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

Chapter 184 Don't put all your eggs in one basket

Border Region Logistics Office

“Minister Zhang, you can’t do this to the arsenal in the border region.”

Director Xu of the Huangyadong Arsenal called Zhang Wanhe again and said directly, "Those senior talents of my Huangyadong Arsenal are all on loan to the Border Region Arsenal. It's only been a few days, and they all say that they will stay at the Border Region Arsenal and not come back. Minister Zhang, you have to give me an explanation for this."

“Director Xu, look at what you’re saying. From what I understand, those talented guys, like Lao Lu, all want to stay at the border region arsenal voluntarily. It’s not like the border region arsenal is forcing them to stay.” Zhang Wanhe said, dodging the question. “Director Xu, once the border region arsenal is done with this busy period, you can take your men and bring them back to the Huangyadong arsenal anytime. I, Zhang Wanhe, will not stop you.”

"Forget it, Minister Zhang." Factory Director Xu curled his lip. Now this guy is even willing to stay at the border region's arsenal.

If they stay at the border region arsenal for a longer period of time, let alone forcibly bringing these senior talents back, even if the headquarters leaders give the order, they may not be willing to return to the Huangyadong arsenal.

Director Xu was also very curious about this.

What kind of personal charisma does Director Li of the border region's arsenal possess that made these highly skilled individuals choose to stay?

"Director Xu, don't worry. Once the border region's arsenal is finished, I'll definitely have Xiao Li visit you," Zhang Wanhe reassured him. "At that time, if you have any problems, Xiao Li will definitely solve them for you."

“Minister Zhang, stop trying to shut me up with these arguments,” said Director Xu of the Huangyadong Arsenal. “My request isn’t high. If the border region’s arsenal has any spare equipment or machinery, could you spare some for me? Preferably the kind that can directly produce ammunition.”

Director Xu has heard that Li Yunlong and his men set up the Cuicun Arsenal, and that half of the equipment is there.

If Li Yunlong and his men can handle half of the equipment, then handling the other half is definitely not a problem for them either.

The highly skilled personnel are not coming back, and Director Xu is not an unreasonable person.

Water flows downhill, but people strive to climb higher.

Those highly skilled personnel can make the most of their abilities by staying at the border region's arsenal.

For the sake of others' future and the future of our military industry, Director Xu still has a sense of the big picture.

However, we can't just give away these highly skilled personnel from the Huangyadong Arsenal for nothing.

After all, to some extent, the Huangyadong Arsenal's strength has been greatly reduced by the departure of several highly skilled personnel, and some compensation must be given.

“No problem, Director Xu, your request is no problem.” Zhang Wanhe agreed immediately, saying, “As long as there is any spare equipment at the border region's arsenal, I will definitely have Xiao Li allocate some to you. It will definitely be a complete production chain that can directly produce ammunition.”

Zhang Wanhe also understood that you can't put all your eggs in one basket.

The development of the border region's arsenal is encouraging, but the concentration of equipment and machinery here is not a good thing.

If the Japanese discover the location of the border region's arsenal one day, and so much equipment cannot be moved in time, that would be disastrous.

Therefore, it is inevitable that the equipment and machinery supply chain will still need to be distributed to other arms factories.

In this way, if the Japanese invaders were to attack the border region's arsenal one day, we could minimize our losses as much as possible in advance.

I just don't know if Xiao Li will support me if I talk to him about this later.

After all, Xiao Li is now the director of the border region's arsenal. Moving the equipment from his arsenal to other arsenals would require his consent.

"Minister Zhang, I need you to go and communicate with Director Li of the border region's arsenal right now." Director Xu couldn't wait.

“Okay, okay, I’ll go talk to him now.” Zhang Wanhe agreed, but added, “But don’t get your hopes up too high. After all, the equipment is incomplete right now. Even if they give it to you, you won’t be able to use it.”

"It's alright, I can wait," Factory Director Xu said, indicating that it was no problem.

Director Xu is shrewd; if Director Li of the border region's arsenal is willing to give it to him, then it's a good omen.

