Chapter 53 Powerful Counterattack

General Badouke's voice, like a stone thrown into the water, instantly stirred up waves under the tent.

"What? The casing was imported from China?"

"Not too surprising. We probably can't process such metal casings domestically."

"Is Kikuete deliberately concealing this? I didn't even know about it!"

"Damn it! General Badouke has a point. If the largest component is imported, how can it be called independently manufactured?"

"Disappointing. Has Kikuete resorted to any means necessary for power? Despicable!"

"Although the casing is imported, aren't the remaining components produced and assembled domestically? I think that's already a significant progress!"

"Phew! Since the casing can lie, who knows if the other parts are genuine!"

After General Badouke launched his "bombardment" against Kikuete, the high-ranking officials in the tent, with conflicting interests, began to criticize Kikuete's deplorable behavior, hoping to nail him to the pillar of shame and make him disappear forever!

In contrast, the President and the Chief General sitting in the front showed no expression, calmly observing. On the stage, Kikuete also calmly waved his hand and coughed lightly before saying:

"Anyway."

"Please give me a chance to explain!"

Upon hearing Kikuete's words, General Badouke, standing there, smirked, while the other furious high-ranking officials coldly observed, waiting for Kikuete's desperate struggle!

Under everyone's gaze, Kikuete scanned the crowd, secretly noting the expressions on everyone's faces, before smiling and saying:

"Yes, as General Badouke said, it is true that the casing of the heavy mortar was purchased from China by me."

"But I don't think that's a problem!"

"I believe everyone is aware of how much we spend on rocket launchers and rockets purchased from the Soviet Union. Take the RPG-7 rocket-propelled grenade as an example. The cost of each launch is nearly two hundred dollars, and the launcher itself costs five hundred dollars."

"But this weapon, with a maximum range of only nine hundred meters, often requires firing from two to three hundred meters away."

"As for the power, it goes without saying, it cannot be compared to our heavy mortars!"

"Our heavy mortar, with the casing purchased from China, costs only four hundred dollars. After assembly domestically, the total cost does not exceed four hundred and twenty dollars!"

"And with this price, our workers can still earn some wages!"

"In other words, for just four hundred dollars, we can obtain such a powerful weapon. Furthermore, the subsequent production process can also promote economic development to a certain extent!"

"I can even assert that if we import parts and then manufacture them domestically in all aspects, it would greatly promote our country's economic development!"

At this moment, hearing Kikuete's passionate voice, the high-ranking officials in attendance were momentarily stunned. Many nodded slightly in agreement because, as Kikuete said, this approach saved foreign exchange no matter what!

Moreover, if truly done as Kikuete suggested, it would indeed promote the national economy, as the military industry is also an industry, which naturally requires workers!

Then, seeing that the expressions of the majority of the high-ranking officials had eased, Kikuete continued to smile and said:

"Furthermore, the most important thing is that we have finally taken the first step in military industry, don't you all agree?"

"From almost being unable to manufacture any weapons in the past, to now being able to produce a powerful tactical weapon, isn't this a great and important progress?"

"I believe in the near future, we will be able to purchase some equipment and produce similar casings, thereby gaining the industrial capacity to manufacture similar weapons completely!"

"But all of this starts with today's first step, and you all are witnesses!"

"This point is also what I learned from my time in China. Only by taking the first step can we take the second and third steps!"

"Staying still means nothing will happen!"

This time, as Kikuete's voice fell, for this African country that had just ended a war and was still in an upward stage, for these high-ranking officials with some ambition, this was also their pursuit and goal. Instantly, applause thundered!

Because they agreed with Kikuete's words!

General Badouke's face became increasingly ugly, and after the applause gradually subsided, Kikuete looked at him and smiled, saying:

"General Badouke, you're right."

"Although the casing of the heavy mortar was indeed purchased from China by me, I don't think it's a shameful secret that cannot be revealed."

"In fact, I will mention it later, thanking you for bringing it up in advance."

"Let me give you an example. Is your 'strong' physique built from a single meal? No, of course not! It's built from years of meals."

"The industry is the same. We cannot achieve success overnight. Although I understand that nuclear weapons are the most powerful, do you think it's realistic for us to manufacture nuclear weapons now?"

As soon as Kikuete finished speaking, laughter erupted immediately because Kikuete emphasized the word "strong," obviously implying General Badouke's obese figure.

"Kikuete! You!"

Faced with Kikuete's ridicule, General Badouke subconsciously touched the holster around his waist, then realized that he had already been disarmed as required when entering!

"Quiet!"

At the same time, the voice of the President sitting in the middle sounded. Even though his skin was dark, the change in General Badouke's face color was evident. The anger and killing intent in his eyes were rolling!

"Let's start the test!"

Then, the President said indifferently, while Kikuete nodded and said to the bodyguard beside him:

"Begin!"

Moments later, accompanied by Kikuete's countdown, a loud bang resounded, and a gas cylinder five hundred meters away soared into the sky amidst flames and smoke, turning into a black shadow flying towards a target spot one kilometer away.

There, there were also stakes serving as targets, as well as dilapidated cars and trucks.

"Boom!"

With a loud noise, the entire landing point became a mess, and under the tent, many high-ranking officials had already stood up with binoculars, watching the target nearly two kilometers away.

"Good Lord! It's terrifying!"

"Haha, as expected, you didn't disappoint me. With such a large size, it should have such power!"

"This is already heavy artillery. It can decide the outcome on the battlefield!"

"I have to say, Kikuete has a good eye!"

"Hehe, with this kind of weapon, dealing with those guerrilla forces will be much easier!"

Amidst the excited discussions of the high-ranking officials, the President and the Chief General sitting there finally showed smiles on their faces as they looked at the scene of destruction in the distance.

And Kikuete, at the perfect moment, cleared his throat, waited for everyone's attention to be focused on him, and respectfully said to the President:

"As the first independently produced weapon of Tanzania."

"I think it should be named by Mr. President!"

"And this will mark the beginning of a new historical stage for our Tanzanian military industry!"

With this statement, General Badouke's face became completely unsightly.