At the Grumman test flight base on Long Island, New York, Qi Yiming saw a real F-14 Tomcat fighter for the first time. Although the evaluation of this fighter is in a state of polarization, Qi Yiming still likes this classic variable-swept wing fighter very much in his heart.

Qi Yiming himself admitted that the biggest purpose of engaging in this mess was actually to satisfy his own selfishness, in addition to wanting to see the red tomcat painted with the August 1 Red Star military emblem, he had a special desire for challenge and a sense of self-sufficiency in his heart to be able to run such a huge and complex event.

What is the embodiment of the diplomatic strength of the Celestial Empire, the advertisement of FC-1 exports, the promotion of relations with the United States, and the acquisition of carrier-based aircraft technology, etc., are actually not as important as Qi Yiming's reason that he feels good about himself.

Bilworth, who was beside him, looked at Qi Yiming a little distracted, and said to him: "Mr. Qi, don't worry, Grumman Corporation is already running at full capacity, lobbying several heavyweight members of Congress, and the Reagan Cabinet has also started to operate, and the probability of this matter being completed is more than 70 percent." ”

Qi Yiming smiled and said: "In the past few days, the former US admiral has made remarks that the United States should further arm China, draw this country against the Soviet Union, and form a two-front attack on the Soviet Union. I guess you made it up. ”

Bilworth smiled innocently, not admitting or denying it. In fact, there are many methods of lobbying, and with the help of retired high-ranking military officers, well-known scholars in academic circles, and official and semi-official strategic think tanks to express their views, it can itself become an excellent means of lobbying. Some politicians and citizens read these logical and well-spoken news, and many of them will feel good about or support certain policies. Similar to the idea of arming the rabbit family to overthrow the hairy bear, it has long been true, especially after the rabbit family beat the monkey and gave the eagle sauce a vote. Countless well-known scholars who were dizzy and feverish believed that it was completely possible to win over China and confront the Soviet Union.

Bilworth said again: "To tell you the truth, Mr. Qi, your personal political skills do not look like a person from a communist country at all, but more like a seasoned American politician. My guess is that the chessboard linking Iran, the United States, and China was laid out by you yourself. Such a major matter is simply unimaginably powerful, and it is truly breathtaking to be able to rely on the movement of two world powers and a major regional power with one hand, and connect a path that benefits all three parties. I think, Mr. Qi, if you are an American, our company will definitely invest a lot of money to support your candidacy for president of the United States. ”

This was just a joke, and Qi Yiming just laughed and thanked Bilworth for the compliment. He did put a lot of energy and thought into the success of this matter, and if it can really be done, it is not an exaggeration to express his contribution.

Bilworth didn't seem to stop his compliments, and said: "You used the business delegation as a cover, at first I thought it was a simple cover, but with the specific situation sent by the Ministry of Commerce, I realized that this is another good chess game for you." Opening up the market and encouraging and attracting US capital to invest in Chinese mainland and strengthening bilateral economic and trade exchanges are a huge temptation for a large number of businessmen. I heard that you attended a reception hosted by the Morgan consortium the day before yesterday, and although you were not able to attend in person, I think you must have been the star of the reception. Now that you have the support of two major consortia, the First Bank consortium and the Morgan consortium, it is almost inevitable that Congress will pass the arms sales bill to China. ”

Qi Yiming smiled slightly: "Mr. Bierworth, you are quite a shrewd person, so please tell me, what other deployments have you seen?" Qi Yiming is not afraid of being seen through all his hands and feet by Bilworth, in fact, only when people see clearly what Qi Yiming has done, the beauty of being recognized is more pleasant.

Bilworth really did a lot of homework, and he calmly replied: "We overheard that the American Agricultural Association has reached another large order for the sale of 50,000 tons of soybeans and corn, and I also saw a senator representing the Agricultural Association openly saying in the newspaper that arms sales to China are an important measure to promote relations between the two countries and further promote economic and trade exchanges, and called on the United States to provide military assistance to China." ”

Qi Yiming laughed and said, "Mr. Bierworth, you are really careful in your observation. That's right, including military industry interest groups, financial and commercial interest groups, and agricultural interest groups, I have used this idle way to point down, and I can connect them together when needed, so as to accomplish what I need. ”

Bilworth nodded: "As I said, your political maneuvering power is no less than that of those well-known presidents, it is hard to imagine that a red country can give birth to a genius like you." ”

