Test?
The behemoth that had repeatedly tried to target Meng Hao while he was in Great Xia, only to be crushed by Huarong Technology.
Speaking of which, going to India, participating in the Global Arms Exhibition, and even being detained and placed under house arrest by the United States, had some connection to Test.
If Meng Hao hadn't participated in India's Songzan's 1 billion US dollar wager and successfully crushed Test's "so-called mechs," he wouldn't have been caught up in this dispute.
Now.
Marshal, from Test, was actually asking Lieutenant General Tommy for help to develop the latest new energy vehicle?
Meng Hao wanted to escape.
All bets had to be placed on this new energy vehicle research and development.
It was truly a case of "the cause of my success is also the cause of my downfall."
Meng Hao raised an eyebrow.
His expression unchanged, he continued to ask in a cold tone,
"Oh?"
"What exactly is the situation?"
"Tell me about it."
Lieutenant General Tommy, using the brief list provided by Marshal, simply explained the specific situation to Meng Hao.
"That's about the gist of it."
Marshal's ambition was immense. If this list were seen by other research teams, they would surely think Marshal was dreaming while awake.
Theoretical range, eight hundred kilometers; actual range to exceed six hundred kilometers!
The vehicle's various parameters were to surpass the data of Test's current best product by more than double.
And the cost, only to be controlled at one-fifth of Test's current best product, meaning within ten thousand US dollars.
Damn it.
This was clearly a case of wanting the horse to run but not letting it eat grass.
Such an outrageous demand could only come from Marshal's overblown requests.
Seeing Meng Hao remain silent for a long time.
Tommy smiled somewhat forcedly. Even though he wasn't too familiar with the civilian new energy vehicle sector, he could feel that Marshal's demands were completely wishful thinking.
"If it's very difficult, we can appropriately increase the cost."
"This cost compression is too severe, and the requirements are too excessive."
In fact,
Even Tommy felt that Marshal's list of demands was like a stingy client making extremely strange requests to a Photoshop designer.
For example.
A budget of 100 yuan, but a visually stunning picture was required... Most importantly, the main color of this picture had to be a riot of color and black.
It was truly absurd.
Meng Hao paused.
"To be honest."
"I really want to retort with one sentence."
"Go find a pillow and sleep, you'll have everything in your dreams."
Lieutenant General Tommy chuckled obsequiously. He was just about to discuss with Marshal again about whether the cost could be increased.
However, Meng Hao's next sentence interrupted his thoughts.
"However, it can be barely done."
"Also, I want to ask."
"If I'm to research the latest new energy vehicle, I'll need a laboratory, won't I? I'll need additional manpower, won't I? I can't just create new energy vehicles out of thin air; I'm a researcher, not a god of technology."
Facing Meng Hao's complaint.
Lieutenant General Tommy quickly added,
"Of course, of course."
"However, we've decided to expedite the construction of a design laboratory in Australia, in your region. This way, you won't have to travel thousands of miles to the United States."
Heh.
Sounds nice.
"To save Meng Hao from traveling thousands of miles to the United States."
Frankly, it was still a concern that Meng Hao might suddenly run away.
This Lieutenant General Tommy was indeed overly cautious.
"Actually, you only need to conduct macro design and research on the product."
"Then, remotely transmit the data, and we will build and test it here according to your research data, and then send all the data back to you."
Meng Hao was almost amused to anger.
"Lieutenant General Tommy, I feel like you're joking."
"Even the best chef can't remotely control stir-frying; even a medical god can't diagnose by looking and smelling from afar or diagnose through suspended silk pulses. Those are just mythical stories from Journey to the West."
Clearly,
Meng Hao was somewhat angered.
Lieutenant General Tommy quickly smoothed things over.
"Look at what you're saying."
"Some core work will definitely be conducted by you."
"We'll set up a research studio in your area immediately."
Meng Hao rolled his eyes.
He couldn't be bothered to waste more words with Tommy.
He directly hung up the phone, adopting an attitude of "do as you please."
"Your Excellency, isn't this Meng Hao a bit too arrogant?"
"And our attitude towards him is a bit too solicitous, isn't it?"
The personal secretary who had been guarding Lieutenant General Tommy's side spoke indignantly, defending his honor.
As a result,
Lieutenant General Tommy, who seemed to question whether he had masochistic tendencies, directly rolled his eyes and retorted unpleasantly,
"What do you know."
"People of great talent rarely have good tempers... Moreover, Meng Hao was tricked into coming back by me. If he were too proactive, that would be suspicious."
"However, there's still a long time... He can't return to Great Xia anymore; his home country has no place for him. He'll have to work for us obediently... In the future, he'll feel our sincerity!"
"Alright, enough nonsense, quickly mobilize the necessary testing equipment and construction workers, and prepare to build a research laboratory in Meng Hao's area."
The assistant was taken aback and felt a headache coming on.
"Lieutenant General Tommy."
"Rebuilding a laboratory will take at least one to two years. From your tone, it seems quite urgent."
Tommy chuckled.
"One to two years, who can wait that long?"
"Can't you be more flexible?"
"Just pick an existing laboratory, dismantle it entirely, transport it by plane, and reassemble it... If done quickly, it can be completed in three to five days."
What?
All equipment to be repurposed.
The laboratory to be dismantled and rebuilt.
Thousands, even tens of thousands of tons of laboratory walls, bricks, and tiles, all to be transported by plane.
How much would that cost?
"Lieutenant General Tommy, what about the budget?"
"If we were to build just one A-class laboratory, it would cost around 200 million US dollars... If we build a laboratory according to your strategy, the cost might not be less than 1 billion."
Lieutenant General Tommy shook his head.
"You, you've followed me for so long, but your perspective is still too narrow!"
"Do you know how much profit this new new energy vehicle will bring Marshal annually once it's done?... Hundreds of billions in net profit."
"A mere 1 billion investment, what is that compared to?... We need to ensure Meng Hao conducts the research, and more importantly, prevent him from escaping. Compared to hundreds of billions in profit and a 1 billion investment, Meng Hao is the most important."
The assistant nodded.
Looking as if he understood but didn't quite grasp it.
Having followed Lieutenant General Tommy for so many years, this was the first time he had seen him place such importance on someone.