The expeditionary force began to dominate Southeast Asia by recruiting defeated soldiers

Chapter 321: The Cornerstone of Long-Range Rockets and Ballistic Missiles

When humans wanted to fly, their earliest idea was to learn from birds and conduct bionics research.

Later, it was found to be unreliable, so Wan Hu started to develop rockets again.

As for the rockets and missiles used in World War II, the solid engines they used were no different from Wan Hu's rockets or firecrackers in terms of the most fundamental principles.

It's nothing more than a combustible material with a high calorific value, some additives, a plasticizer, and finally a nozzle.

When conditions are difficult, just roll a tube with paper, then add sulfur, nitrate, charcoal, and some sugar.

If conditions permit, switch to nitro fertilizer.

However, the Security Army is now a regular army equipped with airplanes, tanks, and warships, so it naturally can no longer make do in this way.

Therefore, in addition to continuing to improve the formula of napalm bombs, the advanced laboratory under the Nanhua Chemical Group has recently been tasked with developing new solid fuels for rockets.

"Whether it's individual rockets, long-range rocket artillery, or the various enemy air-to-air missiles and ballistic missiles I envision, the formula of this solid fuel is of paramount importance."

In a conference room with a blackboard, Zhang Chi shook Mr. Hou's hand and said sincerely:

"Mr. Hou has made tremendous contributions to our Nanhua Group. I am deeply grateful. Now I must once again ask Mr. Hou for help."

Mr. Hou said modestly, "If I were to say what achievements I've made since coming here, opening up the process for industrial production of three acids and two alkalis would certainly be one of them. Another is that I've made some small contributions to the production of ammonia and nitrogen fertilizers."

"Military research is not my forte. The napalm bomb formula I developed previously was entirely deduced from actual objects. I am certainly proud that my knowledge can be used in the fight against the Japanese.

But to say I've made any significant contribution is far from enough, and I feel unworthy of it."

Of course, it took a lot of effort for Zhang Chi to invite Mr. Hou from Yongli Factory.

In addition to the most common monetary rewards, he also promised that any patents generated by Mr. Hou during his tenure at Nanhua Chemical Group could be licensed free of charge to the other party's Yongli factory in China within the next 20 years.

This was naturally a great temptation for Mr. Hou, who lacked both funds and experimental equipment to start the Yongli factory.

But now that Nanhua Chemical Group is on the right track, Mr. Hou naturally wants to return to China as soon as possible to run the Yongli factory he has always dreamed of.

Zhang Chi knew very well that the greatest lifelong wish of these industrialists in the late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China was to make their factories bigger and stronger.

Therefore, no matter how generous the conditions he offered, Mr. Hou would always feel that he was an outsider and that his Yongli Factory was his home.

However, the development of solid fuel for this rocket is of paramount importance, so Zhang Chi could only force the other party to stay:

"The Japanese are now at the end of their rope. Once they surrender, the Republic of China's industry will surely have new opportunities for development (that would be surprising). Mr. Hou, please continue to work at Nanhua Chemical for a while and bring in more students."

Although Zhang Chi said this, he knew very well in his heart that after the Japanese surrendered, Mr. Hou's partner in the country would die soon and the Yongli Factory would be taken away.

After all, the four major families are essentially a group of compradors, so why do they need factories?

According to the original history, Mr. Hou had no choice but to go to work for the Tata Group in Sindhu and served as a consultant for two years.

So Zhang Chi’s plan was to wait until the end of World War II before releasing Mr. Hou.

When Mr. Hou's factory is gone and he becomes disheartened, we will bring him back to continue being a leader in scientific research.

"As soon as the Japanese surrender, you have to let me go back?" Mr. Hou saw that it was hard to refuse the kindness, so he had to reluctantly agree.

"Once a man speaks, he can never take it back." After saying this, Zhang Chi signaled his secretary to hand a stack of documents to Mr. Hou.

"This is the liquid polysulfide rubber technology I bought at a high price. I've got the complete patents and production line. And since we're also rich in natural rubber here, do you think we can use it to develop a new solid fuel?"

Of course, Zhang Chi did not buy this technology, but he directly exchanged it for an industrial exchange voucher in the system.

The White Eagles used polysulfide rubber composite propellant on their Minuteman-1 ballistic missiles in the 60s.

This propellant has the advantages of high energy, high density, no need for on-site refueling compared to liquid fuel, and is easy to use.

Moreover, liquid polysulfide rubber itself has applications in aerospace, automotive machinery, construction, shipbuilding, petrochemical industry, electrical instrumentation and other fields, and is a very good adhesive and sealing material.

However, there are currently too many industrial projects in Bago that require industrial exchange coupons, so Zhang Chi only exchanged one liquid polysulfide rubber. As for the remaining solid propellant, he can only rely on the scientific research team led by Mr. Hou.

The University of South China in Myitkyina has just been established. Taking into account the current special environment, Zhang Chi directly launched the "Learning by Doing" project, allowing freshmen of science and engineering majors at the University of South China to learn theoretical knowledge in the classroom while entering various enterprises under the South China industrial system to learn from masters.

There are currently many such students in the research team led by Mr. Hou, and Zhang Chi has high hopes for them.

Mr. Hou took the document and flipped through it briefly. He was initially shocked by the excellent performance described above. After he understood what was going on, he said:

"Based on the samples of the White Eagle M8 114mm rocket and the Russian M-13 132mm solid rocket (which is what the Katyusha uses) that you sent me earlier, even if we don't change the original formula and just add this polysulfide rubber, I think the range can be doubled. Of course, the projectile may need to be appropriately lengthened."

Although Mr. Hou doesn't understand aerodynamics, he understands the energy density of fuel.

He believes that as long as you have enough energy, you can move bricks and fly to the sky. He is very optimistic about this polysulfide rubber additive.

"Okay, as long as the new solid fuel is developed and the rocket research and development team can use it without any problems, I will give everyone a bonus!" Zhang Chi promised generously.

"Great, let's start working overtime on this today."

"Commander Zhang is magnanimous."

"Great, I'll have money to eat out again."

Zhang Chi looked at everyone who was full of energy and smiled at Mr. Hou.

He is well aware that for most grassroots and even middle-level employees, talking about dedication, struggle and virtue may be useful temporarily.

But material supply is the most important.

Didn’t you see that Captain Wen was still speaking well of General Quan on a TV program in Gwangju?

The easiest way to win people's hearts is always material rewards, and Zhang Chi has never forgotten this.

Mr. Hou smiled bitterly and shook his head.

He had run a factory before, so he knew that workers only had the strength to work if they were well fed and warmly clothed. Unfortunately...

-----

Zhang Chi left the experimental building of Nanhua Chemical surrounded by bodyguards, wondering if he could develop a long-range rocket as soon as possible.

He felt that compared to the Sherman tank as a carrier, the T34 multiple rocket launcher system on the top of the Sherman Organ was more suitable for installation on ships such as anti-submarine boats.

As long as the range is higher, in an environment with dense water networks like the South China Sea, a small boat equipped with multiple rocket launchers will be more elusive than the guerrilla weapon 107 rocket launcher.

However, with good solid fuel, no one said that only one type of rocket can be developed.

In Zhang Chi's mind, he naturally wants 107 fire, 122 fire, 220 fire, and 300 fire.

Suddenly, Zhang Chi saw the secretary who stayed in the bulletproof car running towards him anxiously, and his heart skipped a beat:

"problem occurs?"