Chapter 1046: Mountains are high and the road is long

After coming out of the office area, Wang Xiaoqin personally saw him to the entrance, and the two talked for a while longer.

Li Xuewu knew she had something to say, and the others knew it too, so they left it to her alone to see him off.

"Something happened at the Rolling Mill?"

Wang Xiaoqin asked with a frown, "I heard it was people from your department's Discipline Inspection Group who made the arrests?"

"Has it reached your ears already?"

Li Xuewu nodded with a mix of amusement and helplessness, saying, "It's a misunderstanding, really. Our Director Li is currently coordinating the handling of it, and I believe there will be a result very soon."

"As long as it has nothing to do with you, be careful."

Wang Xiaoqin exhorted, "The situation right now is a bit off. There are people who aren't reconciled, biting at everyone they can reach; it's possible they've set their sights on you."

"No choice, people fear fame just as pigs fear getting fat."

Li Xuewu sighed helplessly and said, "But this is precisely the time when the Rolling Mill needs to be strong and bold; we have to grit our teeth and push forward."

"Group formation, is it? Thinking of leveling up?"

Wang Xiaoqin nodded and said, "Stay out of the way. Isn't there someone taller to hold up the sky? They stand to gain the most, so naturally, let them go first."

"Especially you; you're prone to attracting lightning, and it's easy for bad people to push you out to take the fall!"

"Hmm, I've thought about that. This matter is a bit ambiguous."

Li Xuewu rubbed his chin and said, "The factory's leveling up was planned long ago. The goal of group formation is actually to fight for an opportunity, to achieve autonomous management."

He paused and said, "During this period, problems are bound to arise—internal ones, external ones—they still have to be handled slowly."

"So that's why today's arrangements were made?"

Wang Xiaoqin raised an eyebrow and warned, "Don't play too big. Otherwise, you won't be able to bear the losses alone, and if you want to get things done later, no one will pay you any mind."

"Hmm, I know. It doesn't count as trouble."

Li Xuewu's layout was all out in the open; it belonged to the category of 'open schemes,' and the few people attending the meeting today were very clear on this point.

Qi Yaowu had long since boarded the Rolling Mill's ship, and with their cooperation having developed to this level, there was basically no need to talk about relationships anymore.

Interests had long since tied the two sides together. Li Xuewu wanted to use the influence of the Third Guard Regiment to escort the Rolling Mill, and wasn't the Third Guard Regiment also eating the dividends of the Rolling Mill's development?

Thus, both sides were tacitly aware. Political Commissar Zhao bluntly put forward his opinions and requirements: chemical fertilizers and agricultural machinery—this problem still had to be solved at the Rolling Mill.

Li Xuewu could handle it with his personal power, but work couldn't be done that way; it would purely be thankless labor.

Representing the Rolling Mill, he also put forward specific needs and requirements, and Qi Yaowu and the others discussed it and agreed.

Only when the Rolling Mill is good can the Third Guard Regiment be even better.

Red Star Village was the Rolling Mill's stronghold on the mountain, and many inconvenient matters were carried out there.

Moreover, the Rolling Mill's secure communication station was also on the mountain, and there would be more opportunities for cooperation in the future.

The Third Guard Regiment using Red Star Village as the foundation and origin point to support agricultural development was bound to be much easier than other directions.

And as the cooperation deepened, the relationship between the two sides became increasingly solid, and in the future, it could even be publicized and reported as an achievement.

In terms of industry, docking with the Steel Rolling Mill to launch deep cooperation—including the production of military equipment, facilities, directional equipment, and gear—is much more convenient.

At the very least, military production located in Steel City can be subject to certain nominal labeling and protection.

Military management was suggested by Li Xuewu, with the Iron and Steel Institute as the primary focus. Naturally, because both sides have a foundation for cooperation and the Iron and Steel Institute invests more in factory-affiliated educational institutions, Li Xuewu secured more safety guarantees for the other party.

Even if Pei Dayu, this vice president, were considered worthless, he wouldn't need to lower himself to associate with a deputy division chief.

However, when this deputy division chief can provide him with special protection, the two sides naturally and logically become friends.

Looking at the problems and contradictions currently arising in various units due to the "Three Supports and Two Militaries," Pei Dayu knows how to get along with the Steel Rolling Mill and how to get along with Li Xuewu.

