In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 419 Trade protectionism? Are you suggesting we use our profits to appease foreigners?

"Mr. Wu, why don't we just provide the trainers according to their requirements? Anyway, our trainers can't participate in combat... Let's finalize the contract quickly, this is really frustrating."

Du Ziteng looked at Wu Lijun with a conflicted expression.

The two parties are different export companies, undertaking different businesses, and involved in different contract amounts, so naturally their attitudes are different as well.

"No, where would we find such a large training team? Although we recruit retired military personnel as instructors, the domestic military doesn't have many of these equipment..."

Wu Lijun shook his head.

It wasn't that he was unwilling, but rather that the other party's demands were simply too unreasonable.

This is clearly a tactic used to demand the stationing of Chinese troops.

It involves state-of-the-art air defense missile systems and long-range rocket artillery, and it is not appropriate for retired personnel to have long-term contact with them.

We can only bring in technical personnel from within China.

"It's so frustrating that the contract can't be fulfilled because of this problem!"

Du Ziteng was speechless.

The big customer's bizarre request was something they hadn't expected; they had never encountered such a request in their previous foreign trade!

"The counterattack series of air defense missiles have always been tested by the technical and testing teams of Harbin Institute of Technology. The military doesn't have a single set, and there aren't even any seed instructors trained yet. How can we provide them? Even Director Xie can't solve this problem."

Wu Lijun understood Du Ziteng and others' ideas, but there weren't enough personnel in the country!

Fortunately, Xie Wei also said that the number of trainees would be limited to 800.

Air defense missiles and long-range rocket artillery are both large-scale weapon systems, requiring a significant number of operators and maintenance personnel.

Prior to this, there were no complete sets of weapons in China.

Where can we find so many technical personnel?
“Vice President Cao and his team are negotiating a different business than us, and we’ve been instructed from above that different businesses should be negotiated separately. Perhaps we should ask Director Xie?”

Du Ziteng was unwilling to let things drag on like this, and the attitude of the person in charge of the negotiations with the major clients was not as friendly as it had been towards Xie Wei.

The Dongfeng-3 negotiation team led by Deputy General Manager Cao was not together with the base's supporting equipment negotiation team, and even if they were together, they could not negotiate together.

Soon, the big spender's bizarre request reached Xie Wei.

"You require one-on-one training?"

Xie Wei was stunned for a moment after hearing this, but he quickly recovered and laughed: "Damn it! They really know how to be flexible!"

"Don't just laugh. Where are we going to find so many people to meet their requirements?"

Liu Debao became anxious when he saw that Xie Wei was not only not worried, but was actually laughing.

no one!

The Counterattack series of air defense missile systems have been used for testing for the past few years, and the military has not provided seed instructors for training by the testing team.

The only way to transfer people for training is to draw some from the current technical R&D team and testing team, but the other party requires "one-on-one" training. Where can we find people?

"It's alright. Isn't the military planning to train seed instructors? Just select a group of people and let them learn and teach at the same time."

Xie Wei didn't take it seriously at all.

There are no plans for the military to equip itself with the Counterattack series of air defense missiles in the short term, but the seed instructors still need to train them. The Counterattack series is currently the most suitable air defense missile system to upgrade the outdated HQ-2 and HQ-3, and it will be equipped sooner or later.

Li Rui came to Xie Wei not only wanting to train seed instructors, but also hoping that Xie Wei could support the development of the Blue Army and provide the Blue Army with one set each of Counterattack I and Counterattack II for systematically training seed instructors of the new air defense missile force.

Ultimately, the military didn't want to pay; they wanted the complete air defense missile system.

How could Xie Wei agree to that?
Doesn't the current demand from large investors perfectly solve this problem?

"this?"

Liu Debao was stunned. "If the instructors themselves don't know how to do it, how can they teach it? If they find out, it might cause a conflict. That wouldn't be good."

"Do you think they're prepared to learn on their own? If they are, should we request continuous training? Let's decide on this. However, their request for one-on-one training is definitely not feasible. Talk to Li Rui and suggest that we provide 300 training instructors for long-range artillery, 300 instructors for anti-aircraft missiles, and 300 instructors for rocket launchers and sniper grenades."

"what?"

The number of instructors Xie Wei mentioned is almost the size of a regiment!

"Anyway, their officers and soldiers won't have much time to study each day. During the production process of this equipment, personnel will be selected first to begin training..."

There's no need to worry about it at all.

Xie Wei knew what the other party wanted.

"Also, since so many extra staff have been provided, they should cover some of the costs. The customer experience is different when it's given away for free versus when they pay for it."

