Chapter 1174: Mainland Decision

On February 8th, the sky was clear.

A convoy of six black Rolls-Royces drove into the Yuen Long Science and Technology Industrial Park and entered the factory premises of the Tiangong Automobile Group.

Chen Caijun, who had received the news, was waiting there with his assistant, respectfully welcoming Xia Yu and the others.

'Good morning, Chairman!'

'Good morning!'

Xia Yu nodded to Chen Caijun and then introduced Liu Zhihe and Wang Ping to him: 'Everyone, this is my right-hand man, Chen Caijun, the president of Tiangong Automobile Group.'

'Caijun, these are Director Liu Zhihe from the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the mainland, Director Guo Hong from the China National Automotive Industry Corporation, Director Kong Yuming from the Ministry of Machinery Industry, and President Wang Ping from the Xinhua News Agency in Hong Kong.'

'President Chen, it's a pleasure to meet you!'

'Hello, Director Liu.'

'President Wang, hello! Welcome!'

'...'

Xia Yu smiled as he watched Chen Caijun shake hands and exchange pleasantries with the others, and then instructed Chen Caijun, 'Caijun, show everyone around the factory!'

'Yes, Chairman!'

'Everyone, follow me!'

...

This time when he visited the factory, Xia Yu clearly sensed a marked difference from the last time. That is, there were many more people inside Factory No. 1 than the last time, and many of them were observing without interfering with production.

Without Xia Yu having to ask, Chen Caijun volunteered to explain: 'Chairman, other factory buildings are being constructed around the clock, so there is no need to worry about the construction of the hardware facilities. On the contrary, there is a huge shortage of staff. In order to be able to put the new production line into production as soon as it is assembled, the company has decided to use a combination of mentoring, on-site observation and theory to speed up staff training.'

'On the premise of not affecting production, each senior employee will take on four new employees. Since production is in three shifts, employee training will also be carried out in a combination of practice and theory.'

'The company has already made an estimate, so talent can temporarily withstand it.'

Xia Yu said with satisfaction, 'This method is good, but with more people in the factory, attention must also be paid to production safety to avoid production accidents.'

'Understood!' Chen Caijun replied with a serious face.

'Continue. Let's start from the beginning and introduce the entire production process to our distinguished guests.'

'Yes!'

'Let's start here.'

...

What followed next was a real eye-opener for Guo Hong and Kong Yuming and the others.

The mechanised car manufacturing process was incomparably more advanced than the current mainland manufacturing technology.

Liu Zhihe and Wang Ping might be confused, but Guo Hong and Kong Yuming, two industry insiders, were able to see the essence. This was the reason why the two of them were sent with Liu Zhihe to come here, to truly understand the Tiangong Automobile Group's car manufacturing process.

Chen Caijun had also been reminded by Xia Yu before, so during the observation process, in addition to introducing himself, he also brought in experts to introduce, showing his car manufacturing technology without reservation.

Not only that, Chen Caijun also did his homework in advance, and while introducing the car, he also brought in a Volkswagen Santana for a side-by-side comparison.

This content was all recorded by Guo Hong and Kong Yuming in their notebooks. They are also members of the Shanghu Automobile project preparation team, so they have a certain understanding of the technology of the Volkswagen Santana and can tell that Chen Caijun is not exaggerating.

After the final vehicle rolled off the production line, Chen Caijun pointed to the Shengyu and Rongyao cars and proudly introduced them: 'This Shengyu and this Rongyao are the main models of our Tiangong Motors!'

'So far, we have received 14,225 orders for the Shengyu.'

'And 33,640 orders for the Rongyao.'

'The total value of the orders for these two cars exceeds 750 million US dollars!'

Hearing this series of figures, Kong Yuming and Guo Hong and the others could not help but swallow, their eyes full of envy.

At this time, Liu Zhihe, in addition to being shocked, also asked curiously, 'President Chen, I heard that your company has six models, and the previous orders received reached 2 billion US dollars, is that right?'

Chen Caijun looked at Xia Yu and then smiled and said, 'That was the previous figure. In the week since we returned, many dealers have come to us on their own initiative. Now the total orders for our six models have reached 144,360, and the total order value has just reached 2.6 billion US dollars!'

'An additional 600 million US dollars in orders in just one week!'

'That's so shocking!'

Guo Hong and Kong Yuming were both shocked into numbness.

Tiangong Motors is now at such a level that it completely outshines the entire continent!

