The military-industrial scientific research system of the academic master.

The French broke out with unprecedented efficiency.

On the last day before the new millennium, an IL-76 transport aircraft from the Volga-Dnepr Company, carrying a French technical team and other requirements specified in the agreement, set off from Paris and passed through St. Petersburg and IL. Kucik made two stops and arrived in Shengjing.

After the previous negotiation that destroyed people's mentality, Snecma has basically entered a state of breaking the pot.

The most obvious evidence is that what they packaged and sent was not only an M88-2 engine that was still in prototype state, but also a lot of technical data and development files that had been retained during the previous research and development process.

Those who didn't know it thought they were coming to support the construction of China's aviation industry.

Even Chang Haonan, who arrived in Shengjing temporarily to lead a team to pick up the plane, couldn't hold back when he saw the goods being shipped out one after another from the cabin.

"Mr. Chang, you believe me."

In the late winter of the twelfth lunar month, Liu Yongquan wore a dog-skin hat, and long white mist rose from his mouth when he spoke:

"During the negotiations a few days ago, I really told them that I know they are in a hurry, but don't worry, as long as the prototype and related materials can be delivered before the middle of next year."

"But they didn't listen. The delegation here hadn't even returned yet. They had already booked the plane and asked us when it would be convenient for the handover..."

"That's all I have to say. I can only say that I can do it at any time, so..."

Chang Haonan's original plan was to wait for the turbofan 10 to come to an end, and then select some of the liberated personnel to be responsible for helping the French modify the M88.

And considering that the opponent does give a lot, this improvement can be made a little deeper.

Otherwise, it would be too difficult for a turbine front temperature to match a fourth-generation aircraft engine model with a thrust of only 7.5 tons.

But now this has obviously disrupted the rhythm.

After all, the other party came here with sincerity, and he couldn't let them wait.

"It's okay, it's my fault too."

Chang Haonan looked at the staff who were unloading cargo from the cabin and sighed:

"What I told you may indeed be a bit too strong..."

"Oh... don't say that either."

When talking about this, Liu Yongquan's tone suddenly became cheerful:

"It's a pity that you weren't there at the time and didn't see the expression on the face of the Frenchman opposite me when I finished reading those words... To be honest, this is the first time I've seen a white person's face be so white..."

Chang Haonan glanced sideways for a moment, glanced at Liu Yongquan's expression, and decided not to disturb the other person's happy memories.

After a few minutes, the latter finally tightened his expression again:

"Mr. Chang, do you think I should continue to follow up on the work on the Turbofan 10, or should I start working on the M88 now?"

Chang Haonan had previously said that Liu Yongquan would be responsible for improving the M88, but at that time he did not expect the progress to be so fast.

"You are the deputy chief engineer. No matter in terms of administration or technology, you have to follow up until the technology is finalized."

Chang Haonan said and kicked his hands into his sleeves:

"There is no need to worry about the M88. I estimate that after the negotiations are over, Snecma will be testing hard in China whether cracks will occur after 1000-1500 cycles after overhaul."

"I will first find some comrades who have basically completed their work and go over to delay for a while. After they have found the problem, it will still be in time for us to start making serious improvements."

"so……"

Liu Yong showed his full face:

"So that problem really exists?"

Chang Haonan nodded:

"Of course, will I still be able to deceive you..."

"hiss……"

Liu Yongquan thought it made sense, but he still felt that it was a bit outrageous for a plot like Zhuge Liang's nature to happen around him.

"Then this kind of design flaw is probably related to the production process, which is not our strength. I'm afraid it won't be easy to modify it..."

Unexpectedly, Chang Haonan waved his hand:

"Don't think too complicated, it's not a design flaw at all."

"what?"

Looking at the stunned Liu Yongquan, Chang Haonan explained:

"If it's really a design flaw, I've never even seen their engine. How could I know so clearly..."

"The actual reason is that I checked the files of the time when we cooperated with the French and found that during the reassembly process of the Snecma Group after the overhaul, in order to ensure the alignment of the turbine disc and the shaft, the wheel disc hole was Marking with electrochemical migration.”

"Originally, there is nothing wrong with this method. It has been used in the aviation industry for more than ten years. However, in order to increase the temperature in front of the turbine, the M88 has a new hot end coating. When marking, arcing will be caused and small defects will be produced. , and if it works for thousands of cycles under harsh working conditions, it will definitely expand into cracks..."

"so……"

Liu Yongquan's expression at this time was very exciting:

"Actually, it's not a problem with the engine itself at all?"

"No."

Chang Haonan replied simply and neatly:

"Effectively, it's just a matter of replacing the electrochemical label with a traditional washable fluorophore."

"..."

The corners of Liu Yongquan's mouth twitched:

"I suddenly felt... the price I proposed during the negotiations a few days ago seemed a bit too dark..."

Although I don't feel guilty about making money from foreigners, it still feels a bit weird.

