dognovel Chapter 1507 Zeiss
Chapter 1507 Zeiss
Chapter 1507 Zeiss
I woke up this morning, and I'm so damn tired—
How could I not be tired? Sigh... After talking for most of the night, Yulia had almost said everything she could in her life.
She didn't know when Mr. Li left, nor did she know when she went to sleep.
That's right, she slept in Mr. Li's room, but when she woke up, she didn't see him.
This is perfectly normal. The other person isn't here for tourism, much less for love at first sight.
She climbed out of bed, tightened her pajamas, and stepped off the bed. Her slippers were more than one size too big for her feet.
He's a really strong and healthy man.
After releasing all the stress of the night, I stood in front of the mirror, looked at my youthful and beautiful face, and smiled happily.
There's no way around it; this industry is all about youth, and she can only make a living from it for another three to five years at most.
As long as she can happen to encounter missions of this caliber every year for the next three to five years, her retirement life will be incredibly comfortable.
"I don't care if you're here to buy cows or to find nuclear facilities, you're my prisoner now—"
She put on a confident yet sinister expression, pointed at the woman in the mirror with her finger, and smiled faintly.
Although I failed to completely win over the other party last night, I also didn't have the opportunity to give my partner a chance to secretly take photos.
But! She was certain that the other person couldn't resist her temptation and would eventually confront her.
Even if the other party recognized her identity, she had no scruples, because this was East Germany.
East Germany was the Soviet Union's backyard.
If she actually got her hands on some gossip about the other person, she was afraid that the other person wouldn't know or wouldn't trust her true identity, which would be extremely dangerous for her.
That's right, she has a hidden partner, someone she herself can't even detect during her operations.
From the moment she received the instructions and signals before boarding the train until now, she still hasn't found her partner.
What an admirable guy! Where did the superiors find such a skilled individual who's willing to cooperate with their operations?
Looking in the mirror, she took off all her clothes, carefully examining every inch of her skin, making sure that this appearance would allow her to successfully make it to retirement.
The "tools of the crime," which require special attention, are taken care of with meticulous care, as they are the source of income.
That's right, a "channel" for making money.
She had to take a shower, wash up, and change clothes, making the most of the space to leave her mark.
Just like tigers and lions marking their territories, when the other returns and notices these traces, they will naturally be able to give her more trust.
If it weren't so cold, she would have liked to use the tools of her crime to smear her hormones into every corner of the room.
That's a really crazy idea—
Yulia has this habit of acting impulsively, and after thinking about it, she couldn't help but laugh at herself.
dong dong——
There was a knock on the door, and a waiter asked her if she was already up.
Hmm? That's not right—
Yulia was certain that this room belonged to Mr. Li, so why did the waiter ask "her"?
"Guten Tag, Frau Yulia."
When the door opened, the waiter's precise greeting instantly put Yulia on her guard; this shouldn't be happening.
The waiter was taken aback by her serious and wary expression, then politely reminded her, "Your partner is in the lobby on the first floor and wishes to meet you."
"My partner?"
Yulia was also taken aback, but then she realized what was happening and raised an eyebrow, asking, "Did he say why he came to see me?"
“This…” The waiter hesitated for a moment, but when he saw the beautiful lady hand him a piece of paper and a pen as a tip, he stopped stammering and explained politely and even ingratiatingly, “The other party should be a livestock merchant.”
"A livestock merchant?"
This is quite different from what Yulia had just guessed. She was wondering if her partner had arrived and was using a concealed identity to call her down for a rendezvous.
They should have met a long time ago, but they just never had the chance.
If the person is a livestock merchant, then their partner should be very familiar with their situation.
He's really something—
Knowing that Mr. Li had used the same trick to deceive her under the pretext of purchasing dairy cows, she used the same method.
This must be a reminder that my partner has the ability and channels to obtain information about this place, even though he hasn't shown up.
What a great partner!
