Chapter 26

In the 1980s, the theme in China was peace and development, and the policy of reform and opening up. However, just as the Korean War brought about 156 aid projects from the Soviet Union, the relatively favorable external situation at the beginning of the reform and opening up was also a hard-won opportunity for the Chinese people, achieved through the sacrifices of the PLA soldiers.

Of course, this does not mean that everything China did was to please the United States. On the contrary, China would never start a war just to please the United States.

From China's perspective, we had another "socialist" partner who had received even more aid than Vietnam, and they indeed needed a severe lesson.

This ungrateful wolf was Annam (Vietnam).

Why did Annam need a severe lesson? Perhaps after thirty years, many people have forgotten this sealed history.

Annam's arrogance and conceit, which stemmed from their victory over the United States in the Vietnam War, was just an internal factor. The key was that they actually put their unrealistic fantasies into action.

In 1978, Annam brazenly invaded Cambodia, a fellow socialist country, attempting to shift the war wounds they had suffered onto their neighbor. Following the invasion of Cambodia and within Annam itself, they carried out large-scale anti-Chinese actions, brutally persecuting and expelling the Chinese who had helped them win the Vietnam War.

In addition, Annam made territorial claims on the land and sea borders with China, declaring that the Xisha Islands, Nansha Islands, and other islands would be part of their territory.

Thus, in 1979, the Sino-Vietnamese Self-Defense Counterattack began.

This conflict lasted from the last year of the 1970s to the first year of the 1990s. Throughout the 1980s, while China was undergoing reform and opening up, intense battles raged on the southern border.

Starting from 1984, the Sino-Vietnamese Self-Defense Counterattack entered its second phase, known as the Two Mountains Campaign. The Two Mountains Campaign referred to the concentrated operations to capture numerous positions controlled by the Vietnamese in Laoshan and Zheyinshan. It was named as such because troops from various military regions were rotated in and out from 1984 to 1989.

The reason Hu Wenhai could immediately guess that Heng Jianyun was about to go to the front was not because of any extraordinary foresight, but because he remembered something.

In his previous life, before he was reborn, during the summer after he graduated from high school and before he entered university.

What should have been a joyful time at home was overshadowed by an indelible gloom. The source of this negativity was Hu Jiefang, who should have been the happiest at the time.

It wasn't until after Hu Wenhai entered university that he learned from Xiao Yeqin about the situation at the time. Hu Jiefang's best friend and comrade from the 16th Army had been killed in the Two Mountains Campaign.

The time of his sacrifice was the week before Hu Wenhai took the college entrance exam.

After that, Hu Wenhai never saw this uncle named Heng Jianyun again, not even in the photos of his father Hu Jiefang's repeated reunions with his comrades.

Perhaps, maybe, possibly, it was this Heng Jianyun who was sacrificed...

Regardless of whether it was him or not, Hu Wenhai felt he could not ignore this. This was not about any interest or money; it was simply that a Chinese person could not stand by and watch a PLA soldier walk to his death.

However, from Heng Jianyun's and Hu Jiefang's perspective, they had no idea that Hu Wenhai had this foresight and attributed his behavior to his excellent observational skills.

"Wow, Old Hu, your son is great. I think he's naturally suited to be a reconnaissance soldier," Heng Jianyun said, surprised, and laughed heartily, "How about it, why don't you join my company?"

"Go away, my son is going to college, not to join the army and go to the front to hide in cat-ear caves," Hu Jiefang said with immense pride.

"Wenhai, what do you say, do you want to join the army or go to college?" Heng Jianyun ignored Hu Jiefang and playfully teased Hu Wenhai.

However, Hu Wenhai just smiled and did not respond to Heng Jianyun. He turned to Hu Jiefang, who was clearly already "drunk," and sighed, "Dad, since Uncle Heng is going to the front, do you remember the drone I told you about?"

Hu Wenhai's unexpected seriousness made Hu Jiefang pause. He searched his memory and finally recalled the topic they had discussed.

"You mean the simulation machine project at the factory? Can it be used in battle?" Hu Jiefang asked, puzzled.

"Not yet, but with the technology of the simulation machine as a foundation, I can quickly develop a front-line reconnaissance aircraft," Hu Wenhai explained. "The simulation machine is designed to mimic the performance of the J-7, which is quite awkward. But the basic principles are similar. By optimizing the airtime performance, reducing the size, and improving adaptability in harsh conditions, it can definitely be used in battle. Uncle Heng is a reconnaissance soldier. Why don't we let him see the operation of the simulation machine and judge whether it is suitable?"

