In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 397 With such a huge sum of money, what's wrong with selling some advanced weapons!
$38 billion? Are you sure you're not mistaken? Is it really in US dollars?

The introduction of Long Yaohua's situation left a group of high-ranking military officials stunned for a long time, unable to recover their senses.

$38 billion.

I can’t even think about it!

Normally, how much do we export weapons and equipment in a year, including fighter jets, warships, heavy artillery, and various light weapons?
Before this, the two sides still fighting in the Middle East had made large-scale purchases of tanks and other equipment to replenish their supplies, totaling only $30 billion. The purchases included a huge number of weapons and equipment, such as fighter jets, bombers, tanks, armored vehicles, and heavy artillery. The number of tanks alone reached 2860, with a delivery period of more than three years!
The Dongfeng-3 missile just sold for $70 billion; it's a powerful weapon with significant national strategic deterrence.

But Xie Wei sold...

"What else did he sell? Rocket launchers alone wouldn't amount to that much, would they?"

"It doesn't matter what they sell, as long as it doesn't endanger national defense security."

"Our first priority is survival! With such a small military budget, the troops are tightening their belts, and the entire military-industrial complex is struggling! We're lucky if we get any orders at all!"

"Exactly, they've already sold the Dongfeng-3. Just don't sell them atomic bombs, Dongfeng-5 missiles, or nuclear submarines..."

Upon hearing this, Long Yaohua's eyes twitched repeatedly.

Xie Wei has the idea of ​​selling nuclear submarines, which cost more than a billion US dollars each!
But he couldn't say it.

However, the reactions of many leaders also relieved Long Yaohua – he no longer needed to spend too much energy persuading them.

"Knock knock~"

The leader tapped his fingers on the conference table, and the conference room immediately fell silent.

"Everyone understands how significant $38 billion is to our entire military-industrial complex."

The leader first affirmed the importance of this foreign trade order, which totaled $38 billion.

coming!

Long Yaohua sighed.

"Everyone knows Xie Wei's character, so let's not get too excited yet."

The expressions of the many bigwigs instantly became complicated.

Xie Wei!
How many military leaders don't know what kind of guy this is?

“远火-300卖了5个营，每个营9800万美元；8610战术导弹5个营，单枚价格65万美元……”

Long Yaohua was well aware of what the leaders were thinking.

Therefore, let's start with tactical missiles and long-range rocket artillery that were designed and developed specifically for export.

"So expensive?"

The faces of many bigwigs turned grim—it was yet another case of the military being unable to afford such personnel.

"That little bastard Xie Wei, didn't he even consider whether the army could afford to use him?"

This is the most genuine thought in the hearts of all the bigwigs at this moment.

Can't afford it!
We simply can't afford it!
One rocket artillery battalion costs 9800 million!
US dollars!

"These figures are still far from the $38 billion target."

The leader's serious face remained completely expressionless.

Many bigwigs who were still worried that they couldn't afford such expensive long-range rocket artillery finally realized what was going on.

Yup!

It's expensive, but even five long-range artillery battalions and five tactical missile battalions wouldn't cost $38 billion.

"Four Counterattack II units were sold, each for $420 million; ten Counterattack I units were sold, each for $120 million..."

"Has Xie Wei sold the country's most advanced air defense missile system again?"

A gasp rang out, and the faces of many bigwigs twitched in surprise.

They all had an "I knew it" expression on their faces.

This is in line with Xie Wei's character; that kid doesn't care at all whether it will harm national defense.

"It's not the most advanced; compared to the models used domestically, its performance is reduced by more than 40%. There's nothing we can do about it. Although the Counterattack series has been under research for over a decade, and as you all know, the results are... Harbin Institute of Technology has drawn on its most elite research forces from across the country in recent years, pouring massive amounts of R&D funding into it, along with substantial investment in supporting infrastructure, to achieve the current results... If we don't export, how can we recoup the R&D costs by equipping the military with these systems? These dozen or so air defense missile systems alone are worth nearly 3 billion US dollars! According to the current settlement rate from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, one US dollar is worth 4.2 yuan, which means this trade could bring in over 12 billion..."

Long Yaohua spoke slowly with a serious expression.

This silenced the entire conference room.

We sold the most advanced air defense missile system, but the other side has also prepared even more advanced ones.

The question is, can the military afford it?
"Without exports, we can't recoup our investment. These projects were all funded by Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) itself. The higher authorities only provided some human resources, materials, and policy support... Now HIT is facing a severe financial crisis, and there's even a risk of its funding chain breaking down..."

It has to be said that Long Yaohua understood the thoughts of many bigwigs very well from the very beginning.

