The Red Era, the Opening University Speech

Chapter 158 Full Firepower
Because he arrived early, Li Mu could occasionally see one or two familiar faces, such as Wang Shoujue, Professor Zhang, Ye Zhupei and others.

When they found Li Mu here, they would come up and say a few words.

This puzzled some experts and professors who came from various places to attend the conference, as well as people from the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building. They thought, "Who is this young man? Why are so many people greeting him?"

……

After most of the participants had arrived, the male host of the meeting stood on the podium and said in a loud and powerful voice: "After seven days of intense discussions, this discussion meeting on industrial product export and foreign exchange earnings is about to come to an end."

……

"In this meeting, 13 industrial products are tentatively selected as suitable for export and foreign exchange earning. Next, the proposers of each product will come to the stage to make a final summary report."

……

The male host first said some set words, and then quickly got to the point, inviting the proposers of the industrial products that had been "approved" after intense discussions over the past few days to come on stage.

The first person to come on stage was a professor in his 40s or 50s wearing a Mao suit. He said, "Exporting low-priced components is a plan that can give full play to the cheap advantage of our products..."

The second person to come on stage was a little younger, in his thirties, wearing round-framed glasses and with slightly messy hair: "Vigorously developing light industries such as clothing and handicrafts is to give full play to our country's historical advantages..."

The third one was an old professor, who simply started to talk about continuing to increase the export of raw materials.

……

From the beginning of the report, there was a constant buzz of questioning from the audience, and many experts and professors even shook their heads.

They couldn't think of a better solution, but at least they knew that these solutions were not very good.

Li Mu, who was sitting in the back, made a decision in his mind: "This won't work."

Before he came, he had actually anticipated that the outcome of the discussion would probably be very bad.

But I didn't expect it to be like this.

Not only did we fail to break out of the old cognitive framework, but we were also going back to the old ways.

Continuing to increase exports of raw materials may not necessarily be beneficial, but it is always right.

After all, the current academic community is too unfamiliar with what market demand is!

In fact, let alone this era, even in future generations, how many scholars can create products that the market needs?
Thinking of this, Li Mu stood up and raised his hand to signal the male host on the stage.

The male host, who was about to call the next person to speak, was stunned and said, "Young comrade, do you have any opinions?"

Following his voice, the originally noisy hall quieted down a little, and everyone's eyes turned to Li Mu.

When leaders Dong Huaxing, Guo Mo, and Qiu, who were sitting in the front rows, saw him stand up to speak, they all smiled at the same time.

Looking at Li Mu who suddenly stood up, some experts and professors from the Semiconductor Research Institute, Chemical Metallurgy Research Institute, Beijing Institute of Technology and China Europe International Business University who knew Li Mu, all had joy on their faces.

However, the experts who were not familiar with Li Mu were puzzled. It was bad enough that a young man could attend a meeting of this level, but he actually dared to speak at this time.

Many people even began to whisper. Although they did not say it out loud, their expressions and eyes were clearly full of doubt.

The male host first looked at the leaders' reactions before saying, "Then we would like to invite this young comrade to come to the stage and speak."

Without waiting for him to finish, Li Mu strode towards the stage.

After nodding to Dong Huaxing and the others, he turned around, took a deep breath, and said:

"Leaders, experts, and professors, my name is Li Mu. I am currently serving as a consultant at the Semiconductor Research Institute, Chemical Metallurgy Research Institute, Computing Technology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Institute, Foreign Trade Commission, and the First Ministry of Machine Building."

"First of all, I want to apologize for interrupting the discussion, but I have a suggestion that I can't help but express. I beg you to give me a chance to speak!"

Having said this, he paused, and unsurprisingly, a burst of whispers arose from below.

Even those who knew Li Mu couldn't help but be shocked at this moment.

It is not uncommon to serve as a consultant to multiple research institutes and political institutions at the same time, and many capable professors can do it.

But it is very rare to serve as a consultant for research institutes in so many different fields at the same time.

Seeing this, the host on the stage said promptly: "A discussion meeting is a place for everyone to communicate with each other. The more you debate, the clearer the truth becomes. You can speak up if you have any questions."

Li Mu nodded and continued:

“My suggestion is that the focus of this conference should not be limited to traditional industrial sectors.”

"In addition to traditional industrial industries, the emerging semiconductor industry is booming in today's world and is a brand new blue ocean."

