In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 101: Xie Wei refuses to work without power, and Principal Li is criticized by his superiors
"Instead of making baseless guesses, it is better to ask Xie Wei directly. A frank discussion will also be beneficial to future developments. I believe Comrade Xie Wei will not object."

Early in the morning, Li Rui called a meeting of the school's main leaders in a small conference room.

The clarion call for reform and opening up has been sounded.

The country not only proposed reform and opening up, but also proposed strengthening the construction of scientific education.

We need to be prepared on how to respond to the national call and how to carry out the school’s work next.

The policy has come out, but no one knows how to implement it specifically.

Li Rui started the topic by saying that Xie Wei asked him to ask his superiors for policies and set up a joint school-enterprise office. Everyone's expressions became strange: Xie Wei had already grasped it before the national policy was introduced!

Everything at Hongguang Factory is in full compliance with the requirements of the reform. We design and develop new products based on market demand and rely on our own efforts instead of waiting or relying on others.

Xie Wei knew the national policy in advance and acted in a way that scared everyone.

Some people think that it was revealed by a big shot that Xie Wei had contact with; some people think that Xie Wei was just a blind cat that stumbled upon a dead mouse; some people think that Xie Wei analyzed it through various clues; and some people even irresponsibly proposed that Xie Wei had the ability to predict the future...

Under such circumstances, Liu Debao directly proposed to have a frank talk with Xie Wei.

Work will be easier if we have someone who can accurately grasp the policies of superiors.

"The best way is to ask Xie Wei directly. I didn't treat him as an ordinary student from the beginning, and now I realize that I still underestimated him... A young man with such a strong ability to organize intelligence should be properly talked to. Didn't the principal also say before that Xie Wei is meticulous and plans everything in advance!"

Zhang Mingqiu also spoke.

Soon, Xie Wei appeared in the meeting room.

Xie Wei was not at all surprised to see the school leaders holding a meeting in the small conference room early in the morning.

The Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee had already concluded, and the newspapers publishing the contents of the "Communiqué" had not yet arrived at the school, but the radio had already introduced the contents and decisions of the meeting in detail.

"The result you've been waiting for is here. Reform, opening up, everything is centered on economic development... Tell me what you think."

After looking at Xie Wei for a long time, Li Rui couldn't see any clues from his face.

I had no choice but to get straight to the point.

Xie Wei's opinion is not important.

What’s important is that they need to know how Xie Wei knew that such a policy would be introduced.

After taking a look at the leaders' expressions, Xie Wei spoke without hesitation:

"Since 76, some units have gradually reduced their planned orders... Hongguang Factory is a military supporting factory with a poor technical foundation and backward production equipment... Last year's planned orders were reduced by 40%, and this year they were directly reduced by 70%... Before this, I also learned about the situation from other factories. Factories with weak foundations and backward production capacity are in this situation. Even military factories are reducing their orders..."

Xie Wei had already prepared his speech.

The introduction of any policy is accompanied by a lot of research and pilot projects.

A country will not implement policies that could have a significant impact on the entire country without any preparation or testing.

"It was impossible for Hongguang Factory to develop its own products and not include production in the overall plan before. But when the superiors called for self-reliance, not only was there no problem, but they also received strong support from the superiors, which is very telling."

Xie Wei calmly used the Hongguang Factory as an example.

The reform and opening up that began in 78 actually showed signs of adjustment in the country’s economic policies as early as 76.

"Indeed. In the past, it was no problem for schools to independently set up projects and raise funds, but it was impossible to get support for independent operation and self-financing."

Liu Debao agreed with Xie Wei's statement.

The others nodded.

We all know what the policy is.

"Hongguang Factory has not been able to pay wages for several months, and it is unlikely to get a loan. It has no choice but to seek market survival... However, Huadu Oil and Fat Chemical Factory has no worries about not being able to pay wages, but they still became a pilot for the factory director responsibility system..."

In order to make his words more convincing, Xie Wei brought up the pilot project of Huadu Oil and Fat Chemical Plant.

There are many pilot projects across the country.

Chengdu is far from Huadu, and Xie Wei had given an explanation before: the sales staff arranged by the factory to go to Huadu to investigate the market came back and told Xie Wei!

