In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 174 Rocket Classification: The Origin of China's and Foreign Weapons-for-Resources Exchange

"Why don't I stick to my principles?"

Professor Fang looked at Principal Li with a calm expression.

When facing the principal, he focused on staying emotionally stable.

Xie Wei had approached him before and told him that the rocket launcher project could prepare to produce telemetry missiles and further prepare for sample production, and the School-Enterprise Office would give priority to providing funds.

When he learned that the school-enterprise had obtained the department's order to renovate 800 sets of CNC lathes, with a profit of nearly 2000 million, he knew that Xie Wei would give them no shortage of projects.

The principal wants to make a plan for every penny of the school.

However, Xie Wei has the final say on the money for the school-enterprise partnership.

Fang Pengju had long known that Li Rui would definitely cause trouble for him because of the funds Xie Wei allocated to the long-range rocket artillery project from the School-Enterprise Office.

"The office in the laboratory is already tense..."

"Principal, that's the school's problem. The wind tunnel laboratory already has a lot of tasks to do, and each office has its own arrangements. Now there are more projects, and the school doesn't provide any extra space!"

Fang Pengju directly retorted to Li Rui.

If the school does not have enough office space, that is the principal’s problem.

Due to limited funds, Principal Li has launched many projects, which has long made the school faculty and staff, both those with projects and those without, dissatisfied.

"Isn't the school also under construction? The infrastructure can't keep up with the development. I feel helpless! If you spend less, the school will be built."

Principal Li didn't care at all.

Principal Li, whose face was as thick as a city wall, didn't care at all and instead turned the tables.

Fang Pengju stopped talking and didn't plan to pay any more attention to Principal Li. He just focused on his work.

"Well, Comrade Pengju, I want to discuss something with you..."

Seeing that Fang Pengju did not give the principal any face, Principal Li did not take it seriously. Instead, he spoke awkwardly.

"Not negotiable!"

Fang Pengju refused without even raising his head.

Continue drawing at your desk.

"You don't even know what I want to discuss with you..."

"Isn't it just funding? What Xie Wei gave is not enough for the project, and we still have to tighten our belts to make ends meet. We can't embezzle the funds of the wind tunnel laboratory like the school does."

At the end, a look of sneer appeared on Fang Pengju's face.

The wind tunnel laboratory of Harbin Institute of Technology is the first supersonic wind tunnel laboratory in China.

Whether it is a missile or a fighter jet, wind tunnel tests need to be carried out multiple times.

There were originally several aerodynamic layouts for the J-9, but after passing wind tunnel tests, the canard + large delta wing aerodynamic layout was finally chosen.

Improved aerodynamic layout of fighter jets, missiles, etc. also require wind tunnels.

Logically, the school should invest huge amounts of money to continue increasing investment in the construction of the wind tunnel laboratory so that the wind tunnel laboratory can blow out faster winds.

Unfortunately, President Li's strategy of robbing Peter to pay Paul has resulted in little improvement in the wind tunnel laboratory at Harbin Institute of Technology.

"Comrade, your words are so rude! What do you mean by misappropriation?"

Li Rui said unhappily, "Although the school cannot interfere with the school-enterprise investment project, you have to think carefully. Long-range rocket launchers are military technology with advanced technology and great power. If the higher-ups do not agree to export them, the R&D investment will be wasted."

"That's Xie Wei's concern. I'm only responsible for implementing the technology."

Fang Pengju's attitude suddenly increased Li Rui's already suppressed anger, "Comrade, how can you say that? If the invested funds cannot be recovered, then the school-enterprise partnership will be a loss!"

"The loss is on the school-enterprise partnership, but the country has the technology, so it's not a loss."

"I……"

"Hey, the principal is here too!"

Just as Li Rui raised his hand to slap the table, Xie Wei's voice rang out.

Li Rui turned his head and saw Xie Rou following behind Xie Wei, staring at him with wide eyes.

He withdrew his hand in dismay and greeted with a smile, "Xie Rou is here too?"

"Hello principal!"

