Rebirth in 1989: Building a Chinese Technological Empire

"Prince, do you know why in just a few decades, China has gone from having nothing to having everything?"

Xu Huasheng looked at Salman and asked back. Salman looked at Xu Huasheng, obviously not knowing why.

"Is it because we are rich? Obviously not. Who in the world doesn't know that China is poor? Our per capita GDP is not even comparable to that of Africa..."

Xu Huasheng said self-deprecatingly. This period was really like this. The per capita GDP of Chinese people was really not comparable to that of many African countries.

This also made Salman nod his head. Yes, who doesn't know that you Chinese are poor. If you were not poor, would you sell firecrackers? If you were poorer, I'm afraid you would sell mushroom eggs as long as the price was right.

"It's not because we are rich, it's because we have a lot of people? This is not true either. Which Western country has a larger population than us? But isn't their country more developed than us?"

Xu Huasheng continued, and Salman looked at Xu Huasheng solemnly, waiting for Xu Huasheng's answer.

"Prince, the reason why our country has everything in just a few decades is not because we are rich or because we have a large population. It is because we have bloody lessons and an extremely humiliating history. It is because we clearly know that if we lag behind, we will be beaten, bullied, and manipulated at will by others. We have suffered from backwardness. In World War II, in order to drive the Japanese out, 35 million Chinese died, which is more than twice the current total population of Saudi Arabia. This is the price of backwardness, and we Chinese don't want to pay this price again. We don't want our people to be slaughtered, bullied, and insulted by any country at will..." Xu Huasheng said in a low voice, and this made everyone silent. Salman himself was also serious, and he could understand that feeling. "So after the end of World War II, we Chinese people understood one thing, that is, no matter how poor we are, we must develop our own technology, develop our own national industry, and research and develop our own weapons and equipment. Only when we have our own technology can we not be controlled by others. So no matter how poor, hard-working, and tired we are, even if we are hungry, we must make our own missiles, atomic bombs, and satellites. Prince Salman, do you know how much he is paid?"

Xu Huasheng pointed to a soldier next to him and said, Prince Salman shook his head.

"The monthly salary is less than fifty dollars, but ask him if he regrets being a soldier? If the motherland needs it, are you willing to go to the battlefield?"

Xu Huasheng said directly.

"Report, no regrets, I am willing..."

The soldier next to him shouted loudly, and the soldier's loud words made Prince Salman stunned. At this moment, he deeply felt an inexplicable power sprouting in his heart.

"Prince Salman, although China is poor now, how many countries in the world dare to invade us? The Americans are powerful, but they were also beaten back to their homeland in North Korea decades ago. The Soviets are powerful, but they still dare not invade China with millions of troops. As for Japan, which massacred our people on our land decades ago, ask them if they dare to attack them again? Try it again, and China will make them pay back with interest. Do you know why all this happened?"

Xu Huasheng looked at Salman, who swallowed his saliva with a solemn expression.

"Because they know that although China is poor, we have our own industrial base and can produce our own weapons. We have missiles and atomic bombs. If you dare to attack us, we will fight you to death. This is the most fundamental thing. Prince Salman, if the Americans attack you, the Soviets attack you, do you have the confidence? Can you resist? Even if you can't resist, do you have the strength to make them break their heads and bleed?"

Xu Huasheng asked with a smile. Prince Salman looked at Xu Huasheng and shook his head. How could it be possible? Even Iraq, the third largest country in the world, was beaten into a mess by the Americans. How could Saudi Arabia have this strength?

"Don't mention the United States and the Soviet Union. Even if Israel attacks you, I'm afraid you won't have much to do. Don't mention firecrackers. You only have so many of them. They will be gone after the attack. If Israel really wants to fight you, you can only make them lose some things. But if you can produce these firecrackers yourself, the meaning will be different. If a few dozen are not enough, I will produce hundreds. If a few hundred are not enough, I will produce thousands. When the time comes, I will directly blow you to the ground. Anyway, I have money. At that time, will Israel dare to bomb you?"

Xu Huasheng's words made Prince Salman laugh, and his eyes were full of longing.It would be great if we could produce it ourselves. If Iran and Israel dare to jump, I will bomb you to death.

"Prince, firecrackers are good, but they can't be produced all at once. Just like building a house, you can't build a roof without a foundation. The same is true for industrial strength. It all needs to be developed little by little, generation after generation, and eventually accumulate into a lot. For example, if you can't produce this missile, then you can first learn to produce the missile shell and the missile screws, little by little. This year you learned to produce screws, next year you learned to produce shells, and the year after you learned to produce engines. Then one day in the future, you can produce qualified missiles. It doesn't matter if you lag behind. The most important thing is to have it yourself. Just like firecrackers, if you can't produce a range of 2,000 kilometers, then what about a range of 200 kilometers? If that doesn't work, you can produce a range of 20 kilometers..."

Xu Huasheng's words made Prince Salman look serious, and he looked at Xu Huasheng solemnly.

"Prince Salman, the same goes for industrial strength. You don't have the ability to develop heavy industry now, so develop light industry first. If you can't develop military technology, you can start with some civilian technology. It's just like learning. It doesn't matter if you are poor at learning. As long as you work hard, you will learn a lot one day. But although Westerners have these things, they may not be willing to teach you. Do you know what Westerners call you?"

After saying this, Salman shook his head.

"Stupid rich people, meaning stupid people with lots of money, nouveau riche, easy to cheat and easy to slaughter. Although you are rich, you have no industry, so in their eyes, you are just a stupid fat sheep, ready to be slaughtered. Just like a TV, their cost price is $100, they sell it for $150 in their own country, but they dare to sell it to you for $1,500, why? Because you don't have it, if you want something you don't have, you have to spend so much money, if you don't pay so much, they won't sell it to you, who makes you stupid and rich and don't have it. And weapons and equipment, think about it, what price do Westerners sell to you, what price do they use for themselves, and what price do they sell to their allies. Do you think in this case, will they sell you technology and teach you how to produce these things? Only fools will, if they teach you, how can they slaughter you..."

Xu Huasheng's words made Salman look a little unhappy.

Thinking about it carefully, it seems to be true. Salman felt a little uncomfortable. Damn, he was a customer, he spent money to buy things, and he was treated as a fool.

At this moment, Salman felt aggrieved, extremely aggrieved. He finally understood the feeling of humiliation that Xu Huasheng just talked about. It was so fucking aggrieved.