Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

"Didn't your 960 Factory just negotiate a foreign trade project, a big order worth several million?"

"That's right, you're rolling in money, and you're still asking for research and development funding?"

Even Qin Baoguo was a little embarrassed. His son really dared to say anything. He had just made a good impression in front of the leaders, and now it was all gone. Our factory has made so much money, can't we take some out for research?

"Leaders, our 960 Factory hasn't had a good time in the past few years, especially this year. The factory can only pay half of the wages, and it almost couldn't hold on. If our factory goes bankrupt, will the higher-ups allocate funds to us?" Qin Yang retorted.

Qin Baoguo's face became even more unsightly. What nonsense are you talking about here? Even if it's true, you can't say it! Aren't you embarrassing the leaders? Once you annoy the leaders, and our 960 Factory gets blacklisted, will we have a good life in the future? The duck that's already in our hands will fly away!

"I had a few more drinks today, so I'm a little bolder. If you don't agree, just take it as me talking nonsense while drunk." Qin Yang said, "Our factory makes guns. If you need any advanced firearms, we can definitely make them without hesitation. But now we're talking about ammunition. Our factory has no equipment and no technology. We're starting from scratch. Just now, this expert said that they've been researching for ten years and fired hundreds of thousands of bullets. How much money is that?"

"Our factory has made a lot of money, but I guess it's not enough to burn on this project! Moreover, that money was earned from our military-to-civilian projects and must be used specifically for military-to-civilian projects. The brother units fired hundreds of thousands of bullets and made thousands of gun barrels, all funded by higher authorities. When it comes to us, we have to pay out of our own pockets? Are we 960 Factory and the brother units treated differently, one like an adopted child and the other like a biological child?"

"Yangzi, you've really had too much to drink. What nonsense are you talking about?" Qin Baoguo scolded his son loudly. Can't you see the leaders' faces? They're already so angry! And you still dare to talk?

"That's right, I'm just talking nonsense after drinking! Dad, life is hard for our Third Front military factory! In the past, the higher-ups told us to find our own way. How much suffering did our factory endure, how much effort did we put in! You often went out to inspect projects, not returning for months at a time. How many failed projects did we try before we achieved today's success?" Qin Yang's voice was full of grievance: "Now that we've finally survived, you want us to invest the money into the bottomless pit of ammunition trial production! If we ask the higher-ups for funding, then we're not considering the overall situation. Is this fair to us? You said we should follow the market economy. Is not giving money for work the market economy?"

"Yes, Qin Yang is right." Leader Fang said, "Our country is reforming, and everything must focus on developing the economy. The comrades of the Third Front military factories have suffered! It's not easy for you to have found this path today."

Originally, when they heard that the 960 Factory wanted research and development funding, everyone was dissatisfied. You guys make so much money, and you're still acting like skinflints, not giving a single penny? But now that Qin Yang said this, a sense of guilt actually welled up in their hearts.

Life is not easy for the Third Front military factories! How much suffering and hardship did they endure to earn money? Those who can submit reports and ask the higher-ups for whatever they need in the system can't really understand.

"Are you confident in developing it?" Leader Wang from the military also spoke.

"In one year, we can develop a universal cartridge suitable for automatic rifles and machine guns." Qin Yang said, "But we also need strong support from the higher-ups. You allocated ten years of research funding to related units. Giving us just one-tenth of that will be enough."

"Hmph, that sounds good, but we've been researching for ten years and haven't succeeded. You can develop it in one year?" Wang Liqun's face turned red: "Moreover, you're just a gun manufacturer!"

If the 960 Factory develops it, where will these ammunition experts put their faces?

"Well, one year is the longest time limit. Perhaps half a year, or even a few months, we can have results."

Qin Baoguo was helpless. His son just likes to attract attention like this! Today, he has completely offended the ammunition experts.

Qin Baoguo knows that his son is very good at making guns, but ammunition and guns are different! The ammunition experts present are all old experts who have been researching for many years. They can't figure out a universal cartridge and can only divide it into machine gun cartridges and rifle cartridges. What ability does your son have to succeed?

"What if you don't produce results?"

"If we don't produce results, our factory is willing to return all research funding!" Qin Yang said firmly: "If we don't produce results, how can we have the face to ask for funding?"

"Good, good, as expected, heroes have emerged since ancient times." Wang Liqun said through gritted teeth: "I wish your 960 Factory a complete success in completing the task and launching another big satellite!" These words, when heard by Wang Liqun, had another meaning. They were mocking them for wasting the country's ten years of funding!

"Thank you." Qin Yang looked at Leader Fang again: "Leaders, if we succeed in the research and development, we have another request."

If we fail, our 960 Factory will use the money earned from civilian products to return the research funding. In other words, the military industry system will not suffer any losses. But if we succeed in the research and development, the significance to the military will be significant!

If one type of ammunition can be used for everything, who would deliberately use two types of ammunition with the same shape but different ballistic characteristics?

"Please allocate the 955 Factory to us and make it a subsidiary factory of our 960 Factory. Our factory will invest in its renovation, and it will specialize in producing 5.8mm bullets in the future. The military needs to prioritize purchasing ammunition from our factory. Only when our production cannot meet the military's needs can it be transferred to other factories."

Everyone present was awakened by this.

Qin Yang's previous remarks were not just ignorant nonsense, but had an important purpose!

They want to make a comeback and become the largest light weapons manufacturer in the country!

An excited look flashed in Qin Baoguo's eyes.

Although the 960 Factory has switched to producing air guns, it was only a last resort. If there is an opportunity, they still hope to produce weapons, which is their old business!

Qin Yang made such a fuss under the influence of alcohol, and the purpose was also very clear: not only to allow the 960 Factory to return to the field of military production, but also to become the leader in light weapons production!

For so many years, the country has been producing 7.62mm caliber rifles, and the production of bullets is also approaching saturation. If we want to continue production, we can only upgrade and produce 5.8mm caliber bullets.

If the 960 Factory develops it, then the production must also be carried out in the 960 Factory! What a scale that would be!

"Dream on!" Wang Liqun couldn't bear it any longer: "If you want to produce 5.8mm bullets, what about our original front-line bullet production factories?"

"Now we want to engage in a market economy, which means competition. What's the point of military factories without the ability to rely on funding from higher authorities? The survival of the fittest, even beasts have to defeat their competitors to mate! The same is true for enterprises. If you don't have the ability, you deserve to have no food! Why should the administrative orders of the higher authorities force us to convert to civilian production, while those front-line military factories can continue to live their little lives happily?"

These words once again shocked the audience.

Over the years, everyone has become accustomed to obeying orders and listening to commands. The higher-ups want their Third Front military factories to fend for themselves, so they have to find their own way. This is the awareness of the older generation, but the younger generation is different.

Why should the benefits be yours? Future orders must depend on ability!