Once all the equipment was ready, they gave it to us.

"Okay, I'll hang up now." Zhang Wanhe said and hung up the phone.

Just as Zhang Wanhe stood up, preparing to go to the border region's arsenal, the deputy logistics minister ran over and reported to Zhang Wanhe, "Minister Zhang, there's a problem."

"What's the problem?" Zhang Wanhe looked at the other person suspiciously.

"The Japanese have run out of fertilizer. They said they'd have to wait for the military train to bring it over. But the combat troops have damaged the railway lines and the highways, so the Japanese can't get the fertilizer in. What are we going to do?" the deputy minister said, perplexed.

The fertilizer at the border region's arsenal is running out quickly. If we don't hurry up and produce more, the production of explosives and bombs will stop if supplies run out.

Once the Japanese launch a large-scale mopping-up operation, without explosives and artillery shells, the rocket launchers and cannons in the hands of the troops will become scrap metal.

"Hmm, that is a problem." Zhang Wanhe nodded in response.

This is indeed a problem.

Although Zhang Wanhe didn't fight, he knew what it meant to intercept the Japanese railway line.

The Japanese troops in this area urgently need supplies and weapons.

If the Japanese are cut off, their fighting capacity will be unable to be replenished.

But with the railway transport cut off, fertilizer can't be brought in either. Wouldn't this delay the production of explosives and shells at the arsenal?

"How about this?" Zhang Wanhe thought for a moment and said to the deputy minister, "We're out of fertilizer in this area. Send someone to a more distant region, to another war zone."

"Go to a distant place?" the deputy minister hesitated. "There are so many checkpoints along the way from this distant place to this area. With so much fertilizer, it will be a big target. I'm afraid we won't be able to transport it all."

"Let's store the fertilizer in the distance for now," Zhang Wanhe said. "We'll see if the combat troops have any free time later, and have them help transport it back."

"Alright, alright, I'll go then." The deputy minister nodded and left.

Watching the vice minister's retreating figure, Zhang Wanhe still frowned.

It's a bit difficult to get the combat troops to help transport the fertilizer that's been stockpiled in the distance.

This matter could even attract the attention of the Japanese.

After all, our combat troops went out of their way to escort a large quantity of fertilizer back. If the Japanese found out, they would definitely analyze why we went to such great lengths to transport the fertilizer back.

If it's just about farming, that's a bit of an exaggeration.

Therefore, we still need to be cautious about this matter.

Zhang Wanhe lowered his head and thought for a moment, deciding not to change his mind for the time being.

The fertilizer from afar will be stored for now. As for how to get it back, that matter needs to be reported to headquarters and decided by the leaders there.

Xiao Li has kept several high-level talents behind, so we still need to talk to him and ask him to allocate some equipment to the Huangyadong Arsenal. Zhang Wanhe walked towards the border region arsenal.

Border Region Arsenal

"Director Li, how do you think this part is made?"

"Not very good."

"Director Li, I've revised it again, please take a look."

"It's still close."

"Director Li, what now?"

"Yes, that's fine now."

"Haha, it's finally done! I'll do it this way and make a lot more."

"it is good."

……

After Lao Lu and the others learned the core principles and technology of the 107 rocket launcher from Li Muzhi, they never wanted to go back to the Huangyadong Arsenal.

After making a phone call to the Huangyadong Arsenal, I devoted myself entirely to the research and development of parts for the 107mm rocket launcher.

Li Muzhi was still very pleased with this.

These people are really good at practical skills, which has relieved a lot of pressure for Li Muzhi.

They were tasked with quickly producing the parts for the 107 rocket launcher.

Once the Japanese large-scale arsenal is acquired and the equipment is obtained, the production of the 107mm rocket can be put on the agenda immediately.

There is just one problem.

The production of explosives and shells is running at full speed. Although other raw materials are plentiful, the consumption of sugar and fertilizer is very high.

Although there are still some stocks in the arsenal's warehouse, no new sugar and fertilizer can be added, so production stoppage is only a matter of time.

"Factory Manager, Minister Zhang is here." Someone came over and reminded Li Muzhi.

