Chapter 1282: Teacher Shangguan

"Everyone says that I, Li Li Xuewu, don't do business at a loss, but look, didn't I suffer a loss this time—"

Walking out of the International Hotel conference room, Li Li Xuewu shrugged his shoulders at Gao Gao Yaqin with a bitter smile and said: "Next time, you should host the negotiations."

"That depends on how you define suffering a loss."

Gao Gao Yaqin remained unmoved, walking forward. The well-fitting wide-collar administrative suit made her look even more heroic, shrewd, and capable.

She seemed to be making excuses for Li Li Xuewu, but actually pointed out Li Li Xuewu's little thoughts, "Your move of 'hitting the cow across the mountain' is quite seasoned."

"Seasoned what? You saw through it."

Li Li Xuewu walked out of the lobby with Gao Gao Yaqin at almost the same pace, and with the help of the hotel service staff, got into the car.

He rarely enjoyed this kind of service of having someone open the car door, especially nodding to the service staff to express his gratitude, calm and full of style.

"This move might not necessarily work."

After the two leaders sat in the car, the three-car motorcade slowly drove out of the International Hotel courtyard.

With Li Li Xuewu responsible for hosting the specific negotiation business and Gao Gao Yaqin responsible for making the final decision and signing the trade contract, on Tuesday, April 8, the Red Star Factory and At's trade group reached the final trade agreement.

The total trade volume exceeded 7 million US dollars (24.5 million RMB), and the trade items included multiple categories.

In addition to the individual hanging gear, equipment, light weapons, and canned food purchased by At's order last year, the seven-person trade group collectively chose the complete set of light and heavy weapons produced by the Red Star Factory, as well as new compressed food.

It is worth noting that although At's individual order volume decreased a lot, the group order volume exceeded last year's.

The weapons order included the 66-6 sniper rifle, the Type 54 pistol, the Type 56 semi-automatic rifle, the Type 56 automatic rifle, the Type 54 submachine gun, and the 68-1 hand grenade and 68-1 shotgun jointly developed and produced by the Light Weapons Institute and the Red Star Factory.

Other heavy weapons also included the Type 56 light machine gun, the Type 56 heavy machine gun, the Type 54-8 anti-aircraft machine gun, the Type 56 14.5mm quadruple anti-aircraft machine gun, and the 68-type blasting tube jointly developed by the Light Weapons Institute and the Morning Light Factory and handed over to the Red Star Factory for production.

The Type 54-8 anti-aircraft machine gun had obvious differences from the original Type 54-1, with the overall weight reduced from the original 137 kg to 65 kg.

This was specifically requested by Li Li Xuewu, and it was also the main reason why At's group was very concerned and willing to place orders.

The lightweight Type 54-8 anti-aircraft machine gun possessed vehicle-mounted capability; it could be used as a heavy machine gun for flat shooting and could hit low-altitude targets when raised.

And in the agreement negotiations, At and other team members also put forward opinions on the lightweight development of other weapons, such as mortars, rocket launchers, etc.

Li Li Xuewu had been on the battlefield and was also deeply helpless about the weight of the Type 54 gun group and fire support equipment. They were easy to use but heavy as iron.

Do you know why mountain warfare in this era still emphasizes the mobility of mules and horses?

It's because the squad and platoon soldiers can't carry these iron lumps. They would rather give up firepower than throw them away. Without mules and horses, they can't take them away at all.

Although At's group emphasized the lightweight opinion of weapons, they still chose to buy, buy, buy on the heavy firepower procurement list.

Type 63 60mm mortars, Type 63 107mm rocket launchers, Type 56 rocket launchers, etc., the order volume was so large that it even alarmed the Investigation Department.

Of course, with the endorsement of the Light Weapons Institute, the Confidential Department, and the Red Star Factory, this transaction was perfectly concluded.

It's not that original weapons can't be used, but that there is more cost-effectiveness here.

Take the Type 56 rocket launcher as an example. The prototype is the RPG-2 model. The performance is better, but the price is half of the original version. Who would you buy from?

In fact, in this period, the Russians had already replaced it with the more advanced RPG-7 rocket launcher, using the heavier anti-tank high-explosive anti-tank fist.

