Heavy-duty agricultural off-road tractors

Chapter 82 Heavy-duty agricultural off-road tractors

Zhou Chunsheng's lips twitched, and he looked at Jiang Fan expectantly: "If not domestically, where else can we sell it?"

"The whole world."

Jiang Fan immediately started counting on his fingers.

"Look, you can count the number of countries in the world that can produce tractors on your fingers right now."

"The United States, Britain, Germany, the Soviet Union... there are fewer than ten in total."

"Many other countries are mostly agricultural nations."

"For example, Eastern European countries, Czechoslovakia, Western European countries like France and Italy, not to mention Australia in the Southern Hemisphere, Latin America, and Africa."

"They grow cash crops in their fields, such as coffee, cotton, and sisal."

"All of these things are meant to be exported to earn foreign exchange and boost the national economy."

"Even if we don't say that everyone can afford it, at least if we pool the resources of the whole country to set up a few demonstration farms with tractors, they should still be able to afford it."

"With tractors, efficiency doubles, and they can earn significantly more each year. They understand this better than anyone else."

"Besides, the products from our factory are different from other tractors."

Jiang Fan's blueprint left Zhou Chunsheng completely stunned.

Before he could process the information gaps Jiang Fan had mentioned, he saw that chilling smile reappear on Jiang Fan's face: "Engineer Jiang, what kind of trouble are you up to now..."

What does "stirring up trouble" mean?

Jiang Fan deliberately frowned, then relaxed, and began to plan in detail: "Engineer Zhou, think about it, the land abroad is not the same as our Northeast Plain."

African savanna, Middle Eastern deserts, Eastern European hills, and so on.

"Every region has natural terrain defects that are beyond our control. For the sake of our customers' experience, the tracks of our exported tractors have to be widened and thickened, and the chassis has to be reinforced again. Steel plates have to be added to the front, bottom, sides, and rear for protection. A round flange has been reserved on the top so that customers can better observe the situation."

"Don't you think so?"

Zhou Chunsheng's eyes widened: "No, no, Engineer Jiang, you're wrong. Who owns a tractor like this?"

"You're basically just a tank with its gun removed!"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Jiang Fanyi waved his hand righteously.

"This is called a heavy-duty off-road agricultural tractor, a necessary reinforcement designed to adapt to complex terrain!"

"Then... what exactly is that round flange at the top for? I don't believe it's for observation. Who the hell would install a flange for farming?"

"Sigh, Engineer Zhou, I already said it was to observe the road conditions. Of course, there's also the matter of our additional products, to generate better foreign exchange."

Jiang Fan added without batting an eye: "For example, some coastal countries like to go fishing in tractors, so we can make a 130mm fishing rod with an attachment. Or, when birds migrate south, customers might want to shoot them, so we can provide a launcher, or..."

"In case the driver encounters any ferocious wild animals in the wild, or needs to clear certain obstacles, could our Dongfeng 01 also be put to use as a civilian engineering demolition device? All we need to do is fix the launcher in place..."

"Simple structure, easy to use, and honest to all ages."

Zhou Chunsheng squinted, stunned for a long time, before finally managing to squeeze out a sentence: "Engineer Jiang, you call that a civil engineering blasting device?"

"Otherwise what?" Jiang Fan asked innocently.

"We're a peaceful country, why would we sell weapons to an agricultural nation?"

"We are simply helping those agricultural countries move into modern society as quickly as possible."

"Zhou, you lack awareness; you need to broaden your perspective."

Zhou Chunsheng felt his temples throbbing. He felt that if such a place really existed, those customers who bought "heavy-duty agricultural off-road tractors" might have a completely new understanding of the term "agricultural country" when they saw that the tractors could also "incidentally" use civilian engineering blasting devices to clear obstacles.

However, looking at Jiang Fan's nonchalant demeanor, Zhou Chunsheng really didn't know what to say in rebuttal.