They started by mentioning advanced equipment that the troops didn't really need, and then brought up the Counterattack series, China's most advanced air defense missile system. Before any of the bigwigs could even speak, they shocked everyone with an order of 120 billion, a sum so large that no military leader could refuse.

Then it was pointed out that Harbin Institute of Technology's support for some projects in recent years had led to its funding chain being on the verge of collapse.

Oppose?

How to object?

Several of Harbin Institute of Technology's costly military technology projects were not initially conceived by the school's leaders.

What can be said?
Once the funding chain breaks, all projects will be affected.

"..."

After listening to Long Yaohua's explanation of how he "persuaded" his superiors to support him, Xie Wei was at a loss for words.

really!

Long Yaohua and Li Rui are the same kind of people.

"You can start preparing the contract now, but a military representative must be involved in the entire transaction process..."

Long Yaohua paused here, observing Xie Wei's reaction.

“No problem, I’ll involve Wei Changcheng in this, and many projects require their help in coordination… Although most of the orders are from units under the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry, many parts also require more supporting components…”

"The military will send someone else."

"no problem."

Xie Wei didn't hesitate at all.

The school has a military representative office that is not low in rank, on par with the military representative office of the entire city of Harbin. At this moment, Long Yaohua told Xie Wei that the military would arrange another military representative to intervene in this huge transaction, and Xie Wei naturally understood what was going on.

"Also, the export contract cannot be signed by you and the other party. Since you are a unit of the Ministry of Aerospace Industry, you should hand it over to CATIC and Poly..."

"What about the Precision Machinery Import and Export Company?"

Xie Wei was stunned for a moment.

Preventing schools from signing contracts with the other party is to protect the schools.

Moreover, the country has relevant policies that all imports and exports of weapons and equipment are handled by specially established import and export companies. The relevant research and development units and production units do not have import and export rights. This is for the purpose of convenient management.

Xie Wei can understand.

CATIC is responsible for the import and export of aircraft-related businesses, while Poly Group deals in army equipment...

Xie Wei's cooperation with the prince mainly focused on air defense missiles, tactical missiles, and rocket artillery.

Logically, this should fall within the business scope of CATIC.

"The Dongfeng missile is worth 70 billion US dollars! Xie Wei, you already have 38 billion US dollars, plus that 70 billion US dollar order, you don't mean to think the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry can take it all, do you?"

Li Rui, who had been silent all along, finally couldn't help but speak up.

The $70 billion deal for Dongfeng was not negotiated by Xie Wei, but the high price may still be related to him; however, the $38 billion deal was secured by Xie Wei alone.

Li Rui discovered that even though he had been promoted, he could no longer treat Xie Wei with the same carefree attitude he used to have.

"Uh~"

Xie Wei was immediately embarrassed.

Indeed, this massive order worth tens of billions of dollars can be converted into more than 450 billion dollars from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

Based on the current fiscal allocation, the entire country's military expenditure for two years would not reach this amount! Even the business that Xie Wei discussed could keep the main factories of the aerospace system in production for several years. In the next ten years, as long as the aerospace system does not recklessly try to build a space station or land on the moon now, it will not lack funds.

How much is the agency fee?

Seeing that neither Long Yaohua nor Li Rui remained silent, Xie Wei pondered for a moment before asking, and before they could answer, he added, "Too much won't do. We have to keep 65% of the profits for ourselves..."

Production costs are almost negligible.

Based on the total transaction amount, the production cost was less than 10%, and Xie Wei reserved 25% for the production plant to upgrade production equipment and supporting facilities.

"5%."

Long Yaohua looked at Li Rui, who hesitated for a moment before extending his palm with five fingers spread. After speaking, he looked nervously at Xie Wei, "What do you think?"

“That much?”

Xie Wei was surprised.

Whether it's Poly or CATIC, once they've taken over the relevant business, they're responsible for everything from the contract to subsequent delivery and technical training.

"Let's give 12%. Our department has raised such a large sum of money this time, the research funding and technology upgrade costs for core units should be substantial..."

"Good~"

Neither of them intended to fight. Xie Wei, who was usually stingy and even had to ask his superiors for money, was surprisingly easy to talk to.

"Your department?"

Long Yaohua reminded Xie Wei.

“Such a large business is definitely not enough to be coordinated by the school or the school-enterprise office... I need to go to the ministry right away.”

Xie Wei said.

In recent years, as reforms have continued to advance, various industrial ministries have also been undergoing continuous reforms.

Although he couldn't remember when the original world was, the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry did not first become the Ministry of Aerospace Industry, as Xie Wei remembered, and then merge with the Ministry of Aviation Industry, which was changed from the Third Ministry of Machinery Industry, to become the Ministry of Aeronautics and Astronautics Industry.

