dognovel Chapter 1568 Return to the world
Chapter 1568 Return to the world
Chapter 1568 Return to the world
Sun Wukong has finally returned to Flower Fruit Mountain, where he can play however he wants and not sleep whenever he wants.
Li Shu and her younger brother completely broke all the rules their mother had set that year before going upstairs with their grandmother.
"Honggang Group has established a sales regional company in Nanjing to oversee related trade activities south of the Yangtze River."
Knowing that his father-in-law cared about him, Li Xuewu explained the purpose of his trip.
Gu Haitao hadn't paid much attention to this, but after listening to his introduction, he nodded and asked, "Your company has already been promoted to a group company?"
"Yes, it's an official document that was just issued after the New Year."
Li Xuewu picked up his teacup and said with a smile, "However, the preparations began in 67."
"Was it a policy issued last year or the year before?" Gu Haitao asked, looking at him. "It needs to be investigated and reviewed, right?"
"Yes, the formal group formation went through two reviews," Li Xuewu explained. "The application was submitted in 67, but our unit did a lot of preparation work."
"Yes, I've heard about it."
Gu Haitao picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "From a single steel supporting industry to developing to cover upstream and downstream industrial enterprises, and it has taken a different path."
He put down his teacup and said with satisfaction, "An old comrade-in-arms knows you and even called me to praise you."
"I'm glad I didn't embarrass you." Li Xuewu smiled and said, "I don't deserve such praise."
"There's no need to be modest at home."
Looking at the smile on his face, Gu Haitao asked with concern, "Are you in charge of the main work in Liaodong now?"
Seeing Li Xuewu nod, he paused before saying, "I'm not worried about your abilities and vision, it's just that your Honggang Group is developing too fast."
“I understand what you mean.” Li Xuewu explained earnestly, “The Group’s Management Committee has also recognized this point, so it has adjusted the pace of development in the new three-year work plan, focusing on stabilizing the foundation starting this year.”
"It's clear that your group's leadership team is capable and has advanced ideas." Gu Haitao agreed with his explanation, saying, "We must have a mindset of being prepared for unforeseen circumstances, especially those in management."
“Originally, Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill had only more than 10,000 employees, with less than 2,000 cadres, so it was easy to adjust when problems arose.”
Li Xuewu understood his father-in-law's meaning and took the initiative to explain: "The steel mill encountered some difficulties when carrying out the large-scale study campaign, but fortunately we grasped the idea of the tertiary industry."
"With the overflow of production capacity from the tertiary industry, we were able to quickly accumulate the initial capital needed for development. This coincided with the policy adjustments in economic work, which led to our idea of forming a group."
There was no pride or joy on his face, but rather a slight frown as he said, “In the process of achieving conglomeration, the scale of industry has expanded, the workforce has increased, and the influence of the enterprise has more than doubled, but problems and contradictions have also increased, and the difficulty of solving them has even increased several levels.”
"We have also reviewed and taken preventative measures against some potential and existing problems in the development process."
He looked at his father-in-law and pointed to his palm, saying, "But we can only predict the general direction and solve the main problems. In actual management and operation, small problems keep emerging."
"We hope to increase the production capacity of the tertiary industry, enhance the group's financial strength, and boost the confidence of our employees."
"On the other hand, we are also actively exploring, hoping to find areas with greater development potential that meet the group's development needs for in-depth development, and using development to resolve problems."
Li Xuewu shrugged and said, "In the words of some of the group's leaders, we are firefighters, or you can call us menders. Anyway, no one is idle and we are all exhausted."
"Hehe—" Gu Haitao listened to his son-in-law's "complaints" and simply nodded with a light laugh, indicating his understanding.
But he didn't say much. He wasn't from the industrial sector and wasn't familiar with corporate management. At least in the fields of industrial management and corporate management, his son-in-law had already achieved some success.
He hoped to understand his son-in-law's current work situation and thoughts through listening.
"Fortunately, our squad leader listened to the advice and knew that it was time to put the brakes on the group's development."
Li Xuewu shook his head with a wry smile and said, "So starting from the second half of last year, we began to integrate resources and sell our belongings."
