A nation's industrial development begins with junior engineers.

Chapter 715 So that's how it is.

Spoiled?

Jiang Xia said that she had ridden in a similar carriage six months ago!

Although I don't know why I fell asleep halfway through the journey that time...

Compared to the one from six months ago, this carriage is at best... well, a slightly more fully equipped single room in later times? It's just that the space is definitely a bit too large...

He casually glanced at the interior of the carriage. Hmm, mahogany furniture, leather sofas, private bathroom… not bad. In later times, this would only be considered a slightly better sleeper compartment or business class, far inferior to those luxury hotel suites with floor-to-ceiling windows. The business class seats on the high-speed trains he traveled on business trips were much more comfortable than this.

Jiang Xia sank into the sofa in a relaxed manner, but his gaze was somewhat unfocused, his mind clearly not on the furnishings. This nonchalant attitude, even bordering on "it's just like that," caught the eye of Tang, the "Heavenly Killer," who couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"You kid, aren't you surprised? When I first came up here, I didn't dare sit down like this..."

“I’ve ridden in one before… This one is a bit more upscale than the previous one, but it’s still just so-so!” Jiang Xia waved his hand. “More than this, I’m bothered by how you parked… It was way too noisy! The last one I rode in was so smooth and steady, but this one…”

He paused, the word swirling around on his lips, sounding rather unpleasant—a slamming-to-the-ground braking maneuver!

The sound of the train braking reminded him of a video he had seen: it was when his chubby girl ran over to the husky's side and used a dive-landing tactic.

You should know that this landing method was a survival tactic the Russians devised after getting badly beaten up in the Graveyard of Empires.

In Beijing, the fact that this train made such a move was clearly because Company Commander Tang wanted to show the naive kid something, to give him some warning, and to give him a heads-up.

However, this preventative measure made Jiang Xia a little uneasy.

"Hmm...Is my trip going to be...not very peaceful?" Jiang Xia tossed out a cigarette and looked at Company Commander Tang: "Even someone like you has been sent out. I feel like I'm just...bait dangled out?"

"Ha! You've got it wrong. I'm just letting you get used to the noise beforehand." Company Commander Tang grinned, revealing a set of white teeth. "Really?"

"Uh...it's fake!"

Company Commander Tang's smile vanished. He glanced at Yang Youning, who was still exploring the carriage, clicking his tongue in amazement. He moved to sit next to Jiang Xia and lowered his voice, "Better safe than sorry. That bear up north is getting restless."

He pulled out a leather notebook he always carried with him, opened it, and found several blurry black and white photos inside. He then pushed it in front of Jiang Xia.

"The Russians have piled up twelve fully equipped divisions on the border!"

There were no fewer than two hundred combat aircraft flying in the sky!

On the banks of the Ussuri River, our diplomatic comrades attempted a normal crossing but were rudely turned away by their people! What's even more infuriating is that—they've already started provoking our border patrol personnel, just like they've been doing in the UK!

"And another thing!" Company Commander Tang pointed heavily at a photograph, where freshly turned soil and the outline of fortifications were vaguely visible. "They are digging and excavating along the riverbank, constructing a systematic forward position!"

Jiang Xia rubbed his chin, a long clump of cigarette ash accumulating between his fingers without flicking it off.

He remembered that last July, the Russians once again unilaterally tore up the Defense New Technology Agreement, breaking their promise and turning the debate between the two sides into an open one.

The relationship between the two sides had long been openly strained and on the verge of conflict. What Company Commander Tang showed was just the tip of the iceberg.

“I see…” Jiang Xia let out a long sigh and stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray on the table. “No wonder he completely overturned the original travel plans.”

Knowing the course of history, he understood that this war would not ultimately break out, but the people of this era did not know that!

The entire nation has likely sensed the impending conflict and is preparing for the worst. This pressure, like an impending storm, is truly weighing on everyone's mind.

"Therefore, we must seize every second!"

Jiang Xia's inner drive resurfaced.

Technological breakthroughs are the foundation for dealing with all threats! He suddenly looked up, "Company Commander Tang, I need to contact the Academy of Sciences right away! I don't know how the lithography machine project is progressing, and I'm always worried about it... A lot of things will depend on their breakthrough!"

"I'd like to go to the back of the vehicle and use the digital radio that's attached to the 'iron mule,' so I can keep you company..."

"No need for all that trouble!" Company Commander Tang interrupted him, a barely perceptible smile appearing on his face. "Do you think our special train is just for show? Running it onto a flatbed cart?"

Seeing Jiang Xia's slightly puzzled look, Company Commander Tang simply stood up and pointed to the red telephone on the mahogany table: "Look, if you want to make a call, just use this. We're already using that 'digital' thing you came up with... This phone is a direct line to the radio truck! If you need to contact someone, just tell the radio truck, and they'll handle the encrypted connection. You don't need to run around!"

"Huh? No way, it's already this high-end?"

"Ha! You little rascal... you think we're just running this one train car? Let me tell you, behind the 001 locomotive, the first car is the generator car! Then comes the radio communications car, and only then does this car come into play..."

"There are soft sleeper and hard sleeper berths ahead, as well as large and small stove cars... If you want to use your 'iron mule' radio, you'll probably have to travel through ten carriages..."

At this point, Company Commander Tang paused, then added, "Hey, it's good that you have fewer men around you, which means we can enjoy a soft sleeper berth..."

As Jiang Xia listened to Company Commander Tang's detailed and knowledgeable introduction, he belatedly began to understand what was going on!

This is no ordinary special train.

This is clearly a mobile steel fortress integrating command, communication, living quarters, and defense! A command node capable of high-speed mobility and independent operation in wartime!

"Who... is this intended for?"

"Ha, don't worry about that. Just make sure you arrive safely and evacuate safely..." Company Commander Tang pulled the bewildered Yang Youning towards the back of the carriage.

"Go make the call yourself. Don't worry, you're absolutely safe until we're all dead!"

"okay!"

When it came to business, Jiang Xia put the question of "who this special train actually belongs to" out of his mind and picked up the phone to ask the operator to contact the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

……

Company Commander Tang pulled Yang Youning out of the special carriage, and Yang Youning discovered that the carriage right behind them was actually a regular green train.

Old Wang, who had finished his work, was already standing next to a row of long wooden benches before him.

Old Wang pointed to the wooden chair and smiled at Company Commander Tang: "This carriage hasn't been changed? Do you still have the photo taken on this chair?"

Company Commander Tang laughed heartily, "Yeah! You know that guy's personality, he won't even change his socks when they have holes, so naturally he wouldn't waste them in a place like this... How could the photos be lost! You're a restless kid, I could tell back then!"

"Tch, if it weren't for me, you bunch of quiet types wouldn't have had the chance to take a picture with him!"

The two exchanged a smile.

"Hey, this kid is too spoiled... Giving him a hat wasn't enough, he even got a carriage..." Old Wang sat across from him on the long bench, reaching out to stroke the tabletop that had developed a patina, as if reminiscing about something.

"Yes, that's true, but he deserves it!"

"Hey, that's true..."