In 1978, I was admitted to Harbin Institute of Technology

Chapter 335 A huge order! An order for WZ122 tanks for 5 brigades!

"Principal, I think my current job is pretty good. Can I not go to the school-enterprise cooperation office?"

Yuan Zhenyue refused when Zhang Mingqiu personally approached him to offer to transfer him to the school-enterprise cooperation office.

He did a great job in the logistics system.

At least, I don't have to worry about Xie Wei, that old silver coin, getting screwed over at any time.

"No. Xie Wei requested it. Hand over your work and report to him tomorrow."

"..."

Yuan Zhenyue's face instantly turned bitter. He had been avoiding Xie Wei for so long, and he had been working diligently to complete all his tasks, just to avoid contact with Xie Wei.

Unexpectedly, Xie Wei still remembered it.

"Although the university currently has a large amount of funding, the investment in university construction and scientific research will continue to increase, and the funding required for construction is also increasing... In the future, the university-enterprise cooperation will be an important source of scientific research funding..."

Zhang Mingqiu reminded Yuan Zhenyue that there was a brighter future in the school-enterprise cooperation office.

At this moment, Yuan Zhenyue had no desire for a better future.

"Don't worry, Xie Wei isn't a bad person. As long as you don't have any bad intentions, he's busy with all sorts of things all day and has no time to scheme against you."

Principal Zhang knew the source of Yuan Zhenyue's concerns.

The main reason is that Yuan Zhenyue had been schemed against too many times in the past.

At that moment, Xie Wei was asking General Zhu about the TW-122 tank.

"So, hydraulic suspension currently has too high a failure rate and isn't mature enough, so we should switch to mechanical suspension? Hydraulic transmission is also prone to problems?"

After listening, Xie Wei was not disappointed, but rather somewhat dejected.

Lacking more than a decade of technological accumulation, even though he managed to get General Manager Zhu to start research and development ahead of schedule and even equipped the team with top-notch experts, technological breakthroughs were still very slow due to insufficient experience and inadequate support.

"Mechanical suspension is more mature, especially in the models that have been sold; the transmission system can use hydraulic assistance..."

"Boss Zhu spoke first."

125毫米口径的坦克炮、防御力达到620毫米均质装甲、780马力的12缸柴油发动机能让战斗全重超过38吨的坦克达到65公里每小时的最高公路速度。

It's not bad at all.

In particular, the down-stabilized fire control system and ballistic computer allow the tank to fire while moving.

"If there are no other technical problems, we can organize a small-batch trial production first, producing 16 vehicles."

"what?"

Boss Zhu looked surprised. "We've only just started testing. A lot of testing hasn't even begun. We're going straight to production?"

Some people are being irresponsible.

"The customers are pressing us hard, so there's nothing we can do but produce a batch of samples for large-scale testing, which will also allow us to train the seed instructors."

Xie Wei didn't want to either.

However, from the very beginning, their tank project was geared towards foreign trade.

To this end, he did not hesitate to use composite armor that should not have been sold in this era: the engine power was not good, so in order to reduce the weight of the tank, he could only focus on the components such as protective armor that took up too much weight... Xie Wei proposed to use multiple layers of different types of high-strength materials with a honeycomb carbon fiber interlayer material in the middle to improve the armor protection and reduce the weight.

They originally planned to use high-strength aluminum alloy for the wheels, but ultimately had to abandon that plan due to cost and other issues.

Even though he presented A356, a rare-earth silicon-aluminum-magnesium alloy suitable for tank wheels, and formulas for forgeable high-strength aluminum alloys 6061 and 6082, the cost was exorbitantly high after trial production due to forging and heat treatment processes.

Ultimately, it was found that steel wheels offered the best value for money.

Some materials and technologies that will be commonplace decades from now are incredibly expensive these days!
"That doesn't quite follow the proper procedure."

General Manager Zhu frowned. "If the failure rate is high during production and delivery, it will have a significant impact on the future export of this tank."

"If we don't deliver ahead of schedule according to customer demand, the order might only have 36 vehicles left, and even those 36 vehicles might be returned..."

Xie Wei was truly helpless.

Who would have thought that what was originally just a scheme to squeeze more money out of the Iraqis, and what the Iraqis were just trying to get the solid fuel formula for the 36 WZ-122 tanks they were ordering, would now be seen by the Iraqis as the only alternative to the T-72?

"Why are they in such a hurry? Don't they know that without thorough testing and identification of design flaws, the failure rate will be extremely high? Given the technical level of Iraqi logistics and maintenance personnel, I'm afraid..."

Mr. Zhu's actions were not only for the benefit of his clients, but also for the sake of exports.

This tank was designed and developed specifically for export, and it also serves as a technology verification tool for domestically used third-generation tanks.

If more orders cannot be secured, it will not only affect the future of the project, but also prevent the reduction of the cost of tanks used by the company.

"This isn't our problem; we just need to minimize malfunctions. Our modular design makes maintenance relatively easy. For customers with less skilled support staff, we can repair simple faults, and for complex faults, we can simply replace parts or the entire assembly..."

