Chapter 1381
World Electric Train Standards, No Problem, No Problem: Clues Provided by Uncle 3
"The last criterion is the vehicle load capacity and formation rules."
"Unified regulations for the maximum traction capacity of YYF locomotives under different gradient and curve conditions, standardized traction tonnage for both uphill and downhill sections, and clear guidelines for scheduling and formation..."
As Li Aiguo's voice faded away.
The temporary meeting room at the Friendship Hotel was initially silent, but then thunderous applause erupted.
Experts from the British, French, and Jack families... every single one of them stood up excitedly and clapped their hands with all their might.
To everyone's surprise, the one who cheered the loudest was Professor Ostrovsky!
The Russian expert's face was flushed, and his large hands were almost red from clapping, but he still showed no sign of stopping.
It should be noted that everyone had been paying attention to Ostrovsky for some time now, and deliberately maintaining a distance from the railway authorities.
Considering the complex situation in Russia, everyone could understand Professor Ostrovsky's predicament.
But now... something seems off?
Professor Ostrovsky, however, seemed not to have noticed this.
While clapping, he said, "Dear Li Aiguo, you are simply a once-in-a-century train genius!"
My God, this is even more intoxicating than vodka!
We had previously tried to develop a unified standard for trains.
However, the scope involved is so vast that it can be disorienting, much like a blizzard in Siberia.
Furthermore, the trains and tracks used by each company were all different.
There are scrap metal from World War II, as well as the latest models.
It's like putting different breeds of bears in the same cage; there's no way to standardize it!
"Now that's great! With the electric train standards you've developed, there will be clear guidelines to follow when manufacturing electric trains in the future!"
As a veteran expert who has worked on the front lines for many years, Professor Ostrovsky is all too aware of the harm caused by chaotic standards.
Disrupting transportation and causing delays are minor issues; they could also lead to serious accidents.
Take the Trans-Siberian Railway as an example.
There have been numerous incidents where the locking components of the train carriages were mismatched, causing the fixing devices to fall off during the bumpy long-distance freight journeys. This resulted in heavy cargo falling onto the tracks and causing foreign objects to encroach on the tracks, nearly leading to serious accidents such as train rear-end collisions and derailments.
With the new standards, these problems could all be avoided, so how could Stolowski not be happy?
Professor Bernard of the Iron Alliance clapped his hands and looked at Stollovsky, laughing, "Professor Stollovsky, since you also agree with the electric train standard formulated by Comrade Li Aiguo..."
Most of the Iron Alliance members, and most of your Iron Group members, are also here.
"How about we hold a joint vote and finalize our agreement?"
The room fell silent instantly upon hearing this.
The experts from the Iron Alliance and the Iron Group all looked surprised.
Standing behind them, Section Chief Xing and the leaders from the railway department were initially taken aback, but then became excited.
Ever since Li Aiguo proposed setting standards for electric trains, the ministries have been considering it.
If our standards can truly become world standards, then in addition to profits, we will also gain tremendous prestige.
This will be the first world-class industry standard that we have led the development of!
This is equivalent to launching a super-giant satellite in front of the whole world!
However, getting everyone to accept the standard and agree to it is a very complex and difficult process.
But now, with Professor Bernard's suggestion...
If we can strike while the iron is hot, we can directly complete the preliminary formulation of standards and confirmation of intent.
That would be an absolutely fantastic thing!
Stolowski hesitated.
If this standard is truly agreed upon and becomes the world standard, what will Moscow think?
But... this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Once the standards are established, they will greatly promote the development of electric trains and the future transportation industry.
As an engineer, he simply couldn't resist such a temptation.
"I...I agree." After hesitating for several minutes, Stolowski finally nodded.
Upon hearing that the Russians had relented, Professor Bernard smiled with satisfaction.
He then turned to look at the other representatives, his eyes questioning.
“Comrade Li Aiguo’s standards are already very comprehensive, and I think they can become the standards for our Iron Alliance.”
"Yes, although we are not currently able to use electric trains, we still support making it the standard for the railway group."
"Stop arguing! I think for the sake of the world's railway industry, we should hold a meeting and vote on this matter as soon as possible!"
