Chapter 574 Program source code in exchange for liquidated damages
Qin Tao's heart was like a mirror. In this early warning aircraft project, in addition to returning the deposit, the Davidians had to pay liquidated damages of US$600 million. This amount was quite huge, so the Davidians were a little bit overwhelmed. .
Although the early warning aircraft cannot be sold, it is still possible to disassemble and sell the technology inside. By selling the technology, part of the liquidated damages can be offset, which can reduce losses. After all, the David people are the best business people in the world. .
Take the production of this T/R component, for example, if your side agrees to import it, then the other side will have to ask for a technology transfer fee of at least 100 million US dollars. After all, this is the core of the active phased array radar.
In the past, even if we spent 200 million to introduce this production technology, it would have been worthwhile, but it is different now. Now we already have the relevant production technology! Qin Tao believes that the technical strength of the 14th Institute will gradually develop in the future, and T/R components can be made at a bargain price, without having to spend high prices to import them from Davidians.
So, Qin Tao smiled and looked at Mr. Wang: "Mr. Wang, do we need to introduce the production technology of T/R components now?"
Mr. Wang has been stunned by the suggestion just made by David. They are indeed the best business people in the world. They are so powerful that even if they face external pressure and cannot export the whole machine, they will still disassemble it and sell it! Moreover, it was not proposed by the David Aircraft Company, but by the shipbuilding company, thus avoiding being traced.
At this time, after hearing Qin Tao's question, Mr. Wang reacted and shook his head: "No, we don't need the production technology of this kind of component. If we want to import it, the most important thing for us is the software. Active phased array The software for radar in early warning aircraft mode is what we urgently need."
We have all kinds of hardware systems, whether it is the airframe, phased array radar, or post-processing system, we can make them. The key is the post-processing software.
After all, an early warning aircraft has never been successfully developed in China. There is no clear idea of what kind of data model needs to be established for an early warning aircraft that overlooks the earth from a high position, and how to program it. If the source of the program can be obtained from the Davidians, code, which will greatly promote our own early warning aircraft project.
“Mr. Katz, please contact the people at David Aircraft Company and tell them our needs.” Qin Tao said: “What we need most at the moment is the program source code of the entire early warning aircraft system.”
Katz was stunned for a moment: "Mr. Qin, this is a bit difficult!"
Hardware is easy to obtain. The reason why they exported the production technology of T/R components is because they have discovered that even if they don't export, the East will come up with this kind of thing, and even the Orientals are almost done with it.
So, if they export this kind of thing, they can offset part of the liquidated damages, and it will not cause a technological breakthrough in the East. Even if they are asked about it afterwards, they will have an excuse to decline.
Now, Easterners actually ask for program source code. How is this possible? This is the core secret of the Falcon early warning aircraft!
With this kind of technology, the Orientals can independently develop early warning aircraft, but that might impact their Faircon market in the future. No, absolutely not!
"Yes, it is a bit difficult, but if you are willing to export, the liquidated damages can be reduced by ten million US dollars." Qin Tao said: "It's just some program source code, we can take it away with a hard disk, and it won't It will be known to outsiders, and for you, this should be the most cost-effective. After all, the program is constantly evolving, and you have given us the source code of the program, and you will definitely write better ones."
“No, this is impossible!” At this time, in a room in another building in the city, Afiq shook his head angrily: “We absolutely cannot give them the program source code! And it’s only 10 million US dollars!”
The monitoring system certainly exists, and it is directly connected here. Boaz and others can directly monitor the conversations there.
Katz's identity was of course intentional. Kaz was not scapegoated at all. Kaz went there just to build relationships with him.
Now, everything has been laid out.
The Orientals want the source code of the program to offset the $10 million in liquidated damages, which is completely different from what they imagined.
They would rather give hardware than software!
Comparing the two, is there any need to say? The software is definitely more important!
Without specialized software, the early warning aircraft is just a pile of scrap metal and cannot be used at all. However, in the world, they are the only ones in the world that have developed active phased array radar early warning aircraft software!
As a radar system engineer, Afiq knows the importance of importance. He absolutely does not want to hand over precious software to Easterners, especially the program source code!
At this time, the conversation in the bug was still going on.