However, advanced doesn't mean cost-effective, and backward doesn't mean bad to use.

The RPG-2 rocket launcher has a simple structure, low failure rate, is easy to repair, and has sufficient ammunition supply, and the price is also very cheap.

Although its caliber is only 40mm, it fires the PG-2 anti-tank high-explosive projectile with a diameter of 82mm. Within an effective range of 150 meters, the armor penetration thickness can reach 200mm, but the overall weight is only 4.67 kg.

That is to say, the neighboring uncles who have been fighting for years can carry an RPG on their own and stroll around, and can even put three spare rounds in their backpacks. It's okay to hit armored targets, and it's also good for dismantling walls and bunkers.

The Type 56 rocket launcher was born from the RPG-2, also adopting the front-loading method, and is designed with openings at both ends.

When firing a shell, the recoil gas will rush out from the rear of the barrel, so there will be no obvious recoil.

Of course, readers who have fired the old 40 fire know that the rear flame of this thing is very obvious. If you are not careful, you will be burned.

Regardless, the success of the RPG-2 rocket launcher design represents the excellence of the Type 56 rocket launcher. There is a saying in the arms industry system of this era: whatever the Russians have, we have, just change the name.

So don't despise Li Li Xuewu; he also learned from his predecessors.

Someone asked, since the Russians have already replaced it with the RPG-7, why is the Red Star Factory still producing the Type 56 rocket launcher with such effort?

It's very simple. Since the Russians have the RPG-7, why can't we have it?

According to information from the Light Weapons Institute, the new rocket launcher has already been finalized and tested. It is estimated that it will be mass-produced and replaced in a year or so.

Therefore, the Red Star Factory was able to get the production approval for the Type 56 rocket launcher and the foreign trade procedures.

Including weapons starting with 5 and some heavy weapons starting with 6, they are actually already on the verge of being backward, basically lagging behind in the world weapon rankings.

Therefore, the higher-ups don't care about the Red Star Factory's transformation, research and development, and production.

In fact, this is also the norm in this era. Li Li Xuewu, as the person in charge of the Red Star Factory's security department, do you believe he can pull out a division at any time?

Those hanging on the machinery factory are not necessarily producing tractors, especially the small third-line enterprises in remote areas, each of which has unique skills.

Of course, the Red Star Factory's excellent products developed have no protection restrictions. Anyone can take them away to imitate and produce them, and at most give you a certificate of merit.

Selling backward equipment as a hardware industry project as an export order is what the higher-ups are happy to see. In this era, they are so poor that they even dare to sell "handicrafts."

Since there will soon be a new 40 fire, the Type 56 rocket launcher has become the old 40 fire, but its existence is very important.

The Director of the Light Weapons Institute, who is Li Li Xuewu's cheap uncle, told him that it is precisely because of the very valuable technical accumulation and practical experience that a foundation will be laid for the research of new weapons.

Similarly, Li Li Xuewu's operation of the Red Star Factory's channels, using the Light Weapons Institute as the primary entity for export orders, and selling weapons produced through subcontracting for bizarre reasons—such as "replacing the peach tree with the plum tree," "stealing the beam and replacing the pillar," and "deceiving the public"—to the Atte gang was also for this purpose.

After all, no one can ignore Li Li Xuewu's vision of a synthetic battalion.

This is not to fool At and others as advertising spokespersons, to transform and upgrade domestic characteristic weapons, match the Red Star Factory's automobile industry, and do a hypocritical and powerless mirage to cheat those local tyrants out of their money.

At the negotiation table, Li Li Xuewu specifically showed them the complete set of equipment and facilities of the 【Red Star Brand】 light synthetic battalion, blinding their dog eyes.

These bastards who sell peace are not famous for nothing. They very bravely conducted war games with Li Li Xuewu on the sand table.

The result goes without saying: they were dumbfounded and their eyes shone with light.

Because their troops encountered a drone attack, a very sudden one, and were directly confused.

What the hell is a drone?

The 7 people looked up at Li Li Xuewu in unison, wanting a reason that wouldn't cheat.

Li Li Xuewu didn't explain much, just emphasized that the light synthetic battalion would have drone configuration in the future, and the strike effect would be exactly as he said.

