Bright Sword: From Border Region Manufacturing to Major National Heavy Industry

Chapter 202 At any cost

After briefly addressing the workers' concerns, Li Muzhi continued his inspection of the other workshops.

During this time, Li Muzhi also gave a brief speech to the other workers.

The arsenal was built inside a cave dwelling, and the cave dwelling was covered with a thick layer of earth, so that Japanese planes could not penetrate it.

Everyone can focus on production without worry.

When the time is right, we'll build anti-aircraft weapons and teach those Japanese planes a lesson.

The impact of Japanese aircraft on morale at the border region's arsenal was easily resolved by Li Muzhi.

In fact, the workers worked even harder and more diligently, and the output not only did not decrease, but actually increased slightly.

After inspecting the workshop, Li Muzhi came out.

Li Yunlong brought the copper smelter back, although Minister Zhang said the moving would take place that night.

But this did not prevent Li Muzhi from checking the supplies and equipment in advance.

When the transport team saw Li Muzhi arrive, they all hurriedly said, "Director Li, why did you come out? You should go back to the arsenal. We'll move the equipment and supplies in tonight."

Although the Japanese planes have now flown away.

However, it would be safest and most secure for Director Li to stay at the arsenal.

"It's alright, this place is well hidden. Even if the Japanese planes come, they won't be able to see us." Li Muzhi said calmly, and then began to check the equipment.

Li Muzhi mainly focused on the furnace first.

Previously, the furnaces at the ironworks were not dismantled properly.

The furnace has been restarted and cannot be stopped for 24 hours.

This copper smelting furnace must not suffer a similar mistake again.

"Hmm, the furnace looks intact without any cracks." Li Muzhi inspected the copper smelting furnace, his expression satisfied.

Then, Li Muzhi began to check the other equipment.

All the other equipment is also intact.

It seems that it is very necessary for the arsenal to send a team of technical workers to accompany the combat troops in dismantling the machinery and equipment.

Li Muzhi decided that the border region arsenal should organize a professional dismantling technology team.

Once combat troops encounter an enemy factory, this professional dismantling technology team will provide rapid reinforcement to ensure the equipment remains intact to the greatest extent possible.

After inspecting all the equipment, Li Muzhi checked the other raw materials and supplies, which were more than sufficient.

With these raw materials and resources, once the equipment is set up and connected to power, copper smelting can be put into full operation.

There is just one problem.

The iron smelting at the border region's arsenal could be done by simply smuggling raw materials from the Japanese railway.

But copper smelting won't work; the Japanese don't have copper on their railways.

Although we have seized a considerable amount of raw materials and supplies, we will eventually run out of them.

Therefore, it is essential to have our own copper mine.

Currently, there are no copper mines within the base area.

After all, the Japanese army wasn't stupid.

They basically occupied every mine they discovered, and were frantically plundering its resources.

The main problem in trying to seize the copper mines occupied by the Japanese army was the lack of military strength.

Of course, the disparity in strength between the enemy and ourselves is too great. Even if we can temporarily seize the copper mine, we may not be able to hold it.

Therefore, the best approach is still to keep an eye on the Japanese supply lines.

The ore he digs out has to be transported away via a transport line.

Our combat troops can change their approach and focus on seizing the Japanese army's supply lines, making the Japanese the transport commanders.

Okay, let's do it this way.

After finishing his inspection, Li Muzhi chatted with the transport team for a few minutes before returning to the arsenal office.

Li Muzhi took out a map and, relying on his memory, began to mark the locations of copper mines occupied by the Japanese army during the War of Resistance against Japan.

Once these copper mines are mined, how will the Japanese transport them, and what will the specific routes be?

……

386th Brigade Headquarters

The brigade commander looked up as Japanese planes roared overhead and cursed, "Damn it, why are those little devils' planes coming over here?"

When the Japanese First Army was established, it did not have airplanes.

However, when the Japanese troops of the First Army carried out their mopping-up operations, they still had aircraft to support them.

This isn't a sweeping operation anymore; planes have appeared too. This doesn't make sense.

Although the Japanese had a large number of aircraft, most of them were in the hands of their navy, and the army had a small number of aircraft.

Because the battle lines were stretched too thin and the ground forces were insufficient, air support was needed in many areas.

With a limited number of aircraft, the frequent reinforcement missions were a serious strain on their resources. Moreover, the main Japanese forces were fighting on other battlefields at a critical juncture, so the aircraft were primarily used for reinforcements there.

It's obviously abnormal that planes are now coming to this area.

The deputy brigade commander beside him couldn't help but say to the brigade commander, "Brigade commander, didn't you send Li Yunlong to find the Japanese copper smelter? Do you think that bastard Li Yunlong might have caused trouble for you again and attracted the Japanese planes?"

"It shouldn't be that bad," the brigade commander said. "After Li Yunlong moves the copper smelter, what else can he do? Either he'll dismantle a section of railway or he'll steal horse feed from Kuroshima Morita's base. What else can Li Yunlong do?"

"But these Japanese planes wouldn't come here for no reason," the deputy brigade commander pointed out.