"Priority and priority must be distinguished."
Gu Haitao was also analyzing his son-in-law's words. Holding his teacup, he slowly nodded and said, "We also need to accurately grasp the pulse of relevant instructions, requirements, and policies."
"Yes, fortunately we made preparations and contingency plans in advance." Li Xuewu sat up straight, raised his eyebrows slightly, and said softly, "As soon as the economic work was adjusted this year, we had a countermeasure."
"The Liangmahe Industrial Zone in Beijing, where the group is located, will basically complete the first phase of construction by the end of this year. We plan to open it up to local industries in Beijing and carry out a new round of resource integration and integrated construction of upstream and downstream industries in a cooperative manner."
He explained, "We've also been working on both external physical training and internal mental training. We've also streamlined the group's business and direction and proactively integrated a large number of industrial projects."
"When I participated in a test flight activity of Shenyang Aircraft Corporation in Liaodong, I came into contact with the deputy director of the factory. Subsequently, I presided over and promoted industrial cooperation and joint trade between the two sides."
Li Xuewu cracked his knuckles and said, "Honggang Group's Gangfei has reached a series of cooperation projects with Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, and has also reached cooperation in multiple directions in the fields of scientific research and parts production."
"The most recent project we cooperated on was when Shenyang Aircraft Corporation exchanged its Tadong Airport in Fengcheng for a major share of the tertiary industry in the Liangmahe Industrial Zone."
How is your aircraft project going?
Finally, they got to a topic that Gu Haitao was familiar with and concerned about, so he asked, "It's a helicopter, right?"
“Yes, helicopters.” Li Xuewu explained, “Currently, SteelAir only has helicopter manufacturing and R&D projects.”
"Steelfly has three helicopter production lines: the KH-4 micro helicopter, the Araucer III single-engine light multi-purpose helicopter, and the Jaguar twin-engine medium multi-purpose transport helicopter."
He counted on his fingers as he explained, "The KH-4 was imported from Japan. It's a relatively mature model and belongs to an iterative product."
"The Lark III and Jaguar were imported from France. Both models are the latest advanced products developed and deployed."
"The KH-4 is a copy of the Bell 47, right?" Gu Haitao asked with a serious expression and a slight frown, "Is its performance stable? I mean, in terms of long-term operation in extreme and normal environments."
“It can be said to be very stable.” Li Xuewu nodded and said, “After all, it has undergone many years of research and development and has also withstood the test of war. The key is that its structural features are very simple.”
"If it is used for reconnaissance, transportation, etc., I think it is much better than the Z-5 in some aspects."
“That’s for sure.” Gu Haitao nodded, put down his teacup, crossed his arms, and said, “Just like the BJ212, its design and production are adapted to the current level of industrial development, and it can’t have the flexibility and versatility of your Antelope.”
"The Z-5 was also a choice made out of necessity."
He let out a long sigh and said, "Industrial development still needs to be flexible, just like yours."
"Without the first and second generation of Antelope, the 212 wouldn't have the heater and radio features today."
"Hehehe—" Li Xuewu said with a light laugh, "Beijing Automotive's attitude towards us is very complicated."
They were afraid we were developing too fast, yet they kept a close eye on our model updates and even spied on our research and development.
He raised an eyebrow and explained, "The officers from the Security Department and the Confidentiality Department told me that the target they tracked down based on the tip-off turned out to be someone sent by another car manufacturer."
"It wasn't just them who were at a loss for words; I heard reports from my colleagues as well, and everyone was at a loss for what to say."
“This shows that your product is ahead of the curve, making them nervous.” Gu Haitao nodded at him, picked up his teacup, and said with a smile, “That’s the kind of drive we need.”
"Furthermore, your security and confidentiality work is excellent, and this is something that should be given more attention."
"Yes, we've learned a valuable lesson."
Li Xuewu nodded and said, "Things are different now. Over the past four years, the group has spent more than 10 million yuan on scientific research to lead industrial transformation through technological innovation. We cannot ignore the damage to our valuable assets."
