The Fiery Era: Becoming an Industrial Giant

Chapter 161 The Russians Abandon Technology

"This is our machine tool assembly workshop. All machine tools sent to the vicinity are initially assembled here before being loaded onto trucks and sent away."

If the distance is even greater, then the components of the positioning and reading system on the coordinate boring machine must be packed separately.

Zhou Zhiqiang is leading Petrov and his entourage on a tour of the factory and personally introducing them to the facilities.

But before he could finish his introduction, Petrov interrupted him.

“Zhou, you’re not being honest. What I want to see isn’t how you produce it, but how you research and develop it.”

Petrov waved his hands emphatically, saying, "I haven't seen any high-precision positioning components being developed in this factory. Was the coordinate boring machine for the missile project really developed by your factory?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang nodded and smiled, "Of course, I personally developed it. But you should know that a machine tool factory cannot manufacture all the parts of a machine tool."

Therefore, the Second Machine Tool Plant was responsible for manufacturing most of the lathes and spindle components, while other components were produced in several other locations.

"However, there is no doubt that I developed this machine tool, and I am not lying to you about that, Mr. Petrov."

After listening, Petrov asked somewhat anxiously, "So I hope you can tell me how you suddenly improved the machining accuracy so much?"
This is something hard to believe; you suddenly completed a technological upgrade, like building a third attic all at once.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang clicked his tongue inwardly. This Russian was unconventional; he was asking about their factory's core technology right off the bat.

They don't have any core technologies; one of the technologies and processes they used was even bought from the Russians.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang also made modifications and optimizations to several other production processes to improve the error accuracy to the current level.

However, just as you think, Zhou Zhiqiang slightly turned his head to look at Deputy Director Liu.

Without him saying anything, just one glance from Zhou Zhiqiang was enough for Deputy Factory Director Liu to know what had happened, especially since he was accompanied by a translator.

Although the two spoke so fast that the translator didn't hear everything, he understood the general meaning.

Deputy Director Liu said, "Deputy Factory Director Zhou, then you should tell him 'some' things."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang understood what Deputy Factory Director Liu meant. He said to keep half or 30% of the 70%, but it was up to Zhou Zhiqiang to decide which 30% to keep.

After receiving the instructions, Zhou Zhiqiang quickly understood and sent someone to the technical department to get the blueprints; however, he did not get all of them, but only a portion of them.

Petrov came to Beijing to meet with his comrades, and then "casually" visited the Second Machine Tool Plant.

They weren't specifically there to learn about the technology at the Second Machine Tool Plant, so they won't have much time. They'll just share some technical information with them, and if they wait too long, they might leave on their own.

Soon.

Zhang Yaoguo then brought over some technical drawings, which were backup drawings prepared by the technical department.

After taking a look, Zhou Zhiqiang presented the drawings to the Russian technical experts in order, saying, "Petrov, these are the design drawings for our coordinate boring machine, and this is about the optimization principle of the spindle system."

You should be able to tell that the prototype boring machine is still your country's model, but I have optimized and adjusted it in terms of mechanical structure.

In fact, the core logic of modifying coordinate boring machines is to optimize the mechanical structure and add optical calibration.

However, principles are one thing, but what Petrov really wanted to see was how to optimize the mechanical structure.

After Zhou Zhiqiang handed over the technical drawings, Petrov was truly satisfied to see them, and while looking at the drawings, he also compared them with the machine tools that were being assembled and produced.

They would also discuss things with the technical experts from time to time, as if they had encountered some things they didn't understand, and the group would ask each other for advice.

Seeing that no one paid any attention to him, Zhou Zhiqiang was happy to have some peace and quiet. He took two steps back and came to Deputy Director Liu's side, and said in a low voice, "Deputy Director Liu, their attitude is really domineering. I heard that our people had to beg them for a long time when they asked them for the blueprints."

Now they want to see our stuff, and if they're not satisfied, they just ask for it back. This isn't the attitude between 'brothers,' it's like disciplining children!

Deputy Director Liu comforted him in a low voice, "Be patient, Deputy Factory Director Zhou. They've always been domineering."

They treat Russia as a brother country, but Russia treats them as a satellite country, as a son.

This is simply intolerable. We've been fighting for over a hundred years, and now we're going to be someone else's son? What a waste of all that revolution!

Zhou Zhiqiang also said in a low voice, "I didn't give them everything either. I didn't even show them the most crucial parts. There are over a thousand blueprints in total; just these alone will keep them studying for a long time."