The first major move after he took office was to comprehensively launch cooperation with the Steel Rolling Mill.

The development of school-enterprise cooperation is multifaceted, even including cadre exchanges and the integration of scientific research forces.

Through factory-affiliated educational institutions, the Iron and Steel Institute gains a stable and guaranteed source of students, and it won't experience as many influential accidents as it does now.

It is even more of a technical and capability output to the Steel Rolling Mill; in the future, more students from the Iron and Steel Institute will become leaders at the Steel Rolling Mill, and what this implies goes without saying.

This year, the Iron and Steel Institute is outputting so many excellent university students to the Steel Rolling Mill; they are each a seed.

Therefore, the Iron and Steel Institute has given the Steel Rolling Mill everything it can, and the Steel Rolling Mill must also do a good job of pairing up for protection and support.

The Steel Rolling Mill itself does not have the ability to directly intervene in education, but its cooperative units do.

The branch bureau can play a role, the Third Guard Regiment can now also play a role, and in the future, perhaps in foreign trade cooperation, the Iron and Steel Institute will also be able to reap the dividends.

Military training actually has a lot to be said for it; just as Wang Xiaoqin said, don't go too far.

But what counts as going too far? Does grabbing people from the Steel Rolling Mill without a sound count as going too far?

Li Huai De wants to retaliate from the top down, while Li Xuewu wants to start striking from the bottom up.

The relevant units involved this time will all be under the influence of the Third Guard Regiment in the future; don't be anxious now, just wait and see slowly.

Relying on Li Xuewu's methods, he naturally won't use his own hands to play with these old things, but if he is going to play, he will play them to death.

The other party can shout "start," but they won't be able to shout "stop."

Seeing him answer this way, Wang Xiaoqin knew he had a well-thought-out plan; perhaps this step had been calculated long ago.

She knows Li Xuewu's ability; he would almost calculate when to go to the bathroom ten days from now.

That's a bit of an exaggeration, but as long as you ask him what he's doing ten days from now, he can definitely name a few things.

"Be more prudent about the farm machinery and chemical fertilizer matter."

Wang Xiaoqin exhorted: "I know you have a plan, but these are all high-demand materials right now, especially in such large batches."

"Also, about the club."

She actually came out to bring this up; looking at Li Xuewu, she reminded him: "It's almost May. You must participate in the recruitment, review, expansion, and construction of members. This point is very important."

"I'm thinking about it. There have been many things in the factory recently, so I've gone to the club less."

Li Xuewu nodded and said: "Let's do it on the weekend. We'll meet on the weekend to discuss things properly. After formal operations begin, we'll hand over daily management to the management office."

"That's settled then. As long as you have a plan in mind, that's fine."

Wang Xiaoqin smiled and said: "I went to see Director Zheng yesterday. He mentioned you, saying you're so busy now that you can't be seen. Go see him more often."

"How is his situation?"

Li Xuewu twitched the corner of his mouth and said: "It's not that I can't be seen; it's that I don't dare go to the branch bureau."

"Heh heh, you brought this on yourself. Who can you blame?"

Wang Xiaoqin glanced at him with a light laugh and said: "Director Zheng's situation is not very good, and neither is Director Gao's. They are in a difficult position, and there are too many conflicting orders."

"Especially the management of powerful departments; the higher-ups use them but are also afraid of them, and the city has changed a batch of people again. Do you know about this?"

"I haven't looked into it too carefully. It was just last time when a leader from the city in charge of industry came for research that I heard a bit about it."

Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said: "I try not to cause trouble now; I wish I could hide at home and not go out."

"Hiding at home to coax the baby, right? You got a big son and are overjoyed, aren't you?" Wang Xiaoqin smiled and said: "When are you hosting? Is the full-month celebration over?"

"Not hosting. I'll treat you all to a meal later."

Li Xuewu blinked with a smile and said: "When the club is convenient, we'll call our friends and have a good drink."

"That's fine. I understand what you mean."

Wang Xiaoqin nodded and said: "As long as you are prepared, that's fine. It's only good if the child is good. When he's a little older, bring him out for us to see."

"Mm, when he's a little older."

Li Xuewu nodded, gestured to the car, and said: "Then I'll go back to the factory. There are still a few meetings to hold. As for Director Zheng..."