"..."

At this moment, Liu Debao was completely speechless.

"I thought I had a clear understanding of the bottom line of his shamelessness, but now I realize that my understanding was still insufficient!"

After listening, Li Rui remained silent for a long time before speaking.

Looking at him, Liu Debao's lips twitched: It seems your shamelessness isn't that high either. Xie Wei solved Li Rui's problem, and even though the wealthy family paid the bill, they complained that Xie Wei was too shameless?
Who is truly more shameless?

In just three days, Du Ziteng and his team received a reply from China.

"Only three battalions?"

Farahleman was somewhat disappointed.

Wu Lijun was about to explain that it wasn't three battalions, but 900 men, when Du Ziteng pulled him aside, signaling him not to speak.

"It's roughly the size of a regiment; our missile base garrison is organized as a brigade..."

Garcia Abdullah reminded Farahleman.

The prince's side negotiated, but the number of trainees wasn't even enough for a battalion!
That's a unit that controls 36 Dongfeng-3 missiles!
"Your Highness, the training instructor team has exceeded our initial expectations by a significant margin, coupled with subsequent costs..."

Xie Wei demanded that the other party pay for the training and logistical maintenance costs. Du Ziteng took the opportunity to say this, thinking that the other party would be unhappy if they felt they had to spend extra money, so he decided to use this as a condition to make the other party give up.

"Costs are increasing, right? We pay $5000 million a year for maintenance and staff training."

To Du Ziteng and others' surprise, Garcia Abdullah offered $5000 million a year without hesitation.

The group was immediately at a loss.

And so, the contract was signed.

After the contract was signed, the major client immediately made a 40% advance payment, and the $18 billion was transferred to China before the group even returned home.

After reporting to their superiors, Du Ziteng and Wu Lijun went to Harbin Institute of Technology together.

"$5000 million? It should be $1 million a year. The logistics, maintenance, and training for the Dongfeng-3 missiles cost $5 million a year!"

Xie Wei was somewhat disappointed after receiving the report.

An extra $5000 million a year can fund a lot of technology projects.

“Director Xie, they asked for $5000 million right away, and we only provided 900 people… We were worried they might back out…”

Du Ziteng hurriedly explained.

Yes.

They signed the contract hastily because they were worried that the other party would renege on the agreement.

"They are also worried that you might change your mind!"

Xie Wei sighed. He had forgotten to mention this: the personnel sent to the wealthy families to train and maintain them weren't just there for maintenance and training; they were there to tell anyone who wanted to take action against them—think twice before you act, consider whether you can defeat the most formidable light infantry force on Earth!
"This money……"

"Give it to the troops."

Xie Wei thought for a moment and then spoke.

Li Rui had come to him specifically to ask about funding for the Blue Team. The personnel trained at wealthy families must be the best selected so that they can join the Blue Team after returning to China, at least being proficient in operating various equipment.

"what?"

Both of them looked puzzled.

Xie Wei did not provide an explanation.

Instead, they brought in Liu Debao and other relevant leaders.

“Production in each unit needs to be accelerated; we cannot blindly expand the scale just to produce this batch of orders. Initially, we can pay 80% of the processing fees…”

With production in place, the supporting infrastructure becomes easier to build.

Xie Wei was well aware of how difficult the national military industry was at the moment, saying, "We need to further invest in basic supporting infrastructure, especially materials, processing technology, and integrated circuits..."

Wu Lijun frowned, wanting to tell Xie Wei that they were just an export agency and that this had nothing to do with them.

Before he could finish speaking, Du Ziteng stopped him.

"Director Xie, please rest assured that we will follow the school's requirements and focus on supporting relevant units to upgrade their production technology."

Xie Wei nodded when he saw that Du Ziteng understood his meaning.

The original production plants are all readily available. In addition to the existing production lines for rocket launchers and sniper grenades, the production lines for long-range rocket artillery do not need to be increased much. The production lines of Jiangbei Machinery Factory and other factories that previously produced 150-kilometer long-range rocket artillery do not need much modification.

The Counterattack 1 and Counterattack 2 air defense missile systems are different: they involve more technical equipment and have been in the experimental production stage for a long time, at most they can be considered small-batch trial production.

To proceed directly into formal production, we need to increase production capacity.

This raises issues such as capacity building.

With the advancement of reform and opening up, military spending has been decreasing year by year. In recent years, domestic military industrial units have had to compete for both projects and funding in order to survive.

"Why are you stopping me? They're in charge of production coordination; all we need to do is urge delivery."

