Chapter 583: 3 sentences, let the French spend 18 billion for me

While Chang Haonan was stationed in Shengjing to solve the precision casting problems encountered in the two projects at hand, his other layouts were also continuing to advance in different ways...

A few days later, Bingcheng was 500 kilometers away from Shengjing.

An A340 passenger plane painted with Air France's iconic three-color EU paint slowly landed on the runway of Yanjiagang Airport.

At this time in 1998, the domestic aviation business was not very busy. Even cities like Bingcheng, which was located in the center of the region, were far from the continuous flights that would be seen in later generations.

Especially in the early morning or after dark, the tarmac can even look a bit deserted.

Moreover, such a big guy equipped with four engines is rarely seen here.

In fact, it is not difficult to judge from the name that Yanjiagang Airport does not have customs and border inspection facilities. It stands to reason that it cannot handle international flights and can only fly domestic routes.

However, this A340 is obviously not an ordinary commercial flight.

As it slowly drove from the taxiway onto the apron, a convoy of several minibuses and cars of different models drove over from a short distance away.

A few minutes later, the ramp car docked at the aircraft door, and a group of foreigners in suits and ties filed out of it and descended to the ground along the steps.

The leader shook hands with a Chinese man who had just gotten out of the back seat of the car and was approaching.

"Hello, Mr. Le Maire, welcome to lead your team to Ice City."

Cui Wenxue is slightly shorter than Le Maire, but he is no less imposing:

"Wish we can co-operate well."

"Nice to meet you too, Mr. Cui, happy working with you."

After the leaders on both sides said hello, others behind them also exchanged ritual greetings for a while.

It was a bit cool in the April morning in Bingcheng. Cui Wenxue even had some cotton-padded clothes prepared to prevent these Europeans from coming from afar from getting cold and blowing up the already secure cooperation.

This was a project that Mr. Chang had personally taken care of and even given him tips on. He must not screw it up.

After all, Bingfei Group and Cui Wenxue himself have to rely on each other for their status.

However, the temperature in Paris is actually not optimistic at this time of year, so these preparations are useless.

Even so, standing on the tarmac chatting all the time is not a good idea, so after a brief conversation, Cui Wenxue still motioned to his staff to take people to the car.

It's depressing to say that although Bingfei Automobile has developed prosperously under his leadership, when there is an occasion, Bingfei still has to use the car he bought from others to do things.

You can't let the distinguished guests travel on the Songhua River bun.

This has always been a worry for Cui Wenxue.

However, at the moment, the country's tendency in the automobile industry is that the "three big and three small" companies are enough. Although there are already more than the six companies that have started building cars, Bingfei, who has little political resources, wants to start from The transition from mini-cars to the larger passenger car market is not easy.

The only thing he can count on now is the big tree Chang Haonan.

According to some rumors, the latter has a considerable say in the newly established Equipment Industry Department.

And although Chang Haonan has never directly participated in any of Bingfei's projects, Cui Wenxue is still keenly aware that the other party is still very concerned about his situation.

"Mr. Le Maire, we have already read the cooperation invitation and related materials you sent. We can start discussing the specific details when we arrive."

"This is not urgent..."

Flamel, uncharacteristically, did not continue:

"This is my first time coming to China. At least on the way, I'd better not talk about work first..."

In fact, in addition to being an aircraft designer, he is also a history buff.

Before coming to China this time, Le Maire had learned a lot about the situation with friends who participated in last year's negotiations, especially the part where the European delegation was taken out to visit the monuments.

He felt that he should have a chance this time.

But it is obvious that the French clearly lack the concept of China——

Last time Le Maire's colleagues went to Haojing, which is about 2000 kilometers away from Bingcheng.

And France spans only 1000 kilometers from east to west and from north to south...

But Cui Wenxue didn't know this. He just thought it was the first time for a foreigner to come to China and wanted to see the street scene, so he asked the driver to take the motorcade around a few times.

As a result, the more Flamel looked at it along the way, the more he felt that something was not right.

Why does it feel like going home...

"Is this your art museum here?"

He asked, pointing to a magnificent palace-like building under the rising sun.

Cui Wenxin said, "I didn't even know we had an art museum here. Curiously, I bent down and glanced out the window, only to realize that the other person was pointing at Bingcheng Pharmaceutical Factory No. 6..."

"Ah... no, this is our pharmaceutical factory, which produces medicines."

Flamel opened his mouth, but in the end nothing came out.

