Courtyard House: I'm an engineer, and a fairy godmother transferred me to a different position.

Lost in thought, the minister patted his arm, pulling him back to reality:

"There aren't any major tasks in the department before the New Year. Comrade Guangqi, you're the top contributor this year, so go home and have a good New Year."

"After the New Year—we'll have to roll up our sleeves and get to work! We need to put these CNC centers into full production!"

The minister's eyes gleamed with a burning light.

Before he could finish speaking, Director Lin, standing nearby, seamlessly picked up the conversation: "Don't worry, sir, we've already started working on this." He took a half-step forward, his voice brimming with confidence, "Comrade Guangqi provided the direction yesterday, and we held a meeting overnight. The plan is already taking shape." He stretched out his palm and made a vague gesture in the air, "Several machine tool factories directly under the ministry will begin upgrading their production lines after the New Year, freeing up the capacity of ordinary machine tools. I assure you, we'll see results by spring, and mass production will be no problem at all."

Upon hearing this, the minister's face lit up even more. He turned to look at Director Lin, his tone full of approval: "So quick? Good!" His gaze then fell on Liu Guangqi, his appreciation evident. "Comrade Guangqi, your foresight never disappoints."

"You flatter me." Liu Guangqi nodded slightly, but his expression remained unwavering. "I know what's important and what's urgent. Right now, only we can build this, so naturally we must concentrate all our efforts to ensure it's the first to be launched." His tone shifted subtly, his previously calm gaze suddenly sharpening like a drawn blade. "But this is just the beginning. After five-axis linkage, there are vertical structures, seven-axis five-axis linkage… a wider path awaits our exploration. We must conquer them all." His voice wasn't loud, but each word carried weight. "Right now we're the leaders, but that's not enough. What we need to establish is an advantage that will make them lose even the courage to follow. In the future, they will only be able to learn our technology and follow the standards we set."

"Excellent! That's the spirit I'm looking for!" The minister's expression brightened. "If anyone else had said this, I'd probably think they were just boasting. But coming from you, Comrade Guangqi, I believe you!" He knew all too well the weight this young man carried. From three-axis coordinate measuring machines to mass production, and now to five-axis linkage, every promise he made had ultimately been forged into reality. He had no reason to doubt such a person.

"That's right!" Director Lin chimed in with a smile. "We have to make them look up to us with envy, and get used to our rules."

The minister nodded in satisfaction, then waved his hand decisively, setting the tone: "Then go for this approach, go for it! The ministry will clear all obstacles for you, and the policy will be on your side the whole time!" His gaze was fixed on Liu Guangqi, his tone brooking no argument, "If we need people, I'll ask the Academy of Sciences; if we need money, I'll negotiate with the Ministry of Finance. Whatever we need, I'll take care of it. I have only one request—to firmly grasp this leading position in our own hands!"

Then, the minister had an in-depth discussion with Liu Guangqi about the technical details of CNC machine tools. The minister asked most of the questions, and Liu Guangqi answered them calmly.

Afterwards, Liu Guangqi changed the subject, talking about future plans: "Minister, that's roughly the technical aspect. Actually, there's another matter I'd like to report to you."

"Oh? Go ahead." The minister smiled, assuming he had encountered some real difficulty.

"It's about the possibility of selling our CNC machine tools to external customers," Liu Guangqi stated clearly.

"Exports?" The minister's smile froze instantly, and his brows furrowed tightly.

This proposal was completely unexpected. Machine tools, crucial national assets, were bargaining chips used to exchange for cutting-edge technology with the neighboring country to the north—how could they be easily exported? He had never considered this direction, or rather, instinctively excluded it from his options. Even the foreign exchange order with the neighboring country was only made possible by circumstances, after repeated deliberations at the highest levels, with technology exchange as a prerequisite. Apart from this, his country had never had such a precedent. Not only them, but even the country across the ocean, after developing CNC machine tools, had never sold them abroad for economic gain. The significance of this was something both sides understood perfectly.