Xie Rou smiled sweetly and stopped calling the principal grandpa.

"You kid, you used to call the principal grandpa."

"President, I didn't enter Harbin Institute of Technology before. Now that I'm in school, I'm a student and you're the president... Privately, I still call you grandpa."

cut!
Li Rui raised his eyebrows.

In secret, I was afraid I didn't know how that brat Xie Wei would scold me.

"Xie Wei, is there something wrong?"

Li Rui spoke first.

"???"

Now Xie Wei has no idea what to do.

After a moment's pause, he tentatively asked Li Rui: "Principal, this seems to be Director Fang's office?"

"What's wrong with his office? Isn't this a school?"

Li Rui was angry.

Damn it, now fewer and fewer people take me, the principal, seriously. "Xie Wei, if you hadn't come, I would have gone to find you. Do you think Fang Pengju's project can recoup the investment? Didn't you teach me before that if the investment can't get a return, it's better not to invest? Your school-enterprise office exists just to make a profit? If you don't give me a clear answer today, our matter is not over!"

At this moment, Principal Li was really angry.

In his opinion, Xie Wei was too hypocritical.

Regarding the project he wanted to work on, he would say that he could not recover the investment and that he was just messing around; regarding the project he wanted to support, which obviously had no future and was extremely costly, he invested heavily in it without paying any attention to other projects in the school!

How can this be done?

Xie Wei looked at the expressions of Li Rui and Fang Pengju, then turned to look at Xie Rou, thinking that it would be difficult to say it in front of Xie Rou.

"Feng Ke~"

Fang Pengju shouted loudly to the outside.

Feng Ke soon appeared at the door. He thought the teacher wanted to ask about the progress of the tasks assigned to him.

Seeing that the principal and Xie Wei were both inside, he greeted them only to realize that the atmosphere was not right and did not dare to speak for a moment.

"Take Xie Rou to the office vacated for girls..."

"Go ahead, I'll come find you later."

Seeing Xie Rou hiding behind him, Xie Wei saw Feng Ke nod slightly to him, and spoke softly to Xie Rou.

Both Director Fang and Feng Ke are reliable.

Only then did Xie Rou follow Feng Ke and leave.

"I'll listen to your excuses!"

After Xie Rou left, Li Rui dragged over the chair next to him, sat down carelessly, took out a cigarette, and without passing one to Fang Pengju and Xie Wei, he lit one directly and glanced at Xie Wei.

Principal Li didn't even try to save his appearance, which showed how angry he was at the moment.

There’s no way to get over this hurdle, right?
I wanted to ease the atmosphere so I said this in Kang Yi's chemistry laboratory. How many times has Old Man Li used this to mock me?

Xie Wei rolled his eyes and glared at Li Rui, knowing that the old man had to explain.

Principal Li is usually easy to fool, but when it comes to matters concerning national interests, he shows no mercy at all.

In the opinion of President Li, it is in the national interest to develop various advanced weapons and equipment that the troops do not currently have. Although the long-range rocket project is also an advanced project that the troops do not currently have, Fang Pengju's project had been rejected by the troops before, which is obviously not in the national interest.

"exit!"

As Li Rui's face showed more and more impatience, Xie Wei finally spoke.

"Exit? Ahem~ Ahem~"

Xie Wei's words made Li Rui choke on the smoke.

After coughing for a while, he finally recovered. Then he looked at Xie Wei and questioned him with a grim expression:
"Who should we export to? Those who can afford it can make it themselves; those who can't make it can't afford it! How much would it cost to launch a battalion-level salvo of this thing?"

It’s not that Principal Li is ignorant.

What he said is true.

"Battalion-level salvos are indeed not cheap. As for those who can afford them, they can make them themselves, and those who can't make them can't afford them, I don't agree with that. Although our long-range artillery cannot compare to the accuracy of missiles, the technical difficulty is not small."

Fang Pengju was unhappy.

Is the technical threshold for this project that I am working on so low?

How many armies in the world are equipped with long-range rocket launchers?
“I’m not talking about technical difficulty!”