"Actually, this is also based on the friendship between the two of us." These are Qin Tao's words: "In the 1980s, your party handed us the complete set of technology for the Monster Snake-3 missile. Now we use this technology to produce The PL-8 missile is still the main short-range air-to-air missile of our air force. Our cooperation in the military industry is still very pleasant. I, Qin Tao, am a businessman, but I also value friendship. In fact, ten million US dollars and Program source code, I personally prefer the former. Our relevant units have a large number of talents. Even if there is no program source code, we will develop it ourselves. The cost will definitely be less than one million U.S. dollars. It will cost 10 million U.S. dollars. In exchange, what we gain is just a time advantage, which allows us to develop our own early warning aircraft faster. In terms of funding, we still suffer."
Qin Tao has long guessed what David was thinking. The reason for exporting T/R component technology is because he already has the relevant technology. If the other party exports it, it will not have any effect. On the contrary, it can save a lot of money.
Now, Qin Tao is telling the other party that we don’t need these program source codes. If you don’t give them to us, we can develop them ourselves and save money. The only drawback is that it will be delayed.
These words were not meant for Katz, but for those who were eavesdropping.
At this time, Boaz’s heart had begun to waver. After all, Qin Tao was right.
Easterners are smart, and they are already at the world's leading level in many aspects. Although this kind of early warning aircraft technology cannot be broken through for the time being, it will definitely be broken through in the future. It is a matter of how long it takes.
They are equivalent to buying time with money!
“Should we give them the original source code?” Boaz asked.
"The first one?" Afik looked at Boaz with unwilling eyes: "You mean our version 1.0 program?"
"That's right, this is the program. We have developed it to version 3.0. This original program has many omissions. Even if it is given to Asians, there won't be any big problems. Moreover, our program is all original It's an early warning machine. Even if the Orientals get this kind of program, it will be very troublesome to transplant it to the mushroom disk."
The original big nose and big cheeks were a program. Later, if the Orientals wanted to change it to a mushroom plate, they had to rewrite the program. In this way, it was okay to hand over the original program to the Orientals.
But, at this moment, the words in the bug started again.
"We are very sincere. Please don't give us the original program source code. It is best to give us the source code specially prepared for the mushroom disk early warning aircraft." Qin Tao said: "If we If we go back with a bunch of unusable source code, our friendship will end here."
Friendship? How much is friendship worth? As long as there is a profit, the Davidians can even sell their own mothers!
However, the friendship that Mr. Qin mentioned is still very useful and has practical benefits. For example, the Mingzhou Group wants to design a modified frigate for the Davids, and there are some other good things in the hands of the Mingzhou Group.
Now, even Boaz is angry: "For only 10 million US dollars, we are required to contribute the source code of the program, and it is specially prepared for their mushroom disk early warning aircraft. How is this possible?"
"Yes, ten million US dollars is too little, even twenty million US dollars is not much! It must be worth at least fifty million US dollars!" said another person on the side.
There is nothing that cannot be solved with money. If there is, it means the money given is not enough!
Their psychological bottom line is 50 million US dollars!
"Okay, Mr. Katz, please go back and discuss it." Qin Tao said: "We are very sincere. I hope that when we wake up tomorrow, we can get good news that satisfies both of us."
Qin Tao, Mr. Wang and others slept comfortably, but the people from the David Aircraft Company stayed up all night. After a night of discussion and reporting to their superiors, they finally got a unanimous opinion: Oriental people want program sources. Code works too, it costs at least $50 million!
The next day, Qin Tao woke up naturally from his sleep. When he opened the door, he saw that Kaz was already waiting at the door.
"Hey, Mr. Katz, have you been here a long time ago? Why didn't you knock on the door? I'm so sorry. Come in quickly." Qin Tao was extremely polite.
"Mr. Qin, I've conveyed your request over there." After coming in, Kaz went straight to the point. He knew that Qin Tao didn't like to be sloppy.
“Well, what’s the result?”
“If you want the source code of the program, that’s fine, but the price has to be raised to $100 million,” Katz said.
This is the art of negotiation. Considering that the other party may bargain, it doesn't matter if you ask for a high price in advance, even if the other party offers a half discount.
