Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

The Capital First Agricultural Tool Factory, despite bearing the name of the capital, was built on a piece of land not belonging to the capital: a desolate mountain on the western side of the capital.

The rows of red brick houses, nestled among the green trees, seemed ordinary, but one must not be deceived by their appearance.

This agricultural tool factory, established in 1969, didn't produce a single shovel; its sole mission was to manufacture Type 56 semi-automatic rifles, commonly known as the 'Type 56 Half'.

During that special era, Third-Line military factories flourished. Not to mention a small gun factory, even factories producing artillery, airplanes, tanks, and armored vehicles had a large number of Third-Line bases.

This factory, to deceive outsiders, was called the Capital First Agricultural Tool Factory, but its internal code name was Factory 960. In the year after its establishment, it produced 15,000 Type 56 semi-automatic rifles. In 1974, it even increased production to 30,000. Not only was the output high, but the quality was also good, receiving commendation from higher-level leaders and even being exported.

The past glory was already a thing of the past. In the late 1970s, the country began to transform, and the Third-Line military factories were the first to be impacted. The state stopped placing orders, and the factories had to find their own way out!

Military to civilian, seeking survival, and the integration of military and civilian industries became the new mission of these small Third-Line factories.

The Capital First Agricultural Tool Factory didn't hesitate; it transformed. Bearing the name of an agricultural tool factory, could they not make anything else? They would produce agricultural tools!

However, they really couldn't do it!

They tried several projects one after another, but all failed. As the head of the factory's technology department, Qin Baoguo was so worried that his hair was turning white. He had recently gone out to investigate, supposedly planning to use the factory's equipment to produce kitchen knives.

If it were originally a bayonet factory, producing kitchen knives would be more like it. But a gun factory switching to making knives, could it compare to Wang Mazi or Zhang Xiaoquan?

Qin Yang felt somewhat resentful; this father was too unreliable!

If we're talking about guns, and rifles can't be produced anymore, we can produce air rifles for shooting birds!

Originally, Liu Yong didn't take Qin Yang's words seriously, thinking it was just sophistry, but hearing the suggestion of air rifles, his eyes lit up.

Factory 960 was originally a gun factory, and the workers had been doing it for more than ten years, so they were most familiar with making guns. If they were to continue making guns, it would be easy, but...

"You make it sound good, kid, but can air rifles be sold?" Liu Yong couldn't praise Qin Yang; one praise and this guy's tail would wag to the sky.

"Of course, think about it, in recent years, we have annual militia training, and many people know how to use guns. Now that the guns have been taken back, what will they do when their hands itch? Of course, they will buy an unrestricted air rifle to have some fun! Moreover, there is so much game in the mountains. Having an air rifle can also improve life by hunting some game in the winter."

Speaking of these things, Qin Yang was no stranger: "In fact, some factories in China have already started producing air rifles, such as the Xifeng brand from Factory 971 and the Xianhe brand from Factory 973. However, how can the air rifles manufactured by these Third-Line factories compare to our famous Factory 960? The quality of our factory's products is definitely the highest!"

When it came to how to make guns, Qin Yang was eloquent.

"We only need to modify our production line to switch to producing air rifles. The deep hole drill for the barrel needs to be changed. Air rifles have two calibers: 4.5mm and 5.5mm, which are different from our rifle calibers. We add rifling to the inside of the barrel to make the lead pellets fly more stably. We also adopt the spring piston principle, fixed barrel, and under-lever structure. The wooden stock is made of the same high-quality wood as military products. We don't engage in price wars with other factories; we win with quality!"

"Of course, relying solely on the domestic market is not enough. We also have to export to earn foreign exchange. Those tycoons in the Middle East must all like hunting. Exporting tens of thousands of units a year is not a problem."

Qin Yang was already getting excited: "Uncle Liu, the reason I borrowed that gun was to modify it into an air rifle, to find a way out for our factory. Alas, my sincere heart for the factory was misunderstood, and I was hit with a construction shovel, almost killing me!"

