Chapter 1631: Surprise

Li Xuewu said that the Red Steel Group would not intervene in the specific negotiation procedures, and he would keep his promise, not even attending the first meeting.

"Hoo—" Just after coming out of the conference room, Bai Changmin habitually came to Li Xuewu's office. He said nothing, let out a long sigh, plopped down on the sofa, covered his face with both hands, and lay back there.

Li Xuewu, who was studying organizational materials, looked at him and asked amusedly: "What's wrong? Only the first day, and it collapsed?"

"The intensity is a bit high—" Bai Changmin opened his eyes. Seeing Li Xuewu's secretary, Zhang Enyuan, bring him a cup of tea, he smiled bitterly and said thank you, then looked at Li Xuewu and asked: "Were you guys this difficult back then?"

"Nonsense—" Li Xuewu twisted the fountain pen in his hand, leaned back in his chair, and looked at him: "Born to rise, breaking the soil to walk."

He raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "You have to treat this project as a practice in life."

"Then I must be called an ascetic monk—"

Bai Changmin rubbed his face, picked up the hot tea and took a sip, saying: "Before, when I heard you say it was so difficult and so difficult, I didn't feel it was that difficult."

"Until now." He looked at Li Xuewu and bared his teeth, wanting to smile bitterly but unable to: "It's really picking at it one by one."

"Hehehe—" Li Xuewu laughed gloatingly and said: "Don't worry, back then Gu Li of Jingcheng Erqi also teased me like this. Only when their factory groupized will there be something good to see."

"Erqi is also going to groupize?" Bai Changmin was stunned and asked in surprise: "Do they have such a large volume? Forcing it?"

"Sooner or later." Li Xuewu spread his hands and said very frankly: "Only enterprises that are more in line with modern market operations will be more vibrant and will have combat effectiveness in future market competition."

"Even if they don't take such a big step, establishing company-level enterprises is also an imperative."

He picked up his teacup and took a sip, then continued: "Whether it's Jingcheng Industry or other departments in the city, they can't stop the tide of history."

"Once there is one, there will be two. Once we open up territory in Liaodong and revitalize the industrial economy, there will be plenty of factories following suit."

Li Xuewu leaned back in his chair, lifted his feet and placed them on the office desk, looking at him loosely: "People will mock the fool who eats the crab first, but they will absolutely not mock themselves for eating the crab. That's the principle."

"Just wait, within ten years, there will be a wave of industrial specialization and companyization after factory resource integration in the country."

He raised his hand and pointed opposite, saying: "Those of us who eat the crab first will become the red flag bearers and guides in their eyes."

Bai Changmin listened to his bluffs and felt his blood boiling, but then he reacted. The person in front of him was a famous big bluffer in the Jingcheng industrial circle.

Bao Peigang of the Dongcheng Credit Cooperative was played around by him. Just on the projects held by the Red Steel Group, he invested no less than tens of millions, a proper big sucker.

Of course, it was later confirmed that Old Bao still had long-term vision and investment courage. Were the Red Steel Group's projects all successful?

Actually, not really. Except for that bottomless black hole—the drone project, other projects could be said to have won a complete victory.

The motorcycle project: Red Star Motorcycles' market share in the country had reached almost three-quarters. If it weren't for production capacity limitations, it would have squeezed all the motorcycle factories in the country into bankruptcy.

The sedan project: The two car models launched by Red Star Automobile were very popular, and Gemini and Aries were unrivaled for a time.

Special vehicles: Tan Tu Automobile. I heard that even the mentor liked this car very much and even personally sat in the driver's seat to experience it.

Even the drone project, which Old Bao often complained about at the wine table, brought out a concept product at this year's exhibition.

A drone as big as a car looked full of technology. Except for not being able to fly, it looked very bluffing everywhere.

Precisely because of the amazing strength shown in the investment field, Bao Peigang was adjusted to the position of Deputy Director of the Jingcheng Credit General Bank in less than three years, in charge of investment and operations, which was quite glorious.

