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

Chapter 219: They saw the equipment, but wouldn't even give them the tungsten ore.

"This, this, this is really weird."

Zhang Wanhe had been called out by Li Muzhi earlier, but he didn't stay outside; instead, he went to attend to his own business.

After finishing his work, Zhang Wanhe returned to see if Li Muzhi had managed to tame these troublemakers.

Zhang Wanhe came outside the conference room and saw the students quietly and attentively doing their problems.

Even those few troublesome students were very well-behaved.

Li Muzhi was not seen in the conference room.

Zhang Wanhe deliberately observed from outside for a few more minutes, and the students were still quietly doing their problems without violating classroom discipline.

This puzzled Lao Zhang greatly.

How did Li Muzhi manage to do that?

Without anyone even being in the meeting room, they managed to subdue all these troublemakers!
The guard captain smiled and said to Minister Zhang, "Minister Zhang, Director Li said he's not good at managing people, but I think he's better at it than anyone else."

Even if these troublemakers behaved themselves properly when Minister Zhang reprimanded them to his face, they would immediately revert to their old ways as soon as they turned away.

Director Li's few words were far more effective than Minister Zhang's stern reprimand.

It's been over an hour, and all the troublemakers are still behaving themselves.

"How did Xiao Li do it?" Zhang Wanhe asked, very curious.

"After you left, Director Li didn't pursue the matter of the students questioning him. Instead, he praised them lavishly, saying they were all rare elite talents and excellent. The students were happy with the praise, and then Director Li had them do some exercises," the guard captain said.

"Is it really that simple?" Zhang Wanhe was skeptical.

When those troublemakers were brought here, his former superiors all seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

The posture was as if he were unloading a burden: "Oh, finally I've sent these ancestors away."

Zhang Wanhe thought it was unrealistic to expect that such a troublesome person would become obedient and compliant after just a few words of praise.

"Perhaps it's because they've been scolded too much in the past, and Li Muzhi has appreciated them from beginning to end, making them feel like a thoroughbred horse has met its discerning owner," the guard captain said with a smile.

“Those few troublemakers, they call themselves thoroughbreds? I…” Zhang Wanhe was about to refute, but quickly stopped himself.

I praised it before, but it was all for nothing.

Does Li Muzhi's praise make it effective?

They were able to obey Li Muzhi perhaps because they were of similar age and easier to talk to.

Forget it, as long as Xiao Li can handle them, then I can save myself some trouble.

"You stay here and keep watch. I'll go check on Xiao Li." Zhang Wanhe told the guard captain to continue watching.

"Yes, Minister Zhang." The guard captain nodded.

Zhang Wanhe had just walked away from the conference room and hadn't even reached Li Muzhi's office when a guard at the door came to report: "Minister Zhang, Sun Desheng, the cavalry company commander under Regiment Commander Li, has arrived. He has urgent business with the factory director."

Li Yunlong's cavalry company commander?

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wanhe's expression turned serious: "Let him come to me first."

Li Yunlong's side was supposed to jump to the outer edge of the encirclement to fight, and also seize the Japanese's large arsenal. Now that they've come here urgently, they must have encountered some difficulties.

We can handle this matter for Xiao Li, saving him time.

"it is good."

Soon, Sun Desheng walked up to Zhang Wanhe and saluted him: "Minister Zhang."

"Company Commander Sun, your regimental commander sent you here in such a hurry. Is it because you want to ask the arsenal for some equipment?" Zhang Wanhe asked directly.

“No,” Sun Desheng shook his head and replied, “It’s Yan Kai from the Jin-Sui Army. Our regimental commander said that Yan Kai is willing to exchange equipment for tungsten ore with us…”

Before Sun Desheng could finish speaking, Zhang Wanhe interrupted him with a scathing remark: "That's impossible!"

In the past, we had 8000 tons of tungsten ore. Why did we exchange it for daily necessities? It was because we couldn't refine tungsten ore ourselves at the time, and conditions were harsh. We were in dire need of daily necessities, so we had no choice but to do it!
It's different now.

Our Xiao Li said he has a way to refine tungsten ore, all that's missing is the equipment, and that the tungsten ore can be used to make weapons. So no matter what, we will never give the tungsten ore to the Jin-Sui Army.

Moreover, now that logistics are readily available and living conditions can be maintained, there is even less need to sell such a valuable strategic metal as tungsten ore!
Sun Desheng explained, "Our regimental commander sent me back to ask Director Li if he could make fake tungsten ore and use it to deal with Yan Kai..."

Before Sun Desheng could finish speaking, Comrade Zhang's face changed faster than turning the pages of a book.

His serious face instantly turned into excitement: "Hehe, let the fake ones replace the equipment, I think that's a good idea, I think that's a good idea!"

Isn't this just getting something for nothing? Our border region's arsenal is in dire need of equipment.

Immediately, Zhang Wanhe questioned, "Is this really true? Could it be a trick by the Jin-Sui Army?"

We've eaten our fill of the Jin-Sui Army; they're two-faced, always saying one thing to your face and another behind your back.

On the surface, they said they would exchange equipment for tungsten sand, but it's very likely they were just playing us, wanting to take the tungsten sand without giving us the equipment.

“I don’t know about that.” Sun Desheng shook his head and then said, “But our regimental commander isn’t stupid, and Minister Zhang, you’re even less of a fool, right?”

“That’s true.” Zhang Wanhe nodded.

Without seeing the equipment, there's no way you can get our tungsten ore!
Having seen the equipment, I'm not giving them this tungsten ore, you son of a bitch! Sun Desheng asked suspiciously, "Minister Zhang, it mainly depends on whether Director Li can do it."

