In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 221 General, I'm doing this for your sake.
"That's not contradictory!"

Xie Wei figured that Wang Zheng hadn't listened to his advice to read more books. "Just because we're lying low doesn't mean we won't compete with international giants. Are you saying we'll turn down any business we have? Do you know why I didn't want to set the prices too high in the first place?"

"why?"

Wang Zheng didn't hesitate at all and asked the question directly.

Xie Wei was about to give Wang Zheng a piece of his mind, thinking that as the head of the school-enterprise cooperation office, he couldn't even figure out such a simple question.

Before he could even speak, Zhang Mingqiu asked with a face full of curiosity:

"Yeah, why?"

"..."

Seeing the eagerness on their faces, Xie Wei instantly realized that he was probably the only one who understood.

Since China has just begun its reform and opening up, foreign countries have no confidence in the domestic reform and opening-up policies. Foreign capital has only entered some areas with small investments but high returns.

It wasn't until the 1990s that foreign capital began to flood into the Chinese market, where purchasing power had increased dramatically along with the country's rapid economic growth.

"Low prices serve two purposes: firstly, to save the country money while maintaining the competitiveness of our products; and secondly, to capture the market share we can..."

Xie Wei sighed again.

Given the means, who would be willing to offer a low price?

There's so much helplessness involved here.

“In the international market, those established companies that have been developing for over a century have almost completely divided up the market, and even have a reputation effect that we don’t have… Everyone knows that China has a poor technological foundation and a weak industrial base. Even if we develop something advanced, people won’t believe it, not to mention the existence of the COCOM embargo.”

Xie Wei didn't know whether he was trying to explain to the two of them or just to complain.

It's hard to keep these words inside.

This is the situation that market challengers face from the very beginning.

Even if they achieve success and launch their products into the market, challenging the existing market leaders who already hold market advantages and have technological and financial strength, none of them are willing to give up their market share without having market share.

How to break the game?

Drive down the price, to a level below the leader's cost, making it unbearable for them.

Only in this way can we gain a foothold in a highly competitive market.

Once they have established a foothold, they can adopt a strategy of low profit margins and high sales volume, then invest all profits in the research and development of new technologies, continuously narrowing the technological gap with the industry leaders, and even surpassing them.

Once the technology surpasses the competition, the market rules will be redefined.

At the same time, with extremely low market prices, production units and supporting units must do everything they can to reduce production costs in order to make a profit and survive!

As someone who has been through it all, Xie Wei once visited and inspected several component manufacturers and found that some of their products were offered to manufacturers at prices even below cost!
When asked, the person in charge said with a helpless expression: "With a large enough scale and low enough costs, the profits come entirely from waste recycling."

After learning more, Xie Wei discovered that this situation was commonplace: processing companies made profits by selling various processed waste materials, and even shared profits with purchasing units when there was a lot of waste material!
Because if they don't do it, there will be factories that get orders at below production cost!

Throughout the country, there are too many processing plants with thousands of employees, yet their annual profits are less than 300 million!
It was precisely in this fiercely competitive environment that "Made in China" broke through the encirclement...

This is also why, after entering the 21st century, the country began to upgrade its industries and provide large-scale support for high-precision and cutting-edge industries.

"First and foremost, it's about survival. Prices abroad are indeed higher. If we price our products only slightly lower, will we have a market? Take switches, for example. If our costs weren't only a third of those abroad, would the Fuzhou side have chosen us? Even if they did, there would be conditions!"

"You mean, we can only adopt a low-price strategy now?"

Zhang Mingqiu frowned.

He found Xie Wei's explanation somewhat hard to accept, "Our switch technology is no worse than that of foreign countries..."

"Without users, who would believe it?"

Xie Wei's words startled Principal Zhang.

Yes.

No one would believe it without a large user base.

"Starting from the Opium War, a century of humiliation eroded the Chinese people's self-confidence... not to mention the gap between us and the international advanced countries..."

At this point, Xie Wei decisively chose to shut up.

Overall, the international community is far more advanced than China; this is an undeniable fact.

However, in some aspects, there are actually not many advanced technologies internationally.

However, the supporting measures are not yet in place, and the general perception is that this is the case. If Xie Wei were to step forward, whose attitude could he change?