"I understand." Yulia nodded demurely, turning her body slightly to the side, not wanting the waiter to have another chance to look at her body, even though she was wearing pajamas.
"Please tell him that I will be downstairs in a moment."
"Okay, ma'am, thank you for your generosity—"
The waiter smiled and bowed slightly, mentioning "and the generosity of your team" as she closed the door.
"What—" Yulia seemed to have missed something. When she opened the door again to ask, the waiter had already left.
"My team's generosity?"
Yulia shook her head with amusement, then rolled her eyes after returning to her room. "I'm just too amazing."
How could she not be outstanding? Even the hotel staff mistook her for one of Mr. Li's team members.
If Mr. Li wants to distance himself from the relationship between the two, the waiters are the best witnesses.
As for physical evidence—
Yulia casually tossed two tissues she had used to wipe her tools on the corner of the table and under the chair.
Even if she didn't create the established facts last night, she can still fake the scene; she still has that skill.
Since I'm going to meet my partner, I can't dress too conspicuously, or I'll easily attract attention.
So I went back to my room, did some simple makeup, changed into some comfortable clothes, and went downstairs.
"Madam, this way please—"
It was the same waiter who knocked on the door, as if he was waiting for her, and he gestured for the rest area.
Yulia smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, then turned to look at the rest area in response.
A typical Germanic bearded man looked in this direction with a puzzled expression. After receiving a signal from the waiter, he stood up and waved to the waiter.
This completely baffled Yulia. This wasn't her partner; could it be a colleague who had been temporarily assigned to her?
Guided by the waiter, she came to the sofa, where the bearded man greeted her first.
“Hello, ma’am, I am Hans, the manager of the Chi County Farm in Bad Doberland County who contacted you earlier.”
Because of his large and fat body, the big man had some difficulty speaking and was breathing heavily.
Julia looked at him with the same question, but still shook his hand politely.
Perhaps because they had received a tip, the waiter proactively prepared coffee for them, which could be considered a high-class service.
After the waiter politely left, Julia tilted her head slightly and asked, "Why didn't Karl come?"
"Karl? Which Karl?"
Farm manager Hans paused for a moment, blinked at her in confusion, and said, "I don't know this Karl you're talking about. Who is he?"
"Then who are you?" Yulia was sure no one was listening in; if it were a colleague, they would have exchanged passwords by now.
But this guy in front of me has no brains at all; he seems to be addicted to acting.
"Just now..." Hans wanted to say, "Didn't I just introduce myself? Why are you asking again?"
However, there's an old Western saying: the customer is always right.
He couldn't afford to offend a major client who bought two thousand dairy cows at once. What was a repetitive self-introduction compared to this? He'd even dance for them.
“Madam, we contacted each other yesterday. I am Hans, the manager of the Chi County Farm in Bad Doberland County.”
“Mr. Hans—” Julia was completely dumbfounded.
She certainly knew Bad Doberland County, which was just west of Rostock County, and the two counties were adjacent.
But why did the other person come to see me?
Could they be looking for Mr. Li?
its not right--
Could he really be here to buy dairy cows?
This is truly unbelievable!
A series of doubts and self-doubts completely plunged Yulia into a mental vortex.
The waiter thoughtfully brought over the dessert, giving a fawning smile in hopes of receiving an extra tip.
But Yulia was too confused to notice his almost ingratiating smile.
Farm manager Hans noticed, which only strengthened his belief that the woman before him was the one he was looking for.
A guest who receives such treatment at a hotel must be extraordinary; he hadn't seen a single waiter smile at him since he entered.
“That’s right, I am Hans.”
Manager Hans nodded and said, "Last night your team ordered 2000 dairy cows from our ranch..."
"Wait—what did you say?"
Yulia nearly jumped up in surprise, looking at the other person and asking, "How many cows did he order?"
"2000 heads? What's wrong?"
