Back in 1978, I was admitted to Northwestern Polytechnical University.

Chapter 347 When a nobleman becomes penniless, he lowers his standards.

A few days later, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Datang Corporation.

Mustafa said excitedly, "Everyone, let me introduce you. This is Ihab Shazli, the head of our Etuo Navy. He came here specifically after hearing about your advanced frigates."

The Ehri Navy was indeed very interested!

The E'tu Navy of later generations was a regional hegemon, with two amphibious assault ships of 20,000 tons each, four main warships with a displacement of over 6,000 tons, and four warships of 4,000 tons each... Its overall combat power was unmatched in the surrounding area and was even stronger than the Navy of the Great David Kingdom.

At present, the Etuo Navy is very weak. It was not until the late 1990s, when it received the retired Perry-class frigates from the US Navy, that it had decent naval equipment.

"Well, everyone, let me give you a brief introduction. The advanced frigate we are currently developing is a large warship with a full-load displacement of about four thousand tons..."

In this day and age, 4,000 tons can already be called a destroyer!
The Etu people's eyes widened instantly.

"This type of frigate is 134 meters long and 16 meters wide, with a length-to-beam ratio of less than 8.4. This design provides ample internal space for the installation of a large amount of weaponry and equipment, as well as sufficient living space for the crew..."

Ihab-Shazli was beaming with excitement; this warship sounded really good!
As Qin Liang introduced the warship, he placed a slide on the projector. Upon seeing the warship's shape, all the Etuo people exclaimed in surprise.

"Huh? This design..."

"I've never seen anything like it anywhere in the world!"

"Yes, everyone, we believe that the current design of warships in the world is too outdated. The open-style architecture with passageways on the outside results in cramped upper deck space, no NBC (nuclear, biological, and chemical) protection systems, and no central air conditioning, which is very unfriendly to users in tropical regions."

"Of course, most importantly, our design is stealthy."

To sell equipment, you must first sell a concept!
"Invisible?"

Such a large warship, you say it's stealthy? The Egyptians clearly didn't believe it.

"It's impossible to completely disappear from radar screens, but by designing it this way, with the superstructure receding inwards, all the radar waves from the opposing ships are reflected into the sky, making the echo very weak. What is originally a 4,000-ton warship will appear to the enemy as about the same as a 400-ton missile boat."

Everyone was stunned.

"This design is really great!"

"That's right, this is absolutely the first of its kind in the world!"

Praises were endless!
Qin Liang smiled and said, "Alright, let's look at the design drawings and start from the front. At the very front of the bow is a 100mm naval gun, and behind the gun is a 32-cell vertical launch system. Everyone, you should all understand the significance of vertical launch, right? In the Falklands War, the British Navy suffered its second defeat because of the Kidd-class destroyers. They used twin-arm launchers and lacked the ability to withstand saturation attacks..."

The Falklands War was of great significance. Military experts around the world are currently studying the lessons learned from this naval battle. The first defeat was due to the weakness of the British Navy, and the second defeat was due to the weakness of the second-hand warships of the US Navy!
Even with rapid loading, a dual-arm launcher can't match the speed of a vertical launch system!

However, vertical launch systems (VLS) are not something everyone can master. Currently, only the US uses the universally adopted MK41 VLS. Russia's VLS systems are all different. Other countries... continue to use angled arm launchers.

In the east, hair has already started hanging down!
However... as long as you know the inside story of the Bekaa Valley air defense operation, and know that the land-based HQ-16 was vertically launched, then transplanting this device onto warships shouldn't be a big problem!

"The HQ-16 missiles used inside are actually the ship-to-air version of our SH-10 missile, with an added booster. Their maximum range can reach 70 kilometers, providing an air defense umbrella for the entire fleet..."

The Eto people were shocked once again.

The Sea Dart missile only has a range of 70 kilometers! Even if the actual range is reduced by half to 35 kilometers, that's still very powerful. Keep in mind that the mainstream weapons on frigates these days are just some air defense weapons, the kind with a range of only a dozen kilometers...