"You stinky brat, you still dare to complain, see if I don't beat you, it's the father's fault for not teaching!" A roar came from outside.

Qin Baoguo was back!

Coincidentally, Qin Baoguo had just returned and hadn't had time to report the results of his investigation when he heard about his son's matter. He was immediately furious, came to the security section's detention room, and became even angrier when he heard Qin Yang bragging here.

At this time, Qin Baoguo walked in, unbuckling his belt. Stealing a gun, daring to steal a gun, see if I don't beat you to death!

Qin Yang turned his head and saw that it was actually his father. Seeing his angry appearance, he decided that a wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him and slipped under the table.

"Dad, what I just said is true, why are you hitting me?"

"Lao Qin, Lao Qin, don't be angry." Liu Yong also began to persuade: "I just heard Yangzi say that it makes sense. If our factory wants to engage in military-to-civilian conversion, air rifles are a good project!"

"Hmph, don't you know how much he weighs? If he can steal a gun to come up with ideas for the factory, I, Qin Baoguo, will call him Dad from now on!"

"Dad, you said that." A voice came from below.

Qin Baoguo was even more furious, bending down and reaching out to pull Qin Yang, who was hiding underneath: "Come out, see if I don't beat you to death!"

"Lao Qin, don't be angry, Yangzi, say a few less words!" Liu Yong began to mediate. This Qin Yang was really something, actually deliberately provoking his dad.

However, this was also a tradition. Liu Yong remembered the last time, about three months ago, when Qin Yang did something bad and was beaten by Qin Baoguo. After the beating, Qin Yang grimaced in pain and looked at Qin Baoguo with concern: "Dad, have you not eaten?"

"Believe you? Okay, you keep saying you want to research air rifles? First, give me a design drawing!"

"If I draw a good design drawing, can I prove my innocence?"

"Of course not, that also requires that the design drawing is a real air rifle design drawing, don't just draw a few strokes to fool people!"

"Then I also need a professional drawing board and drawing tools!"

Qin Baoguo looked at his son with a gloomy face: "Then go to the drawing room! Xiao Wang, you come with me!"

Wang Guoging, a clerk from the security section, was standing guard outside, still carrying a Type 56 Half on his chest, and followed Qin Baoguo and the others in a majestic manner.

Any factory must have people who do technology, even if they don't do design, they must thoroughly understand the drawings issued by the higher authorities. To do technology, there must be a dedicated drawing room. The large ones are like a large auditorium, with hundreds of people drawing at the same time, which is very spectacular. Factory 960 mainly focuses on production, and the drawing room is pitifully small, with only a few drawing boards.

Seeing Qin Baoguo and others entering, the draftsmen quickly made way to watch the excitement.

Qin Yang stood in front of a drawing board, picked up the drawing tools, and began to draw quickly.

When Qin Yang drew the first stroke, Qin Baoguo's gloomy face unfolded. When did this kid learn to use drawing tools?

When he saw the second stroke, there was no anger on his face, and light flashed in his eyes.

When it was all finished, a look of approval appeared on Qin Baoguo's face.

A beautiful air rifle design drawing jumped onto the paper.

The wooden stock extended all the way to the gun body, almost exactly the same as the Type 56 Half, but there was no magazine compartment below the gun body. An ingenious spring piston structure was designed inside, and a large section of the barrel was exposed, with a compression lever installed below. It was almost a perfect design!

In particular, the entire drawing was extremely neat, and even the draftsmen who had been doing it for more than ten years praised it.

"Dad, how is it?" Qin Yang looked at Qin Baoguo with a smile: "Am I a genius?"

"Xiao Wang, take him back to the detention room first!"

What? Qin Yang's face was full of incomprehension. I've already designed it, and I won't even let you call me Dad, can't you let me go home for dinner?