The ranch manager held up two fingers, looked at her suspiciously, and asked, "Is there a problem?"
"No—there's nothing wrong."
Yulia shook her head slightly and said, "You must have the wrong person. Let's talk about this after Mr. Li returns."
"No—" Hans stood up excitedly as he saw her get up and spread his hands, saying, "Didn't we agree on a handover in the morning? He sent me to you to fulfill the contract."
"Looking for me? To fulfill the contract?" Julia was startled and turned to look at him, asking, "Who told you that?"
"Your colleague, that designer."
Hans, with an expression that said, "That's just how it is," looked at her and said, "The cows are at the port. You'd better go through the handover process with me according to the contract."
He also sensed something was wrong, and although his tone wasn't strong, it carried a subtle threat.
The Bad Doberland County Farm is not a private enterprise; it represents the East German state-owned farms in fulfilling the cooperation agreement with the other party.
"I'm sorry, you've really misunderstood."
Sensing the tone of Hans's voice, Julia shook her head helplessly and said, "I'm not a member of their team at all; I'm just a college student."
"How is this possible—"
Hans gestured to the waiter standing nearby and asked, "Isn't she from the Netherlands Trading Company?"
“The Netherlands Trading Company?” Julia was stunned.
"Netherlands Trading Company!" The waiter was stunned when he saw her confusion.
However, the waiter reacted faster, turning around and running to the front desk to report the incident to the duty manager.
The duty manager, who had never encountered anything like this before, quickly came over to ask, "What happened?"
“I don’t know him at all.”
Yulia waved her hand and emphasized, "I didn't order any cows from him."
“But they registered your name.” Hans narrowed his eyes slightly and emphasized, “You are the head of their team, and I have your personal information as proof.”
“Ms. Julia, could you please explain the matter concerning the Netherlands Trading Company?” The duty manager looked at Julia seriously and asked, “Are you sure you’re not the person in charge of this company?”
“I’ve never heard of your so-called Netherlands Trading Company!” Julia waved her hand and explained, “I’m a student at the Technical University of Dresden, and I’m here for tourism.”
The officer on duty raised his head slightly and looked at her, saying, "But yesterday your friends checked in and made purchases here in your name."
"What!--"
Yulia was shocked; the news completely stunned her.
"When did I..."
"When you came to the hotel," the duty manager earnestly helped her recall what had happened the day before.
"You and your friend were talking in that spot in the lobby when someone came in with your ID to check you in, along with theirs."
The manager knew there was a problem, but he remained calm because there were still people left.
"Where are they...?"
Yulia realized the problem, plopped down on the sofa, and asked speechlessly.
The manager shrugged helplessly, and the same waiter answered her question, "Your friends left early this morning, saying they had work to do."
"I don't care, I've already delivered the cows." Hans knew there was a problem, and he put on a serious face, emphasizing, "You have to find a way to receive them."
"How am I supposed to receive this?" Yulia looked at him speechlessly and explained, "I don't even know the other person!"
"Ahem—" The waiter coughed at the right moment, and at the manager's prompting, winked and introduced, "You were in that gentleman's room last night when we delivered the late-night snack."
“I went to call you this morning, but no one was in your room. I found you in that gentleman’s room instead.”
Before Yulia could object, a staff member behind the manager whispered, "There are...traces in the room."
It was less a matter of reporting in a low voice and more a matter of finding it difficult to speak, given the nature of the situation.
The voice was softer, but everyone present could hear it clearly, and Yulia's eyes widened in disbelief.
Such a report is tantamount to an on-the-spot execution.
Those marks weren't from last night at all; she set them up this morning. Little did she expect they would become evidence of her close relationship with that Mr. Li.
Upon hearing these words, manager Hans wore a mocking and cold smile, his eyes filled with disdain as he looked at her.
“The cost of your and your friend’s accommodation and other expenses last night was quite a sum.”