He thought for a moment and said: "For me to see him now is like adding fuel to the fire. It's better to let things cool down. There will be plenty of time in the future."

"I'm just telling you; as long as you know, that's enough." Wang Xiaoqin nodded, waved to him, and said: "Go back, goodbye."

"Heh heh—"

Li Xuewu waved with a smile and got into the command car.

Regarding Zheng Fuhua, Li Xuewu knows very clearly where he is stuck. His personality is too serious, so he is bound to have contradictions on some issues.

The higher-ups don't want problems within the system, but as a result, a big problem occurred at the branch bureau.

It is estimated that the impact won't fall immediately, or it will be attributed to individuals, but the result has already appeared.

Wang Xiaoqin just mentioned that the people above have changed a batch again, but this is of no use to Zheng Fuhua.

He has reached the ceiling. Unless everyone above is replaced, no one will worry that his progress will affect them, let alone affect the situation.

But where can you find such people? Being selfless in selecting and employing people—there are many in this era, but you have to look at the degree.

Based on this matter of Zheng Fuhua, he will likely retire in the position of deputy director.

Gao Zhen can still fight for it. He is the top leader; even if he doesn't advance, he can be transferred for another term, at least to take half a step forward before retirement to resolve his treatment issues.

No matter how he completes his work under the current situation, as long as there are no ideological or serious errors, this can be guaranteed.

Actually, it's also a grievance. The problem at the branch bureau is not the root cause; it is entirely involved in the changes in the situation.

It mainly depends on Lai Shanchuan. This person has been investigated, and there is no problem with his own situation; it is entirely due to his failure to teach his son.

To put it clearly, his association with certain relationships doesn't count as a matter. In his position, if there were no relationships, this work couldn't be done well either.

But who let the situation stir people's hearts? Lai Yide had the idea of fighting for it, of turning a bicycle into a motorcycle, especially because he was dissatisfied with his father's current position.

After suffering Li Xuewu's ruthless beating last time, the state of mind of both father and son changed somewhat.

Lai Yide, this catalyst, completely ignited Lai Shanchuan's heart, especially with the frequent exchanges with the higher-ups; he no longer had the heart to work in a down-to-earth manner.

It was only a matter of time before he had an accident. Even if he didn't have an accident during this period, or for seven or eight years, he wouldn't be able to escape in the future, and the crime would be even greater then.

His death was entirely self-inflicted. He was willing to die, and he had to die. The result of not dying would be to confess to the organization; there is no need to doubt this point.

As long as Lai Yide is still alive, Lai Shanchuan must earn a way out for his son.

But does he dare to confess?

Lai Shanchuan is impeccable in his work; even if there are some minor flaws, they are within the normal range.

Zheng Fuhua's relationship with him is only a working relationship, and the branch bureau doesn't need to take too much responsibility for him.

But the matter happened, and it was in his work; even a little negligence and bias caused immeasurable and serious consequences.

If the situation hadn't changed to the point of affecting their state of mind, and hadn't given them the courage to cross the line, would there be today's ending?

Li Xuewu feels that the occurrence of the matter is not accidental, but inevitable.

Perhaps even Gao Zhen and Zheng Fuhua wouldn't feel they were wronged; this is the loophole left over from the accumulation of time in the management process.

There are no "ifs." No one's life or work can be reloaded, just as Lai Shanchuan cannot come back to life to explain all this.

"Let's just say, which factory has to provide driving training services when selling cars!"

Xia Zhongquan stared with wide eyes and asked Li Xuewu: "You tell me, which factory does this!"

"Mm, no one does it this way."

Li Xuewu smiled, took a sip of hot tea, and looked at the finalized cars parked at the scene: "But no one doing it doesn't mean we can't do it. Is there a regulation?"

"You—you really are a talent!"

Xia Zhongquan was so choked by him that he almost flipped over; he sat in his chair and rolled his eyes: "Do you want to provide maintenance services too!"

"Haven't you heard?"

Li Xuewu looked him over and raised his eyebrows: "The Personnel Division and the Sales Division are organizing workers who have been transferred to receive training in car maintenance. What do you think they are doing?"

"What! There really is a maintenance service?!"

Xia Zhongquan was so surprised he almost stood up; he looked at Li Xuewu and asked: "You want to set up a car repair shop, and do it place by place?"