"Simulation machine? Drone? What are these?" Heng Jianyun asked with interest, looking at Hu Jiefang. "Old Hu, didn't your factory transfer to local control? How come you still have military tasks?"

"Ah, this is a long story, all because of this kid's meddling," Hu Jiefang scratched his head, a bit proud and a bit humble. "This is a project we developed at Factory 501. It's hard to distinguish between military and civilian products. Come on, let me show you!"

Hu Jiefang himself was only half-knowledgeable about the simulation machine technology. He could handle mechanical technology, but the extensive electronic technology in the simulation machine was beyond him. Now that the simulation machine project was in the final testing phase, waiting for the expert group to come for acceptance, he was happy to delegate the work and take a hands-off approach.

"Let's go, we'll eat after we're done!"

Soldiers were indeed different; their efficiency was top-notch. Heng Jianyun, intrigued by what Hu Wenhai said, didn't even wait for the meal and dragged Hu Jiefang out the door.

The testing site for the simulation machine was quite far from the small canteen. It took them a while to get there. Before they even reached the site, Heng Jianyun exclaimed, "That's really the sound of a fighter jet's engine, but I can't tell what model it is. Old Hu, you guys at Factory 501 are now developing fighter jets?"

Turbojet engines, due to their efficiency and economy, were only used in high-performance fighters in China. As a reconnaissance company commander, Heng Jianyun's ears easily picked up the roar from the testing site.

"Ah, you'll see in a moment, it's not what you think," Hu Jiefang waved his hand, greeted the guard at the gate, and pushed open the large iron door.

"Hello, Director! Oh, isn't Hu Group Leader supposed to be back at school today? Not taking a day off?" The one who came to greet them was Shen Qianzhe, a recent graduate who had become a rising star in the technical team, receiving much admiration and guidance from the older generation.

This was due to her solid technical foundation, quick thinking, humility, and willingness to learn and work hard. She had become the most comprehensively skilled person in the technical team, second only to Hu Wenhai.

Now, with Hu Wenhai absent, she was the one in charge at the testing site.

Shen Qianzhe did not show any disrespect to Hu Wenhai, who was several years younger than her. They treated each other as equals and colleagues, and their relationship was very harmonious.

"Ah, I was planning to rest, but there was something at home, so I came to find my dad. But it just so happened that his comrade came, and I thought it might be beneficial to hear the military's opinion on the simulation machine project."

Hu Wenhai explained and then asked, "How did today's test go? Any improvements needed?"

Shen Qianzhe replied enthusiastically, "This morning's test found an issue with the horizontal control during the takeoff run. I optimized the takeoff guidance law, and now the requirements for the takeoff site have been significantly reduced!"

"Ha, good job!" Hu Wenhai was genuinely pleased with Shen Qianzhe. She grasped knowledge quickly and had a keen technical sense. Given time, she would surely have a bright future.

"Uncle Heng, look, this is our simulation machine," Hu Wenhai pointed to the J-7 on the runway, which was emitting exhaust.

"So small!" Heng Jianyun had seen the J-7 fighter before. As a company commander, he had attended military school in the 1980s, where he learned about all branches of the military, not just the army.

"The simulation machine is meant to simulate a real aircraft, but there is no one actually piloting it," Hu Wenhai explained. "The simulation machine is used for pilot training, but the pilots stay on the ground and operate it remotely. The control station is over there, fully mimicking the cockpit of a fighter jet."

The simulation machine control station, which was initially rudimentary and placed in the factory office meeting room, had now been fully designed and could be used outdoors, not just indoors.

A flight school instructor was currently sitting in the cockpit beside the runway, performing various operations as directed by the staff.

Curious, Heng Jianyun, at Hu Wenhai's gesture, leaned his head into the simulated cockpit.

Once he did, he couldn't take his eyes off it.

"Hey? This!"

He pointed to the CRT display in the cockpit, surprised, "There's a TV here, and it looks like..."

Before he could finish, Heng Jianyun realized that the screen was showing the view from the simulation machine's cockpit. Then, he seemed to understand something.

"This, this is great! It's really useful!"