The manager wasn't aggressive; instead, he kindly reminded you, "If you're unable to pay this bill, I'd prefer you to handle it through legal channels."
This was a polite and considerate remark, avoiding any attempt to provoke a scene, as that would be negative news for the hotel.
Furthermore, if a female college student is deceived, no matter how domineering they act, they are still suspected of bullying her.
The manager's goal is still to solve the problem, and it would be best if Ms. Julia's friends or family could help her.
His reminder also included a warning: Yulia shouldn't even think about escaping the bill, otherwise he would have no reason to resolve the issue through legal channels.
This also temporarily shielded Julia from the pressure from the Bad Doberland County farm, though only temporarily.
Hans glared at the duty manager with displeasure, but he knew that the female college student in front of him could not make up for the farm's losses, but this matter had to be resolved reasonably.
Hans's difficulty lies in the fact that he has already gathered the cows that the other party needs, and these are not from one of their farms.
Even disregarding the losses and expenses incurred en route, if this batch of dairy cows cannot be successfully transferred, how can he return them to other farms?
Since the cows cannot be returned, they can only be taken back to his ranch, but the Bad Doberland County farm cannot afford to raise so many cows... How should this loss be calculated?
How much does the hotel's accommodation and food cost? Can it compare to their losses?
The duty manager's words and actions may have temporarily eased the female college student's demands.
However! This is also a delaying tactic.
The duty manager's goal was to get the female college student to deal with the hotel's bills first. He was afraid that if she faced the farm's bills, she would simply refuse to pay.
It's alright, no one dares to lose money on state-owned farms, so he's not in a hurry, nor can he be.
This loss is a blow to his career, leaving him with only two paths to take.
One option is to obtain substantial compensation, while the other is to sell the cows as much as possible, even at a loss.
Now he has no choice but to see what choice the female college student in front of him will make.
Yulia didn't consider any of these things at all; neither the hotel costs nor the farm costs were within her consideration.
She was concluding that her mission had failed.
They were completely fooled and lost everything. Isn't that a failure?
This sense of frustration is the most intense.
"Are you sure they've all left?"
Yulia stood up and looked at the waiter to confirm, "They even took their luggage?"
"If you don't believe me," the waiter who was finally reporting to the manager emphasized, "you can go upstairs and take a look."
"Furthermore, last night when I went to deliver dinner to your room, I overheard you discussing dairy cow procurement with that gentleman..."
"..." Yulia glanced at the talkative waiter, then turned to the duty manager and asked, "May I use the phone here?"
"Of course, you are still our customer." The manager smiled politely and gestured towards the front desk.
Yulia breathed a sigh of relief; she had absolutely no idea how to call her superiors to report the situation.
But she couldn't avoid making the call; she was just an executor, and her official status in East Germany was that of a student at the Dresden Technical University from Ukraine.
Without the coordination of her superiors with the Stasi, she would truly be burdened with enormous debts here.
Of course, the fact that her organization was carrying out such tasks in East Germany without authorization from the Stasi would also be coordinated and handled by her superiors.
If a task fails, it fails; how to handle the consequences is up to the superiors.
Including the debt crisis she is now facing.
"I am Natasha, the mission has failed."
Yulia gave her code name and explained the current situation directly.
There was no wishful thinking, no excuses to shirk responsibility, and no crying or complaining; the facts were simply stated calmly.
The duty manager and Hans wisely refrained from approaching; they could also see the significance behind this composure.
"We have just received news that Red Star Steel Group, a member of the delegation, signed cooperation agreements with Varne-Mundnept Neptune Shipyard and Varno Shipyard this morning."
Her superior spoke in a calm tone, explaining to her what those people had actually done the previous night.
Right under her nose, and after she had successfully infiltrated the enemy's ranks, and without her superiors' surprise, a cooperation agreement was reached with two shipyards in East Germany.
It's not that this cooperation will bring any crisis to the motherland, but rather that the inability to control the situation reflects the organization's incompetence in this operation.
