Forged in the fires of war: The Qi family's generals rewrite the fate of eastern Hebei.

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Fang Zhenhua told the Type 90 tank development team about the situation without hesitation. At this moment, he fully demonstrated what it means to be a client and push them to the limit.

The Type 90 tank development team worked day and night, and finally, in early February of 1991, they completed the prototype.

Without any delay, the prototype entered the testing phase.

First, we went to the cold regions of Northeast China, then to the deserts of Northwest China, the plateaus and jungles of Southwest China, and finally to the humid and hot environment of South China.

After six months of testing, the prototype of the Type 90 tank passed all tests successfully.

At this point, it also means that this transitional third-generation main battle tank has been officially completed.

Because of the foundation laid by Project 188, the progress of this tank has been so rapid.

As for domestically produced main battle tanks, they are still being developed slowly.

However, the Type 90 provided a lot of inspiration for domestically produced main battle tanks, which even lengthened the development process.

Fang Zhenhua had given up hope for the Type 99 tank. He knew that, at least during his time as the commander of the DA Division, this tank would definitely not be produced.

Hopefully, the Big 99 can be successfully developed before the new millennium arrives!

Regarding the Type 90 main battle tank, the DA Division immediately reported to headquarters, requesting that it be put into production. Their armored battalion needed a regiment of the new heavy tanks.

At this time, Fang Zhenhua had returned to the DA Division headquarters. He had already prepared all the preliminary tasks, and the DA Division would now have to devote itself to rigorous training.

For them, there are only two and a half years left. In these two and a half years, ensuring that the DA division can quickly form combat power is still a very high challenge.

It was at this time that Fang Zhenhua received some good news from headquarters.

The space agency recently launched several satellites, including a military reconnaissance satellite, a military meteorological satellite, a military communications satellite, and a military geodetic satellite, which will provide some assistance to the DA division.

However, the higher-ups also know that these few satellites can provide some assistance, but this assistance is far from enough.

Therefore, one of the important tasks for the military going forward is to vigorously develop the satellite program.

Among them, military navigation and positioning satellites have been officially put on the headquarters' agenda.

Fang Zhenhua was naturally very pleased with this.

With the help of these satellite systems, his operational network can take shape.

Although it's not quite complete yet, Fang Zhenhua decided to cook whatever dishes he had in his pot.

The computer science whizzes in the Information Brigade finally had a chance to put their skills to good use.

Fang Zhenhua hopes that they can use that military communications satellite to create a military communications network system.

Fang Zhenhua also gave this military communication network system a very nice name: "Tian Er" (Heavenly Ear).

The purpose of the Sky Ear System is to help soldiers of the DA Division to grasp the actual situation on the battlefield more promptly.

It also allows for faster tactical deployment.

Fang Zhenhua knew that building the Tian'er system would not be a matter of a day or two, but many things, although requiring a lot of time, did not mean that he would not do them.

Chapter 130 Celestial Ear System

DA Division, Information Brigade.

At this critical moment, the leaders of the DA Division Party Committee, including Division Commander Fang Zhenhua, Political Commissar Liu Xudong, Deputy Division Commanders Liang Sanxi and Yue Jun, came to the Information Brigade.

When these division leaders entered the information brigade, they were immediately given a warm welcome.

Apart from Division Commander Fang Zhenhua, he had met all the other division leaders and soldiers of the Information Brigade.

Fang Zhenhua was the only exception, because after the soldiers of the Information Brigade joined the army, Fang Zhenhua was always running around outside.

Even though Deputy Division Commander Liang Sanxi returned to his unit, Fang Zhenhua went on to participate in the testing phase of the Type 90 tank.

So this was the first time the soldiers of the Information Brigade had met their division commander.

Liu Xudong, the political commissar of the DA division, gathered these dozens of computer science students together and then took the initiative to introduce them.

"Comrades, next I'm going to introduce someone to you with great respect."

He then turned his gaze to Fang Zhenhua and continued speaking.

"This is Comrade Fang Zhenhua, the division commander of our DA division. He has just returned from out of town and is eager to meet everyone. Now, let's invite him to give a speech."