"Yes, this aspect is worth affirming and considering." Gu Haitao did not come from a peasant background and had a relatively advanced understanding and mindset regarding industrial technology.
He does not advocate technology sharing, nor does he believe that technology is worthless, so he did not object after hearing his son-in-law's explanation.
At present, apart from the need for confidentiality, few companies would take such strict measures to keep their technology secret.
To put it simply, Honggang Group's attitude toward technology secrecy has even drawn criticism from some people.
They believe that as a member of the organization, Honggang Group should share in the success and technology during its development.
They naively believed that as long as Honggang Group shared its technology, countless Honggang Groups would be born across the country.
Well, the problem was that managers at that time lacked basic work skills and overemphasized ideology.
Are there any procurement plans for the final assembly of these three helicopters?
Putting down his teacup, Gu Haitao asked, "Or do you already have a purchase order?"
"The KH-4 was ready in the second half of last year," Li Xuewu explained. "That is, after the conflict with the North, we received an order for 20 aircraft, and that was the end of the order."
"The Lark III and Jaguar have not officially rolled off the production line yet, but SteelAir has confirmed that the Lark III will officially go into production this year. The Jaguar may be a little later, but no later than the beginning of next year."
He explained, "Because it's a new type of helicopter, the construction of a parts supply system is also a problem. In the past two years, we have solved most of the problems through technology introduction and joint production. Next, we may need to continue to introduce production equipment and technology. Ideally, we can cooperate with manufacturers like Shenyang Aircraft Corporation to achieve the optimal production plan for equipment and technology."
If Gu Haitao learns from newspapers or internal reference documents that a domestic company possesses relevant production capabilities and technology, his primary concern will undoubtedly be the aircraft specifications.
In other words, he only cares about whether it can be used, or where it can be used.
But things are different now. These three aircraft are already in mass production, or very close to it, making them absolutely top-tier in China.
The ability to produce the KH-4 helicopter has already established Steel Aircraft's position in the domestic aircraft manufacturing field. If it can successively achieve the production of the Lark and Jaguar helicopters, then Steel Aircraft will definitely be an indispensable presence when discussing helicopter production in the future.
"There's still research going on, right?"
Gu Haitao is now more concerned about his son-in-law's career, especially since he understands his son-in-law's influence in the Honggang Group and wants to consider more situations and possibilities.
"Yes, our group's attitude towards technology and product import is to produce first, and then reverse engineer and develop."
Li Xuewu explained quite frankly, "We do this in the electronics industry, the automotive industry, and other industrial sectors."
"The research institute established by the group is also a collaboration with universities such as Tsinghua University based on this situation."
He gave his father-in-law a detailed introduction to several representative products, such as construction machinery provided by Santayar Group, household appliances provided by Sanhe Co., Ltd., and commercial vessels provided by Geely Star Shipbuilding, etc.
Returning to the topic of helicopters, Li Xuewu gave a report on the overall situation of the research institute.
"Industrial production technology and scientific and technological development are mutually reinforcing. This year, we have entered the field of chip manufacturing, which is the core area that runs through the entire emerging industrial system."
He emphasized: "Honggang Group's vision for the future of the company is independent research and development, with production, cooperation, and sales determined by research and development."
"The value of production is far less than that of independent innovation, let alone the artificial barriers in the core technology field."
"Yes, you have a point."
Gu Haitao could understand his son-in-law's introduction and agreed with his views and efforts.
"Achieving goals requires a certain process, as well as absolute dedication and effort."
He nodded to his son-in-law and said, "Your group has set a good example and made contributions to industrial development."
"I cannot speak on behalf of Honggang Group as being modest, because your evaluation is an honor for our group."
Li Xuewu said with a smile, "I will not share this honor with them for the time being, because we have not done enough."
"Hehehe—" Even a deep person like Gu Haitao was amused by his son-in-law; his son-in-law's mouth is truly amazing.
-
"You went to your in-laws' house to rest?"
During the cultural performance after the ceremony, Gao Yaqin quietly asked Li Xuewu, "I didn't see you last night."