If you dare to bring it up, you are naturally not afraid of investigation.

"Is this how you judge the shift in the country's focus?"

Li Rui still couldn't completely believe Xie Wei's words.

If it were him, or anyone else here, they would not be able to make such a judgment after receiving this information.

"Not only that. After Nixon's visit to China, China began to introduce some advanced technologies and equipment, and exchanges with Western countries increased. Introducing technology requires a large amount of foreign exchange... The country is short of foreign exchange, so in recent years, the support for enterprises that can create foreign exchange has been increasing..."

The person in charge of an enterprise that can export and earn foreign exchange can act with all his might.

Everyone knows that the domestic industrial base is weak and the foundation is poor. Introducing technology and advanced equipment is undoubtedly the best way.

Even if the most advanced top technology is restricted, the second-hand equipment that can be imported is more advanced than what is currently available domestically.

"Xie Wei, what does reform and opening up have to do with export earnings?"

Liu Debao asked in confusion.

Everyone looked at Xie Wei in the same puzzled manner.

It seems that changes in national policies have nothing to do with export earnings.

Exporting to earn foreign exchange has been an ongoing endeavor since the founding of New China.

"What the country exports are all primary raw materials and cheap agricultural products. Such as precious metal ores, crude oil, etc., or traditional agricultural products such as tea and handicrafts such as porcelain... These products do not bring much foreign exchange. Exporting a shipload cannot even bring back a piece of advanced machinery and equipment..."

"The industrial base is weak and the technology is backward. If we want to develop rapidly and narrow the gap with the international community, we need to invest in upgrading production technology and developing new technologies... But the country has no money... This has formed a vicious cycle..."

At this moment, Xie Wei transformed into an economics lecturer.

The school leaders were given a basic economics class that high school students learned decades later.

Upper decision decided by the economic background.

"The superiors have been calling on all units to be self-reliant and not wait for others to help them, in order to break the vicious cycle. The national pilot units are not only Hongguang Factory and Huadu Oil and Fat Chemical Factory. We need advanced international equipment and technology. Similarly, domestic cheap industrial products also need international markets..."

"..."

Xie Wei's words plunged the small conference room into deathly silence.

None of the school leaders studied economics, but through Xie Wei's introduction they understood that the trend of reform and opening up is a historical inevitability.

Only when the economy develops can the country become strong!

It will be difficult to develop the economy if we eat from the same pot.

"After the symposium on science and education last year, the college entrance examination was resumed; a science and technology conference was held in March this year, proposing that science and technology are the primary productive force... This year's college entrance examination is more complete than last year, and the establishment of the junior class at USTC is also an exploration of education reform..."

The 78 Science and Technology Conference was hailed as the Spring of Science. More than scientific and technological workers from across the country attended the conference. Several of you here have attended this conference and are naturally familiar with its content.

Naturally, we also know how much impact this meeting will have.

Xie Wei paused for a moment, waiting for everyone to digest what he had said, before continuing.

“In fact, it had already started at that time.”

"..."

Everyone was silent.

"The school-enterprise joint operation is also a pilot reform. No one knows how it will develop and to what extent it can develop. One thing is that if the school always regards the school-enterprise joint operation as a blood transfusion for the school's independent projects, the projects will be unable to continue due to lack of funds, and the school-enterprise joint operation will also not be able to operate due to insufficient development funds!"

At the end, Xie Wei made his attitude clear.

The joint operation between school and enterprise must be separated from the school, and the school is not allowed to use the joint operation between school and enterprise as a cash bag.

"If the school wants me to participate in the operation of the school-enterprise joint office, I must not interfere in the daily operation. In addition, the establishment of the school's non-military technology projects must be proposed by the school-enterprise joint office based on market demand, not arranged by the school!"

Showdown.

No more pretending.

Xie Wei directly and clearly expressed his attitude: school leaders are not allowed to interfere in the school-enterprise joint operation, and are not allowed to use the school-enterprise joint operation as a money bag.

"According to what you said, if the school does not interfere with the operation of the school-enterprise joint venture and the power is concentrated in the hands of the managers, then who can ensure that the project is correct?"

