In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 264 Shadama's Wrath: His reputation as the world's third-largest power has been tarnished, and he has received five additional orders for long-range artillery battalions.
"So, it's all because of a lack of funding?"

Xie Wei raised an eyebrow and asked Liu Debao.

To everyone's surprise, Liu Debao shook his head directly, "It's not just a funding issue. Even if the country had sufficient funds at present, the problem would still exist."

Xie Wei was confused by Liu Debao's words.

The reform and opening up was initiated because the country was poor and technologically backward. In the early stages, in order to accelerate the construction of the economic infrastructure, everything else gave way to economic infrastructure construction, and a large number of military projects that were difficult to research and consumed a lot of funds were abandoned.

A poor foundation and high technical difficulty will inevitably be reflected in funding, won't they?

"If you have money, even with a weak foundation, you can indeed solve all the problems encountered in the research process by throwing money at it. The biggest problem now is that we are faced with two directions of development: the Soviet model and the American model..."

Liu Debao tossed a cigarette to Xie Wei, even though he knew Xie Wei smoked less these days. But whenever he was with Xie Wei, he couldn't help but offer him a cigarette.

Xie Wei held the cigarette in his hand and played with it for a while. Just as he lit it, Liu Debao told him this.

"Aren't we going to follow our own path?"

Xie Wei was stunned as soon as he finished speaking.

They immediately realized the problem: the reform and opening up had only been going on for less than two years!

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, thanks to learning from the Soviet model and with Soviet assistance, the proportion of industrial output in the total industrial and agricultural output rose from 30% at the time of the founding of the PRC in 57 to 56.7% after the completion of the first Five-Year Plan in 49. This marked the initial establishment of an independent industrial system in China and the transformation of China from an agricultural country to an industrial country.

After the success of the first Five-Year Plan, the Five-Year Plan was implemented continuously, and the country continuously increased industrial investment, with the proportion of industrial output in the total industrial and agricultural output constantly rising.

It can be said that before this, China's development had always followed the Soviet model.

The Soviet model prioritized the development of heavy industry, which lasted for over two decades. While the country's industrial strength did indeed increase, light industry lagged behind, and the lives of the people did not improve significantly. In contrast, Western countries, despite investing less in heavy industry than the Soviet Union, surpassed it in fields such as electronics.

Let's learn from the West. The world knows how powerful the Soviet Union was, especially considering that it only existed for 60 years and was able to single-handedly contend with the United States and Europe. But let's also learn from the Soviet Union. Aside from its advanced heavy industry, the Soviet people's living standards don't seem to have improved much...

The development path that China is following is a unique path with socialist characteristics.

Ultimately, it is an independent path that integrates the Soviet and Western models, adjusts them according to national conditions, and constantly explores and improves upon them!

Right now, let alone feeling your way across the river, most people are still watching from the riverbank as the pioneers have just stepped one foot into the river!
"How could there be reform and opening up if we didn't follow our own path?"

Liu Debao was also taken aback for a moment, then answered with a smile.

Xie Wei understood and did not continue discussing the matter with Secretary Liu.

"The new head of the School-Enterprise Cooperation Office was brought over by Principal Li from the Ministry. Previously, the School-Enterprise Cooperation Office was poorly managed but no problems arose. Now..."

Seeing that Xie Wei understood what he meant, Secretary Liu changed the subject.

Wang Zheng left in a hurry.

The new head of the school-enterprise cooperation office left before taking office.

"As long as it doesn't affect the development of the school-enterprise cooperation office, I personally have no objection. It doesn't matter who takes the position."

Xie Wei understood Liu Debao's concerns.

He also hopes that the school-enterprise cooperation office can have a strong and capable person in charge.

Being strong is not enough without ability.

"When the people arrive, you can meet them first. The school and the ministry agree that the school-enterprise cooperation office cannot have any problems."

Liu Debao clearly told Xie Wei that the school and the ministry leaders attached great importance to the school-enterprise cooperation program.

There's nothing you can do if you don't take it seriously.

Which organization in the country can bring back $4 million from the international market in one go, and whose leader also receives such preferential treatment?

If the newly transferred head of the school-enterprise cooperation office cannot get along with Xie Wei, the department's attitude is very clear: replace him directly!
"The Pakistani technicians will be arriving soon. Do you have time to come with us to greet them?"

"No news from the Iraqis?"

Xie Wei did not answer whether to go and welcome the first batch of technical trainers sent by Pakistan, but instead asked about the situation in Iraq.

He preferred wealthy and straightforward clients like Abdullah.

Only when any weapon or equipment demonstrates its combat effectiveness on the battlefield can it secure a steady stream of orders.

In the coming decades, there will be many local armed conflicts and wars in the world, but several of these wars are not suitable for showcasing advanced weapons and equipment: for example, the Gulf War, Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait put him in a morally condemned position, and he has been subject to international sanctions ever since, making it unsuitable to sell advanced weapons.

Therefore, by the time of the Iraq War, the strength of the Iraqi army was even weaker than that of the Gulf War more than a decade earlier.