Just as the atmosphere was getting heated and an agreement was about to be reached, someone suddenly seemed to remember something, looked around, and spoke up in surprise.
"Huh? Where are the people from the Yamamoto family? Where is Professor Yamamoto, and that Kuronuma guy with the perpetually gloomy face?"
Upon hearing this, everyone stopped talking and turned their puzzled gazes to Professor Bernard.
"Well, these gentlemen from the notebooks, they took the day off early this morning to go sightseeing, saying they wanted to experience the ancient capital charm of Beiping. But it's alright,"
Professor Bernard shrugged, his tone slightly dismissive.
"The vote can be held tomorrow. Once they return, send someone to inform them that they should attend the meeting on time tomorrow."
Although the Japanese created the Shinkansen, it was all show and no substance and held little sway within the Iron Alliance.
"Then it's decided. Everyone can discuss it with their own people after returning to the hotel." Professor Bernard clapped his hands, indicating that the meeting was over.
The experts chatted in twos and threes and gradually left the conference room.
Once most of the outsiders had left, Section Chief Xing could no longer contain his excitement and rushed over to Li Aiguo.
"Comrade Patriot, can we really meet this standard this time?"
"Section Chief, you have to eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time. It's not that fast."
Li Aiguo, however, remained calm.
"To be frank, this is just a tentative consensus."
Even if everyone actually raises their hands and votes to agree tomorrow,
The subsequent process will involve cumbersome procedures to formulate legal provisions, which will require a considerable amount of time for refinement.
Li Aiguo did not make any definitive statements, after all, this was a game between various parties, and no one dared to make a promise until the very last moment.
"Just the intention is enough. Come on, Aiguo, we have a great occasion today. I'll have the cafeteria cook for us. Let's have a good drink together."
"Section Chief, I still have some work to do."
Section Chief Xing assumed Li Aiguo was still busy with standards-related matters, so he didn't insist and returned to the Qianmen Locomotive Depot with several leaders from the ministry.
Li Aiguo did have something to do, but it wasn't revising the standards; he was heading to the weather station.
"how is the situation?"
In the weather station, in Old Cat's office, Li Aiguo asked Old Cat directly as soon as he entered.
“That Black Swamp guy is definitely suspicious, but he seems very cautious; we haven’t found anything wrong.” Old Cat was smoking and flipping through the surveillance footage.
Li Aiguo was puzzled. What did it mean to have a problem yet not have one?
However, after flipping through the submitted surveillance footage, he instantly understood what Old Cat meant.
This surveillance log was extremely detailed, accurate to the minute.
From the moment the expert team made an excuse to ask for leave in the morning to visit Shichahai, to when they arrived at their destination by bus.
Every move they made along the way was recorded.
After getting off the bus, the group acted like ordinary foreign tourists visiting Beijing for the first time, looking around curiously and following the flow of people into Shichahai.
Shichahai is a place with a very special geographical location.
It is not a closed scenic area with key security measures, and there are no large-scale military garrisons around it.
Those who usually stroll around here are mostly local residents from the neighborhood, factory workers off work, and people from other places who come to Beijing on business.
It's a mixed bag, with all sorts of people from all walks of life.
The area is surrounded by numerous alleyways with multiple routes in and out, allowing one to quickly slip into an alleyway and escape sight if being followed.
Throughout the entire tour, Yamamoto and the other experts behaved quite normally.
Accompanied by their interpreter, they first strolled leisurely along the Shichahai shore, pointing out several historical sites.
Later, we rented a small boat and rowed on the lake to enjoy the scenery. We also had the accompanying photographer take many photos as souvenirs.
Their rowing route started from the east bank, passed under the Silver Ingot Bridge, and finally arrived at an open-air tea stall on the opposite bank.
They ordered several large bowls of tea and a plate of melon seeds, using foreign exchange certificates.
Then there is nothing.
“The problem is that they chose Shichahai. It’s a mixed crowd, which makes it easy to disguise and meet up,” Li Aiguo said.
"Is it true that no abnormalities were found in one group?"
