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

Chapter 261 Exceptionally Efficient

The Japanese army was sweeping through the Eighth Route Army, and the Jin-Sui Army also had a large number of troops fighting against 20,000 to 30,000 Japanese soldiers.

The 217th Regiment, a direct-lineage unit, like other direct-lineage units, did not participate in the battle.

Of course, although they did not participate in the war, they still kept a close eye on what was happening on the battlefield.

On this day, Feng Zhihui, the commander of the 217th Regiment, had just finished lunch and was picking his teeth when the deputy commander quickly came over: "Commander, the Kumamoto Division has made some new moves."

"What's the new move?" Feng Zhihui stopped picking his teeth.

Although the Kumamoto Division was sweeping through the Eighth Route Army, Feng Zhihui still needed to keep a close eye on things.

If these Japanese soldiers suddenly turn around and head towards us, we'd better prepare in advance.

"Their entire force abandoned its original sweeping posture and rushed towards a certain direction in the heart of the Eighth Route Army's base area," the deputy regimental commander replied, then analyzed, "Judging from this, they are probably heading towards an important target of the Eighth Route Army."

Upon hearing this, Feng Zhihui continued picking his teeth.

As long as these Japanese devils aren't coming for us, who cares where they go?

Feng Zhihui said slowly, "No matter what important place the Japanese have discovered, just keep a close eye on it."

"Commander, do you think the Japanese might have discovered the Eighth Route Army's headquarters or arsenal?" the deputy commander analyzed. "Especially the Eighth Route Army's border region arsenal, that's no ordinary target. The higher-ups have already said that its value has risen to a strategic level. The higher-ups are also interested, aren't they? If we have the opportunity, we'll try to take over the Eighth Route Army's border region arsenal."

The Eighth Route Army's border region arsenal has recently produced many important weapons, especially the Hell Cannon and the shoulder-mounted artillery, which are particularly eye-catching.

The elite troops naturally became envious and inevitably developed covetous thoughts.

However, the Eighth Route Army doesn't even know where the regional arsenal is located, so even if their own troops want to covet it, they have nowhere to turn.

"The Eighth Route Army's regional arsenal is truly enviable. Not to mention the experts they have, their military equipment and supplies are extremely valuable. If we could seize it, we could make a fortune." Feng Zhihui's eyes first lit up with excitement, then he seemed helpless. "Right now, even if the Japanese discover the Eighth Route Army's regional arsenal, there's nothing we can do. That's 60,000 Japanese soldiers and traitors. Our small force wouldn't even be enough to fill their teeth."

In short, we are envious of the Eighth Route Army's border region arsenal, but we are also aware of our own limitations and know we cannot get anything from those 60,000 Japanese devils and traitors.

As for the Eighth Route Army being our friendly forces, whether we should lend a helping hand when they are attacked is something we don't even need to consider.

Using the Japanese to eliminate dissidents was originally the policy of the higher-ups.

Whether it was the Sichuan warlords or the Eighth Route Army, they were all dissidents from above, only theoretically friendly forces.

"Yes, if the Japanese have indeed discovered the Eighth Route Army's border region arsenal, then we can only look on helplessly..." The deputy regimental commander didn't finish his sentence.

An intelligence officer rushed over and saluted Feng Zhihui: "Reporting to the regimental commander, we've just received a tip."

"What rumors?" Feng Zhihui asked.

"The Eighth Route Army seized five truckloads of tungsten ore from the Japanese, but it seems the Japanese discovered it..." The intelligence officer didn't finish his sentence.

Feng Zhihui immediately stopped picking his teeth and looked at the other person: "What did you say? The Japanese discovered the Eighth Route Army's five truckloads of tungsten ore?"

Like his fellow officers, Feng Zhihui coveted these five truckloads of tungsten ore.

That's five truckloads of tungsten ore! If we could get our hands on it, we could make a fortune selling it.

Unfortunately, this batch of tungsten ore fell into the hands of the Eighth Route Army, who profited from it.

Now, it seems the Eighth Route Army didn't hide the tungsten ore well, and the Japanese have discovered it again... Could it be!
Could it be that the Kumamoto Division's group of Japanese traitors immediately abandoned their sweeping operation and headed straight for a certain direction of the Eighth Route Army's base because of these five truckloads of tungsten ore?
“Yes.” The intelligence officer nodded. “Although this is just a rumor, the strange actions of the Japanese mopping-up troops are very likely related to this.”

"Sigh, what a pity." Feng Zhihui sighed.

The Japanese are moving so swiftly; they are definitely determined to get those five truckloads of tungsten ore!

In Feng Zhihui's view, the Japanese soldiers and Eighth Route Army were able to hide the tungsten ore well so that it would not be discovered by the Japanese.

In the future, we will have another opportunity to covet this batch of tungsten ore; this is a lucrative opportunity.

Unfortunately, the Japanese were going to take back all five truckloads of tungsten ore.

The deputy commander said from the side, "Commander, it's not such a pity. The Eighth Route Army must have realized the importance of those five truckloads of tungsten ore. Perhaps their main force will fight the Japanese to the death to protect the tungsten ore..."

Feng Zhihui interrupted: "A decisive battle is definitely impossible. The Eighth Route Army isn't stupid; they won't be foolish enough to fight head-on."

Feng Zhihui then added, "However, it's a foregone conclusion that the Eighth Route Army has suffered heavy losses."

"Yes, the Japanese are moving so fast, the Eighth Route Army will definitely pay a heavy price in their haste." The deputy regimental commander agreed wholeheartedly.