"Yes, the children are over there."
Li Xuewu nodded, glanced at her, and explained, "I was worried they might be too naughty, and I also wanted to chat with the elderly about everyday things."
“Of course, it’s a rare opportunity,” Gao Yaqin said understandingly. “Resting at home is always better than staying in a guesthouse.”
"There are mosquitoes at this hour."
She pointed to the red dot on her wrist and complained, "This would never happen in the capital."
To be fair, Nanjing was warm and pleasant at that time. While it wasn't quite warm enough to wear a vest and shorts, it wasn't warm enough to wear a thick cotton-padded coat and trousers either. Li Xuewu was only wearing a shirt and a jacket.
It's not cold, not cold at all.
"Nothing happened last night, right?" Li Xuewu asked her softly, his eyes fixed on the performance on stage. "Did you call me?"
"It was Zhuang Cangshu who asked you." Gao Yaqin looked up at the stage and said, "I met him in the corridor."
"Hmm." Although Li Xuewu did not expect Zhuang Cangshu to come to see him at night, since it was already past eight o'clock when he left, he was not surprised by the other party's actions.
Among the entire group, Zhuang Cangshu is one of the more capable people in terms of social skills, especially in being adept at navigating social situations.
This is why Li Huaide was willing to assign him to the sales department rather than the industrial department.
The main person in charge of the industry doesn't need to be so cunning; Xu Sinian alone is enough to cause trouble.
"Have you heard about it? In the capital?"
As everyone applauded after a program ended, Gao Yaqin deliberately turned slightly to the side and raised her eyebrows at him.
"What? What did you hear?" Li Xuewu looked at her in surprise and asked, "What happened in the capital?"
"That's not very accurate information."
Gao Yaqin chuckled softly and explained mysteriously in a low voice, "Deputy Director Su is annoyed and has made some rather dramatic moves."
"Hmm? Annoyed?" Li Xuewu chuckled and twitched the corner of his mouth, saying, "What kind of action can you take?"
"Hehe, you probably wouldn't believe it."
As the performers came up from the stage, Gao Yaqin lowered her voice until the program started, when she introduced, "The Northern Industry Daily published an article targeting Director Li."
"Did he cry at the wrong grave?"
Li Xuewu chuckled and muttered, "Even if you're annoyed, you shouldn't be so blind to the situation that you can't distinguish between the big and small kings, right?"
"He's just taking it out on us. He's targeting Beijing's industry, but does he have the guts?" Gao Yaqin sneered. "Even if he's crazy, the Northern Industry Daily still has some brains."
"Could it be that reporter Liu again?"
Li Xuewu seemed to have thought of something and said with a light laugh, "It seems that Director Li is having a run of bad luck this year and has been targeted by petty people."
"What you're saying—" Gao Yaqin couldn't help but glance at him and said, "In your eyes, women and petty people are the same kind of people, right?"
"I hate it when people make a big deal out of nothing."
Li Xuewu picked up the teacup in front of him, took a sip, and said, "Don't add extra entertainment to your life."
"I'll add a program?" Gao Yaqin was both annoyed and amused by his endless quirks. "She's also your nemesis."
"She can't bring me bad luck, I'm lucky."
Li Xuewu raised his head slightly, looking at the acrobats flying up and down with great admiration, and said jokingly, "A tall tree catches the wind, I'm not qualified enough yet."
"Looks like she got ripped off by you last time." Gao Yaqin didn't believe his nonsense at all. She was enjoying the performance and chatting idly with Li Xuewu.
"Alright, you're the only one who can teach her a lesson." She said meaningfully, "This time, let's see how Old Li manages to coax this fly away."
"However, I reckon Director Li is out of options."
She also picked up her teacup and took a sip, then, using the teacup as a cover, said, "Her background and connections are quite extraordinary."
"Is Director Li just average?" Li Xuewu's gaze followed the actors' movements to Gao Yaqin's side, and he said, "I don't think it will be lively. We should trust the old comrades."
"You really are—" Gao Yaqin grinned, wanting to say that he was really sarcastic, but she held back.
