182: Industrial survey: I was found right every time?

"The time hasn't come yet? When will it finally be time?"

Lu Shenwei still wanted to ask, but he heard the General on stage announce in a clear voice: "The Third Prize for the All-Army Scientific and Technological Progress Award has been presented. Next, we will present the Second Prize."

Upon hearing this, Xu Lei casually remarked: "Now you can sit back and relax. The Second Prize has nothing to do with your steel factory."

"Really? Then..."

Before Lu Shenwei could finish, he heard the General on stage announce loudly: "The report from a certain unit of the Navy Equipment Department regarding the aircraft carrier tractor from Julong Steel Factory has won the Second Prize for the All-Army Scientific and Technological Progress Award! Will Comrade Lu Shenwei, the representative of Julong Steel Factory, please come on stage to receive the award!"

WTF?

Before Lu Shenwei could say anything, the audience below erupted.

It's Julong Steel again? This has to be fake, right? Even the Weapon Group, which has the strongest military industrial capability in Dragon Xia, hasn't won four major awards in a single commendation ceremony.

Has Julong Steel mastered alien technology?

Lu Shenwei stood up, looking bewildered, thinking to himself: It's me again?

Is this industrial deep dive targeting our steel factory? Why am I being targeted every single time?

Lu Shenwei walked onto the stage to receive the award with trepidation, while the General presenting the award smiled warmly.

"Congratulations, it's a Second Prize!"

"Building national defense is our bounden duty!"

Lu Shenwei solemnly accepted the certificate and award, then bowed deeply to the audience.

An Air Force General whispered: "Since when did Julong Steel develop an aircraft carrier tractor?"

"I heard it was modified from the dragon cat miniature infantry fighting vehicle, but both the size and power have been increased significantly."

"So that's how it is. Understood."

"This time, Lu Shenwei is getting awards until his hands go soft. Impressive."

Lu Shenwei walked off the podium with trepidation and asked in a low voice: "What about the [Liuguang] stealth coating? It wouldn't be a Second Prize too, right?"

"Sit quietly and listen to what the General says in a moment," Xu Lei said mysteriously.

Still not saying anything at this point? He's certainly keeping his cool, Lu Shenwei muttered to himself.

Many leaders sitting around Lu Shenwei took out their name cards and held them in their hands, planning to hand them to Lu Shenwei as soon as the meeting ended to build a good relationship.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Julong Steel easily won four All-Army Scientific and Technological Progress Awards at once; most military research units probably can't even win one in several years.

If they manage to win a Third Prize after much difficulty, they would beat drums and gongs, hold a unit-wide commendation meeting, and grandly hang the medal in the most prominent place of the unit.

"Julong Steel has a very solid technical foundation; they can even manage an aircraft carrier tractor."

"It saves the country a lot of military expenditure. The tractor that the Eagle Country wanted to sell us last time cost 20 million USD per unit."

"That's why Julong Steel deserves this Second Prize."

"There's no helping it. Comparing people kills, comparing goods makes you want to throw them away. Julong Steel alone swept four major awards, while many of us here can only act as runners-up."

"Just being able to come to this occasion is already impressive; many units aren't even qualified to enter the venue."

While the audience discussed in low voices, the units that won the Second Prize went on stage one by one to receive their awards. They were: the Air Force's short-range Laser Cannon (3m) R&D technology, the Two Artillery's electromagnetic cannon feasibility analysis project, and the Army's individual powered armor project.

Photos of the equipment flashed across the big screen one by one. Lu Shenwei muttered: "How come the Laser Cannon developed by our Air Force can only shoot 3 meters?"

What's the use of 3 meters? It doesn't even shoot as far as the laser wood-cutting machine in our factory.

"3 meters is just a conservative figure," Xu Lei said casually.

A conservative figure? That makes sense. Given the cautious personality of the Air Force Equipment R&D Department, it must be that the standard attack distance is 3 meters, with an actual margin of error of 497 meters. Yes, that must be it.