“That’s obvious. If Xiao Li can even refine tungsten ore, then counterfeiting it is no problem for him.” Zhang Wanhe said to Sun Desheng, “You wait here, I’ll go ask Xiao Li first.”

After Zhang Wanhe finished speaking, he quickly went to Li Muzhi's office.

Seeing Zhang Wanhe approach, Li Muzhi asked while continuing his work, "Minister Zhang, are the students still quiet?"

"Quiet, quiet, it's so quiet." Zhang Wanhe said admiringly, "Xiao Li, you're really something. These troublemakers were unruly in their previous workplaces, and when they were in my hands, they still had a lot of problems and loved to complain. I never expected that in your hands, you would have them all under control in just a few minutes. No doubt about it, Xiao Li, you really surprised everyone."

"Hehe." Li Muzhi chuckled and said, "Actually, what they need is respect and understanding. If we start from this point, the work will be much easier to carry out."

"If you can find a way to tame these troublemakers, then I'll be relieved," Zhang Wanhe said with a smile, then asked, "Can you make this fake tungsten ore?"

Fake tungsten ore?

Li Muzhi was somewhat stunned upon hearing this, and looked at Zhang Wanhe: "Minister Zhang, we already have genuine tungsten ore, why would we need to make counterfeit?"

"It's all because of Yan Kai from the Jin-Sui Army that he's eyeing our tungsten ore," Zhang Wanhe cursed. "That bastard, I've been putting him out of the loop by not selling Hellfire cannon shells and rocket launchers for the time being, and he's already set his sights on our tungsten ore, saying he can exchange it for equipment."

"So, you're planning to use fake tungsten ore to exchange for their real equipment?" Li Muzhi immediately understood.

"So, Xiao Li, are you good at forging documents?" Zhang Wanhe asked.

“That’s not difficult,” Li Muzhi nodded.

“Okay, then take some time to get some,” Zhang Wanhe said happily. “I’ll take care of Yan Kai’s side.”

“Minister Zhang, this is like changing the cannonballs for the hell cannon; we have to delay it first. We can’t agree too readily,” Li Muzhi reminded him. “Even counterfeiting tungsten sand takes time.”

"Don't worry, when it comes to negotiating business, I'm better than you." Zhang Wanhe nodded quickly. If we agree too readily, Yan Kai will definitely become suspicious and will definitely play games first before making an exorbitant demand.

Upon hearing Li Muzhi mention the cannonballs of the Hell Cannon, Zhang Wanhe asked, "By the way, Li, have you finished making the anti-disassembly device inside these Hell Cannon cannonballs?"

"Not yet. We're preparing to use flashbangs, and we'll leave Yan Kai's side to languish for now, so there's no rush," Li Muzhi said calmly.

"Hmm, no rush." ​​Zhang Wanhe nodded, but there was no point in rushing.

Even if Li Muzhi could make it today, it would be impossible for him to exchange it for equipment with the Jin-Sui Army today.

Moreover, with the Japanese army's large-scale mopping-up operation underway and their vanguard already deployed, there is no stable environment for trading.

"Xiao Li, you can continue with your work. I'm going out." Zhang Wanhe stepped out and closed the door behind him.

"Okay." Li Muzhi lowered his head and continued working.

Zhang Wanhe approached Sun Desheng and asked excitedly, "Company Commander Sun, is Yan Kai with your regimental commander right now?"

“Yes, Yan Kai is with our regimental commander now.” Sun Desheng nodded.

“Go back and tell your regimental commander that Xiao Li can procure fake tungsten ore. Tell him to keep Yan Kai calm and not agree too readily,” Zhang Wanhe instructed. “In the end, I’ll still negotiate this deal with Yan Kai.”

"Okay, Minister Zhang." Sun Desheng nodded and prepared to mount his horse and leave.

"Wait a minute." Remembering something, Zhang Wanhe called out to Sun Desheng.

"Minister Zhang, is there anything else you want to say?" Sun Desheng stopped and turned to look at Zhang Wanhe.

"Isn't your regimental commander going to lead the troops into battle and jump out of the encirclement? Why is Yan Kai still with your regimental commander?" Zhang Wanhe asked suspiciously.

“Minister Zhang, besides coveting our tungsten ore, Yan Kai is also eyeing our Hell Cannon and rocket launchers,” Sun Desheng said. “This thing is like a leech, sticking to our commander and refusing to leave.”

Sun Desheng would never tell Zhang Wanhe that although Yan Kai was a bit like a leech, the person who really kept him around was our regimental commander.

Our regimental commander wants to bring the Jin-Sui Army back in.

"Isn't Yan Kai afraid of the danger of following Li Yunlong?"

"I don't know about that," Sun Desheng shook his head.

"Then you can go back." Zhang Wanhe didn't ask any more questions.

Watching Sun Desheng mount his horse and quickly disappear from sight, Zhang Wanhe muttered to himself, "Yan Kai's identity is not simple. He went with Li Yunlong and something happened. Doesn't this mean we can't do business anymore? Should we report this to headquarters or mention it to Li Yunlong's brigade commander?"

Forget it.

Let's not think too much about the combat troops.

Commander Li is such a skilled fighter, he never suffers a loss, so let's not interfere.

Comrade Zhang seized upon this idea and walked towards the conference room again.

I need to go and see if those troublemakers are still diligently doing their problems and haven't caused any trouble.

On the surface, there are twenty-eight of them.

Comrade Zhang also understood what it meant that Li Muzhi had trained them.

These are all our future darlings, our precious treasures.

Each and every one of them is priceless.

(End of this chapter)