Free Web NovelChapter 423: Chapter 343: Not even giving me cold Chinese gooseberry root salad?
"Leadership, let’s start with the city. Our current main battle fire truck, which is Car 1 that we often choose for police dispatch, still has many shortcomings."
"Many city residents have seen us extinguishing a fire, and just as we’re making progress, there’s no water coming out again. They ask us why we can’t ever seem to put it out, but in reality, we are also helpless, because the main battle truck has many issues to begin with."
"First of all, the layout of urban firefighting is not very complete. This is related to city planning and can’t be remodeled in one or two days. So, we try to find problems with our own equipment as much as possible."
"First is the water storage capacity, which can only be achieved through size and rapid supply, and this also requires the support of many advanced technologies. The second issue is fire extinguishing efficiency, which now has an opportunity to be improved."
"This year, Shanghai Firefighting has been equipped with a ’One-Seven Compressed Air Foam Fire Truck’ made by Schmitz Fire Factory, Germany, on a Man chassis, with a Luxembourgian shell. Most importantly, it’s what ’one seven’ in its name stands for."
"This ’one’ and ’seven’ refer to the efficiency ratio. This fire truck uses the ’one seven system’, whereby one drop of water mixed into foam can produce the fire extinguishing power of seven drops of water. This means that with a three-ton water load, and giving some leeway, there’s at least the fire extinguishing capability of seventeen to eighteen tons."
"The truck has a maximum flow of 3000 liters per minute and can supply up to 21,000 liters of foam, which allows it to sustain suppression for 7 minutes. Using a single compressed air foam gun, it can maintain fire fighting for 45 minutes, which is enough to cope with a major urban fire disaster."
Spouting such detailed data off the top of his head caused the leadership to suddenly feel a sense of foreboding.
"So... how much does one of these trucks cost?"
"The manufacturer’s quote... 970,000, I guess?" Fang Huai looked uncertainly at the leadership in the vehicle.
He had seen this price in an international firefighting magazine.
The representative from the whole corps who came today was not only Zhang Zhongting, but there was also a Chief Liang.
The whole corps’ Chief Engineer, with the rank of deputy brigadier, was a member of the Party committee, though he held a lower position.
At this moment, Chief Liang was already somewhat astonished inwardly.
He didn’t know Fang Huai, but how could a soldier now reel off the parameters of the latest equipment?
Seeing that the leadership of the detachment had no reaction, Chief Liang also spoke up:
"Actually, the main value of this truck lies in its foam mixing system technology. The mixing systems of the foam trucks we currently have in our arsenal have many problems. As for the price, we’ve discussed it with the suppliers, and we should be able to get it for 882,000. We don’t need to fully equip the entire brigade with it—just the urban fire brigades and staying within the 40 million budget should be sufficient."
Leadership breathed a sigh of relief, "How much of this year’s refitting tender have you solved?"
Chief Liang didn’t know how to answer.
This year’s tendering hadn’t considered such high-quality items at all! These weren’t even on the list!
"Cough... a small part." Zhang Zhongting, on the other hand, spoke up easily.
Leadership pondered for a moment, their expression slightly relaxed.
Fang Huai noted this expression, his heart churning.
million doesn’t scare you? How big of a game is this?
million is 1/5th of the price of Ka-32 helicopter fragments!
Hold on, hold on, stay calm. Don’t pop the champagne at half-time. Before the leadership leaves today, I absolutely can’t smile.
Fang Huai just pondered briefly before continuing his "firepower deficiency syndrome" style of speech:
"Leadership, in the current era, we are moving towards informatization. Equipment for detection, breaching, life-saving, plugging, decontamination, transfer, smoke extraction, and lighting, among other emergency rescue gear, is being revolutionized."
"We don’t have to look too far ahead, just to the current firefighting exercise. If we had the new double funnel support module from Jiangxi Jiujiang Factory, we could save more than 30% of the rescue time, gaining more chances of survival."
"There are also some new pieces of equipment, such as the Swedish Super High Pressure Fine Water Mist Cutter equipped in Shenyang, the portable fire extinguisher launcher provided to the Hunan General Team, the handheld computers for fire brigade chiefs of staff that Beijing Fire Headquarters has equipped, and American smoke washing tent, among others."
"Besides urban areas, there are forests. Our province lacks forest firefighting forces, yet it has a higher than average forest coverage. With eight mountains, one water, and one field, the new five-year plan from the government also highly values the tourism industry. Our squadron’s construction goal is..."
Finally finding a gap in the conversation, leadership smiled and raised their hand, "This we have already discussed earlier. Young comrade, you have a strong theoretical level, eh? Were you interested even before enlisting? And what you mentioned, it’s all foreign equipment, isn’t it?"
Upon hearing this, Fang Huai grinned, skipping the first question entirely, and excitedly said:
"We have domestic options too, leadership! Straight 8! WJS! The Forest Firefighting force is expected to establish a helicopter squadron next year, and our 372 Factory’s Wu Straight 8 will be entering the firefighting field!
Before, Captain Zhang said that when it comes to emergency rescue helicopters, the Ka-32 is the best, but our domestic Straight 8 isn’t bad either! Moreover, in 2004, we successfully developed the Direct-8 Shipborne Transport Helicopter, Direct-8J and Direct-8F. Now, this generation of helicopters is relatively mature technologically, the modifications are quite comprehensive too,
and the domestic production rate has increased! They are a main transport model for the People’s Armed Police Troops! Quality goods at a fair price indeed!"