Against this backdrop, countless scientists who knew the gap between domestic and international cutting-edge technologies were almost in despair. In their despair, they worked day and night to change the status quo. In the end, when they found that they could not catch up with the data provided by the so-called advanced technologies of decades ago, they were even more disheartened.

result……

Once the fabrication of so-called advanced data from foreign countries was exposed, China had already reached the forefront of the world in numerous technological fields…

As a result, those old experts who worked like crazy and didn't even dare to rest continued to work on the front line of scientific research after retirement. Their biggest pastime outside of work was to get together and angrily curse the foreign fraudsters, while thinking about making the technology more advanced so that their foreign counterparts would completely give up the idea of ​​catching up.

Therefore, Xie Wei at this moment could not say that the school's switch technology was not that far behind that of advanced foreign communication companies, and that with the support of chips, once they got started, they could gradually catch up with the world's forefront as long as they had sufficient funding and time.

Before computers became widespread, before the internet was widely used and transformed human life and work, and before mobile internet terminals even appeared, was switch technology really that difficult?

"We can't keep using a low-price strategy forever, can we?"

Zhang Mingqiu looked worried. "The funding has to come from the market."

The source of funding was, as Xie Wei stated.

Given the long-term low-price strategy, how can universities and enterprises invest more in research and development?
"Once we have a sufficient market share, our products are no worse than those from abroad, and we are competitive enough that we don't need to consider low prices. Otherwise, we're the only ones who can provide that market share, and customers will immediately recognize our products as advanced..."

That company that was far ahead, didn't it rise step by step like this?

······
"Testing tank performance?"

capital.

Foreign-related hotels.

A young general looked at Li Rui and asked with some confusion, "Didn't you already demonstrate the tank's various capabilities to us?"

The general is said to be young, but he is actually in his early forties.

The general's appearance clearly indicates that he is from Southeast Asia.

The two sides did not communicate directly, but rather through a translator.

"Yes, that's just theoretical. What I mean is, perhaps we could test it with live ammunition, which would put your minds at ease..."

Before coming to his door, Principal Li had clearly prepared his excuse.

Principal Li smiled broadly as he looked at General Pashin Danasong, who didn't actually know much about military equipment technology.

It's easier to fool someone if they don't understand, right?
Tanathon is the surname of a hereditary noble family in Thailand, which explains why the general before us is so young. "Oh? What kind of live-fire test? Are you suggesting we use Type 59 tanks with armor-piercing rounds to shoot at the Type 69-II tanks we're planning to buy?"

General Pasin Danasong was even more puzzled after hearing this, and his brows furrowed.

This procurement is primarily intended to deter the aggressive, predatory armored forces that are eyeing their territory from the border.

The two sides have even exchanged fire on the border from time to time.

The Thai army, with its weak military strength, faces immense pressure from the supposedly third-largest military force in the world, which is also supported by the Soviet Union.

A batch of Type 59-1 130mm cannons, equipped with long-range and powerful firepower, provided by China as an emergency aid, gave the Thai army, whose military strength was far inferior, a huge battlefield advantage in the border clashes, directly curbing the advance of the "monkey troops."

The monkeys weren't going to give up so easily; they immediately started deploying armored units...

After driving out the stationed US troops, the Thai army basically had no heavy weapons.

After the monkey army occupied Cambodia, it continuously sent troops to invade Thailand in order to achieve its goal of becoming the hegemon of Southeast Asia.

Although the Type 59-1 cannons provided by China as emergency aid deterred several invasions by Vietnamese troops in Cambodia, they proved somewhat ineffective against armored forces. This is why General Pashin Danasong's delegation came to Cambodia to purchase tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, and other heavy firepower.

China's Type 59 tank has the same performance as the T-54/55 tanks that Thailand obtained from the Soviet Union, while the Thai army has purchased the more advanced Type 69-II tanks!
"The most advanced tanks the monkeys currently possess are T-72s, although they are all deployed along their northern border... Even though they've been badly beaten by our troops, they haven't given up on invading us..."

Li Rui paused here.

"So what if you've tested them? Do you have even more advanced tanks?"