This time, the investment project for Jingcheng Chemical also had Bao Peigang's shadow, but he "fell out" with Li Xuewu and didn't come to see him.

"All must go through the Joint Savings Bank, right?"

Bai Changmin thought for a moment, looked at Li Xuewu and asked bluntly: "No wonder the Red Steel Group is unwilling to step in, it turns out that making money this way is easier."

"Hehehe—" Li Xuewu saw him jealous, raised his eyebrows and said: "Indeed easier. I advise you to take advantage of the fact that no one has noticed such a good money-making channel, and you should also run a bank for investment."

"..." Bai Changmin was speechless for a moment. Damn, the scolding was really dirty.

"Factory Bai, the meeting is about to start." At this time, the secretary came in to remind him: "Other leaders have already entered."

"Mm, I know." Bai Changmin stood up, pointed at Li Xuewu and explained to the secretary: "I said I wouldn't come, but Secretary-General Li insisted on calling me to rest for a while. Alright, I'm going over now."

"Hehe—" Li Xuewu watched him leave amusedly, cursing in his heart that he was a dog thing, not a human being.

Bai Changmin, who walked out the door, also cursed in his heart. Didn't he know that running a bank was very profitable? Did he need Li Xuewu to tell him?

But why didn't Li Xuewu tell him how to run a bank?

There was no way to run it. Ever since the Red Steel Group found this BUG and created the Red Star Joint Savings Bank, this loophole had been plugged.

Furthermore, if it weren't for Bao Peigang taking the blame, the Joint Savings Bank might not have been able to stand firm.

The most critical point was that the Dongcheng Credit Cooperative made money, and the Jingcheng Credit General Company certainly wouldn't allow this egg-laying chicken in their hands to be slaughtered.

In this era, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China wasn't as useful as the credit cooperative. Don't look at Li Xuewu not taking Bao Peigang seriously, but Old Bao still had a lot of strength.

However, preparing to establish a bank to operate funds was definitely not as simple as just establishing the bank. Bai Changmin finally knew why the Red Steel Group could come up with big projects every year.

The Joint Savings Bank set a total investment expectation of 17 million for this project in Liaodong, leaving only a 6 million share for them.

In other words, although Jingcheng Chemical was the operator and actual controller in this project, it only held a 35.3% stake.

Who took away the other equity?

Before the meeting and before seeing the project proposal, he had no idea who would be investing in this project.

But when he saw the project proposal, he was also confused, because there were several names that were unfamiliar to him.

The total investor was the Joint Savings Bank. This goes without saying, the lead capital held a 7% stake and would be responsible for supervision and auditing throughout the project.

There were many joint investors: Oriental Era Bank, Jingcheng Credit Cooperative, Jingcheng Industrial and Commercial Bank, Liaodong Credit Cooperative, Liaodong Industrial and Commercial Bank, Santa Ya Group, Jilixing Shipping, and Dongfeng Sanyi Construction Engineering Company.

Banks and credit cooperatives were not hard to understand, but where did Oriental Era Bank come from? Wasn't Dongfeng Sanyi Construction Engineering Company a small construction company?

And there were Santa Ya Group and Jilixing Shipping. Did this belong to foreign capital?

Bai Changmin remembered the words Li Xuewu had reminded him of back then and didn't look for trouble in the list of joint investors, because they weren't qualified.

Joint investment had no executive power and no supervisory power, only the right to contribute capital and the right to dividends. Equity ownership was managed by the total investor on their behalf.

Now Jingcheng Chemical only needed to talk to the representatives of the Joint Savings Bank. He hadn't even seen the representatives of several joint investors.

He did see Bao Peigang, but Old Bao told him that Jingcheng Credit was on a mission and wouldn't favor any direction.

By this time, how could Bai Changmin not understand? Looking at Liaodong Credit and Liaodong Industrial and Commercial on the list, he knew.

Although Zhang Zhanshan was scolded by the higher-ups, Jingcheng didn't intend to ignore this project and had already decided to get a piece of the action.

