DipNovel Chapter 32: Falling into the Trap
Chapter 32: Falling into the Trap
"Chief Engineer Guo, how about we discuss this again?"
Despite Guo Yi's words, the five commanders were still unwilling to give up: "Chief Engineer Guo, we know how good MS is and how important it is to the country, but we really need mechs right now."
"Chief Engineer Guo, it's not that we're greedy, nor are we deliberately making things difficult for you, nor are we trying to delay the MS construction time or waste the country's resources. It's just that two ASs are really not enough for us!"
Why isn't there enough?
The size of the AS meant that it could not engage in air or naval warfare, so it could only engage in land warfare.
Therefore, even if ASs were to be deployed, only the Suzaku and Byakko battle zones would be worth equipping.
After saying that, Guo Yi said impatiently, "There just happen to be two readily available AS aircraft, one for the Vermilion Bird Theater and one for the White Tiger Theater. Let's leave it at that!"
"..."
Old Qi and the others exchanged glances, hesitated for a moment, and finally looked at Guo Yi with resentment: "Chief Engineer Guo, let us be honest with you, if it weren't for you, we wouldn't have bothered you to equip us with AS equipment."
"Yes, we didn't want to bother you, Chief Engineer Guo, but you've made it so we have no choice but to."
"etc."
Guo Yi's eyes widened, he sat up straight, and said incredulously and somewhat angrily, "What do you mean I've made you all have to pester me?"
"If you don't use AS to fight that battle, and only promote the mechs in Zhenyue, we can withstand the pressure from below and tell the people below that the mech technology is not mature enough to be put into actual combat."
But now…
At this point, Lao Qi spread his hands helplessly and wearily: "Not only do the people below know that mechs can be used in actual combat, but many of them have also witnessed AS's combat capabilities firsthand. How can we withstand the pressure from below?"
"Furthermore, the public now believes that we have AS troops. If we cannot produce them, it will not only severely damage the public's confidence, but also dampen the enthusiasm of our subordinates."
"And another thing, if people find out that we don't have an AS unit, there will definitely be conspiracy theories saying that Zhenyue's mechs have safety hazards or that we are using ordinary people's lives to test and improve the mechs, which will ultimately mislead the public into boycotting mechs."
"Chief Engineer Guo, do you think we've ever pestered you like this before?"
If we weren't truly at our breaking point, we wouldn't be pestering you like this!
"..."
Under Lao Qi and the others' accusations, Guo Yi discovered that he was indeed somewhat involved in the matter: "Okay, I admit that it is indeed somewhat related to me, but the main responsibility for this matter lies with Lao Li."
It was Lao Li who suggested using AS to deal with the intruders, not me.
So, if you're going to have trouble, go bother Old Li.
"Old Li can't make decisions about shipyard affairs. If we bother him, he'll just bother us. It's all the same."
"..."
Seeing Guo Yi speechless and helpless, Old Zhu immediately played the victim, saying, "Chief Engineer Guo, please have pity on us and equip us with AS equipment."
"Yes, Chief Engineer Guo, we don't need much, just one AS platoon per person will do."
"..."
After waiting three seconds, seeing that Guo Yi still didn't speak, Lao Xuan took another step back: "Chief Engineer Guo, if you're really in a difficult position, then how about one AS class for each of you? Is that alright?"
"Chief Engineer Guo, please help us."
"Sigh~"
Guo Yi sighed, rubbed his hair, and began to think seriously...
The reason he kept delaying the deployment of AS is that the shipyard currently doesn't even have enough space to fit an AS production line, let alone a production line for the weapons and equipment that support AS.
Using the MS production line to produce AS would not only cause the MS production schedule to be halted again, but also result in insufficient production capacity: the shipyard could only assemble five ASs in three months.
Therefore, it would take thirty months, or exactly two and a half years, for each of Lao Qi and his team to have their own mecha squad.
Honestly, spending so much time producing fifty ASs is less cost-effective than producing five MS prototypes.
Therefore, Guo Yi finally decided: "Everyone, I really can't equip each of you with an AS class."
In that time, the shipyard could have produced the MS.
Isn't MS better than AS?
After saying that, Guo Yi painted a rosy picture for Lao Qi and the others, saying, "Within three years, the first-generation MS will be able to undergo real-world testing."
Within four years, the first generation MS will be able to officially enter mass production.
In that case, once MS is in mass production, I propose that you be given priority in its deployment.
Four years will pass quickly, so can you guys stop worrying about that AS now?
Guo Yi's words made Lao Bai frown, and he asked unwillingly, "Chief Engineer Guo, is there really no other way?"
The performance of the mass-produced AS is slightly lower than that of the AS prototype, which is acceptable to us.
"This is a production capacity issue, not a performance issue!"
After saying that, Guo Yi said irritably and unconsciously, "Anyway, you're just trying to give your subordinates an explanation. You don't really want to use AS in actual combat. How about this, you take buckets of paint to the police department and paint a batch of Zhenyue?"
"Add some miscellaneous weapons, and give Zhenyue a more imposing name, and you should be able to handle the pressure from below, right?"
"The Zhenyue and AS models look very different..."
Before Lao Xuan could finish speaking, Guo Yi casually interrupted, "It's simple. Isn't it said outside that we produce one generation, reserve one generation, research and develop one generation, and look forward to the next generation?"
Tell the people below that AS is still in testing, and Zhenyue is the mech you are going to equip now.
"Once MS are deployed in four years, your subordinates won't care about AS anymore."
"..."
Seeing that Guo Yi would refuse to produce AS even if he resorted to deception, Lao Qi and the others finally gave up: "Sigh, since Chief Engineer Guo really can't do anything about it, then let's just forget about it and take those two ASs with us."
"it is good."
To prevent Lao Qi and the others from backing out, Guo Yi immediately notified Lao Zhou: "Lao Zhou, arrange for someone to immediately transport the two AS aircraft and all weapons and equipment from the hangar to... Lao Qi's place."
After Guo Yi finished informing Lao Zhou, Lao Qi and the others reluctantly got up to say goodbye, saying, "Chief Engineer Guo, then we won't disturb you any longer."
If you have time in the future, you are welcome to visit us, Chief Engineer Guo.
Those gifts are a token of our appreciation and have nothing to do with this matter. Please accept them, Chief Engineer Guo.
No need to see me off, goodbye.
After saying that, Lao Qi and the others hurriedly left Guo Yi's office.
"..."
After Lao Qi and the others left, Guo Yi said to Li Sisi with a bit of frustration and embarrassment, "Sisi, do you think I should take some time to get some weapons and equipment for Lao Qi and the others as compensation?"
Old Qi and the others came all this way with such valuable gifts, and they were so polite, even humble, and yet they ruined what could have been a proper equipment deployment. I feel bad if I don't offer them some compensation.
"..."
Li Sisi looked at Guo Yi with a wry smile and said quietly, "Ayi, is it possible that the commander-in-chief and the others have already exceeded their objectives?"