USSR 1991

Chapter 141 Black Hawk or Mi-17?

After being matched by American congressmen, Tasman, the sales manager of Sikorsky, finally started private negotiations with Chinese civil representatives.This trade in machinery and machine tools, which does not seem to be any different, is actually a secret meeting between two countries.

The person sent by the East Asian countries was a representative of a shell company called Northern Precision Machinery. Anyway, it was the higher-ups who made the final decision on this matter. As for the process, it was not the point at all.

Ambitious Sikorsky wants to sell at least sixty Black Hawk helicopters in one go this time, and use this order to survive the period of sluggish sales. Judging from the import of parts for so many years, Tasman believes that the country They are urgently looking for Black Hawk helicopters, so no matter what price Sikorsky offers, they will eagerly agree at the negotiating table.

In other words, Sikorsky has completely taken the initiative in this transaction.He didn't even need to spend too much saliva to complete this transaction.So at the negotiating table, Tasman's aggressiveness became justifiable.

"The unit price of the Black Hawk helicopter we bought for civilian use was 600 million US dollars, but now it has risen to 800 million. This rate of increase is a bit outrageous, right?" The representative of Northern Precision Company is a polite middle-aged man in his 40s. people.Facing the American lion's big mouth, he replied dissatisfied.

"I think you have misunderstood a little. Think about it, the last time you purchased 24 Black Hawk helicopters was in 1985, and it has been seven years since now. No matter how worthless a commodity is, it should also rise with raw materials. The price has risen because of the price, not to mention the Black Hawk helicopter, which is constantly renovating and improving. In the plateau environment, your country can no longer find an excellent helicopter like ours. If you don’t buy it, it will be your loss. What about it?" At this point, Tasman, the representative of Sikorsky, had a threatening tone.

"But the unit price of 800 million US dollars, the rate of increase is much more terrifying than the inflation rate." The representative of Northern Precision really got into a fight with the Americans. There is a huge gap in this area, but I don't think we have to accept your price. You have to know that we also have considerable experience in this area. We have been conducting research on plateau helicopters for several years, so to speak. Since the eagle started, it has accumulated a lot of experience. It's just that the whole army has not been equipped at once."

Tasman was a little puzzled by the reckless appearance of the other party, who didn't even want to buy. Logically speaking, the other party shouldn't have this kind of attitude of "love or not". Could there be something else tricky in it?

The representative of Northern Precision Company was fooling the other party, and then waited for the conclusion of another transaction.So he doesn't mind talking about other things with Tasman now.Mance, a representative in a neat suit, poured a cup of tea in an orderly manner, and said, "Although I don't know how Americans do business, Chinese people pay attention to integrity when doing business. It’s really a win-win situation.”

When the translator told Tasman this passage, the other party was at a loss. He asked, "I understand the truth, but I want to ask if this has any necessary connection with our transaction?"

The Chinese representative smiled and said nothing. Just as he continued to speak, a person suddenly walked out behind Tasman and whispered a word in his ear.At the same time, the person next to the Chinese representative whispered something in his ear.

It was just the same action, but the two people sitting directly opposite the sofa showed completely different expressions. The expression on Tasman's face was shock and sullenness, while the Chinese representative was as gentle as water and calm as always.It seems that everything is under their control.

At this time, in another room only one floor away from this negotiating room, Victor, the representative of the Soviet Union, was shaking hands and laughing with the Chinese negotiators, celebrating the conclusion of a deal.

"Are you actually doing business with the Soviets? What does this mean? Provocation?" Tasman said angrily. All this seems to be a well-designed situation by the Chinese side, waiting for the Americans to embarrass them.

"No, it's just that your civilian version of the Black Hawk helicopter is too expensive. The unit price of 800 million US dollars is enough for us to buy three Mi-17 helicopters that are also plateau models." The Chinese representative said with a smile while holding his chin.

"Although the Mi-14 helicopter is indeed slightly inferior to the Black Hawk in terms of performance, there is an old saying in China that cinnabar is not as expensive as clay. The cheap and reliable Mi-17 helicopter has naturally become our best choice. Oh yes, we But an order for 35 Mi-17 helicopters has been reached. If your country is unwilling to lower the price, it is a pity that we will only purchase a small amount."

Tasman had already vowed to the higher-ups that he would definitely complete the deal, but the sudden blow left him at a loss and his mind went blank.In the most bewildered moment, Tasman made a wrong choice.

"Then how much do you think the unit price is suitable for?" Tasman, who was biting the price tightly, finally let go.

After seeing a breakthrough, the Chinese representative hurriedly said, "We pay attention to integrity in doing business, and we will not go too far. The unit price is 400 million US dollars. We are willing to buy 36 Black Hawk helicopters."