It can only be said that some equipment is too advanced to be displayed.

As a result, this miscellaneous trade merchant who purchased 50,000 tons of canned food, 5,000 gas tanks, and a pile of backward domestic weapons and equipment actually dared to boast.

As long as the Red Star Factory can produce drones, they will firmly stand on the side of the Red Star Factory and be willing to be spokespersons and "anchors" for the goods.

The reason Li Li Xuewu said this deal was a loss was that after this display, At and others proposed the first procurement right.

You shouldn't underestimate "small merchants" like At. The more such small merchants are, the more shrewd and bold they are.

He and the other six partners collectively proposed an annual procurement order volume of no less than 30 million to exchange for the first procurement right of the light synthetic battalion.

The conditions were also very simple and straightforward: this batch of synthetic battalion equipment would be put into a certain region that needed it most and was also the fastest to see results, in order to test the actual combat effect.

The first batch of synthetic battalion equipment must be supplied to them at a price lower than the cost price. If the effect is significant, subsequent orders cannot exceed the average order value.

That is to say, At's group used the annual trade volume and the subsequent procurement price of the synthetic battalion as chips to bet that they hadn't misread Li Li Xuewu's dream.

Once the synthetic battalion creates excellent value, they will quickly grow from small-scale to medium-scale, which is a big step forward.

Since the 24.5 million this year and the annual procurement order volume of no less than 30 million in the future have been negotiated, why did Gao Gao Yaqin say he was hitting the cow across the mountain?

It's very simple. At and the others aren't fools either. The agreement has a special time limit. Advanced Tantu cars, new weapons and equipment, three types of helicopters, etc., must be visible within two years and attached to the synthetic battalion list, so that such advanced equipment can be truly purchased, not reduced in configuration.

Drones are of course impossible within the time limit. This thing is being researched all over the world, so it can only be a supplementary requirement.

Li Li Xuewu gave Shangguan Qi 20 years. As long as she researches drones within 20 years, it counts as completing the task.

Similarly, in the agreement, the Red Star Factory also promised that once drones are sold, At and the others must be given the opportunity to negotiate.

It's just that I don't know where At will be twenty years later.

Hitting the cow across the mountain isn't hitting At, but the two old fox enterprises that have deep technical cooperation with the Red Star Factory: the Santa Ya Group and the Sanhe Stock Company.

The Red Star Factory doesn't lack export orders, nor does it lack product dumping grounds. Even basic industrial products and relatively backward industrial products can find a way out. It's time to put some pressure on them.

Speaking of pressure, in fact, Shangguan Qi has been under a lot of pressure recently.

Not to mention the KH-4 helicopter production line that is in full swing, just the good news of the expansion of the helicopter manufacturing plant came from the factory.

The Red Star Factory will cooperate with the French Santa Ya Group to introduce France's advanced Jaguar transport helicopters and Lark armed helicopters.

Of course, Shangguan Qi doesn't hate the Red Star Factory for developing too fast, but hates her own project for developing too slowly.

The four-axis small drone research project proposed by the Secretary-General is progressing slowly.

She even doubted whether the Secretary-General was wrong, whether the research direction of this small drone was wrong, or whether she didn't have enough ability.

There are only two reasons for the failure of scientific research reflection: one is that you are wrong, and the other is that the era is wrong.

The helicopter manufacturing plant built three production lines in a row, with an investment of more than 8 million, but the Secretary-General approved a budget of 5 million for the drone project.

That is to say, within 20 years, even if she burns it, she has to burn these 5 million dry, which is equivalent to burning two-thirds of the helicopter manufacturing plant.

At twenty-something, she has a very solid scientific research foundation, and her father and brothers are all excellent talents engaged in related technologies.

But you can't rely on father and son soldiers to boost morale for a project. After all, there are other technical big shots in the project besides their family.

Holding a high salary, enjoying high treatment, using new equipment, but the research results are few and far between. Compared with other project groups that are developing more rapidly, especially the helicopter construction and scientific research project peers, she feels deeply guilty and powerless.

There are colleagues from the original Unit 107 project group in several project groups. Everyone is in the same factory area, and they see each other every day.

