In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 256 Selling arms, if you don't make ten times the profit, you're not even sharp enough?
"Since a single salvo is so expensive, what about Iraq..."

Fang Pengju developed long-range rocket artillery to reduce the cost of using it in the military. A single rocket is several times cheaper than a missile with the same range. However, he did not consider that the true power of rocket artillery can only be demonstrated by a salvo of fire covering the entire area.

The cost of using it is still too high!

If our own troops can't afford it, do you think foreign troops can?
"It's different. They are oil-producing countries. They can find oil just by digging a few shovels of sand in the desert. Besides, do you think their fighting style is the same as ours? A single battalion-level salvo, as long as it has an effect, can terrify the enemy."

Xie Wei shook his head.

Wars between small countries involve different military thinking than those between large countries.

For small countries with insufficient land area, strategic depth, and military size, rocket artillery or missiles with a range of several hundred kilometers can be used as strategic deterrent weapons.

An army like the PLA, which can take on 17 rival factions on the Korean Peninsula and is ready to fight the entire world at any time, would not be equipped on a large scale with expensive weapons and equipment, no matter how advanced, if the economy is not developed.

Unless it is a genuine strategic deterrent weapon.

The kind that can deter anywhere in the world!
"So, what price should we sell it at?"

Hearing Xie Wei say this, Fang Pengju's thoughts became complicated. After all, China is a great country with 5000 years of cultural heritage, vast territory and abundant resources. How could it be less wealthy than a small country in the Middle East?
Since the other party has money, we should sell it for a higher price.

Who told them to be so arrogant?

The selling price also affects subsequent research and development funding.

"The rocket artillery system alone costs at least $240 million; the rockets themselves cost at least $8 each!"

Thinking of the other party's attitude when he quoted the price for the rocket launcher, Xie Wei gritted his teeth and spat out the data.

It's not that he didn't want to apply for a higher score.

A launch system costing $800,000 can be mass-produced to at least $600,000 or even $500,000. $2.4 million is equivalent to 3.6 million RMB. With the exchange rate rising rapidly, this is six times the cost price, which is incredibly greedy.

Rocket artillery is a consumable item. The enemy cannot simply order rockets that are filled with launch containers at once; they must prepare several basic loads of ammunition reserves.

If the price is too high, I'm afraid it will scare the other party away.

"This……"

Fang Pengju's eyes widened immediately when he heard the price Xie Wei quoted.

black!
too dark.

Doesn't this mean that as long as one rocket launcher and its accompanying ammunition are sold, the research and development costs will be recovered?

At this moment, he showed no objection whatsoever; in fact, he was eager for Xie Wei to sell more.

"Isn't the price a bit low? They're not short of money!"

Hearing Xie Wei's quote, Zhang Mingqiu, though also feeling that Xie Wei was being incredibly greedy, suddenly realized that Xie Wei's price wasn't sharp enough, considering the arrogant attitude of the other party when they quoted the price for the rocket launcher.

"We'll see tomorrow."

Xie Wei looked at their expressions and shook his head with a wry smile.

That was the bottom price I mentioned.

There is currently no long-range rocket artillery with a range exceeding 100 kilometers in the world.

苏联人于77年装备的BM-27火箭炮射程不过40公里；美帝要等到83年才装备的M-270火箭炮，最大射程也不过45公里。

即使后来苏联人研制的BM-30龙卷风，射程也不过90公里；美帝的M-142海马斯火箭弹射程只有42公里，发射战术导弹射程倒是能达到300千米。

Do tactical missiles really need to be launched using a dedicated rocket artillery system?
Given this context, Xie Wei was truly unsure what price the Iraqis were willing to offer.

If Xie Wei were to face a top-ranking customer who was already very familiar with the quality of Chinese military products, he would not hesitate to quote 10 times the cost price. Without a 10-fold price, the wealth of the top-ranking customer would not be apparent.

"Hey Xie Wei, what if it sells..."

Fang Pengju looked at Xie Wei with some trepidation. Seeing that Xie Wei didn't react, he added, "If it's sold, could you allocate more funds to the rocket artillery project?"

"Ok?"

Xie Wei looked at Fang Pengju with a puzzled expression.

"Thanks to Xie Rou's presence, many problems were quickly resolved during this test. The main improvement work for the next 150 is to improve the accuracy of the strike... I want to start the development of a rocket artillery with a range of 300 kilometers. During the testing process, the entire team conducted a lot of calculations and demonstrations on this project..."

The more he spoke, the quieter his voice became.

Fang Pengju knew very well that he needed Xie Wei's support to research rocket artillery with a longer range.

The military is unwilling to equip itself with rocket launchers with a range of 150 kilometers, let alone those with a range of 300 kilometers.

