Rebirth in 1960, My Industrial Age

Chapter 246 The Influence of Shenzhou Computer (Subscription Request)

"I never thought that Shenzhou Computer would be so popular. Commissioner Zhou, Deputy Director Xiao, you are great and have done a great job!"

After seeing the performance of Shenzhou Computer Factory at the Canton Fair, Gu Wenjie smiled so hard that he couldn't stop.

Asia's No. 1 computer factory?
It is now!

Gu Wenjie couldn't say how long it would take to become the world's number one, but he felt it would take him a short time, maybe fifteen years? Or ten years.

With this kind of export volume, only Huaxia Machine Tool Factory can surpass them in the whole country; moreover, Huaxia Machine Tool Factory has been deeply engaged in exports for nearly ten years, and its machine tools are famous throughout Asia.

Even Europe imports CNC machine tools from China Machine Tool Factory.

The Shenzhou Computer Factory was just merged this year.

"This is also thanks to the hard work of technicians, otherwise we would not have excellent products."

Zhou Fengnian made a few polite remarks, then got straight to the point and asked, "Leader, what do you think of our factory expansion application?"

"Basically, there is no objection. Your factory's achievements are here. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that Shenzhou Computer is popular. There will definitely be more orders in the future.
Anyone who can’t see it can leave on their own.”

After Gu Wenjie finished speaking, he suddenly remembered something and said, "Oh, by the way, we have to use it first. I estimate that someone will go to your factory to buy Shenzhou computers in the near future. You have to leave some with them then."

You can't let others use it before you use it at home. You still have to pay attention to this aspect.

"Okay, I have been planning to promote it in the country. We should keep as many of our own people as possible."

Zhou Fengnian nodded and said, "The cost is nearly one thousand, so it should be okay to charge one thousand and one."

"It will definitely be fine, even if it's a little more expensive."

Zhou Fengnian shook his head and said, "Forget it, let's just leave it at that. When I make money from abroad, I plan to sell it to domestic government agencies and universities at a subsidized cost price."

He had originally planned to promote computers in the country, and he could have provided subsidies at the time. But if the prices were too high and people couldn't afford them, then there would be no point in promoting it.

At this price, individuals cannot afford it. Only government departments and universities can afford it.

"Okay, you guys decide on yourselves. Don't worry about recruiting more workers. Asking for a thousand people at once is a bit too much. The department will give you a reply within a week."

Gu Wenjie nodded in response, and then asked: "Commissioner Zhou, I heard someone say these days that our computers are so good, why are they exported at the same price as foreign computers?"

If it were any other factory, those people might have intervened directly; raising the price by a hundred or two hundred dollars wouldn't be a big difference, but this time an order of nearly twenty thousand dollars could bring in nearly two million dollars in additional revenue.

The computers of Xiaorizi and Amei are not as good as those of Shenzhou, but their prices are similar.

Even a hundred dollars cheaper than May's computer.

"If it's more expensive, there will be fewer foreign families that can afford it. $1599 is a number calculated by many computer companies, and it's about what most foreign families can afford."

Zhou Fengnian explained and continued, "And I have always had two goals: to earn foreign exchange to subsidize the country and to squeeze out the foreign computer industry.

If Shenzhou computers are sold at a high price, fewer people will buy them. If fewer people buy them, they may buy those discounted "local junk computers", which will give them room to survive."

What Zhou Fengnian wants is to squeeze them out completely. One thousand six hundred dollars can make Amei's computer fall to one thousand dollars and no one will buy it.

With such a huge difference in performance and functions, most people would rather pay 50% more to buy a better one. If the price is reduced further, they will sell it at a loss.

Capitalism will not do business at a loss, so they will just have to cut off the computer department.

This is exactly what Zhou Fengnian planned. Just like the race between the tortoise and the hare, the hare not only has to run ahead, but also has to scatter nails on the tortoise's track to prevent them from running.

"Okay, your reason makes sense. I will report this to the leader."

