In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 250: Even the big spenders who pay their party dues aren't on the list. Just how profitable is this?
"Are you really not going to go and take a look at 541? I think if you went, it would be easier to persuade them."

Li Rui was surprised that Xie Wei wouldn't go to 541.

"Whether you go or not, it's all the same. Don't forget that if we can't convince the higher-ups, our cooperation with Factory 617 will be null and void..."

Xie Wei shook his head.

The Iraqis will be here soon.

The other party came for the rocket launcher, and Xie Wei also had to take the opportunity to sell them the long-range rocket artillery that the school had developed.

Having missed the battlefields of the Iran-Iraq War, it will be extremely difficult for the long-range artillery project to continue its development.

Even with the 273mm long-range rocket artillery, after its successful development, the military only procured two battalions for seed instructor training and combat testing.

Long-range rocket artillery with a range of 150 kilometers costs hundreds of thousands of dollars per launch, which is not attractive to the PLA Army, which has a large artillery force.

Even if the cost of rockets were reduced to tens of thousands per rocket, the PLA, which is so poor it has to tighten its belt to make ends meet, would not equip them.

For the next twenty or even thirty years, the PLA will still be poor, and the "smoke party" will not have risen to prominence. The only way out for the Cheng-type rocket artillery lies in the international market.

"Don't worry! This matter was already discussed by the higher-ups before we came. Our production technology isn't advanced yet, and we don't have much that's classified. The experimental workshop at Factory 617 isn't open to them..."

Li Rui patted his chest and guaranteed.

Hearing this, Xie Wei breathed a sigh of relief.

"After you return to the capital this time, don't rush to leave. The minister wants to see you."

"what?"

When Xie Wei heard that the minister wanted to see him, he thought he had misheard.

With his own antics at school and Li Rui's relentless self-promotion, his superiors must be familiar with his name, but surely it wouldn't warrant a personal meeting with the newly appointed minister?
When Xie Wei asked Li Rui what was going on, the old man, being vengeful, refused to reveal a single detail no matter how Xie Wei questioned him.

Xie Wei was hit accurately by the boomerang once again.

I experienced firsthand the frustration of Principal Li's unfulfilled curiosity on the way here.

As soon as they got off the train, a driver arranged by the ministry picked up Xie Wei and Li Rui and took them to the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry.

"Principal Li, the minister wants you to attend to other matters..."

Upon arriving at the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry, Li Rui intended to accompany Xie Wei to meet Minister Zheng, but was stopped outside.

Left with no other choice, Xie Wei, who was feeling uneasy, could only pretend to be calm and followed his secretary to knock on the minister's half-closed office door.

"Xie Wei's here? Please have a seat, I'll finish up this work first."

Minister Zheng looked up at Xie Wei, smiled, and gestured for Xie Wei to sit down first.

The secretary made tea for Xie Wei and then left the office.

The aroma of tea quickly wafted into Xie Wei's nostrils, but he had no interest in drinking it. He was looking around the minister's office, wondering why the minister had called him in.

The office was very simple.

Apart from two old filing cabinets on one side, the paint on the coffee table and long wooden chairs is peeling.

Xie Wei then looked at the thin old man who was engrossed in handling the documents at hand.

"Did you reach an agreement with Factory 617?"

Just as Xie Wei was pondering Minister Zheng's purpose in contacting him, Minister Zheng finished signing a document, put it aside, looked up, and asked Xie Wei with a smile.

"???"

Question about cooperation with Factory 617?

What do you mean?
Could it be that the leader is dissatisfied with the fact that he went directly to Factory 617 to talk to them instead of reporting to the ministry?
"Sir, although we've almost reached an agreement with Factory 617, this involves cross-departmental cooperation and national defense security. It requires approval from the ministry and the approval of the military leaders."

Xie Wei quickly regained his composure, organized his thoughts, and answered in a low voice.

If you don't know what the leader means, it's naturally difficult to give a proper answer.

"Don't be so nervous. I asked you to come here just to have a casual chat."

Watching Xie Wei carefully organize his thoughts and speak in a very official manner, Minister Zheng was surprised that Xie Wei had become so shrewd at such a young age. He also thought about how Xie Wei had worked as an intern technician at Hongguang Factory for more than four years. At first, he was in a very bad situation, and it was only after he became more insightful that he was promoted to a full-fledged technician.

Just chatting?

Xie Wei despised that such a leader would lie.

Young people of this age would probably actually believe it.

Seeing the expression on Xie Wei's face, Minister Zheng knew that Xie Wei was just like those old hands who had been in the system for decades, and he also understood that if Xie Wei wasn't so slick, Harbin Institute of Technology wouldn't be in its current state.

Let's get straight to the point: "What are your considerations regarding Harbin Institute of Technology's independent project initiation, independent operation, and self-financing?"