The range may have doubled, but doubling the cost is not a solution that can be achieved simply by doubling the cost.

"Although there's no explicit rule, the principle has always been that whichever project receives funding should be prioritized for continued research and development. Director Fang, you don't need to worry about that; the university and the ministry will provide support, right?"

Fang Pengju's expression made Xie Wei feel a pang of sadness.

Finally, he looked at Zhang Mingqiu and Liu Debao.

"Yep!"

The two men understood Xie Wei's meaning. Without Xie Wei's stance, they certainly wouldn't have agreed to develop a rocket launcher with a range of 300 kilometers. Not only would it cost a lot of money, but the troops wouldn't equip it after it was developed.

Isn't that a waste of money?

Xie Wei wants to support them, what can they do?
Xie Wei asked about many more details of the project, and they talked until very late.

The testing team was exhausted. Even though it was a short distance away, the school arranged for its only three jeeps to take everyone. Xie Wei stopped Xie Rou, who was about to get in the car and go back to her dormitory.

Exhausted, Xie Rou looked at her brother with a puzzled expression.

Fang Pengju and the others also turned their attention to Xie Wei.

"Don't go back to the dorm. You haven't stayed in the dorm for more than a few days since you started school. Go back to your godmother's. I'll take you..."

Xie Wei said calmly.

"The things are still in the car. I brought gifts for you, and also for my godparents!"

Xie Rou was somewhat unwilling.

The gift is still in the car.

Although Xie Rou is young and doesn't usually like to play with those "fools," it doesn't mean she doesn't understand human relationships and social norms.

Hearing Xie Rou say she brought a gift, Xie Wei was taken aback, realizing once again that Xie Rou had grown up. He said, "Your godmother hasn't come back yet, and your godfather is usually in the lab, so your room has been empty..."

Zhang Mingqiu and Liu Debao, who were standing nearby, exchanged a glance upon hearing this.

Zhang Mingqiu couldn't hold back any longer and whispered a reminder, "Xie Wei, Principal Li arrived this afternoon and is still waiting for you."

"I know."

Xie Wei glanced at them. "He should also be at Director Du's house."

It was known that from the very beginning, Li Rui often discussed matters with Du Guowang and others at Du Guowang's home. Many things were discussed and decided at Du Guowang's home before being brought up at school leadership meetings.

The school meeting suggested it was just a formality.

Li Rui only became the principal in the first half of 77. Although his tenure was short, he quickly turned the school into his personal fiefdom. Otherwise, he wouldn't still be able to control the school even though he's no longer there.

The two of them didn't know how to refute it.

"Then what about us?" Liu Debao's posture was very humble. He knew that Xie Wei wanted to talk to Xie Rou. The siblings hadn't seen each other for more than half a year, and Xie Rou was so young. It would be a bit inconsiderate of them to follow along.

But Li Rui didn't tell them to go to Du Guowang's house.

"Leaders, I know you've been very tired these past few days. This concerns the future development of the school, so you have to participate, right?"

Xie Wei understood what the two meant and didn't impolitely tell them to leave first, since even if they participated, they would only be background figures anyway.

The discussion won't be affected, and it won't cause your boss to be unhappy or hold a grudge against you.

"Okay, shall we head over first?"

Zhang Mingqiu asked Xie Wei, and after Xie Wei nodded, the two quickly walked towards Du Guowang's house.

"Brother, is there something you want to tell me?"

Seeing Principal Zhang and Secretary Liu's backs following behind Xie Wei, Xie Rou didn't say anything and asked directly.

"What are your plans for the future? Will you stay with the rocket artillery, or will you follow Professor Liang to study high-energy physics and mechanics?"

Xie Wei had his own ideas about Xie Rou's future plans, but no matter how he thought about it, he felt it would easily limit Xie Rou's development.

"No, I want to stay on the long-range rocket project. My teachers and senior students are so kind to me, and they speak so nicely..."

"..."

If Xie Wei hadn't known the details about Xie Rou, he would have thought she was joking.

They had just returned and the siblings hadn't spent much time together, but Xie Wei could clearly sense the changes in Xie Rou.

“I had no prior experience with these technologies and thought they were all very simple. Before the testing, most of the work was done by my professors and senior students. My main role was to perform calculations and use models to demonstrate the results…”

Xie Rou spoke softly as she walked.

When Xie Rou truly got involved in the core of the project, especially during the rocket launcher testing process, the entire team needed to hold meetings to discuss and research solutions whenever a problem occurred anywhere. It was then that Xie Rou fully came into contact with the entire project and realized that even just launching the rocket and getting it to land accurately at the designated location was so difficult, let alone rockets used in aerospace.