Everyone burst into enthusiastic applause. Under the watchful eyes of the division's Party Committee and all the soldiers of the Information Brigade, Fang Zhenhua stepped forward to the front of the crowd.

He smiled, looked at everyone, nodded, and then said solemnly.

"I know you are all top students, and some of you are even PhDs, which is incredible! I'm not afraid to admit it, but I only graduated from high school. If I hadn't gone to military academy, I probably wouldn't even be considered an undergraduate."

Upon hearing Fang Zhenhua's words, the soldiers of the Information Brigade smiled.

"It is precisely because I myself did not get into university that I realize how valuable you graduates from top universities, especially those who are top students in computer science, are."

"Your willingness to give up everything to join the army and participate in national defense construction is truly commendable."

"On behalf of all the comrades of the Party Committee of DA Division, I would like to extend a warm welcome and heartfelt thanks to you all."

After speaking, Fang Zhenhua gave a solemn military salute to all the soldiers of the Information Brigade.

At this moment, even more enthusiastic applause rang out.

“I think it’s not appropriate for me to be the only one to speak at this time. I also want to hear everyone’s thoughts. Comrade Tang Yulong, you are a doctoral student. Why don’t you step forward and share your thoughts this time?”

Tang Yulong, wearing glasses, was the most educated among all the soldiers. He stepped forward and spoke.

"Computer science will become the most popular major in the 21st century, which may mean more money and a better future for us."

"But when the troops came to our school, I did not hesitate at all and resolutely chose to join the army because I knew very well that my country needed me."

"More than 40 years ago, a large number of older generation scientists broke through foreign blockades and resolutely returned to China to dedicate their lives to the poor and backward motherland and devote themselves to the country's scientific research."

"As the younger generation, we must carry on the torch of our revolutionary predecessors and continue to contribute to the country's development."

"I don't know anything else. I can't build tanks, missiles, or airplanes. All I know is computers."

"Therefore, I want to contribute to the national defense cause by starting from my area of ​​expertise."

After Tang Yulong finished speaking.

The applause grew even louder, and at that moment, Fang Zhenhua continued his words.

"I would give the highest praise to what Comrade Tang Yulong said. If every top student could be like Comrade Tang Yulong and like everyone else, we could contribute to the construction of our motherland."

"Then I believe that our country will definitely have better development, and only when the country develops well can people's lives become better."

"At the same time, as the country develops, the military will have more funding to build up. This is a complementary issue, and neither can be neglected."

"I know you are all high achievers, so I hope you can combine what you have learned with your knowledge. I can assure you that in the time to come, DA will give you a full opportunity to showcase your talents."

"We will provide everyone with a stable platform and a huge stage for you to fully showcase your intelligence and talents. At the same time, in order to give you some training, I would like to make a request to you."

"Our DA division will next work closely with military communication satellites to create a military communication network using computer information technology."

"I gave this military communications network a nice name: Tian Er (Heavenly Ear)."

"My requirement for the Tian'er communication system is that it can be integrated with computer networks to facilitate frontline soldiers to keep abreast of the situation on the battlefield, and also to facilitate our command to promptly convey tactical deployments."

"Timeliness and efficiency are my two biggest requirements for the Tianer system at present."

After Fang Zhenhua finished speaking, Tang Yulong immediately asked.

"Commander, to build the Sky Ear system you mentioned, we absolutely need the support of military communication satellites. I'd like to know if such support is sufficient?"

Tang Yulong, as expected of a doctoral student, asked the crux of the problem in one sentence.

Fang Zhenhua glanced at him and then spoke the truth.

"Our satellite technology still needs further development, but satellites will be a key project for the military going forward, so you don't need to worry about that."

"My request is to combine the existing methods and technologies to develop the Tian'er system. We can call the current Tian'er system version 1.0."

"With the advancement of technology, the Tian'er system can also be updated and upgraded to versions 2.0 and 3.0."

For these soldiers in the information brigade, there is some information that does not need to be kept secret.

Because these soldiers are needed to make things, we cannot hide anything from them.