"One hundred million dollars? You really think those program source codes are valuable." Qin Tao said: "I also said yesterday, if we develop it ourselves, it won't even cost one million dollars. Why should we spend one million dollars?" 100 million?"
“Mr. Qin, these 100 million US dollars are originally liquidated damages, but you don’t need to actually pay a penny to get the program source code of the advanced early warning aircraft. This is definitely worth it.”
Qin Tao's face was gloomy, and Kaz already had an ominous premonition.
“Now, in order to save time, we plan to purchase the program source code from you. Our bottom line is 10 million US dollars. You guys are really open-minded. In this case...then we..."
“Mr. Qin, the price is easy to negotiate. Since you think US$100 million is too expensive, how about US$80 million?”
Katz knew that he couldn't let Qin Tao say it. If he said it, he would definitely stop it!
If the price is not right, you can continue to negotiate, but don’t flip the table! At this time, cold sweat began to break out on Kaz's back.
“Eighty million? You guys are really insincere. Forget it, we don’t want it anymore!”
Sweat broke out on Kaz's forehead, and he quickly said: "Fifty million, Mr. Qin, fifty million! This is our greatest sincerity."
"Fifty million? You can sell it to whoever wants it!" Qin Tao was also unambiguous: "We don't have that luxury!"
Katz was dumbfounded. Fifty million was the minimum price. It had been approved by superiors before coming here. If the price was lower than this, there would be no chance of negotiation.
“Mr. Qin, please believe in our sincerity. We are really sincere, and the price is indeed not expensive. This is the program source code of the world’s most advanced active phased array radar early warning aircraft!”
To be fair, the price of US$50 million is indeed not expensive, but there is still a long way to go with the price of US$10 million proposed by Qin Tao.
"For you, this price is indeed not expensive, but for us, this price is very expensive." Qin Tao said, "Well, since you think you are sincere, then I will also be more sincere and raise the price." Double, 20 million US dollars, this is our limit.”
Twenty million dollars?
Katz knew that he had to work harder, and he continued: "Mr. Qin, I am very grateful for your expression, but if you can continue to increase the price..."
"Then we need new things." Qin Tao said: "If you can give us a copy of all previous versions, we can pay 10 million US dollars for that version, and you can give us three more versions. Once we have collected 50 million US dollars, we will suffer some losses.”
This is almost all the versions!
Katz has been working on the Falcon project in the past, and of course he knows the evolution process of previous versions. In this way, Dongfang has obtained all the versions!
"We are here waiting for you for a day. If you are willing, then you will compensate us less than 50 million US dollars in liquidated damages. If you are not willing, we will follow the original terms." Qin Tao said: "But, please Please be careful not to pass off a program that has modified a few lines of code as a new program. The amount of source code between two different versions of the program must be at least 30% different."
Of course, Qin Tao knew that 50 million US dollars was the other party's base price, and it was not expensive for him to buy it. However, he must not follow the other party's requirements, and he could not be led by the other party.
It’s okay if you want to add more money, but you have to get more good things.
In this case, it is also beneficial to our own side. We can study the differences between different versions of programs. By studying the changes in these programs, we can analyze the benefits of such changes. It can be said that with these program source codes, we can even You have walked the way of the Davidic people! This can avoid many mistakes.
Now, the only thing I worry about is whether the other party will accept this condition.
But, it doesn’t matter, the trump card has been revealed, let’s see if the opponent will take the move!
"We absolutely cannot agree to such a request!" Afiq was very annoyed: "If they read our previous source code, then our early warning aircraft system will not have any secrets!"
"However, those source codes are no longer important. After all, we are now writing version 4.0 code. Moreover, after the mushroom disk early warning aircraft comes out in the future, the early warning aircraft we export may be of the mushroom disk type. After all, Our Falcon early warning aircraft was originally built because we couldn't make a big plate." Boaz wanted to accept it.
Those source codes are indeed no longer important to them. Computer hardware in this era has the famous Moore's Law, which will be upgraded every once in a while, and computer software is upgraded even faster.
They have been operating the Falcon early warning aircraft for several years and have accumulated a large amount of data. Using this data, they can further optimize the program, and a new 4.0 version of the program is also being written.
More importantly, their early warning aircraft with big noses and big cheeks was just a compromise because the large plate too affected the aerodynamic layout, and they couldn't get the radome.
