Rebirth of Siheyuan starts in the 1980s

Chapter 495 Installment payment?

Author: Tang Juyi

Chapter 495 Installment payment?

Forty minutes later, Cao Zhiqiang, led by a staff member, rejoined Uncle Lin, who was dressed in an ordinary Chinese tunic suit. Then they took a car together and quickly left the hotel.

After walking for about twenty minutes, the vehicle left the city center and came to an open space.

There, a helicopter had already parked there, and near the helicopter, there were several armed police soldiers on guard with guns.

"Helicopter?" Cao Zhiqiang, who got out of the car, looked at the helicopter not far away and was stunned, "Are we going to take a helicopter?"

"That's right!" Uncle Lin nodded, and then walked towards the helicopter unhurriedly.

"Uncle Lin." Cao Zhiqiang quickly followed and said as he walked, "Don't tell me, we are going to take this ride all the way back to Peiping."

"Of course not." Uncle Lin said as he walked, "There is no suitable airport here. We can only take a helicopter to Guangzhou first, and then take a jet back to Beijing from there."

"Oh, that's it." Cao Zhiqiang suddenly realized.

Indeed, in 1983, when the construction of Shenzhen had just begun, there was no serious airport at all.

It is said that before Shenzhen built a formal airport, there once was a helicopter airport, but even that helicopter airport seems to be still under construction and has not yet been put into operation.

But, helicopters don’t necessarily need an airport. As long as there is suitable flat land, they can take off and land.

It's just that in China, ordinary people cannot enjoy this kind of treatment at all, but Uncle Lin obviously does not belong to ordinary people.

Cao Zhiqiang followed Uncle Lin and quickly passed the guard post and came directly to the helicopter.

At this time, two people suddenly got off the helicopter, both of whom were acquaintances of Cao Zhiqiang—Anping and Xu Chun.

"Hello, Chief!" Xu Chun and Anping stood at attention and saluted Uncle Lin almost at the same time.

Uncle Lin nodded simply: "Okay, let's all get on the plane. We'll talk on the way."

Immediately afterwards, the group got on the helicopter. After sitting down and fastening their seat belts, Anping closed the helicopter door.

As soon as the helicopter door was closed, the helicopter's engine began to roar, and the propeller started to run from slow to fast.

After a while, the helicopter flew off the ground, turned slightly in one direction, and then flew forward steadily.

Due to the loud roar and the presence of Uncle Lin, no one was interested in chatting.

Or it can be said that with Uncle Lin here, as long as he keeps silent, most people will not dare to speak casually.

It was obvious that Uncle Lin was preoccupied or very tired, so he fell asleep as soon as he got on the plane and had no interest in chatting at all.

If the boss doesn't say anything, who dares to speak randomly?

Fortunately, the helicopter is fast and can travel in a straight line, so it only took about forty minutes to get from the suburbs of SZ to Guangzhou Baiyun Airport.

After the helicopter landed at the airport, Xu Chun gently pushed Uncle Lin to wake him up from his nap.

After that, still headed by Uncle Lin, the group got out of the helicopter and were received by a receptionist dressed as a soldier. Without entering the terminal, they went directly to a nearby Trident jetliner.

After getting on the plane, it can be seen that this is an ordinary passenger plane, not a specially modified business plane, but there are no other guests inside, only a few of them, plus a few male bodyguards who act as bodyguards and flight attendants.

Yes, there were not even stewardesses on this plane, only a few young men in ordinary Chinese tunic suits who looked like bodyguards.

If you want food and drink, ask for it from these people.

Since there were only a few of them, the seats were very empty, so the first class cabin was given to Cao Zhiqiang and Uncle Lin, while everyone else sat in the back, with two rows of seats separated in the middle, obviously to make it easier for Uncle Lin and Cao Zhiqiang to talk.

After a few people took their seats in the plane, the plane quickly started preparing to take off, without any further ado.

Obviously, this plane has the highest priority. Once this plane picks up people, it will take off immediately. Any other planes that are about to take off or land must step aside to give way.

"Xiao Cao," Uncle Lin suddenly said, "Can we still discuss the price?"

"Ah?" Cao Zhiqiang, who was sitting in the back and was looking out through the window and thinking about something, was stunned. He quickly turned his head and looked at Uncle Lin beside him, "What are we discussing again?"