Li Rui didn't expect that Xie Wei, as the school leader, still refused to give up the idea of ​​holding the power of joint operation between school and enterprise.

He immediately raised his doubts.

"The school has the right to supervise and manage. Projects jointly run by the school and enterprises need to have complete market research, market analysis, expected investment returns and other reports, and obtain the school's consent..."

Xie Wei also prepared a response plan for Li Rui's questions.

No leader wants his subordinates to get out of control.

Xie Wei was not fighting for power with the principal, but just wanted to prevent the school from turning the school-enterprise joint venture into a slush fund and draining money from it like crazy. In the 1990s, how many companies with huge development potential were treated as cash cows by their superiors and drained of money like crazy, and eventually disappeared from the market?
······
"Old leader, are you busy?"

Seventh Machinery Department.

Still without waiting for the appointment time, Li Rui broke into the old leader's office despite the secretary's attempt to stop him.

At this moment, the old leader was buried in a pile of documents.

"Come here? Sit down for a moment while I finish these documents."

The old leader spoke as he continued to process the documents.

Li Rui was like a good student, sitting upright and looking straight ahead, completely different from before.

Before the meeting at school was over, he received a call from the ministry asking him to rush to the capital as quickly as possible.

Li Rui naturally knew that it must be related to the policy he came to ask for before.

Fortunately, I got the reason from Xie Wei. I can process this information and turn it into my own reason.

It's not that Li Rui hasn't thought about pushing Xie Wei in front of the leader now and giving Xie Wei a better future. Li Rui, who has worked in the system for decades, knows very well that even if Xie Wei goes to the ministry now, it will be more detrimental to his development.

That kid can even compete with the principal for power!

"Okay, let's go to the small meeting room first."

After a while, the leader finished the work at hand and spoke to Li Rui.

"what?"

Li Rui was stunned.

Old leader, why don’t you talk to me alone first?
The leader ignored Li Rui and walked straight outside. Li Rui had no choice but to hurry up and follow him.

"Tomorrow, I will no longer be in the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building. The Ministry is very dissatisfied with some of the things you have done..."

On the way to the meeting room, the leader whispered to Li Rui.

"what?"

Li Rui, who was wondering if there was anything else, was stunned again.

"What's the point of playing dumb? Do you really think that the higher-ups don't know about such a big commotion? Minister Zheng is very dissatisfied with your investment of energy and funds in the difficult technology of the Third Ministry of Machine Building!"

The old leader reminded Li Rui.

Li Ruilai had come to ask for policies before, and after returning he set up a joint school-enterprise office. At the beginning, the department was very satisfied, after all, the school had a large funding gap.

Compared with several other machinery industry ministries, the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building had sufficient funding.

However, compared with the international level, the gap in funding for the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building’s technology was too large.

"Leader, I am not loyal to the Third Machine Ministry..."

Li Rui hurriedly explained.

However, the leader did not speak again.

We have arrived at the small meeting room.

Before he entered the conference room, Principal Li was stunned when he saw the people inside. Even though he had never been scared on the battlefield, he felt a chill in his heart and wanted to turn around and run.

Most of the people in the small conference room are the most core leaders of the department!
What a grand ceremony of a three-court trial!
For a moment, Principal Li suddenly thought: Every time the school needed to find Xie Wei for something, the leaders would be waiting for Xie Wei in the conference room. Xie Wei’s mentality when he walked in was similar to mine at this moment, right?

"Comrade Li Rui is here?"

Minister Zheng looked at Li Rui and called him in.

Li Rui had no choice but to greet the leaders. Without waiting for them to speak, he took the initiative to say, "It just so happens that all the leaders are here. I have important work to report to you..."

Principal Li knew very well that he couldn't let the bosses propose that the school carry out fighter jet-related technical projects right away.

At present, the school does not undertake many aerospace research projects, but the advanced technologies of several fighter jets can be fully combined into an advanced fighter jet.

As long as the assembly design is added, it will be a new fighter!
How can leaders not get angry?

Therefore, we must let the leaders see the achievements of the joint operation between schools and enterprises, and then explain it to them, so that it will be easier to convince them.

