Chapter 174 Killing two birds with one stone

"If our factory can develop military products specifically for export, can the ministry allocate some support funds?" Liu Biao asked after thinking for a while.

"Of course, no problem!" Luo Tao replied straightforwardly, and then continued, "However, most of our domestic high-quality products use existing technology and production lines to export some products with excess production capacity and inventory to foreign countries. But if this kind of military product is really good enough and there are enough foreign orders, the superiors will definitely allocate some support funds. It's just that this possibility is not high... You have to be mentally prepared."

"So if we have good products, how do we contact foreign manufacturers?" Xu Qiang suddenly asked.

"This is very simple. Every year, the Fifth Ministry of Machine Building will organize one or two foreign trade exhibitions. At that time, they will invite some foreign military enterprise representatives and military attachés. If there are products they need, they will place orders directly." Luo Tao smiled slightly and continued, "Now some countries in the Gulf are really rich and powerful. They export oil while fighting wars. The weapons of developed countries are too expensive and cannot withstand consumption, so now our country's weapons are very popular there..."

"I think the research and development of weapons for foreign trade still depends on our Chief Engineer Li."

"Yes, Chief Engineer Li is one of the best military technology experts in our province. He participated in the development of the first generation of proximity fuzes in China. Many foreign countries are buying them now, although they are not produced in our factory..."

"Old Li, it all depends on you from now on." Liu Biao said to Li Cunzhu with a smile at this time.

Although Xu Qiang has been in the limelight in the factory in the past two months, when it comes to the actual research and development of this kind of military product, everyone in the factory, including Liu Biao, still places their hopes on Li Cunzhu.

After all, Li Cunzhu has a long history, and it is precisely thanks to some of the products he developed that Shengli Machinery Factory has maintained its glory for more than ten years. Therefore, in the minds of these old employees in the factory, Li Cunzhu is their greatest reliance in the research and development of foreign trade products.

"Well...for our factory, I will do my best!" Li Cunzhu immediately expressed his opinion upon seeing this.

"Chief Engineer Li is considered a veteran in the factory. I remember that in the past, you were also designing new products. In the hot summer, you worked alone in the mud house in shorts and a vest, drawing blueprints and calculating various data day and night..." Luo Tao said to Li Cunzhu with some emotion at this time: "I still remember that when our factory successfully tested the sample with live ammunition for the first time, you were so happy that you jumped up and down like a child..."

"That's all in the past." Li Cunzhu said with a smile.

"But in recent years, you haven't developed many new products... But this is understandable. The technological content of weapons and equipment is getting higher and higher, and the difficulty of product development is also increasing."

"Yes, that's right. I will continue to work hard in the future." Li Cunzhu nodded.

"In fact, I think Xiao Xu can also participate in the development of foreign trade military products." Liu Biao interrupted at this time, and he continued: "Let me make it clear that I don't understand technology, and I don't know how much the chemical industry is related to our military industry. But since Comrade Xu Qiang can develop two new products in a short period of time, I think he will definitely bring us more surprises in the future. Now that the company needs to transform, it needs to gather the strength of all of us, especially excellent technicians like Xu Qiang, who should be given a bigger stage to display their talents."

"Old Liu is right. Comrade Xu Qiang must be given more responsibilities." Luo Tao nodded and continued, "What you said gives me an idea. Why not let Chief Engineer Li and Xiao Xu each be responsible for a new product project? Let's see whether it is the old man who is more skilled or the younger generation who can push the older generation forward..."

"Hahaha." Everyone burst into laughter when they heard this.

Regarding Luo Tao's proposal, everyone else just wanted to watch the fun.

But in fact, Luo Tao had his own reasons for saying this.

In recent years, Shengli Machinery Factory has not launched any good new products until last year, when Liu Siying, who had just entered the market, developed the domestic third-generation electronic proximity fuze. Prior to that, Li Cunzhu, the chief engineer of Shengli Machinery Factory, had not successfully developed a new product for nearly ten years.

As the largest third-line enterprise in Jiangxi, Shengli Machinery Factory has always been the focus of the Provincial Defense Science and Technology Office. As a large factory with tens of thousands of employees and a wealth of talented people, the fact that it has not developed new products for such a long time has also caused the leaders of the Defense Science and Technology Office to begin to question the ability and work attitude of Li Cunzhu, the chief engineer.

Logically speaking, Luo Tao's words in such an occasion, allowing a worker who had just been in the job for two months to "compete on the same stage" with the chief engineer, was actually somewhat contemptuous and disrespectful to Li Cunzhu.