Xie Wei's words stunned President Zhu for a moment: "You've been pushing for modular design from the very beginning, just to make more money from logistics?"

"Nothing!"

Xie Wei vehemently denied it.

You can't exactly say that you learned from the car dealerships in the original world, can you?
There's not much repair expertise involved; it's just a matter of doing maintenance and changing the oil.

repair?

Replacing the entire assembly is faster than repairing it, and it also reduces the requirements for repair workers, thus saving on labor costs.

Why not?
However, there is currently a lack of technical personnel in China, which is Xie Wei's only option; while the actions of the fourth-generation dealership demonstrate that the level of industrial manufacturing has reached a very high level, and the cost of large-scale mass production has been reduced to an outrageous degree.

"Alright, let's try to modify the design that's prone to failure again before we start manufacturing."

After listening to Xie Wei's words, President Zhu remained silent for a long time before solemnly agreeing to Xie Wei's request.

"If we manufacture it, how long will it take for 617 to complete the sample production?"

General Manager Zhu came from the 201 Research Institute, and given the close cooperation between Harbin Institute of Technology and the 617 Institute, Xie Wei, knowing the ultimate fate of the 541, never considered giving the order to the 541 Tank Base, which was not yet fully completed.

To produce the WZ-122 tank, 541 needs to acquire a significant amount of production equipment and upgrade its existing production lines.

That would be a complete waste of the already limited funds.

"It will take at least six months."

"Ask if production can be completed in four months?"

Xie Wei shook his head; half a year was too long.

This is detrimental to subsequent orders.

"No, it will take at least six months. We need to modify some of the current designs, and then we need to test them!"

Boss Zhu was very insistent on this matter, and no matter what Xie Wei said, he would not make any concessions.

"Fine……"

Left with no other option, Xie Wei had to give up.

"Six months? That's too long!"

Abdullah was very dissatisfied with Shewe's answer. "It's only the equipment for one company, and it takes this long. If we need to equip five brigades with tanks, how long will that take?"

"Oh?"

Xie Wei looked surprised. They were already planning to increase orders without even seeing the tank's performance?

What a fuss!

"Of course, this requires the troops to test the samples after you deliver them, and even see the actual combat effects before a final decision is made."

Abdullah didn't feel embarrassed at all.

"General, I'm very sorry, I also wish to deliver it as soon as possible..."

Xie Wei explained the situation and then directly invited Abdullah to visit the assembly and testing workshop next to the school, which was now guarded by armed soldiers.

Inside the workshop, a row of tanks assembled to different stages were neatly arranged.

Each vehicle was surrounded by a considerable number of technicians and workers.

Among these people were some Arabs and some Pakistanis.

The Arab was a key Iraqi logistics and maintenance engineer trained with the help of Harbin Institute of Technology.

Pakistan's program trains production and construction engineers to prepare for technology transfer.

"There are so many tanks here! Many of them must have already been produced, right?"

Upon seeing the row of more than ten tanks in front of him, Abdullah questioned Xie Wei with a grim expression.

Wasn't it said that production was slow?
All 12 vehicles will be delivered in six months?

This batch of tanks is enough for them to request the quantity to be delivered ahead of schedule.

"General, every tank here is quite different. Starting with the one on the far right, the ones behind it are all experimental products that are improvements on the tanks in front... You can ask the engineers from your country who are being trained here about this... In addition, there are also the seed instructors from your country who are being trained here; they are currently at the testing grounds..."

Xie Wei spoke up.

Abdullah walked toward the technicians next to a tank.

When he approached, two Iraqi logistics and maintenance engineers from the technical team immediately straightened their backs and saluted him.

Abdullah first asked the two if they were adapting to life in China, then asked if they had any difficulties with their studies, before inquiring about the tanks.

The reply he received was exactly the same as what Shewe had said, so Abdullah had no choice but to give up.

After visiting the test workshop, even though Xie Wei deliberately "unintentionally" showed the accompanying air defense system of the army field troops, Abdullah still did not show the slightest interest.

"There's nothing we can do; the other side simply doesn't buy our short-range air defense systems. In their eyes, the American and Soviet systems are the best, and they're unwilling to buy Chinese weapons and equipment, which are synonymous with being outdated, if possible."

After seeing Abdullah off, Xie Wei shrugged and spread his hands in response to Liu Debao and others' questions, saying with a helpless expression.

"Not necessarily! This time, the Persians aren't just after our long-range artillery, man-portable rocket launchers, sniper grenades, and other weapons; they're after our tanks and armored vehicles too!"

This time, Liu Debao shook his head, not supporting Xie Wei's judgment.

"Oh? The Persians have already made contact with 617? They're planning to buy Type 69-2 tanks?"

Xie Wei asked two key questions in succession.

The Battle of Khovdze resulted in heavy losses of the already limited heavy equipment on both sides of Iran and Iraq, especially tanks and armored vehicles.