However, the city understood the sense of proportion very well and didn't impose strong intervention, but matched the treatment and attitude equal to Liaodong.

Liaodong Credit and Liaodong Industrial and Commercial were the capital representatives of Liaodong Industry and would take away the corresponding dividends in this project.

It was the same for Jingcheng. Although they didn't approve of groupization, they still wanted to make money together if there was money to be made.

Bai Changmin had a feeling of betrayal, feeling that the project plan Li Xuewu had created was completely a "big pot of rice," using them as a raft to be the good guys.

But the reality was that if it weren't for Li Xuewu's balancing act, the pressure they faced would be even greater, and the process of groupization would be even more difficult.

At that time, the city's attitude wouldn't be disapproval, but opposition.

Li Xuewu had been telling Bai Changmin that the relevant parties must recognize the viewpoint of Jingcheng Chemical's groupization, or at least should not oppose it.

Therefore, not a single piece of the cake that should be divided could be missing. If it were missing, it would be difficult to raise funds later, and the groupization project would also be hindered.

When Liaodong Credit and Liaodong Industrial and Commercial appeared on the list of joint investors, it became much simpler for Jingcheng Chemical to acquire and merge local chemical enterprises, and they could completely borrow the resources of these two units.

They were the capital contributors, and they didn't say they wouldn't help, right? The units that could appear on the list were all prepared to contribute money if they had money, and contribute effort if they had effort.

Jingcheng Chemical had already suspended non-essential investments in chemical plants in Jingcheng, and everything had to tilt towards the project in Liaodong.

What had to be determined at the meeting was the landing of projects such as pesticides, fertilizers, plastics, paints, nylon, flame-retardant materials, chemical fibers, synthetic resin technology, and petrochemical smelting. This was the common goal of several parties.

The joint project team provided by Dongfeng Sanyi Construction and the Joint Construction Engineering General Company had already started the geological survey project and set about the design work.

And the European designer team from the Santa Ya Group would also delve into this project to provide support and guidance.

What Jingcheng Chemical needed to determine now was which factories in Jingcheng should be kept in Jingcheng, which factories should be kept in Jingcheng after integration, and which factories should be completely relocated to where in Liaodong, and which resources in Liaodong needed to be integrated.

To tell the truth, Li Xuewu was worried about this project too. Fortunately, he wasn't participating, otherwise he wouldn't even have time to be responsible for daily management work.

To integrate so many resources, consider the stay and placement of so many employees, and also consider the interests of several parties, his head was spinning.

It's no wonder that Bai Changmin scratched his head just as the negotiation meeting started. The difficulty coefficient was truly much higher than what the Red Star Factory faced back then.

The Red Star Factory was lucky; it caught up with a good time. Although the process was very dangerous, looking back now, it could be considered a kind of luck.

At that time, no one came to interfere with the Red Star Factory's self-climbing. Even if a few small problems occurred in the middle, they were all cleverly resolved.

The problems and difficulties Jingcheng Chemical faced now were what an enterprise should face when groupizing, and also the level it should normally face.

But it must be said that Jingcheng Chemical was lucky, because they didn't have to fight alone like the Red Star Factory did back then, relying entirely on luck.

Now their groupization project had capital protection, local support, and even more so, the Red Steel Group as a guide, making it much more convenient.

The test paper Bai Changmin was doing now wasn't the essay question the Red Star Factory faced back then, but a multiple-choice question. The Joint Savings Bank provided many optional plans for them to choose from.

Li Xuewu hosted a banquet for the representatives of the meeting at noon and conducted a certain degree of communication with the representatives of several parties at the dinner table.

Although he said he wouldn't participate in the negotiations, he still had to grasp the direction of the negotiations, lest it really collapse as he said.

This time, the Joint Savings Bank arranged for the Vice President in charge of fund management, Zhao Shulan, a female comrade who was very capable.

Liaodong Industry was naturally hosted by Hu Ke himself, and there were also Steel City Industry person-in-charge Wang Lu and Yingcheng Industry person-in-charge Ge Ping.