Li Rui glared at Fang Pengju and said, "It's none of your business. I'll just listen to his excuses!"

Fang Pengju sighed helplessly and could only look at Xie Wei with a wry smile.

"Principal, you know the Treaty on the Limitation of the Proliferation of Ballistic Missiles, right?"

"What do rocket launchers have to do with that treaty?"

Li Rui was stunned.

I don't understand why Xie Wei brought up the Treaty on the Limitation of Ballistic Missile Proliferation in the field of international arms trade again.

As the president of Harbin Institute of Technology, who is determined to revive the university and make it the top military engineering university in China, how could he not understand this treaty? The most important content of the treaty is the restriction on the export of missiles with a range of more than 300 kilometers and their related technologies.

It is also because of the existence of these control treaties and agreements that there are only a few countries in the world that possess ballistic missiles.

"Missiles are restricted, but rocket launchers are not. After all, rocket launchers are saturation-type coverage strikes, not long-range precision strikes like ballistic missiles..."

Xie Wei explained the international regulations on rocket launchers and missiles.

Not only Li Rui, but even Fang Pengju's eyes widened the more he listened to his explanation.

The two of them didn't feel anything even though the rocket launcher had a range of over 300 kilometers.

But Xie Wei said that if a rocket launcher with a range of more than 300 kilometers is installed with some simple guidance systems, then it is still a rocket launcher?

It was obvious that this guy was planning to export missiles internationally under the name of rocket launchers from the very beginning!
This courage...

"Xie Wei, if that's the case, the rocket launcher is no longer a rocket launcher."

Fang Pengju was frightened by what Xie Wei said.

From the very beginning, he wanted to develop a long-range rocket launcher. The reason was simple: the cost of missiles was too high and the troops were too poor; and rocket launchers did not require a guidance system, they just needed to be equipped with an engine and a warhead and filled with propellant.

Within 500 kilometers, the range of rocket artillery shells is only one-fifth or even one-tenth of that of missiles. Although the accuracy, power, and speed of a single rocket cannot be compared with that of a missile that can accurately hit the target, it can be more effective under the saturation strike covered by firepower.

Have you ever thought about what Xie Wei proposed?
"No! Rocket launchers are still rocket launchers, and missiles are still missiles!"

Xie Wei looked determined.

Finished.

A rocket launcher equipped with a guidance system is no longer a rocket launcher. Does that mean that a shell equipped with a guidance system also becomes a missile?
What a fuss!

International regulations must be strictly observed.

"..."

Looking at Xie Wei's "irrefutable arguments", neither of them knew what to say.

"Our goal is not only to develop rocket launchers that can carry out single-shot precision strikes. We must also take advantage of the rocket launchers' cheapness to gain access to the international market... Everyone in the world knows that arms trade is the most profitable. Low-end weapons can be produced by anyone, so how much profit can be made? Rocket launchers are different..."

Xie Wei emphasized that rocket launchers are the best products for domestic military industry to enter the world.

As long as we open up the international market, more and more customers will gradually become aware of domestic products.

No way.

Who let the whole world know that China’s industrial foundation is weak and its basis is poor?

People simply don't believe that China's weapons and equipment can be advanced.

"We must not only develop rocket launchers ourselves, but also lead our brother units to jointly develop rocket launcher technology. We must ensure that rocket launchers are not classified into long, medium or short range in the future, but only into Chinese rocket launchers and foreign rocket launchers!"

"This……"

When the two heard this, they looked at Xie Wei as if he were a madman.

Could this be the real reason why Xie Wei invested in the Yuanhuo project?

Xie Wei’s vision is good.

But to this extent...

The Soviet Union is the originator of rocket launchers; not only do the Americans have advanced technology, they can also mobilize the resources of the entire West.

What does China have?
Currently, the only one engaged in rocket launchers is Fang Pengju, who brings with him more than a dozen technical backbones seconded from other units and several of his own students.

"It's actually not as difficult as we thought. As long as we make a breakthrough in technology and achieve a breakthrough from 0 to 1, the speed of theoretical research will become faster and faster. Once the supporting facilities are in place, the design results can directly move from drawings to physical products..."

