What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 369: Being cheated

"Whether it's radar or a radio station, they are ultimately radio transmitters/receivers. We have two methods;-"
Radio interference involves using high-powered transmitters to occupy various frequency bands, just like the 'flood' scenario in the novel.

However, shipborne deployment would require significant size, power, heat generation, and reliability, all of which would limit the effective operating radius of the final product to within 30 kilometers and its usability to a very short time.
The second is the EMP (electromagnetic pulse) bomb.

Yan Jian's expression turned serious:
"In the past, the damage effects of EMP tests were almost always byproducts of mushroom bombs. Non-nuclear EMP bombs do not yet exist, but magnetic flux compression is considered feasible. Its advantage is that it is small in size and can be dropped continuously."

The first type of radio jammer can be completed in three months, but the second is harder to say. Either one can be provided free of charge; if both are chosen, half the development cost of the flux-compressed EMP bomb will need to be paid, which would be considered a joint development.

"..."

Tang Wen realized what was going on:
"What gift? Is it that the military wants to research EMP bombs?"

Yan Jian remained silent, tilting his head to look at the sky.

Tang Wen doesn't mind investing some money, but... is the EMP bomb promising?

This thing has hardly appeared in the news in later generations, and I haven't heard of any company mass-producing it. It feels like a huge pitfall!

Magnetic flux compression technology? It sounds like something extraordinary.

After some thought, Tang Wen decided to make a small donation:
"We'll give you a maximum of ten million initially, and we'll add more if there's progress. If not, then forget it."

"Hiss... That's a bit too little. Even if the army contributes half of that, it's only 2000 million. That's not enough to do anything."

"Fifteen million, mainly because I feel this thing is quite mysterious."

"Okay, less is less, but it should be enough to start the verification process."

Yan Jianqiang kept a straight face and sighed with difficulty.

……

After investing another sum of money, Tang Wen continued to prepare for the launch of the Hanma S9, and naturally thought of the ever-popular Wang Shijuzhu.

However, he is currently busy in the north, having already arrived in the Russian territory further north.

"What? You've only done this now!"

Looking at the Baku aircraft carrier, which was covered with a thick layer of snow, Shi Juzhu asked incredulously:
“This is how it was three months ago, and you haven’t done anything in the last three months.”

When questioned, the manager of the Severodvinsk shipyard touched his reddened nose and said:
"The heavy snow has greatly affected our construction. In addition, many parts and equipment are more difficult to collect and need to be processed."

In the freezing cold, Shi Juzhu wanted to get angry but held back.

He certainly wasn't just finding out about the Baku project's delays; there had been signs of it since the beginning of the year, with Chen Chen reporting a slowdown in progress.

Initially, the Severodvinsk shipyard said the design team needed to finalize the design after completing the survey. Then it said they were waiting for the construction equipment to be installed. Finally, heavy snow caused a work stoppage. After that, it seemed there were problems with the design, so it needed to be revised and the renovation was suspended.

It was delayed repeatedly, dragging on for a full ninety days.

Taking advantage of the fisheries contract signed with the Russians, Shi Juzhu once again went north to personally urge progress, but these guys, all reeking of alcohol, were simply reckless and looked like dead pigs, and he didn't know how to urge them to make it work.

Having no other option, Shi Juzhu flew to Murmansk to find General Petrovich, who was in charge of the deal.

"Petrovic? I'm sorry, he's no longer here."

Ivan, one of the general's subordinates, received Shi Juzhu and his party, but said that he could not arrange a meeting.

Shi Juzhu: "What do you mean? Is the general away on a business trip?"

"Um... he has already resigned from his job and immigrated to Australia last month."

"..."

Shi Juzhu turned to look at Chen Chen, who immediately said:
“I met Petrovich just last month, and there was nothing unusual about it.” That meant it had been planned for a long time.

However, Shi Juzhu couldn't understand why Petrovich, who was not only the project leader but also able to profit from both sides and sell goods from the Giant Group, should be living a very comfortable life. Why did he run away?
He suddenly remembered something: Ivan had just called him by his first name without even using honorifics.

After handing over a wad of US dollars, Ivan revealed the inside story:
Russia is currently in a precarious situation, with internal strife occurring constantly, and Petrovich's leadership has lost.

Petrovich cleverly glossed over the incident before he could face retaliation.

However, the most troublesome thing is not these messy things. The key is that the person in charge of the aircraft carrier's modification is General Yeprini, and this person does not take the initiative to contact the Giant Group.
Even if someone is honest and upright and doesn't seek personal gain, shouldn't we at least show some concern?
Shi Juzhu asked Ivan but got no answer. He then went to Yeprini and learned that the latter had also left the country, but had gone to talk to the Indians about arms sales.

He sensed danger and, after mobilizing all his connections to gather information, slowly came to a conclusion:
The Russians tricked him. The Baku's refit project was just for show. As for the plans on paper? Who knows how much of that was actually done?

Or rather, two hundred million dollars simply couldn't satisfy these guys' appetites. Countless vampires and brokers were eyeing the opportunity to make a quick buck, and most of the payments he had made and the goods he had received as collateral had been taken by unrelated people.

faint!
Go to the authorities? But these drunkards are all in cahoots; it's not as reliable as finding someone with connections directly!

People say Russians are rough and tough, but when it comes to being cunning, they're second to none. Even Shi Juzhu, who had people watching him every month, was still tricked.

He felt things were getting worse, so he calmed down before discussing the fishing zone issue.

As expected, he couldn't find any of the officials who had initially negotiated so well. Those who remained were either completely baffled or said they couldn't make a decision.

At this point, how could Shi Juzhu not know what was going on?

It's not necessarily that the Giant Group is being cheated everywhere; rather, the current situation in the north is too chaotic. Corrupt officials don't even have a stable environment to make money. What was possible yesterday has become forbidden today.

He had only paid a few million dollars in deposits beforehand, and in small amounts to many different people, believing that these guys wouldn't be interested in such a small amount of money.

However, things turned out differently than expected.
When Tang Wen called, he had no choice but to speak:
"Brother, I've run into some trouble."

……

"The previously agreed-upon polar fishing zones on both sides have been scrapped. Suddenly, a new minister appeared and said that going in would be considered illegal fishing and that people would be expelled immediately."

After hearing Shi Juzhu explain the whole story, Tang Wen's lips twitched.

The fishing fleet is actually not too bad; there's still room for thirty fishing boats in the north. At worst, the Koreans and Japanese will suffer, since the fishing grounds in Hokkaido are quite good.

But what about the aircraft carrier that has already cost nearly 100 million US dollars?

Upon hearing this question, Shi Juzhu could only smile wryly:

"The Severodvinsk shipyard only received a small portion of the money, so it is demanding full payment before it can leave port early, or complete all the modifications here."

"But the problem is, they just want the money and have no intention of changing anything, right?"

"Yes, and... I highly suspect they're trying to do two things at once. They might want us to give up on further funding so they can find an excuse to sell the ship to India."

"..."

After thinking it over carefully, Tang Wen was certain that it was something the Russians were capable of doing.

After all, selling it to the Giant Group would only cost a small amount of money, while selling it to India would provide billions of dollars worth of food for over a decade.

The Baku is a relatively new ship, so it's normal that the Indians are interested in it.

So how much money were you scammed out of?

"At least forty million US dollars."

Three hundred million! Three hundred million!
Even with prior preparation, this number still makes one's teeth ache.

(End of this chapter)