"400 million? That's half the price, my God, no, I don't agree, it must not be sold at 400 million." Tasman shook his head frantically, and he said, "At least 600 million, you know black Eagle helicopters are not crude Russian products, we are the most superior aircraft, not those vodka-drinking guys can develop!"

"550 million?" The Chinese representative continued to press confidently, "If you are still unwilling to agree, then we have no choice but to give up the Black Hawk helicopter and directly import 41 Mi-17 helicopters of the plateau model from the Soviet Union."

After the verbal battle between the two sides, the Americans who wanted to speak loudly finally sold 590 Black Hawk helicopters at a unit price of 41 million US dollars. Although they still made a lot of money, compared to the previous price.Tasman felt that Sikorsky lost at least half of its profits.

Different from the United States, Victor’s representatives from the Soviet Union showed a very humble attitude from the very beginning, not only giving preferential discounts in terms of prices, but also promising to provide various after-sales services such as parts maintenance.In the eyes of the Chinese side, the attitude of the Soviet Union was favorably blessed, which eventually doubled their original intention to buy [-] helicopters.

The most important thing is that the Mi 17 is much cheaper than the Black Hawk.

When Victor came out of the building, he happened to meet Tasman, the sales manager of Sikorsky, whom he had met a few times. This proud Jew who had mocked him as an inferior arms dealer before would also have a depressed day.

"Hey, isn't this Manager Tasman? How come you are here by such a coincidence." Victor greeted him cheerfully.

Seeing the figure of the dead businessman Victor, Tasman was taken aback for a moment, then seemed to understand a little bit, and then looked at the knowing smile on the face of the Chinese representative beside him, which made him instantly understand what happened.

This is definitely a game. The Chinese side is playing chess on both sides to maximize their interests. But now judging from the expression of the Soviet representative, the only one who suffers is the United States.

But these things are not easy to happen in public, Tasman just gave Victor a hard look, and countered, "I just happened to see what high-quality products the company has that can be sold. It's just that some accidents happened here A merchant who sells fake and shoddy products."

"Oh? Counterfeit and shoddy products? But as far as I know, your company's products didn't go very well in the negotiation, did they? Maybe they were even pushed so hard that they ceded a large profit?" Victor He mocked unceremoniously, "I'm sorry, it seems that the high-quality products didn't take much advantage this time. On the contrary, it's the unanimous praise of the low-quality products you said."

After saying this, Victor, the Soviet representative, ignored Tasman with a sauce-purple face. He turned around and shook hands with the Chinese staff friendly, and then said in standard Chinese, "I hope we can cooperate again next time. , General Zhang."

The elegant Chinese representative smiled slightly and said, "I am extremely happy."

Chapter 142 The motherland didn't let you lose more

Although the Americans regarded the Soviet Union's meddling as an outrageous provocation and protested in private, this still did not change the Soviets' practice of winning Chinese orders from the United States.What's more, although the Americans promised to sell the Black Hawk helicopter, it is a civilian version after all.Under Yanayev's special instructions, the weapons sold by the Soviet Union are for the real military. Compared with the monkey version of the United States, the performance is of course much better than the Mi-17 helicopters delivered by the previous batch.

In this way, the sincerity of both sides is different.The leaders of the Chinese military also have the same considerations. Since the United States and the Soviet Union want to win over themselves, they will use this opportunity to continue to introduce new types of weapons and equipment so that they can be used to eliminate outdated products in the army.The current Soviet Union is a production machine that runs crazy at full power after receiving an order, and uses arms sales orders to get rid of the fiscal deficit.

Unlike the United States, in order to avoid the hiding of its allies, the Soviet Union generously published the news of its military victory over the United States in the newspapers. It is also disgusting to the Americans and Europeans, at least let them see clearly what kind of virtue the leader of your free world is.

So when Comrade Vladimir saw this piece of news, he couldn't help applauding, and almost turned over a dish on the table.But Vladimir didn't care, because for him, the glory and shame of the motherland were closely related to the nearly 70-year-old man.

On the contrary, Natasha, who was eating by his side, was a little unhappy. After taking care of her disabled husband for so many years, which time did she feel relieved? Natasha put down the dishes, grabbed Vladimir's ear and shouted, " How many times have I said it, read the newspaper when you read the newspaper, why are you so excited! Then let people have a good meal."

"Don't get excited, don't get excited, dear wife, look, our motherland has just defeated the Americans on the issue of arms sales. Isn't this something to be happy about?" Comrade Vladimir is like a Children, laugh very happily.

"That's the credit of their foreign trade personnel, compared to you, a person who hasn't been on the battlefield for decades." Natasha continued to sarcastically, "The motherland, the subsidy for soldiers in World War II was increased last year, do you think there is still Is there anything you can be proud of and celebrate?"

"Of course, this is the one thing that deserves our congratulations." Comrade Vladimir's expression became serious, and he said to his wife, "Last year was the most difficult year for our country's economy. Many items, except for the benefits of veterans, have not declined but increased. Doesn’t this mean that the motherland has not forgotten us?”