Although they won't mention each other's research field results and directions, the news published in the factory newspaper is enough to prove who is doing better and who chose better.

At the beginning, she followed Li Li Xuewu's requirements, selected the best researchers from the 107 project group, and got the highest scientific research funding.

Now not only did the colleagues who were picked over put pressure on her, but the researchers she selected also became the source of her pressure.

She often feels guilty, feeling that she is not as good as one side and sorry for the other.

Young and bearing pressure that shouldn't be borne at this age, she is becoming haggard day by day, but doesn't want to trouble her parents.

After lunch, I don't know how, but she walked from the research institute canteen to the main office area, went to the third floor, and found the Secretary-General who was preparing to rest.

"Yo, a rare guest, come in, sit."

Li Li Xuewu had taken off his shoes and had just lain down on the simple board bed when he saw the precious treasure standing at the door.

The person in charge of a project that can bring hundreds of billions of markets in the future is the Red Star Factory's precious treasure, right?

"I'm sorry, Secretary-General, I disturbed your rest—"

It wasn't until she walked to the door of Li Li Xuewu's office and heard the other party's greeting that Shangguan Qi came back to her senses, and her face turned red instantly.

Li Li Xuewu didn't care about her sudden arrival and also saw her hesitation and haggard face.

He also knew that those engaged in scientific research were very hard, but it wouldn't be to the point of working so hard, right?

When he first saw Shangguan Qi last year, she was still like an eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl. Now looking at her, she's almost like an aunt in her late twenties.

This is scientific research, not life-consuming!

"If I disturbed you, then I disturbed you. Seeing you, I can't sleep at all."

Li Li Xuewu used a joke to dissolve Shangguan Qi's embarrassment, without fake politeness, but very sincere.

"No trouble, I'm not thirsty."

Shangguan Qi felt Li Li Xuewu's approachability, gave a dry laugh, and said: "Just finished lunch, don't know how I came to you."

"That means you have something to say to me," Li Li Xuewu walked to the door, bent down and picked up the coffee bucket, and joked: "It can't be that you were thinking of me in your heart, and your legs followed, right? Hahaha—"

Shangguan Qi really didn't expect that the Secretary-General, who usually looked very serious, had such a humorous and open side.

It seems that this kind of joke, when studying in America before, classmates naturally didn't guard against each other, but after returning to the country...

She had never seen a man with such wit and style as the Secretary-General.

"I'm joking with you."

Li Li Xuewu moved his hand to brew her a cup of coffee, and for himself, he continued to add hot water to the teacup.

Holding the cup with both hands, he walked to the sofa, placed it, and then looked at Shangguan Qi, who was still standing by the coffee table, "Sit, since you're here."

"Thank you—" Shangguan Qi put down all her embarrassment and tension under his calm and gentle gaze, nodded reservedly, and sat on the long sofa.

Li Li Xuewu's new office is very small, much worse than the Security Building. It doesn't even have the most basic lounge.

He likes to take a nap and has to sleep for about 20 minutes every day.

With his good sleep quality, as long as he lies down, it is deep sleep.

After waking up, a cup of black tea wakes up the brain, and the whole afternoon is bound to be energetic and full of vitality.

The main office building was built nearly twenty years ago, and it was built before the takeover in 1949. At that time, it was magnificent and imposing, and agency work was more than enough.

But after twenty years, the scale of agency management continued to expand and swell, and the original main office building could no longer bear the burden.

In the last ten years, the Red Star Factory has built four office buildings of different sizes around the other three directions of the office area courtyard.

The smallest is the original office building of the Security Division. When Li Li Xuewu was the Li Kezhang, he moved to the new office building in the same direction as the gate.

The newest is the original Party Committee building on the left hand side of the main office building, which was built less than two years ago. As a result, the building hadn't been used for a few days before the Party Committee structure was gone.

Some factory employees who talk nonsense spread rumors, saying that this building blocked the feng shui of the office area and blocked Secretary Yang's fate, and as a result, he went down.

They also said that the reason Li Li Xuewu could take three steps in three years was because he promoted the move of the Security Building to the new building when he was the Li Kezhang of the Security Section.