Since Jiang Fan came to Ansteel, the factory's style has completely deviated from its original track.

It transformed from a place that was purely focused on steelmaking into a versatile entity capable of manufacturing weapons and engaging in foreign trade.

Behind all of this is this seemingly ordinary young man.

Forget it, as long as I can make money, it doesn't matter.

"Alright then, Engineer Jiang."

"I'm just an illustrator; you're the one who calls the shots."

"Hehe. That's right. Don't worry, Engineer Zhou, you'll see when our tractors are sold all over the world."

Jiang Fan patted him on the back with a smile, while Zhou Chunsheng just smiled bitterly: "I just hope I won't be sanctioned by those indiscriminate bastards' international associations. Zhou Chunsheng's worries are real."

At this juncture, the United States and other Western countries have initiated a series of de facto blockades and embargoes aimed at isolating and containing the new China politically, economically, and militarily.

After all, their ambitions have not disappeared; they are still eyeing this 960 million square kilometer land with predatory intent.

They refused to recognize the new Chinese regime, only recognizing Chiang Kai-shek's government. Truman's original words were that they could not deal with any communist regime, and they also tried to win over other countries to prevent them from recognizing the new China.

They even enacted the Export Control Act of 1949, which prohibited the export of strategic materials, including arms, steel, vehicles and ships, to China.

The most hateful of all is the Mutual Defense Assistance Act, which provides military assistance to areas not controlled by our party.

The emergence of multilateral actions has only made things worse for us.

The blockade was even more severe than that imposed on the Soviet Union.

However, Jiang Fan wasn't too worried. He reassured Zhou Chunsheng, "We only sell civilian machinery, so these problems don't exist. As for how the buyers use it, that's their freedom."

"We must believe that all people in the world love peace."

"We can't really deal with those who don't love peace right now."

Zhou Chunsheng:

""

He always felt that since he had been working with Jiang Fan for so long, he would eventually achieve something big.

"Alright, stop worrying about it. Just let the experienced mechanics keep an eye on the engine."

"Let's go and dismantle those tank parts first."

Jiang Fan turned and left. Zhou Chunsheng shook his head again. At this point, there was nothing he could do but leave.

In the days that followed, the modification work entered its most crucial stage.

The parts of the four scrapped tanks were completely disassembled and sorted.

Two vehicles in good condition were selected as test prototypes, while the other two were completely disassembled and used as spare parts.

Zhou Chunsheng and his team removed the original turret base of the tank, re-welded and reinforced the upper part of the vehicle bottom, and added a driver's canopy and seat.

The modification of the power compartment was the most time-consuming. The original gasoline engine was removed and replaced with the "Ansteel No. 1" and "Ansteel No. 2" diesel engines designed by Jiang Fan and Zhou Chunsheng.

Although the machine is extremely noisy, its power output is still very stable.

The transmission system retains the original structure, but the gear ratio has been adjusted to adapt to the low-speed, heavy-load conditions of the tractor.

All the rubber pads on the track shoes were replaced with scrap tire linings.

As for the other tractor that was used for refueling, it did not undergo many modifications; only some functions were added.

Aside from the thickness of the armor and the lack of weapon systems, the outer shell looks almost like a tank.

Even with Alexandrov's knowledge boost, Jiang Fan once again felt that building a real tank was still too difficult.

The assembly day arrived quickly, and most of the workers who were free in the factory came to watch the excitement.

In particular, He Xiying had brought her leadership team to support her well in advance.

The driving duties naturally fell to Jiang Fan and Zhou Chunsheng, each driving one vehicle to experience the first step into the era of large machines.

The two iron oxen were started in the manufacturing workshop, the diesel engines roared, and the entire vehicle shook violently.

Jiang Fan was both excited and nervous. He looked at Zhou Chunsheng, who was emerging from the flange, and the two nodded to each other.

It slowly drove out of the workshop gate.

>