Cui Wenxue next to him was a little worried that Bingcheng's relatively chaotic urban planning and the relatively poor public security and sanitation conditions in the old city would embarrass China, but seeing the French guy next to him acting like a countryman entering the city, it didn't matter. Worried...

Chinese people in this era generally wear several layers of filters when it comes to foreign situations.

In fact, for Le Maire, the new Paris flag is white.

乱？

Chaos is the only way to go!

After going all this way, Flamel quickly lost interest.

But no matter how boring my request was, I couldn't give in, so I had no choice but to force myself all the way to Bingfei Group.

Then, the two sides came to the conference room that had been prepared long ago, set up their positions, and sat down separately.

The cooperation intention between the two parties has been determined during the previous contact process, so there is basically no need to test it in today's meeting.

"Cui..."

After a brief opening remarks, Le Maire wanted to speak, but as soon as he uttered a syllable, he was overtaken by the other party.

"Mr. Le Maire, since we want to cooperate, we must first show some sincerity."

Cui Wenxue said as he dug out some information he had received before, as well as some technical documents related to Zhi-9:

"According to calculations by our technicians, there are some systemic flaws in your design method of the helicopter transmission system."

"Originally, this problem was discovered by us on the Z-9, which was your AS365 helicopter that was introduced before. It was just treated as an example at first, so it was solved without taking it seriously. But after seeing After you recently sent us the information, we performed back-calculations based on the performance calibration above and found that similar defects still exist, but to varying degrees."

"As a partner, I think we should let you know about this situation as early as possible and make corrections in time to avoid causing greater losses."

Three sentences immediately confused the French delegation opposite.

Do you call this showing sincerity?

Why do I feel like I'm showing off?

Yes, our products are defective and we know it.

But to be brought up in such a brazen manner seems a bit like trying to kill someone.

Also, what do you mean by "not taking it too seriously after solving it easily"?

Do you know that we did not solve this problem until the third improved version of Dolphin?

Be yourself!

Do you still want us to express our gratitude?

impossible!

However, having said that, there is nothing the French can do to refute.

There is a problem with dolphins.

As for whether NH90 has the same problem...

Originally they thought it didn't exist.

But after the Chinese people said this, I am not so sure now...

After all, the first two prototypes of this aircraft had already been tested and had a lot of problems.

As a result, the atmosphere was so deadlocked for a while.

"Mr. Flamel, I know you are in a hurry, but please don't be anxious yet."

Cui Wenxue, who had the head start, took out the cooperation plan that he had already prepared and handed it over in one portion per person:

"We have prepared two ways of cooperation. Which one do you like more? We will discuss it in detail based on that one."

Flamel's momentum was now half weakened. In order to avoid being unable to get off the stage, he quickly distributed the plan to other people in the same party, and then opened the one in front of him.

This one is more of a supply contract than a cooperation plan.

Bingcheng Aircraft Industry Group has promised to help Eurocopter Group design two new sets of technical solutions for the AS365N2 and NH90, including the transmission system, front fuselage, main rotor and tail rotor, with a quotation of US$18 billion.

However, if euros enter circulation during the execution of this project, the equivalent amount of euros can be used for payment.

"Mr. Cui, this quotation is really outrageous..."

Everyone in Flamel was dumbfounded:

"Your country introduced all the technology of the Super Hornet helicopter, plus 14 complete aircraft, for a total cost of less than 1.8 million US dollars..."

Eurocopter does not lack the US$18 billion.

The problem is that as NH90 is a military project, other places can turn a blind eye, but the expenditure must be audited.

When the time comes, someone from the Ministry of National Defense will come to check the accounts and find that good guys, we designed a military helicopter, and you clearly gave the Chinese 18 billion...

I'm afraid I won't be able to get rid of the communist hat.

"After all, that was twenty years ago, and the U.S. dollar back then and the U.S. dollar now are obviously not the same thing..."

Cui Wenxue’s rebuttal was clear and logical:

"Besides, don't you know better than me what the specific situation of Super Hornet is?"

"Your country's own aviation force refuses to use it. If our country hadn't been in urgent need of a medium-sized helicopter to perform ocean missions, that model wouldn't even be worth 1.8 million..."

"..."

Once the fire started, a dozen French people on the opposite side remained silent.

After all, they really don't care about this.

To put it bluntly, it was because China didn't know much about the business and used some tricks to sell the aircraft.

Flamel, who was a little dizzy, just felt that something was not right.

As soon as they entered this conference room today, the situation developed in a direction that was completely uncontrollable for them...