Compared with the vigorous development of the light weapons manufacturing industry, which has a growing potential, Xiao Yimin is very dissatisfied with the progress of the construction of the army aviation unit, which has been preparing for more than three years and has only seen initial results.

The world war, which lasted for more than four years, fully stimulated the rapid development of the aviation industry, and a large number of new inventions, new technologies, and new processes were applied in aircraft manufacturing, and the level of fighter aircraft manufacturing in Britain, Germany, France, the United States, and Sweden was greatly improved compared with the initial stage of the world war.

On the eve of the end of the war, the French, who were holding their stomachs, took the lead in the practice of converting the wooden fuselage of the aircraft into a metal fuselage, and now they have successfully tried to replace the fragile wing skin of the original fighter with stronger aluminum plates, and the power of aircraft engines in European countries is also constantly improving.

Although with the end of the world war, the energy of European countries has shifted to rebuilding their homes and restoring the national economy, and the aircraft has not yet been able to fully demonstrate its huge strategic position and role in the world war, and has not received the attention that all countries in the world deserve.

Although Xiao Yimin has been tempered for ten years, he does not know any knowledge of industrial manufacturing, let alone advanced basic knowledge of materials science and power, but he knows very well in his heart that in a few years, with the gradual recovery of the European economy, especially the rapid development and all-round rise of the United States, which has made a lot of money in the world war, more and more advanced industrial technology and communication technology will gradually enter the aviation industry, and the industrial manufacturing technology and overall scientific and technological level of the United States will achieve tremendous development. In the face of the fleeting huge opportunity, Xiao Yimin must make a quick decision and firmly grasp the historical opportunity; otherwise, not only will Xiao Yimin become a historical sinner, but future generations will still have to be controlled by others, look up to others, and completely lose a precious opportunity to revitalize the national industrial and scientific and technological level.

Therefore, before leaving, Xiao Yimin, who went to the western suburbs of Chengdu again to inspect the West China Aircraft Manufacturing Company, did not have any smile on his face, and listened to the report of the general manager Shen Ruihua while inspecting the newly repaired six large production workshops.

Shen Ruihua, who was sent to Germany by Xiao Yimin seven years ago to study and has a double degree in mechanical engineering and a master's degree in materials science from the Higher Institute of Technology in Berlin, is Xiao Yimin's earliest think tank - Zou Wenhan's nephew, a native of Yucheng, who is only 26 years old this year.

At this moment, Shen Ruihua was by Xiao Yimin's side, following the same steps, the cold sweat on his chest and back kept flowing, and he didn't care about the generals such as Bao Jiqing and Zeng Chaoran, the chief of general staff who followed behind, and always answered the questions raised by Xiao Yimin respectfully.

It wasn't until he walked a big circle and came to the newly built airstrip again that Shen Ruihua saw Xiao Yimin's face turn from gloomy to sunny, so he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and his brain seemed to have regained its usual sharpness.

"Little brother, after meeting the fourth brother in Shanghai at the end of last year, the little brother has always had an idea in his heart, plus the night before yesterday, he accompanied the little brother to a banquet for the American industrial and commercial delegation, and after listening to what Douglas and others said about the current situation of American industry, this idea in the little brother's heart is even more tormenting."

Until now, Shen Ruihua still adheres to the customary title of the year, calling Xiao Yimin's little brother, and Xiao Yimin's adopted fourth brother Xiao Zhen as the fourth brother.

Xiao Yimin withdrew his gaze from the airport command tower that was being painted: "If you have something to say, don't always pretend to be pitiful in front of me, so that people can see as if you have been wronged." ”

Everyone laughed, Shen Ruihua didn't feel uncomfortable at all, and still maintained a respectful smile on his face:

"Little brother, I have two thoughts, haunting in my heart, not vomiting or unhappy, one of them: since we can buy back from the United States the second-hand equipment of two small aircraft factories and the design sketches of two seaplanes, why not simply buy back better equipment and technology from the Germans?"

Xiao Yimin saw Shen Ruihua looking at him expectantly, waved his hand, and frowned: "Go on." ”

Shen Ruihua showed a little disappointment on his face, gritted his teeth, and raised his voice:

"Second: More than a year ago, the fourth brother and Mr. Douglas acquired the Santa Barbara Ocean Shipping Company on the West Coast of the United States, and expanded it fivefold in one year, as well as their own dedicated wharf and storage area, so why not buy the 'Gross Aircraft Manufacturing' company also located in Santa Barbara?

"The fourth brother and Douglas should clearly know that this aircraft manufacturing company accepted the commission of the French [***] team three years ago, and used the engines and design drawings provided by the French [***] team to produce a total of 160 'Spark' biplane attack planes.

"At the dinner the day before yesterday, I overheard Mr. Duke of the US delegation talking about this, saying that the transfer price of this aircraft manufacturing company, which covers an area of 280 acres, has a complete set of seaplane production technology and equipment, more than 300 skilled workers, and more than 20 engineers, is only 150,000 US dollars!"

The surrounding generals suddenly became interested, and Xiao Yimin was also surprised: "Since even you know, why did the fourth child and Douglas never mention it to me?" ”

Shen Ruihua complained angrily: "The two of them? Doing trade, banking, and playing investment are all masters, but there is a specialization in the art industry, right? Where do they have the time to learn about industrial science and technology? Where is the scheming to study the significance of military equipment for warfare?

"In my opinion, the current two steel plants in Ma'anshan and Hainan Shilu, as well as the coal mining company in Huaibei, are enough for them to have a headache, if it weren't for the little brother, you transferred more than a dozen old-timers from Ya'an to take over, I'm afraid that the fourth brother and Douglas would have stopped doing it!"