Even if the leader is not happy, he won't be that angry as long as there are achievements.

"Please wait for the work report."

The old leader glared at Li Rui and interrupted him.

"No, Minister Song, this matter is too important... We need the ministry to send technicians or use the formula developed by the school to test it..."

"Oh?"

The bigwigs who were about to attack Li Rui for using school funds for many technical projects of the Third Ministry of Machine Building were surprised.

"Did you guys make any breakthroughs?"

The old leader thought Li Rui was trying to change the subject and looked at him with a frown, "Everyone is busy!"

"Minister Song, I know the leaders are very busy, so I thought I should talk about this first... I went to the ministry to ask for policies before. After I came back, with the policies, the school could independently carry out some projects... Look, when I was working on civilian technology to raise funds in the chemical laboratory, I accidentally developed a compound that could increase the density of liquid fuel by 20%..."

"Shh!"

All the leaders' eyes fell on Li Rui's face.

"Comrade Li Rui, are you telling the truth?"

Deputy Minister Ren, who specializes in rocket engines, stood up excitedly, stared at Li Rui, and asked excitedly.

"Deputy Minister Ren, the school's power laboratory is currently conducting experiments... The preliminary data shows that the increase in energy density is not stable, but after adding chlorine trifluoride, the energy density of the same fuel can be guaranteed to increase by at least 12%..."

"Why didn't you report it to the Ministry earlier?"

Deputy Minister Ren's face was filled with anger. "This is just nonsense! Your school's power laboratory can do basic research, but if you want to conduct further research, the conditions are not there!"

The energy density of rocket fuel is deeply related to the rocket's carrying capacity and propulsion efficiency.

"Deputy Minister Ren, let's talk about other things first."

Minister Song glared at Li Rui.

He knows his own old subordinates well. They are bastards. How dare they brag about anything!
For the same weight of fuel, the increased energy density means a longer range and a larger payload.

"Let's talk about fuel first."

Minister Zheng looked at the reactions of others, and they were obviously attracted by the new fuel proposed by Li Rui.

"Chlorine trifluoride was accidentally developed by our chemistry laboratory when we were developing the coating material for the inner pot of rice cookers in cooperation with the school-enterprise joint venture and its partners..."

Li Rui knew that the old leader thought he was bragging, so he gave him a look and explained seriously.

He naturally didn't know that it was Zhang Jingyan and Tang Long who came up with it because they misunderstood what Xie Wei said about aluminum trifluoride.

Once again, Principal Li brought up the issue of the joint venture between school and enterprise.

Leaders must be familiar with this unit.

He learned all these from Xie Wei.

After the leaders learn about the achievements of the pilot project, even if they still do not support the research on fighter-related technologies, they will not blame themselves too much for the sake of the results.

"…an explosion occurred during the experiment. Liang Hongbin and Kang Yi thought it could be used in rocket fuel. The ministry had issued relevant indicators before…Experiments on chlorine trifluoride confirmed that it can not only be used as a rocket fuel catalyst, but also as a propellant fuel itself…"

Kang Yi and Liang Hongbin are both technical personnel familiar to the leaders of the department.

Liang Hongbin, in particular, was one of Minister Qian’s first students at USTC.

"Did you bring samples?"

After listening to this, Deputy Minister Ren’s expression became even more serious.

"Yes. Not only samples, but also the preparation process and formula."

Li Rui hurriedly took out the information he had prepared long ago from his briefcase, walked quickly to Deputy Minister Ren, and handed him the information formula and the preliminary experimental data.

The information was what Li Rui was going to use to get money from the department.

I didn't expect it to come in handy here.

"What's going on with the Third Ministry of Machine Building's project? You are also an old comrade in the ministry. Don't you know what the ministry has? You threw a tantrum and asked for money from the ministry, but you used it to develop the Third Ministry of Machine Building's technical projects! Otherwise, the ministry should communicate with the Third Ministry of Machine Building and put Harbin Institute of Technology in the Third Ministry of Machine Building's ranks?"

Minister Zheng frowned and finally got to the point.

The other leaders also looked at Li Rui with unfriendly expressions.

(End of this chapter)