Vladimir was an eye-opener this time.

As a veteran of the Great Patriotic War, he had the impression that China had always seemed to be the country that relied on the Soviet Union to build an industrial system.

The Sino-Soviet controversy and the subsequent border conflict made it impossible for the Soviet Union to have much positive propaganda about China. Even in the late eighties, relations between the two countries were normalized and exchanges gradually increased, and the impression of many Soviets about China was not reversed.

It is conceivable that when Vladimir learned what was going on inside this so-called "Minsk space agency", he could not help but be surprised.

"Although Russia has inherited most of the Soviet legacy, its economic capacity has weakened greatly because of the reforms. As for Kazakhstan, it also does not have the plans and capabilities to maintain Baikonur. If this trend continues, it is conceivable that we will not only lose all aviation achievements, including Mir, but will also decline to the point where the space field is not worth mentioning. ”

"Oh my God, this is a disaster!" Vladimir knew that Alexander was not talking about intimidation, but about real reality.

Even his statement was quite polite, and if it had not been for the extortion of the Germans by the Baltic Fleet, the Fifth International would have to be reorganized by now.

The little aid that is barely received will still have to fill the appetite of the oligarchs that are emerging in the country, and you can imagine how much money will be allocated to the economy and people's livelihood. As for the military budget and scientific research allocations, under the constant instigation and instigation of the Soviet "conscience", even the most basic operation could not be guaranteed.

In this way, Baikonur's seemingly meaningless capital investment, of course, is not guaranteed at all.

As for Kazakhstan, the country where Baikonur is located, how can an agricultural country whose main economic pillar is mainly livestock play with such a big country as a space center?

If nothing else, it is a matter of time before Baikonur is abandoned.

"Yes, such a catastrophe would lead to the undoing of the Soviet Union's efforts in the field of aviation for the past century. ”

Alexander's face was equally heavy: "It is impossible for Russia to continue to invest, Kazakhstan cannot afford to invest, and Baikonur can only function by relying on a country like the Soviet Union." However, now that the Soviet Union has fallen apart, there must be a responsible solution to the Soviet legacy in the field of astronautics. ”

"This plan is the Minsk Space Agency. ”

"In the name of the organization of international cooperation, to collect the space heritage of the USSR. Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan will jointly invest in the Minsk space agency and share the benefits, and Baikonur, as the space center of the Soviet Union, is the first project of the Minsk space agency to pay attention to. ”

"This is the best news I've heard in a year!"

With a long sigh of relief, Vladimir took off the large-brimmed hat on his head and held it in his arms, as if the most precious treasure had been recovered.

"Oh, yes. As if suddenly remembered, Vladimir asked strangely: "Since the Minsk Space Agency is composed of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, why do so many Chinese appear here?"

"Baikonur has countless high-secret space technology, and even if this supply is provided by them, we should limit the range of movement of the Chinese. ”

Alexander turned around, his eyes revealing a sense of helplessness of "caring for the mentally handicapped".

"Although the Minsk Space Agency is an international cooperation organization jointly formed by four countries, Russia can't afford to invest it, so you don't think that Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan will have the money to invest it, right?"

"The Minsk Space Agency is nominally an international cooperation organization jointly formed by the four countries, but in fact it is this group of Chinese who are funded. Alexander said with a black face: "Not to mention restricting the activities of these Chinese, if Baikonur wants to get financial allocation for survival, he must prove his worth in front of these Chinese and come up with enough good things!"

"Chinese contribution?"

Vladimir was a little incredulous, and subconsciously shook his head: "Baikonur has an annual budget of at least 500 million rubles, do the Chinese have the ability to come up with so much money?"

"That's why the Minsk Space Agency was formed. Alexander said confidently: "It is not the Chinese government that has injected money into the space agency, but a name that we are all familiar with - ST Group." ”

"Hu Wenhai?!"

Needless to say, Hu Wenhai's name is now better than "Bill Gates" in the 21st century.

