industrial overlord

Chapter 716 Letter of Commitment

When Cisse vowed to revive the American manufacturing industry, Lin Zhenhua was sitting with his old friend Ford in an office building belonging to the Navy by the Huangpu River, signing an agreement on the United States importing two experimental helium turbines from China.

As the key equipment in the fourth generation of nuclear power, helium turbines are currently only manufactured in China.The United States is planning to develop the fourth-generation nuclear power technology, and the helium turbines needed can only be imported from China.According to Ford, if the operation of the two experimental units is satisfactory, the two parties may sign a longer-term contract in the future.

"Lin, I really didn't expect that the company under your command has developed to such an extent. It really surprises me that cutting-edge technologies such as helium turbines were developed by your company. I remember that I met you more than 20 years ago. When you were there, you were just a... By the way, you said, you were just a porter at that time."

After signing the main documents, Ford asked his staff to complete the signing of other documents. Then, holding a cup of coffee, he walked to the window near the river with Lin Zhenhua, looked at the scenery outside the window, and chatted. gossip.

Lin Zhenhua laughed and said, "Ford, don't just talk about me. More than 20 years ago, weren't you just a small technician? But now, you are the deputy secretary of the US Department of Commerce. To be honest, your transformation Isn't the range too big?"

"It's thanks to your help," said Ford.

Lin Zhenhua knew Ford in the early 80s. At that time, Ford, as a technician of Spischer Company, directed the use of CNC machine tools in the Jiangnan Provincial Petrochemical Machinery Factory.Relying on the knowledge acquired by his later generations, Lin Zhenhua knocked a sum of money from the Spischer Company, and got the first pot of gold after time travel.It was in this matter that the two began to form a relationship.

Since then, under Lin Zhenhua's instigation, Ford has gradually changed from a pure technician to an agent of Hanhua in overseas markets, helping Hanhua to make connections, facilitated many transactions, and earned a lot of commissions for himself.After tasting the sweetness, Ford simply abandoned his profession and became a congressman. He played a lot of roles in the US trade affairs with China, especially in promoting the American Agricultural Association to export wheat and soybeans to China. In the limelight.

Because of these performances, he was favored by the previous president and arranged to be the deputy minister of the Ministry of Commerce, realizing the transformation from a member of parliament to a government official.

Ford knew very well that Lin Zhenhua's support was inseparable from his smooth career.Many of his achievements in trade with China have benefited from his good relationship with Lin Zhenhua, so he has always believed that Lin Zhenhua is the person who has helped him the most in his career.

Hearing Ford's thanks, Lin Zhenhua waved his hands and said, "We are all friends, so why not help? To be honest, your position in the Ministry of Commerce is of great benefit to our cooperation. Yes Now, will your position be affected by the change of US president this time?"

Ford smiled mysteriously and said in a low voice: "Lin, we are old friends. To tell you the truth, if Cisse can be elected this time, I will become the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce. He has already talked to me , he is very optimistic about my experience in the manufacturing industry, and hopes that this experience can help him in governing."

"So, does Cisse really want to make a fuss in the manufacturing industry?" Lin Zhenhua asked.Regarding Cisse's election platform, many media in China have also hyped it very much, and even Pin Tuzi's theory of China's rust has been enthusiastically praised by many public figures.

It seems presumptuous for Lin Zhenhua to raise this issue directly to the future US Secretary of Commerce.But the relationship between Lin Zhenhua and Ford is not only at the diplomatic and business level. You must know that Ford still holds the original stock of Hanhua Machine Tool Company, which is one of Lin Zhenhua’s partners. What can’t be said between them? of?
"Indeed." Ford said, "Cisse proposed to revive the American manufacturing industry. His campaign team took this as a very important weight, thinking that this formulation could impress a considerable part of the American people, and at the same time, it would also serve him well. Win the support of the manufacturing group."