Qi Yiming shook his head and said, "I'm not a genius, I'm just borrowing strength." In addition, such a thing is unlikely to happen in China. No matter how China changes, it can only be a socialist country, and money is absolutely impossible to say. So when China's economic situation improves, many people become rich, and they will flee in waves, taking their money and relatives to the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries. Those intellectuals will also start attacking the CPC government, which is like hell on earth. ”

Bilworth continued: "Is it because in a socialist country, even with an open and free economy, these rich people are still insulated from political power, right? ”

"Yes, exactly! In the future, both China and the United States will be able to live a good life. But rich people can only say the word in the United States, and if they do something beyond the bottom line in China, there is no such strong team of lawyers who can rescue them. Qi Yiming had a hint of contempt in his tone, as if neither a wealthy businessman nor a lawyer was a respectable profession in his eyes.

Bilworth nodded, as if imagining such a worldly realm, and sighed, "Maybe that kind of country would be better." But are you sure that after the implementation of a free market economy, there will be no money politics in your country like in the United States? ”

"There will be collusion between officials and businessmen, but money in the absolute sense will not rule everything. I can say this for sure, the CPC penetrates into every corner of the country's society, and has more complete control over the society than any money group, as long as they seek innovation and change, and always claim to represent the people, and the people's lives are indeed improving and improving, then there is no possibility that the money group can control the country. ”

Bilworth snorted and said with a smile: "These topics seem to be out of place, but I didn't expect that you, who are so good at fiddling with democracy, are actually a devout communist." But maybe there are more communists like you, we have good communication, and most importantly, you can bring me green paper, haha. ”

Qi Yiming and Bilworth walked to an F-14 parked on the runway, Qi Yiming touched the big guy's cold "delicate body", turned his head and said to Bilworth: "The first batch of 12 FC-1 Thunder fighters sent to Iran by our country is estimated to have entered Iran at this time, if the Iranians verify that they are correct, we should get 12 Tomcat fighters that the Iranians replaced us with within a week." After this news is announced, the news that we will buy a new batch of F-14s from Grumman will also officially break out, and then it will be time to know. ”

Bilworth confidently said: "You've put in so much effort, if you don't succeed then there's a problem." ”

Qi Yiming himself thinks so, he has almost all the influential interest groups in the United States, and the overall international environment is now more conducive to China's acquisition of these F-14 fighters. Of course, the Soviet Union will not be happy, but the Soviet Union will not exist for a few years, and if they are willing to continue to fight against the Celestial Empire, Qi Yiming will whistle and swing to welcome them to do so.

"Please Mr. Bilworth prepare a team of engineers, I expect that the first batch of warplanes that the Iranians will hand over to us will be those that have gone wrong and are not even about to fly. So Grumman's technicians do a full inspection in our factory to find out what the problem is, and then I order the parts that Grumman needs. At the same time, we will also start to improve the new fighters, and in order to do this, I have prepared the relevant new engines, new radars, and we will work together to upgrade these Tomcats to the newer version in the shortest possible time. ”

Bilworth had a big smile on his face and was full of praise.

Qi Yiming came to Grumman's test airfield mainly to see the F-14 flight show, and both Grumman and the US military attached great importance to this air show, which was much more decent than the time when Qi Yiming gave the Iranians at the beginning.

The mighty Tomcat fighter slid off the runway, and Qi Yiming soon discovered that watching the F-14 do a flight show is completely different from watching the FC-1. The F-14, with two more thrust and variable sweep wings, has an absolute sense of force in every roll, every climb, every hover in the sky.

When the F-14 regains its afterburner and begins to take a stall maneuver in the air, it is like a slowly falling leaf, but in an instant, it can transform into a deadly poisonous snake that takes the enemy to the point.

Judging from these performances alone, Qi Yiming judged very rationally that even the J-10, which is now assigned to the PLA Air Force, can only use AESA's ultra-long detection range and its own low radar detection ability to play tricks when it is beyond visual range, and if it enters a grappling state, it will be beaten badly by F-14 nine times out of ten. Of course, it won't be a complete loss, but the results won't be good.

This also strengthened Qi Yiming's determination: "In the official history, my Great Celestial Dynasty imitated the Su-27 flanker, so now I come to the cottage F-14 Tomcat can be regarded as a high-end atmosphere." ”