Upon hearing this, Deputy Director Liu nodded slightly, feeling somewhat relieved. He thought to himself: Director Ren is right. Zhou Zhiqiang can handle the matter, but we must be careful about his feelings towards the Russian.

This kid not only dislikes the Russians, he dislikes all foreigners; although he learns Russian technology, he does so with the mindset of "learning from the barbarians to control the barbarians".

After looking at the blueprints for a while, Petrov and his entourage requested to visit the workshop where the spindles were produced.

Zhou Zhiqiang had no choice but to take them there, and then after they arrived and observed, they abandoned Zhou Zhiqiang again.

The other workers were surprised and startled when they saw a group of Russians and Deputy Factory Director Zhou enter, but after Zhou Zhiqiang reassured them, they continued working.

They kept going like this until almost noon.

Director Liu from the factory office came to the workshop and approached Zhou Zhiqiang and Deputy Director Liu, asking, "Deputy Director Liu, Deputy Factory Director Zhou, the canteen just asked if we should prepare lunch for them in advance?"

Zhou Zhiqiang did not speak, but turned to look at Deputy Director Liu.

After thinking for a moment, Deputy Director Liu said, "Deputy Factory Director Zhou, ask them if they want to eat. If they do, prepare it now. If not, wait a little longer."

"I'll ask Sergei later; he's not a technical expert, and he'll probably be tired of listening to this all morning."

The Ministry of Machine Building knew the people who came to visit the Second Machine Tool Plant quite well: four technical experts and two foreign affairs personnel stationed in Beijing.

Sergei was the foreign affairs officer in charge of Petrov.

He doesn't understand the technology, and it's already quite an achievement for him to have followed along all morning. If he's not even allowed to have lunch, Sergei will definitely be angry.

Zhou Zhiqiang understood, then stepped forward and asked, "Comrade, it's almost noon. The canteen is already asking if we should prepare lunch for you first?"

When asking the last question, Zhou Zhiqiang looked at Sergei as he spoke.

Interrupted from the discussion, Petrov said somewhat displeased, "Zhou, I think we can wait a while before eating."

"Comrade Petrov, let's eat first."

Before Petrov could finish speaking, Sergei interrupted him.

Deputy Director Liu was right in judging people; Sergei had been standing behind him all morning, and he must have been getting impatient.

If Sergei had to wait even for lunch, he would be even more unable to hold back.

Upon hearing this, Petrov let out a long sigh and said, "Okay, let's have lunch first." Hearing this, Zhou Zhiqiang gestured for Director Liu to go back and make the arrangements.

Petrov was a little uncomfortable that his discussion had been interrupted, but since it was one of their own comrades who had interrupted him, Zhou Zhiqiang didn't step forward to join in. Instead, he went to the side to chat with Deputy Director Liu about other things.

Liaoyang No.1 Machine Tool Plant.

It's a large factory that the bureau values ​​highly.

The annual output value and the new machine tools produced supply many places across the country; moreover, among the hundreds of aid projects from Russia, the more important projects are very strong in terms of both production capacity and R&D capabilities.

The Second Machine Tool Plant in Sijiu City was completely incomparable to the First Machine Tool Plant in Liaoyang. For one thing, after its expansion, the number of workers at the Second Machine Tool Plant was three times less than that at the First Machine Tool Plant in Liaoyang.

However, the machine tools developed and manufactured by the Second Machine Tool Plant this time have directly climbed to the forefront of China and even caught up with the world's top level.

According to Deputy Director Liu, the Russians do indeed want to import a batch of coordinate boring machines.

But they might prefer to directly ask for the technology. We had already mentioned this to them before coming to the Second Machine Tool Plant, but the ministry did not give a definite answer.

They were a little reluctant to give it away, but the Russians were really insistent, and they didn't know how to refuse.

After all, the Russians provided them with more aid projects.

Putting everything else aside, Miss Qiu's research and development still needs the help of the Russians.

Zhou Zhiqiang knew that the Russians would definitely force a recall next year, and would also take away the technical drawings and other documents.

So he whispered to Deputy Director Liu, "Let's stall, Deputy Director Liu. Let's stall for time. Even if we sell them some first, let's not give them the blueprints directly."

Our production costs are low, so it saves them some trouble by buying directly from us. The ministry started by talking about the friendship between brotherly nations, giving them priority in supplying, but whether or not it's priority is not up to us.

They might say they'll supply Big Brother with all their might, but they'll only give you three hundred units a year.