Seeing the expressions of the two men, Xie Wei knew that they did not have that confidence.

Especially Principal Li, who had just come back from the battlefield, personally felt how fierce the firepower of the 17-nation coalition forces was.

"In foreign countries, rocket launchers are not as important as we thought, especially in the long-range and ultra-long-range fields. Whether it is the Soviet Army or the US Army, rocket launchers have actually become awkward. At close range, they can achieve artillery coverage through tube artillery; at a longer distance, they can use air clusters for fire support; at longer distances, the range beyond the reach of rocket launchers is already within the strike range of medium- and long-range missiles and strategic bombers..."

What Xie Wei said was true.

The reason why some of China's world-leading military technologies have developed, even to the point where the rest of the world can only look up to them, is not because China was leading in these fields from the beginning.

But it’s the helplessness of having no choice!
In order to make up for the limited range of artillery and the high cost of missiles, the Soviet Union developed front-line tactical support aircraft. The United States, with a developed economy and advanced technology, still equipped artillery, but in the new tactical research direction, it began to gradually reduce the role of artillery and replaced it with various medium- and long-range fighters and missiles...

There are many things that China has no choice but to be the world leader in, the most typical of which is the bomber project.

At the beginning, due to the limitations of technology, experience, materials, processing and even engines, we could only make changes to the H-6. The improved model of the H-6 made 26 English letters insufficient. As a result, we had to use two letters to name the new improved model...

But in the end, when the technical reserves were sufficient, it was discovered that the Air Force even looked down on stealth bombers: the stealth bomber's bomb load was not large enough at the extreme combat radius, and one aircraft could cost billions.

A drone with the same range and a payload of 1500 kilograms would cost only a million or even a few hundred thousand yuan.

A single stealth bomber can create hundreds or even thousands of long-range drones.

In this case, does it still matter whether you are invisible or not?

Therefore, in Xie Wei's era, even the emergence of the H-20 or even the H-30 was not taken seriously by the Air Force.

Similarly, the International Space Station did not include China, so China built its own space station; because its missile technology was not as developed as that of foreign countries, it frantically developed defense technology, and as a result, hypersonic weapons were far ahead of the rest...

"Okay, let's assume what you said makes sense. Make it. Who should we sell it to?"

Principal Li was moved by Xie Wei's words and could not find any reason to refute them.

Exports can not only bring in much-needed foreign exchange for the country, but also allow Chinese weapons and equipment to occupy the international market and even demonstrate their combat effectiveness in actual combat, thereby making national defense security more stable.

"Regions like the Middle East, Africa, and South America..."

"Except for the Middle East, Africa and South America are all poor. How can they afford to buy it?"

Li Rui was so angry that he laughed at Xie Wei's idealistic words.

Countries in Africa and South America, as he said, cannot produce it and have no money to buy it.

"No money? They have resources! Oil, natural gas, minerals..."

Before Xie Wei could finish, Li Rui could no longer listen and interrupted him rudely, "You kid, don't you think before you speak? Our country is exporting those things to earn foreign exchange, what's the point of having them?"

It’s no wonder that Principal Li is angry.

China's current source of foreign exchange is mainly the export of various industrial raw materials and agricultural products.

It will take China another ten years or so to become a net importer.

Oil production continues to increase, but domestic consumption demand cannot keep up. The international demand for crude oil is huge, and China lacks foreign exchange. It is naturally impossible to reduce production or extract crude oil and store it there.

"Compared to ours, foreign ones are cheaper. As long as the shipping cost is lower than the domestic mining cost, then there will be no problem, right?"

Xie Wei felt powerless.

Not to mention Principal Li, even the top brass, most people probably wouldn't have imagined that in a decade or two, not only would China's various industrial raw materials be in short supply domestically, but the import volume would be so huge that it would shock the whole world.

"Also, although our country is vast and rich in resources, it also has a large population. How many resources are available to each person? Why should we use our own resources when we can use foreign ones? When our generation has used them up, what will our descendants use?"