People at the level of Liu Li Xin and Zhao Ershan couldn't even sit at the negotiation table, which showed how intense the negotiations were.

"The computer has been gotten for you."

At night, Li Xuewu invited the visiting President of the Santa Ya Group, Chantal, to dinner. As soon as she sat down, she said this to him.

"Buying it for millions just like that, you guys are really making money."

Chantal looked at him, picked up her wine glass and took a sip, nodded, and said very approvingly: "Mm, you can tell from the taste of the wine that you are really serious about doing things."

"There is still a considerable gap, we need to continue learning." Li Xuewu smiled and said modestly: "We still have a long way to go in terms of value endowment."

"You have already seen through the essence of marketing." Chantal glanced at him amusedly, her eyebrows colored with color as she asked: "Is the Santa Ya Group being isolated? Why do I feel that you are guarding against us?"

"Mm? Why do you think so?" Li Xuewu was stunned, raised his eyebrows and looked at her: "Why don't you look for the reason from yourself?"

"Hehe—" Chantal curled her lips amusedly: "So this is our fault?"

"No, it's your fault—" Li Xuewu pointed at her with his finger and said impolitely: "Think about it, how long has it been since you came to the mainland?"

"What does this have to do with how long I haven't been to the mainland?" Chantal emphasized very seriously: "Even if I don't come, things are still operating here, our investment intensity is constant."

"But you haven't personally felt this intensity—"

Li Xuewu still emphasized impolitely: "You are ignoring this process, so it's hard to get feedback that you are being paid attention to."

"In reality?" Chantal looked at him with complex eyes and asked: "We haven't been isolated?"

"Of course—" Li Xuewu said very firmly: "If you were isolated, you wouldn't appear on the list of joint investments."

"Then I really have to thank you—"

Chantal raised her red wine glass to toast him, raised her eyebrows and said: "It's rare that you can still think of me, it's truly an honor."

"I have always been thinking of you, it's just that you are about to forget me." Li Xuewu pursed his lips, took a sip of red wine, and asked with a smile: "What have you been busy with lately? You wouldn't have gone back to France to have a baby, would you?"

"Hahahaha—" Chantal's laughter was quite bold. This was in a private room; if it were in the lobby, it would have attracted criticism.

She looked at him with deep meaning and asked teasingly: "If I said I went back to France and had a baby for you, what would you think?"

"You really should learn our history well." Li Xuewu rolled his eyes and teased: "In our China, there is only the principle of 'mother relying on son for honor,' there is no principle of 'father relying on son for honor'."

Of course, he wasn't being absolute. Many people knew that Puyi's father was a representative of "father relying on son for honor," but there weren't many such figures in history.

Chantal tilted her head and sized him up: "You don't doubt at all that I would do this?"

"No, I don't doubt that I would do this." Li Xuewu smiled, poured wine for both of them, and said: "I have absolute certainty, no one can break through my defense on this point."

"But you are always—" Chantal's words in her excitement finally stopped under the influence of reason, not letting the dinner change its color.

"Mm-hmm—" Li Xuewu smiled, raised his wine glass, and toasted her: "I wish your lover health and longevity."

"Heh—" Chantal laughed out loud, turned her face to the side, but still couldn't help laughing.

She glared at Li Xuewu and drank a large gulp of wine.

"Let's talk about a more interesting topic."

Li Xuewu ate the not-very-authentic Western food and said indifferently: "How is the big airplane project going?"

"You are still thinking about these big guys?"

Chantal collected her thoughts and looked at him: "Didn't they say you were planning to do this project yourself? Did I hear it wrong?"

"Don't play these little tricks again—" Li Xuewu moved the knife in his hand, looked at her seriously and said: "Business cooperation also has a bottom line, don't go too far."

"Of course, I have a very strong bottom line."

Chantal smiled confidently and said: "I will never touch the kind of red line you call it, so these messages are all true?"

"I don't want to answer this question." Li Xuewu put down his knife and fork, took a sip of wine, and said indifferently: "The Tadong Airport in Fengcheng will be completed in June next year. We need cargo planes, many cargo planes."

