Ultimate Firepower
Chapter 456 - 436: Internal Strife

Chapter 456: Chapter 436: Internal Strife

People are meant to grow.

Things that Feng Biao didn’t know before, he knows now, and likewise for principles he didn’t understand, he grasps some of it — not much, but indeed some.

For instance, the trade of military arms isn’t something that you can simply buy if you want to buy, or sell if you want to sell.

Some weapons, no matter how much money you offer, cannot be sold by others, like Russia’s Baiyang Missile, the Tu-160 Bomber, and also the Typhoon-class Nuclear Submarine. Even when Russia was impoverished, they didn’t sell these items.

These strategic weapons are the cornerstone of a superpower; if they were to proliferate worldwide, could the great powers still be considered great?

In the same vein, the United States hasn’t sold the F-22 Fighter to date, and it’s even less likely they’d sell the B-2 Bomber, not to mention nuclear submarines are out of the question.

What they do sell are the monkey models with reduced capabilities; the aircraft and tanks that the Soviet Union used to sell to other countries were such monkey models, meaning they were a notch inferior to the weapons they used themselves, looked like the real deal but weren’t quite it, hence the name.

However, as one of the two superpowers back then, the United States was actually more conscientious when selling arms. Their weapons largely maintained their original performance, but as a result, they were much more expensive than the Soviet models.

But all this is digressing; the crux is, arms trading isn’t just about buying and selling rifles, ammunition, and Hand Grenades.

Selling military arms requires the green light from the nation; clearly, you can’t sell to hostile countries, and conversely, hostile countries won’t be willing to buy either.

For those strategic weapons, sales also depend on the relationship between countries, with allies and friendly countries willing to trade with each other. Hostile nations are off limits, and for neutral countries, there might be transactions for less crucial or outdated weaponry depending on the situation.

Northeastern University is different now.

It used to be an importer of weapons, incapable of manufacturing anything on its own and depending solely on purchases. If other countries had any advanced equipment, all Northeastern University could do was to look on enviously, unable to produce or even acquire it.

But now things have changed.

Decades of modest and silent toil, and suddenly, everything is available. Not only filling in gaps where needed but what’s key is becoming a leader in certain areas.

Let’s not even talk about those highly advanced land-based missiles or strategic missiles; just take Anti-ship Missiles, Air Defense Missiles, and Air-to-Air Missiles, in these areas, Northeastern University has suddenly taken the lead globally.

Don’t be unconvinced, it’s truly ahead of the world.

And the most lethal aspect is that the products are high quality, reasonable in cost, and available in abundant supply.

So now it’s Northeastern University’s turn to pick and choose its customers.

Can’t sell to the unfriendly, unwilling to give free aid; talking about selling arms is actually a means of exporting emotional values.

Currently, a factory deputy general manager, with anti-piracy missiles clearly intended for fishermen, approaches Teacher Mu, asking him to help sell them.

Is this selling military arms?

It’s clearly buying influence.

It’s not selling, it’s buying!

If you don’t understand this relationship in trading, you won’t grasp the international happenings.

Now, Feng Biao kind of understands a bit of the principles involved, so he knows this is definitely not just selling some civilian rockets.

Then here comes the question.

Why? What’s the reason?

What is Feng Biao’s merit or capability, what are Gao Yi’s merits and capabilities, that they have caught someone’s attention?

If this were in the past, Feng Biao wouldn’t have thought too much about it, but since he’s returned and received such treatment, which has slightly startled him, he now feels that he’s still of use.

He must be cautious, not rush to agree; Gao Yi entrusted him to make the decision, so Feng Biao has to be even more careful and cannot cause trouble for Gao Yi.

That’s why Feng Biao didn’t rush to agree, but said he’d ask first.

Afterward, Feng Biao changed the subject, but with a curious expression, he asked, "Mr. Xu, I’m just curious about one thing, these container missiles..."

"They’re not missiles, they’re rockets, civilian exploration rockets."

It’s not that Feng Biao was nitpicking, but he felt that lying so blatantly face to face was pointless. Why insist on calling a missile a rocket?

"Exploring what?"

"Exploring ships, just like how a weather balloon explores the air, they don’t have any offensive capabilities."

"And after they’re detected?"

"Then it depends on the users’ needs. This is a civilian product, but if the customer insists on installing 165 kilograms of high explosives in these exploration rockets, that’s beyond what we can manage."

Feng Biao watched Xu Feng intently, his eyes unwavering and fixed on him.

Xu Feng appeared at ease, yet the unblinking stare from the sniper eventually made him, a techie, concede and shift his gaze to the side.

Only after Feng Biao had watched Xu Feng to the point of discomfort did he finally say, "I can try asking around, but we better be clear and open about it. Let’s not beat around the bush. If I’m not clear about the ins and outs of this, then I can hardly speak up about it."

Feng Biao then turned to Teacher Mu, speaking in a low voice, "I don’t understand anything about civilian rockets. For exporting such large equipment, don’t you need some kind of permit?"

Teacher Mu responded with a smile, "Of course! How could you possibly sell it haphazardly without an export permit?"