"Don't get excited, think about it carefully."

Li Xuewu crossed his legs and asked him: "Is selling cars more profitable, or is repairing cars more profitable?"

"Of course it's—"

Xia Zhongquan stopped halfway through his sentence, turned his head to the director of the Vehicle Management Office, and said: "Old Wang, you answer this question."

Wang Zhi looked at him with amusement and said: "Deputy Director Li didn't ask me, and I'm not in charge of sales and maintenance either."

"However, I think repairing cars is more profitable."

He pointed at Li Xuewu and said to Xia Zhongquan: "I trust Deputy Director Li more; he never does business that loses money."

"Hey! You're blindly worshipping him!"

Xia Zhongquan held his teacup, blew away the tea leaves, looked at Wang Zhi, and said: "You have no opinion of your own?"

"Then what do you say?"

Wang Zhi raised his eyebrows and asked: "Is selling cars more profitable, or is repairing cars more profitable?"

"Me? I say both are profitable."

Xia Zhongquan drank a sip of hot tea with a smile and said: "You're not in charge of sales and maintenance, so am I?"

"This question, you have to ask him."

He pointed at Li Xuewu and said: "Don't say that; I really wouldn't dare answer this question without an investigation."

"It's very simple. Buying a car is for a moment, but repairing a car is for a lifetime." Li Xuewu put down his teacup, stood up, and walked to the front of the finalized car: "Can you guarantee that these cars won't break down within a certain period?"

"Of course—I can't guarantee it!"

Xia Zhongquan also stood up. The tea at the Vehicle Engineering Research Institute is labor-protection tea; it doesn't taste good and has too many stems.

"Don't say I can't guarantee it; even Factory 117, can they guarantee it? They can't, right!"

"But we can guarantee it!"

Li Xuewu turned his head, looked at Xia Zhongquan, and said: "Free maintenance and parts replacement for core component failures within two years, provided it's a quality issue."

He raised his eyebrows and said: "Within three months, as long as there is a functional failure, go to the sales outlet's maintenance workshop for inspection. No maintenance fee will be charged, only the cost of parts."

"Including vulnerable parts such as lubricating oil, tires, radios, etc., all can be replaced and repaired in the maintenance workshop."

"The maintenance workshop naturally cannot be as comprehensive as the Steel Rolling Mill, but it must have rich maintenance means."

Li Xuewu kicked the tire of the tricycle and said: "Major repairs are not as good as minor replacements. Recycling and reprocessing parts is another source of income."

"You really should be hanged!"

Xia Zhongquan grinned and said: "If you do this, will people be willing? Parts replacement and maintenance are two different things!"

"But what if the cost of parts replacement is less than maintenance?" Li Xuewu smiled slightly: "Free within three months, half price after three months, and full maintenance fee charged after one year."

"In other words, the probability of failure within three months is small, but having this maintenance policy can attract more people to buy."

Wang Zhi stood on the side and understood a little; he looked at Li Xuewu and said: "The probability of minor repairs will appear between three months and one year. But we charge half the maintenance fee, which guarantees operations and cultivates the habit of parts replacement for customers."

"What about after one year?"

Xia Zhongquan asked a question he already knew the answer to; he still couldn't figure out Li Xuewu's purpose in doing this.

Li Xuewu shrugged his shoulders and said: "After one year, more cars will be sold, the maintenance base will be larger, and the unit vehicles coming to the maintenance points will form a virtuous cycle."

"Simply put, reputation will be maintained at a reasonable balance due to the free early stage and the active maintenance in the later stage."

"It is this balance that is enough for Beijing Automobile to chase for ten years."

Li Xuewu raised his eyebrows and said: "They only know our cars are cheap, but they don't know our service is even better."

That's it. Compared to the 212 Jeep, the Red Star Hongxing Lingyang's power might be slightly weaker, but the overall structure is lighter.

The body structure uses more lightweight materials, and durability is reduced, but we provide free maintenance. As long as you replace parts—after all, the cars produced by our factory aren't given to you to crash into walls.

Xia Zhongquan and Wang Zhi understood very well. Li Xuewu is raising pigs; he scatters the piglets out and will always harvest this batch of pigs.

Just doing it this way, won't it cause a counter-effect?

