Great Power Industry: You're a private company building an aircraft carrier?

Laiyang.

Qin Jianguo sat on the mahogany sofa, holding an exquisite teapot, and poured tea for the person sitting opposite him.

"Come on, Director Ning, don't rush, have a cup of tea, and then we can talk slowly."

The aroma of the tea wafted from the table; it was top-quality Tieguanyin. Normally, he would have savored the tea slowly and carefully, but today, he was truly not in the mood for it.

"Director Qin, our Qin-Shen Passenger Dedicated Line will be fully operational in less than a year. This will be the first railway line in the East with a speed of 200 kilometers per hour. We had already ordered the German ICE3 high-speed trains, but... the Germans have gone back on their word and won't sell the high-speed trains to us!"

Director Ning looked anxious: "Alas, without foreign railway locomotives, our first high-speed railway will become a joke!"

"Sure enough, no matter what, you can't rely on foreigners!" Qin Jianguo took a deep breath. "But don't worry, there's no road in this world that we can't cross! Tell me in detail!"

In 1986, seeing the rapid development of high-speed railways abroad, the railway authorities in the East were already interested and began to plan the first high-speed railway. However, it was not until 98 that the Qinhuangdao-Shenyang Passenger Dedicated Line was approved by the higher authorities, and construction of the entire line began in 99.

By now, the dedicated line is almost complete, the tracks have been laid, and the finishing touches are being done.

The high-speed trains ordered from Germany should have arrived by now, but unexpectedly...

Why did the Germans break the contract?

"On the surface, they came up with a lot of nonsense, but in reality, they were just afraid we would learn their high-speed train technology." Director Ning said angrily, "After the Germans broke the contract, we went to France's TGV, Japan's Shinkansen, and Canada's Bombardier. None of the companies with mature high-speed rail technology would sell high-speed trains to us!"

Fear of counterfeit goods from the East! This reason silenced Qin Jianguo.

"Don't we have any ourselves?"

"Alas, we really don't have that kind of technology. At present, we only have traditional traction locomotive technology. The most powerful traction locomotive in China is the Shaoshan 9. This locomotive has a continuous power of 4,800 kilowatts and a maximum experimental speed of 190 kilometers per hour. After it is put into operation, it can maintain a speed of more than 150 kilometers per hour."

Trains run fast because of the locomotive. This has been the case for a long period of history. From steam engines to diesel engines, and now to electric locomotives, they all rely on locomotives to drive them.

However, the speed increase of the train pulled by the locomotive is limited, so the high-speed train was developed.

The meaning of "high-speed train" is very simple: not only is the locomotive powered, but the carriages behind it are also powered. A train set with powered carriages is called a high-speed train.

Because of its high traction power, this type of high-speed train accelerates quickly and has sufficient power. Two hundred kilometers per hour is just the beginning; it can reach three or four hundred kilometers per hour later. The locomotive alone cannot achieve this speed.

The Eastern Railway needed advanced high-speed trains, but at this critical moment, the Germans refused to sell them!

Qin Jianguo frowned: "So?"

"If there is no relevant high-speed train technology in China, then we can only temporarily use the Shaoshan 9 locomotive for traction. Alas! This is our first high-speed railway."

"Director Ning, if there's anything you need help with, just let me know!"

"Your Laiyang Group is the most technologically advanced group in our country, so we hope that your Laiyang Group can help us solve this problem! Please help us develop our own high-speed train!"

Qin Jianguo was momentarily stunned: "Director Ning, isn't this a bit inappropriate? Our domestic railway locomotives are developed by specialized units, and our Laiyang Group has never been involved in high-speed railway locomotive technology before..."

Qin Jianguo genuinely hopes that his country will become strong and that all aspects of technology will reach world-class levels. However, he is no longer a three-year-old child. He understands the various interests at stake. If our Laiyang Group helps develop high-speed trains, what about the relevant domestic units?

We've invested a huge amount of money in developing this technology, only for other organizations to copy it? We're not going to be taken advantage of like that!

"No, no, you have high-speed rail locomotive technology. For example, high-end bearings are produced by you and have already achieved a global monopoly. This is one of the key technologies for high-speed rail locomotives! As for other technologies... your Laiyang Group also has great R&D capabilities. Rest assured, as long as you agree to develop them, our railway department will cover the R&D costs! Even if it costs 100 million, we will still develop our own high-speed trains!"

Qin Jianguo nodded. The railway authorities were indeed rich. If the railway department provided research and development funding, they could help out. However... they had never been involved in high-speed rail locomotive technology. They had never even built a railway locomotive. It was like being in a completely different field!

"Director Qin, rest assured, as long as you nod in agreement, our railway locomotive department will fully cooperate, providing manpower and resources as needed, to work together to develop our high-speed railway locomotives. All expenses will be covered by us, and you will continue to produce the parts you manufacture in the future!"

This promise is already very sincere. The R&D expenses are guaranteed by the railway authorities, and they will continue to place orders and purchase in the future. Qin Jianguo took a deep breath: "Director Ning, I still need to ask Xiao Chuan about this... President Qin's opinion, you..."

"Can we ask now? We're in a real hurry!"

If we can't get on high-speed trains before the railway officially opens, we'll be laughed at by the whole world! Moreover, the Qinhuangdao-Shenyang Passenger Dedicated Line is just the beginning. More high-speed railway lines will be opened in China one after another. If the West doesn't provide the technology, does that mean we won't do it ourselves?

We must move forward; we must solve the railway locomotive technology problem!

The most innovative company in the country is Laiyang Group, so we have to drag them into this!

"Ok."

Qin Jianguo picked up his phone and dialed a number.

"Hey, Dad, what's up?"

"Xiao Chuan, the railway department came to us, hoping we could help develop high-speed rail locomotives, and they've given us a budget of 100 million..."

"Yes, that's fine, Dad. You don't need to ask my opinion on such a small matter. You're a big shot in charge of a branch company. Is there anything else?"

What is a big deal for the railway department is just a trivial matter to General Manager Qin.

Director Ning's expression was complicated.

After hanging up the phone, Qin Jianguo smiled and said, "President Qin agreed. If you send people over, our relevant departments will cooperate to build this kind of railway locomotive. We have all kinds of advanced materials on hand. By the way, the budget should also be allocated to us as soon as possible. The New Year is coming soon, and we can't let the money be delayed until after the New Year."

Qin Jianguo wasn't worried about not being able to handle the technology; what he was worried about was the railway department not providing funding. After all, for this kind of company, the procedures and processes were very complicated and cumbersome. If things went wrong, a leader might have a problem with it, and it could be delayed for a year or two.