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

Chapter 81 The Stubborn Donkey Has Quite a Few Bold Ideas
Li Muzhi, halfway through his meal, said to the brigade commander, "Brigade Commander Chen, I heard from Regiment Commander Li that he risked attacking Ping'an County after capturing copper wire, copper billets, and industrial acid. Are you very angry?"

"I'm not angry, how could I be angry?" The brigade commander, as expected of someone who had worked in intelligence, possessed outstanding mental fortitude, remaining unfazed even under immense pressure.

Faced with Li Muzhi's question, the brigade commander's tone was natural and without any flaws. He laughed and said, "He brought back a lot of things from Ping'an County. I'm happy for him, so why would I be angry?"

Li Muzhi laughed and said, "Although a spirited horse may be difficult to tame, it can often run faster and farther, don't you think?"

Li Muzhi could certainly see that the brigade commander was definitely not angry.

If he wasn't angry, he wouldn't have publicly humiliated Li Yunlong when Li Yunlong served him food.

It was clear that Li Yunlong's attack on Ping'an County had really angered the brigade commander.

Upon hearing Li Muzhi's words, the brigade commander understood what was going on.

He turned around and glared at Li Yunlong's back, his eyes cold: "You, Li Yunlong, you've actually learned to find a backer!"
While eating, Mr. Li suddenly felt a chill down his spine. He dared not breathe and lowered his head to eat frantically in order to hide his nervousness and fear.

Although the brigade commander wasn't glaring at them, Kong Jie and Ding Wei, who were standing nearby, were also a little tense.

Although the brigade commander didn't glare at them, his bad mood put pressure on the regimental commanders below him.

However, Kong Jie quickly adjusted his mood: "Fortunately, I'm currently working in the logistics department, so the brigade commander's mood doesn't affect me."

Therefore, Kong Jie ate with great relish and his expression was natural.

The brigade commander turned his gaze away from Li Yunlong's back and smiled at Li Muzhi, saying, "That's right, you're absolutely right. A spirited horse that can run farther and faster is certainly not so easy to control."

The brigade commander's words were, on the one hand, a positive and constructive response to Li Muzhi.

Even the brigade commander can see that Li Yunlong has won Li Muzhi's favor. We must decide how to handle this matter carefully.

On the other hand, this is also what the brigade commander really thinks.

Li Yunlong is different from other regimental commanders like Cheng the Blind and Kong Jie.

Blind Cheng and Kong Jie carried out the brigade commander's orders without hesitation or compromise, without causing any unforeseen complications.

Blind Cheng and Kong Jie are like well-behaved children.

As for Li Yunlong, he was definitely a brat.

This kid not only frequently disobeys his own orders, but he even dares to disobey the orders of the headquarters leaders, which is really infuriating!

However, from the perspective of battlefield effects, the significance is different.

Although obedient children like Cheng Xiazi and Kong Jie are well-behaved, they can only retreat when they encounter elite Japanese units like the Sakata Regiment. If they engage in battle, they will suffer a humiliating defeat.

But Li Yunlong is a different story.

This kid not only dared to go head-to-head with the Sakata Regiment, but he even defeated the Sakata Regiment and killed their captain.

This time too.

If Li Yunlong hadn't gone to attack Ping'an County without permission, the arsenal wouldn't have been able to seize copper billets, copper wire, and industrial acid.

There's never a perfect solution to everything!
You can't have your child both obedient and successful.

Seeing the brigade commander's expression, Li Muzhi knew that the brigade commander had a plan. He still said, "The main problem is that the power supply for the arsenal needs to be solved. I need to ask Regiment Commander Li to help me complete this task."

"What kind of job?" the brigade commander asked.

"I plan to convert Japanese locomotives into power sources for my arsenal, so I need Commander Li to help me seize those locomotives," Li Muzhi replied.

Stealing the Japanese locomotive?
The brigade commander's eyes widened; this was going to be a tough job.

Soon, the brigade commander understood, realizing what Li Muzhi meant.

Why did Li Muzhi choose Li Yunlong over anyone else? It was because he valued Li Yunlong's boldness and willingness to take risks. The brigade commander was also honored, saying, "Don't worry, this job is in our brigade's hands. We guarantee we'll get it done for you."

We've captured the locomotive; that's a significant achievement, and now we can get more artillery shells.

“Brigadier General Chen, you should make preparations in advance. Once the Hell Cannon shells from my arsenal are manufactured, I will give them to you immediately,” Li Muzhi said. “I have already promised Regimental Commander Li that I will provide you with thirty more shells for the operation to seize the locomotive.”

"Really?" The brigade commander's expression immediately lit up with joy.

Li Yunlong, that kid, finally did something reliable.

Thirty shells plus forty-eight shells, that's a total of seventy-eight shells. Our brigade has never been so rich before; we can eat our fill and be landlords for once.

Let those little devils eat their fill of our shells.

“Seizing a train is no small matter for the Japanese; they’ll definitely have to provide you with some artillery shells,” Li Muzhi nodded emphatically.

"Alright, alright, don't worry, I promise I'll get the job done well." The brigade commander assured him again, his mood greatly improved, and his anger towards Li Yunlong lessened considerably.

“Brigade Commander Chen, I’m usually right about people,” Li Muzhi continued. “That Regiment Commander Ding seems to be a very capable man. It wouldn’t be easy for Regiment Commander Li to handle this tough job on his own, don’t you think?”

The brigade commander was very clever; upon hearing Li Muzhi's words, he immediately understood what he meant.

Li Yunlong's single Hell Cannon was not enough in terms of firepower.

Therefore, the brigade commander had to make use of the hellish cannon in his hand.

The brigade commander could be given to the 772nd Regiment or the 771st Regiment, or of course, the new 1st Regiment could also be considered.

But Li Muzhi's words were tantamount to an advance agreement that the artillery would be given to the New First Regiment.

The brigade commander glared at Li Yunlong's back again: You stubborn mule, you've got some nerve, trying to take my hell cannon!
Li felt an even greater chill on his back this time. He chuckled and said to Ding Wei, "Haha, Lao Ding, it's not even autumn yet, why do I suddenly feel cold?"

Ding Wei kept his head down and ate his food, ignoring Li Yunlong.

Kong Jie also lowered his head and ate his food, remaining indifferent to matters that didn't concern him.

The brigade commander looked away and said to Li Muzhi, "I will definitely take such an important operation seriously. Thank you for reminding me."

Although the brigade commander was angry, he remained calm.

Ding Wei had only recently come from the 28th Regiment, so we don't know much about his abilities yet.

However, Ding Wei's ability to cooperate well with Li Yunlong in both the attack on Heyuan County to seize sugar and the unauthorized attack on Ping'an County demonstrates his superior battlefield insight and decisive and correct on-the-spot handling of situations.

If it were Kong Jie, he probably would have completely ruined Li Yunlong's operation.
In other words, Ding Wei was the best candidate to cooperate with Li Yunlong in the operation to seize the train.

As for the 772nd and 771st regiments, they were both lacking.

Besides, the relationship between those two regimental commanders and Li Yunlong... well, it's just not quite there yet.

"Brigade Commander Chen, you won't mind if I talk too much and interfere in the internal affairs of your combat unit, will you?"

"No, your reminder is very important, I will consider it carefully." The brigade commander nodded.

It's easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature. Li Yunlong acts like a wild horse, without any rules or methods. It's unlikely that you can change him.

Ding Wei has excellent battlefield insight. With him guiding Li Yunlong, this stubborn mule can be corrected at critical moments, preventing him from running wild.

"That's good."

……

(End of this chapter)