"Is it a campaign slogan, or is it a real plan to be implemented in the future?" Lin Zhenhua asked.

Ford laughed: "Lin, it seems that you still know a lot about our American election politics."

Lin Zhenhua said: "Say one thing and do another. Isn't this what your country's presidential candidates are used to? I didn't come up with this statement. It's often said in your media."

"Yes, yes." Ford nodded, "Our president will always say that this is for the needs of the election, and it has to be said. As for whether to do it in the end, it's another matter. However, about Cisse did not just talk about revitalizing the manufacturing industry, as far as I know, he does have this plan, which is also his ideal all the time. If he can be elected, I think he will do it. "

"He will definitely be elected." Lin Zhenhua said, "In other words, the United States is indeed going to launch a plan to revive the manufacturing industry."

Ford looked at Lin Zhenhua in surprise, and asked, "Lin, why are you so sure that Cisse will be elected? By the way, I remember that many years ago, you paid attention to Cisse. At that time, you gave him funding, did you believe that he could be elected as the President of the United States at that time? Oh, sweetie, can I think you understand traditional Chinese witchcraft?"

"Hehe, it's just a coincidence." Lin Zhenhua quickly concealed it. He found that after he traveled over, he changed a lot of history, but there were also many things that remained unchanged.For example, Cisse did participate in the 56th US presidential election, and if nothing else happens, he should be able to be elected.

Ford is not a superstitious person. He said that Lin Zhenhua knew witchcraft, which was just a joke.After joking a few words, he returned to Lin Zhenhua's question, shook his head and said, "Although Cisse has such determination, I am not optimistic about it. I don't think the United States has any hope of revitalizing the manufacturing industry."

"Why?" Lin Zhenhua asked curiously. The person in front of him is the future Secretary of Commerce of the United States and an important member of Cisse's ruling team, but he is so unfavorable about Cisse's plan.

Ford said: "Lin, I'm a technology person. I know that the manufacturing industry can't be stimulated by one or two empty plans. It needs a market and capital. Now the Chinese occupy the world's industrial products. In the market, American companies cannot compete with Chinese companies in terms of cost, which determines that the American manufacturing industry has no room for development at all.

In addition, Cisse proposed to compete with China in wind power and solar energy, and proposed to develop the best technology.But the development of technology needs financial support, and I don't think Congress can agree that he should allocate enough funds to support these two industries.Therefore, even if he has such determination, it is impossible to have such strength to complete the goal of revitalizing the manufacturing industry. "

Lin Zhenhua couldn't help laughing: "Ford, if Cisse knew that you commented on his ambition, would he still let you be the Minister of Commerce?"

Ford shrugged and said, "I won't say these things to him. Lin, we are friends, so I will tell you these things. I think America has passed its heyday, and it's time to turn the stage It’s time for emerging countries. The United States only needs to maintain its existing industries, which is enough to make the American people live a very rich life. I think that cracking down on those robbers on Wall Street can improve the welfare of the American people more than revitalizing the manufacturing industry. .

To compete with emerging countries for industrial dominance requires citizens to be willing to endure hardships and put in more effort than ever before.But in the United States, sorry, there are not many people who are willing to do this. "

People like Ford have implemented the spirit of pragmatism in American society to the extreme. They don't care whether they are patriotic or not, they just care about how much benefit they can get.It is said that this is also the idea of ​​Western philosophy: everyone is for himself, and God is for everyone.

In fact, not only in the United States, but also in China, this kind of self-centered thinking has gradually become the mainstream. People care more about their own gains and losses in daily life, and the country no longer blindly requires people to "dedicate".To put it bluntly, this can be regarded as a kind of progress.A society cannot always require the people to contribute. The ultimate goal of development is to let the people live a good life.

"Ford, thank you for your frankness." Lin Zhenhua said.