The policy of Harbin Institute of Technology was obtained by Li Rui after being persuaded by Xie Wei, who went to the ministry to ask the previous minister for it.

The results are very good now.

However, there are also significant problems – the civilian product business is perfectly fine, leveraging the university's R&D advantages to provide enterprises with advanced products that meet market demands, thus recouping the university's R&D expenses, creating a virtuous cycle; but now it involves international cooperation on military projects.

"Sir, I'm not sure which aspect you're referring to?"

Xie Wei was taken aback, then pretended to be confused and asked.

He naturally knew what Minister Zheng was asking about.

"Stop pretending! Kid, don't use your youth as an excuse. Li Rui didn't expose you before because he valued you..."

Minister Zheng hadn't expected Xie Wei to be so slick.

Pretending to be stupid in front of yourself is a complete waste of time.

"..."

Wasn't it said that the previous Minister Song was from the military and had a direct style? How come this big shot who participated in the "December 9th Movement" and rose through the political line is also so brutal?

Xie Wei knew it was no longer appropriate to play dumb. "Sir, the university has many research and development projects with ministries and the military, and the funding is not very sufficient..."

"Using military technology project export subsidies?"

Minister Zheng asked, squinting slightly.

"Yeah!"

Xie Wei nodded hurriedly, indicating that this was exactly what he meant.

"Do you still care about national defense and security? Do you still care about national interests? I heard you said in front of military leaders that if the school had nuclear weapons technology, you would sell it to them?"

Minister Zheng's tone became stern.

Hey!
That's the reason, it's because of feelings!

Xie Wei finally understood that Yu Lihua, that old guy, had tricked him.

He had only used an analogy, but the man went directly to the highest leader of the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry to complain. Any leader would not feel good having such a bold and reckless person under their command who disregarded "national interests".

"Boss, I was just saying...it's not about freedom of speech!"

Xie Wei's mind raced as he pondered how to appease the big boss.

If this gets out, it won't be a good thing; it will affect Xie Wei's influence at Harbin Institute of Technology.

"I'll listen to your excuses."

"..."

It seems this hurdle is insurmountable. Xie Wei looked at Minister Zheng with a helpless expression, knowing that he wasn't joking, but warning him: the higher-ups were very clear about his situation.

"Leader, while some of our technologies are indeed advanced domestically, the gap with international standards is simply too large... Since the country's reform and opening up, everything has revolved around economic development, and everything must give way to economic infrastructure construction... In addition to local wars and conflicts, the overall international situation is one of competition among nations in terms of technology and other national strengths... In a peaceful environment, the military cannot afford to equip itself with large quantities of expensive advanced weapons..."

Xie Wei has given these reasons many times.

Now, facing the highest-ranking leader in charge of the school's administration, I have no choice but to explain in more detail.

"This is not a reason to sell off all the most advanced weapons..."

Minister Zheng looked at Xie Wei with a dark expression. "Our most advanced weapons are indeed far behind those of the international standard, but they are the best equipment for our troops to safeguard national defense and protect our people from invasion! If the enemy knows their detailed capabilities, they will use more targeted weapons when they invade! How can we guarantee national defense then?"

The more he spoke, the more serious Minister Zheng's expression became.

His tone was stern, and his voice suddenly became louder.

"So, the most advanced ones are definitely not for sale! That's what we're preparing for the troops..."

"Ah!"

Minister Zheng sneered and slammed his hand heavily on the desk, "Bang!"

The lid of the Double Happiness enamel teacup on the table was shaken and started to bounce.

Minister Zheng's desk isn't very good quality either.

This is Xie Wei's truest thought at this moment.

"What you're selling now is the most advanced technology. You're collaborating with Pakistan on the best tank technology in the country; I heard you're also planning to use the most advanced fighter jet technology for international cooperation; you're even preparing to sell the 150mm long-range artillery, which has already completed initial testing..."

What followed made Xie Wei curse Li Rui, that old bastard, in his heart.

Why do you have to tell everyone everything? This is something that's barely even started.

Although it was just an idea, Xie Wei was prepared to put it into practice. At this moment, he simply lowered his head and remained silent.

"You're usually quite talkative, why aren't you saying anything?"

"Minister, the 150mm long-range artillery has already cost over 800 million yuan, and that's even with many of the technologies already well-developed domestically... Currently, the dispersion of the impact points is still quite large. To continue researching longer ranges and higher accuracy, even more investment is needed... Under these circumstances, if the troops don't equip themselves with it, should the ministry continue to invest, or simply give up?"

Xie Wei's face also turned serious.

"..."

Now it was Minister Zheng's turn to be at a loss for words.

If the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry had money, it wouldn't have given preferential policies to its subordinate units, and it wouldn't be in such a passive position now.