If it weren't for him, that reporter Liu wouldn't have shifted his focus to Lao Li; Lao Li was simply taking the blame for him.
She knew, of course, that the relationship between Lao Su and that reporter Liu was unusual and definitely not a simple romantic relationship.
Don't overcomplicate romantic relationships. Middle-aged men and women, especially those of Lao Su's age, are less concerned about such matters than whether there's meat in their lunch.
You might think this is a problem, but they see it as just a way to get closer to each other.
In the Three Kingdoms period, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei kowtowed to the ground and became sworn brothers for a common goal. In the Water Margin, the 108 heroes swore a blood oath for survival, with men and women ranked in order. Surely we can't make things so complicated and troublesome for them.
Men can offer each other cigarettes and play mahjong, but what about men and women?
To put it simply, no relationship is impossible to build from a single encounter. Even if the issue of mutual trust cannot be resolved, it can still provide a certain foundation and emotional value.
When everyone sits together and plots against certain people, there's no need to beat around the bush or put on airs anymore. You tell me, if a single act can save so much trouble, do you think it's worth it?
Old Su would never trust that reporter Liu without a reason, risking providing such detailed information to her.
That reporter Liu wouldn't have been cheering for him for no reason; there must have been some kind of conflict of interest between them.
Who does Lao Su most want to target?
Gao Yaqin would bet Li Xuewu's head that it would definitely not be Li Huaide, who has the highest difficulty level.
Well, she thought Li Xuewu wasn't a good person, but actually she wasn't a good person either.
Why not Li Huaide?
It's very clear that he wanted to target Li Huaide, but he couldn't target him directly, as that would be too underhanded.
Didn't he try anything underhanded back then?
At that time, Li Huaide had not yet fully stabilized the internal structure and organizational relationships of the Hongxing Factory, which was on the verge of spiraling out of control due to its rapid development.
Given the volatile situation at the time, Su Weide did have the idea and the actual action of directly eliminating Li Keqiang and taking over.
However, his plans and actions failed before they even began, and he ended up with nothing but trouble instead of any benefits.
Given the circumstances, Li Xuewu naturally couldn't allow Old Li, his shield and ballast, to have any problems, and Dong Wenxue didn't want to see this situation either, so the two joined forces to support Old Li.
With his own influence, the direct support of the two men, and the trust of Jing Yunong and others, Lao Li almost made Su Weide suffer.
On that occasion, Suvid was summoned for a talk, and after returning, he became much more obedient and did not resort to violence again.
But this old fellow has connections and has come to the Red Star Factory with a specific purpose, so he's not about to back down.
So they stopped playing openly and started playing dirty tricks.
His individual strength was limited, and the fragile foundation he had painstakingly built at the Red Star Factory was uprooted by several people, who even added fuel to the fire, completely extinguishing his hope of cultivating supporters.
Lacking internal support, they had no choice but to seek assistance from the outside.
That's when reporter Liu from the Northern Industry Daily appeared.
Today, the competition for even a pittance after the formal conglomerate's formation is fierce, both openly and covertly.
Lü Yuanshen of Steel & Gas is a case in point. His problems were magnified infinitely and even escalated, which was the inevitable result of this situation.
They'll create problems for you even when there aren't any, and once a problem arises, it's definitely not a small one.
Su Weide disagreed with Li Xuewu going to Liaodong from the beginning, which was tantamount to letting a tiger return to the mountains.
Li Xuewu was transferred from the security system by Li Huaide, and even though he became the secretary-general, he was only a "temporary worker".
If the situation changes, he will have plenty of opportunities to deal with Li Xuewu and eliminate the temporary worker position.
Sending Li Xuewu to Liaodong not only allowed him to take over Dong Wenxue's job, but also gave him the opportunity to hone his skills and gain experience.
At that time, Li Xuewu had lost his foundation, and as a result, that office meeting completely disrupted the management structure of Honggang Group.
Li Xuewu went to Liaodong, quickly opened up the situation, and completely took control of the group's industrial lifeline.
Think about it, Cheng Kaiyuan is the vice president in charge of industrial production in the group, so what's the point of Li Xuewu going to Liaodong?
