Chapter 194: Want to slaughter with one blow? No way!

Outside, the sky gradually darkened; inside the hotel guest room, Luo Qiang paced back and forth.

What's going on? It's already this late, and he still hasn't returned?

Director Zhao's intention was clearly not to let me and Qin Miao appear together, but… it's already this late; as his secretary, I should be concerned about his schedule!

So, he picked up the phone.

"Hello, is this MTU Company? I am Luo Secretary of the Eastern delegation. I want to know when our Eastern delegation will return… What? Attend a banquet?"

A banquet, a Western-style feast!

Men in suits and leather shoes, women in evening gowns, necklaces sparkling, holding glasses of amber liquid… just thinking about it sounds high-end and grandiose… this is exactly the sort of thing only high society has, alas… I've been excluded!

Thinking of this, Luo Qiang clenched his fists again—it's all because of Qin Miao; if it weren't for him, I could have joined in!

I must pin a charge on Qin Miao; this time he has ulterior motives, wanting to sabotage our side's procurement so that Ha Gong Da can monopolize it—exactly that!

Munich city centre, Crystal Hotel, banquet hall.

"Mr. Ge Lixi, let me toast you!" Qin Miao raised his glass, smiling broadly.

"Mr. Qin, you're really too enthusiastic!" Ge Lixi found it a bit strange—since the factory, this person, upon seeing him, has almost constantly chatted with him, other leaders unable to get a word in; now, having come out to the banquet, Qin Miao is still constantly by Ge Lixi's side!

Beside him followed Chu Miaomiao, who also didn't drink, simply standing by as interpreter.

"Well, Factory Director, the moment I see you I feel an inexplicable sense of closeness, as if I'd met my grandfather…"

"Hahaha…" Ge Lixi let out a hearty laugh.

On the other side, Schultz's gaze occasionally flicked toward the two, wondering in his mind what Qin Miao was up to—could he be trying to poach Ge Lixi for the East?

Even if Ge Lixi went, Easterners still couldn't produce MTU diesel engines; it's not just about having someone point the way, you also need the machinery and equipment. Moreover, Ge Lixi knows what may be said and what must not; he would not divulge MTU diesel engine processing secrets.

But… he still felt uneasy, so he raised his glass and walked over.

"Mr. Qin, you also visited our engine factory this afternoon—when can this contract be signed?"

"I need to go back and report to my superiors; after they meet, study, and approve, we can sign the contract. You may not know that in the East, many procurements require complex procedures, but rest assured, this deal has no variables—later you'll find out, I, Qin Miao, keep my word!"

"Then shall we send someone to go with you to the East?"

"Of course!"

"Then… does Mr. Ge Lixi need to go over?"

"I would certainly like Mr. Ge Lixi to come with me, but I also know he is the head of your production plant and cannot just leave, so let's forget it."

"Not trying to poach Ge Lixi?" Schultz let out a sigh of relief.

"Then when will you head back?"

"I still need some time; next I have to go to other companies to order some parts."

"Is it our German company? I can send a business representative to take you there!"

"No thanks, I'll go myself."

"What a joke—if you take me over, wouldn't ZF Company have to pay you a service fee? That money can't go into your pockets; I'll negotiate myself, maybe even get a lower price than if you brought me."

"Is it ZF Company?" Schultz said enthusiastically: "Our MTU Company and ZF Company have always maintained good relations; for your order of the twelve-cylinder MTU396 diesel engine, ZF Company has several transmissions that can match…"

"This guy is really sly—he even guessed that!"

Qin Miao could only nod: "Since that's the case, then please trouble you…"

"Wait a moment, I'll introduce the ZF Company people over!"

Such a reception, superficially MTU Company entertaining the Eastern guests, but in fact many representatives of local German enterprises have come—after all, this is a good opportunity to do business!

In 1915, the Friedrichshafen Gear Works was founded in Friedrichshafen, Baden-Württemberg State; denoted by the letters ZahnradfabrikFriedrichshafen, abbreviated ZF Company. In 1916 it began researching automobile transmissions; in 1932 it started studying automobile steering systems; now it is the leader in this field, and in translation it can also be called ZF.

In later times, when people speak of automatic transmissions, they often mention Aisin, but in fact ZF is the leader in the automatic transmission field; Aisin is merely famous for a transverse 6AT gearbox, whereas ZF leads in all aspects.

For example, European luxury cars are almost uniformly equipped with ZF transmissions; BBA need not be mentioned, and higher-tier brands such as Porsche, Jaguar Land Rover, etc., also extensively match ZF; in the heavy‑truck sector ZF can provide various transmissions, even the Leopard tank's gearbox is ZF's, except on the Leopard 2, where it was a joint product with the United States back then, using Renk Company's product.

Soon, a tall German man walked over, his face full of enthusiasm.

"Mr. Qin, hello, I am Bacman, overseas sales manager of ZF Company. I heard Schultz mention your needs; our ZF Company has three transmissions that can match an eight‑hundred‑horsepower engine—one manual, two automatic, all with torque converters, the latter coming in six‑speed and eight‑speed versions…"

Qin Miao nodded: "We want the best."

Bacman was thrilled: "The best model is quoted at 150,000 marks…"

This transmission is actually more expensive than the engine!

Nowadays many cars are like that—the engine is made by the automaker itself, costing only a few thousand yuan, while the transmission is outsourced; if it's a high‑end transmission, it might cost tens of thousands, even more than the engine!

Qin Miao gave the other party a sideways glance: "Fifty thousand marks."

"Treat me like a fat sheep? Don't dream about it!"

The HSWL354 transmission from Renk Company matched to the Leopard 2 tank's 1,500‑horsepower engine costs only 111,000 marks, yet you ZF Company want 150,000 marks for a transmission to match an 800‑horsepower engine—clearly you're trying to slaughter us for a quick profit!

"At this price, let's first buy a hundred units; meanwhile we can continue purchasing steering units from your company, also a hundred. If you won't agree to this price, we'll go to other companies."

Bacman's face changed several times—needing steering units as well clearly shows they want to build vehicles; they ordered three hundred engines but only a hundred transmissions and steering units? Surely later there will be another two‑hundred‑unit order; better to sell to them, let them get used to it, then raise the price on the next batch.

"Good!"