"Comrade Guangqi, this is a matter of great importance, and it is by no means a trivial matter." The minister's tone became serious and profound. "The case of the neighboring country was a special decision made under special circumstances. But once we take the initiative to open this door, it will be difficult to take it back."

Not only did the Minister of the Ministry of Machinery Industry's expression turn serious, but the Vice Ministers and Director Lin, along with several other ministry leaders present, also frowned. A silent question filled the meeting room.

Liu Guangqi simply smiled slightly, as if he had already anticipated this reaction from everyone.

"Minister, please don't jump to conclusions yet. Let me finish what I have to say."

He paused briefly before continuing calmly, "Currently, among Western countries, only the United States, across the ocean, has taken the lead in developing CNC machine tools. As for Japan in the east and the Hans in Europe, their related technologies are far from mature and are still a long way from true CNC."

"Therefore, the current situation is that our five-axis CNC technology is at the top level. Given this, we can completely push our original three-axis CNC machine tools into the international market."

The minister's brow furrowed, and he pressed further, "Selling it externally? Aren't you worried about the risk of technology leaks?"

Liu Guangqi's smile deepened, clearly indicating that he had planned this all along.

"Although we also export CNC machine tools, they are simplified versions specifically designed for export, and they are different from the models used domestically."

As he spoke, a deep, lingering glint flashed in his eyes:

"While its performance is more advanced than ordinary three-axis CNC machine tools, it is still a level below our own five-axis linkage technology. Currently, the machine tool industries in Japan and Germany are just starting out, relying entirely on export profits to support R&D investment. If we seize the market with CNC machine tools that are more expensive but of relatively lower quality, blocking their sales channels, their profit chain will break. Once they lose financial support, their R&D projects may be forced to stop."

Liu Guangqi's tone became increasingly calm and resolute:

"By the time they realize what's happening and start imitating our simplified technology, I expect our seven-axis five-linkage machine tool will have already been launched. At that time, even if they learn the simplified version of the technology, they will never be able to keep up with our speed of iteration."

"And there's one more crucial point—"

His voice was exceptionally clear in the quiet conference room:

"When factories around the world become accustomed to using our CNC machine tools and develop a dependence on them, we will become the standard setter for the international machine tool industry. The standards we set will be the international standards of the future."

This presentation was well-organized, demonstrating both sharp tactics to cut off the opponent's lifeline in the short term and solid confidence to maintain a leading position in the long term. Even the minister had to admit that this young man was not just a simple technical expert, but clearly a strategic planner disguised as an engineer.

The minister stared at Liu Guangqi, his expression complex and difficult to describe.

This idea is too crazy, too risky.

But it's also...so exciting!

His fingers tapped rapidly on the edge of the table unconsciously. From initial doubt to shock, and now to an almost uncontrollable heartbeat, all sorts of emotions surged in his chest.

"Comrade Guangqi!"

The minister took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions, and slowly said, "Your idea is very bold, extremely bold."

He paused for a moment, then solemnly said, word by word:

"But it is indeed... feasible!"

The minister did not make a decision immediately. This matter was of great importance and far exceeded the scope of his personal authority.

"Alright, keep today's discussion strictly confidential for now. After the Spring Festival, I will personally go to the higher-level council to give a detailed report in person!"

"We'll discuss everything after the New Year!"

Liu Guangqi smiled and nodded, saying nothing more.

He knew that the minister was completely smitten.

What is the Achilles' heel of the capitalist system?

It's profit-driven.

By cutting off the opponent's profit source, their technological development can be curbed at its root. This move may seem risky, but it is actually well-founded—because he is a man who has transcended time. The technical principles of seven-axis, nine-axis, and even more sophisticated technologies have long been quietly ingrained in his mind, waiting only for the industrial base of this era to gradually catch up.

What Liu Guangqi needs to do is to use this forward-thinking understanding to buy time for development with technological advantages, and to secure a critical window of opportunity for the country's industrial rise to gain an absolute leading edge.