Because Li Rui set a very bad example, now many unit leaders and senior technical personnel are directly blocking the doors of the superiors of various departments with their bedding rolls, demanding projects and funding.

Where can we get the funds to support Harbin Institute of Technology's long-range rocket artillery project?
Seeing that Minister Zheng remained silent, Xie Wei sighed.

"Minister, there's nothing we can do about it. While this does reveal our defense technology level, from another perspective, it's also a good opportunity to create a smokescreen for the international community... No country in the world will sell its most advanced technology. Do you think anyone who knows our country would believe that we would sell our most advanced technology?"

What is empty, make full; what is full, make empty.

That's just how international competition is.

Just like decades later, when the world's leading United States stagnated in its most advanced equipment development for decades, and even faced allegations of falsifying various equipment performance data, China took the US's PowerPoint presentations as its benchmark and actually realized their vision...

Back then, who cared?
If you just come up with a concept, put some models on an airshow, will the international community follow suit or not?
If we follow suit, we won't even have the technological foundation. If we do follow suit, it will become like the "Star Wars" program that dragged down the Soviet Union in the 1980s.

Don’t follow?

Sorry, it won't be long before the actual product is produced domestically...

Of course, the most advanced ones are definitely not for sale.

"But your school collaborates with Pakistan and recruits a large number of international students across all majors. Do you think that even if there are advanced programs, you can keep them secret?"

This is what the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry and the military are most worried about.

The truly advanced military technology projects in China are all located in the top research institutes, which have a comprehensive and strict confidentiality system. In addition, foreigners can recognize them at a glance when they come to China, so there is no need to worry about leaks.

Harbin Institute of Technology is different.

It is a key university in China, and it is very advanced in the fields of mechanical engineering, aerospace, nuclear energy, and computer science. Its research technologies and topics are also at the forefront.

International students attend classes with domestic students, which allows them to learn about the most cutting-edge research projects and directions in China.

How to keep it a secret?

Xie Wei then realized that this was Minister Zheng's real purpose in contacting him.

"Sir, some cutting-edge technologies and sensitive disciplines are not open to international students; international students attend classes with our students, and are centrally managed... Moreover, the military has now sent military representatives and established a military representative office at the school..."

Xie Wei had discussed these matters with the school leaders beforehand.

Thanks to his absorption of the management system for international students over the following decades, as well as the level of domestic international students, he came up with a targeted solution.

"In other words, only collaborative projects allow their people to participate in the research related to those projects... while ordinary international students can only attend classes in regular classes... The most elite classes at the university are the experimental classes, and these students are trained as graduate students from the very beginning of their undergraduate studies. The courses they take are simply beyond the comprehension of international students who haven't even passed the language barrier..."

Only now did Minister Zheng truly understand why Harbin Institute of Technology had established the experimental class.

The best students are recruited from across the country, and then taught by the students' best professors. These students attend classes together and exchange ideas with each other from different majors...

Foreign students have no chance of getting into this class.

"What if international students interact with students in the experimental class?"

"Leadership, the Class of '78 experimental class has not had a single day off so far... Even when they do have a break, all the students are either busy studying or participating in experimental projects..."

"..."

Minister Zheng was speechless for a moment.

When we first learned about the curriculum of the Harbin Institute of Technology's experimental class, we found that it didn't differentiate between majors at all. At a certain point, the school would arrange for professional mentors to provide one-on-one or even multiple-on-one training, which the Ministry thought was too crazy.

Now, after hearing Xie Wei say this, I'm even more at a loss for words.

The country is already short of people!

We are far behind the international level in scientific research. If we follow conventional training methods, how long will it take to catch up with international advanced levels?
Minister Zheng asked Xie Wei many related questions. His secretary reminded him several times that he had exceeded the allotted time and that it would affect the subsequent arrangements, but he asked that the rest of the schedule be postponed.

"Okay, you can go back now. Also, have Li Rui come to my office..."

In about two hours, Minister Zheng learned a lot from Xie Wei, mainly about the university-enterprise cooperation office and international cooperation.

In the end, however, he didn't express any of his own opinions.

This made Xie Wei very uneasy.

Previously, he had very little contact with his superiors. Whether it was seeking policies or support from superiors, it was always Li Rui who contacted and communicated with them.

Left with no other choice, they could only leave first and ask Li Rui later to find out what the superiors' attitude was.

That evening, Li Rui found Xie Wei at the guesthouse.

"It's nothing serious, the Iraqis will be here soon, you'd better sharpen your knife."

"what?"

"When selling weapons, don't just consider projects within the university; also find sales channels for products from other units within the ministry... Here, this is a list of weapons our ministry can sell..."

Xie Wei's eyes widened suddenly.

But when they looked at the list, it was full of ordinary, conventional weapons. Even the Dongfeng missiles that made big spenders pay party dues weren't on it. What was the point of selling them?
(End of this chapter)