Ford continued: "I know more about the current state of American manufacturing than Cisse. The technological advantages of the United States have been formed in the past 100 years. In the words of your Chinese, a lean camel is bigger than a horse. But in In terms of emerging industries, the advantages of the United States are not obvious. For example, in the fourth-generation nuclear power technology, China has already moved ahead of the United States. You have already put the helium turbine technology into practice, while in the United States, it is not even in the laboratory. success has not yet been achieved.”

"Oh, that's right!" Hearing Ford's words, Lin Zhenhua remembered something again. He hurriedly dragged Ford to a soldier in a navy uniform, and said, "Ford, I remembered, there is still a relationship between us." There is a very important document that has not been signed. This is Mr. Chang Qingbo, the technical representative of the military, and this document needs to be signed between you and him.”

"Military?" Ford was a little puzzled, "Why does our cooperation involve the military?"

Chang Qingbo smiled and said, "Mr. Ford, it is precisely because the cooperation between you and Chairman Lin does not involve the military that there is a document that requires you to sign. Please see..."

As he said that, he handed a few pages of paper to Ford. Ford took a look and couldn't help laughing. It turned out that this was a letter of commitment with a lot of content written in it. It boiled down to one meaning: the US side promised not to The first purchased helium gas turbines and resulting technology are used for military purposes.

"Uh...is this necessary?" Ford looked at Lin Zhenhua and asked dully.

Chang Qingbo said: "Mr. Ford, please don't mind, this is just a routine matter. You know, when we imported equipment from your country, we signed at least hundreds of such commitment letters."

When Chang Qingbo said this, he felt very emotional.In the past, when China introduced technology from the West, there was no time when Western manufacturers did not impose such requirements.In order to prevent the Chinese from using advanced equipment imported from the West for military industry, Western companies even forcibly installed automatic recorders and GPS positioning systems on these equipment.The other party will often come to check to see if these equipment have processed parts related to military purposes, and whether they have been moved to other places.

If the skills are not as good as others, they can only accept such insulting terms.Now, it is finally the turn of the Chinese to get the Americans to sign such a pledge.

Hanhua developed helium gas turbines originally to power domestic nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, so it belongs to military technology.But the helium turbines that Ford purchased this time are used in the fourth-generation nuclear power plants, and have nothing to do with the military.The nuclear power technology of the US aircraft carrier is mature, and it is impossible to replace the helium turbine for a period of time in the future. Therefore, it has no practical significance for China to ask Ford to sign a letter of commitment that the equipment will not be used for military purposes. To put it bluntly, it is purely for the sake of Just disgusting people.

However, even if it is a disgusting person, Lin Zhenhua will do the same.After being aggrieved for so many years, I finally have a chance to vent my anger, so why not do it?You know, when it comes to international issues, Lin Zhenhua has never been a broad-minded person.He himself often said that when dealing with imperialist countries, one should not do good things because they are small, and don’t do bad things because they are small... I don’t know if Liu Da Er saw his famous sayings distorted like this, would he travel to find Lin Zhenhua? settle accounts.

"Ford, I remember you said that these devices will not be used for military purposes, is that true?" Lin Zhenhua was beating the side drum.

"That's true," said Ford. "We're only going to use them for civilian nuclear power. Besides, we have no plans to use helium turbine technology for military use at all."

Lin Zhenhua said: "Since that's the case, what's the trouble for you to sign this letter of commitment?"

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about." Ford sighed, and the boss reluctantly took a pen, signed his name on the letter of commitment, and said, "I just think that such a letter of promise is...uh , I think I should be the first American business representative to sign such a letter of commitment?"

"I believe that you will not be the last." Lin Zhenhua smiled and took back the letter of commitment and handed it to Chang Qingbo.

"Lin, this is not the way to treat friends." Ford complained full of grievances.

Lin Zhenhua patted Ford on the shoulder and said: "Ford, you think too much, this is not for you to see, this is a congratulatory gift for Cisse. Maybe, stimulated by this incident, he can still Be even more determined."

(End of this chapter)