But this is exactly the effect Luo Tao wanted. In order for Shengli Machinery Factory to continue its glory in the future and at the same time reduce the burden on the Provincial Defense Science and Technology Office, he must hint or stimulate Li Cunzhu so that he can develop better products.

But in fact, deep down, Luo Tao didn't think Xu Qiang's technology was better than Li Cunzhu's, nor did he think he could really develop foreign trade military products favored by foreign customers. "I think this is a good idea!" Liu Biao suddenly interrupted at this time, and then he continued, "Chief Engineer Li and Comrade Xu Qiang are both leaders in our factory's technology. I believe they will not let you down."

"I can't compare to Chief Engineer Li." Xu Qiang reacted quickly at this time. He seemed to see Luo Tao's intention. It was clear that he wanted to put him on the spot. If he was not careful, it would lead to a confrontation between him and Li Cunzhu. So he quickly said modestly: "Chief Engineer Li is a meritorious veteran of the factory. He has accumulated more than ten years of technical experience and has developed many products for the factory. He has always been my role model. How can I be compared with Chief Engineer Li?"

Although Xu Qiang did have some conflicts with Chief Engineer Li, when he was setting up the product project, Li Cunzhu had been setting traps for him, and this tendency was obvious.

But no matter what, the two of them have not yet reached the point of breaking up openly. If they really do as Luo Tao says, it will undoubtedly turn them into competitors. Xu Qiang naturally will not fall for it.

"Since Director Luo said so, and the factory really needs new products to open up the market, let's do as Director Luo said." At this time, Li Cunzhu smiled slightly, and then said: "I will complete the new product project as soon as possible, and Comrade Xu Qiang also needs to prepare..."

Although Li Cunzhu appeared calm on the surface, he was actually agitated by Luo Tao's words, especially in front of so many other factory leaders and model workers. If he refused, he would undoubtedly be seen as timid by others, so at this time, he could only make such a statement.

It has to be said that Luo Tao, as the head of the Provincial Defense Science and Technology Office, does have some skills. This move can be said to kill two birds with one stone. At the same time, it put pressure on Xu Qiang and Li Cunzhu, forcing them to come up with new products.

"Then we have a deal." Luo Tao's face turned serious, and he continued, "Next March, the Fifth Ministry of Machine Building will hold a foreign trade military products exhibition as usual. Before that, I hope you can make samples of the new products, and they must pass the provincial inspection. I believe you will not let me down!"

"Forehead."

Hearing Luo Tao say this, everyone present was also surprised.

Luo Tao's words could be said to be equivalent to giving an order.

It is just the beginning of October now, and there are only five months left until March next year. This also includes product testing, which takes at least half a month. So the two of them only have more than four months to carry out product research and development, and the task is quite urgent.

"Lao Li, Xiao Xu, do you two have any other requests?"

Although Liu Biao had long seen through Luo Tao's intention, he was also happy to see it happen. After all, it was good for the factory. Besides, as the chief engineer of the factory, Li Cunzhu should indeed produce some results at this time.

"I still have the same request as before. I hope the chemical laboratory in the factory can be built as soon as possible. Otherwise, it may not be able to catch up with the foreign trade military products exhibition next year." Xu Qiang thought for a while and then said, "In addition, I also need a few assistants, even if they don't have technical skills, and I also need the various workshops to cooperate with me."

"No problem. The people from our factory's supply and marketing department have gone out of town to buy equipment. Our factory's chemical laboratory can be built as early as the middle of this month." Liu Biao said straightforwardly.

The matter of investing 10 RMB to build a chemical laboratory in the factory had already been discussed and approved in a meeting. As for Xu Qiang's need for manpower and cooperation from various workshops, that was just a word from Liu Biao.

"I don't have any requirements. Just do it as before." Li Cunzhu said calmly.

As the chief engineer of the factory, he can easily call upon many resources in the factory, including the technical talents of the entire department. This is something Xu Qiang cannot compare to, so there is no need to make more demands.

"That's it, I wish you success!" At this time, Luo Tao finally showed a smile on his face.

"By the way, Xu Qiang, please write an application to join the party and hand it to me. Of course, whether you can eventually join the party will depend on your future performance." Liu Biao said at this time.

"Yes, yes! Comrades like Xu Qiang should indeed be considered for joining the party." Luo Tao agreed, but then said with regret: "It's a pity that Xiao Xu's education level is too low. He only has a junior high school diploma. With his education level, even if he joins the party, it will be too difficult for him to be promoted..."

(End of this chapter)