"Heh—" Chantal looked at him with a smile and said: "You only know how to ask, ask, ask, don't you know how to repay?"

"Mm-hmm?" Li Xuewu felt something was wrong with these words, raised his eyebrows and asked: "You already have a clue about this matter?"

"Of course—" Chantal put down her wine glass meaningfully and said indifferently: "When have I ever disappointed you?"

It really is the aunt who loves people; look at how gentle these words are.

Li Xuewu's face immediately had a smile, he picked up the wine bottle and poured her wine, even his speech became a bit more careful and flattering.

"I knew this matter had to be handed over to you to handle."

"These words sound quite comfortable—"

Chantal glanced at him with a smile and asked: "How do you plan to repay me? I came prepared this time."

"Sacrificing my life to accompany the gentleman—" Li Xuewu became even more energetic when he heard this, raised his wine glass, and drank it all in one gulp.

"Doesn't count—" Chantal said with a smile: "Drinking is a skill, but it doesn't count here. Drinking can't dismiss me."

"Of course, of course, watch my performance."

Li Xuewu nodded with a smile and asked tentatively: "What kind of treasure did you dig up to make you so confident?"

"Ha—" Now Chantal wasn't in a hurry. She picked up her wine glass and took a sip, then asked: "Tell me, why are you isolating the Santa Ya Group?"

"Want to hear the truth?" Li Xuewu knew he couldn't fool her, so he could only nod and say: "I guarantee you, there is absolutely no such thing."

"However—" Just when the other party's face turned cold, Li Xuewu reversed again and explained with some difficulty: "The Red Steel Group now is not the Red Steel Group it used to be."

Seeing Chantal frown, he took a breath, and after careful consideration, he continued to explain with reservations: "At least not like it used to be."

"Is it because of the change in management?"

She had received this news, but she hadn't taken it seriously because the operation of the Red Steel Group was still stable.

"This is just a superficial phenomenon." Li Xuewu pursed his lips and explained softly: "The change in management is the result of changes in certain consciousness."

"You mean—" Chantal frowned and said: "We are very sincere in our cooperation, we have never had any excessive actions in the mainland."

"Of course, of course, I know all this." Li Xuewu pressed his palm and comforted her: "I am also making efforts for you."

"I believe you." Chantal looked into his eyes and said: "Because we have common interests, but no conflicts."

"Thank you for your trust." Li Xuewu accepted this recognition very frankly, but still said seriously: "This is all what I should do."

"But I cannot accept this kind of unfair treatment." Chantal frowned and said: "I must have an explanation."

"There is no explanation." Li Xuewu placed his hands on the table and emphasized softly: "When the Santa Ya Group wants to obtain more resources, it must pay more effort and assume more responsibility."

"I'm not talking about me personally, or the Red Steel Group."

He raised his eyebrows and didn't continue to explain, but he felt that Chantal must be able to understand and think clearly.

Chantal could certainly understand, but she still frowned and said: "This is unfair."

"No, it's fair." Li Xuewu shook his head slightly and said: "Up to now, the Santa Ya Group is the foreign enterprise that has participated in the most projects in the country."

"Isn't this the result of our efforts?" Chantal asked very puzzled: "Haven't we done enough?"

"In my opinion, it's more than enough." Li Xuewu first nodded in affirmation, then emphasized: "But it takes time to settle."

"I understand." After thinking it through, Chantal finally understood everything, nodded clearly and said: "Can't be too fast, can't be too much, right?"

Li Xuewu blinked and said gently: "I firmly believe that the Santa Ya Group will be able to make great achievements in the country, but we cannot be too hasty."

"Mm, it seems so." After thinking it through, Chantal felt relieved, looked at him and said: "I thought someone was targeting us."

"Ha—" Li Xuewu raised his wine glass and said: "We participate in so many cooperation projects together, such a thing won't happen."

"I hope so—" Chantal thought for a moment and also raised her wine glass.