Pasin Danasong frowned, looking at Li Rui, feeling that this old man who had suddenly come to his door was up to no good. "Do you think the price of the tanks is too cheap?"

Yes, the other party probably wants to follow the example of Europe, America, and the Soviet Union by providing additional services to increase profits.

"No, General, I'm doing this for your benefit, hoping for a win-win situation for both sides... In fact, we can easily destroy a T-55 tank from the front with a rocket launcher!"

"what?"

Pasin Danasong jumped to his feet. "Your Type 70-1 62mm anti-tank rocket launcher doesn't have that much power!"

"New model".

Li Rui calmly stated, "We can certainly conduct some testing using the Type 69-II tank you've chosen..."

"Are you the person from the unit that contacted us before wanting recommendations for rocket launchers and grenade launchers?"

Upon hearing Li Rui's words, Pasin Danasong immediately understood the other party's identity.

New weapon!

"No, I was just suggesting it. A Type 69-II tank only costs $50, and the Type 59 tank is even cheaper. I think that since the purchase contract has already been finalized, spending more time testing its performance would be more beneficial for the general's future development..."

Old Li is not only good at being a rogue, but he's also quite adept at conning people.

Upon hearing about his personal development, Pasin Danasong fell silent, quickly weighing his options.

······
north.

Chinese tank base.

Factory No. 617 headquarters.

A serious meeting is underway.

The contract with Thailand is basically finalized: an order for 108 Type 69-II vehicles, each priced at $50, which seems very cheap.

Even converted to RMB, it would only cost 75 per vehicle.

However, the cost of the Type 69-II tank is not that high. Exporting it at this price would not only still generate a good profit, but could even bring valuable foreign exchange to the country.

108 tanks, totaling $5400 million!

How much foreign exchange reserves does the country have?
How could Factory 617 not take this seriously?
"Although the quantity of this foreign trade contract is not large, it is a very good start... The entire production system must strictly control production quality and complete the delivery within the time limit proposed by the Thai side..."

Factory director Zhu Zhenhui had a serious expression on his face.

"This is not only related to the country's urgent need for foreign exchange, but also to the future development of the entire Factory 617! Not all countries in this world need to equip themselves with the most advanced tanks..."

The unit commanders also discussed that the Type 69-II tank did not meet the needs of the PLA's development.

The performance improvement is too small.

Internationally, third-generation main battle tanks have already begun to be deployed.

Therefore, after the Type 69 was successfully developed, the troops conducted comprehensive performance tests and directly put forward improvement requirements, which led to the Type 69-II tank.

The troops were still not satisfied with the performance of the Type 69-II tank.

于是就从英国引进了L7型105毫米线膛炮，以69-II坦克为基础，搭配105毫米线膛炮的69-III现在已经进入了样车试制阶段。

Everyone knew that even with the introduction of NATO-standard 105mm rifled guns and a simplified fire control system from the British Manila company, the Type 69-III tank still could not meet the development needs of the troops.

With military spending being drastically cut, Factory 617 has consumed a considerable amount of funds, yet it has been unable to come up with a solution that satisfies the troops and to make continuous improvements, requiring even more funding.

If the tanks developed earlier can be exported to the international market, not only can the research and development costs be recovered, but more funding can also be provided.

"Factory manager, don't worry. Although the military hasn't been equipped with our Type 69-II tanks, production is absolutely no problem..."

"The technologies used in the 69-II are all mature..."

Many relevant leaders in the factory expressed their opinions.

Everyone was excited to have secured this order.

Without him!

Because of the long development time, the Type 69-II tank was already outdated as soon as it was developed. With the military already tasked with developing the Type 69-III tank, the Thai army's order undoubtedly saved this model.

It even saved the Type 69-III tank.

"Okay, that's settled then..."

After conveying the instructions from his superiors, Zhu Zhenhui emphasized the importance of this order, assigned tasks to each department, and then adjourned the meeting.

I just got back to the office and leaned back in my chair to relax.

"Dingling bell~"

The phone on my desk rang.

Zhu Zhenhui quickly sat up straight and answered the phone.

"what?"

He was stunned when he heard the serious voice on the phone.

"Yes! Yes! Please rest assured, sir, we will be fully prepared and will ensure that no mishaps occur during the cooperation..."

(End of this chapter)