Li Aiguo looked at the old cat.
Old Cat stubbed out his cigarette on the desk, stood up and said, "That's right, Group One sent out more than a dozen team members this time, all of whom were disguised."
It could be said that the notebook expert's every move was under the team's surveillance, yet they didn't notice the slightest problem.
Li Aiguo knew a team; it was the best surveillance team in the weather station.
They are all veteran team members with several years of work experience.
Even Li Aiguo himself would find it difficult to evade surveillance if he didn't know the location of his teammates.
"Looks like we've met our match," Li Aiguo laughed heartily.
Old Cat was taken aback, somewhat puzzled as to why Li Aiguo could still laugh.
But then a flash of inspiration struck him, and he understood completely.
"The bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish. This time, the little devils came under the guise of an expert team and made such a meticulous arrangement; it seems they have much more to their name."
Those who work in meteorology are never afraid of thunderstorms.
I'm afraid the climate will be so lifeless that there won't be any movement at all.
Because as long as the other party makes a move, they will eventually reveal a weakness.
If the other party doesn't move, then it's truly like a tiger trying to eat the sky—there's nowhere to start.
“I’ll immediately take some people to follow the expert’s route again and do another thorough check.” Old Cat stood up.
"Alright, go to the scene and see if you can find any clues. Let me know immediately if you have any news," Li Aiguo nodded and instructed.
As we left the weather station, it was already getting dark, and it was approaching dusk.
Li Aiguo rode his motorcycle back to the courtyard house.
As soon as I entered the courtyard, I felt something was wrong; it was too quiet inside.
Even the usually chattering old women were nowhere to be seen.
"Da Mao, where are the people in the compound?" Li Aiguo asked casually as he saw Xu Da Mao rushing in from outside.
"Haha, you don't know yet, do you? Patriotic brother, the deaf old lady and Yi Zhonghai are in the hospital." Xu Damao said gloatingly.
"Hospitalized? What happened? He was fine yesterday?" Li Aiguo was somewhat surprised.
"Hi, here's the thing..."
Xu Damao immediately perked up, kicked the bicycle stand aside, and stopped the deaf old lady and Yi Zhonghai from jumping around in the yard yesterday.
The result was that they were so angry that they both vomited blood and fainted.
He explained it in its entirety.
After Li Aiguo listened to Xu Damao's account and understood the whole story, he couldn't help but feel a bit amused and exasperated.
He never expected that this unexpected visit by the delegation from the Iron Alliance and the Iron Group would not only promote the development of electric train standards,
Such an unexpected reaction occurred right here in the courtyard, sending both of them straight to the hospital. "Alright, I won't chat with you anymore."
I rushed back this time to go to Yi Zhonghai's house to pick up his change of clothes and lunchbox.
An elderly woman stayed at the hospital and couldn't leave.
Judging from the doctor's tone, the deaf old lady's condition seems quite serious.
As Xu Damao spoke, he hurriedly ran off.
Li Aiguo showed no sympathy for Yi Zhonghai and the deaf old woman's plight.
However, Li Aiguo was too lazy to bother with all the messy and trivial matters in the courtyard at this moment.
After all, the final vote on the electric train standard will be held at the meeting tomorrow.
He has to work overtime tonight to get the relevant technical documents and data tables done.
When Chen Xueru got home, she had already prepared dinner.
The vegetables are dried wild vegetables from Weizhuang Commune. After soaking them, we mix them with a little wheat flour, cook them into a porridge, and then sprinkle some sesame oil on top. The taste is exceptionally good.
Li Aiguo drank a bowl of wild vegetable porridge, ate two white flour steamed buns, and then went into his study.
at the same time.
Inside a ward at the Fifth People's Hospital of Beijing.
The deaf old lady and Yi Zhonghai each lay on a hospital bed, one on the left and one on the right.
The two faced each other across an aisle, their eyes filled with endless frustration and resentment.
It was originally a carefully planned show by them, hoping to take this opportunity to ruin Li Aiguo's reputation in one fell swoop.
The results of it?
Li Aiguo was completely unharmed, but the two of them ended up losing out and ending up in the hospital room.