Instead, the Third Ministry of Machinery Industry and the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry were merged directly to form the Ministry of Aerospace Industry.

"Xie Wei is here? Please have a seat for a moment, I'll finish up this work."

This was Xie Wei's first visit to the ministry to meet with its leaders after the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry was reorganized into the Ministry of Aerospace Industry.

Fortunately.

The privilege of not needing an appointment is still in effect.

Minister Lin continued working on the documents in his hands. His secretary made tea for Xie Wei and then left. Xie Wei smelled the aroma of the tea and pondered how to start the conversation.

All departments are currently short of funds.

He gave away hundreds of millions just by asking.

"I heard you got married, congratulations!"

Minister Lin quickly finished processing the documents in his hand, got up and walked to a filing cabinet on the side. He took out a small box and a large pile of things wrapped in kraft paper. "I heard before that your watch is often inaccurate. I don't have anything good to give you, but I happen to have a pair of watches that the ministry customized. You and Xiao Mo can each have one..."

"Sir, this is too valuable, I can't accept it!"

Xie Wei hurriedly waved his hand to postpone.

He used to be quite wealthy.

But after he graduated with his bachelor's degree and started having his own students, he became poor...

The Shanghai brand watch on his wrist was the same one he wore when he returned to the city and took over his father Xie Jianguo's job at the Hongguang Factory. Xie Jianguo had given his own watch to Xie Wei...

"This is what you deserve. They are prototypes from Fiyta, but they are very commemorative, both of them are numbered 99."

"It's from Fiyta?"

Xie Wei was somewhat surprised.

Number 99!

Both of them.

"Yes. If it weren't for your suggestion, the department wouldn't have planned to produce clocks... Now we make millions in net profit a year..."

Minister Lin said with a smile.

Back when it was still the Seventh Ministry of Machinery Industry, Xie Wei proposed to establish a watch company because American astronaut Scott Carpenter wore a Breitling watch into space, making it the first Swiss watch to go into space; and the Omega Speedmaster series became standard equipment for American astronauts in 65.

When China launches its manned space program, astronauts will not be allowed to wear foreign watches!
Watches were in high demand in the 80s.

For aerospace, manufacturing watches is not too difficult.

"Don't worry, I bought this with my own salary."

Seeing that Xie Wei refused to accept the tea, Minister Lin said, "Knowing you like tea, I've saved all these good tea leaves for you..."

"Boss, you're not trying to shut me up by saying I shouldn't ask the department for funding, are you?"

Xie Wei suddenly asked.

Minister Lin was taken aback, then glared at Xie Wei. "One thing at a time. You don't have the money you want... You know the situation in the ministry. Besides, didn't you make a fortune this time?"

This time it was Xie Wei's turn to be stunned: How could this big shot in front of him be so well-informed?

"Don't look at me like that. If it weren't for you, the Dongfeng-3 would cost half the price! You need to understand, with such a huge sum of money, if we spend it sparingly, our ministry won't be short of funds for the next 15 years..."

Hearing this, Xie Wei breathed a sigh of relief.

So the leader was referring to the deal for the Dongfeng-3 missile.

“Boss, I dare not take credit for this... However, I did close another deal with a major client, the amount isn't too large, only 38 billion US dollars…”

"Having any orders is good enough... Wait, how many did you say?"

At first, Minister Lin thought that the list Xie Wei mentioned was not very large.

He immediately realized he had misheard.

"$38 million."

"Really?"

Minister Lin stood up abruptly, staring intently at Xie Wei, his breathing becoming rapid.

38 billion US dollars!

That would require research into countless advanced technology projects.

"Whoo~"

After hearing Xie Wei's affirmative answer and confirming that it was indeed $38 billion, Minister Lin finally let out a long sigh of relief. "Don't rush off tonight, I'll treat you to drinks!"

"Boss, let's talk about drinking later, for now..."

Xie Wei immediately stated his requirements.

This order, though not extensive, involves most units within the entire aerospace system and requires coordination from the ministry to complete delivery within four years.

"No problem! Every company is eager to have more production orders! If you get the orders, we'll naturally cooperate."

Minister Lin did not hesitate at all.

Xie Wei's huge order, which integrates the businesses of all aerospace units, would take more than ten years to process based on the current annual sales revenue.

Must cooperate!

"Boss, I gave 12% of the agency fee to CATIC and Poly, the agents."

Xie Wei deliberately emphasized that it was "I gave it to him".

"so much?"

Sure enough, Minister Lin frowned.

A 12% agency fee is simply too high.

Even if a precision machinery import and export company acts as an agent for aerospace products, or CATIC acts as an agent for aviation products, they could not possibly charge such high agency fees.

(End of this chapter)