It was Li Huaide again. This can be considered part of Old Li's plan to cultivate his successor, and it is also a positive incentive and feedback for Li Xuewu's continued support.
It is also a means for Lao Li to control the group's industrial resources.
Who dares to say that Director Li lacks absolute authority in the group's industrial sector?
Don't say that President Li is completely ignorant. As long as Li Xuewu, whom he trusts, understands, that's enough. He'll do whatever Li Xuewu tells him to do, which is equivalent to him having control over these resources.
Having experienced the hardship of Li Xuewu and Dong Wenxue supporting Lao Li's structure, Su Weide clearly realized that if he wanted to replace Lao Li, he had to deal with these two foundations of Lao Li.
Li Xuewu was the furthest from the capital and had just arrived in Liaodong. Since the people's hearts were not yet settled, it was natural to target him first.
As a result, when he slashed down, the other party responded with three electric cannons, completely knocking Liu, the reporter, unconscious.
Left with no other choice, reporter Liu had to sign a humiliating agreement with Li Xuewu in the meeting room.
As long as Li Xuewu is in Liaodong, Liu Hongmei cannot set foot in Liaodong's industrial area.
To put it more specifically, Liu Hongmei cannot attack Li Xuewu at Liaodong Industrial Park, nor can she attack the Liaodong Industrial Park where Li Xuewu works.
Therefore, if Suvid wanted to achieve his goal, he was forced to change direction.
Some people asked, "Isn't reporter Liu a big man? Can't he just back out?"
Well, Liu Hongmei still has some sense of shame.
Su Weide had suggested she do this before, but journalists are intellectuals, and intellectuals always have a bottom line they are reluctant to abandon.
Although this bottom line is lower than that of socks.
If they can't handle Li Xuewu, and Dong Wenxue happens to be in trouble, then they'll keep an eye on Dong Wenxue.
Old Li went to great lengths to protect Dong Wenxue and persisted in doing so, but it was inevitable that he would reveal his weaknesses.
Now that a flaw has been found, reporter Liu has taken notice and started creating trouble for Lao Li, as well as creating opportunities for Su Weide.
What opportunity did Suvid want?
Specifically, the opportunity could have been to become a member of the core leadership team, the reasons for which I will not elaborate on, but the objective was not achieved.
He couldn't criticize Zhou Wanquan, who had just arrived, nor could he attack Gu Weijie, who could become an ally at any time.
Who else can he target now?
Li Huaide has been exposed; he's truly become a shield.
Moreover, Li Xuewu does not intend to take action this time, even if it might involve Dong Wenxue, he will not intervene.
As the saying goes, one thing rises while the other falls; he doesn't want to see Lao Li collapse, and he certainly doesn't want to see Lao Li become arrogant.
Gao Yaqin was inclined to cooperate with Li Xuewu because she had a shallow foundation in Honggang Group.
She didn't have Li Xuewu's experience working at the grassroots level of Honggang Group, and she couldn't compare to Li Xuewu's sense of identity and influence as someone who had been with Honggang Group since he started working and was cultivated by the group from scratch as "one of their own."
Therefore, she firmly believed that Li Xuewu would succeed in Liaodong and return to the group soon, so their relationship became even closer.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have shared this situation with him in this kind of setting.
Li Xuewu didn't care, because he had his own channels to obtain intelligence resources from the changes within the group.
The lack of feedback suggests that the current information exchange system is too underdeveloped and inconvenient.
In later generations, a simple text message saying "There's a mole, stop trading" would solve everything.
Calling Li Xuewu directly to the guesthouse would be inappropriate, as it might leak information, and calling Gu Haitao's home would be even more difficult.
So he watched the performance and Zhang Enyuan found an opportunity to report the news to him.
Of course, this was only one of the reports he gave. Other intelligence included that automotive production engineers and production line technicians from East Germany had arrived in Beijing and had checked into the International Hotel smoothly under the arrangement of the group's foreign affairs office.
Today, engineers and technical teams from other related industrial sectors will also arrive in Beijing.
