Courtyard House: From Deputy Division Commander to Civilian, Progressing All the Way

The humiliation of being held back by technology was played out almost daily across the country in the 1980s.

The backwardness invites aggression; this is an eternal truth.

"What if I told you that the Japanese are raising prices not to rip you off, but because they're struggling to make ends meet?"

Lin Yang said casually, took a top-secret document from the drawer, and threw it in front of Pei Yihong.

Pei Yihong paused for a moment, then picked up the document and opened it with a puzzled look.

"The Plaza Accord?"

Pei Yihong's brows furrowed tightly as he quickly scanned the core data on the document.

As a high-ranking official in charge of industry and the economy, he also possessed a keen business sense.

"The yen is being forced to appreciate... Are the US forcing Japan to swallow the bitter pill of a trade deficit?"

"That's right." Lin Yang stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the gray sky outside.

"The appreciation of the yen means that the cost of Japanese exports has risen sharply in the international market."

"The cost-effectiveness advantage they used to be so proud of is being forcibly erased by the financial hegemony of the United States."

Lin Yang turned around, staring intently at Pei Yihong.

"They raised prices in the Han River region because they couldn't keep up with their domestic manufacturing costs, so they had to pass the pressure on to downstream assembly plants like you."

Pei Yihong's breathing quickened as he vaguely grasped the deeper meaning in Lin Yang's words.

"Sir, do you mean... Japan's manufacturing industry is about to face a major reshuffle?"

"It's not just a reshuffling, it's a great escape."

Lin Yang walked back to his desk and tapped the surface with his knuckles.

"In order to maintain profits, Japanese companies must find cheaper production bases and divest from low value-added industries."

"At the same time, the United States will definitely launch fatal sanctions against Japan's high-end semiconductor and precision machine tool industries."

"At this time, Japan is like a fat, bleeding whale."

A cold smile curled at the corners of Lin Yang's lips.

"I called you here not so you could vent your frustrations back home."

"Go back and prepare, you're coming to Japan with me tomorrow."

"Go to Japan?" Pei Yihong suddenly stood up, his eyes gleaming with the light of a hungry wolf.

"Sir, shall we go and seize the equipment?"

"Be civilized, we're going to conduct an investigation," Lin Yang corrected, but the murderous intent in his tone was even stronger than Pei Yihong's.

"You understand technology, and you know exactly where the industrial shortcomings of the Han River region and even the entire Republic lie."

"I want you to use your naked eye to inspect the products in the factories in Japan."

"Anything that is suppressed by the US country, and any core equipment that our country urgently needs, will be included in the acquisition list."

"Don't worry about the money. Lou Xiao'e from Hong Kong has already set up her scheme in Tokyo."

Pei Yihong rubbed his hands together excitedly, all the fatigue of the past few days vanishing.

"Understood! I'll bring the two top mechanical engineers from Hanjiang; this time, we're determined to see right through the Japanese!"

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the office door.

Shen Yan pushed open the door and reported in a low voice, "Sir, the young man named Lin Jianguo that you asked for has arrived."

"Let him in." Lin Yang nodded.

A moment later, Lin Jianguo walked into the office, carrying a faux leather briefcase, looking rather uneasy.

Today he specially changed into a slightly oversized suit and wore a rather mismatched red tie.

Clearly, they wanted to make themselves appear more respectable in the central government power structure like the National Development and Reform Commission.

But his hands, covered in machine oil and impossible to clean, still betrayed his years of working in the workshop.

"Second... Chairman Lin." Lin Jianguo was about to call him Second Uncle, but when he saw a powerful-looking unfamiliar middle-aged man next to him, he quickly changed his address.

Lin Yang didn't notice the change in address and pointed at Pei Yihong.

"Jianguo, this is Pei Yihong, the deputy general manager of the Hanjiang District and director of the Industry and Information Technology Commission."

"They are also the real operators of our country's heavy industry and home appliance industry."

Lin Jianguo was startled and quickly stepped forward, bowing deeply.

