In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 424 This is outrageous! Before I even sold the equipment, I was robbed by my boss!
"Sixth Brother, Sixth Brother... Squad Leader!"

Seeing Xie Wei lost in thought, drool dripping from the corner of his mouth, Feng Ke was suddenly dumbfounded: Had she said anything that would shock the class monitor?

"Ah~"

Xie Wei came to his senses.

The country's gold reserves are currently around 400 tons, and this is not expected to change for many years to come.

International gold prices will likely see another significant drop before the collapse of the Soviet Union, perhaps allowing for another round of business with Saddam Hussein.

"Old Feng, how much gold do you think we could get from Saddam Hussein if we let him pay for our weapons and equipment with gold?"

"what?"

Xie Wei's question immediately stumped Feng Ke: "Gold?"

"That's right. Many of our research projects have a high demand for gold, but the country doesn't have much of it, and it's not easy to apply for it from higher authorities... It's used a lot in integrated circuits, especially in some advanced chips... Although gold's conductivity is only after copper and silver, its oxidation resistance and corrosion resistance far exceed those of silver and copper..."

"Using gold to manufacture integrated circuits? How come I never thought of that! Class monitor, you really are a genius!"

Feng Ke suddenly slapped his own head.

This time, Xie Wei was surprised.

After listening to Feng Ke's explanation, it was found that Iraq, due to its backward production technology, was unable to manufacture integrated circuits itself and could only obtain them from the international black market. However, other circuit boards and other components were not readily available, resulting in low stability and thus causing the high failure rate of the Abbas and Hussein missiles.

"Using gold in integrated circuits makes the process very difficult, but the performance is absolutely top-notch, especially in terms of stability."

The electronic properties of gold are known worldwide.

The problem is that these things are scarce and expensive.

Integrated circuits used in aerospace satellites contain a significant amount of gold.

"What kind of experience did you gain over there? If you were to lead the development of tactical missiles, would you be capable?"

"I have a design in hand, most of the technology has been validated there, but I can't work on the aerodynamic layout..."

Feng Ke sighed.

What are your thoughts on the work arrangements?

Xie Wei didn't ask about the school's work arrangements for Feng Ke; there was no need to ask, as the school's arrangements for Feng Ke would be based on Xie Wei's suggestions.

"What project is Professor Zhai working on right now?"

Feng Ke asked.

"Distant fire."

"I'd like to get to know Professor Zhai better first."

Xie Wei nodded.

That evening, Zhang Jingyan, Yao Xinwei, and others took time out of their busy schedules to welcome Feng Ke back.

The next morning, Xie Wei approached Liu Debao and Zhang Mingqiu and proposed that Feng Ke join Zhai Xinguo's team.

"He just got back..."

Liu Debao was somewhat worried.

Chen Haowen and his group did not go out.

“He has seen everything he needed to see, and he has experienced things that most people don’t. If he hadn’t come back, he would have had better treatment. We can’t let one bad apple like Wei Bingkun make us so paranoid and suspicious.”

Xie Wei said calmly.

He trusted Feng Ke.

Moreover, He Qiang had been keeping an eye on Feng Ke all along, as well as people arranged by Li Rui.

"That!"

Liu Debao and Zhang Mingqiu exchanged a glance and did not object further.

"By the way, Secretary Liu, could you please have someone contact General Abdullah and inquire whether they are interested in the long-range artillery launch system with a range of 300 kilometers, and also the Counterattack series of air defense missiles..."

"Iraq?"

Liu Debao was somewhat confused.

The cooperation between the two parties ended long ago, and no additional tank orders have been placed over the years.

Even Pakistan has remained silent.

"Feng Ke talked to me about the situation over there yesterday..."

When they heard that Xie Wei planned to have Iraq pay for weapons and equipment with gold, both of them were puzzled. "Although many projects at the university have a high demand for gold, that's only relative... It's useless for us to get too much gold..."

"The country has no intention of increasing its gold reserves, so why would so much gold come back..."

The value of gold is recognized worldwide.

But this is not currency, so it cannot be used directly as funds.

"We don't lack funds in the short term, let's keep it as a reserve. That way, we won't have to go through layers of approval every time we need gold..."

Xie Wei's reason was that many of the school's research projects had a high demand for gold.

In reality, the school's annual demand for gold in scientific research does not exceed 300 grams. Even when gold is used in integrated circuits, it is measured in milligrams.

"You mean we'll use the $23 billion in profits to pay for the equipment deal with Iraq, and leave the gold as a reserve at the university?"

"No need to deposit it at the school, deposit it directly in the bank. And it just so happens that Leader Long Yaohua is here right now..."

Xie Wei's attitude left no room for negotiation.

The two were used to his style and agreed without saying much.