"Immediately have someone keep a close eye on the Japanese intelligence..." The brigade commander didn't finish his sentence.

An intelligence officer rushed in: "Reporting to the brigade commander, another Japanese military train has been attacked near the 120th Division. The Japanese are furious and all their troops are desperately rushing to reinforce them. Even the strongholds we used to withdraw troops from have been abandoned, and the Japanese and their collaborators are sending reinforcements directly there."

The brigade commander was stunned: "Even the strongholds where we had withdrawn troops, the Japanese abandoned them and sent reinforcements there instead?"

The 120th Division seized another Japanese military train.

These Japanese devils are abandoning their stronghold; they're clearly desperate.

No wonder their planes came out.

It seems that the military train that was robbed must have contained supplies that were extremely important to the Japanese.

At the same time, the brigade commander immediately judged that it was probably Gao Liujin, that bastard, who had caused the trouble.

This son of a bitch brought over so many Japanese soldiers, even summoning their planes. He's really stirred up a hornet's nest!

The brigade commander immediately asked, "Have you figured out what supplies were on this robbed military train?"

"The specifics are still unclear." The intelligence officer shook his head.

The intelligence officer had barely finished speaking when the phone on the table rang. The brigade commander picked up the receiver, and the division commander's roar came through: "The headquarters commanders have just given our division an important mission: at all costs, support Li Yunlong and Gao Liujin in bringing back five truckloads of tungsten ore. Quickly mobilize all available military forces here. District squads, county brigades, and militia—get everything moving! Suppress all the Japanese devils in your area! Don't let a single one of them get to the 120th Division!"

Five cartloads of tungsten ore!!!

The brigade commander gleaned the crucial four words from the division commander: "Five truckloads of tungsten ore!"
Oh my God!

No wonder the Japanese were so desperate that they even brought out their planes.

These five train cars must contain two to three hundred tons of tungsten ore, which is a strategic material!
"Yes, Division Commander, I guarantee I'll suppress the Japanese devils and traitors here." The brigade commander nodded solemnly and immediately summoned a messenger. He solemnly ordered, "Immediately pass on my order: all troops are to be mobilized. The 771st Regiment, the county brigade, the district squad, and the militia are all to be mobilized. Bring all your resources. At all costs, you must suppress the Japanese reinforcements."

"Yes." The messenger ran off quickly.

The brigade commander turned to the deputy brigade commander and said, "Also, send out my guard company, and send out all the cooks and cooks from the brigade headquarters as well."

"Brigade Commander, what about your safety..." The deputy brigade commander didn't finish his sentence.

The brigade commander roared, "Execute the order!"

"Yes." The deputy brigade commander left.

The brigade commander slammed his fist on the table and cursed, "That bastard Li Yunlong, he went with Gao Liujin to steal tungsten ore. Such a big operation, and you didn't even report it to me beforehand."

……

358th Regiment of Jin-Sui Army

Chu Yunfei watched as the Japanese planes flew overhead, but did not drop any bombs.

This struck Chu Yunfei as very strange: "That's odd. The Japanese planes have come to reinforce us, so why aren't they dropping bombs?"

The large contingent of the Jin-Sui Army was like a louse on a bald man's head compared to the planes.

It's very unusual that the Japanese planes didn't attack even though they clearly spotted the formation.

"Commander, perhaps the Japanese planes are just passing by on some urgent business," Battalion Commander Qian Bojun reminded them. "The Japanese troops on the other side are making a hasty retreat. Should we give chase?"

Because Japanese planes were coming, the troops lay down on the ground to take cover and did not pursue the enemy.

Therefore, the Japanese troops on the other side took the opportunity to break away.

"Of course we have to chase them!" Chu Yunfei said decisively. "These Japanese planes are clearly not coming for us, so what are we afraid of? Keep chasing them! Don't let any of these ignorant Japanese pigs get away. Hurry up, or someone else will snatch them."

Chu Yunfei acted decisively, and the Japanese reinforcements that had just broken away were quickly caught up with by Chu Yunfei again.

Seeing this, the other Jin-Sui troops were not to be outdone and rushed over one after another.

This group of Japanese reinforcements was once again entangled.

"Damn it, those damned Jin-Sui Army, those damned Jin-Sui Army!" The commander of the Japanese reinforcements yelled angrily.

He received a new, urgent order: to reinforce the railway line of the 120th Division of the Eighth Route Army at all costs, where there were important supplies to protect.

Unfortunately, a few planes finally arrived and scared off the Chinese army.

But these planes are despicable; since they've come all this way, why don't they take the opportunity to attack?

They left immediately, which made the Jin-Sui Army realize that the planes weren't heading for them.

And sure enough, those scoundrels from the Jin-Sui Army have come after me again.

"Colonel, what do we do now?" a Japanese officer shouted.

"Damn it, what else can we do but fight the Jin-Sui Army?" the commander of the Japanese reinforcements roared.

The two sides quickly engaged in fierce fighting.

The Japanese reinforcements were once again tied down by the Jin-Sui Army.

(End of this chapter)