"Greetings, Manager Pei! I am Lin Jianguo from Lin's Electrical Appliances in the Southern Special Zone!"

Pei Yihong looked the somewhat comical-looking young man up and down, raising an eyebrow slightly.

He was a pure technocrat who had never had a good impression of individual business owners who only knew how to buy and sell.

"Commander, is it appropriate to bring a private business owner along on this highly confidential mission to Japan?" Pei Yihong asked directly, without mincing words, expressing his concerns.

"He's not only a private business owner, he's also the son of my older brother, Lin Fan," Lin Yang said calmly, dropping a bombshell.

Pei Yihong's expression changed instantly.

Who is Lin Fan? He is the Director-General of the National Heavy Industry Retirement Management Foundation, a veteran who made great contributions to the Third Front construction.

What's more, this young man in front of him is actually Lin Yang's nephew!

"Commander, this..." Pei Yihong said somewhat awkwardly.

"Don't worry about me." Lin Yang waved his hand, interrupting Pei Yihong's thoughts.

"This kid gave up a secure job in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Tsinghua University and insisted on going south to start a business."

"A few days ago in Beiping, I almost got into a fight with the factory director of a state-owned factory over getting a German-standard silent compressor."

Lin Yang looked at Lin Jianguo with a stern gaze.

"I sent him to Japan, firstly to let him see the real industrial gap."

"Secondly, let him act as a catalyst, joining your Han River supply chain."

"Pei Yihong, I'm giving you a task."

Lin Yang pointed at Lin Jianguo.

"Whatever civilian technology he's interested in in Japan, as long as it doesn't involve state secrets, you can use Hanjiang's name to endorse and negotiate it for him."

"After returning to China, Lin's Electric Appliances built a branch factory in Hanjiang. You approved the land and policies for them."

Pei Yihong immediately understood Lin Yang's strategic intentions.

State-owned enterprises suffer from rigid systems and face difficulties in transformation.

And private business owners like Lin Jianguo, who are willing to risk their lives, are the best sharp blades to challenge the old system and revitalize the industrial chain.

"No problem." Pei Yihong turned his head and looked at Lin Jianguo, his eyes becoming sharp.

"Boss Lin, a Tsinghua graduate, do you know CNC programming?"

Lin Jianguo immediately straightened his back, like a new recruit undergoing an assessment.

"I understand! I majored in mechanical automation in college, and I even reverse-engineered blueprints for Japanese compressors!"

"Okay." Pei Yihong nodded.

"When you get to Japan, observe more and talk less, and memorize the entire layout of their civilian production lines."

"I can do it. Once you get back to the Han River, I'll give you the green light all the way."

"If you can't do it, go back to where you came from, and don't blame me for not giving the commander face."

Lin Jianguo was so excited that his face turned red, and he nodded repeatedly.

"Don't worry, Steward Pei, I'll steal the Japanese technology even if I have to stare until my eyes pop out!"

The next morning.

A Boeing passenger plane bound for Tokyo, Japan, accelerates and takes off from the runway at Beijing Capital International Airport.

The delegation consisted of very few people.

Besides Lin Yang and Chen Feng, there were only Pei Yihong, Lin Jianguo, and two senior engineers from the Hanjiang region.

Their publicly known identity is that of a "Special Advisory Group of the China Economic and Trade Exchange Committee".

Outside the cabin, white clouds rolled in.

Lin Yang leaned back in his first-class seat and closed his eyes to rest.

After several hours of flight, the plane landed smoothly at Tokyo Narita International Airport.

As the hatch opened, an atmosphere of fervor, luxury, and extreme confidence characteristic of Japan in 1985 rushed out along the passageway.

Walking through the spacious and bright terminal building of Narita Airport.

Everywhere you look, you see Japanese business people dressed in high-end custom suits, carrying briefcases, and walking briskly.

The giant GG sign flashes the latest products from international giants such as Sony, Panasonic, and Toyota.