As the old saying goes, trees move and die, people move and live. As a result, Li Li Xuewu took one step every year, one footprint at a time, and now he has become a factory leader.

It's a pity that the factory leaders' office conditions are not as good as the Security Division Chief's.

Shangguan Qi went there often, often going to sign expenses and ask Li Li Xuewu for money.

This is her first time coming here, but what makes her feel surprised is that she can accurately find this place.

What makes her face red is that she subconsciously thought Li Li Xuewu was here.

Under Li Li Xuewu's signal, she held the coffee cup on the table. The taste was rich and sincere, rushing straight to her brain, making her spirit lift a bit.

Secretly observing Li Li Xuewu's office environment and making a comparison in her heart, she suddenly felt that being a factory leader wasn't easy either.

Since the Red Star Factory carried out the agency personnel reform and the latest group management team structure was built, this main office building has become even more crowded.

Especially on the third floor of this main office building, after the expansion of the factory management committee team members, the number of factory leaders increased to eleven, occupying an entire floor.

You say there are places downstairs and upstairs, but if you are the big housekeeper of the management committee, you can adjust which leader's office up, and which leader's office down? They would have to fight!

You think Director Li is the number one, so he can go to the fourth floor, together with several conference rooms, but Director Li is unwilling to be high above and detached from the masses.

You think which leader is not worthy of your respect, so you can put them on the second floor and be "stepped" under the feet by other team comrades?

So this problem is unsolvable. Although the main office building has average environment, it faces south, which is justified.

Although the third floor is crowded, everyone is equal and their status is equal.

Among these team members, Li Li Xuewu is the youngest, whether it is age or rank, so he is also carrying forward the style and not changing offices.

The office of the former Director of the Management Committee Office added a sign of Secretary-General, and the other two Deputy Directors of the Management Committee Office could only settle for the office that was originally the Deputy Director's.

But in Shangguan Qi's eyes, his office environment as Secretary-General is really simple, but he doesn't see him dislike or be dissatisfied.

Rectangular office, the desk is placed sideways against the corner of the window, opposite the desk are two chairs, and behind the chairs is a file cabinet covering the whole wall.

One long and one short sofa are squeezed into the corner near the door on the right side of the desk.

Plus the coffee table surrounded by the sofa, and the tea cabinet near the door on the right side of the file cabinet, filling the small office to the brim.

"Product of Chadian Furniture Factory."

Seeing her observing the simple folding bed between the desk and the file cabinet, Li Li Xuewu picked up his teacup and introduced with a smile: "The Trade Management Center is operating."

"We also have one at home, bought by my second brother," Shangguan Qi saw that Li Li Xuewu had seen through her observation, lowered her head a bit embarrassedly, and explained: "He also developed the habit of taking a nap, saying that taking a nap is very scientific."

"Hehe, do you think it's unscientific?"

Li Li Xuewu chuckled and said: "My father is a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, my wife is a Western medicine doctor, and I also have many doctor friends. They all recognize the habit of taking a nap."

"As long as the time isn't too long, it won't put too much pressure on the heart."

"I haven't studied this."

Shangguan Qi took a small sip of coffee, her eyes lit up, raised her head and looked at Li Li Xuewu: "The taste is very mellow. Does the country sell this kind?"

"Not sure, a friend sent it."

Li Li Xuewu smiled slightly and said: "I'm not used to drinking it, so it's been left there."

"You might also know that Peng Peng Xiaoli is now responsible for other work," Li Li Xuewu introduced: "The things in the tea cabinet were all tidied up by him before the handover, otherwise I wouldn't be able to find them."

"Yes, I heard—" Shangguan Qi took another small sip, her gaze naturally shifted elsewhere, "Why don't you choose a full-time secretary?"

"No need for now, and I don't want to make things difficult for people."

Li Li Xuewu's answer was concise enough, which surprised Shangguan Qi.

She looked at Li Li Xuewu in surprise and said: "Your work is so heavy now, how can you be busy without a full-time professional?"

"Within ten steps of my office is the Comprehensive Office of the Committee Office," Li Li Xuewu pointed with his finger and said: "There are many secretaries there to help me."

