Chapter 1350: Area 51 in China (Happy New Year to all readers)

On the way back to the camp, Liang Yangang took the initiative to squeeze into the same command vehicle with Wei Jianjun.

During the assessment process, there must not be overly close contact between the examiner and the candidate.

But now that it's over, there's not much to be shy about.

Liang Yangang looked at the simulated launch vehicle behind him through the rearview mirror. After hesitating for a while, he asked the question he had been worried about:

"Hey, Chief of Staff...after our brigade changes its equipment, it won't be transferred to another base, right?"

Although the 810th Brigade is the worst-equipped unit in the entire army and has been in a situation of being neglected for a long time, it has been stationed here for many years after all and still has feelings for the 51st Base and this land of northern Liaoning.

If I really have to move to another place, I'd be a little reluctant.

Wei Jianjun was sorting out some extra data he had recorded in his notebook. Hearing this, he shook his head almost subconsciously:

"How is that possible... Changes to the Second Artillery brigade are a major event that can reach the top. If there were really plans in this regard, there should have been news long ago."

Then he asked back with some doubt:

"Why do you suddenly ask this?"

Liang Yangang was silent for a moment with a strange look on his face, and then he replied:

"Nothing...it's just that this costume change is a little too strange...I feel like it's not as simple as it seems."

Wei Jianjun curled his lips:

"The superiors must have their own considerations. We just obey their orders..."

Although he said this, he had actually long been aware of the special nature of this mission.

As an independent branch of the military responsible for the army's most important long-range strike and strategic deterrence force, the Second Artillery Force's equipment updates have basically been planned in advance.

Generally speaking, preliminary work such as personnel training and logistical material preparation has already begun half a year to a year before the actual change of equipment, and the time when internal news circulates is often even earlier.

However, there was almost no warning about the 810th Brigade's change of equipment. The Second Artillery Headquarters called the base, and then the base commander went to Beijing in person to receive the order.

Even he, the chief of staff, only received some second-hand information.

The subsequent training, including this assessment, was organized rather hastily. Thanks to the 810th Brigade for having accumulated a lot of experience with the Dongfeng 3, which has been in service for years, otherwise it would not have been so easy to pass the inspection smoothly.

Not to mention, this time we are switching from medium-range bullets to short-range bullets.

The deployment positions of the base missile brigades are specially measured at the beginning of the establishment of the troops. Even if the equipment has the ability to be deployed and launched flexibly, the scenes of overcoming various unexpected situations and moving thousands of miles to the launch position basically only appear in training. In actual combat situations, whether for the sake of rapid response or confidentiality, priority will be given to launching at the nearest location.

The area in the eastern part of Liaoning Province is just within the range where medium-range missiles can cover most of Honshu Island, and long-range missiles can reach points in Alaska.

The new missile has a range of about 1000 kilometers, which is very awkward to use here. It can hardly cover any sensitive targets. It is more like a model that should be deployed on the southeast coast.

It can't be specifically aimed at South Korea, right?

It’s not that Wei Jianjun has any prejudice…

Well, Wei Jianjun is biased——

This new type of ballistic missile looks expensive, and it is not suitable for just any target.

Therefore, the superiors are doing this in a mysterious way, and their ultimate purpose may be other than this.

But there was no way he could tell his subordinate Liang Yangang about these considerations.

……

Although the entire convoy traveled a total mileage of about 300 kilometers in the previous assessment, it was impossible to drive the missile launcher onto the highway, so it had been circling around the base, simulating anti-reconnaissance operations under various terrains.

There was no need to take a detour on the return journey and we returned to the camp in less than an hour.

Liang Yangang was just about to say goodbye to Wei Jianjun and go down to direct the various vehicles to be stored in the warehouse for inspection, but he saw an off-road vehicle with license plate number 1 parked in the most conspicuous position at the entrance of the main building of the agency.

The two looked at each other and saw the same guess in each other's eyes -

Obviously there is something new.

Liang Yangang picked up the radio and notified the political commissar to take over his command, then followed Wei Jianjun to the Dongfeng command vehicle.

Base commander Zang Hongyan was sitting upright in the co-pilot seat with his eyes closed.

As if sensing someone approaching, he opened his eyes at the right moment and lowered the window:

"How was the training going?"

Although he didn't turn his head, it was obvious that this question was directed to Wei Jianjun.

This time it was the leader who spoke, so of course he had to say what he meant:

"The overall results are above the excellent standard, with 25 of the 24 sub-indicators scoring full marks. We will definitely live up to the high expectations of our superiors!"

The 810th Brigade is an old unit he led. Now that it has achieved such results and has been designated as a new equipment verification unit, it is also a proud thing for Wei Jianjun.

"Good! I was right!"

Zang Hongyan slapped his thigh and pushed the door open to get out of the car.

This time, he looked directly at Liang Yangang next to him:

"Comrade Liang Yangang."

"To!"

The latter immediately stood at attention and saluted.

Zang Hongyan waved his hand, signaling the other party to stand still, and then took down a sealed file bag from the car:

"As quickly as possible, select the most experienced and combat-capable battalion from your brigade, assemble at 2 a.m. tomorrow and rush to the Siping Air Force Airport!"

"Yes, I promise to complete the mission!"

Liang Yangang accepted the order immediately, but even after taking the file bag, his face was still full of confusion:

"But where is the airport? And how are the vehicles and equipment transported?"

He has been in the 810th Brigade since he graduated from the military academy and has been using Dongfeng 3 for the past years. He has no idea about "replacing with new equipment".

But if we learn from the experience of our sister units, it is generally necessary to transport the equipment from the production site by rail to a nearby unloading point, and then drive it back to the camp under the power of the equipment itself.

The previous process only requires escort and loading and unloading personnel, and there should be no need for a complete missile battalion to go to other places.

Zang Hongyan pointed at the file bag.

Liang Yangang looked down in the direction and saw a line of big red words written on it.

"Aerospace and Flight Science High-Tech Verification Center..."

But he still looked confused.

He had just stepped into the threshold of mid- to senior-level military officers, and as a front-line brigade commander, his main focus was still on daily work and training, and he didn't pay much attention to things that were not related to his business.

Wei Jianjun searched his memory for a while and suddenly thought of something:

"It seems to be the former Dingxin Training Base. It was only renamed two years ago?"

Zang Hongyan smiled and nodded:

"Yes, this trip is to Dingxin, and your pass is inside."

"As for the equipment...all the equipment is over there, we just need to send the people."

Liang Yangang had heard of this place:

"But isn't that the Air Force's training center? Is it related to our Second Artillery Corps?"

“It hasn’t been that long.”

Zang Hongyan explained:

"About two years ago, at the suggestion of some engineering and technical personnel, the military approved the upgrade of the Air Force Dingxin Base to a general equipment development and testing base for the entire military, comparable to Area 51 in Lincoln County, Nevada, and specifically responsible for testing top-secret military aerospace technology..."

"..."

Hearing this, Liang Yangang almost blurted out, "We also caught aliens?"

But I still managed to control myself, and changing my words became another problem:

"So...it has something to do with our new equipment?"

Area 51 is mainly responsible for conducting various sensitive technology tests that are not convenient for public disclosure. Aliens are just a sense of mystery and conspiracy theories forcibly given by the outside world.

Considering that such rumors actually help hide the true function of the base, the US military may also be behind the scenes.

"Yes."

Zang Hongyan answered, then took a step forward and looked at Liang Yangang, who was half a head taller than him:

"As for the more specific situation...only the military leaders and you who are specifically involved will know after you arrive at your locations."