Chantal hadn't lied to him; she had indeed made efforts on the big airplane project, and it wasn't in vain for the "efforts" he had paid.

She found airplanes for the Red Steel Group, and Li Xuewu let her experience the feeling of flying all over the room. This was what she deserved.

"Where did you find these antiques?"

Chantal came prepared, but Li Xuewu was picky. Looking at the information brought by the other party, he said amusedly: "In a museum?"

"There are no Il-12s in a museum."

Chantal sat beside him in her pajamas, holding a red wine glass and glancing at the information in his hand: "This is the pride of the North Soviet people."

"To be precise, it's the pride of the North Soviet people during World War II." Li Xuewu curled his lips and looked at the information in his hand: "It's been out of production for more than twenty years. Are you sure the Il-12s you found can still fly?"

"Of course I can be sure." Chantal rolled her eyes and said: "I won't use broken copper and iron to fool you."

Look, this standard Mandarin. She even learned to say "fool," she must be good at fooling people.

What kind of airplane is the Il-12?

Developed in '43, first flight in '45, out of production in '49. A military model.

From first flight to out of production, 663 were produced in four years. Think, think carefully, how complex the background of this airplane must be.

Empty weight 11.1 tons, payload 2.6 tons, normal takeoff weight 16.8 tons, maximum takeoff weight 17 tons, maximum range 3300 kilometers.

The route from Jingcheng to the frontier used this airplane. No wonder Chantal dared to let him see this old vegetable; because this airplane was still in use.

"Why can't they all be Il-14s or Il-18s?"

Li Xuewu opened the information below. There were three styles of Il transport planes, each more advanced than the last, but the number that could be bought was getting smaller and smaller.

Il-14 transport plane, first flight in '50, put into production in '54.

Maximum range 1785 kilometers, standard maximum passenger capacity is 18-24 people, improved model can transport 2500 kilograms of cargo or increase to 32 passengers.

Il-18 is a medium-range jet passenger plane, designed in '55, first flight in '57, joined the route in '59. Standard passenger capacity 110 people.

"Why? Don't like them?"

Chantal saw him looking at the information without speaking and asked with a smile: "Is it too many, and you're dazzled?"

"Can I ask where you dug up these antiques?" Li Xuewu shook the information in his hand and looked at her: "There won't be any problems, will there?"

"What problems could there be." Chantal shrugged her shoulders and said: "I guarantee you, there won't be any disputes, and they even come with maintenance."

She raised her eyebrows and said: "First transport them to France, I'll find connections to help you overhaul and inspect them, and then send them over. Is that okay?"

"That would be even better, of course." Li Xuewu smiled and said: "It's not that I don't trust you, but I feel it's quite incredible."

There are eight Il-12s, and three each of the 14 and 18. Just the Il transport planes she dug up are more than 14, exceeding the task.

And the Il-18 is a jet passenger plane. Even if it's phased out, it's still good stuff, not something that can be gotten with ordinary connections.

Furthermore, the Santa Ya Group doesn't have any connections in Eastern Europe. These airplanes must have been gotten by Chantal through personal channels.

He still underestimated the other party. This French woman truly has some skills, but he also understands that she truly "came prepared."

"Czech, Bulgaria, Algeria."

Chantal smiled, raised her eyebrows and said: "I can afford it, so they dare to sell. It's that simple."

"Ah—" Li Xuewu nodded clearly and finally understood. It turned out to be these three fence-sitters. No wonder.

"There's another surprise—" Chantal saw that he was about to be satisfied, and at this moment, she took out two more documents from her bag and placed them in front of him.

"This is—" Li Xuewu was stunned, glanced at her, picked up the documents and read them. The more he read, the more incredible he felt.

"You can even get these two?"

After reading the two documents, he asked in surprise: "Still got them from these three places?"

"Of course—" Chantal smiled and said: "The pity is that the quantity is a bit small."

"It's fine." Li Xuewu shook the documents with a smile and said: "This is truly an unexpected joy."

Two An-12 transport planes, one An-24 transport plane. For the Red Steel Group, these could all serve as main models.

