Traveling through the sword to engage in military industry

#139 - Heartbeat

"Indeed, there's no conflict, but are you planning to place this research and development in Kuncheng or Pei Du?" Professor Li asked.

"No, we believe that neither Kuncheng nor Pei Du offers ideal conditions. We've encountered too much local interference. To ensure our research isn't disrupted by local factors, we need a local authority that fully supports us. And currently, the only place we can reach an agreement with is the Border Region," Ren Zhong said.

This matter would have to be addressed sooner or later, and now was a good time to gauge Professor Li's attitude.

As expected, Professor Li fell silent again for a good while.

"The Border Region? Can the Border Region provide resources? Can it ensure talent? Can it handle so much logistical support?" Professor Li rattled off a series of almost self-muttering questions, even he himself realizing that these were unlikely.

Hope was extinguished again.

Today, he had experienced many ups and downs.

If he could start over...

Professor Li would rather he hadn't come here today, hadn't seen these materials, and hadn't heard Ren Zhong's exciting words.

But...

"Professor Li, regarding the guarantee aspect, our organization has reached a comprehensive agreement with the Border Region government. In the future, our annual investment will reach millions of silver dollars in the Border Region for scientific research and development. Large-scale hydroelectric generator sets and power transmission and distribution equipment are important projects among them. In the industrial park planned for our research and development, we have complete autonomy and are free from any local interference. The Border Region provides us with ample food, clothing, housing, and transportation," Ren Zhong said.

"Our condition is that after these projects are developed, priority will be given to the Border Region and the base areas for the production and installation of this equipment."

"In short, we have obtained special investment rights in the Border Region. Whether in Kuncheng or Pei Du, we cannot obtain such conditions. I think Professor Li is very clear about the virtues of the bureaucracy here. If we really do it here, we will be dealing with endless apportionments and inspections every day."

Professor Li's initially cooled heart seemed to become active again with Ren Zhong's explanation.

Ren Zhong was right. The independent and autonomous research and development power mentioned earlier could not be achieved under the current conditions in the rear.

Not to mention research institutions, even universities like the Southwest Associated University made Professor Li somewhat unable to bear to look back.

The bureaucrats in the rear area were completely rotten.

However, the Border Region was on the front line. How would they solve the safety problem?

Now, even the rear area was occasionally bombed by the Japanese devils, and there was no guarantee of safety.

"As for the safety issue, Professor Li, I think it is indeed a problem. Unless we go far to the Western Regions, whether in Pei Du or Kuncheng, we cannot escape the bombing of the Japanese devils. However, we will try our best to solve some of it, such as through confidentiality, such as by building factories and laboratories inside mountain caves. In this way, the Japanese devils' bombing targets will not aim at our research park."

"We will invest sufficient resources to guarantee the food, clothing, housing, and transportation of every technology research and development engineer, ensuring that the quality of life in the Border Region is no worse than in the rear. On this point, our organization has fully communicated with the Border Region to confirm that our research and development supply is a separate line. We have the funds to purchase sufficient living materials."

"Our organization is a national rejuvenation group from overseas. Through the efforts of a large number of overseas Chinese, we have obtained top-secret technical information and a large amount of financial support to help us digest, absorb, and independently produce in China."

Li Jixiang fell into deep thought after listening to Ren Zhong's words.

Some of what Ren Zhong said was idealistic, but in terms of investment, it was true that overseas had the ability to obtain top-secret technical information. The things Li Jixiang had in his hands could definitely not be made by any professor in China, so Ren Zhong had already proven himself in this area.

As for financial resources, it didn't seem like a fantasy either. Overseas Chinese donations amounted to hundreds of millions of silver dollars, which was more than the government's fiscal revenue! This was data that Li Jixiang knew. Although it was difficult for an organization to raise millions of silver dollars, it was not completely impossible.

There was also a key point: Ren Zhong's image was too much like an overseas Chinese. His relationship with Xing Fujin was probably not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

From those materials and photos, it all showed that Ren Zhong and his group were indeed doing things. Although it was not yet known where those steel and machine tool factories were built, Li Jixiang could guess that these factories were already in some base areas in the north, because the machine tools in the photos were clearly in some mountain caves.

Ren Zhong did not disturb Li Jixiang's thinking.

For anyone, this was a difficult choice, choosing a path that seemed very difficult now, not only involving work, but also seemingly involving the entire family.

This was a major choice that gambled on the future of the whole family.

Ren Zhong would not find it strange no matter what Li Jixiang chose.

For Professor Li Jixiang, he could not be required to be like Professor Fang Guangqi.

Instead, he did his best and made a two-way choice.

Even the Dawn Project was still top-secret information for these candidates and could not be revealed to them yet.

"Mr. Ren, please give me a few days to consider this matter. I will contact student Xing Fujin, and then we will meet again to confirm," Li Jixiang said to Ren Zhong with some difficulty after thinking for a long time.

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"Of course, of course, Professor Li, this matter is of great importance and does require careful consultation with your family. You can choose to move your entire family, and we will set up a large number of transfer stations along the way to assist, and we will bear all related expenses," Ren Zhong said, "We will probably set up dozens of stations from Kuncheng, Qiancheng to Pei Du, Rongcheng, Hanzhong, Chang'an, and even the Border Region."

Ren Zhong's supplement was obviously another increase in the stakes for Professor Li Jixiang.

He gave a wry smile and poured himself a glass of wine, "Mr. Ren, today we have had a pleasant meal and drink. Let's say goodbye! Thank you, Mr. Ren, for your hospitality and trust. Cheers!"

"Meeting is fate, Professor Li. I look forward to working with you to create national glory in hydropower. Cheers!" Ren Zhong also poured a full glass of wine, raised it, and said to Professor Li Jixiang.

The two drank it all in one gulp.

Professor Li Jixiang bowed and said goodbye with a heavy heart.

"Huzi, add two more dishes and settle the bill. We have another dinner tomorrow. Remember that the next gentleman is from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Tomorrow, we need to find a place that makes authentic Jiangsu and Zhejiang cuisine to treat him. This time, following me, you can taste all the flavors of the world," Ren Zhong called Huzi in and said to him with a smile.

After the matter was discussed, Huzi naturally didn't need to be on guard outside. Ren Zhong always waited for the guest to leave and ordered another portion for Huzi to try something new, anyway, he didn't lack that little money.

"Boss Ren, Jiangsu and Zhejiang cuisine, is it more delicious than our stewed mutton?" Huzi followed from the Border Region, so naturally he still preferred mutton.

"Hahaha, Huzi, your question has stumped me. Let's leave it for you to compare after you've eaten it yourself," Ren Zhong laughed, but refused to answer.

Just like this job of a persuader, whoever does it knows.

Third update! Asking for votes!