Rebirth of the 1980s: The Military Industry Empire

The next day, early in the morning.

An old Shanghai car drove between the mountains, with Old Lin still sighing inside.

"President Qin, you actually managed to fool them back just like that, amazing, truly amazing."

"What do you mean 'fool'?" Qin Yang glared at Old Lin: "Our J-11 can only be an internal designation. To the outside world, we still have to call it the two-seat Q-6. This aircraft is our enlarged, twin-engine version of the Q-6."

"Yes, you're right." Old Lin nodded: "From now on, we'll call it the two-seat Q-6!"

After saying that, he continued to gaze at the mountains outside: "Back in that special period, we decided to transfer the aviation industry to the third-tier regions. Now it seems that, apart from wasting a large amount of resources, it didn't achieve any purpose."

"The existence of the third-tier bases is meaningful." Qin Yang retorted to Old Lin again: "Back in that special period, the country's decision to transfer to the third-tier regions was not wrong, and now, the country's decision to concentrate its efforts on developing the economy is also not wrong. Different eras have different missions."

Previously, facing the threat from the North, the country could not yield. It would rather the North be crippled than give up the struggle. Of course, it had to emphasize the construction of the third-tier bases. This was also a portrayal of the Red Empire's aggressive demeanor at the time.

But entering the 1980s, the Red Empire had already begun to change, international relations eased, and we also had the opportunity to develop the economy.

The theory that the third-tier bases are useless is wrong. It can only be said that the world situation is changing too fast.

"Yes, you're right, it's just that the third-tier bases have suffered." Old Lin sighed.

Back then, good people and good horses went to the third-tier regions. What about now? The third-tier regions have been abandoned, and these people have also been abandoned.

"Reporting, Old Lin, we are approaching Factory 130." The driver shouted.

"This bumpy ride is going to shake my bones apart. Drive straight in, let's rest in the office." Old Lin said.

"Old Lin, how about we park the car outside and walk in?"

Old Lin was taken aback: "Okay, I'll listen to you. This time we're out, it's considered an unannounced private visit."

Qin Yang and the others came to the South not only to see the progress of the 320 Factory's project, but also to take a look at Base 011.

Originally, Old Lin wanted to make a phone call to inform them, but Qin Yang suggested not to alarm the local area. Only by coming quietly could they understand the real situation.

"We didn't see any sentry posts checking along the way. It seems that the defense here is indeed lax, but when entering Factory 130, we will definitely need credentials." Qin Yang said: "Let's just say we're from the province, so as not to alarm them."

Old Lin nodded.

The car continued to move forward, with rolling hills on both sides, dense with trees. Outsiders would never have imagined that in the mountains of Anshun, there was actually a hidden aircraft factory.

During wartime, it was dispersed and concealed, but in peacetime, doing anything here would require more hardship. Transformation was extremely difficult, and transportation costs alone could make them lose competitiveness.

The car stopped by the side of the road. Qin Yang got out, breathing the fresh mountain air, feeling refreshed and relaxed.

"Brother Yang, before your Factory 960 moved, it was like this too, right?" Nie Xiaoqian followed Qin Yang out of the car and asked.

"Yes, I grew up in the mountains back then. For the sake of the motherland, the third-tier military workers paid too much."

Qin Yang's gaze turned to the utility pole on the side, covered with mottled green paint. Even the utility pole had to imitate a big tree. Back then, in order to conceal it, they did their homework thoroughly.

Old Lin listened to Qin Yang's words, knowing his intentions. He shouted every day about competition and the market economy, but when he saw a third-tier factory, he would not hesitate to give it a hand.

The third-tier military workers gave half their lives and also sacrificed their children's futures. Their sacrifices were great.

The group walked along the mountain road. As the road turned and twisted, they saw a sign erected at the entrance of a canyon: Yunma Machinery Factory.

Base 130 was an internal code name. To the outside world, it was called Yunma Machinery Factory, just like Factory 960 was the Capital Agricultural Implement Factory. Agricultural implement factories build cars, and machinery factories build airplanes!

"Yunma Factory has a construction area of more than 430,000 square meters, with a total of more than twenty workshops, distributed in these vast mountains, covering a distance of about ten square kilometers. At its peak, there were more than 20,000 employees and their families." Old Lin said as he walked: "But after 1978, some of Yunma Factory's employees were transferred away. Now there should still be more than 10,000 people."

This was the same as the original Factory 960. Those with connections used their connections to transfer away. Those without connections, some would rather resign and go into business than transfer away. What about those who remained?

Those who remained were reluctant to leave. They participated in the construction here, leaving the best time of their lives here. They were unwilling to leave. If they also left, then the former third-tier factory would cease to exist completely.

"That cave in front, does it seem like a production workshop?" Qin Yang asked, pointing ahead.

The hillside was covered with green plants, but on this side, the entire hillside was like it had been cut off, exposing layers of rock. The cliff was straight and steep, and it should be difficult to spot from the sky.

In the center of the rock layer, there was a three-story building, with glass installed on the top two floors, and a gate on the bottom floor. This should be the entrance to the factory building. The outside was man-made, and the inside was a cave.

Next to this building, there was a two-story building, hidden among the tall trees. The style was the familiar corridor-style building, which should be a family compound.

"Workshop 14?" Old Lin said, looking at the sign at the entrance: "Let's go, let's go in and take a look."

The gate was ajar. Inside, there were many machines and equipment, and some workers. Some were wiping the machines, some were looking at design drawings, and some were lost in thought.

The arrival of several people from the outside aroused their vigilance. A middle-aged man walked over: "Excuse me, who are you?"

"We are here from the province to see the current situation of our Base 011." Old Lin said.

"From the province? My name is Gao Shengli, the director of our Workshop 14. Our workshop specializes in producing aircraft landing gear."

"Haven't you stopped production long ago? Why are you still staying in the workshop?" Qin Yang asked.

"Outside? Yes, the world outside is indeed very good, but this is where we built it brick by brick. Now if we are asked to leave here, we are reluctant."

"By the way, you just said that you will resume production at any time?"

"Yes, we are currently developing the J-7 trainer. When this trainer is successfully developed, we will have a project." Gao Shengli said: "The country is transforming, and we ourselves cannot wait or rely on others. We must rely on our own strength to develop."

Old Lin nodded in satisfaction. This was the reason why President Qin supported the third-tier bases. Even if these people were abandoned by their superiors, they were still thinking about self-rescue through production, instead of relying on their superiors to feed them!

"Have you heard that Factory 960 is going to invest in helping you move out of the mountains?" Qin Yang asked.

Before everyone could answer, a voice suddenly came from the doorway.

"I heard, Factory 960 is a large military factory in the country. They are developing very fast, which makes us envious. If they invest, then it would naturally be great, but we cannot pin our hopes on Factory 960. Factory 960, a third-tier factory, can find a way out, and our Base 011 can also find a way out!"