Of course not, because the maintenance of exclusive models has records. As long as it's a Red Star Hongxing Lingyang, operational failures can be solved in the shop.

Compared to other factories that sell but don't repair, some units that don't have maintenance capabilities will definitely be more willing to choose the Hongxing Lingyang.

So what if the power is a bit worse? It's not like you're running extreme road conditions every day. As long as the safety and load-bearing of official vehicles are guaranteed, the comprehensive strength of the Red Star Hongxing Lingyang is definitely superior to the 212.

This trick Li Xuewu is playing is a blatant routine of "customers first, then leeks."

You can't even say the sales outlets are black-hearted; after all, the first year of maintenance protection is already considered a conscientious enterprise in this era.

What to do later?

The Jiefang brand cars from Factory 117 have a higher failure rate; why don't we see anyone looking for them?

As long as they are sold and the service is good, people will constantly fall into the pit. When more people enter the pit, the pit will be leveled.

Establishing maintenance workshops at sales outlets is a need for personnel diversion, a need for the development of sales channels, and even more so, a need to win the car sales war.

Xia Zhongquan doesn't understand, so he doesn't ask, but he has already added a "black-hearted" label to Li Xuewu in his heart.

"A load capacity of 1.5 tons and 500CC of power—compared to light trucks, it's not lagging behind by much."

Seeing Li Xuewu looking at the newly developed load-bearing tricycle, he took the initiative to introduce it: "It fully meets the definition and needs you gave."

"What about fuel consumption?"

Li Xuewu squatted beside the tricycle, examining the body structure and the configured functions.

Don't say that; if there really were such a means of transportation in this era, it would definitely be a gospel for small factories or transportation units.

Large vehicles have low cost-effectiveness, high utilization rates, and high fuel consumption, so they are not applicable. This kind of tricycle is easy to operate and use, and its loading capacity is not low.

If this thing were really spread across small urban freight, it would definitely achieve a wave of high-speed development.

Just hearing about it, there are already quite a few units that want to order it. Magic City also produces this thing, but the shipping cost to Beijing is one thing, and the selling price of that model in Magic City is a bit high.

The Red Star Steel Rolling Mill's is different: consistent price advantages, rich functional use, especially now that it is introducing advanced foreign technology.

Who is good and who is bad, who loses and who wins—it's really not certain.

The body frame naturally cannot cut corners, but for some non-load-bearing parts, they will eventually be replaced with lightweight materials.

On one hand, it saves manufacturing costs; on the other hand, it reduces vehicle weight and increases load capacity.

For parts like headlights, wheel rims, car doors, etc., use alloys where possible and fiberglass where possible.

"Fuel consumption cannot be reduced any further; it has basically reached the technical bottom line."

Wang Zhi said with difficulty: "Unless the new project technology and equipment introduction arrive at the factory in time, we still have time to overcome and study, and improve the processing technology."

"Don't wait, just leave space."

Li Xuewu patted the car shed and said: "First, produce a batch of cheap cars to open up the market. Low prices naturally have to have high fuel consumption."

"Isn't there a saying now: the more oil it drinks, the more energy it has, right?"

"Yes, but it sounds ridiculous and helpless to say."

Wang Zhi shook his head with a bitter smile and said: "It's our technology that isn't up to par; we don't have the ability to reduce fuel consumption."

"It doesn't matter, take it slow, we're just starting."

Li Xuewu pulled open the car door and stepped on it to try it out. It wasn't a steering wheel; it was a handlebar-controlled steering.

The difficulty of driving this thing is much easier compared to a car, and it's much easier to train.

Saying that we provide driving training services is something that must be executed, and it is also a means of competition.

If the drivers are all trained from the service outlets, the recognition of the Red Star Hongxing Lingyang brand will naturally be high.

"I'll ask, is this thing easy to flip when turning?"

Li Xuewu poked his head out of the car window and asked Xia Zhongquan. He seemed to have heard someone say that tricycles shouldn't turn sharply; if they do, they are prone to losing balance.

Xia Zhongquan cannot tolerate anyone slandering his work; he looked at Li Xuewu and curled his lips: "With the way you drive, any car is easy to flip."

"My technique is fine!"

Li Xuewu waved with a smile and said: "Come, get on, I'll take you for a spin!"

"Comrade Li Xuewu!"

