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

Chapter 33 The Brigade Commander is a Cunning Schemer
Li Yunlong and the brigade commander ran over and saw the soldiers of the New Second Regiment eating noodles.

The brigade commander pointed and said, "Li Yunlong, you see, I was right. The arsenal really does provide meals for the new Second Regiment. I told you the food at the arsenal wasn't bad, it's just noodles."

"Damn it, I think I'm actually starting to envy Old Kong now," Li Yunlong couldn't help but say.

"How about we replace Kong Jie and let you mine coal here?" the brigade commander joked.

"No, no, I wouldn't dare take Lao Kong's job." Li Yunlong immediately shook his head.

We still prefer being on the battlefield. If we don't kill some Japanese devils every day, we feel restless.

Li Yunlong and Kong Jie jogged up to Li Muzhi, and Kong Jie quickly saluted the brigade commander, saying, "Brigade Commander."

"Kong Jie, you'd better work hard at mining coal. The supply of artillery shells for my brigade depends entirely on you," the brigade commander said solemnly to Kong Jie.

"Yes, Brigade Commander." Kong Jie nodded emphatically, then pointed to the brigade commander and introduced him to Li Muzhi: "Li Muzhi, this is my brigade commander."

"Hello, Li Muzhi." The brigade commander took the initiative to extend his hand to Li Muzhi. "Li Yunlong told me that you built a cannon. I still don't believe it. Even though you used it to take down the Xikou warehouse, I still can't quite believe that the military engineer who built the cannon is so young."

"Hehe." Li Muzhi chuckled. "Serving the country knows no age."

"What a fine example of serving the country regardless of age!" the brigade commander praised. "You've made such a great contribution by building cannons, yet you're not arrogant at all. It's no wonder that the headquarters leaders admire you so much. Director Li, if your arsenal has any future needs for military production, just say the word, and I'll take care of it for you."

"Brigade Commander, stop bragging and get down to business with Li Muzhi," Li Yunlong urged from the side.

"Gentlemen, could it be that you've already brought over a thousand catties of white sugar?" Li Muzhi asked, looking at Li Yunlong's eager expression with some suspicion.

We know that you, Li Yunlong, and your brigade commander are both very capable, but this is a thousand catties of white sugar. Your efficiency is a bit too exaggerated.

Faced with Li Muzhi's suspicion, Li Yunlong shook his head and said, "It's not white sugar."

"If it's not white sugar, then what is it?" Li Muzhi asked curiously.

"You'll see when you get back," Li Yunlong said, keeping everyone in suspense. "I guarantee you'll be pleasantly surprised."

This was a negotiation trick the brigade commander taught Li Yunlong: instead of revealing what the goods were, he let Li Muzhi see for himself.

When he sees the equipment and gets incredibly excited, we can take the opportunity to ask him for the cannon; there's a high chance we'll succeed.

If I told him now, his surprise would be delayed for too long, which wouldn't be appropriate.

The brigade commander also said to Li Muzhi, "Hurry back and take a look. It must be a treasure to you."

"Alright then, I'll go back and take a look." Li Muzhi nodded, then turned to Kong Jie and said, "Commander Kong, if you encounter any problems while mining coal, please send someone to let me know immediately."

"Don't worry, it'll be fine." Kong Jie nodded emphatically.

"Kong Jie, do a good job." The brigade commander said to Kong Jie again as he left.

"Yes, Brigade Commander, I will definitely work hard in mining coal." Kong Jie solemnly stated.

The brigade commander pulled Li Muzhi and quickly turned to walk away. Li Yunlong was about to follow when Kong Jie grabbed him and said, "Old Li, you and the brigade commander are acting all mysterious. What good thing are you up to?"

"Kong Erlengzi, why ask so many questions? Just stay here and be a coal miner." Li Yunlong tossed this sentence to Kong Jie and ran off quickly.

Looking at Li Yunlong's back, Kong Jie glared and said, "What's so great about you, Li Yunlong? Once my new Second Regiment is established and Li Muzhi sends me a batch of equipment, it will be a piece of cake for me to surpass your Independent Regiment."

This little incident did not affect the new Second Regiment.

After eating, the soldiers of the New Second Regiment immediately resumed their work.

Even Kong Jie, armed with a pickaxe, joined in. ...

Li Muzhi returned to the arsenal as quickly as possible. In the backyard of the arsenal, the things that Li Yunlong and the brigade commander had brought back were already laid out.

When Lao He saw Li Muzhi return, he was very happy: "Factory Director, this is good stuff."

"Yes, these are definitely good stuff." Li Muzhi saw them all: meat, canned goods, and... machinery!
Li Muzhi's pupils quickly contracted. As a military industrial worker, machinery was his lifeline!

This is similar to the significance of firearms to soldiers.

Li Muzhi completely ignored the meat and canned goods.

Li Muzhi quickly moved closer, his expression growing increasingly pleased.

Furnace, rolling mill...

These are the equipment needed to make artillery shells.

In addition, Li Muzhi also saw some semi-finished cannon tubes and other equipment.

With these devices and the finished cannon barrels, a new term immediately popped into Li Muzhi's mind: rocket launcher!
Once we get the power source for the arsenal sorted out, with these resources we can make rocket launchers to fire rockets!

Rocket launchers can be modified from semi-finished cannon tubes, and the propellant for rockets can also be made from fertilizer and sugar, only the proportions are different from those for explosives.

In later generations, rocket launchers were also weapons of great significance on the battlefield.

It is lightweight, highly mobile, and has excellent concealment capabilities, making it particularly suitable for urban warfare.

It can strike tank armor, attack enemy machine gun positions, kill enemy infantry, and even attack bunkers and pillboxes.

At present, there are no anti-armor weapons on the battlefield to stop the Japanese tanks and armored vehicles. If we develop rocket launchers, our soldiers will no longer need to carry explosive packs to charge into battle.

The Japanese infantry and tanks had very strong coordination capabilities. Trying to approach a tank while carrying an explosive charge was not as simple and easy as it is depicted in TV dramas.

I don't know how many lives were sacrificed to destroy a single Japanese tank.

But with a rocket launcher, things are different.

Long-range firing can target both Japanese tanks and infantry.

For assaults, there are hellfire cannons; for conventional battles, there are rocket launchers.

Combined with our unit's unique guerrilla tactics, it will definitely become the Japanese devils' nightmare!

A smile involuntarily appeared on Li Muzhi's face: "Not bad, not bad, it really is good stuff, I can't believe it."

Li Muzhi truly did not expect that Li Yunlong and his brigade commander would actually be able to bring back equipment.

It seems that assigning cannons to Li Yunlong was a wise choice.

So, although they didn't get the sugar right away, they did get the equipment. I have to say, their ability to run a side business is really impressive!
Seeing how happy Li Muzhi was, Li Yunlong and the brigade commander exchanged a knowing glance.

Following the brigade commander's instructions, Li Yunlong immediately made a request to Li Muzhi: "Li Muzhi, this batch of equipment is pretty good, isn't it? It can easily be exchanged for two Hellfire cannons, don't you think?"

Upon hearing Li Yunlong's words, Li Muzhi immediately understood what he meant.

Li Yunlong and his brigade commander didn't tell him what the object was, but instead made him come back to see it. They took advantage of his moment of greatest joy to demand artillery. They were truly cunning and shrewd.

(End of this chapter)