Spring Breeze 1991

After staying in Moscow for two days, Yao Yuan and his party came to the city of Nikolayev where the Black Sea Shipyard is located, the Black Sea at the southern tip of Ukraine.

There was a huge team for this trip, most of them were from Yao Yuan's side. Lu Sen and Su Wangting, the two main leaders of overseas business, and Yakov, the head of intelligence and security, also arrived. In addition, there were five people from Zhong Weiguo's side. Nearly NO.30 people.

Lermontov of the Black Sea Shipyard received a call early in the morning and waited for him at the hotel where Yao Yuan was staying.

Just three years ago, even if the leaders of the Soviet came to inspect, Lermontov could not be expected to condescend to wait at the hotel.

Lermontov is a person with a very strong red complex. In his 60s, the last thing he wants to see is the disintegration of the Soviet Union.

A few years later, the commander of the Russian Navy, accompanied by the Prime Minister of Ukraine, came to visit and wanted to complete 70% of the Varyag, and asked what was needed to complete the remaining 30% of the project.

Lermontov said that a great and powerful country is needed, with the cooperation of more than 600 majors and more than 8000 manufacturers, close cooperation at the economic, political, and technical levels, and the absolute support of the entire country's resources.

But the country is gone.

The sorrow and regret are beyond words.

As the general director of the Soviet aircraft carrier project, Lermontov has no hope of continuing to complete the Varyag, let alone the Ulyanovsk nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that has only completed 40% of the construction project.

No one knew better than he what would happen to the Black Sea shipyards and the carriers on the slipway.

At this moment, the only thing he cares about is the lives of tens of thousands of employees and their families in the shipyard. Those workers who have dedicated their entire lives, most of their lives, and their entire youth to the cause of the motherland's aircraft carrier are now living like beggars. Politicians who are busy fighting for power and profit, Don't care about their life or death.

Selling a 25000-ton icebreaker is barely enough to eat, drink and drink for the family members of all the factory workers for a month.

What Western companies want is to cut off the flesh from their bodies, knock out the bone marrow and suck the marrow inside. Lermontov sees this very clearly.

The cooperation with Yao Yuan made him feel the dignity and equality he deserved, and he also got the benefits he deserved, instead of simply selling out.

After the last trip to Eastern Europe, Yao Yuan never stopped communicating with Lermontov. This is one of the sources of confidence that he is sure to help the military complete the purchase of the Varyag within this year.

To be honest, Lermontov, who grew up under the red flag, has a natural liking for Yao Yuan, who is also from the red flag country, and the companies he owns. From his personal feelings, he tends to choose Nanfang Industrial.

But this time, the trading entity was Wanli Import and Export Trading Company under Xinxing Group. Li Yan, the general manager of Xinxing Group, brought three people over, and Zhong Weiguo was a small team of five.

One of them, an old man with half-gray hair, is definitely a technical leader in the domestic ship research industry. He spoke Russian in the 60s and had a lively chat with Lermontov. Nine and a half out of ten sentences were about technology. .

If the Soviet Union was still there, Lermontov would definitely answer some technical questions selectively, but at this moment, he is a technical consultant for a major customer, and the questions raised must be answered completely, even if it involves core technology .

Seeing that the two old men were looking forward to having a long talk, Yao Yuan had no choice but to stand up and say, "Mr. Luo, Director Lermontov, let's go to the shipyard to have a look at it first. After discussing the framework, we will talk about technical details. What do you think?"

Luo Yang came back to his senses suddenly, nodded again and again, "Yes, yes, let's go and see the boat first."

At this time, the Chinese people had only seen what the aircraft carrier looked like in the photos. They had no idea what the real aircraft carrier looked like. Even Luo Yang, a college student studying in the Soviet Union in the 50s, had never seen it.

A group of people drove to the Black Sea Shipyard in a mighty car.

The headquarter of the Eastern Europe business department that Su Wangting is in charge of is located in Kyiv. In the business geography sector, the Nikolaev Oblast on the Black Sea is a very important point, so there is a branch with hundreds of formal employees, most of whom are doing Jobs such as machinery acquisitions and technology acquisitions.

The large-scale "trash picking" work is over, but the long-term and stable "trash picking" has never stopped.Ukraine has produced all the large bombers, large transport aircraft, aircraft carriers and the large engines required by these three major equipments in the Soviet Union. Its technology is comparable to that of the United Kingdom and France, and some technologies even occupy a leading position in the world.

The reception team at the Black Sea Shipyard is very shabby. There are only vodka cars and a big car that Lermontov is riding in. The local personnel and vehicles of their big customers are as large as those of the President of the United States, and they are all good cars. .

Driving all the way to the No. 1 dock, everyone got out of the car and looked up to see the Ulyanovsk nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that could barely see the highest point.

Only by standing on the side of the dock and looking up with the posture of treating cervical spondylosis, can we realize how huge the 10-ton, 320-meter-long, 76-meter-high, and 70-meter-wide flight deck is.