Feng Biao immediately said, "Then I’m even more confused. If you have the export permit, why come to me?"

Teacher Mu sighed and said, "You see, you’re overthinking this. Didn’t I say earlier that an old friend came to us for help? I really can’t refuse to assist. Old Xu, explain it to him."

Xu Feng exclaimed with a realization, "Mr. Feng, you’re overthinking it. Did you think we were conducting some under-the-table sale? No, it’s not like that at all."

Feng Biao was puzzled and asked, "Oh? Then what is it?"

"Hey, it’s internal competition—self-cannibalization!"

Xu Feng began to vent his frustrations helplessly.

"To tell you the truth, our products are second-tier domestically; it’s all mature technology, but the country isn’t interested. So we had to carve out a new path for ourselves. After miniaturization and integration, we targeted the international market, but we can’t compete with the big players out there either."

Xu Feng sighed and continued, "The company needs to survive, workers need to eat. We obtained the export permit and we’re using the official trading channels. It’s not like we can just sell to whoever we want to sell. Ultimately, the product has to be handed over to an import-export company to handle sales and collections for us. So, for us to sell our product, there has to be a customer who is willing and interested, to begin with."

Spreading his hands, Xu Feng went on, "When it comes to price, we don’t have the advantage because this is a newly developed product that currently has no users. Without users, we have no funds for production, and even if we have customers, because of the low production volume, we can’t push down the price of purchasing components and raw materials. So our costs across the board are much higher than our competitors."

Regarding customers, after converting from military to civilian production, our factory produces civilian equipment, and we have no fixed customers. The most crucial point is, we have no domestic users to promote us, making our products even harder to sell."

"Therefore, in terms of performance, our product isn’t superior; price-wise, it’s twenty percent higher than similar products. As a result, it’s genuinely difficult to make sales."

Feng Biao nodded and said, "Oh, so that’s how it is."

Xu Feng said earnestly, "We’re looking for a way out, but the domestic market is so cutthroat now. Since we can’t compete in cost and technology, we have to work on addressing customer needs and solving their pressing issues. That’s why we launched this highly integrated, miniaturized, and automated product. But this narrows down our potential customer base even more."

Feng Biao nodded, whispering, "Hmm, hard to imagine who would buy it."

"Actually, there are customers."

Xu Feng glanced at Mu Tianwen, then continued, "It’s not necessarily about delivering the product directly to the user, but instead to the customer, and the customer decides how to use it before choosing the end user."

Feng Biao’s mind couldn’t quite grasp the concept of customers and users.

It took Teacher Mu, who cleared his throat and explained, "Hey, it’s like manufacturers selling to wholesalers, and the wholesalers decide who gets to use it."

Feng Biao suddenly understood, but he immediately asked, "Oh, I see. So this wholesaler... his surname is Sha?"

"Correct! That’s the idea. This wholesaler is an old client, an old friend. How he wants to use it, that’s his business."

After a moment’s thought, Feng Biao said, "So, the issue isn’t whether or not you can sell, but rather that you’re allowed to sell, yet can’t find buyers?"

"Exactly. To be frank, it’s just that Old Xu’s factory doesn’t have strong competitiveness, which is why they’re looking to leverage relationships and directly engage with customers. At the very least, let potential customers see and understand the product’s capabilities and features. If they don’t want it, so be it, but if they do, then it’s a deal!"

Teacher Mu provided the definitive answer.

It’s because the internal competition is so fierce and cutthroat that they’re trying to find a connection, a way through.

With no more doubts, Feng Biao immediately said, "You should have said so earlier! There’s no need to hide anything."

Xu Feng insisted, "That won’t do! We can’t do that. We’re still reliant on civilian products... we’re sustaining ourselves with civilian products. If we were to... it would be very troublesome. We can’t lose our civilian product export market. So now we can only sell civilian goods, no matter what, they have to be civilian! Mr. Feng, whether we can get the first order and possibly convert back to military production later is challenging, but as long as we have the funds and succeed in the transition, then we really have a chance!"

Xu Feng appeared ambitious.

Indeed, the first step is often the hardest. Nowadays, Feng Biao wouldn’t be overly impressed by one or two hundred million dollars, but one hundred million dollars might be a lifeline for a factory.

It seems Xu Feng has approached the right path. Without saying anything else, just for Teacher Mu’s sake, Feng Biao decided on the matter.

"Just to send over information, right? Give me the electronic version, and I guarantee that by tomorrow... Mr. Sha will see it. I can’t promise he will buy, but I can assure you he will lay eyes on it."

Whether he buys it or not is another matter, but given Gao Yi’s relationship, Shaman will definitely take a look at what’s sent over.

Xu Feng was overjoyed, grabbing the liquor and pouring a full glass. Standing up with the glass in hand, he said, "Then we rely entirely on Mr. Feng. Thank you for extending a hand, and thanks to Old Qin for your righteous assistance. On behalf of all fifty-two people from our institute, I thank you both. Here’s to you."

Feng Biao blinked, expressing surprise, "How many? Fifty-six? Just fifty-two? Is... Is your factory legitimate?"