Chapter 63: Just because you can't do it doesn't mean Ha Gong Da can't!

Upon hearing they would sell missiles, everyone immediately became interested.

"Old Huang, this is our most urgent task right now! Tell us the details!"

Then Old Huang began to introduce: "Currently, we have a large quantity of Red Flag-2 missiles, many of which are aging and about to be retired. Converting them into surface-to-surface missiles would both ease our storage pressure and generate precious foreign exchange by selling them on the international arms market..."

"Good, good, not bad, this idea is excellent!"

"This project, we strongly support, allocate funds... one hundred thousand, for the relevant departments to conduct research!"

Old Huang let out a sigh of relief; Qin Miao is truly formidable, having considered every problem!

"This project is being researched by Ha Gong Da; they have only one requirement: the money earned from selling missiles shall be used to support the construction of the BeiDou navigation satellite."

As soon as these words were spoken, the meeting room fell silent again, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

"What, you're not willing?" Old Huang's face darkened, his tone stern: "The satellite navigation system provides positioning for our missile launch vehicles; with it, executing a second nuclear counterstrike mission would be extremely easy. You don't want to get on board, saying there's no money—fine! Now, we'll solve the money problem ourselves, yet you still aren't willing—what exactly do you mean?"

If you still disagree, that would be going too far!

"Old Huang, don't get agitated, stay calm." It was Leader Ma who spoke first.

"Our country is poor; earning foreign exchange is a big deal. The money we earn needs to be used in many areas—you can't just carve out your own fiefdom within the industrial system! If whoever earns the money gets to spend it, our industrial system would end up in chaos."

Leader Ma wore a kind expression: "We know your idea, your urgent desire to develop the satellite navigation system, and we know this is important—but... the country now needs to develop its economy, the army must endure, and defense spending is limited. You know how much money our Project 8291 has consumed; within the aerospace system, there are already many complaints."

"Now we can finally make money; we can use the earnings to offset other departments. Of course, since this money is yours, we can't take it all. How about this: you take five percent—no, ten percent of the profit to support the satellite navigation system, and turn over the remaining ninety percent to us for unified distribution. What do you think?"

"No!" Old Huang didn't back down this time: "Without Ha Gong Da, our aerospace system wouldn't get a single penny! The money we earn must be allocated ninety percent to the satellite navigation project, with the remaining ten percent turned over! Otherwise... we might as well not do it—I, Old Huang, would have no face to meet Ha Gong Da!"

Leader Ma's face also darkened: "Old Huang, you keep mentioning Ha Gong Da—yes, Ha Gong Da is indeed strong, but... Ha Gong Da is just a university; could their research capability really surpass that of our institute? If Ha Gong Da refuses to do it, we'll simply assign another research institute within the system! They wouldn't even get a ten percent share!"

Old Huang snorted coldly: "Hmph, other research institutes could at most produce an uncontrolled rocket! Ha Gong Da is supposed to work on missiles! Most of those present are specialists in this field—you should know we currently lack the capability to install an inertial navigation device on a Red Flag-2 missile!"

Old Huang glanced around the room: "Within our aerospace system, which workshop has the confidence to produce an inertial navigation device the size of a lunchbox?"

No one spoke; everyone lowered their heads.

"Old Huang, you're saying that if we can't produce it, Ha Gong Da can?"

"Exactly! They plan to develop a strapdown inertial navigation system; I've already reviewed their design proposal—it's completely feasible!" Old Huang said: "Such a device, once developed, could be used not only on the Red Flag-2 but also on other weapon platforms. Currently, comrades in the aviation industry system are planning to purchase inertial navigation systems from abroad; if Ha Gong Da develops it, it would solve the urgent need of the Third Machinery Department!"

"Old Huang, you said Ha Gong Da wants to develop a strapdown inertial navigation? That demands high computational capability!"

"That's right; domestically we currently have no computer capable of performing such complex calculations!"

"Yes, Ha Gong Da can! Your inability doesn't mean Ha Gong Da can't! You surely didn't expect that Ha Gong Da already has a plan to develop microprocessors? This time, if certain people behave in an unsightly manner, hurting Ha Gong Da's feelings, they could simply turn to aerospace technology, maritime technology, aerospace... hehehe."

"Old Huang, what do you mean?" Leader Ma's expression turned stern: "What does 'behaving in an unsightly manner' mean?"

"Hmph, don't think I don't know—certain people have repeatedly submitted reports to superiors requesting to buy a batch of imported cars! Unfortunately, lacking foreign exchange, the superiors have never approved!" Old Huang's face grew stern: "Hmph, our country is so poor, yet certain people have already begun pursuing enjoyment!"

Old Huang is already old; after completing the Giant Wave-1 missile project, he should have retired—now he no longer fears offending people.

The 1980s were a special era—constantly calling for economic development, urging the army to endure, precious foreign exchange should be used where it counts, yet on the other hand, small cars were continually imported!

Page nine of the *Automotive Industry Yearbook 2000* provides a summary: throughout the 1980s, imported cars consumed three billion US dollars in foreign exchange! Entering the 1990s, it became even more frightening—just in 1991, the total value of imported complete vehicles and parts amounted to one billion US dollars!

From 1953 to 1975, over fifteen thousand passenger cars were imported; from 1976 to 1980, twenty thousand; from 1981 to 1990, over three hundred fifty-one thousand!

"Doing scientific research gets no money, but indulgence does? Have we become unaccustomed to riding in the 212, insisting on a Mercedes-Benz, BMW, or Audi to enjoy the perks of office?"

"In recent years, the funds allocated by superiors have been meager, yet half of the research budget that comes down is spent on building houses! If it were because our newly assigned comrades lack housing, building some small apartments would be understandable—but look what happened: they built large apartments, certain people moved into the big houses and allocated their old small homes to the new comrades—what kind of reasoning is that?"

Anyway, since a showdown was inevitable, Old Huang decided to go all out.

"What's wrong with living in a hundred-square-meter big house? Do you sleep in the master bedroom the first half of the night, the second bedroom the second half, then go pee and come back to sleep in the living room?"

Smack!

Leader Ma couldn't help but slam the table: "Old Huang, you've gone too far!"

"Old Huang is right!" At that moment, a solemn voice sounded from outside: "As the nation's doors open, some of our comrades have begun to pursue enjoyment; these problems are real, and he hasn't spoken wrong!"

Everyone was startled, turning their heads toward the doorway.

Old Zhang!