Chapter 161: Let the Facts Speak for Themselves

On the fourth day after Yang Hui and Director Bai had discussed their strategy, the investigative team from the Imperial Capital arrived at the base, weary from their journey. Leading the team was the seasoned Wu Lao, accompanied by a somewhat younger office director. Wu Lao’s presence at the base was self-explanatory—he was undoubtedly there to support the base. The other official, as introduced, was responsible for the national military standards and the formulation of scientific research guidelines.

Upon arrival, the group wore grim expressions and immediately demanded access to all development documents. Though this request was irritating, Director Bai cooperated, guiding the official to the archives. The real intent was to buy a few days, as the plan Yang Hui and Director Bai had devised still required some time to implement.

The investigative team scrutinized the design documents meticulously. Given enough time, they might even redo the entire design process themselves to obtain firsthand data for comparison—provided, of course, they possessed the scientific expertise. For three days, aside from basic necessities, the team remained entrenched in the archives. Their thoroughness was commendable.

Finally, the team leader emerged from the archive room, clutching thick files. His dark circles were startling, yet he appeared indifferent. “Director Bai, greetings. We have now thoroughly reviewed your development process. It is indisputable that your team did not follow the national design guidelines. We will proceed with a deeper investigation, and you must cooperate unconditionally.”

Unconditional cooperation was unavoidable. Within the system, when an investigative team from higher authorities arrives, no matter how capable one usually is, humility is necessary. Director Bai bore no great resistance; everything was arranged, and as long as no major slip-ups occurred now, the outcome was left to fate. The base had done all it could.

“No problem. I will cooperate fully during the investigation. But before that, I must say something important that I believe will benefit both parties in this inquiry.”

The team leader initially harbored considerable anger toward the Southwest Engine Factory’s reform. To be fair, revising design standards was not inherently impossible, but such changes must be guided by a central office. For a local research institute to alter standards privately was a major issue—it was essentially local authorities encroaching on central jurisdiction. Such matters rarely ended well.

This leader was from the central office responsible for revising standards and could naturally discern the quality of the base’s modifications. Yet sometimes, merit alone does not guarantee acceptance or praise.

“Speak freely. Our team must seek the opinions of the relevant personnel at your base—that is mandatory discipline.”

Director Bai handed over a folder. “Team Leader Zhang, this is the development schedule for our new engine. Given our airframe’s condition, the core engine development is largely complete. We will conduct the core engine’s full assembly test in the coming days. I believe the investigative team should observe the test results before making evaluations.”

Indeed, the base had entered a new phase in developing the new engine. Although the core engine’s full assembly test had not yet occurred, performance data on its components had been gathered. Analysis indicated no issues with proceeding to full core engine testing.

“Your new engine development is so fast—who would believe that? Even modifications of old engines don’t move this quickly. Now you say you’re conducting a full engine test within a year? What do you think you’re doing?”

It seemed Team Leader Zhang misunderstood Director Bai. There was a significant difference between a full engine test and a core engine test.

“Director Zhang, you’re mistaken. We are testing the core engine, which consists of... It is a gas generator, the engine’s most critical part. This approach is based on advanced engine development processes we have learned from international exchanges. This is our first time introducing it.”

The concept of a core engine was known, though Zhang, not a researcher, did not fully grasp it. However, since it was an advanced Western concept, he was curious to see what this core engine was all about.

“Very well. I suppose the core engine’s full assembly test is just days away. We will observe the results of your self-developed engine to ensure our investigation is thorough and credible.”

Up to this point, Team Leader Zhang remained skeptical about the new core engine. If engine development were so straightforward, why hadn’t the country yet produced a satisfactory engine?

While Zhang lacked technical understanding of the core engine, Wu Lao, also part of the team, fully understood its significance. Hearing Director Bai mention the core engine test, Wu Lao recognized Bai’s strategy in dealing with the investigators. The timing was well chosen. Had the base followed the old engine development process of the Republic era, they would have nothing to show. But with the new process and the core engine concept, they had a tangible achievement.

If the core engine truly performed well, it would mark a turning point in the controversy over the base’s deviation from national design standards. Relieved, Wu Lao decided to set aside his own prepared plan, which was not entirely suitable anyway.

The investigative team agreed to first observe the core engine test results, and the situation began to improve. Director Bai proceeded with preparations for the core engine test. Preparations were far from simple—the fuel alone kept the testing center occupied for some time.

Assembling the core engine was simpler than assembling the entire engine, but the compressor assembly still demanded skill. Fortunately, the current director of Liyang Factory, who also served as Director Bai, could easily allocate skilled workers for assembly.

Currently, the compressor blades were produced using old techniques; assembling them in groups was a reluctant compromise. This was tolerable during testing but would pose difficulties in mass production.

Fortunately, the base had arranged to import processing equipment from Britain to upgrade the critical machining capabilities of Liyang Factory. In the 1980s, importing Western precision machinery was challenging and expensive, but acquiring such equipment was itself a victory.

Once assembled, the core engine already bore the unmistakable character of an engine. While it lacked the intricate, concealed piping visible on a full engine’s casing, the essential interfaces were precisely in place.

The core engine was transported from Liyang Factory to the testing center, which was adequately equipped for core engine testing.

The core engine was fixed to the test stand but not yet connected to fuel lines. Introducing fuel into the combustion chamber required basic piping arrangements. Testing on the stand was simpler than for a complete engine, as volume constraints were less stringent. The main requirement was to ensure fuel supply stability during the core engine’s operation.

Of course, the core engine test also required proper airflow. Without the low-pressure compressor’s pre-compression, special designs were needed to pre-compress the airflow. Fortunately, the testing center could resolve these issues. The staff worked overtime, and the center finally became bustling with activity.

To ensure the test would proceed smoothly when the investigative team attended, the testing center conducted preliminary runs. The results gave the team confidence.

Whenever key figures attend inaugural tests—be it for engines, flights, or voyages—it is customary to conduct secret preliminary tests. These unwritten rules mean that “first tests” are often just formalities. (To be continued.)