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

Chapter 191 This must never happen again.

The brigade commander suppressed the turmoil in his heart and looked at Li Muzhi: "Little Li, what did you do?"

"Brigadier Chen, here you go. I was originally planning to show this to the headquarters leaders first, but you're lucky, you can take a look at it yourself." Zhang Wanhe handed the report written by Li Muzhi to the brigadier.

If it were anyone else, this report really wouldn't be shown to just anyone.

But the brigade commander in front of us is no ordinary person.

The brigade commander pressed down on Zhang Wanhe's outstretched hand, his expression solemn: "This is a top secret of our army, I won't look at it."

The brigade commander had worked in intelligence and knew the value of the information contained there.

The more top-secret the information, the fewer people who see it, the better.

Although the brigade commander would never leak it after seeing it, it is still safest not to see it.

"You didn't read this yourself, so you won't have the chance to read it again." Zhang Wanhe put the report away again.

"I trust Xiao Li, so I won't look at it," the brigade commander said solemnly.

"Haha." Zhang Wanhe laughed, then changed the subject: "Brigadier Chen, once this new type of rocket is developed, we still need one important raw material. You should hurry up with that."

"What important raw materials?" the brigade commander asked.

“White sugar.” Zhang Wanhe said in a tone of handing over the responsibility to the brigade commander, “Your 386th Brigade sent 150 tons of fertilizer, and the white sugar that matches that 150 tons of fertilizer is also a very large number. Brigade Commander Chen, the propellant and explosives inside these new rockets will all need white sugar.”

"Of course," the brigade commander nodded directly.

This new type of rocket can fly on its own and does not need to carry a launcher. Such an important weapon has extraordinary significance on the battlefield, and Baitang definitely needs to get it done as soon as possible.

Li Muzhi turned to Zhang Wanhe and said, "Minister Zhang, don't contact Yan Kai directly. Let them wait until they contact us, then deliberately make excuses a few times before finally talking. Do you understand what I mean?"

"I know, I know. We'll whet their appetites to the bone, and when we finally ask for the equipment, they'll make outrageous demands, hehe." Old Zhang couldn't help but grin from ear to ear as he imagined the scene.

The brigade commander continued, "Little Li, Old Zhang, I have some good news to tell you both."

"What good news?" Comrade Zhang's lips immediately curled up as he stared at the brigade commander.

Li Muzhi also looked at the brigade commander; it seemed there was still a surprise in store.

"Li Yunlong's side will soon find the Japanese copper smelting plant..." The brigade commander didn't finish his sentence.

Zhang Wanhe interrupted in surprise: "Brigadier Chen, what did you say? A copper smelter? Really?"

Li Muzhi was also stunned.

Is Li Yunlong really that awesome?

They quickly located the Japanese copper smelting plant, which meant they had a lead.

The border region's arsenal urgently needs copper to produce artillery shells and bullets.

“That’s right, it’s a copper smelter.” The brigade commander nodded.

"How fast is 'fast'?" Zhang Wanhe urged.

"If things go quickly, we'll find it today," the brigade commander replied.

"Haha, that means we can get it back today!" Zhang Wanhe laughed and said, "Should I assemble another transport team to go over there?"

"No need, Li Yunlong has a transport team." The brigade commander shook his head.

Li Muzhi added, "Brigadier Chen, your news is very timely. I should send some workers over immediately. When we dismantled the enemy's ironworks earlier, we didn't dismantle the furnaces very well."

Li Muzhi's words were rather tactful, and he didn't mean to blame the combat troops.

After all, combat troops only knew how to kill Japanese soldiers; they had no knowledge of military equipment.

“The furnace wasn’t dismantled properly, I haven’t heard you mention that?” Zhang Wanhe turned to look at Li Muzhi.

"I just didn't want to spoil your fun," Li Muzhi explained. "After all, if the furnace wasn't dismantled properly, you'd be cursing in your hearts, but you wouldn't be able to help much."

“Alright then, Xiao Li, you can send people and workers from the arsenal over there.” Zhang Wanhe nodded.

“Okay.” Li Muzhi immediately called over an assistant and told him about a dozen names and some tools.

The assistants took notes and immediately ran back to the workshop to find the person.

Soon, a dozen or so workers arrived with their tools.

The brigade commander immediately turned to the guard company commander and said, "Take these dozen or so workers to find Li Yunlong and the others. You know where they are."

"Brigade Commander, if our guard company leaves, who will protect your safety?" the guard company commander said.

“We still have Kong Jie,” the brigade commander said.

"Yes, brigade commander." The guard company commander nodded and quickly left with the dozen or so workers.

"Gentlemen, I have some internal matters to discuss with Kong Jie, so I won't disturb your work any longer." After finishing his business with Li Muzhi and Zhang Wanhe, the brigade commander planned to go and talk to Kong Jie.

“Alright, Brigade Commander Chen, you can go ahead and get busy.” Zhang Wanhe and Li Muzhi nodded.

The brigade commander went to find Kong Jie, and Zhang Wanhe, holding the report, said to Li Muzhi, "I've sent this report to headquarters. I'll also report to the leaders at headquarters about your plan to install self-destruct devices inside the Hell Cannon shells."

“Okay.” Li Muzhi nodded, watching Zhang Wanhe leave. He returned to his office; the details of the 107mm rocket still needed further refinement. ...

386th Brigade, New Second Regiment
"Commander, the workers at the arsenal are talking about it. Director Li is working on a new weapon again," someone said to Kong Jie.

