The rise of a great power: starting with military industry

Chapter 493: Building Three More Combined Brigades

Malone Military Training Base.

At night, the stars are shining brightly, hanging in the sky.

The air on the plateau is slightly thinner, but the visibility of the starry sky is also greater, making it easier to see the stars.

Liu Tao accompanied the old man for a walk.

Even in May, the Malong Military Training Base is located on a plateau, with many altitudes exceeding 5 meters. The reception area here is at an altitude of 2200 meters.

The reception is located on the edge of the reservoir, with beautiful scenery. It is very quiet at night with the sound of crickets.

"I have seriously considered what you said. With Li Fuguo and Zhao Guoping's military achievements and abilities, there is no problem in promoting them further." The old man said slowly: "The two of them serve as the first military and political chiefs of the Hong Kong garrison. Promoting them further will also help show the country's attention to Hong Kong."

"But qualifications are also something that must be considered." The old man added, "They both worked in the southwest before, which is not a good thing at all."

"The Malong Military Training Base is well built. We can definitely build one near the capital, which will be beneficial for the troops to conduct training and exercises. Let your Panshan Group be responsible for this matter. Li Fuguo and Zhao Guoping can do it." The old man's words were full of unquestionable color. "Given the situation of your Panshan Group, is it possible to build three more synthetic brigades?"

Liu Tao understood the meaning of his leader's words.

That's the condition.

He didn't even think about it and agreed directly: "No problem!"

"The standards of the military training base we build cannot be lower than those of the Malong Military Training Base!" the old man emphasized.

"No problem!" Liu Tao nodded.

To build a military base like the Malong Military Base would cost about 200 to 300 million RMB under the current circumstances, and Panshan Group can still afford this amount of money.

In comparison, the expenses of the three combined brigades are even more substantial.

Even at the current domestic purchase price, a heavy combined brigade equipped with a basic number of bullets and artillery shells, not counting personnel salaries and other expenses, would cost nearly 20 billion RMB!

A medium-sized combined brigade will be cheaper, but it still costs about 15 billion RMB. A light combined brigade will be cheaper, also about 10 billion RMB.

In other words, the three combined brigades would have to invest RMB 45 billion to RMB 50 billion just in weapons and equipment and a base of ammunition.

Then according to the current situation, each combined brigade has 8000 people, and three combined brigades have 2.4 people. The average monthly salary of each person is about 400 yuan, which is almost 1000 million yuan a month and 1.2 million yuan a year.

As for food, the annual expenditure is about 5000 million yuan.

The annual travel reimbursement expenses are almost 2000 million yuan.

The annual cost of training ammunition, live ammunition and other shootings is about three to five hundred million yuan.

In other words, the three combined brigades spend about 500 million to 600 million yuan a year.

If you participate in the war, then the subsidy plus the merit bonus will more than double the number.

That’s a lot of money to invest!
But Panshan Group is now large and powerful enough to support itself.

The old man smiled and said, "That's the best. We can leave this matter to Li Fuguo and Zhao Guoping. They are not suitable to serve as the commander and political commissar of the Tiger Brigade."

Liu Tao nodded, understanding what the old man meant.

He is also the commander of a heavy combined brigade, so at most he is a brigade-level cadre. Even considering the number of people, he is at most a division-level cadre.

But if it is managing six combined brigades, that would be 4.8 troops. Considering that the combined brigade is an experimental force, it is not an exaggeration to call it an army group.

Then if the higher-ups make an exception, it would be completely reasonable for that step to be reached and for the two of them to serve as the first military and political chiefs of the Hong Kong garrison.

"You have to be prepared. Your rank won't be promoted in the next few years. It's your fault for being so outspoken." The old man glanced at Liu Tao.

Liu Tao shrugged and said, "It's okay. I'm still young anyway. And to be honest, I'm already very busy managing such a big business as Panshan Group. I would rather develop weapons and do scientific research." When the old man saw Liu Tao say this, he knew Liu Tao's true words and nodded slightly.

And as Liu Tao said, he is still young, only 31 years old this year!
This age is too young to move up.

If the foundation is not stable enough, it is possible that an earthquake will shake it in the future.

The next morning, all the leaders left.

Their original schedule was to spend one day at the Malong Military Training Base. In addition to the commendation meeting, they would also inspect the Malong Military Training Base.

Unexpectedly, I stayed a few more days.

Now that the matter is over, naturally, I didn't want to stay any longer at the Malong Military Training Base.

Before leaving the Malong Military Training Base, Liu Tao met with Li Fuguo and Zhao Guoping.

"Next, our Panshan Group Armed Forces Department will build three more combined brigades, also a heavy combined brigade, a medium combined brigade, and a light combined brigade!" said Liu Tao.

Li Fuguo and Zhao Guoping were both surprised.

They had never heard Liu Tao talk about this before. After all, the investment in building a combined brigade is not cheap.

In the past, Liu Tao would discuss major matters like this with them in advance.

But this time, Liu Tao announced it directly.

"Director, should we discuss this matter at the Party Committee meeting?" Li Fuguo hesitated.

According to rules and regulations, such a major matter must be discussed at the Party Committee meeting, and a decision must be made at the Party Committee meeting before it can be implemented.

Liu Tao waved his hand and said, "We'll go through the procedures after the Party Committee meeting. The Party Committee meeting in July will be included, but you have to do the work first."

"This is a political task." With just one sentence, Li Fuguo and Zhao Guoping realized the importance of this matter and there was no room for negotiation.

Liu Tao did not tell them that this was a condition for them to receive the title.

"I understand!" said Zhao Guoping.

"You two will no longer serve as the commander and political commissar of the Tiger Brigade. You should draw up a list of cadres for the other three combined brigades to be established for me in the next few days," Liu Tao ordered.

"Yes!" Li Fuguo replied.

It just happened to be a good time to expand the army, and it could be used as a reward for promoting outstanding performance.

Li Fuguo said, "Director, there is a problem now. If we form three more combined forces brigades, with an additional 2.4 people, the Malong Military Training Base will be too crowded!"

This is a problem.

Liu Tao hesitated for a moment and said, "You can contact the military district and ask them to help. The troops were streamlined before, and many places where troops were stationed have been vacated. It should be enough."

"In addition, we plan to build another base similar to the Ma Long Military Training Base near the capital. You should come back to Beijing with me at the end of the month to inspect the site selection." Liu Tao said.

Naturally, not all six combined brigades will be placed in Yun Province.

Since another military training base is being built near the capital, it is natural that three of the combined brigades should be placed in that military training base.

This was also Liu Tao's plan. After all, he understood what his leader meant.

As for Li Fuguo and Zhao Guoping going to Hong Kong next year, he is not worried about it. Anyway, they can take a plane back to Beijing more often, or keep in touch through phone or the Internet.

(End of this chapter)