Chapter 242

The most important heavy truck introduction has also been settled!

Without support from relevant national departments, it was entirely local government leaders and local factories negotiating together; this absolutely opened a new era!

The news spread, countless people were shocked, countless people were envious, and countless people cursed; if we continue like this, how will our other enterprises cope? Who has your ability? No state funding, no state personnel, entirely self‑run—this sets a bad precedent!

Some have already realized that reform is going deeper; without change, enterprises have no way out!

Capital, Fifth Machinery Ministry.

"Director Zhao, our Iron Horse Factory refuses to accept this!"

Seeing the person storming in angrily, Director Zhao could only helplessly stand up: "Old Song, come, sit!"

After saying that, he personally picked up the tea canister, poured in some Da Hong Pao—this is fine tea he usually wouldn't drink. He picked up the thermos, poured in boiling water, and instantly the tea fragrance filled the air.

"Come, Old Song, have some tea! I know why you're here—you should also know about the negotiation process between Qingshan Factory and Mercedes-Benz for cooperation, right?"

"I know, but I just won't accept it!" said Song Xianfeng, the factory director of Iron Horse Factory, with a resentful expression: "Back when we went abroad for inspection, we took a liking to Mercedes‑Benz heavy trucks, but they put forward a bunch of conditions we couldn't accept. After returning, Iron Horse Factory gritted its teeth, upheld the old tradition, and reverse‑engineered the Mercedes‑Benz heavy truck—we did it entirely for the country and the military!"

"Hmm, we know."

"Now, Iron Horse Factory has already invested tens of millions to reverse‑engineer the Mercedes‑Benz heavy truck, yet the Capital side is going to produce Mercedes‑Benz trucks, or directly import the technology—doesn't that mean all our work was for nothing?"

In 1941, Iron Horse Factory was founded, then called Yufeng Textile Machinery Plant, the sole textile machinery factory in the entire southwest; in 1953 it was renamed the Air Compressor Plant; by 1955 the enterprise shifted to military production, and from then on Iron Horse Factory has been deeply engaged in the military sector, maintaining excellent relations with the Fifth Machinery Ministry, completing every mission satisfactorily, and its products have even been displayed on Tiananmen Square for review.

This time, their factory suffered a loss, a big loss!

He knows that Qingshan Factory's project has nothing to do with the Fifth Machinery Ministry, yet he still refuses to accept it!

"Old Song, your factory's investment is under the Fifth Machinery Ministry's jurisdiction; we won't let you suffer a loss."

"We didn't come for money; we came for the project. This cooperation project with Mercedes‑Benz can be wholly assigned to our Iron Horse Factory—we've prepared for years, we're very familiar with Mercedes‑Benz heavy trucks, we have the factory buildings and equipment… hand it to us, and within a year we can produce the Mercedes‑Benz heavy truck!"

"Investment is trivial; the project is what matters! Now, while policies still favor state‑owned enterprises, we must seize the project quickly—otherwise… it'll probably become even harder later!"

"That's not something the Fifth Machinery Ministry can decide on its own," Director Zhao said. "The project was negotiated between Qingshan Factory and the Capital government, and Mercedes‑Benz has already approved the partner; a temporary change… that's simply impossible!"

Because he owed Iron Horse Factory, Director Zhao couldn't speak harshly; he could only offer gentle persuasion.

"Director Zhao, you must give me an answer today, otherwise I'll sit here and not leave!"

"Well… like this, I'll make a phone call to summon Comrade Qin Miao…" He still had other matters; an important meeting was coming up, and he couldn't let this delay him!

Half an hour later.

"Director Zhao, you're looking for me?"

"Come, Comrade Qin Miao, let me introduce you: this is from Shan Cheng, the factory director of Iron Horse Factory."

"Iron Horse Factory?" Upon hearing those words, Qin Miao understood the other party's purpose.

Qin Miao admires Iron Horse Factory, for from top to bottom they still carry the self‑reliance spirit of the early days of the nation's founding; but admiration is admiration, the project cannot be given to them.

"Wait! It's only 1981 now; Iron Horse Factory's copy of the Mercedes‑Benz will still take a few years to appear—right now they can at most produce some parts!"

"Hello, Director Song," Qin Miao said. "I know about your factory's situation."

"You know? How did you know? Since you know, you owe us an explanation!"

At this moment, even if Director Song knew they were in the wrong, he still had to pester them, after all, this is a major matter concerning Iron Horse Factory's future.

"I learned this during the negotiations with the Mercedes‑Benz people: they were furious about Iron Horse Factory's surveying and reverse‑engineering of the Mercedes‑Benz, and they wanted to sue you."

"What? Those foreigners are going too far! Being able to copy it is our skill—why do they need to nag?"

"Well, Director Song, now that the nation's doors are open, we must align with international standards; abroad, intellectual property is taken very seriously, and the Germans even said they'd take the case to the International Court of Justice. If this got out, it would damage our Eastern reputation, so I spoke up for you a lot, and they finally decided not to pursue it."

Director Zhao nodded: "Yes, surveying and reverse‑engineering is indeed illegal in the West; to align with international standards we must…"

"So does Iron Horse Factory still need to thank you?"

"No need to thank, no need to thank—it's just a small matter."

Song Xianfeng flushed with anger—can't you hear that I'm being sarcastic?

"By the way, your factory originally surveyed the NG73 model, but now it's NG80; the earlier technology is outdated. If you stop the reverse‑engineering work now, you can both avoid liability for infringement pursued by the Germans and reduce losses…"

"What about the work we've already done?"

"Like this: once we obtain the NG80 production data, we can give you a portion of the drawings; you can improve and upgrade your existing products based on them, and supply us as a supporting manufacturer…"

Relying solely on Capital‑side enterprises for supporting production won't work; Iron Horse Factory was already surveying the Mercedes‑Benz heavy truck, and the parts they produce should be of higher quality, so now, taking advantage of the opportunity, we should develop another supporting factory.

Song Xianfeng's expression kept shifting; when he arrived he already knew that trying to pull the project back to his own factory would be too difficult, nearly impossible—his earlier attitude was merely a bid for some benefits. Now… having Qingshan Factory do the supporting work means his prior R&D wasn't wasted, he still gets a project, and it seems acceptable.

"Fine, but we still need a sum of money; we'll come to help you with the supporting work!"

"Cough cough, Director Song, that old R&D model has long changed; we only provide the drawings, and the products you produce must be sent here to us, conforming to German standards, before we'll adopt them. Moreover, it's not just you doing the supporting work—other manufacturers will also supply, so you'll need to bid in a tender."

Slap!

Song Xianfeng slapped the table and stood up: "What did you say?"

Qin Miao turned and walked toward the door: "I've already made myself clear—this is Qingshan Factory's greatest sincerity. If you're not willing, then forget it. Director Zhao, I have other work; goodbye!"

Bang!

The door shut, and Qin Miao heard the howling from inside.

"Director Zhao, our Iron Horse Factory refuses to accept this!"

Qin Miao smiled. "Even if you don't accept it, you have to—this is what we call a market economy! Wanting a supporting factory to lord over the main plant? No way!"

"Eh, San Shui?" At that moment, a voice sounded.