Yulia's heart skipped a beat at her superior's nonchalant attitude. She knew how serious the failure of this mission was and how terrible its impact would be.
If news of her being tricked reached East Germany, the organization would become a laughing stock.
This would loosen control over East Germany and lead to East Germany underestimating China.
This influence is intangible, but it certainly exists, as evidenced by the success of this collaboration.
How could Neptune Shipyard and Valnor Shipyard have signed such an important cooperation agreement with the visiting delegation members without reporting to their superiors?
If we think this way, does it mean that East Germany has realized their incompetence and bravely taken a tentative step, as evidenced by their agreement to cooperate between the two shipyards and the visiting delegation?
This kind of influence can have far-reaching consequences.
Under pressure and influence from the organization, the efforts of a certain East German party to invite the major Eastern power to visit and discuss economic and trade cooperation were hindered and thwarted.
The organization's goal was to control the situation, but now that plan has been flawed.
The organization's efforts and threats have become a joke.
If East Germany can reach the first cooperation agreement with the visiting delegation, it will be able to reach more cooperation agreements in the future.
This is a manifestation of the domino effect.
Therefore, Yulia has really messed up. The losses she caused to the organization were not in the hotel expenses or the breach of contract fees at the farm, but in the overall layout.
"What if we make it public?"
She tried to buy herself some leverage, stammering, "They ordered the cows from the farm..."
"Natasha, stop talking about cows."
Her superior impatiently reminded her, "If you don't want the organization to become a laughing stock among your East German counterparts, if you don't want this to have even more serious consequences."
Before Yulia could argue any further, the superior emphasized, "I can confirm that the people who went to the farm to buy dairy cows were definitely not the same people you met."
"How can this be--"
Yulia couldn't believe it, just as she couldn't believe that she had lost so completely and fallen so hard this time.
"Actually, it's not your fault." The superior said helplessly, "Your partner disappeared. He disappeared after you boarded the train, and your family couldn't contact him."
"Ah!" Yulia exclaimed in surprise again, "Wasn't he supposed to be protecting me from the shadows all along?"
“I’m sorry, Natasha, he has disappeared.” The superior’s reply was full of frustration, and he explained, “We also thought he was on an undercover mission, and it was normal for him to remain silent. But we couldn’t get in touch with him until the news of the contract came out.”
"Don't worry about the hotel and farm, I've already arranged for someone to pick you up."
Her superior kindly told her how to extricate herself and carefully instructed her, "After this matter is over, there is another mission waiting for you in Africa. That's all for now."
After hanging up the phone, Yulia nearly collapsed to the ground.
Her superiors did give her opportunities; she went to Africa.
It's more like a punishment, yet also like a forgiveness, a gesture of understanding stemming from the disappearance of a partner.
The failure of this operation cannot be entirely blamed on her, so the organization was magnanimous and did not punish her.
But someone had to step forward and take responsibility for the mission's failure. Her superiors couldn't take it; only she could.
So going to Africa, where the odds were against her, became her only hope of survival.
High earnings come with high risks.
Just think about it, if you have several tasks a year, or at least just one, you can accumulate enough for retirement in three to five years. How generous must that salary and benefits be?
Similarly, the risks are also enormous.
They not only have to face the dangers of the mission itself, but also the punishment from the organization if the mission fails.
Yulia didn't really care what she had given up or lost last night; she only cared about how the other person had seen through her.
If she doesn't get this answer, she will lack confidence when performing the next task.
Therefore, she desperately wanted to find Mr. Li, even if it meant confronting him directly, she needed to know the answer.
"Madam, you cannot leave yet."
Seeing her stand up to leave, the duty manager frowned and reminded her, "It's safer for you to stay at the hotel."
"Thank you, I'll handle the bill."
Yulia had already acknowledged her defeat and calmly recounted her experience, saying, "My friend will be here soon."
