Chapter 56: Is There Anyone More Pretentious Than You?

"Chief of Staff!"
"Academician Wei is here!"
The next day.
Qilin Theater Command.
The orderly walked into the office and reported in a loud voice.
Huang Han raised his head and thought carefully. He didn't know any Academicians named Wei, did he?
"Which Academician Wei?"
The orderly smiled. "You forgot? Academician Wei Xiu, the one who took down the F35 last time."
As soon as these words were spoken.
Huang Han was slightly stunned.
He certainly hadn't forgotten; in fact, it was etched deeply in his memory.
The key was that the title of Academician felt so unfamiliar.
Honestly speaking.
It was hard to associate that cunning rascal Wei Xiu with the title of Academician.
"Send him in. Oh, and have Zhang Mingrui come over as well."
The orderly acknowledged the order and promptly escorted Wei Xiu inside.
Huang Han had been sitting comfortably in his chair.
Upon second thought, however, he stood up to welcome Wei Xiu.
No matter what, Wei Xiu was no longer the wisecracking young man he used to be.
"Academician Wei, look at this, your presence brings great honor to my humble office."
"Trying to make me sick to my stomach, are you?" Wei Xiu didn't stand on ceremony.
"It's just that your rank is right up there now."
Wei Xiu waved his hand. "No matter how high the rank, I'm still the same old me. Besides, I'm here asking for a favor."
Hearing this, Huang Han felt relieved.
First, Wei Xiu hadn't changed.
He was still that casual-talking, pragmatic rascal.
Second, getting straight to the point and admitting he needed a favor made him feel even more at ease.
"What? Did your superiors give you a new mission?"
"Yes, it's almost about to be officially approved as a project." Wei Xiu nodded. "However, we've hit a bit of a small bottleneck right now."
"If there's anything I can help with, just say the word. It's my unshirkable duty."
Seeing Huang Han's attitude, Wei Xiu's heart settled.
He had to admit, General Huang was actually a pretty good guy.
Before he could even state his specific request, the man was already shouting his agreement.
Wasn't this the same as writing a blank check?
Thinking of this, Wei Xiu grew a bit bolder.
"What I'm working on right now is an applied project. To put it bluntly, it's modifications."
Huang Han nodded. "Isn't that your forte? When it comes to modifications, is there anyone in this world who can mod things better than you?"
"????"
Wei Xiu suspected Huang Han was insulting him, but he had no proof.
Jokes aside and banter aside.
Huang Han literally meant every word.
In this entire world, no one understood modifications better than Wei Xiu.
Ask him to repair a Hongqi sedan, and he'll rig you up a quantum radar.
Ask him to research a stealth coating, and he'll modify an elderly mobility scooter into an invisible vehicle.
He had to hand it to them!
Higher-level leaders truly possessed the eye for discerning pearls of great price.
Putting this kid in charge of modification projects was a match made in heaven.
"So what kind of problem did you run into?"
Wei Xiu rolled his eyes. "The so-called modifications must certainly be built upon a certain foundation of equipment, but my resources in that area are a bit thin."
"Hmm~" Huang Han shook his head repeatedly. "You are not thin on resources."
"Thin! I'm really thin!" Wei Xiu insisted on his premise. "So I want to borrow some equipment from you to take back and study."
The integration route was basically set.
Some of the materials Wei Xiu had, while others he didn't.
After much thought, he could only turn to the Qilin Theater Command for help.
Other things aside, at least Type 59 tanks were in endless supply here.
"If the theater command has a surplus, could you lend me a few 59s to take back?"
"Consider it done."
Huang Han nodded without even thinking.
If nothing else, Type 59s were available in abundance.
To be honest, several batches were decommissioned every year.
Huang Han himself was a bit bothered by how to dispose of them.
Seeing that Huang Han agreed without the slightest hesitation, Wei Xiu figured he had asked for too little and immediately upped the ante.
"I also need some infantry equipment, like howitzers and the like, older models are best."
"No problem."
Wei Xiu continued, "Then I also want a drone."
Huang Han raised a hand to stop him. "Just draw up a list later and hand it to Zhang Mingrui. I'll approve everything on the list."
When others came asking for equipment, he could be stingy.
Not with Wei Xiu, though.
Huang Han knew the weight Wei Xiu carried in the General's heart.
Just two days ago, citizens nationwide received text messages, and the 'Guardian of Sea and Land' mentioned in them was none other than him.
If he were to stall Wei Xiu here even a little bit—
If Wei Xiu made a petty complaint to the General, he wouldn't hear the end of it.
Taking ten thousand steps back.
No matter what project Wei Xiu was engaged in, the ultimate direct beneficiary would still be the Qilin Theater Command.
After all, those close to the water get the moonlight first.
His only curiosity now was: what on earth project was Wei Xiu working on?
He had rocketed up through the ranks and was now a candidate academician.
Prior to this,
the projects he had been involved in were all large-scale weapons and equipment modifications and research.
Logically speaking, this one shouldn't be small either.
"I can give you the items."
Huang Han looked shifty-eyed and lowered his voice.
"Give me a hint, what kind of project is this?"
Wei Xiu looked somewhat troubled. "How should I put it..."
Huang Han was sharp-witted.
Seeing Wei Xiu's troubled demeanor, it had to be a major project without a doubt.
Since major projects were strictly classified, it was inconvenient to discuss them directly.
So he beat around the bush. "I'm not asking you to violate confidentiality discipline; just give me a general idea."
Wei Xiu nodded. "It should be considered a civilian project, I suppose."
"Forget it if you're not going to tell me!"
Huang Han simply stopped asking.
If it was classified, then it was classified.
Using a civilian project to brush him off was just too fake, wasn't it?
If you're working on a civilian project, why would you need so many tanks and howitzers?
While they were talking, Zhang Mingrui arrived at the office upon instruction.
Huang Han gave up on asking further, pointed at Wei Xiu, and gave his orders to Zhang Mingrui.
"Minister Zhang, take Academician Wei down to look around."
"He has a project that requires our assistance. Let him see what specific items he needs."
"Arrange for logistics to deliver them to Academician Wei, and finally bring me the requisition slip. I'll just sign it!"
Upon seeing an old acquaintance, Zhang Mingrui wore an unstoppable smile. "Yes!"
As the two were about to leave the office.
Huang Han walked over to his desk.
"Wei Xiu, wait!"
"What is it?"
Huang Han pulled a book out of his drawer. "Even though you're an academician now, I still have to nag you: you need to read more books."
Hearing this, Zhang Mingrui secretly gave a thumbs-up in his heart.
The Chief of Staff truly cherished talent.
Although Wei Xiu's status was high now, his theoretical knowledge was still relatively weak.
Genius was genius, but post-event study remained indispensable.
Take military equipment, for example; there were many different schools of thought.
The Information-Firepower Integration school, the Firepower Supremacy school, the Area Denial school...
Each school had different preferences and biases, and their ultimate research guidelines varied as well.
"Well said. The Chief of Staff hopes you can accumulate more theoretical knowledge, synthesize it, and form your own school of thought and research guidelines."
Skeptical, Wei Xiu took the book handed over by Huang Han.
"Criminal Law?"
Huang Han nodded.
"Right. I can't control other people's research guidelines."
"But your research guideline is the Criminal Law!"
"I've already fished you out twice. I don't want to fish you out a third time."