Volume 1: The Empire Awakens Chapter 26 Meeting a Good Friend (Part 1)
The full name of Qingdao Arsenal is: Imperial Navy Qingdao Liuting Weapons and Ammunition Factory.
The factory was founded by the famous Hu family of the empire more than 150 years ago. It was annexed during the First World War and managed by the Imperial Navy Logistics Command. It mainly produces weapons and ammunition for the navy and is one of the largest ammunition factories belonging to the Imperial Navy.
As the name suggests, this arsenal is not located in Qingdao city, but in Liuting Town, 20 kilometers away from Qingdao.
This is a small town close to Jiaozhou Bay with a population of about 5,000. Most of the residents are family members of the arsenal employees.
The arsenal is located in the northwest of the town, only about 500 meters away from the beach.
The factory adopts a fully military management system. All workers and staff can only go to reunite with their families before the last two days of each ten-day period. The rest of the time they eat and live within the factory.
The factory area, which covers more than 500 acres, is divided into several parts.
For example, near the southwest dock area is the storage and transportation center, to the north of the storage and transportation center is the chemical plant, to the east is the foundry workshop, and to the south is the experiment and testing center that Di Bowei visited this time.
The system of development and procurement of ammunition for the Imperial Navy's equipment differed from the corporate competition used by several Western powers.
When new equipment needs to be developed, the Equipment Technology Office under the Imperial Navy Command will be responsible for proposing performance requirements, and then major manufacturers will provide specific design plans.
Finally, the Imperial Navy Command will determine one or several solutions that are more reliable and can best meet the needs based on the solutions provided by various manufacturers, and then enter the experimental development stage.
After experimental development, the Navy Command will finalize and verify it. Once it fully meets the requirements, it will be allocated to various manufacturers for production based on past performance.
This system has natural drawbacks and flaws, but it is the basis for ensuring that the Imperial Navy has remained invincible for hundreds of years.
Tan Renhao is now involved in the final stage before it is finalized.
According to the principles of the Imperial Navy, before any new type of weapon is finalized, it must undergo rigorous testing, and large-scale production will only be carried out after all technical performance has fully met the standards set by the Navy (or the Navy has lowered the standards).
In order to ensure the authenticity of the test data, during this stage, the Navy Logistics Command and the troops that mainly propose research and development requirements will generally send personnel to the arsenal to supervise and provide assistance to engineering and technical personnel.
Relatively speaking, the treatment these military representatives received in the Bin factory was very good, especially for those soldiers who had lived in the army for a long time. They were able to live in luxurious hotels, enjoy very rich breakfasts, and comfortable soft mattresses, which made Tan Renhao extremely satisfied.
However, what he never expected was that he met Lei Shaoqing on the first day he arrived at the arsenal.
Lei Shaoqing came to .
Tan Renhao, who had just taken a shower and was preparing to go to bed early, went to the test and trial workshop to find the engineer in charge to understand the situation after daybreak. When he saw Lei Shaoqing standing outside the door, he was first very surprised, and then delighted.
"Why, you're not welcome?"
"Where, Shaoqing, why are you here too?"
Tan Renhao quickly opened the door and let Lei Shaoqing in.
After Lei Shaoqing put down the wine and food, the two friends hugged each other tightly and then started laughing.
Although they were separated for only over a month, for two childhood friends who had known each other since they were ten years old and had hardly ever been apart, it felt like ten years.
The two of them quickly served the wine and food. The daughter's red wine was secretly brought in by Lei Shaoqing, and Tan Renhao hadn't drunk this kind of "strong liquor" for a long time.
"This time I came to the arsenal to purchase ammunition and supplies."
After three rounds of drinks, Lei Shaoqing lit a cigarette according to his old habit.
"Aren't you on the operations staff of the Southwest Fleet?"
Tan Renhao frowned slightly.
"Yes, when I first went there, I was assigned to the Operations Staff. However, Third Uncle thought that I should be allowed to train in various departments, so that even if I don't go to the grassroots level, I will have a better chance of promotion."
Lei Shaoqing laughed awkwardly, "As a result, the first place I went to was the fleet logistics department. Not even a month after I arrived, I was sent here to purchase and inspect materials."
"Well, it's a good job, at least you can see Insomnia!"
Tan Renhao laughed, "But to be honest, your uncle's arrangement is definitely correct. If you don't have the opportunity to go to the grassroots level, you can only stay in the staff department, and you should familiarize yourself with . This will be very helpful for your promotion!"
"This is nothing compared to you. I heard that you are going to be promoted exceptionally?"
Lei Shaoqing laughed slyly, "Renhao, don't beat around the bush with me. I heard that you are very important to General Liao Hanxiang. How much do you know about the last confrontation exercise between the First Fleet and the Japanese?"
Tan Renhao frowned slightly, then laughed.
"What do I, a small staff officer, know? Besides, the Fifth Fleet didn't participate in the exercise. We didn't even get involved!"
The second half of Tan Renhao's sentence was not false, but he did not tell the complete truth.
"No way, this is a big deal."
Lei Shaoqing looked at his friend with some disbelief, "I heard that General Bei Yuming started to reorganize the First Fleet after he returned, and all the sea training of the First Fleet this year was cancelled. I have read the internal reference, but it is all whitewashing words. Can you tell me some news, did the First Fleet really win or lose?"
Tan Renhao smiled but said nothing. This was confidential information and according to the navy's internal requirements, he could not say anything.
"Just tell me a little bit. After all, we are good friends. Are you afraid that I will betray you?"
Tan Renhao smiled bitterly and changed the subject.
"How long will you stay this time? If we have time, let's go to Qingdao City. I heard there are some good seafood restaurants there."
Seeing that Tan Renhao refused to reveal the inside information, Lei Shaoqing did not ask any more questions. The military's confidentiality regulations were very strict. If he continued to ask, it would only make Tan Renhao feel embarrassed.
The two quickly talked about some of the things that had happened in the past month and their feelings about the troops they had chosen.
Of course, the most talked about topic is future development.
As a result, they took a short nap when it was almost dawn.