"Isn't it this God of Wealth who can get such a large sum of money. ”

"But why would he invest in the aerospace field as a capitalist? We are a scientific research institution, but we have no ability to make money. ”

Vladimir was a little worried, and frowned: "I'm afraid that the Chinese are prepared, and now everyone wants to bite into the remaining legacy of the Soviet Union." If we sell out this bit of belongings easily, I am afraid that there will be no day to turn over in the future. ”

Alexander spread out his hands and said indifferently: "I don't know the thoughts of the Chinese, if anyone can guess the thinking of the richest man in the world, then wouldn't anyone be the richest man in the world?"

After some private communication between the two, Vladimir finally figured out the actual situation at the moment and counted it in his heart.

He turned his head and beckoned a few Baikonur managers to come over, and quietly laid out some arrangements.

With the arrival of supplies, the sky of Baikonur finally began to resound with long-lost laughter. Scientists and engineers, workers and logistics, almost everyone here looked with burning eyes at the cardboard boxes on the wooden pallets that were brought down from the helicopter.

Not only food, but also a variety of daily necessities. Fuel, clothing, and even color televisions and VCD players that are being snapped up in China, as well as VCD discs packaged in film grocery bags.

This is not only an emergency supply, but also a new management and reward and punishment system to be re-established with this batch of materials.

But of course, the most important thing is to provide the Baikonur staff with a good lunch, as well as a long time of hot baths and clean clothes. When the tempting smell of barbecue and beetroot soup wafted from the logistics center, the square, which was still full of people, suddenly became crowded.

The burping Vladimir slumped in his chair and gave a few glances to a group of equally well-fed subordinates.

After the other key figures at the table left next to him, Vladimir smiled and greeted the Chinese at the table with a glass full of kvass.

"On behalf of all the staff of Baikonur, I would like to once again express my heartfelt thanks to the Chinese comrades. Thank you for your valuable help when we needed it most. ”

"Comrade Vladimir is too polite, Baikonur is the common wealth of all mankind, and we cannot watch it disappear into the wrong choices of history. ”

The one who stood up and spoke was a thin old man of some age. He has gray hair, but he speaks Russian very fluently, and you can vaguely taste his pronunciation that is characteristic of the fifties.

Thirty years in Hedong and thirty years in Hexi, I'm afraid the old man himself didn't expect that he would have such a completely reversed identity and drink with a Russian again, right?

"The situation with the Minsk space agency, I already know clearly from Alexander. ”

Vladimir said with a bright smile: "In the future, with the support of the Chinese comrades, I believe that Baikonur will be able to avoid worries and go further and further on the road of the great cause of exploring the universe." Of course, we will not let our Chinese comrades suffer, as the most important space center of the USSR, we have a lot of really great projects to introduce to you!"

As he spoke, Vladimir waved behind him, and someone handed him a folder.

"As long as the Chinese comrades are willing to invest, we can take out the most important space project of the Soviet Union and communicate with you completely and without reservation, even if the entire project is completely completed by Chinese comrades, we will absolutely support it!"

"Oh, I wonder what project Marshal Vladimir is talking about?"

"Come, look, this is our most important project in Baikonur. Vladimir opened the folder and shoved it in front of the old man.

In the folder that opened, at the top of the first page was a photo with a great sense of technology.

This is an extremely spacious steel structure workshop, and the camera looks down from above, allowing people to have a full view of the entire workshop. The working platforms on the walls are a metaphor for its breadth, and the low-hanging gantry cranes make people involuntarily worship the great power of industry.

However, the most eye-catching thing is the two huge flying machines arranged in front and back on the floor of the workshop. From their special shape, it is not difficult to distinguish their identity - the Buran Space Shuttle.

"The Buran Space Shuttle, this is the crystallization of the Soviet space industry!" Vladimir said excitedly: "The two space shuttles are now in our assembly plant. As long as the follow-up funds can be guaranteed, the space shuttle will be able to carry out manned launches within ten years, and China will become a space power on a par with the United States in one step!"

"Huh. ”

The old man shook his head lightly as he left the folder on the table without hesitation.

"Comrade Vladimir, please put away your thoughts. We have no interest in the space shuttle...... Well, there will be no interest for at least twenty years. There is only one that we are interested in, and I think you should know very well. ”

"Liquid oxygen kerosene high-pressure cycle refueling technology, that is, RD-180 rocket engine!"

Vladimir's face suddenly became ugly.