"Don't rush, you've only just begun learning! Even a giant like Professor Qian didn't understand everything at the very beginning..."

Xie Wei comforted Xie Rou.

"I inquired and found out that Professor Qian studied mechanical engineering at National Chiao Tung University in Shanghai. After being accepted as a government-funded student to study abroad in 1934, he began to delve into the field of aeronautical engineering, studying aerodynamics and aeronautical engineering. After arriving at MIT in August 1935, he mainly studied aeronautical engineering, earning his master's degree in just one year. He then transferred to Caltech, where he studied under Theodore von Kármán, learning the fundamental theories of modern science and technology, such as modern mathematics, partial differential equations, integral equations, atomic physics, quantum mechanics, statistical mechanics, relativity, molecular structure, and quantum chemistry. In 1939, he received his doctorates in aeronautics and mathematics..."

Xie Rou ignored Xie Wei's words of comfort and said excitedly.

Xie Wei felt increasingly uneasy as he listened.

This girl already has a clear understanding of her future and is preparing to learn according to Qian Xuesen's learning path.
"did you mean?"

"I will first follow Qian Xuesen's learning path, stay in the rocket artillery project, and focus on mathematics and aerospace engineering..."

Xie Rou excitedly told Xie Wei about her study plan.

Xie Wei felt both excited and heartbroken upon hearing this.

I'm excited because Xie Rou has really grown up and knows what she wants.

Heartache is a subject that Qian Xuesen studied, and it can make people go bald. Xie Rou is a girl and still young. How much suffering must she endure?

The power of example is endless.

This sentence has now become concrete.

Do you object?
How to object?

Although Xie Rou listens to Xie Wei, once she makes a decision, she won't listen to anyone else.

"Brother, what do you think? Should we add some more? Like materials science, remote control technology, computers, and stuff like that... The control of modern rockets places increasingly higher demands on remote control and computers..."

"..."

For a moment, Xie Wei really didn't know how to answer.

"Brother, isn't this enough?"

Seeing that her brother remained silent, Xie Rou, too excited to see the complex expression on his face under the dim streetlights, asked a question.

"Well, learning isn't something that can be done overnight. There's a saying that you're never too old to learn. Rome wasn't built in a day. We can start by learning according to our current plan..."

After a long silence, Xie Weicai gave this answer with mixed feelings.

"Brother, you're so good to me!"

Xie Rou suddenly jumped forward, wrapped her arms around Xie Wei's neck, and planted a kiss on his cheek, excitedly saying, "I knew you would support me..."

Is someone objecting?

"Alright, you'll be a sophomore soon, mind your image as a government official!"

Xie Wei was speechless.

Fourteen or fifteen-year-old girls are too temperamental.

“Even if I’m a government official, I’m still your sister! Brother, let me tell you, I think I should go back to class in the new semester…”

With Xie Wei's support, Xie Rou excitedly continued to tell him about her study plan.

Xie Wei really wanted to ask her, "Haven't you thought about home after being away for so long?"

Just as I told you, Xie Rou is a heartless little thing!

It seems that apart from picking Xie Rou up and taking her home, I usually only reply to my mother's letters, which are full of typos.
Okay, I guess I'm a heartless person too.

There's nothing I can do. Didn't I say before that if the children have the ability, they should be given to the country; if not, they should stay at home and enjoy their company?
It's just a pity that their daughter, whom they wanted to keep by their side, has gone further and further away, and perhaps one day in the future, she really will go to heaven...

Listening to Xie Rou chatter on about her plans and then about the various funny things she encountered during the testing over the past six months, without mentioning how difficult the conditions were or how much suffering she endured, the brother and sister soon arrived at Du Guowang's house.

The lights were on in the courtyard.

Wang Zheng was still busy in the kitchen.

Lifting the curtain, one could see Li Rui and his companions sitting cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed), with several small dishes on the kang table, and they were drinking heartily.

"You're here? Hurry up, I've poured you some wine. You've done a great job this time..."

Li Rui didn't ask Xie Wei why he was in such a hurry for her to come back.

Perhaps they already know this from Zhang Mingqiu and the others.

He invited Xie Wei over for a drink.

"Wang Zheng, quickly bring over the roast duck I brought back for Xie Rou..."

He then called out to the outside, before turning to Xie Rou with a smile and saying, "Knowing you were coming back today, I went to Quanjude early this morning to buy you roast duck..."

"Grandpa Li, why didn't you say so earlier? I was too full just now..."

Xie Rou's tone was full of resentment.

Upon hearing her address, Du Guowang and Liang Hongbin's faces immediately darkened.

(End of this chapter)