeling very well.

It was like a child getting a beloved toy and having everyone agree and praise it; that feeling of being validated was beyond words.

At the same time, she was also certain that this young mistress must be cooking up another idea, and this idea would definitely shock everyone.

Just like always.

Huaxia, Jingdu, a certain Light Weapons Research Institute.

Liu Weiming was sitting in his office, carefully examining the blueprints on his desk, occasionally tracing lines with his pen and writing down a paragraph or two.

After a moment, seemingly feeling a bit tired, he took off his glasses, tossed them onto the desk, and rubbed his temples as he sat in his chair.

As the current chief designer of the institute, he had to personally review every design blueprint from the designers under him. This placed a heavy burden on him, leaving him with almost no spare energy to conduct his own research.

This couldn't go on.

The country hadn't put him in this position just to deal with these trivial matters. Although these design blueprints were very important and often contained flashes of inspiration that caught his eye, a design was ultimately just a design. There were still several major steps to take and multiple hurdles to overcome from design to actual use.

It seemed he had to find a way to delegate some of the workload.

Liu Weiming furrowed his brows in thought.

The Young Men needed to be utilized. Hadn't the institute just received a few people born in the post-85s and post-90s generations? He would have them participate in some of the more important design and research work.

Hmm... Project B883 would be very suitable. The principle was simple, and it was only stuck on the materials, and a breakthrough in materials was about to be achieved soon.

He couldn't let those other old fellows continue to take it easy either; they should also share his pain. How could it be acceptable for them to just shut themselves in their rooms and work behind closed doors?

He would have them join the key research group and continue to increase the research efforts on electromagnetic weapons. This was a key research project that the higher-ups had already urged them about several times.

However, regarding this project... those old fellows over at the Defense Department seemed to have taken the lead and achieved some results, actually succeeding in creating a finished product with a muzzle energy exceeding 1,000 joules.

Although this thing could currently only shoot soda cans and was less powerful than an old-fashioned rifle, it was still a major breakthrough, an important step forward, and held milestone significance.

If all went as expected, they should have a place in this year's year-end National Science and Technology Progress Award.

Liu Weiming sighed.

Envy wouldn't do any good. Who told those old fellows at the Defense Department to have access to certain secrets?

For example... the legendary finished product of a true electromagnetic weapon?

He really wanted to see what this kind of future weapon looked like.

As a researcher specializing in electromagnetics, just thinking about a mature weapon system launched using electromagnetic force made him tremble with excitement.

And what would bring him an even greater sense of achievement was... making this electromagnetic weapon come from his own hands!

As he was sighing with emotion, there was a knock on the office door.

"Come in."

Pushing the door open was a young researcher, leading a soldier in military uniform.

"Ah, it's Xiao Chu." Liu Weiming glanced over and smiled. "Is there something?"

"Director." Xiao Chu placed a confidential document on his desk. "The Defense Department has invited you to attend a research meeting. This is the transfer order."

A transfer order just to attend a meeting?

It wasn't a matter of national life and death, was it really that tense?

He waved his hand to dismiss Xiao Chu, but the man in uniform remained standing where he was. Liu Weiming didn't mind and opened the sealed bag—transfer orders that might involve secrets were usually on paper, with no electronic records kept. They were escorted by a dedicated person and opened by the designated personnel in their presence. They could not be copied or destroyed privately, to prevent leaks to the greatest extent possible.

The transfer order had only a few simple lines of text, but Liu Weiming's face darkened slightly.

He put the transfer order back into the sealed bag, tucked it into his inner pocket, and then pressed the intercom on his desk.

"Xiao Chu, prepare a car. I'm going to the Defense Department. Now."

At the same time, almost all the electromagnetic experts in Jingdu who were of sufficient rank received the same transfer order and made the same demand.

"To the Defense Department! Now!"

...

Jingdu Defense Department.

Captain Yang Gang leaned against the wall outside the meeting room hallway, looking utterly miserable. His grief-stricken expression was completely out of place with the solemn atmosphere around him.

Guards were already on duty around the meeting room, and outside the building where the meeting room was located, there was a sentry every three steps and a post every five, all fully armed with live ammunition.

He could only watch helplessly as researchers—some white-haired, some in a rush, some travel-worn, and some swift and decisive—rushed into the meeting room one after another.

And he, could only lean against the wall, watching quietly.

That's right, he couldn't enter the meeting room.

Even leaning against this wall was only because the guards saw his rank was decent, and out of consideration for his traveling through the night, they let him rest a bit. Otherwise, they would have kicked him out long ago.

While he was feeling dejected, a voice sounded in his ear.

"Why are you here?"

Captain Yang Gang looked up, suddenly startled, and stood up straight.

"Teacher, you're here too?"

Liu Weiming frowned. "I forgot, you're also part of the Defense Department now. But look at you now—neither like a proper soldier nor a proper researcher. What a disgrace."

Captain Yang Gang felt a bit wronged. Anyone who didn't rest in the middle of the night and traveled over a thousand kilometers by car would look like this.

Seeing him remain silent, Liu Weiming sighed. "Forget it, you and I haven't met in a long time. Wait here, and when I come out, we'll have a meal together."

Captain Yang Gang nodded repeatedly. Watching his teacher enter the meeting room, he slumped back into his dejected posture, leaning sideways against the wall.

Only a few minutes after he closed his eyes, a surprised female voice came over.

"Why are you here?"

Opening his eyes, sure enough, Zheng Yi's face, which he longed for day and night, was right in front of him, her brows currently furrowed.

To her, he was very casual.

Captain Yang Gang leaned against the wall, crossing his arms, and stated flatly, "As you can see, I'm not qualified to enter and have been kicked out."

"Mhm." Zheng Yi nodded flatly. He never behaved properly, so she wasn't surprised he was kicked out.

"Come with me," Zheng Yi said calmly, then turned and walked toward the meeting room.

Captain Yang Gang froze for a moment. What did she mean? He could enter the meeting room?

"Are you coming or not? If not, I'm going in first."

Looking at Zheng Yi, who had stopped not far from the meeting room, Captain Yang Gang finally reacted. He quickly rushed to her side, staring at her face with wonder, trying to find something different.

"Zheng Yi, you..."

"Don't misunderstand," Zheng Yi said calmly. "I just don't want you standing in the hallway being an eyesore and embarrassing our Defense Department."

With that, she stepped into the meeting room.

Captain Yang Gang rubbed his face, looked at Zheng Yi's back, and smiled.

Well... that was very Zheng Yi.