What the hell is this?!
At that moment, a doctor on rounds pushed open the door and walked in, followed by a nurse.
An older woman who had been staying by the bedside saw this and went over to ask anxiously.
"Doctor, doctor, please tell me, is this old lady and my husband alright?"
The doctor flipped through the medical record in his hand, frowned slightly, pointed to the deaf old lady, and said, "This old lady's condition is quite complicated; she has suffered a severe heart attack."
Fortunately, you delivered it on time. If it had been ten or fifteen minutes later, it would have been a real problem.
After speaking, the doctor turned around and pointed to Yi Zhonghai lying on another bed.
"As for this man, it's mainly because he was too emotionally agitated, causing his blood to rush to his head. However..."
The doctor paused, looking at Yi Zhonghai with a slightly questioning gaze: "I just gave him a thorough examination."
Although his vital signs were somewhat elevated, they weren't serious enough to cause him to suddenly faint.
The moment these words were spoken, the entire ward fell silent.
Several elderly women from the compound who had come to the hospital with the older woman to help take care of the patient all stared wide-eyed at Yi Zhonghai.
His eyes were filled with suspicion and disdain.
Yi Zhonghai's face turned red, and he was about to explain.
Before Yi Zhonghai could speak, Xu Damao happened to walk into the ward from outside carrying two lunch boxes.
Upon hearing the doctor's words, he immediately became furious and slammed the lunchbox onto the cabinet next to him.
"So that's what happened! Yi Zhonghai, you old codger, you're probably just pretending to be dead and fainting here because you're afraid of getting a beating from Brother Aiguo!"
Xu Damao pointed at Yi Zhonghai's nose and started cursing.
He went to great lengths to get Yi Zhonghai to the hospital.
Now I still have to run errands between the courtyard house and the hospital to pick up things.
It turns out I've been made a fool of by this old man, who's just pretending to be sick!
"I...I didn't, I really fainted," Yi Zhonghai tried to explain.
Xu Damao pointed his finger at him and said, "Yi Zhonghai, don't you know how many shady things you've done over the years? Now you're still treating us like three-year-olds. You're a complete scoundrel."
Spit landed on Yi Zhonghai's face, and Yi Zhonghai's face turned red.
After he moved into the courtyard house, he became an old man and was always respected by the other residents.
What is Xu Damao anyway? He's nothing but a sycophant who shows movies!
Now they actually dare to point their fingers at him and hurl insults in front of so many people!
Yi Zhonghai turned his head again and looked at the disdainful expressions on the faces of the other elderly women in the ward. He felt a surge of blood rush to his head.
The scene before him began to spin, and before he could catch his breath, his eyes rolled back.
With a "crack".
She actually fainted.
"Oh ho? You old man, still pretending? Ha, you're actually quite good at it! You're wasting your talent by not going to be an opera singer!"
When Xu Damao saw Yi Zhonghai fall, he assumed he was using the same trick again and didn't pay any attention.
An older woman sensed something was wrong, so she went over and pushed him twice, calling out to him twice. When Yi Zhonghai didn't respond, she immediately panicked.
"Doctor! Doctor, come quick! My husband, Lao Yi, seems to have really fainted this time!"
Xu Damao: "."
Residents: "."
The deaf old lady: "."
Well, what's meant to happen will happen.
She was destined to faint; there was no escaping this fate.
At this very moment, on the other side of the capital.
Another person also felt a tightness in their chest and was about to faint from anger.
That was Kurozuma, who had just returned from his trip to his room at the Friendship Hotel.
He looked at Bernard, the head of the Iron Alliance delegation, with an incredulous expression.
"Mr. Bernard, what did you just say?"
Please repeat yourself! Are you going to adopt Li Aiguo's ridiculous electric train standard as the official standard of our Iron Alliance?!
"No, no, Mr. Kuronuma, I think you may have misunderstood me."
Bernard smiled and shook his raised index finger, correcting him.
"It's not just our Iron Alliance's standard; most of the representatives from the Iron Group have also expressed their opinions."
If the vote goes smoothly tomorrow, this standard will also become the official standard of the Iron Group.