Fang Huai was getting more and more excited as he spoke.
In reality, Straight 8 isn’t cheap, it has always had many problems, but compared to the whopping two hundred million price tag of the Ka-32, the cost of tens of millions is indeed relatively inexpensive.
But it’s domestic.
And, the People’s Armed Police have long had them, so it’s more likely that it could be realized.
But the leadership’s expression doesn’t seem quite so pleased...
Even Chief Liang was beginning to feel he might be out of touch. He wasn’t very familiar with this area either, and now firefighting rescue is considering helicopters?
Everyone present was sipping water, coughing.
Zhang Zhongting, in the process of drinking, even choked on his drink.
The firefighting team asking for funding is a collective now, but once the leadership leaves, it would again divide from top to bottom into many cost projects, including the transformation of the squadron Fang Huai represented as one of them.
This kid mentioned helicopters last time, so they thought he was just shooting for the moon, only to settle for less, but it seems like he’s seriously considering it.
If it wasn’t for the leadership present, he would have already shouted: "We can’t afford it! The general team can’t afford you, this golden child!"
The leadership actually wanted to say they couldn’t afford it, too. But they must...
The appetite only grows as we talk, this delicate and refreshing, mellow and sweet Baihao Silver Needle tea is even beginning to taste a bit off.
Leadership, in charge of emergency management, places a high value on firefighting and has the authority to approve funds. At his level, there are even certain discretionary funds to support projects.
However, as a poor province, funds are limited, and the auditing power lies with the top leadership.
The provincial finance’s total revenue last year was just 28.5 billion, while expenditures were 795 billion. Behind the massive deficit, most funds were used on infrastructure and public construction projects with low self-repayment capacity.
Firefighting is one of those public projects with virtually no self-repayment capability.
Leadership is considering the bigger picture.
"Hmm," the leader nodded, "I understand your urgent feelings. How about this, I’ll submit a proposal for your issue after I get back."
With that, he patted his leg, signaling his intent to leave.
"Well... I’m also busy. Besides safety issues, there’s an upcoming investment fair, and I need to arrange some work.
Zhang Zhongting, Yan Ping says you’re capable. The exercise you organized today was indeed good. The overall combat awareness of the firefighting team has greatly improved compared to two years ago when I was in charge of this area. I think it’s very good that you’re joining the team.
So, no need to keep pouring tea for me; my prostate can’t take it. I’ll give you a definite answer—the squadron construction can proceed."
The leader said so and stretched out three fingers.
Everyone understood what that meant: thirty million.
A leader of his stature didn’t spend an entire afternoon to speak up for a mere three million, and three billion... that would be dreaming.
This year, the whole corps’ three-year major equipment update was only 1.2 billion.
Fang Huai really wanted to go up and straighten the leader’s remaining two fingers, but feared it would lead him to a big mess.
Zhang Zhongting, in fact, was practically going crazy with laughter inside.
Thirty million. That’s the annual funding that the city owed Guiyang Regiment, which he had been trying to get for several months, and it was only 28 million!
Of course, there are other public budget incomes, which are the main funds, but those are assigned to fixed expenses, such as staff salaries, meal support, fuel, electricity, etc. It’s the independently allocated funds that really have autonomy.
With this, not only is the funding for Second Squadron’s construction resolved, but there’s also a surplus! freewēbnoveℓ.com
Of course, the thirty million has already attracted the attention of the two regimental commanders. freewёbnoνel.com
A bunch of Elder Dengs put on a concerted display of poverty in hopes that those who witnessed would get a share.
"Thank you, leadership! The advancement of firefighting work cannot be separated from the leadership’s support!"
Zhang Zhongting shook hands with the leader with both of his own, though his face showed reluctance, he promptly stood up, and the firmness of his handshake gave the leader a vague realization:
He may have given too much.
Fang Huai let out a scarcely audible yet long-drawn "Ah."
"Regimental commander... about that helicopter you mentioned last time..."
Zhang Zhongting glanced at him, made a ’tsk’ sound, got off the car, and saw the leader off.
The leader pretended not to hear and left.
As soon as he was gone, smiles appeared among the people in the car.
Only Fang Huai was genuinely disappointed.
Zhang Zhongting’s micro-expressions couldn’t be hidden from his nephew.
Thirty million, and you’re this happy. Once the Color Ring service gets going, that’s just three months’ income for me, not to mention once "Household Appliances to the Countryside" kicks off.
You all are too poor.
If I sponsor thirty million, I might as well be the deputy corps captain.
Fang Huai sighed again.
"Little Fang, cut it out, the man’s already gone!" Detachment Captain Li, with a beaming face, pondered about the general team getting to enjoy pork rib soup while the Southwest Guizhou Detachment should get at least stir-fried pork with celery, right?
What a fortunate encounter!
Fang Huai turned to see Li Zhi’s smile and then glanced at the other leaders, aware of their thoughts, and chuckled.
You’re all dreaming.
Just as Fang Huai expected, when Zhang Zhongting got back in the car, he immediately put on his second act.
Frowning, sighing, clapping shoulders.
"Little Fang, it seems your squadron’s construction fund is still a bit short, but Boss Wu said he would support it fully! You can’t rush hot tofu, I’ll figure out something!"
The leaders sitting in the rear couldn’t believe their ears.
What the hell?
Thirty million and you still need to figure things out? Your Special Service Squadron 2 must have gold-plated door frames!
You won’t even give us stir-fried pork with celery, not even a plate of cool Chinese gooseberry root!