"Many jobs don't necessarily have to be full-time professional, and many problems don't have only one answer," Li Li Xuewu looked into her eyes and said: "The gentleman's nature is no different, but he is good at using things. Sometimes you need to change your thinking and ideas."

Shangguan Qi heard the persuasion in Li Li Xuewu's words, her face immediately returned to the depression when she first came, lowered her head and didn't speak.

"You came just in time. I just happened to have a few questions I wanted to ask you."

Seeing her low mood, Li Li Xuewu stood up and found a book from the pile of newspapers and magazines under Shangguan Qi's surprised gaze, and walked over.

"I just learned about Euler angles, and I haven't been able to find a way to solve them. Can I ask you?"

"Eu—Euler angles?"

Shangguan Qi's expression of surprise was even greater. She widened her eyes and looked at the math book in his hand, asking: "Are you self-studying or learning from a teacher?"

She explained somewhat confusedly: "I know you are still studying in college, I mean you... how did you learn this knowledge?"

"I'm studying Marxism-Leninism in college."

Li Li Xuewu emphasized with a pursed mouth, sat back on the sofa, and placed the book, which had clearly been flipped through many times, on the coffee table.

"My math foundation is very weak, only high school foundation, so it's a bit difficult to learn these. I've asked the professors for advice a few times and am slowly exploring and learning."

"Then you are really—"

Shangguan Qi didn't know how to describe her shock and admiration, blinked her eyes, and asked: "Are you learning these for..."

She tried to ask, but didn't ask completely, but she had already guessed why Li Li Xuewu wanted to learn Euler angles.

Euler angle is a method of describing the three key parameters of rigid body rotation, proposed by Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler in 1776.

It is used to determine the 3-group independent angle parameters of the fixed-point rotating rigid body position, consisting of the nutation angle θ, the precession angle ψ, and the rotation angle φ.

It sounds very complicated, but it is the parameter method for solving the attitude angle of the four-axis drone, which is a content of the project she is currently researching.

For her, this is not profound knowledge, and for the project, it is just basic knowledge.

But for a factory leader like Li Li Xuewu whose daily work is busy, it is really rare to be able to spare time to understand this basic knowledge.

"Although I can't help you," Li Li Xuewu smiled and said: "But I have to understand your hard work and efforts, right?"

"Leader, I—" Shangguan Qi choked, looked at Li Li Xuewu blankly, and didn't know what to say.

Li Li Xuewu knocked on the math book, looked at her and said: "My professor told me that solving Euler angles requires a lot of complex mathematical knowledge."

"Uh—yes, it's a bit complicated," Shangguan Qi came back to her senses. She could see Li Li Xuewu's serious attitude toward knowledge and his attitude toward solving problems. She lowered her head and pointed to the relevant formula content in the math book and explained: "But there are many ways to solve it, such as the Euler angle method, quaternion method, direction cosine method, trigonometric function method, Rodrigues parameter method, and equivalent rotation vector method used here."

"So there are so many ways to solve it!"

Li Li Xuewu was slightly surprised: "But I don't understand even one."

"Hehe—you don't have to..."

Shangguan Qi couldn't help but laugh lightly. She wanted to say that as a leader, you don't need to understand these, but looking up at Li Li Xuewu's research, she swallowed her words, took the pencil beside the book, and did calculations and explanations on the white paper.

She wrote very slowly and explained very seriously. It could be seen that Li Li Xuewu was listening very seriously and explained it clearly step by step.

The first time she used the Euler angle method, and the second time she used the quaternion method.

She introduced to Li Li Xuewu the measurement experiment of Euler angles by the project team, and found that the direction cosine method would produce skew, scale, and drift errors when solving the carrier attitude dynamics.

But estimating these errors when performing attitude solving in SINS is very important. Compared with the direction cosine method, the advantage of the quaternion method is that not only is the skew error equal to zero; but the derivation of the scale error is very simple, and an analytical expression convenient for further analysis can be obtained.

The direction cosine method can only analyze and detect scale errors under special circumstances and cannot draw general conclusions.

"By comparing the Euler angle method, direction cosine method, and quaternion method from different angles, the results show that the quaternion method has the best performance."

