285: Chapter 285 Military Products Promotion Conference

Baili Ji's attitude received approval from all council members.

"Alright, Councilman Yan, I'll have to leave this matter to you. First, purchase a batch of Simulation Spider Robots and conduct a live-fire exercise. Use the exercise to test your theory and see if the swarm-on-swarm tactical strategy can be effective. If the results are significant, then we can consider mass equipping the Military Region," Baili Ji said.

"Understood, but the funding...?" Yan Zhengping asked.

Purchasing a batch of Simulation Spider Robots would not be a small expense. To achieve the combat effectiveness of a swarm, you'd need at least ten thousand units to start, right? Although the price of a single Simulation Spider Robot was still unknown, with a base of ten thousand units, it certainly wouldn't be a small sum.

"The council has no money," Baili Ji replied decisively.

"Speaker Baili, you must be joking, right? This is a large batch of Simulation Spider Robots. Our Southwest Military Region doesn't have that kind of financial capability," Yan Zhengping said, incredulously.

Was he planning to get them for free?

"If your Southwest Military Region doesn't have the financial capability, then who does? If not, I'll have to investigate your unauthorized large-scale construction of prefabricated houses in the Military Region, which has led to environmental impact," Baili Ji said.

Yan Zhengping's heart sank, and he quickly changed the subject.

"Didn't you just receive a 10 million crystals fine from the Huatong Chamber of Commerce?" Yan Zhengping reminded him.

"Councilman Yan, the Huatong Chamber of Commerce is paying that batch of crystalss in installments. Currently, the first installment of crystalss hasn't even been submitted yet," Chen Guanxuan of the Finance Department quickly said.

As soon as he heard Yan Zhengping eyeing that sum of crystalss, he immediately became agitated. These crystalss had too many uses; no one should even think of getting their hands on them.

"I've never quite understood, what does the council need so many crystalss for?" Yan Zhengping asked.

"I understand what you mean. No matter what you say, there's no way I'm approving the release of this batch of crystalss. Give up on that idea," Chen Guanxuan was unyielding.

Yan Zhengping meant that if only the Huatong Chamber of Commerce recycled crystalss, then the crystalss collected by the council would have to be sent back to the Huatong Chamber of Commerce, wouldn't they? Wasn't that redundant?

But Chen Guanxuan was completely unfazed. His understanding of finance was certainly far, far superior to Yan Zhengping's. Therefore, trying to fool him in this regard was simply impossible.

"No, you don't understand. What I mean is, you could actually receive this sum of crystalss in the form of points. That way, you might even be able to collect the fine in one go," Yan Zhengping said.

"You mean for the Huaguo Finance Department to open a membership account with the Huatong Chamber of Commerce?" Chen Guanxuan asked in disbelief.

"Is there anything wrong with that?" Yan Zhengping asked.

"That might not be appropriate, might it? If we do that, wouldn't the Huatong Chamber of Commerce's points truly become currency? And the right to issue currency wouldn't be in our hands," He Jinghui of the Security Department said.

"That is indeed a problem. However, even if the council obtains the crystalss, if they don't exchange them with the Huatong Chamber of Commerce, what use would they be?" Yan Zhengping asked.

"We can purchase..." He Jinghui said half a sentence and then stopped.

No matter how you looked at it, there was always one fundamental issue that couldn't be avoided: all these crystalss would ultimately flow back to the Huatong Chamber of Commerce. This fact could not be changed.

"This is just my personal suggestion. Councilman Chen, please consider whether to adopt it yourself," Yan Zhengping said.

"I will consider your suggestion," Chen Guanxuan of the Finance Department replied.

"Speaker Baili, the Southwest Military Region actually doesn't have many crystalss. Most of them have already been used to purchase equipment. This is the actual situation," Yan Zhengping said.

"Is that so? Let me think. How about this: in the name of the council, we'll specifically hold a military product promotion conference for the Huatong Chamber of Commerce. At that time, we'll let them perform a tactical demonstration of at least 10,000 Simulation Spider Robots," Baili Ji proposed.

...

Yan Zhengping indicated that he was truly clever.

By changing the name, he directly saved the procurement cost of tens of thousands of robots and also verified the swarm tactics.

"I think it's feasible!" Chen Guanxuan was the first to express his stance.

As long as he didn't have to pay, he would wholeheartedly agree.

"I also agree," He Jinghui also stated. He was happy when the Huatong Chamber of Commerce had bad luck.

"I say, when did you people become so cunning? That's just a newly established civilian organization. How did it become such an eyesore to you? You've already fleeced them once, and it's not even a week later, and you're doing it again. Is this still the council of Huaguo? Is it still the council of the common people? Huh?" Zongzheng Yue couldn't listen anymore and stood up to question them.

"Bang~" Suo Tonghua slammed the table and also stood up.

"Damn it! Zong Si Yan, I have to say, what you said today sounded like a man. This is the first time I've ever agreed with you. Baili Ji, I never noticed before, but how can you be so despicable? When the Huatong Chamber of Commerce develops well, you forcibly label them a monopoly and fine them 10 million crystalss. Now you're trying to find ways to make them do all the hard work for free, preparing a tactical demonstration of 10,000 robots for you. What? Are you planning to be an emperor? Does everyone have to serve you?" Suo Tonghua also questioned.

The outburst of the two Military Region Commanders shocked everyone.

Everyone's eyes widened.