Everyone has no nostalgia for the Ulyanovsk. Everyone knows that this huge ship with a half-finished hull does not meet the current actual needs. Even if it is bought, it is still difficult to continue to build it and drag it back. heavy.

This is a large nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that can pose a fatal threat to the U.S. Navy, and the eyes of the Americans are fixed on it.

Looking at it from another perspective, the existence of the Ulyanovsk diverted the attention of the Americans, making the Varyag's return to the country a success.

Walking all the way to the shore, looking at the Varyag that has been launched into the outfitting stage, Chief Engineer Luo Yang's eyeballs did not blink, and he repeatedly observed greedily, as if to make this 6-ton conventional power All the details of the shape of the carrier were kept in mind.

Yao Yuan stood with Zhong Weiguo and Li Yan, and he said in a low voice, "Time is precious, if you set sail one day earlier, you will have a higher chance of success."

"The higher authorities have decided that you will lead the negotiations, and Lao Li will listen to you." Zhong Weiguo said in a deep voice.

Li Yan said, "Our emerging group is ready, and the money is ready."

Yao Yuan said, "I try to lower their prices and strive to pay in dollars plus rubles, which can save a lot of money."

The army's funds are extremely limited. Since the early 80s, it has entered the period of "tightening the belt" and can't wait to spend every penny as if it were 100 yuan.

Li Yan said gratefully, "Thank you, Mr. Yao, for the matter of the petrochemical base, as long as the national competent authority approves it, our Xinxing Group will definitely provide assistance with all our strength."

"I would like to express my opinion on behalf of the army." Zhong Weiguo said, "If you need help in the country, as long as it is within the scope of laws and regulations, you can say something."

This is a formal commitment.

Yao Yuan cupped his hands and said nothing more.

He walked towards Lermontov, and the two walked aside tacitly. Yao Yuan got straight to the point and said, "Comrade factory director, we have communicated many times before, and this time we are here to try to finalize the contract. You and I are old friends. You know that we in the south business attitude.”

"Yes, Comrade Yao Yuan, please make an offer." Lermontov said directly.

Everything was discussed, except the price was not discussed, but the price is not the key factor.

Yao Yuan said, "As I promised before, I will take care of things in Kyiv, and the cost of clearing up resistance will not be included in the purchase price."

After a pause, he said, "I have two options for you to choose from."

When purchasing the icebreaker, Yao Yuan and Lermontov had a friendly exchange.Yao Yuan attaches great importance to the Black Sea Shipyard, while Lermontov has a good impression of Nanfang Industrial from China and hopes to get help from Nanfang Industrial, so the two have frequent telephone and telegram exchanges.

Black Sea Shipyard is the only super shipyard in the world that can provide Huaxia Shipbuilding Industry with advanced manufacturing technology before 2010.

Neither Yao Yuan nor China should miss it.

In Lermontov's view, among so many foreign companies that have been in contact with, only Southern Industry has shown respect for the Black Sea Shipyard, and the terms of cooperation are based on mutual benefits.

Among other things, let's talk about the icebreaker that Yao Yuan bought. Before him, many western companies wanted to buy it, but the bid was only one-third of it, and the price for scrap iron was more than that.

Based on the above reasons, Lermontov knew that the two proposals given by Yao Yuan must be fair and just, and which one to choose depends on his own considerations.

Yao Yuan said, "The first plan is that Wanli Company invests 2000 million U.S. dollars to purchase the Varyag and a complete set of technical drawings. The second plan is that Wanli Company invests 1000 million U.S. dollars to purchase the Varyag and a complete set of technical drawings. At the same time, Southern Industry is willing to accept 1000 engineers and skilled workers from the Black Sea Shipyard and arrange them to settle and work in China."

It looks very cheap. In fact, for a ship that has only completed 70% of the construction progress, 2000 million US dollars is a very marketable price.

Don't forget, the 25000-ton nuclear-powered icebreaker that Yao Yuan bought was only 3000 million US dollars.

The Black Sea Shipyard has a budget. If it continues to complete the construction of the Varyag, it will need 2 million US dollars. This money will not be available anyway, and no company will be willing to give others a dowry. warship!

The two proposals proposed by Yao Yuan are both beneficial and harmless to Heihai Shipyard. Firstly, the price is very generous, and secondly, the difference lies in how part of the money is used.

The first plan is a buyout, and the second plan can solve the problem of the future of 1000 engineers and skilled workers.

Lermontov asked, "Are the employees' families included?"

"Including, we have detailed assessment rules, and qualified personnel can enter our technical personnel introduction plan. Of course, the second plan is actually two parts. Wanli Company and Southern Industrial are not related to each other." Yao Yuan explained.

"So, the technical level determines the treatment in China, right?" Lermontov asked.

Yao Yuan nodded affirmatively, "Yes, Director Lermontov, if you are willing to come to China, you can get academician treatment."

Lermontov fell into thought.