Shangguan Qi raised her head, blinked her eyes, and looked at Li Li Xuewu, who was a bit confused and couldn't keep up, and asked: "Am I speaking too fast?"

"No, it's not your problem," Li Li Xuewu waved his hand and said: "It's my foundation that is too weak, and my reaction is too slow."

"Although I admire your spirit of learning, you don't have to be so harsh on yourself," Shangguan Qi persuaded softly: "Learning is a gradual process, just like our experiment with Euler angles, you have to take it slow."

"Hmm, I'm too anxious."

Li Li Xuewu nodded clearly, let out a long breath, and said: "Small things shouldn't be anxious, big things shouldn't be chaotic, change when things are urgent, and round when things are slow. I forgot all these principles."

"Sorry—sorry, Leader."

At this moment, Shangguan Qi also understood. The Secretary-General was actually persuading herself, and she lowered her head in shame.

Li Li Xuewu looked at her and said: "Everyone has emotions. If you don't have emotions, you become a stone person, right?"

"But the biggest difference between humans and stone people is that we have thoughts and can regulate our emotions to adapt to work and life, right?"

"Hmm, I've caused you trouble

"But the biggest difference between people and stone statues is that we have thoughts and can regulate our own emotions to adapt to work and life, right?"

"Yes, I've caused you trouble again."

Shangguan Qi raised her head, looked at Li Li Xuewu, and said, "Actually, I don't know either... I just panicked."

"That's very normal; I can understand you."

Li Li Xuewu picked up his teacup and said, "I don't even dare to attend large lectures at school now, because I'm afraid of being laughed at by my classmates for not keeping up."

"'Look at that, that's a leader from the Red Star Factory, yet he doesn't even know such basic knowledge. And he's a leader? I could do better than that—'"

He deliberately used the tone of a third party to talk about himself, which made Shangguan Qi laugh.

"I understand what you mean now."

Shangguan Qi said with a look of gratitude, "After I go back, I will work hard to regulate my emotions and do a good job on the project."

"You must do the management work well," Li Li Xuewu emphasized. "If a general is incompetent, he exhausts the three armies. A leader must not only lead in technology but, more importantly, lead in spirit."

He pointed at Shangguan Qi and said, "If you lose your drive and spirit, then this project will lose its momentum and direction for progress."

"I will remember your words," Shangguan Qi said earnestly. "I will definitely reflect on myself seriously when I go back."

"It's good that you've thought it through. Reflection isn't that serious."

Li Li Xuewu carefully organized the draft paper Shangguan Qi had just explained, tucked it into a book, and said, "Who doesn't have moments of confusion?"

"Leader, I have a question."

Seeing that Li Li Xuewu was so easygoing, Shangguan Qi earnestly asked the question in her heart: "Why do you want us to research quadcopter micro-drones?"

"You should know that fixed-wing jet drones are the mainstream."

"What is mainstream? Who defined it?" Li Li Xuewu's expression also became serious. He said, "Since the failure of the British development of unmanned aerial bombs in World War I in 1914, to the failure of the British development of the world's first unmanned aircraft in 1917 which ended in a crash, who defined how drones should be researched?"

"The Americans?" Li Li Xuewu raised an eyebrow and said, "That year, the Sperry aerial torpedo had an automatic gyro stabilizer."

"In 1935, the Queen Bee drone, a radio-controlled full-scale target drone—this counts as the founding ancestor in the history of modern drones, right?"

He paused and continued, "Wasn't the Queen Bee, as a target drone and suicide drone, also phased out?"

"I know America came up with the D21, but I also know that this thing has been tested 8 times so far, and it has barely succeeded less than three times."

"Do you know about the 'Changkong' drone?"

Li Li Xuewu's mouth twitched, and he said, "We spent so much effort, yet what we produced was a subsonic target drone."

"Of course, I'm not saying the Changkong drone is useless, but in my mind, it's not that useful—at least, it hasn't formed combat capability."

He gestured and said, "Currently, America has flown over a dozen drone sorties, but they all fell down. That's fixed-wing."

"But—" Shangguan Qi said somewhat discouraged, "Even if our research direction is correct, our research capability is really..."

"Hmm, you can speak plainly."