"Trading in gold? Xie Wei, a ton of gold is only worth about $1000 million internationally right now. If the transaction is large..."

Long Yaohua looked at Xie Wei with incomprehension.

Xie Wei immediately pulled out his own set of arguments.

"We won't convert the gold into funds yet; we'll just deposit it in the central bank's vault. We'll consider converting it into cash when the school needs the funds."

From the very beginning, Xie Wei never intended to deposit the gold directly into the school.

"Let's talk about it once the deal goes through."

Long Yaohua did not object.

As long as the equipment can be sold, exchanging it for gold is fine.

When the People's Republic of China was first established, it had no resources and spent 68 tons of gold to purchase four second-hand warships from the Soviet Union as the main warships of the navy.

"Isn't this a bit extravagant?"

Yu Guofeng looked at Xie Wei, his lips twitching.

Xie Wei approached him and surprisingly suggested that he use circuits made of gold when designing high-performance dedicated chips!

"How is it extravagant? We're researching the technology involved. For example, the extreme ultraviolet light source requires the development of nanotechnology... If gold can be made at the nanoscale, wouldn't the cost come down? The circuitry for the Beidou experimental satellite is made of gold, isn't it?"

"..."

Xie Wei's reasoning left Yu Guofeng with no room for rebuttal.

The properties of various conductive materials are a key research focus of the school's materials laboratory. Everyone knows that gold is stable and can adapt to various harsh environments.

The problem is that the scarcity of gold is obvious to all.

It's not that I haven't considered it, it's just that this thing is too expensive!
Using it to manufacture circuits is far too extravagant.

"Uncle Yu, compared to some of the purified rare earth elements we use, this price isn't high, is it? Scandium metal, we got it from the rare earth lab at a friendly price, 128,000 yuan per kilogram, which works out to 128 per gram, several times that of gold!"

Xie Wei reminded Yu Guofeng.

Various rare earth elements are frequently used in research conducted by the Department of Electrical Engineering at the university.

Xie Wei could even proudly say that Harbin Institute of Technology is currently the institution in China with the most research and application of rare earth elements and the most achievements.

none of them!

Furthermore, due to the needs of Harbin Institute of Technology and with ample funding, the manufacturing processes at the Rare Earth Research Institute are also developing rapidly.

Compared to some electronics research institutes in the US and Japan, Harbin Institute of Technology's research on rare earth elements still lags behind, but it's far less advanced than it was in the past. The Japanese and the US don't have someone like Xie Wei, who has a knack for knowing which rare earth elements are used in which fields and what roles they can play.

"But where are we going to find so much gold?!"

"Don't worry. The research is your business; those things are ours!"

Xie Wei grinned.

As soon as the conversation ended, Li Rui called Yu Guofeng looking for Xie Wei.

It wasn't Li Rui who was looking for Xie Wei.

Instead, it was Wang Dayan, this big shot, who sought out Xie Wei.

"Going to Changchun?"

Xie Wei hurriedly shook his head, "Professor Wang, if we want to increase cooperation with the Institute of Automation, Professor Ma can make the decision."

Xie Wei is unavailable.

"For some collaborations, I think it's better if you handle the negotiations yourself. The Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics is one of the strongest optical research institutions in the country."

The Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (CIOMP) was founded in 1952. Wang Dayan was appointed as its curator and director. Under his leadership, in 1958, the institute became nationally renowned for eight major products, including a geodetic theodolite with 1-second precision, a universal tool microscope with 1-micron precision, a medium-sized electron microscope, a neutron crystal spectrometer, and an electro-optical distance measuring instrument. In 1961, China's first laser was born here…

Under the leadership of Wang Dayan, the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics has transformed from a national cradle for optical talent training into a top-tier optical research institute.

The Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics is not yet merged with the Institute of Physics; its full name is the Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics.

The university has a very close partnership with that institution, and most of the cutting-edge scientific research equipment needs to be provided by the Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics.

"Professor Wang, as long as Professor Ma reaches an agreement with them, the university will support him unless there are special circumstances."

Ma Zuguang's gaze towards Xie Wei changed.

This is how the school has always done it. Project leaders handle the necessary negotiations with partner organizations themselves, submit their proposals, and then the school reviews and approves them before disbursing funding.

This was also a measure taken by Xie Wei to enhance the status of researchers at the university.

Old Wang was unaware of the intricacies involved.

"What if half or more of your 8 million in funding needs to be paid to them?"

Wang Dayan looked at Xie Wei and felt that Xie Wei was still too young.

"Don't worry about just half, I'd give you the whole thing without a problem. Mr. Wang, what I need is for the related supporting facilities to develop, not just the school's projects... Without the supporting facilities, even the school's advanced projects will be difficult to develop..."