Honggang Group will arrange for them to liaise with the Foreign Affairs Department to process their work permits in China and provide necessary training.
These tasks must be completed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including the necessary training, which requires them to study the Red Book for a period of time.
Fortunately, they came from East Germany, so learning these things wasn't difficult for them.
***
"If the Vehicle Engineering Research Institute and Steel & Automotive can fully grasp the technology within two years and upgrade it in conjunction with existing technologies."
Li Xuewu pointed to Wang Qiong, the deputy general manager of the automobile sales branch who was attending the meeting, and emphasized: "Within three years, you must be prepared to market a series of automobile brands."
"Is it a model upgrade or the development of a completely new model?"
Wang Qiong asked with a smile, "Boss, if you could give us a hint, the information would definitely be more accurate."
"How could this be a multiple-choice question!"
Li Xuewu pretended to be displeased and scolded her, then said with a smile, "Of course we want both."
"We need to upgrade the overall architecture and core power system of existing models, and also design and develop new models for untapped markets."
He looked at the other cadres sitting in the lounge who were participating in the symposium and said, "Now tell me, how many models of vehicles are currently in production in the group?"
"Actually, there are many, right? The coverage is quite wide."
Li Xuewu shrugged and said, "Besides buses and luxury cars, what else do we produce?"
"We have a whole series in the motorcycle field and a complete development plan in the off-road vehicle field."
He counted on his fingers and said, "The Antelope is definitely our flagship product, right? Beijing Automotive is keeping a close eye on us."
"Hahaha—" Laughter instantly filled the reception room, and the cadres passing by in the corridor couldn't help but peek inside. It was indeed interesting to be in a place where the secretary-general was.
"Let me tell you, the police Prairie Tiger is also a flagship product, and your sales department should pay attention to this model."
"Sir, the performance of the Steppe Tiger is only average."
An executive from a car sales company remarked, "We've also noticed that it's not very competitive during the sales process."
“I know, but this is temporary.”
Li Xuewu nodded at him, then looked at the others and explained, "After mastering the technology, the next step is to upgrade and replace the existing models."
"Moreover, we have an advantage because we have an independent production system. After separating the production lines for sedans and SUVs, the production costs of the relevant models can be reduced to a certain extent."
He pointed at the cadre who had just spoken and asked, "So, what do you think we can do after production costs are reduced?"
"Lower prices to increase competitiveness." That was the answer the official gave almost off the cuff.
Li Xuewu smiled without saying a word, but instead looked at Wang Qiong sitting next to him.
Wang Qiong blushed slightly as she said, "We can't lower the price; instead, we need to accumulate resources and increase our investment in technological research and development."
“This is it.” Li Xuewu pointed at her, looked in the direction of the cadre from before, and said seriously, “Lowering prices is the most basic marketing tactic.”
"I'm not belittling price wars, but they have inherent flaws. Back then, Red Star Antelope needed to open up the market, so we did it, and what was the result?"
He spread his hands and looked at the cadres around him, saying, "Has the Antelope model still not generated much profit for the group to this day?"
"If the Steppe Tiger can improve its competitiveness, I'd be more generous not to raise the price, let alone lower it."
Li Xuewu pointed with his finger and emphasized, "These are vehicles for procurement purposes, not civilian cars. The customer's focus is not on price, but on the after-sales service system we are building, and our absolute technological advantage."
"Steel & Automotive is going to launch the Tundra truck this year. Now I'm asking you, what is its sales strategy?"
There was a moment of silence in the meeting room as everyone pondered the question. Some people may have thought of something, but dared not speak.
"It's for military use, this is a military vehicle."
Li Xuewu didn't make things difficult for them, and bluntly said: "Its unique modular design is simply impossible to apply to the civilian market. You need to focus your efforts on the military market."
“But…” a sales manager stood up and asked, “This kind of procurement goes through the final assembly line, right? We don’t have the resources or connections for that.”
“You’re wrong again—” Li Xuewu waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit down first, then pointed at Wang Qiong and asked, “Do you know why?”