In the future, after they export a large number of early warning aircraft, these early warning aircraft with big noses and big cheeks will probably be eliminated. Therefore, even if they sell the source code of the previous versions of the program to the East, there will be no problem.
"Anyway, this won't work." Afik was still dissatisfied: "Unless, as he promised, he spent 20 million US dollars to purchase a set of the first three versions of the program source code, which would add another 30 million to the total price. , selling it to them for US$80 million is still enough!”
The Davidic people were businessmen. In order to make money, they would sell anything.
“Okay, then we’ll ask the Easterners for $80 million!” Boaz gritted his teeth and said, “Let Kaz talk.”
So, at the end of the day, Kaz bravely came to find Qin Tao again.
“Mr. Qin, David Aircraft Company has agreed to pay US$20 million per set, for a total of four sets, so the total price is US$80 million. What do you think?”
Qin Tao was speechless. This guy David is so good at doing business. This is going to snowball! If the discussion continues, the snowball will get bigger and bigger, and maybe all the $600 million in liquidated damages will turn into nothing.
Qin Tao could only cut the knot quickly: "I don't think it's important anymore. We have already reported this project. The superiors are still discussing it and may not agree to it. Your current conditions are definitely approved by the superiors." I won’t agree to it no matter what. Let’s not mess around, just stick to the original plan, and pretend all this never happened.”
Qin Tao just kicked the ball. If you continue to play like this, we will stop playing and just stick to the previous rules!
Katz's expression suddenly changed.
"Actually, you didn't lose money." Qin Tao continued: "You can use the research results during this period for third-party customers, and you can still make another profit, so forget about these projects! "
Qin Tao mentioned third-party customers again, and Kaz was also surprised. He didn’t know how Qin Tao knew about it. Mr. Qin has always been very shrewd, and it seems that he has guessed some things in advance.
Boaz and others also frowned. Seeing that the Easterners stopped talking, they were also very sad. After discussing for several hours, they finally made up their minds: just follow the Easterners' requirements. After all, the amount was negotiated from 10 million When it reaches 50 million, it is already very good.
That evening, David’s men held a banquet in an inn to entertain the Eastern party.
"The whole world says that we are the best at doing business, but we found that our business skills are simply not as good as Mr. Qin's." Boaz raised his glass and said to Qin Tao: "Mr. Qin, let me toast you. "
"Mr. Boaz, you are too polite. When it comes to doing business, how can I compare with you." Qin Tao said, "You have easily saved 50 million US dollars in compensation. Moreover, If you successfully sell your current research and development to third parties, you can still make a fortune."
“Mr. Qin, are you so sure that we can sell to a third party?”
Boaz was very curious.
“Yes, if others don’t know, Ah San will definitely not miss this opportunity.”
Hearing Qin Tao's words, Boaz opened his eyes wide: "Mr. Qin, can you give us a detailed analysis?"
"In military equipment, Ah San has always been targeting us. They have to have whatever we have, and they have to have whatever we don't have." Qin Tao said: "In the past few years, we have been trying After getting the early warning, Ah San must have been tempted a long time ago. Now that our deal has been terminated, Ah San must be happy in his heart. If you go to Ah San to sell him, Ah San will definitely accept it happily. They will think that this is the case. If you do it, you will outshine us.”
"Mr. Qin, please don't refuse. I just said that when it comes to doing business, you are definitely better than us." Boaz said: "Your analysis is so correct!"
In fact, when it was reported that the early warning aircraft project had failed, Ah San had already sent people to contact him, wanting to buy back this early warning aircraft built for the East. At this time, Qin Tao said this, and he was like a god. !
Qin Tao smiled: "Although Ah San has the opportunity to give us early warning and poses a threat, we are discussing your issues now, so I will tell you everything I know."
"Yes, Mr. Qin, you are our true friend. Even for the sake of friendship, the project we just negotiated must continue!" Boaz was very happy.
“Actually, for you, there are still big flaws in your military equipment.” Qin Tao continued to point out.
“Mr. Qin, please speak.”
“For you, the biggest threat is surface-to-surface weapons, and you need to have the ability to intercept such weapons.”
(End of this chapter)