In other words, it will become the de facto world standard.
"I object! I strongly object!" Kuronuma shouted.
Just kidding, once Li Aiguo's standard is successful, then their Shinkansen will never have another chance to win an award.
Furthermore, if they want to connect with foreign countries, they also need to adopt the same standards, thus being subject to their constraints.
Bernard glanced at Kuronuma with some confusion, then looked at Yamamoto: "Professor Yamamoto, what's going on?"
It's worth noting that although Kuronuma was very active, he was only a deputy representative in this delegation.
The leader who truly had the final say was Professor Yamamoto.
Kuronuma's statement just now has seriously crossed the line.
Professor Yamamoto smiled awkwardly: "I'm very sorry, Professor Bernard, Kuronuma-kun is a bit too excited."
However... matters concerning standards are of paramount importance, as they relate to the future development of railways worldwide.
Our side believes that perhaps we should all reconsider carefully and spend more time discussing and refining our arguments.
"No need, Professor Yamamoto."
Bernard interrupted Yamamoto's request.
"In fact, at the meeting this afternoon."
Apart from your absence, the representatives of the other companies have basically reached a consensus.
I came here tonight not to ask for your permission, but simply out of courtesy.
This is to inform you that you will be attending the final voting meeting on time tomorrow morning.
After saying that, Bernard didn't even bother to look at the two of them again and left the room.
Bernard's words couldn't be clearer.
Faced with the shared will of the Iron Alliance and the Iron Group, even if you vehemently oppose it, you won't be able to stir up any trouble.
Tomorrow, regardless of whether you agree or not, the fate of this standard will be decided directly by a show of hands.
Watching Bernard's retreating figure, Kurozuma gritted his teeth in anger.
"The relationship between the French and this side is getting better and better. Professor Bernard is so biased and doesn't take us seriously. It's outrageous."
"Kuronuma-kun, calm down. Getting angry won't solve anything. The current situation is extremely passive for us..." Professor Yamamoto slumped onto the sofa in despair.
"Yes... Mr. Yamamoto, once this standard is passed by vote tomorrow and stamped with the official seals of the Iron Alliance and the Iron Group, our Shinkansen will truly have no hope of being promoted internationally..."
Kuronuma sighed helplessly.
Time flew by and it was already the next day.
Li Aiguo got up very early. Chen Xueru knew he had an important meeting today, so she prepared a clean Zhongshan suit for him.
After putting it on, Li Aiguo tidied his hair and looked at himself in the mirror.
"That young man is really handsome!"
After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, they pushed their motorcycles out of the compound.
"Aiguo, are you going to work?"
The old man with dark circles under his eyes walked back from outside, carrying a fishing rod and a tin bucket. He was clearly going back to his old trade.
"Going fishing, Uncle?"
"Yes, they went to Shichahai."
Upon hearing this, Li Aiguo stopped and looked at the Third Uncle.
“Uncle, you often go fishing at Shichahai, so you must know the terrain and conditions there like the back of your hand, right?” Li Aiguo asked casually.
"That's right, I often go fishing, so what?" The third uncle sensed something was off about Li Aiguo's tone and stopped in his tracks.
Li Aiguo smiled slightly and asked casually, "Hey, nothing else of great importance."
I heard that yesterday some foreign guests went to the park and even rented a boat to go boating and sightseeing near Yinding Bridge.
Did you run into them or notice anything unusual while you were fishing over there last night?
"I've been staying in the reed marshes of the Northwest. They've been dredging silt over at Yinding Bridge these past few days, and the smell is terrible," the old man said, shaking his head and then pursing his lips with a look of disgust.
"It smells strong," Li Aiguo frowned upon hearing this.
"Yamamoto and his men knew that Yinding Bridge had a strong odor, yet they still chose to row this route. Was it just a coincidence?"
Li Aiguo has never believed in coincidences.
There's always something wrong behind every unusual occurrence!
"What? Row a boat under the Silver Ingot Bridge?" The third uncle burst out laughing when he heard this.
"This foreign guest is absolutely an idiot."
"What do you mean by that?"
(End of this chapter)