Keeping secret for the sake of secrecy can actually have a greater impact on the mission.

After hearing Fang Zhenhua's words, Tang Yulong spoke directly.

"With the help of colleagues in the satellite field, and by combining satellite communication technology, we might be able to create an initial version of the Tian'er system."

This surprised and delighted Fang Zhenhua.

"Are you sure?"

"While I can't say I'm absolutely certain, the feasibility is quite high."

Chapter 131 The Fully Equipped DA Master

After Tang Yulong shared his ideas, Fang Zhenhua immediately instructed Lei Kaihua to establish a Tian'er Project research and development team within the Information Brigade.

The research and development team was led by Lei Kaihua, the captain of the Information Brigade, and Tang Yulong, the only doctoral student in the Information Brigade, served as the deputy leader of the research and development team.

Although Fang Zhenhua did not set a deadline for them, he told them directly that they must set up the Tian'er Project as quickly as possible.

Because for DA masters, their time is really running out.

After inspecting the Information Brigade, Fang Zhenhua's work became routine.

Two months passed in this way, at which point Liang Sanxi suddenly reported to him.

The first batch of Type 90 main battle tanks arrived from Jiuyuan. The first batch consisted of 24 Type 90 main battle tanks, which was exactly the size of a tank battalion.

The armored battalion of the DA division was essentially an armored regiment, which included three tank battalions, one mechanized infantry battalion, and one artillery battalion.

In this respect, the DA Division's armored battalion was equipped with a total of 72 Type 90 main battle tanks.

This may not be comparable to the heavy combined arms brigades of later generations, but in the present era, no mechanized infantry division in our army can compare with the DA division.

It's not just about the quantity of tanks, but more importantly, the quality of them.

In today's Chinese military, the tanks equipped by elite divisions are often the Type 88 main battle tanks.

They were already a very important unit, the ace of the entire army.

Like a typical infantry division, it is still equipped with Type 59 main battle tanks.

But the DA Division is different! It's equipped entirely with third-generation main battle tanks, which shows how much the higher-ups value the DA Division.

It is foreseeable that if the DA Division fails to produce outstanding results in actual combat exercises two and a half years from now, the future of all members of the DA Division Party Committee will be affected.

As for Fang Zhenhua, because of his many achievements, he can be said to have become an invincible figure.

Although it won't affect him too much, if Fang Zhenhua wants to reach the pinnacle of his career in the military, he must present an impeccable resume.

Therefore, Fang Zhenhua actually had a goal in mind: in the upcoming live-fire exercises, the DA Division must win every single one of them without a single defeat.

He not only had to set an example for his superiors, but also for other brother units in the army, and even more so for all the officers and soldiers of the DA Division.

The Type 90 tank was the last batch of equipment to arrive for the DA Division. Although the number of tanks was not yet at full strength, the armored battalions of the DA Division were now fully ready for use.

It was at this time that Fang Zhenhua and Liang Sanxi arrived at the armored brigade.

Huang Xing'an, the commander of the armored battalion of the DA division, immediately ran over to greet his old superior.

"Greetings, Division Commander! Greetings, Deputy Division Commander!"

Fang Zhenhua saluted Huang Xing'an, and then immediately asked.

"Type 90 main battle tanks, soldiers of the armored brigade, are you starting to use them?"

"Commander, on the second day after the Type 90 main battle tank arrived, we started regular training together with our colleagues from Factory 617."

"Xing'an, I've gotten you the best tanks and the most elite armored units. If our DA Division's armored battalion doesn't achieve good results in the future..."

Before Fang Zhenhua could finish speaking, Huang Xing'an immediately shouted.

"Please rest assured, Commander, the armored battalion will definitely adopt the strictest training attitude. I, Huang Xing'an, can swear on my honor that if there is any problem in the training, I can be dismissed directly."

Fang Zhenhua stared intently at Huang Xing'an.

This old subordinate seems to have deviated from his original trajectory.

Especially back then, after he had thoroughly disciplined himself, some of Huang Xing'an's bad habits were effectively corrected.

For example, being arrogant and complacent, or living off past glories.