At this time, Chang Haonan suddenly couldn't hold it in anymore and lowered his head and laughed.

"Uh...what are you laughing at?"

"It's nothing, I remembered something happy."

"What happy thing?"

"I suddenly remembered a story I had heard before. It said that a foreign engineer was invited to a factory in our country to repair a machine. After he arrived at the site, he walked around the machine and then hit a place with a hammer. , and then charge $1 for opening an order.”

"Uh...then what?"

"Then the factory manager questioned why it cost so much for one knock, and the other party replied that it was one dollar per knock, but if you knew where to knock, you would be charged $9999."

Chang Haonan finally stopped smiling:

"I think we can ask DoubleTree to write a reverse version this time. The French will charge one euro to change the marking method, but I know why they charge 9999 euros to change the marking..."

"puff……"

Liu Yongquan didn't hold back when he heard this...

……

Also on this day.

North coast of the Black Sea.

Nikolayev Shipyard.

As the pilot ship sounded a loud whistle, the Varyag, which had completed unmooring, slowly left the outfitting dock where it had been berthed for more than ten years, driven by three push boats and two tug boats.

At the forefront is the tugboat Nikolai Chikel hired by Lutron Group from the Russian Navy. After leaving the port area, it will be responsible for towing the giant ship behind it all the way to the distant east.

In the cab of the tugboat, Zhu Yuzhou, the Chinese representative in charge of the return mission, was looking seriously at the sailing plan drawn up in front of him.

Since the Suez Canal Authority has explicitly refused the Varyag to pass through the canal, they had no choice but to choose to detour from the Cape of Good Hope at the southernmost tip of Africa, adding 6500 nautical miles to the voyage. The sea conditions near the Cape of Good Hope are complicated, which also means greater risks for an unpowered ship.

Of course, no matter what, this is at least a solution.

What worries Zhu Yuzhou even more is the Bosporus that he will face in a few days.

Unlike the Suez Canal, where there are alternatives, there is no way around it.

The good news is that Türkiye did not explicitly deny passage to the tug fleet, as Egypt did.

The bad news is, they didn't explicitly agree either.

In fact, according to internationally accepted navigation rules, since the Varyag at this time obviously cannot be regarded as a "warship", its entry and exit into the Black Sea should not be restricted.

This is also the main reason why Luchuang Group chose to let the fleet set sail as soon as possible.

But Zhu Yuzhou, who has been living at sea all year round, understands that the actual situation is not that simple——

Legally speaking, the Varyag obviously cannot be regarded as a "merchant ship" with immunity stipulated in the Montreux Convention, and China is not a Black Sea coastal country. If Turkey really wants to refuse passage, it will definitely find a reason.

From a practical perspective, things like international navigation rules are often not easy to apply.

For example, the Suez Strait can deny you passage even without any reason.

It is obvious that someone is making trouble in this later part.

However, for Zhu Yuzhou, the person in charge of the scene, there is nothing he can do no matter how worried he is.

There is only one way to deal with it.

Since Hijikata's attitude is ambiguous, it means that he is not really trying to block you, but wants to negotiate terms.

As for how to talk about it specifically...

That's not something he can control.

Meanwhile, the shore.

An old man with gray hair and a slightly stooped figure stood on a watchtower, watching the Varyag's mast disappear little by little at the end of the line of sight.

Yuri Ivanovich Makarov.

The previous director of the Black Sea Shipyard.

"In the end, they are all gone..."

He blinked his slightly cloudy eyes, and his eyes seemed to travel through time and space, seeing the grand occasion of three aircraft carriers being built here at the same time 10 years ago.

But now, people and things have changed, and all that is left in the shipyard is dilapidation and desolation.

"Yuri Ivanovich, what has happened is that it is not necessarily a bad thing."

Behind him, Valery Babich sighed softly, gently held the old factory director's arm, and prepared to take him away from here:

"Instead of letting this ship soak in the sea water and completely rot, it is better to let it go somewhere else and continue to complete the mission of the year."

Makarov sighed softly.

How could he not know this truth?

But when people get old, they will always think about the past.

He couldn't help but imagine what it would be like if the alliance had not disintegrated, and all three aircraft carriers were put into service.

"Actually, I think you should consider going to China with us."

Babbage supported Makarov and slowly walked down the observation tower along the rusty iron circular staircase:

"At least over there, you should be able to see the day the ship is finished."

The first two batches of shipyard employees who joined the Friendship Plan have already arrived in China with their families.

Originally, Babbage should have been on the first batch of lists.

But he insisted on waiting until the Varyag left port before leaving, so he stayed until today.

"never mind……"

Makarov replied softly:

"I'm old, my body is no longer good, and I can't play any role. Even if I go, it's just a decoration..."

Having said this, he turned back again, looked at the empty skyline, and then looked at Babbage beside him:

"Valery Vasilyevich, let you continue the work we didn't finish back then..."