Xia Zhongquan stared with wide eyes and said: "Starting to retaliate, right! You want to kill me!"

"How is the tricycle?"

Seeing Li Xuewu enter, Jing Yunong asked with a smile.

Xue Zhifu followed up: "It looks like there's no problem. What about the motorcycle?"

He raised his eyebrows and said: "I heard the price is reasonable; even I want to buy one myself."

"I was just about to talk about this."

Li Xuewu put down his notebook on the conference table and introduced to the leaders who were looking over with concern: "The heavy-duty motorcycle is basically no problem."

"The production process and flow are already being done. Basically, after the production line is built, production can be realized."

"The Sales Division needs to complete the learning of basic materials and maintenance training education as soon as possible. The construction of offices must be gradually spread out, and personnel must keep up."

"Regarding the lightweight motorcycle, Comrade Xia Zhongquan gave a goal. After the technology and transfer equipment are introduced, the established production cost price can definitely be achieved."

"That is, about 300 yuan, with the selling price controlled within 500 yuan."

"My opinion is to first carry out a wave of advertising-style sales, that is, cost price plus operating price, and sell a batch at about 350 yuan."

Li Xuewu looked at everyone and said: "As long as production can be realized in July, then all the motorcycles produced in the remaining half of the year will be pushed to the market at a low price."

"350 yuan, good heavens!"

Xue Zhifu shook his head with emotion and said: "I'm afraid it's not tens of thousands of motorcycles thrown into the market to be tested."

"Half sales, half promotion."

Li Xuewu explained: "First, carry out internal sales. Steel Rolling Mill workers, tertiary industry workers, joint enterprise workers, and cooperative unit workers enjoy preferential policies."

"Furthermore, the trade line will expand at the end of this year. The border and the Northeast—one has goods, one has money—so we'll use motorcycles to open up the market."

"How many types of motorcycles?"

Cheng Kaiyuan only rested for two days before returning to his post.

His spirit has returned to normal, but his attitude is slightly depressed, and he speaks very cautiously.

"Four types: heavy-duty tricycle motorcycle, light-duty tricycle motorcycle, 125CC motorcycle, and 50CC motorcycle."

Li Xuewu introduced: "According to the different motorcycle models, the application environment is also different. In any case, we must spread the market at a low price first."

"Will you launch motorcycles at a standard price of 500 yuan in the market next year?"

Jing Yunong asked: "A sudden price increase—be careful that the market's feedback on tolerance will be too violent."

"It doesn't matter. Anyway, the 350-yuan lightweight motorcycle wasn't thrown directly into the market. The internal price can be explained."

Li Xuewu replied: "Tens of thousands of units look like a lot, but in reality, they are scattered, and the influence is not great."

"What's important is that these tens of thousands of motorcycles thrown out are a reasonable answer to the investors, that is, the Dongcheng Credit Union."

He looked at everyone and smiled: "Ten million! Five million were used on motorcycles. If the market hadn't been opened up in time, future cooperation would have to stop."

"This is considered a mature industrial project; they won't lose money."

Li Huai De tapped the table with the pencil in his hand and said: "If it weren't to expand influence, to realize diversified operations, and to improve risk resistance, we wouldn't have introduced investment no matter what."

"At most, it would be a loan!"

He threw the pencil in his hand and said: "It hurts! The child I raised myself is going to make money and share it with others. My heart is dripping blood."

Several leaders felt the same way, but Li Xuewu held back and didn't speak.

Old Li only saw that the project made money and had to be shared with others, and it hurt him to death. Why didn't he think about when he was showing off in front of people?

When Director Liu and Deputy Director Zhang in charge of industry in the city came, who was it that said "I want this, this, this, and this"?

He didn't blink when spending money, didn't feel pain, but felt pain when making money. He really has his ways!

"Motorcycles can basically cover the sales surface in all directions. This is much better than car sales."

Li Xuewu opened his mouth and said: "The Red Star Hongxing Lingyang is basically finalized. Subsequent engines may be upgraded, and some excellent parts may replace the current ones."

"However, for the batch of cars that start production in September, even if new engines are developed, they won't be upgraded for the time being."

He emphasized: "My plan is to let production capacity gradually adapt and improve, climb to a certain height, and then execute optimization processing."

"Technical reserves and technical leadership, right?"

