Chapter 578: Defeating Them with Science

The next day, the base held a cadre meeting.

At the meeting, Secretary Liu proposed that He Yuzhu serve as the Executive Deputy Director of the base, to take full charge of the oilfield's work.

Before his voice had even faded, Deputy Director Zhang spoke up with an unpleasant tone: "Secretary Liu, the position of Executive Deputy Director concerns the overall situation of the oilfield. He himself is not a cadre from our petroleum system, and he has never presided over oilfield work. To take on such a heavy burden rashly carries too much risk. Even if you submit this appointment, it will be very difficult for the higher-ups to approve it."

After listening, Secretary Liu smiled faintly: "Although Comrade He Yuzhu is young, his experience is no less than yours. Back then, we went together to Guangdong Province to assist in the construction of the Lingnan Tractor Factory. Comrade He Yuzhu performed exceptionally well; not only did he complete the construction of the Lingnan Tractor Factory ahead of schedule, but he also helped the locals build a textile factory, a food factory, and a steel mill. By the time we left, that place had already become an industrial city with a permanent population of nearly 200,000, and it was also equipped with infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and shops. Comrades, if he can build an industrial city on a piece of wasteland, I do not believe he cannot build an oil city here as well. Of course, I am not trying to be dictatorial; if anyone feels they can also take on this burden, stand up and share your thoughts."

Deputy Director Zhang was the first to stand up: "If I take this position of Executive Deputy Director, within three years, I can increase the oilfield's annual production to 800,000 tons of refined oil, while simultaneously reclaiming 20,000 mu of land to basically solve the base's food problem. I can also double the production capacity of the nitrogen fertilizer plant we built and upgrade the equipment at the current refinery..."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Deputy Director Ma also stood up: "Since Secretary Liu is letting us speak our minds, then I will have my say too. If I were to preside over the work here, I can guarantee that by the third year, crude oil production will exceed one million tons, and I will build a large-scale refinery, a large-scale nitrogen fertilizer plant, and reclaim 30,000 mu of land..."

Secretary Liu nodded and turned his gaze to Deputy Director Xiao at the side: "Everyone else has spoken; Lao Xiao, you should say something too."

Deputy Director Xiao stood up and said with a smile: "The frontline workers are already working hard enough; I will not add more tasks to them. I will provide them with better logistical support. First, I will perfect facilities such as schools, canteens, and hospitals; second, I will ensure the roads, water and power supply, and communication lines are well-maintained; third, I will institutionalize safety issues, normalize equipment maintenance, and refine personnel training so that the oilfield can operate steadily without any mishaps!"

After listening, Secretary Liu nodded slightly and then looked at He Yuzhu: "Deputy Director He, you should say something too."

He Yuzhu stood up and said straightforwardly: "I can make the annual crude oil production reach three million tons within three years."

"That is bragging too excessively!" a cadre retorted directly.

"Three million tons? Even if you count all the oil in the whole country, there isn't that much," a cadre frowned and said.

He Yuzhu, however, acted as if he hadn't heard and continued: "I have listened to everyone's plans, but I have one question. The foundation for your implementation of these plans is all built on the premise of large-scale state funding. Have you thought about this: if the state funding is insufficient, what will you do?"

The meeting hall suddenly went quiet; even those who had been curling their lips were stunned.

Deputy Director Zhang spoke up: "It's easy to talk when you're standing. Do you mean to say that if there is no funding, you can do it?"

After hearing this, Secretary Liu found it quite interesting, so he quickly raised his hand to press it down and asked: "Comrade Xiao He, since you raised this question, why don't you tell us how you would do it?"

He Yuzhu said: "I can still produce three million tons of crude oil annually within three years. Why? Because I can borrow money."

Deputy Director Zhang jumped out again and said: "He Yuzhu, aren't you being too arrogant? To complete a 3-million-ton plan requires an investment of over a billion; where are you going to borrow that money from?"

"I don't think it's necessary for me to tell you that, is it?"

Deputy Director Zhang slapped the table: "What will you do if you can't borrow it?"

"I'll just resign and quit, what else do you want, my life? Besides, you wouldn't be able to borrow the money anyway, would you?" He Yuzhu teased.

Deputy Director Zhang slapped the table hard again.

"Besides that, I also want to build a large-scale oil extraction machinery plant, a nitrogen fertilizer plant, and a large-scale refinery here. However, I cannot guarantee that all these factories will be completed within three years, but at least half will be finished."

The meeting hall was deathly silent.

The cadres looked at one another; "fantasy" — these four words floated in everyone's mind, but no one said them out loud.

After the meeting adjourned, Deputy Director Zhang and Deputy Director Xiao got together.

Deputy Director Zhang said with some discouragement: "Lao Xiao, do you think that kid is bragging, or does he really have the ability?"

Deputy Director Xiao thought for a while and said: "Secretary Liu didn't lie; what that kid did in Lingnan is all true. I also heard that this kid can get equipment back from abroad, and it costs very little."

Deputy Director Zhang mocked: "Those pieces of equipment must be second-hand!"

Deputy Director Xiao said: "Regardless of whether they are second-hand or not, that industrial zone in Lingnan is still operating normally without any issues; that counts as a success."

Upon hearing this, Deputy Director Zhang said: "We must write a whistleblowing letter, saying that this kid is appointing people based on favoritism. Otherwise, his position as Executive Deputy Director is truly a sure thing."

Deputy Director Xiao shook his head: "I know you want to report him for promoting Lv Hong, but Secretary Liu treats him like his own brother; reporting him is useless!"

"But if we really let this kid take the position, we won't have any good days left," Deputy Director Zhang said with a dejected expression.

"But we can't topple that kid," Deputy Director Xiao shook his head.

"I will definitely go back to the capital and talk to the Minister; he must not be allowed to become the Executive Deputy Director!" Deputy Director Zhang's attitude was firm.

In the wooden house, He Yuzhu placed a sand table on a large table. The sand table was divided into three equal parts, and he built two walls made of different types of rock.

He brought over a large bucket of crude oil and poured it into the spaces outside the two walls respectively.

There were two different types of rock in this sand table; these rocks were all taken from thousands of meters deep underground.

He Yuzhu said faintly: "Sandstone with coarse grains, looseness, and large gaps is the good oil layer with the highest permeability. Mudstone as fine as flour prevents oil flow; even if you drill a well, you won't get much oil."

Man Yatou's eyes lit up, and she hurriedly noted down in her notebook: Sandstone = Good, Mudstone = Bad.

He Yuzhu squatted down and watched carefully how the crude oil permeated through the rock layers: "Actually, how much oil a well can produce can also be calculated. The formula is: Production ≈ Oil layer thickness × Permeability × Formation pressure difference..."

After listening to He Yuzhu's detailed explanation, Man Yatou widened her eyes and said: "Brother Zhuzi, I understand now. I previously overlooked the indicator of permeability... We don't need to drill hundreds of wells in this oilfield. As long as we choose the right spots and drill 50 good wells, we can basically cover the entire area, and over the course of a year, we can steadily produce three million tons of oil..."

No sooner had she finished speaking than Secretary Liu hurried in.

"50 wells can produce 3 million tons of oil?" Secretary Liu looked at Man Yatou in disbelief.

He Yuzhu said with a smile: "I made a model for Man Yatou, and she figured out a lot of things I couldn't calculate."

Secretary Liu said excitedly: "I thought your annual production of 3 million tons was based on throwing money at it, but it turns out you thought of a better way. This is great!"

"We definitely won't be suckers. We have to use science to defeat them," He Yuzhu said with a grin.