"The colleagues in the International Business Division should take note." Wang Qiong nodded and said to the cadres in the International Business Division, "After you come down, you should conduct a survey to see which markets can accept Tundra cars."
"The relevant technical parameters should be available soon. There's no need to ask about the prototype, since there are real-world case studies available."
She decisively instructed, "If you encounter any doubts during the sales process, show them that day's newspaper."
Is the Tundra really going to be released?
Sha Qizhi, who had come to the symposium with him, looked at Li Xuewu and asked for confirmation: "Didn't you say it would be a few years later?"
"After a trip to East Germany, many research and development problems have been solved." Li Xuewu nodded and explained, "Germany does indeed have a rich foundation in this area."
"Combining the technologies from Japan and France, SteelCar has made a firm commitment to get the Tundra online this year."
"Then Art's order is expected to be delivered."
Sha Qizhi had been to the port city many times, so he naturally knew about the local tycoon, At, and had even had many dealings with him.
"However, I'm not sure if the other party is currently willing to proceed with this order."
He explained to Li Xuewu in a low voice, "I heard that At is building some kind of network in the Middle East and North Africa, but I don't know much about it. It seems that they haven't shown any intention of making purchases recently."
"Contact Mr. Ji of the Port Authority of Prince and ask him if he can get in touch with Art."
Li Xuewu nodded at him and instructed, "If Art can use the first batch of Tundra vehicles on the battlefield, the feedback will be the most authentic, and the advertising effect will be the best."
"But you also need to be careful to teach them how to use this car, so as not to waste its potential and create reverse advertising."
"Don't worry, this car is too valuable; most people can't even get their hands on it." Sha Qizhi nodded and said, "I'll start making preparations as soon as I get off."
"Yes, and land cruisers too."
Li Xuewu looked at him and said, "Trabet has solved almost all the problems we encountered in one go. The automotive industry will definitely experience explosive growth within one or two years."
"Don't let habits hold you back."
He smiled and advised, "Don't limit your focus to the smallest details; you can sell ships too, just as you sell cars."
"I'm afraid that Geely Star Ships will get annoyed."
Sha Qizhi watched Wang Qiong and the other cadres speak and discuss, and took the opportunity to chat with Li Xuewu for a few minutes.
It's not easy for him to see Li Xuewu now, especially since opportunities to chat like this are rare.
After attending several symposiums with sales companies, Li Xuewu and his two companions represented the group company at a regional cadre work conference.
The three of them did not intend to stay in Jinling for long, and set off back to the capital on the morning of the third day.
Li Shu and Li Ning also tearfully bid farewell to their maternal grandparents and embarked on their journey home with their father.
When are Grandma and Grandpa going back to Beijing?
Li Shu, sitting on the plane, wiped away her tears and asked, "I miss them now."
Li Xuewu chuckled as he wiped away his daughter and son's tears. He then took the warm towel that Zhou Xiaoling thoughtfully brought and used it to wipe the children's faces and hands before saying, "Your grandparents will be back the next time you miss them."
This is a difficult question to answer, because during the conversation between the father-in-law and son-in-law last night, Li Xuewu advised his father-in-law against "returning to the martial arts world" and making a comeback.
Even if he was certain that his father-in-law would only last until next year at the latest, he at least didn't put too much pressure on him.
Some things are better left unexpected, or rather, they are best encountered unexpectedly or within one's expectations.
No one wants their arrangements to be exposed, and even less does anyone want their subordinates to over-analyze the purpose of those arrangements.
Therefore, Li Xuewu hoped that his father-in-law would maintain a calm and stable attitude in dealing with this arrangement.
Considering his father-in-law's age and past achievements, as well as his personality and work ability, how could the higher-ups possibly allow him to take a long break?
These past few years in Jinling have been quite extraordinary. Amidst the upheavals, some people couldn't even take care of themselves, let alone make arrangements for him.
However, he will never be forgotten, because Gu Haitao did not fade into obscurity or encounter hardship.
He voluntarily stepped down from the second line due to health reasons, but those who are now on the front line are even a generation older than him. How long can he stay on the second line?