Chapter 189 The Covenant of the Great Hall

Amidst the anxious noise, Old Qian slowly stood up.

The old man did not speak.

He simply pulled a yellowed blueprint from his briefcase and gently patted it on the table.

The venue went silent instantly.

"This was 1970, twelve years ago."

Old Qian's voice was not loud, but it carried the power to pierce through time.

"One of our rockets had a failure in the engine turbopump."

"The launch was delayed for a full three months."

"The cause of the fault was investigated for a long time."

"In the end, we discovered it was because the machining precision of a key bearing was off by 3 microns."

Old Qian looked around.

"Just this 3 microns."

"That was when we mobilized the strength of the entire nation."

"Even with the best machine tools and the best master craftsmen, we couldn't bridge that gap."

"We want to form an alliance, we want to upgrade our technology."

"It is not to calculate interest payments with you."

Old Qian pointed to the national emblem above his head:

"It is so that our spines can stand straight."

"It is so that in the future, our missiles and aircraft..."

"Won't have to stay grounded in the nest because of this 3 microns!"

The old man's words made everyone present flush with heat.

The shift in perspective, from calculating small debts to shouldering the fate of the nation, instantly dissipated the previous restlessness.

Vice Minister Liu looked at Lin Xi at the right moment:

"Next, Comrade Lin Xi from Red Star Technology will report on the 'Development Plan for the China Machine Tool Industry Alliance'."

Lin Xi took the microphone, his tone steady:

"Seniors, I will skip the pleasantries."

"The policy of 'appropriation to loan' is here, and everyone is afraid of debt and interest; that is natural."

Lin Xi's voice was steady.

"But this is like doing business."

"The focus of our attention should be on profit, not interest."

"Now is the critical period for the transition from manual machine tools to CNC machine tools."

"If we seize this opportunity and take advantage of the trend to take off."

"What is a little interest?"

"The alliance proposed by Red Star Technology has only four core points."

Lin Xi held up his first finger:

"First, unified writing and unified tracks."

"All CNC machine tools within the alliance will uniformly use the Red Star M1 and subsequent iterative systems."

"All basic components, from screws to guide rails, will be standardized."

"We strive for 80% parts commonality within three years!"

"Red Star Technology will charge a 5% technical licensing fee based on the sales volume of each machine tool."

Lin Xi continued immediately:

"This 5% will not go into Red Star's pocket."

"Every penny will be used for the pre-research of next-generation technology."

The factory directors looked at each other.

After last year's training and the great campaign, they already understood that this was something only Red Star Technology could do.

This money could save huge research and trial-and-error costs and could be used immediately.

This account was worth it.

"Second,"

Lin Xi tapped the blackboard,

"establish a 'China Industrial Process Library'."

"Why are Western machine tools powerful?"

"It is not because their iron is harder than ours."

Lin Xi pointed to his head,

"It is because they have accumulated data for so long."

"They have the optimal solutions for what materials to use with what cutting tools, the rotation speed, the feed rate, and how to cool them."

"They even have records for some very obscure parts."

"And us?"

"We rely entirely on the experience and feel of the master craftsmen."

"When the master craftsman retires, the unique skill is lost."

"Red Star Technology will be responsible for building this database."

"We will write the experience of the master craftsmen from everyone's factories into the system."

"This data will be open to alliance members for free."

"We have only broken through at the 'single point' of micron-level CNC high-end machine tools."

"The gap in the 'surface' is still huge!"

This speech was like a tolling bell, making the Chief Engineers present feel a tingle in their scalps.

This was the core!

This was the key to turning craftsmanship into industry!

"Third, division of labor without internal strife."

Lin Xi used a term from later generations,

"In the past, we were big and comprehensive."

"One factory made everything, even the screws, leading to low efficiency."

"In the future, Red Star will only be the brain and the face —"

"That is, the CNC system and brand operation; we will not touch the manufacturing process."

He looked at Director Wang of Xicheng:

"Director Wang, you are good at making heavy-duty bases."

"If all machine tool bases for the entire alliance are produced by you in the future."

"Can you lower the cost by 20%?"

Director Wang was stunned, then slapped his thigh hard:

"As long as the volume is guaranteed."

"Never mind 20%, I can squeeze out 30%!"

"This is the power of the alliance."

Lin Xi smiled,

"Fourth, which is what everyone is most concerned about: money."