Chen Caijun said with a smile and confidence, 'This is just the beginning, and it's been less than half a month since we participated in the Geneva International Motor Show.'

'Although we are a new brand, Tiangong Motors has received a high degree of recognition and acceptance in the market.'

'On the one hand, the technical level is high, and on the other hand, our models are very novel and are highly sought after by dealers and consumers.'

'If you look at our models and compare them with the sedan models of other car companies that you have in mind, don't you feel that our models are more imposing and more aesthetically pleasing?'

Everyone's attention once again focused on the sedans in front of them.

Wang Ping said with emotion, 'When I saw the cars being assembled just now, I wanted to say that your cars are really beautiful and fashionable. What's the word to describe them...'

'Curvaceous!'

Seeing Wang Ping frowning in thought, Xia Yu reminded him with a faint smile.

'Yes, curvaceous!'

Wang Ping's eyes lit up and he clapped his hands.

'Mr Xia, you are the expert, I'm just a layman showing off, haha.'

Xia Yu shook his head lightly and said modestly, 'I don't really understand it either, I just heard someone else introduce it before.'

'Everyone, do you want to get in the car and experience it for yourself?'

Everyone's eyes lit up and they were all eager to go.

'Mr Xia, is this convenient?'

Guo Hong asked, although he was looking forward to it, he was a little embarrassed.

'Why is it inconvenient? Let's go to the test drive course outside together. It's much more spacious there, so it's suitable for both test driving and experiencing the ride.'

After saying this, Xia Yu directly asked Chen Caijun to lead the way to the test drive course, and at the same time asked him to call the accompanying driver.

Soon, the group arrived at the test drive course. Under Chen Caijun's arrangement, Guo Hong, Wang Ping, and the others all went to experience it for themselves.

Those who could drive could test drive, and those who couldn't drive could take a ride.

Xia Yu and Chen Caijun sat in the lounge chatting, occasionally looking out the window to see them having a great time at the test track.

After a long time, they saw Guo Hong and the others finish the test drive, and Xia Yu and Chen Caijun came out and rejoined Guo Hong and the others.

'Everyone, how was the experience?'

Xia Yu asked with a faint smile.

Guo Hong said with emotion, 'Although the direction of the driver's cab is different, it doesn't affect the driving experience, which is great!'

'And what impressed me most was the technology!'

'Just now your staff showed me the Shenyu first-generation car equipped with a navigation system, as well as functions such as automatic body height adjustment, power steering and cruise control, which really opened my eyes!'

'The Santana is no comparison at all!'

Kong Yuming could not help but smile wryly as he reflected: 'We have been sitting in a well and looking at the sky. Mainland car manufacturers all make cars by hand, and when we saw the technology in the Volkswagen Santana, we thought it was top-notch.

'It wasn't until now that I saw your Tiangong Motors' technology with my own eyes that I realised what the most advanced car manufacturing technology is like!'

'The mainland has been separated from the world for too long...'

'Sigh...'

At the end of his speech, Kong Yuming let out a long sigh.

Guo Hong, Wang Ping and the others were silent upon hearing this, each with a bitter expression on their faces.

In particular, Wang Ping, who had been sent to Hong Kong for several years, was most moved by Kong Yuming's words. He had seen a lot, and naturally knew the gap between the mainland and the outside world.

But there was nothing he could do about it, and there was no point in bringing up the past.

After all, the mainland had changed its strategy in 1978, and everything was developing in a positive direction, which was enough.

Kong Yuming and the others were feeling heavyhearted. Since they had already learned everything they needed to know, the specific decisions were a matter for the higher-ups, and they had no say in the matter.

Therefore, after staying at Tiangong Motors Group for a while longer, they offered their resignations.

Xia Yu also knew that they were eager to go back, so he simply invited them to lunch and they parted ways.

That afternoon, Guo Hong, Kong Yuming and the others hurried back to the mainland without rest, and then took a plane from the nearest airport to fly back to the capital.

...

In a meeting room of the Mechanical Engineering Department.

Minister Sun Xin and a group of deputies, President Wang Zijing of China National Automotive Industry Corporation, and Zhang Hongchuan, head of the Shanghai-Shanghai Car Project Preparatory Group, gathered together, all listening attentively as Guo Hong described what he had seen and heard at Tiangong Motors.

Kong Yuming then added his own perspective.

After listening to the two men's accounts, there was a moment of silence in the entire meeting room.