Xie Wei's words shocked Li Rui.

He never expected that Xie Wei, who usually seemed selfish and irrelevant, would say such a thing.

Yes!

If we use it up, what will our descendants use?
It’s just like before, when they carried millet and rifles on the peninsula and fought against the 17-nation coalition that was armed to the teeth with massive aircraft, tanks and cannons: the older generation will fight the war, and the next generations will not have to fight anymore.

"Okay~"

Li Rui sighed and looked at Xie Wei for a long time.

It seemed as if today was the first time he truly got to know Xie Wei. In the end, he helplessly dropped these two words and left.

"Whoo~"

After Li Rui left, Xie Wei breathed a sigh of relief.

Fang Pengju has not yet recovered from Xie Wei's words.

"The principal is gone?"

After receiving a positive answer, Director Fang asked again, "Xie Wei, can we really achieve the level you mentioned where rocket launchers are divided into only two categories?"

If we can really reach this level, using advanced equipment to exchange resources from abroad will not be a problem.

"Will do!"

Xie Wei looked determined. "If ten years doesn't work, we can use twenty years. If twenty years doesn't work, we can use fifty years. As long as we keep researching... no matter what, rocket launchers are much cheaper than missiles. Our country is poor, so we have to help the army save money, right?"

"By the way, Director Fang, I'll have to trouble you with Xie Rou's care in the future."

Xie Wei changed the subject.

"No trouble! No trouble! It's my honor to take her with me."

Fang Pengju said hurriedly.

It is not difficult to teach a gifted student like Xie Rou. "I am even afraid of delaying her learning progress."

"The rocket launcher is just for her to learn the basics. At the same time, she will also learn advanced mathematics from Professor Liang Hongling and mechanics from Professor Liang Hongbin..."

"..."

Fang Pengju didn't want to talk to Xie Wei anymore, so he ordered him to leave:
"You go and see Xie Rou. I have to finish the work on my hands as soon as possible."

When Xie Wei saw his mood change, he knew that Director Fang was unhappy with the arrangement he made for Xie Rou.

no way.

Xie Rou cannot devote all her time to studying and researching rocket launcher-related technologies.

After all, rocket launchers are not rockets, and there is still a big gap in technology.

In a specially vacated laboratory on the second floor, Xie Rou was reading a pile of information about the current rocket launcher project that she had found from someone unknown, and she was taking notes on the notebook next to her from time to time.

Wang Yuting and Zhao Ping were still confused at this moment, not knowing what to do.

They decided to wait until Professor Fang finished his work, and then go to see Professor Fang and wait for the professor to assign them tasks.

"Is this really the classmate we study with? He looks so young!"

"probably……"

The two of them whispered to each other from time to time.

This kind of conversation has been repeated several times.

But he didn't dare to ask Xie Rou.

When she first arrived, Xie Rou was so focused on reading the information that she didn't even look up at them.

The two stepped forward to say hello, but Xie Rou glared at them fiercely, and then said coldly: "Don't disturb me while I'm studying! Otherwise, I'll find a way to get you out..."

Xie Rou's impolite attitude made the two people, who had just calmed down and couldn't understand why Fang Pengju suddenly changed his attitude and approved them to become his graduate students, dare not disturb her again.

As workers, peasants and soldiers students, the two were not students who knew nothing.

Without any background, would you dare to be so arrogant?

No one knew where Feng Ke, who brought them here, had gone, and there was no chance to even inquire about the other party's background.

"Why are you hiding here to smoke?"

When Xie Wei came out of Fang Pengju's office, he met Feng Ke who was smoking at the corner of the stairs.

Feng Ke was about to take out a cigarette and give it to Xie Weifa, but was stopped.

"Xie Ermei's caring eyes for the mentally retarded are too easy to break down... I need to calm down, otherwise she will discourage me from studying..."

Feng Ke explained with a bitter face.

Xie Wei was stunned.

In such a short period of time, what did Xie Rou do to attack Feng Ke?

(End of this chapter)