Chapter 235: Qingshan-Benz Automobile Plant

Developing the economy requires capital investment; without projects, where would the money come from? And this initial investment has stumped many leaders.

Now, a new model has arrived!

The state doesn't need to spend money; enterprises raise their own funds! Employee internal fundraising, enterprise operating profits, loans... all kinds of methods can be used; in short, just don't let the state spend money!

The First Machinery Department's introduced Steyr project has already proceeded this way; next, the Fifth Machinery Department's planned introduction of Mercedes-Benz heavy trucks also intends to proceed this way! When military enterprises heard they had to raise funds themselves, nobody dared to step forward to take on the task; thus, Leader Zhao set his sights on Qingshan Factory—this factory used to be a military plant as well.

Qin Miao's expression was complex. Good, you've actually schemed against my father—one father wasn't enough, you've schemed against two fathers.

However...

Although Qingshan Factory started by making pots and pans, it couldn't forever just spin in small household products; it must undertake a big project. Now, if we negotiate cooperation with Mercedes-Benz, this step could advance into the heavy truck production field.

This is absolutely a leap to the heavens!

"Leader Zhao, Qingshan Factory's foundation isn't sufficient; rashly undertaking the heavy truck project would likely be unable to swallow this chunk of meat, and might even choke on it. Should our superior relevant departments dispatch some experienced leaders to guide the work?"

Zhang Wanhe gave Qin Miao a complex look, you little brat, is this the start of probing?

On the surface it's welcoming superiors to send leaders down to preside over work, but actually... it's clearly probing whether the higher-ups have any intention to intervene; as long as Old Zhao nods, Qingshan Factory will absolutely not wade into this muddy water!

"Qingshan Factory's foundation isn't enough, but Qingshan Factory has you, Qin Miao!" Leader Zhao, being extremely sharp, instantly saw Qin Miao's thought.

"You, Qin Miao, are a great talent—what problem can't you solve? Our Fifth Machinery Department won't interfere with your factory; our sole demand is that you produce qualified heavy trucks for us! All cadres and workers in the factory are up to you to decide!"

"The Capital side will give strong support; San Shui, now we just see what kind of support you need." Zhang Wanhe spoke.

Without local government support, this kind of project simply can't be done!

"First, we need a plot of land to build a heavy truck factory; the occupied area must be at least one thousand mu, preferably flat land, not mountainous terrain."

Zhang Wanhe nodded: "No problem! Outside the Third Ring, we'll find you a plot of land!"

Now the Capital isn't that big yet, the Third Ring Road isn't even fully connected; there's plenty of vacant land, a thousand mu of land isn't that large—it's just the size of a few airports. As long as the land is approved, even if later urban planning requires relocation, this plot alone would be enough for Qingshan Factory to make a fortune.

"Second, all factory employees, from basic workers to factory leaders and even the factory director, will all implement a contract system." Qin Miao said: "We don't need the superiors to give us staffing quotas; we ourselves pay wages to the factory workers, and wages differ by job type and contribution."

Now almost all factories eat from the big pot; wages are tied to rank, how much money per grade is fixed, and as for how much work one does... nobody cares.

Whether you work more or less, it's the same; whether you work or not, it's the same. Over time, who still works? Everyone lies flat, lives off the mountain, waiting for superior allocations to suck a mouthful, otherwise they just wait to die.

Wages must be differentiated! More work, more pay!

"Of course, as long as you're willing to work, I can guarantee that the lowest wage earned in our factory is also twice the income for equivalent work in other factories, and even higher."

Now it's Zhang Wanhe's turn to hesitate; he can foresee that if this system is implemented, the capable talent in all Capital enterprises will likely all run away! The new factory's workers can be fully recruited in a short time, while other factories, having lost their backbone, would likely go downhill.

"As for the factory director, I hope to hire one from abroad; in Germany I met an experienced old factory director named Ge Lixi, and I want to bring him over to be the new factory director of our automobile plant!"

Let a foreigner be the factory director! This is another innovation!

Zhang Wanhe felt his temples start to throb outward.

Leader Zhao laughed: "No wonder you were so enthusiastic with Ge Lixi back then; you actually wanted to poach him to the East! Tell me your idea."

"German product quality is top-notch, inseparable from advanced quality management. Currently, we domestically lack this quality management experience; even if military factories have stationed military reps, without scientific methods, quality still can't improve. We must import management talent from Germany; this is called... 'learning the barbarian's techniques to control the barbarian.'"

Zhang Wanhe's expression was complex; it seems this is indeed necessary! Qin Miao's tinkering with these aims to improve product quality and product competitiveness; to run a market economy, one must do this!

"Anything else?"

"Our kind of factory, even a minority of workers numbers in the tens of thousands, so hospitals, schools, malls—these supporting facilities—the government must solve for us!"

"The government has no money!" Zhang Wanhe bluntly said.

"We'll pay for the construction; the government will handle the procedures and personnel issues."

Zhang Wanhe nodded; that could work.

"San Shui, I need to remind you: building such a factory is an astronomical sum, operating expenses are also huge; if we lack sufficient confidence, it's easy to incur losses."

"Of course not." Qin Miao shook his head: "As long as quality is solid, our produced heavy trucks can not only meet domestic demand but also export for foreign exchange! Expenditure is indeed large, but once production starts, we're confident we can recoup all investment within three years; after three years, annual net profit will exceed ten million yuan; after five years, we can undertake more automobile projects! Since we're doing it, we must create an industrial giant!"

Zhang Wanhe took a deep breath, exchanged a glance with Leader Zhao, then nodded.

"Fine, since it's like that, we have no objections. Next, we'll go to Qingshan Factory to discuss concrete operations there; this joint venture shall be called Qingshan-Benz Automobile Plant, how about that?"

"Good." Qin Miao nodded: "Dad, the investment this factory needs, you still have to put in more effort; our loan amount this time is not small..."

Zhang Wanhe's expression was complex; in this investment, part is Qingshan Factory's profit, another part is bank loans—this still has to be handled by him! But... can all the banks in the Capital combined scrape together such a massive loan?

If we can't repay it... pah pah pah, what are you thinking? With San Shui stepping up, could we still fail to repay? Over the past year, San Shui has created too many miracles!

"Our Fifth Machinery Department will also help coordinate part of the loans." Leader Zhao also spoke; for this project, they are all strongly supportive!

Merely, these people now don't understand how to operate a shareholding company; otherwise, using these loans to directly take shares would be better, right?