"All exported machine tools will be uniformly branded with 'Red Star'."

"We will be responsible for going overseas to earn the foreigners' money!"

Lin Xi held up five fingers,

"This year, our goal is 50 million USD in exports!"

"I promise you all:"

"The ex-factory price of export products is guaranteed to be no less than 1.2 times the domestic price!"

"The profit from the excess part will be split 50-50 between Red Star and the manufacturer."

"1.2 times guaranteed?"

A director couldn't help but exclaim,

"Manager Lin, is that what you said!"

Boom —

The meeting room completely exploded.

1.2 times guaranteed? And foreign exchange sharing?

In this day and age, foreign exchange is hard currency.

With foreign exchange, you can buy imported equipment.

You can give employees color TV tickets, and you can walk sideways locally!

"Manager Lin, are you serious?"

A director stood up excitedly,

"As long as it's branded, you'll sell it?"

"It is not that it can be sold just by branding it."

Lin Xi added,

"It must pass Red Star's quality inspection standards to be sold."

"Whoever dares to mix in defective products and smash the 'Red Star' brand."

"Don't blame me, Lin Xi, for being ruthless!"

The atmosphere was at its peak.

But Lin Xi knew this still wasn't enough.

He turned to look at Department Director Li from the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation sitting in the inner circle.

Department Director Li understood and stood up with a smile.

"To support the machine tool alliance in going overseas."

"The Ministry specifically approves: the alliance's export earnings will enjoy a 15% full tax rebate."

"The foreign exchange retention ratio is increased to 30%!"

Immediately after, representatives from the Industrial and Commercial Bank and the Construction Bank also stated:

"To cooperate with the tackling of higher-difficulty machine tools."

"The first batch of 50 million RMB in special low-interest loans will be available immediately."

"The Ministry of Finance will provide a 30% interest subsidy."

What was this?

This was a super dividend endorsed by national will!

"Policy + Capital + Market + Technology," this combination of punches directly blocked the retreat of these directors.

At the same time, it paved a golden road.

Director Wang looked at the fountain pen in his hand and took a deep breath.

He knew that the times had changed.

If he didn't sign this,

he would be left behind by this giant ship about to set sail, unable to even see the spray.

"I'll sign!"

Director Wang was the first to speak,

"As long as we can take everyone forward."

"Never mind unified standards."

"Even if you make me change the factory name, I'll accept it!"

"I'll sign too!"

"We'll join too!"

The signing ceremony proceeded exceptionally quickly.

On that long "China Machine Tool Industry Alliance Covenant."

Eighteen red official seals fell heavily.

Governing Unit: Red Star Technology.

Council Units: Xicheng Machine Tool, Fengtian Second Machinery Plant, Quancheng No. 1 Machine Tool Plant...

12:00 noon.

Vice Minister Liu and Lin Xi walked to the stage together and pulled down the red silk covering the bronze plaque.

[China Machine Tool Industry Alliance]

These eight gilded characters shone brightly in the spring sunshine.

In the live broadcast room, countless netizens were teary-eyed and flooding the screen:

[Witnessing history! This is the blood oath of China's industry!]

[The scattered machine tool industry has finally been molded into an iron fist.]

[Manager Lin's use of the carrot and stick is too smooth, this is a top-tier operator!]

At the end of the meeting, it was the routine group photo session.

According to rank, Lin Xi should have stood in the corner of the back row.

But during the arrangement, Old Qian grabbed his hand.

He forcibly dragged him to the center of the second row.

Right next to several ministry leaders.

"Xiao Lin, stand here."

Old Qian's voice was very soft, but unquestionable,

"The future is yours."

With a flash of the strobe light, the image was frozen.

In the photo, those older generation industrial workers in zhongshan suits had determined expressions.

And in the middle of them, that excessively young man looked calmly ahead.

This photo was called "The Dawn of Industry" in later generations.

Decades later, when people look back at this history, they will find.

It was this group of people in gray-blue zhongshan suits, full of the scent of fireworks.

On this April Fool's Day morning.

Without joking, they forged an unbreakable backbone for this country.

After the meeting, a staff member stopped Lin Xi, He Zhenhua, and the Chief Engineer of Hanjiang Machine Tool Plant, Zhou Jianjun,

"Manager Lin, Engineer He, Engineer Zhou, please come with me."

"I will take you to attend the preparatory meeting for the Hanover trip."