"In terms of semiconductor technology, we are 10 years ahead of the rest of the world. If we can delve deeper into the semiconductor industry, we will definitely have great potential."

As soon as he finished speaking, an expert in the audience rubbed his glasses, stood up and asked seriously:

"Semiconductors have not yet formed a complete industrial chain. Even if there are one or two products, their scale is not as large as that of traditional industrial industries."

"And its current effect on increasing national strength is far less than the latter."

Li Mu replied: "The penetration of semiconductors into traditional industries will be the trend of future development!"

"What makes you so sure? So many people here haven't noticed the problem, are you the only one who can see it clearly?" Someone immediately responded with sharp words.

In fact, Li Mulai's timing was a bit unfortunate.

On the last day, when the discussion was almost settled, someone suddenly came out and said that none of yours were good and only mine was good. Of course, this would make people dissatisfied.

Especially since he is so young, what he says is not convincing at all.

"No wonder my boss told me to 'talk less and listen more'." Li Mu realized it belatedly, but he did not regret standing up.

He smiled, remained calm in the face of doubts, and continued:
"Experts and professors may not be aware of the huge value that semiconductors have created in our country's recent industrial product export earnings."

"I won't talk about the past, but let's take two products that our Semiconductor Research Institute is currently developing as an example."

"One is an electronic watch, which uses the latest integrated circuit technology to visually present the current year, month and day in digital form, and has the functions of timing and alarm."

"The second is a handheld game console, which is an educational and entertainment tool with similar effects to Chinese toys such as the Luban Lock and the Nine Links."

"I brought models and simple information about electronic watches and handheld game consoles today. Interested experts and professors can take a look."

After saying that, Li Mu took out the documents from his bag, a total of 21 copies, and distributed them all.

With so many people, it is obviously impossible for them to watch it one by one.

After receiving the information, the experts and professors quickly browsed through it and then discussed it nervously for a while.

The noisy sound buzzed in the conference hall, and it took a while for it to gradually calm down.

Not long after, someone spoke up:

"Foreign watches are all old brands. Whether in terms of precision or technical craftsmanship, they are better than ours. Can we compete with them?"

Li Mu smiled and replied, "Everyone has just seen the model of an electronic watch. Although it has the same functions as a mechanical watch, its working principle and appearance are very different."

"The most important thing is that the traditional mechanical watch manufacturing process is complicated and sophisticated, time-consuming and expensive, and ordinary people simply cannot afford it."

"But electronic watches have opened up a new path using integrated circuits. We are absolutely leading in technology, the production time is short, and the price can be as low as around 15-20 yuan!"

"But its profit remains unchanged. After exporting, we can sell it at a high price of more than 500." When the price was heard, the conference hall suddenly fell silent.

Everyone looked at Li Mu in shock or confusion. If this wasn't the Great Hall of the People with tight security, they would have thought a madman had come in.

Dozens of times profit, even robbery doesn't do it this way.

At this moment, Dong Huaxing coughed lightly and said, "Let me interject. The Foreign Trade Committee commissioned the patriotic businessmen at OM to do a market survey. This price is absolutely feasible."

"It is a unique electronic product in the world. Only our Xia country can produce it. If foreigners want to buy it, they can't go around us."

"Even the price is a bit conservative. 700 yuan is the starting price of electronic watches."

These words were like a bolt from the blue, shocking everyone so much that they couldn't recover for a long time.

Even those who knew that Li Mu's invention was very profitable were shocked by the profit.

Forty to fifty times the profit, low cost and high selling price, what industrial product can compare with this?

……

There was a brief silence in the audience.

Although watches are not a necessity, they are indeed a good tool that can make life more convenient.

In the past, the price of more than 100 or 200 yuan was prohibitive.

But now tell them that they can buy the same, no, even a better watch for only a dozen dollars, so why not?

Some experts and professors couldn't find fault with the electronic watch even if they wanted to, so they shifted their focus to the following targets:
"Even if a digital watch is feasible, you said this handheld game console is an entertainment product?"

"Is it just for fun?"

"Especially the market issue. This thing is unheard of in the whole world. It is a brand new product. How can you be sure that it will have a market overseas?"

This series of questions was recognized by many experts and professors below, who nodded in agreement.

This problem once troubled Li Mu.

However, he already had the answer at this time. He asked the staff for a blackboard and said:
"The handheld game console is just a carrier. The key to attracting people to buy it is the various interesting games on it."