"Go on, continue gathering intelligence. Report any new developments to me immediately," Feng Zhihui said to the intelligence officer.

"Yes, Commander." The intelligence officer withdrew.

Feng Zhihui said to the deputy commander, "Keep an eye on the Kumamoto Division and see if their ultimate goal is really five truckloads of tungsten sand."

"Yes, Commander." The deputy commander also withdrew.

Feng Zhihui continued picking his teeth. The same scene was playing out in many other units within the direct line of command.

These elite officers stood idly by while the Eighth Route Army was being mopped up by the Japanese. They felt sorry that the Japanese might have discovered the Eighth Route Army's five truckloads of tungsten ore. They merely sent people to monitor the progress of the Kumamoto Division, and no one sent troops.

……

Border Region Arsenal

"Xiao Li, didn't you say the rocket parts weren't even finished? You're already assembling them?"

Zhang Wanhe was so excited about the new rockets that he delegated his work to several vice ministers and went to the border region's arsenal again that day.

According to Li Muzhi, all the parts can be completed today.

When Zhang Wanhe arrived at Li Muzhi's side, he was surprised to see that Li Muzhi had almost finished installing the missile.

Judging from this, could it be that Li Muzhi rushed the schedule?
Didn't he say that rushing the schedule would increase the risk of accidents, yet he still did it?
In response to Zhang Wanhe's question, Li Muzhi explained, "Minister Zhang, there are still two parts that haven't been manufactured yet, but assembly doesn't have to wait until all the parts are ready. It's like building a house; even if the tiles aren't there yet, the foundation and the main structure can be built first."

"That's true." Zhang Wanhe nodded and smiled. "So, can we get these two parts done today?"

"Barring any unforeseen circumstances, it should be fine before dark," Li Muzhi nodded.

Zhang Wanhe became excited: "Doesn't that mean that if this part is finished before dark, it can be directly installed into the missile body that you've almost completed, and the new type of rocket will be produced today?"

"You could say that," Li Muzhi nodded.

"So you have these new rockets here, one, two, three, four, five..." Zhang Wanhe quickly counted them, then his eyes widened: "You can make twenty new rockets all at once today?"

"To be precise, they are prototypes!" Li Muzhi corrected. "They still need to be tested."

“The things you’ve built have never failed the tests. I’m sure the tests will be fine,” Zhang Wanhe said, rubbing his hands together excitedly. “These twenty new rockets of yours are ready to be deployed to the battlefield.”

“Minister Zhang, the testing is still very important,” Li Muzhi said seriously.

"Yes, yes, the test is very important." Zhang Wanhe nodded repeatedly and said, "Then I'll inform Commander Liu of the 115th Division later and have him come and pick it up..."

At this point, Zhang Wanhe changed his mind and said, "Never mind, never mind, I'll just send someone to deliver it to him."

"Minister Zhang, judging from your tone, is it because the Japanese sweep has increased the pressure on us again?" Li Muzhi asked, noticing that Zhang Wanhe was being too generous in giving Liu Weidong all the new rockets at once.

Under normal circumstances, given Comrade Zhang's stingy nature, this new type of rocket test would be conducted...

I estimate that three to five tests should be enough.

His decision to give Liu Weidong twenty new rockets at once made Li Muzhi sense the urgency on the battlefield.

“Didn’t you get five truckloads of fake tungsten ore? This fake tungsten ore has already mobilized the entire Japanese mopping-up force. They’re now desperately heading towards Yang’er Mountain,” Zhang Wanhe said. “Liu Weidong’s side wants to seize the opportunity to attack the Japanese mopping-up army’s logistics and supplies, and also wants to steal our locomotives. We need to hurry up and arrange for the new rockets to be sent to him.”

Upon hearing this, Li Muzhi laughed and said, "If Commander Liu succeeds, wouldn't this counter-sweep operation be able to end sooner?"

With the Japanese counter-offensive stalled, the border region's arsenal had ample time to mass-produce weapons and ammunition.

“Things are not that simple,” Zhang Wanhe said, leaning closer to Li Muzhi. “According to the headquarters commander, the tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers in the Kumamoto Division will be severely damaged.”

Could it also severely damage tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers in the Kumamoto Division?

Li Muzhi was still somewhat stunned when he heard this.

Even if our troops capture the Kumamoto Division's logistics and supplies, it probably won't be that easy to inflict serious damage on them.

Seeing Li Muzhi's puzzled look, Zhang Wanhe explained, "According to headquarters, they want to bring in the elite troops as well. Think about it, when the elite troops join the battle, the Kumamoto Division's logistics and supplies will be cut off. If we join forces with the elite troops, are we afraid we can't severely damage the Kumamoto Division?"

Li Muzhi understood: "I see. The headquarters commander is planning to severely damage tens of thousands of Japanese soldiers and traitors, so that they will be unable to launch another sweep in the short term."

Merely cutting off the Japanese army's logistics and supplies is insufficient; once they restore their logistics and supplies, they will inevitably make a comeback.

If these Japanese soldiers are severely damaged, they will be unable to fight again in a short period of time.

This will give the border region's arsenal more production time.

“That’s right, well…” Zhang Wanhe didn’t finish his sentence.

Old He came over carrying a tray of parts: "Factory manager, as you instructed, these last two parts have been made."

Before Li Muzhi could even respond, Zhang Wanhe burst into laughter: "Hahaha, Little Li, hurry up and assemble it, hurry up and assemble it, hahaha."

Li Muzhi said it could be done before dark.

The parts were already made before it even got dark; that's incredibly efficient!

(End of this chapter)