Saddam can buy Soviet tanks, Western tanks, and if things are serious, it can even buy American M60 tanks.

The key issue is that these tanks are too expensive internationally, and there is a significant shortage on both sides.

Funding is the biggest problem.

Why is it 69-2?

Before Liu Debao could speak, Wei Changcheng asked in surprise, "The Type 79 has not yet been commissioned into the troops, and the Type 69-2 is the most advanced one currently in service... Shouldn't we sell the Type 59?"

"Huh! 59?"

Xie Wei scoffed, "These things, if either side wants to buy them, there's as many as they want. The total production of T-54/55 exceeds 10. For some small countries, that's considered decent equipment. Iraq's main tank was originally this kind, then they introduced the T-62, and now they've started introducing the T-72... The most advanced tank the Persians have is the M60, and that's the earliest production model, and they don't have enough of it... If they buy the Type 59, what will they use to counter Iraq's tank force? Are they going to rely on the sheikhs from the same era as the Type 59?"

"..."

Xie Wei's reasoning left Wei Changcheng speechless; his lips moved, but he didn't know what to say.

"Haha! Comrade Great Wall, how about it? You're convinced now? I told you from the beginning that Xie Wei definitely knew, but you just wouldn't believe me!"

Liu Debao burst into laughter, then looked at Wei Changcheng with a grin. "You lost, but don't forget to bring over those two bottles of Fenjiu."

"Alright! I didn't expect the reason to be so simple... I'll bring you those two bottles of Fenjiu later."

Wei Changcheng looked helpless.

Xie Wei then realized that the two men were so bored that they made a bet based on what equipment the Persians would buy.

What Liu Debao is interested in must be no ordinary Fenjiu.

You could tell from Wei Changcheng's pained expression.

"Kid, you like collecting good wine, right? Here are two bottles of 36-year-old Fenjiu, one for each of us!"

Liu Debao's explanation further confirms the root of Wei Changcheng's pain—36 years ago, that was the year the Japanese surrendered!
This wine is very meaningful.

"This was produced to commemorate the surrender of the Japanese!"

No wonder Wei Changcheng was heartbroken.

"It's not actually that simple."

Considering that Wei Changcheng had lost two bottles of such memorable fine wine, Xie Wei felt he should give him more reasons, since he also wanted a bottle for himself.

These days, while Moutai isn't cheap relative to wages, a bottle for just a few yuan is really inexpensive. Xie Wei doesn't have many expenses, so he buys a case every month to keep on hand.

When my child gets married, I can just sell a few boxes and I'll have a house in the capital.

Even if I don't sell it, I can drink it myself, right?

"The Type 69 was originally an improved version of the Type 59. Both sides have T-54/55s. The biggest advantage of purchasing the Type 69-2 is that officers and soldiers on both sides do not need training, or can operate it after simple training and exert combat effectiveness... Another major reason is that the Type 69-2 has significantly improved performance compared to the Type 59, but is cheaper. Even if each vehicle is sold for only $50, there will be a considerable profit, and it can also bring the country a large amount of much-needed foreign exchange..."

Xie Wei's analysis left Wei Changcheng speechless.

After a long silence, he said with a sigh:

"I truly deserved to lose those two bottles of wine!"

"I've told you so many times to learn from Xie Wei, but you wouldn't believe me!"

Liu Debao said smugly, "Xie Wei's analytical skills are quite good!"

"I didn't realize there were so many inside stories behind the Persians buying our Type 69-2 tanks. Knowing these things will give us a lot of leverage in the negotiations!"

"You want to participate in the negotiations?"

Now it was Xie Wei's turn to be surprised.

Wei Changcheng was the school's military representative; was he involved in the negotiations?

Should we participate in negotiations related to school projects or other weapons and equipment?
This arrangement is rather intriguing.

“I was involved throughout. But I was just an ordinary member of the negotiation team… I was worried about this before! After what you said, I feel like I have many more lovers.”

Wei Changcheng said excitedly, "When I received the order, I was so worried! Xie Wei, please give me some pointers during the negotiation process. I still have two cases of 36-year-old Fenjiu, I'll give them to you!"

"!!!"

Xie Wei suddenly felt that the so-called wine specially brewed to commemorate the surrender of the Japanese was probably just a hype gimmick.
"Damn it! Wei Changcheng, you've gone too far! I asked you before, and you said it was just two bottles... I'm the school secretary, you know. Don't you even know which temple to pray to?"

Liu Debao couldn't hold back any longer.

He went to great lengths to persuade Wei Changcheng to agree to use 36-year-old Fenjiu as a wager, and he also had to give Xie Wei a bottle.

The results of it?
This kid actually gave Xie Wei two whole cases of stuff!!!

How could Secretary Liu not be upset?
“Secretary Liu, these are the only two cases left. As you know, only one batch of this wine was brewed back then. If my old man hadn’t secretly buried it, we probably wouldn’t have seen a single bottle now.”

Wei Changcheng grinned.

This left Liu Debao speechless.

They even brought out the old man...

(End of this chapter)