Chapter 204: with translation of chapter title

Fan Jian's face instantly turned pale: "As an elder..."

"Are we talking about work, or about life?"

"Of course it's work."

"Work, then we talk about duties; life, then we talk about seniors and juniors! Tie Lao Da wants to come discuss with us, he waited two days, and still only gave them ten minutes; you didn't have an appointment, yet you can be received just by showing up—this is already out of respect for our sister unit's face, so don't be ungrateful!" Director Lu had no intention of saving face for him.

"All right, since we're talking about work, and since we've come to Ha Gong Da, we certainly should follow the host's lead—let's go. After we finish talking, Ha Gong Da will surely treat us as one of their own." Fan Gui squeezed out a smile, appearing quite magnanimous.

Qin Miao secretly laughed; these guys, where do they get the nerve?

In the meeting room.

"Our Wan Shan Factory, although we haven't been around long, but..."

"Section Chief Fan, please get to the point; ideally finish in ten minutes, we still have a lot to do." Director Lu didn't give them face.

"What's with you, acting like this—is this how you treat guests?" Fan Jian became unhappy again.

"All right, there are still nine minutes left."

"You Ha Gong Da, are you really that full of yourselves? You..."

"All right." Fan Gui hurriedly cut him off; he had just wanted to introduce how strong Wan Shan Factory's research capabilities were, but now he no longer had that inclination, so let's get straight to the point.

"We know you're developing a missile launch vehicle; coincidentally, our Wan Shan Factory already has two years of R&D experience, accumulating a lot of technology. If we cooperate, we can certainly complete the development task as quickly as possible." Fan Gui introduced.

When he said that, he still wanted to see the other side's shocked expression, but then... discovered there was hardly any reaction from the opposite side.

Qin Miao still wore a smile, Director Lu still wore an impatient expression, the others... were gone, the others were still busy!

In Qin Miao's mind, it was as clear as a mirror; it seems the other side had obtained a MAZ-543 sample vehicle, ah, calculating the time, it should have been two years ago, when the aviation system went to Egypt to coordinate the MiG-21MF and MiG-23 fighters, and in the process brought back an Egyptian Scud missile launcher.

So they thought they had the ace up their sleeve?

"How do you want to cooperate?"

"Let's jointly develop this vehicle; right, you Ha Gong Da don't have a production plant, so the developed product can be manufactured at our Wan Shan Factory. The diesel engines, transmissions, etc., that you purchase also need to be sent directly to our factory; after deducting production costs, we split the profits fifty-fifty—how about that?"

Deducting production costs, there are many loopholes here!

Third-line factories, nowadays it's all uneven; maybe wages haven't been paid for several months or even years, so first we give back pay—does that count as production cost?

When production starts, the workers work hard, so each day after work they take some daily necessities issued by the factory home—does that count as cost?

Also, leaders' inspection work is exhausting; shouldn't there be a subsidy?

No matter how much you sell for, you might still not offset production costs; look at later monopolies— which one doesn't lose money?

If we really do it their way, Ha Gong Da won't be making any money!

Moreover, these guys probably came running just because they heard we bought German goods, and even want to send them to their factory?

Qin Miao shook his head: "No."

"Why?" Fan Gui also furrowed his brows this time.

"No reason, because we don't need it." Qin Miao said: "The project is ours to handle; we can develop it ourselves. We appreciate your good intentions, but let's end this meeting here. Oh, and later I'll have someone take you to the cafeteria for a meal—we still have work to do."

What joint R&D? Did we ask you for it? If you just honestly act as a lower-tier supplier, we might consider it, but to stand equal with us and still take a share of our profits—are you qualified?

"Hmph, you Ha Gong Da are indeed arrogant; you've never developed a missile vehicle before—do you even know what's involved?" Fan Jian again started his mocking tone.

"Have you developed it?"

"That's natural; among the nine factories at Base 066, our Wan Shan Factory is responsible for designing special vehicles. A few years ago we decided to develop tactical ballistic missiles, and through special channels we retrieved a Scud missile launcher, which we have now finished surveying— you..."

Qin Miao sighed; this guy really can't hold his patience, spilling all their secrets—but even if they didn't say it, I already know.

Eastern missiles start too high, exceeding 500 km range right away, leaving a gap for ballistic missiles under 300 km; thus Base 066's third-line factories, in self-rescue, aimed at this field, and thanks to many third-line experts' efforts, they actually succeeded! Of course, that was already in the mid-1990s.

Now Ha Gong Da has risen, and they've started having ulterior motives.

"That's right, Comrade Qin Miao, Director Lu; our Wan Shan Factory comes with technology—if you agree to cooperate, we'll bring out all the technology of the MAZ-543 missile launcher and cooperate to develop a new missile launcher."

Fan Gui also began to be sincere: "Just change the four axles to five or six, use a high-horsepower engine and transmission, and you can achieve an upgrade; our drawings are already done, easy to expand."

Qin Miao shook his head: "Sorry, the MAZ-543 chassis is beneath us. If needed, I can at any time buy one from abroad. But... this chassis is too outdated!"

"What outdated? This is the most advanced mobile missile launcher!" Fan Jian indignantly said: "You've never worked on a missile vehicle—what do you know?"

"You've just done a survey—what do you know? Can you lengthen the axles? Can you calculate axle loads and forces? When you increase the axles, do you know how much torque each inter-axle differential lock bears when engaged? And the internal gears must withstand our 800-horsepower engine power—can you machine them?"

Copying from surveys is the lowest level! You must fully understand the design and be able to manufacture!

The people at Wan Shan Factory were all dumbfounded.

"Scud missiles are about 11 meters long and under a meter in diameter, while the launch vehicle we want to develop must carry missiles about 24 meters long and over two meters in diameter— you actually naively think just lengthening the Scud missile launcher will do? How do you solve the width? Put the missile on top of the vehicle? Where's your expertise? It's simply naive and laughable!"

After saying that, Qin Miao stood up: "Everyone, I've already wasted a lot of time—I can't keep accompanying you."