The Kosovo War, however, provided an opportunity to showcase advanced air defense missiles.

It's still early.

The Iran-Iraq War is currently the best platform for showcasing weapons.

"No news yet."

Liu Debao didn't know why Xie Wei was so concerned about news from Iraq, and Xie Wei even asked Jiangbei Machinery Factory to send technical personnel to Iraq first.

······
Baghdad.

One of the presidential residences.

General Abdullah, who had been waiting for the president to summon him since nine o'clock in the morning, grew increasingly uneasy.

I've been back in China for several days now.

Logically, having purchased a large amount of weaponry from abroad, he should have been summoned by the president upon his return. However, several days have passed, and he has yet to receive a summons. Finally, he was notified that the president would summon him, but he has been waiting since morning, and it's almost nine o'clock, long past dark.

Could it be that because he couldn't deliver the advanced, high-powered weapons he had procured in a short time, his political enemies spoke ill of him to the president?

The more I think about it, the more uneasy I become.

"Tap tap tap~"

Just as General Abdullah was growing increasingly fearful, footsteps sounded outside.

"General, the President wishes to see you. Please come with me."

The president's aide appeared before Abdullah.

"Sayyid, how is His Majesty's mood?"

The attendant was also from Tikrit, and his birth village was only three villages away from the president's.

We've had quite a bit of dealings with each other before.

He hoped the other party could provide him with some information so he could prepare a response.

Saeed merely glanced at Abdullah without saying a word.

This made Abdullah's heart sink to the bottom.

Upon reaching the entrance to the reception room, Saeed stopped and gestured for Abdullah to go inside.

"His Majesty!"

The reception room, spanning over 100 square meters, is very spacious. On one side, there is a genuine leather sofa from Europe, and the floor is covered with an exquisite wool carpet.

As soon as I entered, I saw the young and middle-aged Shadama sitting behind his desk processing documents.

Stepping onto the wool carpet, he quickly walked forward. Seeing that the president did not look up, Abdullah did not dare to utter a sound, waiting for Shadam to look up before speaking.

Shadama raised his head, his sharp eyes fixed on Abdullah, without saying a word.

Abdullah was sweating profusely, but dared not meet the president's gaze.

"How much benefit did you receive from the Chinese? Not only did you not report it to the country, but the $2.8 million you bought was all equipment that was still under research!"

The president’s tone was calm, yet it struck Abdullah’s heart like a heavy hammer blow.

really!

Someone spoke ill of him to the president!
Fortunately, he had already considered this issue when deciding to purchase the long-range rocket artillery from Harbin Institute of Technology.

"Your Majesty, I am innocent! I did not receive a single penny in bribes from them!"

Abdullah hurriedly protested his innocence.

Saddam Hussein simply looked at him calmly. Those who knew him well understood that this was a prelude to the president's anger, and if the explanation failed to satisfy the president, the consequences would be severe.

"The report and contract I submitted to the Ministry of National Defense included the parameters of this long-range rocket artillery, with a maximum range of 165 kilometers... It wasn't initially part of the negotiations; we encountered their convoy returning from field testing by chance..."

Seeing that the president did not interrupt his explanation, Abdullah breathed a slight sigh of relief.

The performance parameters of the 150mm long-range rocket artillery purchased this time were introduced in more detail.

“射程165公里？战斗部420公斤？每辆发射车2×4一共8枚火箭弹可以在50秒内完成发射？关键的是发射车只要280万美元，也就是一辆T-72的价格？射程如此远的火箭弹，真的只要5万美元一枚？”

Even after seeing the report and hearing Abdullah's account in person, Saddam was still shocked.

He asked a series of questions.

After receiving an affirmative answer, he gestured for Abdullah to continue.

Seeing the president's expression, Abdullah knew he had won, and breathed a sigh of relief, his heart finally settling down.

"At first, they were unwilling to sell at all, so we used the condition of purchasing their advanced tanks..."

"Bang~"

He slammed his hand heavily on the desk.

Abdullah shuddered in fright.

Isn't it a sure thing?

Finished!

It is often said that serving a ruler is like serving a tiger; the ancient Chinese were right.

The president in front of us seized power in a coup.

"Abdullah, I trusted you so much! A rocket artillery battalion should have 18 rocket launchers! You only procured enough to equip two battalions, and even if each brigade is only equipped with one battalion, it wouldn't be enough for the three brigades of the Republican Guard! Did I not give you enough authority, or do you think that we, as the world's third strongest military power, do not need to be equipped with a powerful long-range rocket artillery force?"

Abdullah was dumbfounded.

He thought the president was going to cause him trouble.

So, he got angry because he felt he hadn't bought enough?
A little thought makes it clear: the president has always wanted to transform Iraq into the world's third-strongest military power, second only to the United States and the Soviet Union. Only in this way can Iraq replace Egypt, become the leading power in the Arab world, and unify the entire Arab world.

"Go to China immediately and tell them to send five more long-range artillery battalions! Ask them to lower the price..."

(End of this chapter)