Uncle Lin glanced at Cao Zhiqiang: "That's two billion US dollars. It's too high. Can it be cheaper?"

Cao Zhiqiang smiled bitterly: "Uncle Lin, you are making things difficult for me. I am not a seller. I am at most a middleman. I am forced and I don't know anything. If you ask me this, this..."

"Yes." Uncle Lin nodded and sighed, "It's a bit difficult for you, but don't you want to continue to contact them in the future? Can you ask if the price can be lowered?"

"This, I'll do my best." Cao Zhiqiang said, "Uncle Lin, I am definitely on your side. If you can really make a counter-offer, I will definitely help.

Well, let’s do it this way. Next time I meet with them, I’ll ask if we can get it cheaper, but we have to have a bottom line on how to get it cheaper and how much money we can come up with, right?”

Uncle Lin nodded: "That's right."

After a short pause, Uncle Lin sighed: "To be honest, what they sent this time is really good, and we really want it. However, we are in urgent need of foreign exchange now, and two billion US dollars is not enough."

It's a small amount, and I'm afraid it will be difficult for us to put it all together in the short term.

So, next time you go to contact the other party, ask them if it can be cheaper."

Cao Zhiqiang asked: "Okay, I will definitely convey this to them next time I meet with them, but again, how much can we offer?"

Uncle Lin smiled and said: "We have thought about it. Two billion is indeed a reasonable price, and they also went to great lengths to transport it. They are sincere and I am embarrassed to bargain anymore.

So, what we mean is to change the payment method.

It’s best not to pay it all in one lump sum, but to pay it in twenty or so installments.”

"Instalment payment?" Cao Zhiqiang opened his mouth wide with shock on his face.

"I also know that this is indeed a bit embarrassing." Uncle Lin sighed, "But we also have practical difficulties. It is really difficult to spend two billion US dollars at once.

Then, you can talk to them sincerely, saying that we don’t have much foreign exchange now and it’s really difficult. It’s troublesome to take out so many US dollars at once. The key is that it can easily attract other people’s attention.

If you are willing to pay in installments, then give 500 million first, and then 100 million every month.

In this way, our pressure is much less, and it is also more hidden and less noticeable, which is also good for them.

Otherwise, let alone two billion, even if it is one billion, the flow of such a large amount of funds will definitely attract the attention of foreign financial departments, which is probably not good for anyone, don’t you think?"

Cao Zhiqiang blinked, smiled bitterly and said nothing.

Indeed, he almost forgot that this was 1983.

At this time, the U.S. dollar was still quite valuable, and the flow of funds on a scale of two billion was indeed very eye-catching, even for the huge international hot money.

Unlike 2023, at that time, the flow of two billion US dollars will not be very conspicuous internationally.

If it is a flow of 100 million US dollars a month, this is indeed more hidden and less obvious, making it difficult to trace the source and destination.

Of course, as a payer, taking out two billion in one go is completely different from paying in twenty installments. At least the pressure is much less.

In addition, China in 1983 was in a period of urgent shortage of foreign exchange.

This year, the entire country only had 8.9 billion US dollars, less than 9 billion!

For this transaction, 2 billion US dollars were directly spent, which is equivalent to consuming 22% of the foreign exchange reserves at once. It is indeed a bit of a headache.

According to Cao Zhiqiang's estimation, if the White Swans weren't so fragrant and came with missiles and a full set of technical information, it would have been difficult for them to accept the US$2 billion offer.

In other words, if there are only airplanes, it is hard to say whether the country dares to acquire those airplanes.

After all, the country certainly likes supersonic strategic bombers, but they are not currently necessary.

In fact, the domestic attitude at this time is not clear about whether to develop supersonic strategic bombers, or at least they do not support it. This is mainly related to issues such as its own national strength and self-positioning.

In the opinion of many people, instead of developing supersonic bombers, it is better to develop intercontinental missiles, which is more cost-effective.

Of course, if you can buy a killer weapon like the Tu-160 at a cheap price, that would be the best. If you have technical information, that would be even better.

But generally speaking, a strategic-level killer weapon like the Tu-160 is not what the country most hopes for, because there is no shortage of strategic-level weapons in the country.