"It is similar to educational toys such as the Nine-Ring Chain, Luban Lock, and Tangram, but it has development potential far beyond them."

"For example, blocks will keep falling from the top of this blackboard. When a row of blocks is filled, they will be eliminated. Otherwise, they will remain on the blackboard."

“The speed keeps increasing and the difficulty keeps increasing until the block touches the top of the screen and the game ends.”

"During the entire game, people's logical thinking, spatial perception and strategic planning abilities are tested."

"It's like playing with a Rubik's Cube, but the method is different. The former requires both hands and brain, while the latter only requires brain and can be completed on a virtual screen."

The emergence of handheld game consoles was still a little too advanced.

In this era, people's entertainment methods are at most watching movies and listening to the radio.

If you tell them that people in later generations drink happy water, turn on the air conditioner and play canyon games every day, others will just look at you as an idiot.

Therefore, he needs to use the already successful Rubik's Cube to endorse the handheld game console, otherwise many people will not understand why there is a market for handheld game consoles.

"Pa~Pa~Pa~" three rounds of applause suddenly broke the long silence. Dong Huaxing and other leaders stood up and applauded.

Following their affirmation, applause from the audience broke out like a tide.

Even if some experts and professors still have doubts, they can only be temporarily suppressed at this time.

There's nothing we can do about it, since the Rubik's Cube is really selling very well abroad.

……

In the subsequent report, although Li Mu achieved his goal, he did not forget to make suggestions on several feasible industrial products.

The insightful analysis won praise from a number of experts and professors.

Soon, the discussion meeting on industrial product export and foreign exchange earnings came to a close amid great applause.

……

However, after the applause stopped, the crowd did not disperse.

Many experts and professors are eager to know whether what Li Mu said about his holding positions in six units is true.

Professor of Beijing Institute of Technology: "His name is Li Mu, and he is a student of our Beijing Institute of Technology. He has excellent grades. He is a junior this year and took the early graduation exam. He got full marks in almost every subject!"

Researcher at the Semiconductor Research Institute: "Li Mu is the backbone of our institute. The two directors think highly of him and all research is led by him!"

Expert from the First Ministry of Machine Building: "Our leader Qiu waited a long time to get this person. His research and inventions have helped us build more than a dozen new factories. He is very capable!"

……

After a round of questioning, these people got a rather absurd answer.

What this young man said about being a consultant was not only true, but his status was far more than that of an ordinary consultant!
……

While people were discussing below, Li Mu was surrounded by Dong Huaxingqiu and others.

A few people first introduced him to an old leader who was wearing a blue Mao suit and was in his fifties. "This is Gu Zheng, the leader of the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building who is in charge of the electronics industry."

"Hello, leader." Li Mu greeted quickly.

The Ministry of Electronics Industry, as I heard, is the one in charge of their semiconductor sector, so we will have to deal with them in the future.

Gu Zheng looked at Li Mu with admiration in his eyes and said, "Don't be shy, young comrade. You were very good when you spoke just now. Your analysis was detailed and close, and your views were very advanced."

"Semiconductors are a new industry with huge potential, which is obvious to all."

"And I'm also looking forward to its application in the military field. I heard that your Beijing Institute of Technology has also set up a D-bullet trajectory calculation research group, right?"

Hearing this, Li Mu asked in surprise: "How do you know this?"

"Haha, integrated circuit computers, J language, such important electronic industry development status, of course I am clear about it." Gu Zheng said with a smile.

The two chatted for a while, and after Gu Zheng expressed his goodwill towards Li Mu, he stopped talking.

After all, leaders Dong Hua, Xingqiu and others were still waiting on the side.

"Judging from today's response, your electronic watches and handheld game consoles are likely to be officially approved as key projects for exporting industrial products and earning foreign exchange," Dong Huaxing said with a smile.

Leader Qiu then said: "This seminar is possible thanks to your two things, otherwise it would probably be the last one."

It was the first and last session, and it was obvious that it was not well organized.

This self-deprecating remark made several leaders who were hosting the symposium smile bitterly. They excitedly invited people to come, but if the symposium ended in a mess, they would all be embarrassed.

Seeing this, Li Mu struck while the iron was hot and said, "Leaders, I want to personally lead the research and development of these two products and develop them as soon as possible. What do you think?"

Dong Huaxing, Qiu Lingling, Guo Mo:
"no!"

(End of this chapter)