The An-12 transport plane is also an antique, first flight in '56, put into production in '58, and it's about to be out of production, but it does have utilization value.

Empty weight 35 tons, maximum cruising speed 670 km/h, maximum commercial payload 20 tons, maximum takeoff total weight 61 tons, maximum payload range 400 km, maximum fuel range 5720 km. Still a passenger-cargo mixed model.

The An-24 is a newer model, designed in '58, first flight in '60, put into use in '63, and there are still a few years before it goes out of production.

Empty weight 13 tons, standard passenger capacity 44 or 50 people, cruising speed 450 km/h, maximum commercial payload 5.5 tons, maximum takeoff total weight 21 tons, maximum payload range 550 km, maximum fuel range 2400 km.

The An-12 can be used as a cargo plane, and the An-24 can be used as a passenger plane.

Suddenly possessing 17 long- and short-distance passenger and cargo airplanes, although they are all antique-level or soon-to-be-phased-out models, they are enough to use.

In this era, being able to own an airport is enough to be awesome, and being able to own 17 airplanes of various models is truly a proper trump card.

This time, Li Xuewu can truly show his skills and ambitions in domestic shipping and the aviation industry.

The simplest thing is that the current routes are extremely loose. The reason why there are few flights isn't because of strict management, but because there are no airplanes to use.

If the price of public flights is brought down and the flight costs are also reduced, the total population of domestic customers is enough for the Red Steel Group to earn.

After all, they don't have a scale of hundreds of airplanes, so they don't need to bear such heavy maintenance and management costs.

Especially in the situation where the number of available passenger planes isn't large, the operation project of three or five passenger planes, specifically picking good routes, can definitely achieve a balance of payments.

Furthermore, in this era, there are also charter situations. Although there aren't many, each one will have special policies and care.

"Tell me, what kind of reward do you want."

Li Xuewu put down the documents in his hand very frankly and asked her bluntly: "I don't think I can repay this kind of friendship within my ability."

"Don't set me up." Chantal smiled and said indifferently: "I am still striving for the Lockheed C-130 project for you."

"Alright, that's enough—" Li Xuewu waved his hands repeatedly and said: "If you really get this thing, I don't know if I should accept it."

"You certainly can—" Chantal looked at him tipsily and said: "Actually, you also know that the An-12 and An-24 are already on your official procurement list. You haven't bought few in these years, it doesn't count as a very difficult project."

She was right. Don't look at how tense the relationship with the North Soviet is, but procurement activities for transport planes and helicopters have been going on.

From '65 to '67, the country bought 14 An-12s, bought 11 An-24s in '68, and bought 8 Mi-6s in these few years.

And they are still buying. When Li Xuewu wanted to engage in the big airplane project, he checked the domestic transport introduction projects, and bought the most from the North Soviet.

It's normal for Chantal to know this situation, because big airplane trading is an international project, and it's very easy to be queried.

"Whether it's the An series or the Il series, the ones I found for you are replacement products, it doesn't count as anything."

She looked at Li Xuewu very seriously and said: "I am also very hopeful that you can realize the dream of a big airplane."

"I said it, we have common interests, but no conflicts. Even if there are, they can be resolved very quickly."

Chantal stood up, walked to the cabinet and poured herself another glass of wine, turned back and looked at him: "You might think I'm lying, that I'm hypocritical, but you can wait and see, I have no requests."

"Here you can use the word 'demand'." Li Xuewu nodded slowly and corrected her word usage.

He leaned on the sofa, looked at Chantal and said: "We do have a dream of a big airplane, because you also know this is a key technical field. Once a blockade is formed, it will be very difficult to catch up."

"However, the reality is that we don't have the conditions to produce big airplanes, nor do we have the foundation to develop big airplanes."

He spread his hands and said: "I can tell you the truth, we are researching jet engines, in order to cooperate with other factories' projects, so as to jointly achieve such a goal."

"However, this cooperation hasn't reached a critical position yet."