After all, Big Brother is still here, so it’s not my rabbit’s turn to show off his power.

However, although the Tu-160 bomber itself is not necessary, the related technology is very good and can drive many related industries and trigger the overall technological progress of many domestic industries.

For example, flight control technology, aircraft aerodynamic shape design technology, engine technology, radar technology, cruise missile technology, and even more basic material technology, metallurgical technology, processing technology, etc.

With so many technologies, as long as you can fully understand any one of them, you can fill a large gap in the country and make the relevant technological level rise a lot. The technological level can advance for at least ten years.

Not to mention, with these eighteen bombers and attached cruise missiles, it immediately fills the gap in the nuclear triad.

Simply changing the warheads of the hundreds of attached missiles, changing conventional warheads into nuclear warheads, or even just spreading the word that they have been changed into nuclear warheads, can greatly improve domestic nuclear deterrence.

By then, we will be a country that can carry out nuclear triad strikes, and at least we can use them to bluff people.

The only bad thing is that this bomber was not obtained through formal channels, and it was a stuffed bear. Looking at the current situation, this is a bit too sensitive.

Although a killer weapon like the Tu-160 bomber has not yet officially appeared in the world, as long as you have seen the real thing, you will know that it is definitely an important weapon of the country, and it is of strategic level.

If it were any other small country, even if Cao Zhiqiang gave away the plane for free, he probably wouldn't dare to take it.

From this perspective, the two billion US dollars to make installment payments should be sincere.

On the other hand, from Cao Zhiqiang's point of view, if possible, he would really like to give it away for free without any money.

But the free ones are the most expensive.

If it is free, it usually has other purposes. If it is between countries, it is possible.

But if you, a secret organization, provide a country with particularly powerful weapons and technology without paying for it, everyone will be embarrassed.

Therefore, arms that require money are the most delicious and can also dispel some domestic concerns.

It would be better if there is some "support" purpose in addition to asking for money.

Therefore, money is definitely needed, and Cao Zhiqiang feels that he doesn't want much.

The cost of the Tu-160 bomber is not cheap in the first place. Although the ex-factory price in the 1980s is unclear, it is not cheaper than the US Lancer B-1B bomber of the same period.

The purchase price of the B1B in the 1980s was US$280 million, so the purchase price of the White Swan, no matter how cheap it was, was still US$300 million. This does not include the design and research and development costs, nor the price of the accompanying cruise missiles.

Not to mention it comes with a full set of technical information.

A bomber costs at least 300 million U.S. dollars, and 18 aircraft equals 5.4 billion U.S. dollars.

Cao Zhiqiang only needs 2 billion US dollars, which also comes with missiles and technical data. By the way, he also brings eight Firefinder anti-infantry radar vehicles and their technical data, eight F110 aero engines and their data, and one Glock 17 pistol and their technical data. These

Putting everything together, it's incredibly cheap no matter what.

So, it’s not that Cao Zhiqiang really doesn’t want to be cheap, but if it’s any cheaper, there will be problems. This is already below the cost price. Although it can’t be regarded as a free gift, it is still a big difference.

"I understand, Uncle Lin." Cao Zhiqiang, who wanted to understand, said, "Anyway, I will do whatever you say, and I will definitely help convey it."

"That's good." Uncle Lin smiled slightly.

"Xiao Cao, next time you go to Japan, I will ask someone to bring 500 million US dollars with you.

After you meet them, tell them that we are very grateful to them and we are willing to continue to associate with them.

But for this transaction, we are not refusing to give money, nor are we regretting it, but taking out two billion at once is too stressful for us at the moment, and secondly, it is easy to be targeted.

So, the down payment is 500 million, and the rest, we will give 100 million every month. I hope they can understand.

If you don't agree, you can still negotiate. If it doesn't work, you can also pay interest. Everything can be discussed.

Of course, if someone insists that we pay it all in one lump sum, then we will pay half first and the rest in two months. This is our bottom line!"

Cao Zhiqiang nodded with a serious face: "Yes, I understand. I will definitely follow your wishes and try my best to get the best deal!"

"Very good!" Uncle Lin breathed a sigh of relief, "As expected of a good young man, great!"

(End of chapter)