Li Li Xuewu could hear the change in her tone; he nodded and said, "Starting from scratch is our current situation, and hard work is our determination."

He stood up and rummaged through a pile of newspapers, saying, "I know your institute lacks talent, and I've been thinking of ways with the factory."

"This is—" Shangguan Qi blankly took a newspaper from Li Li Xuewu's hand and, at his signal, began to read.

The content in the newspaper was simple. Just the day before yesterday, the Chairman gave instructions in the North River Provincial Management Committee's "Report on the Assignment of College Graduates," stating: "The problem of graduate assignment is a universal problem, not only for universities but also for primary and secondary schools."

The Chairman required all departments, all localities, and all large, medium, and primary schools to face the rural areas, border regions, industrial and mining areas, and the grassroots—the "four orientations"—and do a timely job in graduate assignment.

The instruction was there, but even Shangguan Qi, who was busy "building planes behind closed doors," knew that under the current situation where the entire national economy was facing comprehensive compression and the vast majority of industrial, mining, and grassroots units were unable to recruit workers, these "four orientations" could effectively only face the rural areas and border regions.

She seemed to understand Li Li Xuewu's meaning, looked up with some hope, and saw the smile on the leader's face.

"I have already talked with Deputy Director Gu," Li Li Xuewu said, gently patting the math book on the sofa armrest. "The Personnel Department will implement the recruitment of college students as a key task this year."

"Spare no effort to expand technology."

He pressed his palm on the math book and said, "There is also good news to tell you: the IBM 360 computer we mentioned last time has arrived at the port and will be arriving at the factory for installation next week."

"Really—that's great!"

Shangguan Qi was so excited she almost jumped up. The leader had indeed mentioned it last time, but she hadn't dared to think about it at all.

During this period, technological blockades were too severe; this level of electronic computer was very difficult to get in, unless through special channels.

She never expected that the leader would keep his word and actually get the computer.

"I can also give you a bottom line."

Li Li Xuewu looked confidently at her, eyes full of excitement, and said, "Recently, our factory can obtain more advanced electronic production technology from Japan, and France will also provide some necessary and advanced radio electronic control system technology."

"Moreover, the Metallurgy Factory has confirmed that the research progress on non-ferrous metals and rare metals is very smooth, so you don't have to worry about experimental materials anymore."

He nodded, looked at Shangguan Qi, who had regained her confidence, and said, "I have also contacted industry authorities from several universities in Beijing to serve as consultants for you. Whatever materials you need, as long as they are publicly available abroad, I can get them back for you."

"So—" Li Li Xuewu looked at Shangguan Qi, whose face was glowing with confident radiance but whose eyes were already filled with tears, and asked with a smile, "What reason do we have not to succeed?"

"Thank you, leader—"

Shangguan Qi wiped her tears and said with a smile, "You have given us too much support."

"It's all for a common ideal." Li Li Xuewu looked at her with a smile and said, "You all study slowly, and I will also learn slowly."

He raised the math book in his hand and said, "I will try my best to learn these basic concepts before you have research results, and see who is faster."

"I can already feel the pressure."

Shangguan Qi smiled, composed herself, and said, "Meeting a learning-oriented leader like you, all I can express is admiration and respect."

"Forget about the praise—" Li Li Xuewu said with a smile, "I love to read, but I don't seek a deep understanding."

"There is simply too much work, so I can only squeeze out spare time to learn and understand, and there are time limits when visiting professors for advice."

"Leader, if you don't mind," after hearing Li Li Xuewu's words, Shangguan Qi took the initiative to say, "I can help you learn this knowledge."

Having said this somewhat impulsively, she was afraid Li Li Xuewu would misunderstand her meaning, put the cart before the horse, and delay scientific research, so she added, "I mean, in my time outside of work, I can help you..."

"Haha, then I must prepare a gift for my teacher."

Li Li Xuewu didn't mind her nervousness and embarrassment. He stood up, walked to the tea cabinet, found the jar of coffee, turned back, and asked Shangguan Qi, "Teacher Shangguan, will this do?"

PS: Whoever asked yesterday if there were facial tissues back then, this is it. When you unwrap the packaging, it's a stack of crepe paper. (I won't write nonsense.)

(End of chapter)