Li Xuewu folded his right leg and said: "You should also know that the Red Steel Group's operating environment and nature determine that we must first produce products to find the market, rather than the market handing tasks to us."

"Then what do you want?" Chantal hugged her arms, holding a wine glass in her hand, standing there looking at him: "Do you know why I want to help you operate the Lockheed C-130 project?"

"Because it's old enough, but it's still young."

These words were very contradictory, but Li Xuewu knew this was the truth. Another name for the Lockheed C-130 is Hercules.

Speaking of the Hercules transport plane, one wouldn't be unfamiliar with it. Even in later generations, this airplane is still the main model.

But you have to know that this airplane is a four-engine turboprop transport plane developed more than twenty years ago, first flight in '54, with a total production of several thousand.

Why could Chantal easily buy the North Soviet airplanes, and even send them to the Red Steel Group after maintenance in France without covering them up?

Because these aren't "their" airplanes. Western Europe doesn't care about these old models, nor does it feel that these airplanes have any secrets worth peeking at or keeping.

Even if Chantal operated these airplanes to Hongcheng and handed them over to the Red Steel Group to establish an operating company for use, they wouldn't splash even a little ripple in the list of aircraft in the world.

17 airplanes, not 170.

However, the Hercules transport plane is different. These are "their" airplanes. Any one, even if it's phased out, is a heavy weapon.

33 tons of transport capacity. If it were really gotten, the Red Steel Group would definitely be placed under the scrutiny of those people, even if it were operating in Steel City.

This kind of method can only be carried out under "justifiable" conditions. If the main models were really operated, Chantal wouldn't be able to do it either.

So Li Xuewu didn't dare to have extravagant hopes, nor did he dare to let Chantal use this to raise any conditions with him.

He couldn't accept any negotiations based on the premise of introducing this airplane, nor would he take this airplane as the goal expected by the Red Steel Group.

Temporarily operating the North Soviet airplanes well is enough for the Red Steel Group to gain a foothold in the domestic aviation and shipping market. Any more would be over the line.

Chantal could understand his low-key thinking very well, nodded and said: "It can be used as a process to strive for, right."

"Of course." Li Xuewu thought very seriously, looked at her and said: "If you can really help the Red Steel Group introduce this airplane according to normal procedures, we will of course be extremely grateful."

"Only grateful? Mm-hmm—"

Chantal smiled, waved her hand and said: "Don't mind my joke, I said I wouldn't make any demands on you, demands."

"I actually hope you can raise one." Li Xuewu said with a bitter smile: "This hanging heart always has no bottom."

"I only hope that our cooperation can proceed for a long time." Chantal walked to his side, placed her hand on his shoulder, looked up at him and said: "You see further than I do, and you know better than I do that what I said is true."

Of course it's true. In the past, the Santa Ya Group had absolutely no need for this kind of "confession," nor was it worth this kind of investment.

But the Red Steel Group now is different. If another international trade giant even larger than the Santa Ya Group comes in, how should the Red Steel Group choose?

No need to think, international trade enterprises have long been eyeing the meat of the Red Steel Group, it's just that they couldn't take a bite for a while.

But as long as they connect with the Red Steel Group and carry out extensive and pragmatic business cooperation, the Santa Ya Group will be in danger of being out.

Don't look at the Santa Ya Group following the Red Steel Group to invest in many projects, but in all projects, they only have the right to contribute capital, not any decision-making power.

But what can be tangibly seen is that Joint Construction has started making money, Joint Energy's investment is getting larger and larger, and the plate is getting larger and larger. It can be foreseen that this project will definitely make money.

Finally, there is the Yingcheng Port project. The Santa Ya Group has absolute confidence, because this is the first modern port in Bohai Bay.

And there is another reason why Chantal is convinced to constantly invest in Li Xuewu, and that is Li Xuewu's layout in the Yingcheng Port.

It attracted so much attention before it even started operating. Once it starts operating, there is no telling how much of a sensation it will cause.

"Alright, the surprise is finished." She smiled, looked at him and said: "Can you give me some more surprises?" ===== CHAPTER 1632 =====