Gu Wenjie smiled helplessly and thought to himself that this was indeed Zhou Fengnian's character. He had heard that he had no good feelings towards foreigners.

However, the situation of the Shenzhou Computer Factory is very good now. Unless there is obvious fault, the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building will not intervene.

Why should we interfere when they are doing well? Can others earn more than 40 million US dollars in export orders?
The cost of a computer is about four hundred US dollars, and when exported abroad, the price increases nearly four times. This is a perfect answer!
Not long after Zhou Fengnian and Xiao Hua left, Gu Wenjie called a meeting with other key leaders.

The main purpose is to show off. This is something he strongly advocated, and it has achieved such results in less than a year. Who dares to question it now?
And he also has to report to his leader.

------

The incident involving Shenzhou Computer was even reported in the newspapers, and the rhetoric used was quite exaggerated.

The products produced in their country are now blowing open the door to Western countries.

It was also accompanied by a photo taken at the Canton Fair, showing a group of foreigners gathered in front of the booth to watch Shenzhou Computer.

Not long after the news spread, some government agencies approached the Shenzhou Computer Factory, intending to buy some Shenzhou computers.

The Fourth Ministry of Machine Building was the first to come to us, but they did not purchase many, only twenty units.

The First Ministry of Machine Building also purchased 20 units, as did the Hua Xia Machine Tool Factory, local government units, etc. Others bought only three or five units.

Units with limited financial resources cannot afford it. A Shenzhou computer costs 1,200 yuan, and it also comes with a printer.

This set can buy about ten bicycles.

Although it is easy to use, it is really expensive; the price is much cheaper than that given by the Shenzhou Computer Factory. If it is exported, the price will have to be more than doubled.

The reason why Zhou Fengnian kept as much as the country needed was because he knew that most people could not afford it.

However, for the next batch, when the Shenzhou Computer Factory becomes financially prosperous, he will reduce the price to subsidize domestic purchases.

We can't let outsiders know that there are few places that manufacture Shenzhou computers but use them.

A few months later, May, on the other side of the ocean, was working in the computer department of IBM.

An employee knocked on the door of the department manager and said solemnly, "David, Smith brought back a computer. You'd better come and see it yourself."

"Computer? Is there something wrong with our company's computer?"

David looked confused, but out of trust in his subordinates, he stood up and followed them out of the office.

"The computer Smith bought from outside was made in China, but... you'd better see it for yourself. I think it's shocking."

The manager of the computer department was confused, but he soon saw the computer brought back by his subordinates.

The appearance was no different from before, the monitor seemed a little smaller, but David noticed that the employees surrounding the computer had serious expressions on their faces.

"Why, my companions, have you seen the devil?"

"Our devilish opponent has indeed appeared, David, you should try it yourself. Here is the operating manual." Another subordinate handed him an operating manual. David took it and sat in front of the computer, operating the computer while reading the operating manual.

However, after he sat down and took a closer look, he found the difference from last time.

"Oh my God, why are there so many new functions? Is this the spreadsheet function for office use?"

"What is this program? Are the parts made the same as those in the factory? How did they even develop such a functional program? How did the Chinese do it?"

“Is this the email sending function? It looks a little better than before, but why can’t I send emails now?”

An employee watching said, "It's not connected to the other computers yet, David. We have to cross-link them first to do that."

After David tried them all, he tested the performance of the Shenzhou computer and soon realized the threat posed by this computer.

They are the largest computer manufacturing company in the United States. Although there are other computer companies in this market, their computers combined are not as good as theirs.

In particular, they absorbed and learned some of the advantages of Huaxia computers a few years ago, which made their computers sell better.

But after seeing this computer, David instantly realized that the computers they produced were garbage.

"Shit, what's up with this computer? A Chinese computer? Why do they have such a good computer!!"

David got up and became a little irritable. If this kind of computer appeared in Amei's market, then the computers they produced could rightfully be thrown into the trash.

Even large-scale returns can be expected because the performance and functions are so different.

"Can anyone explain this to me? Isn't China an agricultural country?"