Seeing the excited gleam in the eyes of the Etu people, Qin Liang knew that this arms sale was a sure thing!

Such an advanced warship is one of a kind in the whole world. Even if you did find one, it would only be for their own use and they would never sell it!

"Further back, on the bridge, is the advanced shipborne command and combat system developed by Northwestern Polytechnical University, powered by the Loongson computer, which can react instantly..."

When it comes to warships, most people focus on how many missiles and radars they have, but few people know that the warship's command system is even more important!

Currently, the old frigates in China still rely on people shouting to issue combat orders, and even have to build an open-air observation platform above the bridge to set up lookout posts... It's not much different from the World War II era.

The system at Northwestern Polytechnical University is very advanced!
"Behind the ship, in the middle of the hull, behind the smokestack, is our C801 anti-ship missile launcher. We use a grid-shaped launcher with sixteen missiles, which is more than enough firepower."

Sixteen anti-ship missiles!
Looking at the four anti-ship missile launchers, proudly pointing outwards from the side, a scene of missile launches involuntarily appeared before everyone's eyes.

“This is no frigate; many destroyers don’t even have the firepower to match it,” Ihab-Shazli remarked.

"Yes, that's what we think too. However... as you all know, we in the East are peace-loving. The weapons we export are generally defensive in nature. For example, even though this warship has a displacement of 6,000 tons, it is defined as a frigate."

The Etu people nodded in agreement; our Eastern friends are always so modest!
"Come on, let's continue. At the stern is the hangar and helicopter landing platform, which can accommodate two Z-9 shipborne helicopters taking off..."

It can carry not only shipborne helicopters, but also two!

"Good, not bad, not bad! We'll take this warship! At least two... How much are you asking for?"

The most crucial step has finally arrived!
"It's not expensive. Our advanced frigates only cost one hundred million US dollars each, and they even come with a basic load of ammunition."

"What? One hundred million dollars?" The Etu people were instantly taken aback.

They came expecting high-quality, low-priced products from the East, and now, hearing this price all of a sudden, they simply can't accept it.

Isn't this robbery?

The cost of a warship is related to many factors, such as its age. The further back in time the currency depreciates, the higher the price will be. The more weapon systems installed on it, the more expensive it will be.

The price of a Type 051 destroyer manufactured in China is only a little over 30 million RMB, but the price of the first Type 052 destroyer, hull number 112, is as high as 560 million RMB, which is equivalent to 70 million USD.

In later stages, the cost of the Type 054 corvette reached as high as 15 billion RMB.

Back in the early 1980s, a price of one hundred million US dollars for a warship was a bit expensive, but... these were top-tier warships!

"The Type 42 destroyers used in the Falklands War were practically useless, but the cost to build them in the UK was still £85 million. At an exchange rate of around 2.5, that's about $200 million. Our warships, which are better than the Type 42s, are only priced at $100 million. You won't find a warship cheaper than ours anywhere in the world."

"But...we...don't have that much budget."

"If you don't have it, then ask the Americans!" Qin Liang said. "They tested our bottom line by asking for your help. Now that you want to buy warships, you can ask them for help too!"

In later generations, the powerful navy of Ethiopia was not equipped with equipment purchased by Ethiopia itself, but rather with the support of powerful patrons. Now, if the Ethiopian navy wants to buy new equipment, it will turn to the United States!
The Etu people looked at each other, wondering if this was inappropriate.

"As you all have seen, the British Navy has been decimated in this naval battle. They also need to upgrade their equipment. Their country is on the verge of bankruptcy and will likely have to borrow money from the United States. If you don't act soon, the British may borrow the money."

"This...this can't be right, can't Britain just take over the equipment directly from the United States?"

“They’ve already leased it once, which proves that American equipment can’t win them the war. Next, they’ll definitely come to us. After all, the price they pay for ordering from us is cheaper than the price of second-hand American warships.”