We've reached our production limit, there's nothing we can do, please understand my brother's situation.

If the split happens next year, as long as we can drag it out until then, we can openly and legitimately withhold their technology.

Even if the Russians have a finished product, they will have to take it apart and study it, which may take two years to fully understand.

However, Zhou Zhiqiang achieved his goal: to make you uncomfortable.

Those Russians are a bunch of bastards. They call themselves brotherly countries, but they do just as many bad things as other foreign countries.

It is precisely because we need their support in the last two years that China has been continuously showing goodwill and even calling them "Big Brother."

After listening, Deputy Director Liu thought it was a good idea, so he nodded and said, "I'll go back and discuss it with the director and the minister, and try to get a good result."

"Then I'll wait for the ministry's notification."

After Zhou Zhiqiang finished speaking, Director Liu from the factory office came to inform them that lunch had been prepared.

Zhou Zhiqiang then stepped forward to convey the message, and Petrov, upon hearing that lunch was ready, stopped his research and prepared to eat.

After the group arrived at the private room in the cafeteria, the kitchen staff quickly brought out lunch.

Zhou Zhiqiang was somewhat surprised when he saw that the dishes made seemed to be the kind of food that Russians often eat.

Stewed beef with potatoes, pork patties, and grilled fish with sauce were some of the dishes that Zhou Zhiqiang got to try.

However, he only tried it once, and found the taste strange and he couldn't get used to this kind of food.

But the Russians kept nodding as they ate, which suggests that the cooks sent by the ministry had taken this into consideration and specifically selected someone who was an expert in Russian cuisine.

Deputy Director Liu also asked them if they wanted to drink alcohol, which he did on purpose, in case they drank a little too much.

They might go back to rest earlier, saving them the trouble of continuing to study their machine tool blueprints.

Petrov hesitated for a moment, but Hilge immediately said he could have a couple of drinks to try.

So Deputy Director Liu took out the vodka he had prepared in advance and poured Sergei a glass of it.

The cup was small, probably only an ounce or so; upon seeing this, Sergei pursed his lips and mumbled a bunch of things.

Zhou Zhiqiang understood clearly that Sergei was saying that drinking from such a cup was troublesome and also meant to belittle them.

However, Sergei did not request a larger cup. After all, he had a mission to complete, and it would be difficult to explain if he got drunk at noon. He just needed to drink a little to rinse his mouth.

After Sylgay had two drinks, another Russian technical expert also asked for a glass, which was exactly what Deputy Director Liu wanted, and he immediately arranged for someone to bring him a glass.

Dealing with the Russians requires utmost caution; you must not displease them, yet still achieve your own goals.

After the Russians finished eating, the afternoon observation did not go smoothly as expected. One of them drank alcohol, and although he was not drunk, he got angry.

He got into an argument with Petrov over some issues, then went straight back to his car, ending his personal visit and research.

In the end, Petrov and his entourage's visit did not go very smoothly, and they hastily ended their visit and left before the scheduled closing time.

For the next two days, the Russian came every day, and Zhou Zhiqiang had no choice but to stop his work and become a receptionist.

This annoyed Zhou Zhiqiang. One day was one thing, but he hadn't done much work for three days in a row.

This made it very difficult for Zhou Zhiqiang to make progress in either his studies or research and development work.

However, things stopped on the fourth day. Early in the morning, Zhou Zhiqiang received a call from Director Ren, asking him to come to the ministry when he had time, as he wanted to discuss something with him, the deputy factory director.

After hanging up the phone, Zhou Zhiqiang asked Zhang Yaoguo to call a driver to arrange a vehicle for him.

I went downstairs and took a car, and soon arrived at the Ministry of Machine Building.

After arriving, Zhou Zhiqiang went directly to the office of Director Ren of the Machine Tool Administration Bureau. After knocking on the door and hearing the voices inside, he pushed the door open and went in.

"Hello, Deputy Director Liu."

After entering the room, Zhou Zhiqiang noticed Deputy Director Liu, greeted him, and then asked Director Ren, "Sir, is there something you need? Is it about Petrov and his group?"

"Pretty much. Your idea was quite successful. They felt that conducting their own research and then producing it would be too much trouble, plus we made a lot of concessions..."
So the older brothers decided to settle their debt for machine tools and purchase some from us.

Director Ren smiled and continued, "Let's go, now that everyone's here, let's go report to Deputy Leader Wu."

　First update, please vote for me!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)