"What new weapon?" Kong Jie immediately perked up his ears upon hearing this.

Last time, Kong Jie was criticized for not reporting the rocket launcher information to the brigade headquarters in advance.

This time, Li Muzhi is working on a new weapon again, and we can't delay any longer.

"I heard it's a new type of shell that doesn't need a cannon barrel to fire; it just flies out and kills the enemy on its own," the man said.

Upon hearing this, Kong Jie's eyes widened immediately: "A cannonball that doesn't fire from a cannon barrel? Really?"

This news is way too fake. There's no such thing as a cannonball that can be fired without a cannon barrel.

"The workers inside the arsenal are all talking about it, so I reckon it's not fake," the man replied.

"If the shells aren't fired from the cannon barrel, how do they fly out?" Kong Jie scratched his head and asked, "Are you sure this isn't a rumor?"

"Commander, the workers at the arsenal are all talking about it, and they're all talking about it with great enthusiasm. It doesn't seem like a rumor." The man nodded.

"I'll go ask Director Li right away..." Kong Jie was about to go and ask Li Muzhi himself.

The battalion commander came to report: "Regimental commander, the brigade commander is here, and he looks very unhappy."

The brigade commander arrived, and he looked unwell.
Kong Jie was stunned upon hearing this.

Could it be that Li Yunlong, that bastard, has angered the brigade commander again?

The brigade commander is coming to see me; he might vent his anger on me.

Kong Jie quickly straightened his clothes and hurried over.

"Brigade Commander, you've come at the right time." Kong Jie looked at the brigade commander and spoke first, "I just found out that Director Li is making new weapons again. I was just about to ask him to verify it and then report it to you."

The brigade commander's face darkened: "Kong Jie, don't you think your reaction is too slow?"

"I reacted too slowly?" Kong Jie didn't understand what the brigade commander meant. "Where did you react slowly?"

"I already know this news," the brigade commander said. "Tell me, I already knew, and you're only reporting now? Isn't that too slow?"

"What? Brigade Commander, you already know?" Kong Jie was stunned.

The brigade commander found out about this right after his own people had just found out about it at the arsenal?
Could it be that the brigade commander planted an informant in the arsenal?
Is it necessary for the brigade commander to do this? Doesn't this show a lack of trust in the new Second Regiment?
"I think you've gone crazy from digging coal all day..." The brigade commander was about to start cursing.

Kong Jie suddenly remembered something and said with great certainty, "Brigade Commander, this news must have just come out today. I'm sure it didn't happen yesterday!"

Every day after get off work, Kong Jie's men would go and chat with the workers at the arsenal.

If Li Muzhi started this a few days ago, Kong Jie couldn't possibly be unaware of it.

"Are you so sure?" The brigade commander paused for a moment.

If this news only broke today, then Kong Jie's actions weren't slow at all.

If I hadn't happened to find out from Zhang Wanhe in advance, I wouldn't have been able to get ahead of Kong Jie.

“Brigade Commander, you can go and investigate immediately,” Kong Jie said solemnly. “If this news started circulating yesterday, I would have no objection even if you executed me.”

"What nonsense are you spouting? Can't you say something nice?" the brigade commander cursed.

"Yes, Brigadier."

"Li Yunlong robbed a Japanese military train and made some money. When they transport the spoils to the arsenal, have him give you twenty grenade launchers, ten mortars, and two Type 92 infantry guns as well," the brigade commander solemnly told Kong Jie. "As for light and heavy machine guns, rifles, and ammunition, you can ask for whatever you want. Just say it's my order."

Li Yunlong, Ding Wei, and Blind Cheng made a fortune with two or three hundred artillery pieces; the division commander would definitely be envious.

The brigade commander allocated some equipment to Kong Jie in advance, and the division commander also understood the importance of Kong Jie at the arsenal. He would not take anything from Kong Jie, which could be considered as the brigade commander preserving some equipment in advance.

Upon hearing this, Kong Jie's eyes widened: "Brigade Commander, you're not kidding me, are you? How much money have Li Yunlong and his men made?"

Kong Jie was truly shocked. He was told that Li Yunlong had robbed the Japanese military train of its cargo.
"Comrade Kong Jie, these things aren't given to you for nothing." The brigade commander's tone was very solemn. "My left eyelid has been twitching lately. I have a feeling the Japanese will eventually find the border region's arsenal. If you mess things up for me then, don't blame me for really shooting you!"

“Brigade Commander, didn’t you say you wanted to say something nice?” Kong Jie said.

"Better safe than sorry, is that not allowed?!" The brigade commander glared. "If you don't want it, fine, but I..."

"Yes, yes, I'll take it! Thank you, Brigade Commander, thank you, Brigade Commander!" Kong Jie nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, and finally asked, "What if Li Yunlong doesn't give it to me?"

"He's smarter than you," the brigade commander said to Kong Jie, then briefly inspected Kong Jie's coal mining work before returning to his post.

"Commander, I'm starting to think coal mining is a great job!" The battalion commander said happily as he approached Kong Jie. "Look, we haven't even fought many battles, but we've already got more and more weapons, haha."

"Stop joking around!" Kong Jie said sternly. "After your coal mining shift, make the most of your time for training."

The brigade commander's intuition was always accurate. If the Japanese really managed to reach the border region's arsenal, the humiliating 200-0 defeat at Yangcun must not be repeated.

"Yes, Captain."

……

(End of this chapter)