The claim that the British Navy was coming to make purchases was completely unfounded by Qin Liang, but... the Etuo people were clearly serious.

"Okay, let's go back and give it a try. Could you give us these design drawings?"

"No problem, the overall design is yours!"

It's just a blueprint anyway. Even if it gets leaked, at most we'll know what the shape looks like. It won't be easy to copy. For one thing, even the vertical launch system at the bow is something European countries can't replicate. Besides, it's also a sign of sincerity.

Qin Baomin witnessed firsthand Qin Liang's blatant lies and realized that his previous negotiations had been too naive. As a hardworking and honest migrant worker, Qin Baomin felt he needed to be more flexible in the future...

The meeting lasted quite a while; everyone had lunch at Northwestern Polytechnical University before leaving in the afternoon.

Chang'an Airport.

"Do you think what the Easterners are saying is true?"

"do not know……"

The conversation between the Eto people had just begun when a group of people came down from the exit. These people were blond and blue-eyed, all foreigners. The one in the lead... Mustafa recognized him. He was Percival, the British military procurement representative.
“Mr. Percival, what a coincidence that we have met in the East!”

"Ah? Mr. Mustafa, what's going on?"

"We've come to Chang'an... for tourism, what about you?"

"We...we've also come for tourism, to see...the Great Wall."

Percival really didn't know what tourist attractions Chang'an had. Although the Terracotta Army and similar sites were famous domestically, they were definitely not as good as the Great Wall internationally.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they parted ways, each wondering to themselves what the other had come for.
The Camel side.

"It seems the British are indeed going to purchase warships from the East. We need to get back and get the procurement project moving!"

"That's right, we absolutely must have such advanced warships! Then, from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, everything will be within the sphere of influence of our Etuo Navy!"

From the British perspective

"Hmph, this time the Eastern equipment has become famous, at the cost of our British Navy's heavy losses, they've made it big..."

"Sigh, what can we do? Our navy is completely crippled now. Fortunately, Asunción is still in our hands. If the H-6 bombers we're inspecting in the East really suit our needs, we'll purchase a batch and take them back..."

They have absolutely no connection with the Northwestern Polytechnical University's escort ships; they came to the East to purchase H-6 bombers!
The British bombers had short range and low bomb load. A single bombing raid on the Falklands required a massive number of refueling aircraft, and after only one raid, they abandoned the project altogether due to a failed interception.

Now, they have considered American bombers, but the US is no longer leasing them, so they can only buy them, and the price is extremely high! They simply cannot afford to purchase them; they can't even afford to compensate for the equipment losses, let alone continue to spend money on high-priced purchases.

They were also eager to obtain a means of retaliation, and the H-6 bomber in the East became the best choice!

Originally a medium-range bomber, the H-6's range soared to 8,000 kilometers after being modified with fuel-efficient high-bypass Bispe engines! It could fly directly to the Falklands, bomb the islands, and refuel on the return trip!

This is much more convenient than using the Vulcan bomber for missions!

Back then, when the East promoted their products, the British refused to buy them out of pride. Now, with their pockets empty, they finally find the equipment from the East appealing!

Even without bombing the Falklands, they could fly around with C801 missiles, and if they spotted the British navy, they'd go and take them down! This war is far from over! This is the last stand of the British military!

Northwestern Polytechnical University, Datang Corporation.

"Liangzi, we deal more with CATIC, but we haven't had much contact with the shipbuilding department. Is it a bit inappropriate for us to directly quote ETA this time?"

"What's inappropriate? If they knew, they'd probably jump for joy on the spot," Qin Liang said. "No need to rush. After Etuo comes again and confirms the purchase, then we'll go to the relevant departments. Our Northwestern Polytechnical University has made a breakthrough in warship exports, so we have to get a commission. We also have to pay for the design fees, and the various weapon accessories fees are separate..."

As they were talking, the phone rang.