"David, their supercomputer is still the best in the world. We have never surpassed them."

"Do you believe their news?"

The person who was asked the question did not speak, but pointed at the Shenzhou computer in front of David.

Does he need to believe it or not? If a country can develop and manufacture such advanced personal computers, would it need to lie about supercomputers?
It is enough to see this personal computer from a small perspective.

Moreover, the reason why their computer performance is so good is that they copied China’s computers a few years ago and then used their influence to restrict their computer exports.

"Can we learn it? Then we can use these functions on our computers."

"We can't learn it, David. We can only develop it ourselves. The computer language they use is completely different from ours. We can't learn it unless we use their system. And they seem to have encryption methods."

David said angrily: "Shit, these Chinese are so cunning."

The same scene also occurs in small-scale computer companies, and these countries are also considered to have relatively developed electronics and computer industries.

But in front of Shenzhou Computer, the personal computers they were so proud of were nothing but garbage.

The key is that Shenzhou computers are still very cheap. Even with tariffs, the price is about the same as their computers.

The prices are similar, but the functions are vastly different. If they were in their shoes, they would not even look down upon the computers they produce.

"Watanabe-kun"

"I'm really sorry, but we can't build a computer like the Chinese computer in a short time, President Sato!"

Before the president could finish his words, their chief engineer bowed 90 degrees and apologized.

There's really nothing I can do.

As soon as they got the product and tested it, they tried to imitate it. There was indeed the possibility of a breakthrough in the hardware, but they could only develop the operating system and the functional programs on it on their own according to this idea.

"Ugh"

President Sato sighed in disappointment. He could already imagine that the competitors who had been suppressed by their company in the past would probably be eager to import computers from China.

------

"Director, I'm not disturbing you, am I?"

After Deputy Director Xiao came in, he said to Zhou Fengnian with a smile.

Zhou Fengnian put down his pen and said with a smile: "My dear Deputy Director Xiao, you have come in and are still saying these words; you are laughing so happily, just tell me, what good news do you have?"

The factory is now thriving, and Xiao Hua, the deputy factory director, has a constant smile on his face.

The factory promised to provide benefits after completing the orders, and to build a tube-shaped building in three years.

This is the promise Zhou Fengnian made through the factory broadcast loudspeaker. Now everyone in the factory is full of energy.

If the factory keeps 5% of the profit from export orders, that would be several million RMB, enough to build a few buildings.

After taking the tea, Deputy Director Xiao said, "Thank you, Director Pan. I just came back from the Foreign Trade Department this morning, and we received eleven export orders from there.

The orders came from six countries, totaling US$16 million.”

While speaking, Xiao Hua also took out the specific order contract, which was a copy given by the Ministry of Foreign Trade, and the task order issued by the Fourth Ministry of Machine Building.

Zhou Fengnian took it and read it, then nodded and said, "Okay, now we can be busy until the end of next year."

"I don't know if anyone will continue to place orders next year, but I think there will be some, because our computers are so popular."

Deputy Director Xiao took a sip of water and said that although he had been running outside, he had a very enjoyable time.

"I define computers as being upgraded every two to three years. After two years, the technical department will optimize and innovate personal computers based on new technological achievements."

Zhou Fengnian said: "Then the foreigners will be blessed. They can use our new computers continuously, but their computer companies will be in trouble."

The current personal computer market is so small that a few hundred million dollars is enough to sustain it; even if Shenzhou Computer has excellent performance and advanced functions, it can only expand the market to around one billion at most.

In the current personal computer market, Shenzhou Computer Factory has to take a big bite first. Only after it has had its fill, it will be the turn of other computer companies.

However, I am afraid that after seeing the excellence of Shenzhou computers, individual families and companies that can afford computers will not buy computers produced by Xiaorizi and Amei even if they wait.

Why would you buy a junk product when you can get a good one at a similar price? Isn't their money money?

In a capitalist country, there is no such thing as patriotism or supporting domestic products. If you can't do it, just get out!

(End of this chapter)