Cheng Kaiyuan raised his eyebrows and looked at Li Xuewu: "Do you have confidence that core components will surpass Beijing Automobile Factory?"

"We will be on par this year, realize surpassing within three years, and make the other party unable to catch up within five years."

Li Xuewu answered confidently: "The mastery of technology, continuous progress in research and development, and the cultivation of automotive industry talent all have cycles."

He gestured in Li Huai De's direction and said: "The Steel Rolling Mill's automotive industry can quickly realize production; we must mention the technical talent that Director Li collected from other factories at the beginning."

"Of course, these people have problems in their background and some conditions, but it doesn't hinder them from making contributions to the Steel Rolling Mill's automotive industry."

"Mm—"

Li Huai De pondered for a moment and said: "We must also talk about the supply chain and the independent production of core components. This card of the automotive industry can play a key role at the critical moment of promotion at the end of the year."

"It definitely can; I have this confidence."

Li Xuewu looked at him and said: "Cheap cars don't mean cheap service, and they don't mean cheap quality. The Red Star Hongxing Lingyang and the Comet and Red Bull series of motorcycles will definitely be able to make a splash in the market."

"I believe in the technology in the factory; no one doubts this, heh heh heh."

Xue Zhifu scratched his hair and said: "The technical investment budget given this year has already exceeded the standard. Next, it's time for Deputy Director Jing to worry."

"It doesn't matter, there is no upper limit for technical investment."

Jing Yunong smiled slightly: "Difficulties are certain. Spending a year's budget in three months—my brain is steady."

"But we must see that the fruits of technical investment are fruitful, and the returns brought are huge."

"Regarding the policy of scientific development and technology priority, Director Li has emphasized it many times. We are also researching and discussing how to cooperate in execution."

Jing Yunong paused, looked at Li Huai De, and said: "Part of the fund-raising needs your review and finalization. I also want to find a way from the credit union."

"A loan?"

Li Huai De picked up his teacup, drank a sip of hot tea, and said: "You can raise the budget in the factory. This year is quite bitter; everyone should persist. I have no problem here."

"Regarding the loan matter."

He put down his teacup, thought for a moment, and said: "It's better to talk about it with specific projects. Even if it's a loan, you have to give people the ability to repay it."

"The lubricating oil series we are doing with the chemical plant is about to have some movement. They want to participate in the oil refining project; it seems they want to establish a separate refinery."

Jing Yunong suggested: "Why not get a joint loan? I'll ask the chemical plant what their opinion is."

"Even if we borrow 5 million and cut 1 million for technical investment, it will be enough to last for a while."

She was really worried and said: "As long as we persist past September, we should be able to recover the funds and pay off the debts."

"Try to borrow as much as possible; pressure is also motivation."

Li Huai De tapped the table and said: "With tens of millions of orders coming in, it's enough to repay the loan. Time waits for no one."

"Then it's settled: a loan."

Jing Yunong nodded and said: "I will report this work to you later."

Li Huai De glanced at everyone, and seeing that no one else had work to bring up, he said: "Then let's discuss the framework of the group."

A meeting was held on March 10th, but many issues have not been finalized.

In the last half month, we have been doing this.

Li Xuewu said he was busy; actually, he was busy building the group framework.

A group company means directly crossing from the factory's single management mode to a multi-level, multi-department management method.

The most direct problem: if the group is established, a management team must be formed, including departments and offices.

The Steel Rolling Mill's original team must be reorganized, existing departments must be further reduced, and functions must be re-divided.

Now everyone's mind is active; they know the opportunity for progress has come. Just look at how many people are eyeing the positions of heads of various offices.

However, Li Xuewu watched them get excited, but he didn't have any excitement himself.

How to advance—his path has already been paved. As for others competing for positions, they actually didn't see the key problem.

The Steel Rolling Mill is being promoted; maybe the higher-ups won't move the management layer much, but the grassroots will definitely change.

Group goal construction—the management layer will change, and the changes below will be even greater.

These people are staring at their colleagues, which is actually a bit like sitting in a well and looking at the sky.

They don't think about how the higher-ups could suddenly promote a batch of section-level and division-level cadres from the Steel Rolling Mill; they must be transferred out.

Even the group organs and the organs of each factory must reorganize their organizational relationships.

