Steel Soviet Union

While traveling with Shashmulin, they talked about a lot of things. From design details to some specific parameters, Malashenko basically understood the design and development of Project 260 from beginning to end, and summarized what was known I am very satisfied with the various information I received. ReadМ

"I can't wait to get started and try it out? Do you have a dedicated test team? If you are short of manpower, let me come and I will go up and try it myself."

"No, no, no, Comrade General, this is absolutely impossible!"

Malashenko, who just wanted to have fun as soon as possible, made such a suggestion quickly, but it frightened Shashmulin, who was still talking and laughing at the side.

Are you kidding me? That was the first prototype that had just been built, and no startup tests had been done yet. Who knows if there would be any unexpected accidents during the first test run.

If a fire breaks out during the test drive or some other unexpected incident occurs, Shashmulin can't even imagine what will happen to him after the general and comrade are in the car. I'm afraid it will be difficult for him to die happily, right?

Shashmulin, who was frightened by Malashenko's bold request, quickly explained the stakes involved. It was necessary to conduct sufficient inspection and test data collection after the first test run to ensure that there was no major problem with the car. After that, it can be delivered to Malashenko, who can take it to the battlefield for actual combat testing.

Before that, Malashenko was absolutely not allowed to get into this car. If something happened, let alone Shashmulin, who was unable to shoulder this responsibility. Even Kojing, who was nominally serving as the 260 engineering design consultant, would run away. No, every one of them had to be invited by the NKVD comrades to eat an authentic Manchu-Han banquet at the Lubyanka Hotel.

If the Germans on the opposite side heard the news that the evil star of the "Iron Butcher" was killed by his own tank test, I'm sure he would wake up laughing even in the middle of the night. Maybe there will be some weirdness on the radio, and the euphemistic name is "Thanks to Kogin, Shashmulin and stupid Stalin, a big scourge has been eliminated for the German Empire."

Shashmulin felt scared just thinking about the above things, and even more firmly determined that "comrade generals must not be allowed to board tanks without safety guarantees."

Incidentally, and because he was aware of the safety issues, Shashmulin began to secretly make up his mind to remove some of the new designs that he had previously expected to use, and replace them with ones that had little performance improvement, but were definitely safe and reliable. of proven designs and ready-to-shelf products.

This may slightly compromise the performance, but at best it is just a few percent that is insignificant. In the final analysis, the life safety of the generals is the most important thing.

To put it bluntly, the new designs in the war years should use as little as possible and adopt more reliable routes as long as they can meet the predetermined design indicators. As for additional improvements, we should postpone them until subsequent gradual upgrades and improvements. Everything All are based on the premise of stability, which is the responsibility that a project chief engineer must bear.

After hearing Shashmulin's flat refusal, Malashenko had second thoughts and understood the reason and the sophistication of the world.

This is not to say that Shashmulin deliberately refused to let himself experience it or anything, but it was purely based on the premise that a project chief must be responsible for his own work, his obligations and what he should do.

Think about it from another angle, if Shashmulin does everything according to Malashenko's wishes in order to please Malashenko, and just blindly follows the crowd and flatters him. Well, Malashenko, who has calmed down and thought about this matter carefully, will probably still have some criticisms of Shashmulin. At least in terms of evaluation, he cannot get full marks for Shashmulin's work attitude and sense of responsibility. .

Some things are so wonderful. When you cut through the appearance and look at the essence one by one, you will find that this matter is far from being as simple as it seems on the surface. In fact, it can reflect many crucial issues and details. Of course, It can test a person more.

So at least after getting this answer, Malashenko's evaluation of Shashmulin was "quite satisfactory". Kogin indeed chose for himself an excellent assistant who was both responsible and capable. Of course, he also trained a truly outstanding chief engineer for the motherland.

The chat with Shashmulin can only be regarded as a prelude. The real highlight waiting for Malashenko is to meet Kogin again.

Just like in the past, when the car stopped at the intersection of the agency area where it could no longer move forward, Malashenko and his party got out of the car and continued walking to their destination. When Malashenko was far away, he saw the old boy Kogin waiting there with a group of people. When he saw him coming, he immediately strode towards this direction with a happy face.

"Oh, brother, comrades have been waiting for you for a long time. As soon as they heard that our heroic general was coming, everyone wanted to see it with their own eyes."

There is no unnecessary nonsense or politeness, just a warm Slavic bear hug when you meet.

Malashenko has long been accustomed to Kogin's temperament. In other words, it is precisely because the two have similar personalities to a large extent that Malashenko can finally work together with Kogin for so long and create so many things. Once glorious and a classic that will surely go down in history.

Personality compatibility is always the prerequisite for good cooperation, and this is the only thing that will never change.

"You called me here in such a hurry. I didn't even hug my wife enough before I came here in a hurry. Do you know how much Natalia "cares" about you? Old man."

Although Malashenko's tone sounded like a joke and he still had an enthusiastic smile on his face, the moment he said these words, it really made Comrade Kotin's old face a bit unbearable.

"Well, maybe I should send her a handwritten letter to apologize? It took up the time that originally belonged to her. It seems like it's my fault no matter what."

Kogin's answer also decisively and simply admitted his "mistake". Now that this is the case, what else does Malashenko have to say? Naturally, I just didn’t have anything to say.

"Come on, take me to see your babies. I know you must have prepared a lot of hard goods for me. Take me to see them quickly."

Malashenko, who thought about it again and again, concluded that Kogin must have called him here because of equipment-related matters, and Kogin's subsequent reaction and answer were not surprising.

"That's right. There are indeed a lot of new things prepared for you. By the way, aren't you hungry? Do you want to eat something first? A feast even more sumptuous than last time has been prepared for the tank heroes of the motherland."

hungry? He was indeed hungry. Malashenko touched his belly and even said that his chest was touching his back.

However, rather than wandering around looking at it after finishing the meal with a big belly, Malashenko felt that it would be better to come back after reading and chat while eating, and exchange opinions and ponder at the dinner table.

"Let's go see something first. With my appetite, I'm afraid I won't be able to walk after eating."