It was the information about the Tiangong Automobile Group that Guo Hong had mentioned that really shocked them.

Whether it was the modern factory of the Tiangong Automobile Group, the technical content of their current six models, or the order volume of the Tiangong Automobile Group, each of these had a huge impact on them.

After a long while, Minister Sun looked at Zhang Hongchuan and then at the others, and said in a deep voice, 'The state has used various channels to investigate the Volkswagen Santana, and it can be determined that what Mr Xia from Xiangjiang said is very objective: the Santana is indeed a failure launched by Volkswagen.'

'Although it is a failure for Volkswagen, it is undeniable that it is still very advanced for our country's car manufacturing technology.'

'If it were before, when car companies from the United States, island countries, and other countries all rejected us and we had no choice, then that would be fine.'

'The most crucial thing now is that the more technologically advanced Tiangong Automobile Group is willing to open up all its technology to us, let us choose freely, and let us build factories of any capacity!'

'And there's one more most important thing!'

'The Tiangong Automobile Group belongs to patriotic compatriot Mr. Xia, and Mr. Xia's patriotic heart is unanimously recognised by the higher-ups, so we can have no other doubts.'

Wang Zijing, president of China National Automotive Industry Corporation, could not fail to understand Minister Sun's attitude.

Whether it was reasonable or not, it was indeed more appropriate to choose the suddenly emerged Tiangong Automobile Group, and he personally also favoured this choice.

He immediately added, 'Minister Sun, I fully agree with you, and cooperating with Tiangong Automobile Group is a better choice.'

'Although we have been talking to Volkswagen for many years, there are still many differences.'

'On the contrary, Mr Xia is very generous, and if we cooperate with him, the progress will definitely be very fast.'

Zhang Hongchuan took a deep breath and nodded emphatically, saying, 'From a broader perspective, I agree that we should cooperate with Tiangong Automobile Group.'

'I just have one more worry.'

'After all, we have been talking to Volkswagen for such a long time, and Volkswagen is one of the few companies that is willing to talk to us. Someone overseas is definitely watching. If we suddenly give up negotiations with Volkswagen, will it have a negative impact on the country's image?'

Upon hearing this, the others fell silent.

This was indeed a matter of concern.

Even Minister Sun was at a loss for words, after all, this was a matter of national image.

Fortunately, Minister Sun was also someone who had come through the war-torn era, experienced great trials and tribulations, and was very experienced, and quickly came up with a solution.

He said to Zhang Hongchuan, 'In that case, Team Leader Zhang, you can tell Volkswagen that we still welcome cooperation with Volkswagen, but they need to show sincerity and car-making technology that can rival that of Tiangong Automobile Group.'

'We're kicking the ball back to them. This is normal competition. If they don't want to, that's their choice, and we'll be able to stand our ground.'

'If they don't agree to give us the latest technology, then we'll give them another option. We can also cooperate on the Santana, but Shanghuituo Motors Corporation can't be involved, and Volkswagen will have to build a new factory from scratch.'

'This is a good solution, and we can stand our ground!'

'Yes, Volkswagen is playing tricks on us, but we are still saving face by doing this. I support it!'

...

The other deputy ministers expressed their opinions one after the other.

Zhang Hongchuan, of course, had no objections.

'Minister, then I will follow your instructions and carry it out!'

'No rush, you go back to Shanghai first. After you arrive, give me a call. If there are any new developments, I will let you know.'

'Understood!' Zhang Hongchuan understood immediately and nodded in response.

Afterwards, the meeting ended and everyone dispersed.

Minister Sun then took Guo Hong and Kong Yuming to visit their superiors, report on the relevant work, and finally received support.

After returning to Shanghai, Zhang Hongchuan received another clear order, which put his mind at ease. After communicating with the Shanghai side again, he found Dr Werner P Schmidt, the general representative of Volkswagen in Shanghai.

'Zhang, are you sure you're not joking?'

After listening to Zhang Hongchuan's words, Dr Werner P Schmidt suddenly stood up and said angrily.

Zhang Hongchuan had been prepared when he arrived, so he said without changing his expression, 'Dr Schmidt, we are old friends, but standing on the level of national interest, I can only say that Tiangong Automobile Group has shown greater sincerity and is more attractive!'

Dr Werner P. Schmidt angrily attacked: 'Tiangong Motors is only a new company, it is in no way comparable to our great Volkswagen company. Their technology is definitely not as good as ours, you must have been deceived by them!'