"Of course, that includes you too."
Seeing the farm manager standing in front of her, she pointed at him and said, "I will take responsibility for this myself."
"It would be best if it could be handled properly."
The hotel duty manager smiled slightly and said, "You can rest in the lounge area while waiting for your friend, or you can go back to your room upstairs to rest. Our service will remain the same."
"Thank you." Yulia nodded in thanks, then looked at the waiter and asked, "Could you help me pack my luggage?"
"Of course, it's an honor."
The waiter who received the tip was particularly enthusiastic, bowing slightly before hurrying towards the elevator.
Seeing her honesty, the farm manager, Hans, stopped pressuring and bothering her.
Yulia picked up the coffee on the coffee table and drank it all in one gulp. Then, she naturally took a cigarette from the shelf and had the waiter light it for her.
She walked to the French windows with her arms crossed, just like she was waiting for her friend, without a trace of embarrassment on her face.
The duty manager and the farm manager exchanged a glance, both agreeing that this was the best way to handle the situation.
But their own ulterior motives also made them less interested in talking to each other.
The duty manager nodded politely, quietly instructed the waiter to keep an eye on Yulia, and then returned to the front desk.
Farm manager Hans knew there was no need to make a scene, so he chose a comfortable sofa to sit on and wait patiently.
The hotel won't let him skip out on the bill; he can just wait until the hotel has sorted things out before contacting Yulia.
So Julia stood by the floor-to-ceiling window smoking a cigarette, a waiter watching her from a short distance away, while Hans sipped his coffee, and everything returned to normal.
Before long, the sound of cars roaring in the distance could be heard, which is unusual in Rostock, as young people prefer to race in big cities.
Just as everyone in the hotel lobby was wondering who was so bold as to speed on the city streets, a W50 truck, seemingly out of control and loaded with mud, sped towards them.
bang——
Unfortunately, the dump truck crashed directly into the floor-to-ceiling window where Yulia was, and then drove straight into the lobby.
Yulia, who had just been standing by the window, was like a tattered rag doll, thrown off by a speeding truck, crashing into the steps and rolling a few times before falling silent.
Everything happened so suddenly. Everyone in the hotel was frantically trying to avoid the danger. Thick smoke was billowing around, and no one had time to care about what had happened to the female college student.
When the hotel duty manager and some of the braver employees ran out, the driver was long gone from the truck, leaving only Yulia's twisted body and a pile of rubble...
-
Waaaaaah—waaaaah—
Fire trucks and ambulances sped past one after another. Li Xuewu glanced out the window, then turned to Sha Qizhi and asked, "Did you find out? Are the people from Beijing Chemical in Lubmin City?"
Their convoy departed from Neptune Shipyard and headed to the train station to prepare for a change of location.
With things settled here, it was time to move on to the next stop. Li Xuewu told Waldrich that he was very busy, but it was the truth.
"It should be in Lubmin."
Sandweapon reported, "However, we didn't follow them too closely, so we're unsure of their destination."
"It's okay, as long as we know where they are."
Li Xuewu smiled faintly, looked out the window and said, "I really hope they can succeed."
Is this considered lion's tears?
Sha Qizhi didn't quite understand the leader's wild idea. If the people at Beijing Chemical could achieve their goal, why go to such lengths and start in Rostock?
Where do we go next?
You heard right. After the negotiations and signing of the shipyard agreement were completed, Sand City still doesn't know where to go next.
Looking out the car window at the scenery of Rostock, Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, "Let's go to Dresden."
"To Dresden?"
Sha Qi was truly shocked by the leader's idea. Was this going from the northernmost part of East Germany to the southernmost part?
Dresden is certainly not the southernmost point of East Germany; the southernmost point is the Karl Marx district. However, Dresden, which borders the Czech Republic, can also be considered part of the south.
"That's right, to Dresden."