"Hey, dorm leader? What do you want? Are you worried you can't handle hosting foreign clients at Factory 172? Okay, no problem!"

After hanging up the phone, Qin Liang greeted his father, went downstairs, got on his sidecar motorcycle, and headed straight for Factory 172.

Although most of the former students of Class 5381 are still nominally pursuing postgraduate studies at Northwestern Polytechnical University, they have long since become the main force in the aviation industry. Yang Wei went to 611 and worked with Professor Song every day, while Tang Changhong stayed in Chang'an and joined Factory 172 to help with projects there.

When they were going to receive foreign guests, they thought of asking Qin Liang for help, but they were afraid that Qin Liang would not give them face, so they asked Tang Changhong to make the call.

When the sidecar arrived at the gate of Factory 172, the foreign guests' car also arrived. Seeing a group of well-dressed people getting out of the car, Qin Liang was a little curious. Aren't these the British?
The once high and mighty British, who only offered guidance when they came to the East, are now... penniless, the nobles have become paupers, and they've lowered their stance, starting to look at Eastern equipment!
They came to Factory 172, they must have come to see the H-6 bomber. Back then, when they were promoting it, they were so arrogant and kept saying no. Now, the H-6 is quite appealing, isn't it?
The crowd getting off the bus were initially looking at the factory's reception staff, but when they realized the staff weren't looking at them, they turned around and saw... a young man on a sidewalk riding a motorcycle without a helmet.

Wait, this person looks familiar!
"Qin Liang?"

"Mr. Qin, it's a pleasure to see you!" Rahim ran over, very enthusiastically: "After careful consideration, we've decided to come and see the bombers produced in your East. If the price is right, we'll buy a batch..."

"Alright." Qin Liang smiled. "Welcome, everyone. I'm not just saying this in hindsight, but if you had chosen our H-6 bombers earlier, the naval battle in the Atlantic wouldn't have turned out like this."

"Hmph, isn't it all because of the equipment you Easterners provided!"

Among the crowd, some people gritted their teeth.

Clearly, many people still blame the East Asians for the British failure!

“Mr. Rahim, haven’t I explained this many times? If you still come here with this kind of thinking, then forget it. The premise of cooperation is honesty. With your mentality, we are destined not to do business.”

Speaking of which, Qin Liang turned around and rode back onto the sidecar.

The people from Factory 172 looked embarrassed.

What they were most worried about was the British complaints. After all, the terrible defeat they suffered was caused by Eastern weapons. Putting themselves in the British shoes, they also had their grievances.

"Bond, stop making things worse!" Percival scolded his men. "We're here to buy equipment, not to argue!"
After saying that, he stepped forward.

"Mr. Qin, I hope you can understand. Both naval battles... right now, everyone's morale isn't very high. However, we will manage it. If anyone still displays a bad attitude during the upcoming inspection, we will ask them to leave..."

"Well, alright, I understand how you feel. Let's go, let me show you our most advanced bomber in the East."

What's so advanced about it? It's just an old model from the 1950s and 60s! If it weren't for the new engines, new avionics, and the low price... who would even consider it!

"Everyone, please come in!" Acting Factory Director Lu from Factory 172 walked up.

“Mr. Lu, I heard you also worked and studied in the UK?” Rahim quickly tried to establish a connection.

Lu Songshan was born in Shanghai in 1919. In 1940, he obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Shanghai Jiaotong University. In 1945, he went to study in the UK until the founding of the People's Republic of China. After returning to China, he held many positions. In 1958, he went to Chang'an and served as the chief process engineer at Factory 172. He played a significant role in the reverse engineering of the H-6 bomber. In 1978, he became the deputy director and chief engineer. This year, after the director retired, he became the acting director.

"Yes, I studied at the University of Manchester."

"Then we're alumni!"

The atmosphere between them became harmonious again. When they entered the production workshop and saw the H-6 bombers being produced, Qin Liang's eyes widened.

This... is already the standard for a H-6K bomber?

(End of this chapter)