What Li Huai De and others are busy doing now is to promote and cultivate a batch of cadres as much as possible before the promotion.

If they are promoted at the end of the year, it will be hard to say if they want to be promoted again.

Unless the group goal is thoroughly realized and the group possesses higher autonomous rights and can have more say in the use of cadres.

But it is very clear that the sand mixed into this process will not allow the Steel Rolling Mill's original line to be too powerful.

Li Xuewu had a vague realization when he was cooperating in planning and building the group structure.

Old Li is fine; as long as he advances steadily, he will definitely rise step by step. The higher-ups must give enough face.

But as for the heads of each factory and other important positions in the group, I'm afraid it won't be up to him alone.

Why did Gu Weijie, Jing Yunong, and others unite? It's very simple: they know their own people and can cooperate.

Now is the time to be united against the outside world; there is not much time left for them.

On one hand, they must promote the Steel Rolling Mill to enter the fast lane of group development as soon as possible; on the other hand, they must seize the opportunity to lay out their forces so that they can occupy an advantage in future competition.

Competition is everywhere. Old Li is working hard, and others are working hard too.

Only a big fool would engage in infighting at this time, wasting time and energy; when they fall, they won't even know why.

However, when developing quietly, it doesn't delay them from cutting off the tails from before and clearing out visible hidden dangers.

When Li Xuewu went to the construction site to inspect in the afternoon, Peng Xiaoli told him a piece of news.

The original secretary of the Steel Rolling Mill, Yang Yuansong, was adjusted; it is said that he went to Shaanxi Province, a department under the First Ministry of Machine Building.

Good heavens, Li Xuewu was very surprised, but it was also within his expectations.

He knew Li Huai De wanted to exert force to clean up the aftermath of the last time, but he didn't expect the means to be so ruthless, kicking people so far away in one go.

I have to say, Shaanxi Province is a good place—outstanding people, rich products, and a long history.

But I still have to say, that place is fine in big cities, but for general cities, development is far behind the east.

Just going to Shaanxi Province—it won't be easy to come back. Yang Yuansong has his own connections; this counts as a gecko cutting off its tail, a survival instinct.

Look at his result compared to Yang Fengshan's result, and you will know he still has some calculations.

Yang Fengshan was relatively upright; under his stubborn heart was an isolation that didn't bow to the strong, and he isolated himself.

In this period, he didn't lose to Li Huai De unjustly, and being used as a stepping stone by Yang Yuansong wasn't unjust either.

But I still have to say, Yang Fengshan has more persistence than Yang Yuansong, at least he still has some bottom line.

Regarding Yang Yuansong, Li Xuewu's impression of him has become completely bad.

Not from his own perspective, but completely from a third-party perspective to view his several actions against the Steel Rolling Mill.

Actually, Li Huai De should know. Li Xuewu had guesses, but only when Cheng Kaiyuan laid everything out for both of them did he know how much Yang Yuansong had done.

Now we know that the scene Cheng Kaiyuan made was planned and organized by him behind the scenes.

Even the relevant personnel were contacted by him. Cheng Kaiyuan even said a few names, which were middle-level management in the factory.

Li Huai De listened and kept it in his heart, but he wouldn't rush to take any action.

These cadres had contact and cooperation with Yang Yuansong before, and there was affection in the superior-subordinate relationship.

When making decisions, there is naturally a bias, but it doesn't affect their use, at least for the time being.

Later, we still have to observe and evaluate slowly. After all, it was Cheng Kaiyuan who said these names, and Li Huai De doesn't trust him.

What if he deliberately said a few names, or if these names are a mix of truth and falsehood? Who is going to distinguish them?

If you really want to do big things, don't care about these minor details; handle problems slowly when they arise.

Governing a big country is like cooking a small fish; managing a factory requires even more meticulous care.

Besides the time Cheng Kaiyuan stood up, the ambush Li Xuewu suffered when he went to Jinmen also had information and suggestions given by him.

Even Li Xuewu's itinerary information was obtained by him from the factory and handed over to the other party.

This is to clean up key figures of the Steel Rolling Mill to death, including Li Xuewu, the successor.

Li Xuewu knew but couldn't do anything about it; he couldn't reach him, and the other party was prepared long ago.

You can't use force; he is a person who plays with his brain now.

It's just that no matter how far Shaanxi Province is, can he go abroad?