As for whether this plan will ultimately be approved...

We can only wait for the decision to be made at the meeting of the higher-level academic committee after the Spring Festival.

……

Soon after, Director Lin and a group of ministry leaders left, and the research and development lab returned to quiet.

The north wind outside the window continued to howl, but Liu Guangqi felt a rare, burning passion welling up inside him.

The five-axis CNC machine tool has been shipped to Northwest China to build a powerful tool for the nation; the subsequent mass production plan has been finalized; and the future industrial development layout has a clear direction. After more than half a year of hard work, it has finally come to a successful conclusion.

By this time, Liu Guangqi had finished all the tasks at hand.

As the year draws to a close, not only government ministries and agencies, but also major factories have basically completed their annual production targets. Many factories have even already shut down for holidays—continuing to operate after meeting planned targets is seen as a waste of resources.

Soon, the ministry began distributing salaries for the last time before the Spring Festival.

On a winter afternoon, sunlight slanted through the office windows. Liu Guangqi's current position meant he no longer needed to personally go to the logistics department to collect his monthly salary.

There was a gentle knock on the door, and a clerk from the logistics department poked his head in with a big smile: "Director Liu, your salary and allowances for this month are all here."

He handed over a bulging brown paper bag with both hands.

"Based on your level, your salary, the special allowance for a Level 6 engineer, and the project bonus specially approved by the institute are all included."

The paper bag was open, revealing stacks of neatly arranged banknotes and various other ration coupons—grain coupons, cloth coupons, meat coupons, oil coupons… Among them, the most eye-catching were the special ration coupons with unique markings. In this era of scarcity, these scraps of paper were a source of real security.

Light footsteps echoed down the corridor. Several technicians from the research department passed by the door, each with a smile on their face.

"Director!" A young man stopped, grinning, "Thanks to you leading us to make that project a success, this year's bonus is enough for me to buy a new bicycle—perfect for taking my girlfriend back to our hometown for the New Year!"

Another person nearby leaned over, scratching the back of his head somewhat embarrassedly: "I just got married last month, and my wife said we should thank the director."

Liu Guangqi stood up from behind his desk, smiled and waved his hand: "This is all the result of everyone working together, why thank me?"

The sun was gradually setting in the west. Liu Guangqi put on his overcoat and, accompanied by his bodyguard, went downstairs. The familiar Volga sedan was already waiting in the courtyard.

The car slowly drove out of the compound, and the festive atmosphere of the New Year was already faintly visible on both sides of the street. Red paper with black characters for Spring Festival couplets began to appear in front of several shops, and the laughter of children chasing each other could be heard sporadically.

The car came to a stop outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs gate. A short while later, a figure in a camel-colored wool coat hurried down the steps. Zhao Mengyun carried a briefcase in one hand, the hem of her coat fluttering slightly in the wind, her cheeks flushed slightly, and her eyes sparkled brightly.

She opened the car door and got in. Before she was even fully seated, she turned to him, her voice brimming with excitement: "Guangqi, guess what good news I heard when I got paid today?"

Before he could answer, she smiled to herself, then deliberately put on a serious face and, mimicking the tone of a unit leader, said in a clear and articulate voice: "Comrade Zhao Mengyun, after deliberation, it has been decided to adjust your administrative rank to level twenty-one, effective immediately."

As soon as she finished speaking, she couldn't help but laugh out loud, her eyes curving into two bright crescent moons.

Liu Guangqi was slightly taken aback, then a smile appeared on his lips: "Didn't you say last month that this promotion would probably have to wait until after the spring assessment?"

"I thought so too." Zhao Mengyun leaned closer to him, lowered her voice, and a mischievous glint flashed in her eyes. "But Sister Wang told me quietly—the department took into account your recent newspaper commendation and your leadership in completing the major five-axis CNC center project, which made a contribution to the country. So they specially opened a priority promotion channel for the families of us meritorious personnel."