Xie Wei spoke very sincerely, but his expression was somewhat unnatural.

Why didn't he go to the Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics?

It wasn't because everyone there was a big shot, but because a few years ago Xie Wei had designs on key technical personnel at the Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, which led to Zhang Mingqiu getting into a fight with Cai Rentang, the director of the institute, over a dinner...

People are wary of him!

"Director Wang, if he's not going, then so be it."

Ma Zuguang was aware of the complicated relationship between the school and the Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics; the other side wouldn't even allow school leaders to enter the Institute's premises.

Talk about cooperation?
No problem. The person in charge there will bring security personnel to talk with the relevant people. If the school dares to reveal any intention to poach people, we will fight them to the death.

This happened in the latter half of 85, when Wang Dayan had already been transferred from the position of director of the Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics for more than a year.

Fortunately, this was a shameful incident for both parties, so it didn't spread too widely.

Wang Dayan, this big shot, is still unaware.

"Zhang Mingqiu and Cai Rentang were fighting?"

On the way to the Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, Ma Zuguang told Director Wang about the "grudges" between the school and the Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, which shocked Director Wang. "These two are both gentlemen, how could they fight?"

He couldn't understand.

"The main problem is that Xiao Xie is too ruthless. He only poachs key personnel, and sometimes he even takes away the entire team..."

"..."

Director Wang was stunned.

Xie Wei's ruthlessness was something he hadn't expected.

If we really did that, wouldn't we just hollow out the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics?

"Then why don't you just ask the Chinese Academy of Sciences to transfer the Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics to your university!"

Director Wang wasn't being sarcastic.

"The school had this idea before. Long Yaohua came to the school directly and scolded Xie Wei for engaging in factionalism... Dean Qian also wrote a letter criticizing Xie Wei..."

"..."

Director Wang was stunned; he really didn't know these inside stories.

However, he also had doubts:

"Didn't the higher-ups issue direct orders years ago forbidding your school from poaching people? Your school hasn't poached many people since then, has it?"

"No, we train our own staff, then collaborate with others, hire external consultants, and so on... It's just that when research gets busy, it's hard to manage the time..."

"..."

Director Wang was completely convinced.

It was only then that he realized what it meant to have policies from above and countermeasures from below.

"Regarding the cooperation with the Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, they only want our people to go there; their people won't come to the school... They say that once they come, they can't leave... The people Xie Wei wanted, Liu Debao and Zhang Mingqiu tried every means to get them back... Originally, we were discussing cooperation with the Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics, and they were also preparing to send personnel to the school, but Principal Zhang got drunk and let it slip..."

"..."

Director Wang suddenly didn't know what to say.

At that moment, Xie Wei was approached by Long Yaohua and others, who told him directly that Qin Weidong was in charge of the school's military representative office.

"What do I have to do with personnel changes in the military?"

"You're just wearing that military uniform for nothing? Starting this year, you'll be participating in student military training... I don't expect you to be perfect in tactical movements, but at least you can't be worse than an ordinary soldier in the front-line troops!"

Long Yaohua was not polite at all.

"..."

Xie Wei looked at Long Yaohua speechlessly: If you want to mess with me, just say so. Do you have to do this?

"Tell me honestly how much it would cost to modify the WZ-122 into a tank."

Is this a case of kicking oneself while giving the school a sweet treat?
"About 400 million..."

"Ok?"

Long Yaohua glared angrily at Xie Wei.

"Uh, a little over 300 million..."

Long Yaohua just looked at him without saying a word.

"Okay, currently, if we can get 100 orders, the cost can be controlled within 250 million, and if we can get 400 orders, the cost can be reduced to within 180 million."

Staring at Long Yaohua with murderous intent, Xie Wei not only felt a chill run down his spine, but the hairs on the back of his neck also stood on end.

Long Yaohua almost swore.

black!
This guy is ruthless not only to foreign clients, but also to the military!

The tank, which cost 180 million to build, was originally sold to the Iraqis for 239 million each; now they want to sell it to the troops for 400 million!
Even now, when Xie Wei says the price is 180 million, Long Yaohua still expresses doubt.

"220 million for 3 battalions."

"We're going to lose money..."

Xie Wei was unhappy.

At that moment, he immediately understood Long Yaohua's purpose: what was this about giving 8 million yuan in R&D funding to conduct research on extreme ultraviolet light source-related projects? This was all for the sake of the Blue Army Combined Arms Brigade!

The key point is that they also want the school to contribute some of the money.

If Feng Ke hadn't told Xie Wei about the Tikrit Brigade of Yizak, and if Li Rui hadn't had that amused smile on his face, Xie Wei would have been completely unaware, and all those years of dealing with these big shots would have been for nothing.

(End of this chapter)