Chapter 351: The Prelude to Reform in the Capital

What's the situation?

Quality first!

In that special era, everyone was pursuing the Great Leap Forward; quality was something nobody cared about, and even a brand‑new ten‑thousand‑ton cargo ship sank in its maiden voyage amidst wind and waves!

These past few years, although the country has gotten back on track, that old corrupt influence has obviously not been eradicated—after all, people have grown accustomed to comfort, and few are willing to endure hardship again.

But over at Qingshan Factory, the work attitude is completely different; here, quality comes first, leaving all visitors deeply shocked.

Inside the meeting room.

"Everyone, come over—you didn't even say hello, we'll take you to see the production line, you…"

"No need, Director Qin—you guys are busy enough already. We came over just to cause trouble, and we've already seen for ourselves how shocking it is." Director Zhao felt moved: "In the past we always thought Shoudu Qiche Chang, as a state‑owned enterprise, had an edge over your collective enterprise, but now… we realize we're just frogs at the bottom of a well."

"Director Zhao, we're both in the Capital, we're like brothers. We welcome you to copy our success experience. Next, you'll be cooperating with the United States—this is destined to be a painful process, but if you pull through you'll be reborn; if you don't…"

Director Zhao's expression was complex: "Yeah, if we reform according to your way, it's definitely going to be a painful process."

He couldn't even imagine how much resistance they'd face if they changed things this way—from top to bottom it would be almost an earthquake!

"Director Zhao, the times are changing; we're moving toward a market economy. If we don't fiercely pursue quality and strengthen management, the factory's end will be bankruptcy." Qin Miao continued: "Shoudu Qiche Chang is a long‑standing old brand, carrying the hopes of the Capital's people…"

"Exactly, you're right!" Just then, a voice sounded at the door.

Zhang Wanhe came over!

He too had been waiting for news from Shoudu Qiche Chang; he hadn't expected these people to show up without greeting, straight over, so he also came from his government unit and happened to hear Qin Miao say these words.

This is speaking from the heart—if Shoudu Qiche Chang really went bankrupt, it would benefit Qingshan Factory, meaning the Capital's auto industry would be absorbed by them; saying this now is looking at the problem from the Capital industry's standpoint, essentially helping Zhang Wanhe consider things!

"Old Zhao, since you've already inspected and know how a modern auto plant should be run, you should seriously study and strive to form an effective management system—reform is mandatory; without it, there's only death!"

"Yes, Director Zhang, you're right, but…"

"Difficulties definitely exist, but if you don't overcome them, it's bankruptcy—some people have lain idle too long; it's time they got moving!"

"If Shoudu Qiche Chang truly wanted to reform along our lines, then… I could offer some suggestions."

"San Shui, speak!"

"This joint venture with Cherokee is a great opportunity—first free up a factory area, then… pick the people with the best technical skills and strongest sense of honor to work there; all its rules will follow ours, so the resistance will be smaller."

Trying to save an old state‑owned enterprise is difficult, but if we first drive it into bankruptcy and then contract‑operate it, it will come back to life—after all, the parasites are gone, and those newly hired are all workers.

But we can't do that now, so we can only first split Shoudu Qiche Chang in half and redistribute it!

We'll clear out everyone who sits in an office but does no work; then this brand‑new factory area will thrive.

"Once the new factory area is up, people's attitudes will gradually change; using the new area to drive the old one will eventually bring about thorough change, and the resistance we face will be much smaller."

"Exactly—Comrade Qin Miao really has a quick mind, always thinking things through!"

"Yeah, Comrade Qin Miao, do you have time to go to Shoudu Qiche Chang and give pointers on the reform?"

"No, I'm just returning to the Capital for a vacation; after that I'll have to go back to Ha Cheng."

He hadn't finished speaking when someone ran in.

"Report, there's a Navy vehicle outside coming to pick up Comrade Qin Miao."

Qin Miao felt helpless—this thing never ends, and they even sent a car over; it wouldn't be proper for him not to go…

Princess Tomb, Yellow Tower.

"Comrade Qin Miao, you've finally arrived—do you know? Just an hour ago, the British Navy's HMS Sheffield destroyer was hit by a Flying Fish missile from the Weeping Country; a warship worth hundreds of millions was sunk by a missile costing only twenty thousand!" Navy Leader Zhang's face was full of excitement.

So that's what it was!

Qin Miao smiled: "That's normal, after all—their destroyer has serious flaws."

"What flaws?"

"Its air defense is too weak; the Sea Dart missile can barely intercept sea‑skimming anti‑ship missiles, and the Flying Fish just happens to be sea‑skimming, so getting shot down is perfectly normal."

"Yeah, we almost chose the Sea Dart ourselves—lucky we didn't introduce it, otherwise it would've been a waste."

Sea Dart, the British Navy's most powerful air‑defense missile, has a range of seventy kilometers, an altitude ceiling from ten meters to twenty‑two thousand meters, and a top speed of Mach 3.5.

It sounds decent—it could almost be used as an area air‑defense missile—but the Eastern Navy was once obsessed with it, until the Falklands Sea Battle, when the British Navy narrowly beat the Weeping Country and two Type 42 destroyers were sunk; the missile's uselessness finally could no longer be hidden.

It can't even intercept a missile with a minimum altitude of ten meters or fifty meters! British electronics aren't that strong—they can't filter out sea clutter, and besides, the Sea Dart missile is too bulky and heavy, with great inertia, making its maneuverability poor.

So later the Eastern Navy introduced France's Sea Viper missile; although its range is only a dozen kilometers, it can at least intercept sea‑skimming missiles, and it ditched radar lock‑on, using optical guidance to avoid sea‑reflected radar wave problems.

"Everyone, if you called me over just for this… then my mission seems already accomplished!"

"No, no, certainly not! That anti‑ship missile can easily take out a warship—our Eastern Navy needs an advanced air‑defense missile!"

"Yeah, Comrade Qin Miao, you're from Ha Gong Da's Department 4—you folks naturally have the duty to build missiles! You need to develop for our Navy an advanced air‑defense missile capable of intercepting sea‑skimming anti‑ship missiles!"

Well, here comes more work!