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

Chapter 9 Li Yunlong's Thoughts

“What’s wrong with you all? How could you…” Zhang Wanhe glared at the guards.

"Minister Zhang, we all saw it with our own eyes. Director Li of the arsenal is a talent. He really made a cannon." The guard captain said solemnly to Zhang Wanhe. "Now the combat troops have also seen the cannon and said that it has been fired. That means that Director Li's cannon is a success. Minister Zhang, you can no longer look at the strength of the arsenal with the same eyes as before."

Upon hearing what the guard captain said, Zhang Wanhe's angry expression paused for a moment.

There's no reason!
The captain of the guard and his men all spoke in unison; they had absolutely no reason to speak well of Li Muzhi.

But they all sided with Li Muzhi.

Now, Li Yunlong's communications soldiers have also seen the cannons fire; it's a success.

Although, deep down we still find it absurd, given the capabilities of the border region's arsenal, it's impossible for them to produce cannons.

But Zhang Wanhe felt he should remain calm and handle the matter rationally.

Zhang Wanhe's gaze then fell on the communications soldier's face: "Are you sure you saw the arsenal's cannons blow up the three pillboxes of Sunjiabao?"

“Absolutely true.” The communications soldier nodded.

Zhang Wanhe questioned, "But how could one cannonball destroy three pillboxes?"

"This is because the shell was so powerful that it hit the middle of the three pillboxes, causing them to collapse," the communications soldier explained.

Upon hearing this, Li Yunlong couldn't help but curse, "You brat, are you really not afraid of my bullets? Sometimes the grenades made in the arsenal only explode in two pieces. Their artillery shells are lucky if they even make a sound, let alone be able to collapse three pillboxes with one shot?"

Zhang Wanhe was also stunned: "One shot destroyed three pillboxes, that must be a heavy cannon, right?"

So, the arsenal not only produced cannons, but also heavy artillery!
This is getting more and more mysterious.

"It's not a heavy artillery piece, but its power is equivalent to that of a heavy artillery piece." The communications soldier nodded to Zhang Wanhe.

Then, the communications soldier pulled Li Yunlong aside and said, "Regimental Commander, the battalion commander sent me back to inform you that he wants you to find a way to get your hands on this cannon as soon as possible. Don't question it now, just think of a plan. Otherwise, if other units find out about this cannon, it will be difficult for us to get it."

"I'll ask you one last time, kid, did the arsenal really produce cannons?" Li Yunlong was starting to regret his decision.

When Li Muzhi sent him the hand grenades earlier, he said he had developed a cannon, and he also saw his men pulling something covered with cloth on a mule.

If I had known better, I shouldn't have mocked the other person; I should have lifted the lid and taken a look.

"Commander, if even one word I say is false, you can kill me!" The communications soldier's tone remained unchanged.

Li Yunlong then said to Zhang Wanhe, "Old Zhang, how about this, you stay at my regimental headquarters, and I'll take some men out to find Li Muzhi for you."

At this point, Li Yunlong's rationality prevailed.

Li Muzhi is a greenhorn, easily fooled.

He really did manage to build a cannon. If we hurry, we should still have time.

If Zhang Wanhe goes along and gets involved, things will become complicated.

Zhang Wanhe was far from being able to sit still at this moment.

Li Muzhi shut down the arsenal without authorization; based on that alone, we must arrest him immediately.

Of course, if he really manages to develop a cannon, then he'll have to find this precious gem even more. What if it gets hurt, damaged, or loses a single hair?
When that happens, the headquarters leaders will surely blame themselves for not protecting our army's precious military industry talents!

So Zhang Wanhe said righteously, "Commander Li, I need to find my men as quickly as possible. I won't stay at your regimental headquarters anymore. Please help me find them immediately."

“Old Zhang, do you think this is a game? We might be going to war.” Li Yunlong said seriously to Zhang Wanhe, “You are the logistics minister of our army. If anything happens to you, the brigade commander will not forgive me…” Zhang Wanhe interrupted Li Yunlong: “Li Yunlong, stop talking nonsense. I’ve been through snow-capped mountains and grasslands, and I’m not missing a single hair. Hurry up and help me find him.”

Seeing that he couldn't fool Zhang Wanhe, Li Yunlong had no choice but to give up.

Li Muzhi's attack on Sunjiabao with cannons will surely alert the enemy.

In other words, the enemy will definitely send reinforcements.

I need to hurry up and go out to work.

Even if we can't get the cannon from Li Muzhi, we can still get some compensation from the reinforcements.

Therefore, Li Yunlong ordered the Second and Third Battalions to assemble quickly and set off immediately.

Zhang Wanhe was still a little puzzled, looking at Li Yunlong: "Li Yunlong, you just pulled out an entire regiment, I think I saw you didn't ask your superiors for permission?"

"Old Zhang, I'm just trying to help you find that person. Your problems are my problems," Li Yunlong said sincerely. "We need to ask our superiors for approval, and if that takes too long, it might affect the search, which would also delay your job search, Old Zhang."

Li Yunlong didn't tell Zhang Wanhe that they had asked the brigade commander for autonomy, and as long as they could make some money and not suffer any losses, the brigade commander wouldn't hold it against them.

"Li Yunlong, I've long heard that you like to move troops without authorization. Seeing you today, it's true what they say." Zhang Wanhe said this, but he knew perfectly well that Commander Li was probably eyeing the cannon that his arsenal had produced.

Anticipation also rose in Zhang Wanhe's heart.

Although they still didn't believe the arsenal had produced cannons.

But if Li Muzhi actually built the cannon, the significance would be completely different.

“Minister Zhang, I don’t usually mobilize troops without authorization, but today I’m going all out for your sake,” Li Yunlong declared again.

"Li Yunlong, thank you." Zhang Wanhe didn't expose Li Yunlong's thoughts and expressed his gratitude verbally.

But this cannon is definitely not for Li Yunlong.

After all, our army has far too few artillery pieces; all three main divisions are lacking artillery.

These cannons will only be assigned to the main divisions.

Li Yunlong's unit was just a small independent regiment, and a basic one at that.

It's not that I, Zhang Wanhe, am heartless, it's just that you, Li Yunlong, are not qualified.

"No need to thank me, we're from the same hometown."

……

Sunjiabao Stronghold

"Factory manager, all the weapons, ammunition, and supplies at the Sunjiabao stronghold have been moved."

Old He excitedly told Li Muzhi, "More than a hundred rifles, roughly estimated, nearly two thousand bullets, and two hundred hand grenades. Factory director, you were right. Production in the arsenal is never as fast as robbing from outside, and the quality is better too."

"Old He, leave the supplies here, and give the guns and ammunition to Battalion Commander Zhang," Li Muzhi said to Old He.

Upon hearing this, Lao He was somewhat stunned: "Factory Director, these guns and ammunition are very valuable. Battalion Commander Zhang said he wouldn't distribute them, yet you're keeping them all for him?"

Besides, if we give the bullets and grenades to Zhang Dabiao, what will happen to the delivery tasks of the arsenal?
(End of this chapter)