After listening to Xiao Yimin's thoughts, he pondered for a while, and then asked everyone to sit down on the lawn twenty meters away to discuss.

Bao Jiqing did not have much opinion on this, after all, he shouldered the heavy responsibility of leading the army of the entire Chengdu Headquarters and the two provinces of Sichuan and Kang, and concurrently served as the commander of the aviation force and was fully responsible for the West China Aircraft Manufacturing Company, which was also a transitional position, and he had no energy or interest in participating in technical affairs at all.

Xu Xiaogang has been promoted to the Sichuan overseer, more energy put into government affairs, Zhong Ying and Zhou Daogang and other generals who have not yet returned to Xikang are concerned, since the opening of Kangding Airport, the officers and soldiers of Xikang have finally gained knowledge, and they are also very aware of the importance of combat aircraft to the Xikang army.

He knows better than anyone here the specific application and development potential of aircraft in the war, and is more aware of the air-ground cooperative combat mode that the German team initially tried in the later stage of the war.

"Big brother, don't put a high hat on him, what do you think of him?"

Xiao Yimin saw Shen Ruihua's smug face, and couldn't help laughing and scolding a few words, making everyone laugh, and made Shen Ruihua's jokes, Zhong Ying also said that next time Shen Ruihua randomly went to Kangding, he would definitely help him get two of the whitest and most beautiful local beauties back as concubines.

No matter how thick-skinned Shen Ruihua was, he couldn't help but blush: "Uncles and brothers, don't laugh at me, is it okay to get down to business?" Your time is so much more precious than mine, boy! ”

Everyone laughed again, and even the dozens of guards standing on guard in the distance couldn't help but grin, but they didn't dare to laugh out loud, their whole bodies trembled, their faces were red, and their ears were red.

After everyone had quieted down, Xiao Yimin briefed everyone on the current situation of the rapid shrinkage of the US war industry after the world war, and also took out the process of the two machine rifle bullet production lines and many other equipment that the US envoys to China had bought back from the Remington Company and the Colt Company at low prices.

Zeng Chaoran went on to introduce the catastrophe faced by the German industry, and also told the secret story of several major naval shipyards in northern Germany transferring advanced shipbuilding equipment and technology to the Netherlands, Belgium and other countries in advance, and the Chengdu Optical Instrument Factory, which was jointly invested by Zeiss and Huaxi Group through the transfer of technology and equipment, and finally said the incisive summary of "seizing the opportunity and strengthening yourself".

Seeing that everyone did not raise any objections, Xiao Yimin made a preliminary decision: "Xiaohua, I will send a telegram to the fourth child when I go back, asking him to come back from Nanyang as soon as possible, you bring a few people who understand technology, and first go to Shanghai to find the fourth brother-in-law Petrov, if you can't find him, you can go directly to the headquarters of the Blue Flag Bank to find him, the US delegation's visit to Changsha will end soon, and it is estimated that he will return to Shanghai in seven days, and you will wait there to meet them." However, you must arrange the things at hand, and you must ensure the progress of equipment installation in the first and second workshops, and ensure the normal use of the eight training planes at the Phoenix Mountain training base and the two two-seat transport planes that regularly fly to Kangding. ”

"Understood!"

Shen Ruihua was very excited, as long as he could buy the American Gross Aircraft Manufacturing Company, he would be able to quickly improve the overall level of the West China Aircraft Manufacturing Company, and he would be one step closer to the lofty goal of "becoming the father of China's aviation industry and leaving a name in history."

Xiao Yimin immediately turned the topic to the short-term goal of army building: "Ladies and gentlemen, for the construction of the air force, we have invested four million real money so far, and the only result we have seen is an adventurous attempt to suppress bandits in Lunan Province, and there is also the aircraft production base in front of us and the six airports distributed along the Yangtze River, all the seaplanes, training planes, and training reconnaissance planes combined, there are only 42 planes in total, and all of them are backward planes that are about to be eliminated by European and American countries. After two years of hard work, every step is extremely difficult! It is comforting to know that the hardest first step has already been taken. ”

Everyone was also embarrassed, and Xu Xiaogang couldn't help but sigh: "What the marshal said is that in addition to the aviation force, the navy we secretly established in Hainan is also a bottomless pit, and the amount of money invested in Hainan in the past year is probably twice as much as the aviation force, right?" ”

Xiao Yimin smiled bitterly and gave a slap, Xu Xiaogang and everyone were taken aback: "Five times?!" ”

Xiao Yimin nodded: "Not counting the investment in Shilu Iron and Steel Plant, the total amount of funds invested in the Navy in the past year is five times that of the Air Force, but one-third of the investment is used for the imitation of marine engines and the establishment of the Ship Research Institute." As everyone knows, more than 500 German naval experts and retired German naval officers have already moved to the Lingao base with their families, and by the end of this year, thousands of German technical experts, designers, and retired officers will arrive.

"At that time, the Chengdu Aviation Training Base, the West China Aircraft Factory and the Sichuan Army Military Academy will all usher in the talents they need, which is a shortcut to our development, and this road must be taken; for this reason I do not hesitate to offend European and American countries, and Shengsheng has formulated a local surname law recognizing dual nationality through the Nanjing camp, and has made concessions in the investment market of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi provinces, so that it can be able to block the mouths of European and American countries."

Everyone was emotional, and they could all appreciate Xiao Yimin's good intentions and dedication. Only Bao Jiqing shook his head again and again and smiled bitterly, he knew that he would have to find ways to raise a lot of money for Xiao Yimin.

(To be continued)