After Yanayev came to power, the treatment of retired soldiers and active soldiers has been raised, which is also to prevent social problems after the balance of large-scale disarmament.

"Yes, yes, everything you say is right, Comrade Vladimir." Natasha said angrily, after tidying up the dishes and chopsticks beside him, she opened the curtains behind her and looked at the clear sky outside. He asked, "Old man, the weather is so nice, do you want to go out for a stroll?"

"Okay." Comrade Vladimir readily agreed.

Natasha picked up her husband and put him on the wheelchair like a light child.Vladimir's legs were blown up by Nazi shells in the Great Patriotic War. Although he was amputated in the hospital and saved his life, the doctor told him that he could only live in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

This is undoubtedly a heavy blow to Comrade Vladimir as a soldier. A soldier who has lost his legs is as overwhelmed as if his soul has been emptied.Fortunately, his fiancée did not abandon him. Comrade Vladimir returned to his hometown, married his wife who had been waiting for him for a long time, and spent the rest of his life peacefully in his hometown.Except for the disabled retired soldier subsidies received on time every month, it seems that the motherland has forgotten him, just like those soldiers who were born and died, sleeping under a certain birch forest all over the Soviet Union, and no one thinks of him again.

When people get old, they will always be immersed in certain memories of the past, and Comrade Vladimir, who participated in the Great Patriotic War, will naturally chatter with his wife about the history of the war, "Let me tell you, at the beginning... "

"Okay!" Natasha interrupted Vladimir's prepared tirade, and said, "I have heard your glorious deeds thousands of times. Besides, you are in your 70s. Now, why are you still talking about what happened back then. Let’s change the subject, old man.”

Natasha sighed, and said, "It's been so many years, don't think about what happened back then, you should let it go. It's better than anything else to be alive."

Vladimir kept silent, letting his wife Natasha walk on the long embankment in a wheelchair. The warm wind blew across his face, and he squinted his eyes comfortably, quietly admiring the arrival of spring scenery.

It's not that he was immersed in the past and couldn't get out, it's just that he was a soldier of a company back then, and in the end he was the only one left.If he doesn't even say anything, then the deeds of these people will be buried under an anonymous monument.When he dies, no one will really remember.

"In 1942, it was a severe winter." Comrade Vladimir looked at the gradually melting river, and said to himself, "Our company is going to cross a river and launch an attack on the German army guarding supplies on the other side." It was a raid. It was all the fuel and supplies the Germans had in the war zone. We accepted the order as always, and under the cover of artillery fire and darkness, we quietly approached the enemy's position."

"But we didn't expect that it was a well-designed trap by the enemy. When our army was about halfway ashore, the German machine guns began to shoot at us. Many comrades fell down. I saw with my own eyes that the political commissar's palm was shot by the enemy's gun. Interrupt. But we didn't give up and crawled towards the enemy's camp. Until those damn Nazis ignited the fuel and fuel supplies of the vehicle. The burning flames flowed down the slope like magma, mercilessly devouring our Comrade. There is a wall of fire between us and the Nazis, and we can't get through it. When we were at a loss, the political commissar who walked in the front rushed into the burning oil without hesitation. He shouted loudly, 'Forward , comrades'."

"With the beginning of the political commissar, then the second, third, and fourth, no one chooses to retreat, even if they run at the front, they are covered in flames. The political commissar, like a moving fireball, rushed forward without hesitation. To the enemy on the opposite side. Some comrades have been burned to black, but they still shoot at the Nazis. Hehe, Natasha, have you seen it? Countless comrades who were swept by the flames shouted Ulla and pressed on The enemy on the opposite side. This scene is something I will never forget for the last time.”

"At that time, the German army was exhausted rapidly under the long winter, and there were actually very few troops left to guard the supplies. After the entire company suffered one-third of the casualties, we occupied their logistics camp. It was there One day, our company got a new title, Red Army Hell Company. Listening to the prisoners, it was like seeing countless demons crawling out of hell, ready to tear them to pieces.”

Natasha felt a strange terror when she thought of what her husband had said about the soldiers covered in fire.Not to mention those German troops who witnessed this scene with their own eyes.

"That was the night I was sent to a hospital in the rear with both legs broken by a mortar shell. Then the company was surrounded in a battle, and reinforcements came too late. Except for a few survivors, the others They were all killed." Speaking of this, muddy tears dripped from the corners of Vladimir's eyes, and Natasha took out a handkerchief from her pocket and carefully wiped it off for him.The gray-haired woman was always nagging, she gently hugged Vladimir's arm, and said, "Old man, don't think about the past, you still have me, that's enough."

Vladimir did not answer, but silently called out a few names he could still remember.

"Private, Kadyrov, died last March."