Chapter 136: A Glimpse into Saudi Opulence

The room was filled with complaints from every corner, each echoing the same sentiment: there was a desperate shortage of funds. An outsider might have truly believed the Republic was so poor it was down to its last pair of trousers.

Seeing so many titans of industry crying poverty was quite a spectacle, even for the Chief Architect, who eventually could no longer sit by.

"We aren't afraid of poverty; isn't now the time to start making money? Let us see just how much wealth this Saudi Arabia truly has. My opinion is that we should sell them missiles."

As soon as these words were spoken, the room fell silent. Hadn't they been talking so much precisely to find a way to sell missiles for profit? Now that the sale was on the table, the first step was complete.

Marshal Nie was the most delighted. With the missiles now available for sale, the aerospace system stood to gain a massive influx of capital. Having spent many years in the aerospace sector, the Marshal held a deep affection for it.

"It seems everyone agrees to the sale. We can begin preparations to negotiate with Saudi Arabia. Prince Sultan must be anxiously awaiting our word by now."

History has a way of repeating itself in startling ways. The decision to export missiles to Saudi Arabia was ultimately finalized. The Chief Architect was known for his decisive actions while in office, and he was determined to push hard for economic development.

"Yes, that is the way to go. We can initiate preliminary talks with the Saudis tomorrow. I think Rong Qin should be the one to go. You understand the 'Two Bombs' project better than any of us, and you have already had contact with the Saudi side—you are the most suitable candidate."

The other leaders expressed their satisfaction with the Chief Architect's nomination. In that room full of people, there was indeed no one better suited for the task. The project with Saudi Arabia was destined to be managed by Marshal Nie, which was fitting both in sentiment and reason.

"Very well, I leave this matter to you, Old Nie. We are all confident in your hands. In a word: if we can earn a hundred, we must never settle for ninety-nine. You know how badly we need the money."

Marshal Nie had roughly guessed that he would be the one to handle this major project. At that moment, no one in the room could fathom just how large this order would be. The profit from this single deal would exceed the nation's entire foreign exchange reserves. In history, this was an unprecedented feat, and it was unlikely to be surpassed.

"No problem. I will handle the initial stages of this order. If any major issues arise, I will drag you all out of bed at any hour, so be prepared."

With these words, Marshal Nie let out a hearty laugh. The others sighed at the suddenness of the meeting, yet they were accustomed to such surprises; meetings like this occurred nearly twenty times a year.

While everyone else was lamenting the abrupt nature of the event, only the Chief Architect’s mind had drifted elsewhere.

"This is a good thing. If we can have more of these, let them come every day. Losing a little sleep is a small price to pay."

"Indeed, indeed. The more of these, the better. We are more than happy for them."

The meeting at Zhongnanhai concluded. On his way back to his residence, Marshal Nie’s opinion of Yang Hui grew even higher, and he muttered to himself:

"This Yang Hui is truly talented at making money. He will surely go far. It was not a waste of effort to arrange his position all those years ago."

The next day, shortly after Yang Hui woke up, he received a call from Marshal Nie.

"Yang Hui, I'm telling you, what we discussed yesterday is a go. Come to me immediately. Prince Sultan is arriving shortly, and you need to be there to accompany him."

A jolt of energy surged through him. If the Marshal said this, it meant the higher-ups had approved the sale. This was excellent news. Yang Hui had been worried that his early intervention in this deal might cause some error, but it seemed the overall direction remained unchanged.

At this moment, Yang Hui felt it necessary to clarify something. When he had been in contact with Prince Sultan yesterday, he had mentioned the Dongfeng-3, a missile Marshal Nie had likely not yet considered.

"Grandpa Nie, I discussed matters with Sultan yesterday, and they are interested in the 'Number Three' missile."

The 'Number Three'? Marshal Nie was surprised. The Number Three was in a completely different class than the Number Two; selling it would be far more complicated.

"They want the Number Three? I won't hide the facts from you: that missile falls into the category of medium-to-long-range ballistic missiles. Leaving everything else aside, does Saudi Arabia even have a need for such a thing?"

Whether they needed it or not, Yang Hui didn't need to know, nor did he need the Marshal to explain. It was better to let the hard currency do the talking.

"I suspect Saudi Arabia simply wants the most powerful missile available. I believe that even if we offered to sell them ICBMs, they would dare to ask for them. I tested the waters regarding the Number Three, and they are very keen on it. We can set the price high during negotiations. I think one hundred million US dollars per unit would be appropriate."

One hundred million dollars per unit. Marshal Nie was no stranger to money, but faced with such a staggering sum, he couldn't help but lose his composure. Ignoring the total, the unit price alone was terrifying.

Excitedly, he pressed the phone to his mouth and asked, "Yang Hui, are you certain? This is no joking matter. Is this reliable?"

Yang Hui was absolutely certain. In the historical transaction he remembered, that was exactly the purchase price. There was no reason to lower it now. Though he hadn't discussed specific figures with Prince Sultan yet, it was safe to let the Marshal know about the potential price point.

"I haven't discussed the specifics with Prince Sultan yet, but I can estimate them. This is the Number Three, with a range of several thousand kilometers—it's a weapon of divine caliber, so the price must reflect that. When the time comes, just hold up one finger, and then wait to see the 'tycoon' behavior of Prince Sultan."

'Tycoon' was a term Yang Hui had coined, which had since spread throughout the system. Marshal Nie had learned the word, and he was now prepared to follow Yang Hui's advice. Perhaps they really could sell them for the high price of one hundred million dollars each.

"Very well. Regardless of how the 'tycoon' acts, you must get over here immediately. You brought in this massive order, so we need to discuss it further. You will need to coordinate with the comrades from the aerospace system. Rest assured, if this succeeds, your contribution will not be overlooked."

Recognition for his efforts—that wasn't bad at all. Being able to secure the transport fees and earn a significant merit was a great deal.

On his end of the line, Yang Hui straightened his back and held his head high. "Grandpa Nie, don't worry. I will ensure a smooth handover with the comrades from the aerospace system. I guarantee there won't be a single issue on my end."

Ensuring his part went smoothly was the best Yang Hui could do. Being a reborn soul didn't make one omnipotent; success required everyone to act and work together.

Walking into the small conference room, the discussion had just reached the main topic. Yang Hui sat down on the side, choosing to observe the situation first.

"Your Highness, regarding your request, the discussion among our leadership has concluded. In principle, this arms sale is approved. However, you are aware of the sensitivity of ballistic missiles; they cannot be measured by the standards of conventional weapons. This is something we must state upfront."

By addressing the special nature of the deal early on, the outcome would depend on the sincerity of both sides. If either side slipped up, the deal would fall through.

Prince Sultan finally heard the confirmation from the Republic's side. He immediately brought up the missile specifications he had contemplated all night. In reality, the Saudi side's initial request had only been for ballistic missiles with a range of five or six hundred kilometers.

Upon learning that they could provide missiles with a range of several thousand kilometers, Prince Sultan decided to seize the opportunity. If he could have long-range, he wouldn't settle for medium; if he could have medium, he wouldn't settle for short.

"Yes, we are here with the utmost sincerity to negotiate this contract. As long as it is possible, we will definitely purchase it. As for the performance of the missiles... we are not short on money. We simply want the best. As long as the missile's performance matches its value, we will buy it. Therefore, the more advanced the performance, the better."

Hearing the Saudi 'tycoon' declaration, Marshal Nie was deeply moved. It seemed Yang Hui was right; selling these for one hundred million dollars each was indeed a real possibility.