Lu Shenwei thought happily, but little did he know that the development of the Laser Cannon was fraught with difficulties. The 3 meters reported by the Air Force was the maximum attack distance, and the actual effective attack distance was less than 2 meters.

"The Army's individual powered armor is interesting, but it looks quite crude," Lu Shenwei remarked casually.

In his impression, something that could be called individual powered armor, if not like the Praetor suit, should at least be like the mechanical exoskeleton worn by Tom Cruise in Edge of Tomorrow.

"The design is simple, but the load-bearing limit is extremely high. Don't underestimate the Army guys."

"By the way, why haven't I seen Chen Guang and the others?"

"They went on another mission. The Third Brother hasn't been behaving recently; I heard they are increasing troops in the Sibanhú area, wanting to cause trouble."

"Is the Third Brother that stubborn? Didn't they suffer a loss last time?"

"The Third Brother is a tough character who can take a mace with his skull; do you think they can learn their lesson?"

"That's true. This time, we must make them feel the pain."

As the Second Prize presentation concluded, the audience held their breath instantly.

The First Prize for the All-Army Scientific and Technological Progress Award is the highest honor in the Dragon Xia military industrial circle.

The General presenting the awards cleared his throat, held up the commendation document with both hands, and announced in a clear voice: "Next, we will present the First Prize for the All-Army Scientific and Technological Progress Award. Will the units whose names are read please come on stage to receive the awards."

"The new carbon fiber material (T100) from a certain unit of the Air Force Equipment Department has won the First Prize for the All-Army Scientific and Technological Progress Award. Will the winning unit please come on stage to receive the award."

Xu Lei slowly stood up and cast a "you need to keep it up" look at Lu Shenwei.

"Carbon fiber material? Impressive!" Lu Shenwei muttered to himself.

Xu Lei went on stage, accepted the honorary trophy with both hands, his excitement beyond words.

"The Air Force took the lead this year? Wasn't it said that the Navy had some fierce work too?"

"I don't get it, but the awards definitely won't be given out wrongly."

"The irregular trajectory missile research from a certain unit of the Two Artillery Equipment Department has won the First Prize for the All-Army Scientific and Technological Progress Award. Will the winning unit please come on stage to receive the award."

"The Two Artillery also produced some fierce work this year. Irregular missile movement, isn't that just a waverider?"

"Shh, keep your voice down. Many technologies are still in the confidential stage."

Lu Shenwei smiled and said: "Congratulations, Director Xu, it is well deserved."

"This is the credit of everyone's joint efforts. Our carbon fiber strength is still far from meeting the standards for fighter jet use; we still need to work hard," Xu Lei said.

Lu Shenwei nodded, thinking that Director Xu was quite humble.

"The new shipborne equipment technology from a certain unit of the Navy Equipment Department has won the First Prize for the All-Army Scientific and Technological Progress Award. Will the winning unit please receive the award after the meeting."

Huh? A certain unit of the Navy Equipment Department? New shipborne equipment technology? What exactly is it?

Where are Grandpa Niu and Tutu?

Just as Lu Shenwei was puzzled, he saw a blurry, glaring white image jump onto the big screen, with red text marked on it: Technology too advanced to be displayed.

As soon as the image appeared, the audience below erupted.

"Technology too advanced to be displayed? Did the Navy come up with some kind of super weapon?"

"The Navy has stolen the spotlight this time. This one study alone crushes the Air Force's."

"The Army big brother is crying in the bathroom holding his big broadsword, sob sob sob!"

"Stop saying that, my heart hurts!"

Seeing the commotion on stage, the host raised his hand and said: "Quiet! The award ceremony continues!"

Lu Shenwei whispered: "Director Xu, did you know about the Navy equipment in advance?"

"How could I have known in advance? But our Air Force's isn't bad either!"