Wu Lijun was puzzled.

As an agency, production coordination is not their responsibility at all.

“It’s not under our jurisdiction, but we have to pay the money! We are both the export agent and the general contractor.”

Du Ziteng reminded Wu Lijun.

"That?"

Wu Lijun remained puzzled.

"Are you genuinely unaware or just pretending? The amount is substantial, but the production scale isn't particularly large. What product in China doesn't have at least several manufacturers? Director Xie specifically emphasized the importance of basic infrastructure and stressed that we shouldn't blindly expand production capacity..."

Du Ziteng's explanation stunned Wu Lijun.

Little did he know there were so many twists and turns involved.

He quickly realized what was happening and said with a dissatisfied look, "They took the lion's share of the profits, and now they're making us do the work that offends people..."

“If we don’t do it, will other companies not? Director Xie gave us a 12% agency fee. If Poly doesn’t want it, you can transfer it to CATIC.”

"I didn't say I wouldn't do it!"

Wu Lijun immediately became anxious.

Just kidding. Although Poly's business is not as large as CATIC's, thanks to Xie Wei's hype, the total value of just the M7 tactical missile and YH-300 long-range rocket artillery business alone exceeds 16 billion.

The agency fees alone could bring in nearly $2 million.

With such enormous profits, who would be willing to give them up?
"Also, regarding task allocation, it would be best if we consulted with Secretary Liu and Director Ge Jianjun. Their opinions should be the primary consideration, especially on equipment procurement issues..."

"You mean that if relevant organizations have a need, they should first consider products developed by the school itself?"

Wu Lijun frowned and asked Du Ziteng.

"Correct!"

Du Ziteng nodded.

It seems that becoming Poly's vice president of business is no foolishness.

But Wu Lijun's expression changed. "What if we don't use their affiliated units?"

Du Ziteng glanced at Wu Lijun, then turned and left without saying anything.

Wu Lijun's expression turned even more grim.

Poly is primarily a trading company. Although it doesn't have its own production facilities, it maintains close partnerships with several key military industrial production units. According to Du Ziteng, Poly's affiliated companies need to purchase equipment from Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT).

"Isn't that what you should do? Vice President Wu, you don't think that making money from our business is your duty, and supporting our development has nothing to do with you, do you? Putting aside how much profit Harbin Aircraft Industry Group's export business has made, you haven't forgotten how this business ended up in Poly's hands, have you?"

Ge Jianjun showed no mercy to Wu Lijun.

In his opinion, this matter shouldn't even be discussed.

The total amount exceeded US$45 billion, with actual profits around US$36 billion.

Xie Wei left only $23 billion to Harbin Institute of Technology, with the remaining $13 billion intended to provide more profit and funding for production units to upgrade production technology and equipment.

First, we need to consider Harbin Institute of Technology's own enterprises.

"You're being far too domineering!"

Wu Lijun frowned. "We have the right to choose how the production units are selected..."

"Have the right?"

Ge Jianjun abruptly interrupted Wu Lijun, saying, "If it were business you negotiated yourselves and you were to share the profits with us, we wouldn't say a word. What's going on with this business? Don't you have any concept of units of measurement?"

"..."

Wu Lijun hadn't expected Ge Jianjun to use profanity.

Everyone here is a cadre, and at a fairly high level.

Why are you swearing?

Before Wu Lijun could speak, Liu Debao chimed in, "Vice President Wu, we don't have Xie Wei's broad vision. Several military manufacturing units that cooperate with Poly are purchasing CNC machine tools, and when the precision is similar, they prefer to buy more expensive imported ones... Even Poly itself uses imported switches for internal use..."

It wasn't that Xie Wei was unhappy, but because of Li Rui's relationship and the cooperation between the school and the military, no one brought it up.

But no one expected that Wu Lijun would take the initiative to come to the school and accuse it of engaging in trade protectionism.

I can't bear it!
I can't stand it at all!
Wu Lijun was extremely embarrassed; his lips moved as if he wanted to say something.

But nothing could be said.

"This time, we will definitely prioritize cooperating with units that use the technology products developed by the school for processing and manufacturing! Everyone should help each other out. Director Xie is giving a 12% agency fee to support the relevant research projects of the military, while giving such a high profit in the production field is to allow the production units to obtain funds for technological upgrades!"

Ge Jianjun reminded Wu Lijun with a dark expression.

"If you can't do it, we don't mind switching to another agency. We can even renegotiate the agency fees and production costs. If all else fails, we'll just not do this business!"

Liu Debao's words stunned Wu Lijun.

(End of this chapter)