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "After listening to Julia's introduction, I am fascinated by Dresden, this industrial city. We cannot let her efforts and hopes go to waste."
"..." Sha Qizhi was speechless. He really couldn't figure out how the leader made the decision.
Since we can't understand the leader's explanation, let's start by thinking about what Dresden has to offer.
As for Yulia's efforts and hopes, he didn't believe them at all. Last night, the conversation between the leader and Yulia was conducted under surveillance and recording.
Yulia never imagined that her superiors would be so cautious, conducting reverse wiretapping and recording.
In this situation, even if an investigation is conducted upon returning to the home country, there will be evidence to prove innocence.
The leader is completely innocent.
This operation not only saved on travel expenses, but also allowed them to make a small profit from farm orders.
Don't ask how the leader gets the orders from the farm and makes money. If he tells people and they learn from him, he'll become a sinner.
He could only say that sometimes contracts are also money; as long as someone approves, even a piece of waste paper can be used as money.
On another note, the leader decided to go to Dresden, so what is Dresden about?
Based on the information he had, Dresden had a favorable economic and geographical location in the chemical industry, allowing it to import raw materials and fuels for the production of chemical fibers, pharmaceuticals, photographic paper, and rubber products.
Steel companies in the Dresden district, such as Lisa and Groditz, produce one-quarter of the country's steel and four-fifths of its steel pipes.
The Dresden region also possesses lignite, a natural resource of great importance to all of Europe.
Quartz sand, clay raw materials, various building materials, non-ferrous metals, and timber account for a significant proportion of the national supply and sales.
The Dresden region ranks third in the country in terms of industrial development, with heavy industry as its leading sector. It is a major energy base, and its coal mining and power industries rank first in the country.
The machinery industry, mainly engaged in the manufacturing of motors, electronics, and instruments, has developed rapidly.
Although its agricultural production scale ranks last in the country, its agricultural technology, tractor equipment, and fertilizer levels are relatively high.
The main crops are rye and potatoes.
The area has a high proportion of grasslands and pastures, and its dairy animal husbandry industry is well-developed.
Centered on Dresden and including nearby industrial towns, the Dresden urban agglomeration has attracted more people to this emerging industrial city.
If we were to make a precise guess, he would lean more towards the idea that Dresden was the location of Jena and the Zeiss factory.
During this trip to East Germany to explore Taobao, Shaqizhicai did not believe that the leaders would let go of East Germany's technological treasures.
What do Jena and Zeiss do?
Zeiss is more famous among Chinese people; back in the day, Zeiss telescopes were treasures on the battlefield.
But Zeiss's fate also began with that war, leading to an uncertain future.
Just as there were East Germany and West Germany, there were also East and West Germany at this time.
East Zeiss is the abbreviation for the Zeiss company that split into East Germany after World War II. Its predecessor was an optical company founded in Jena in 1846 by Carl Zeiss, Ernst Abbe, and Otto Schott.
The company is known for producing cameras and optical equipment, and Jena was once an important camera production base.
In 1945, the United States transferred some of the technical personnel and equipment from the Jena factory to West Germany to establish Carl Zeiss AG, which is now known as West Zeiss.
After the Soviet occupation, the remaining equipment was dismantled and moved to Kyiv. East German technicians then rebuilt the factory in Jena, naming it Carl Zeiss Jena, which means East Zeiss.
Interestingly, the two sides even went to court, both vying for the legitimate position and claiming to be the original Zeiss, just like JDB and Wanglaoji.
In 1950, the lawsuit ruled that both parties retained the right to use the trademark in Europe, America, and Eastern Europe, respectively.
Okay, in this bipolar world, problems and conflicts are so easy to resolve: you sell yours, he sells his, and there's no conflict.
In 1947, East Germany integrated optical factories such as East Zeiss and Meyer to form VEB PENTACON DRESDEN.