Li Muzhi immediately went to greet him.

"Haha, Xiao Li, you're doing great here. You've managed to get several top talents to stay on their own so quickly." Zhang Wanhe laughed as soon as they met.

Li Muzhi is very capable, but being strong individually doesn't make him truly strong.

This is similar to fighting the Japanese invaders; no matter how skilled a marksman is, the number of Japanese soldiers he can kill is limited.

Li Muzhi's true strength lies in having highly skilled personnel to assist him in boosting the entire arsenal's capabilities.

"Minister Zhang, did the Huangyadong Arsenal cause any trouble at headquarters?" Li Muzhi guessed from Zhang Wanhe's expression that the Huangyadong Arsenal seemed to have avoided trouble this time.

“Xiao Li, you know the value of these top talents. We poached them from the Huangyadong Arsenal, which is a significant loss for the Huangyadong Arsenal…” Zhang Wanhe didn’t finish his sentence.

Li Muzhi interrupted with a smile: "Minister Zhang, why are you beating around the bush when you're talking to me? Just tell me directly, did the Huangyadong Arsenal make any demands this time?"

“It’s not a big deal. They want you to send some equipment over to create a complete supply chain for ammunition production.” Zhang Wanhe finished speaking and looked at Li Muzhi. “Of course, the headquarters leaders have given the order that everything in the military industry is up to you. If you really need the equipment, I’ll talk to the Huangyadong Arsenal again.”

“Minister Zhang, the production of weapons and ammunition certainly cannot rely entirely on our border region's arsenal. We can't put all our eggs in one basket,” Li Muzhi stated directly. “Actually, I’ve had the same thought. What if the Japanese invade one day? Wouldn’t that affect production? If we could distribute the machinery and equipment to other arsenals, we wouldn’t suffer too much loss in military production.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wanhe exclaimed with delight, "Little Li, if we allocate your equipment to other arsenals, won't you be upset?"

“Minister Zhang, what are you saying? Isn’t all of this for the production of weapons and ammunition for our army?” Li Muzhi said solemnly.

Although Li Muzhi didn't understand warfare, the border region's arsenal, under his leadership, produced not only hell cannons, rocket launchers, and bounding mine grenades.

Once the 107mm rocket is manufactured, the Japanese will definitely not be able to sit still.

They might even send several divisions to conduct a thorough search of the border region's arsenal.

Therefore, preparations for the relocation of the equipment from the arsenal in this area should be made in advance.

To put it bluntly...

If the equipment and belongings of the arsenal in the border region cannot be taken away, they will be forced to be buried underground and hidden.

Li Muzhi transferred to other arsenals, and with the equipment and machinery that had been transferred there in advance, he had the capital to start over immediately.

Immediately afterwards, Li Muzhi said, "How about this, I'll take stock here and have someone pack up the equipment that we don't need, and you can have someone send it to the Huangyadong Arsenal."

Only half of the equipment from the Cuicun Arsenal was available and could not be put into use. Other equipment that was not needed for the time being was also transported there first.

“Okay.” Zhang Wanhe said succinctly, then asked, “Xiao Li, how long will your fertilizer last?”

"At the current pace, it should take about a month," Li Muzhi replied.

"So short?" Zhang Wanhe was stunned. This time was too short. Zhang Wanhe thought it could last for two months.

"Minister Zhang, is it possible that fertilizer is hard to get?" Li Muzhi could tell that Old Zhang's question about fertilizer was not just a casual inquiry.

Li Muzhi hadn't even opened his mouth yet.

If the 107mm rocket is successfully developed, the fertilizer will be used up even faster, lasting less than a month.

after all!

The 107mm rocket has been developed and will definitely become one of the main artillery weapons of our army.

Whether it's guerrilla warfare, battlefield cover, artillery suppression, or even ground bombardment, the 107mm rocket is always the main weapon.

At that time, the production quantity of 107mm rockets will be significantly greater than that of other artillery shells.

These 107 rockets have a considerable amount of propellant, so they consume a lot of fertilizer.

(End of this chapter)