VEB: State-owned enterprise
PENTACON: Pan Taikang
DRESDEN: Dresden
The translation is: Dresden People's Enterprise Pantaikang Company.
With this translation, everyone knows which company it is; Pentaxon lenses are extremely famous in the industry.
In 1962, East Zeiss published the "Jenaer Jahrbuch" series of scientific documents under the name VEB Carl Zeiss Jena, and the material in the sand artifacts he held was this.
Speaking of which, there's an interesting fact: after World War II, Zeiss was actually divided into three parts.
Although the United States and the Soviet Union had agreed on the terms for the partition of Germany in the Yalta Agreement, Jena, located in East Germany, should be occupied by the Soviet Union.
However, Patton, being an unconventional man, still crossed the line and invaded the Jena and Dresden, where the Zeiss factory was located.
Under pressure from Patton, East Cai, under the pretext of "assistance," evacuated some technical personnel and equipment overnight and transferred them to his own territory, Desi.
As a result, 127 scientists and engineers who originally belonged to Jena in East Germany were taken to Oberkochen and other German-West-American occupied territories.
At the same time, the Carl Zeiss Foundation was moved to Stuttgart, Germany, which led to the establishment of the West Zeiss Foundation.
When the Soviets took over Jena, all that remained were empty factory buildings and some top-notch optical glass and production equipment that the Americans couldn't take with them.
Using war reparations as a pretext, the Soviets looted the remaining resources, along with some of the scientists who remained, and transported them back to the Soviet Union, Ukraine, and Kyiv by plane.
This portion of resources also served the Russian optical industry for many years, for example:
The Kazan Optical and Mechanical Plant used these technologies to produce Zenit SLR cameras, whose design was derived from Zeiss's Contax and Praktica.
The camera Li Xuewu bought from Lao Baduo in the border region was a Zenit SLR camera.
The establishment of the KMZ factory in the suburbs of Moscow marked the birth of another giant in the Soviet optical industry, and its Zorki and Kiev cameras were also heavily influenced by Zeiss designs.
The arsenal in Kyiv began producing military optical equipment such as telescopes and rangefinders based on Zeiss designs.
The Leningrad LOMO factory became a leader in Soviet microscope production.
During World War II, Zeiss was the main supplier of telescopes, rangefinders, and various artillery and aircraft sights to the Germans.
Its famous T-coating prevents snipers' binoculars from revealing their position due to sunlight reflection, greatly improving their combat effectiveness.
The development of Xicai and Dongcai took different paths.
Despite the market economy, Sitze continues to maintain its world-leading position in multiple fields such as microscopes, medical equipment, and astronomical instruments.
Under the guidance of the planned economy, East Germany's Zeiss became an important export enterprise, mainly serving the fields of telescopes, binoculars, cameras, astronomical telescopes, and microlithography equipment.
Was Li Xuewu really after Dong Cai's technology, specifically the camera?
Of course not. While cameras and telescopes are high-efficiency products, microlithography equipment is more meaningful.
Few people know that just a few years ago, East Germany established a microelectronics research center in Dresden and secretly carried out research on photolithography technology.
Li Xuewu confirmed that the KARL-ZEISS-JENA optical system developed by this research center can achieve a precision of 3 micrometers.
While its accuracy lags behind the West, it represents a high level within its own camp, far surpassing anything domestically.
How did Li Xuewu find out this secret?
Shangguan Qi told him it was for him. Before returning to China, Shangguan Qi had received a letter from a classmate and learned of this news.
It is a secret to society, but in the field of scientific research these days, the principle of keeping secrets is full of loopholes.
Shangguan Qi had explained microlithography technology to Li Xuewu, as well as its importance to industrial development.
It's one thing if they don't know or don't have the opportunity to return, but it's another if they come to East Germany and don't bring back a seed of lithography technology for China.
Even if it means cheating and deception, we have to take it back. Science has no borders, so this technology belongs to all mankind. That's the right way to think, isn't it?