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

Chapter 198 Strategic Metals
Several boxes were placed in front of Li Muzhi.

Li Muzhi couldn't wait and asked first, "Where's the tungsten ore? Which box is it in? Open it and take a look!"

That's right, one of the important materials that this official sword needs to be exchanged for is tungsten sand!

Although we also have tungsten ore here, from the establishment of the Soviet area to the strategic relocation, a total of 8000 tons of tungsten ore were produced.

But most of them were sold and exchanged for various urgently needed supplies.

Meanwhile, the bald man obtained tungsten ore and used it to exchange for military equipment.

Whether it was the military equipment from Bald Head's arsenal or the equipment of the German-equipped division's training corps, they were all obtained by Bald Head in exchange for precious and rare metals like tungsten ore from Germany.

At the time, Germany coveted tungsten ore and planned to exchange it for the equipment of one hundred German-equipped divisions and ten thousand aircraft.

Due to changes in the war, the cooperation between Germany and the Soviet Union was forced to end.

Now that the Japanese have invaded, they are also frantically plundering tungsten ore.

According to statistics, between 1937 and 1945, the Japanese army plundered more than 40,000 tons of tungsten concentrate from the Miyun Shachang tungsten mine alone!
Here, some people may ask, what exactly can tungsten sand be used for, and why is it so valuable?

In the military, tungsten is widely used in the manufacture of warship armor and bullet cores.

Industrially, tungsten metal can be used to manufacture industrial cutting tools, drill bits, and wear-resistant parts, and is one of the basic raw materials for high-end manufacturing.

In aerospace, tungsten metal can be used to manufacture aircraft engines, and even later space shuttles and satellites cannot function without tungsten.

In short, tungsten is a strategic metal!
The world's tungsten reserves are only a few million tons.

The land beneath our feet has the largest stock of natural resources in the world.

“This is the one.” Zhang Wanhe had never seen Li Muzhi act like this before, and he quickly opened one of the boxes himself.

The box was opened, revealing a package inside.

Zhang Wanhe opened the package, revealing dark gray particles inside.

"You all go outside for a moment." Li Muzhi's expression instantly turned solemn as he looked at the dark gray particles.

"Xiao Li, what's wrong with you..." Zhang Wanhe was genuinely stunned. Li Muzhi's reaction was really a bit too much.

Zhang Wanhe actually recognized this thing; he was also involved when they were in the tungsten mining business.

This tungsten ore is indeed valuable; otherwise, it wouldn't have been possible to exchange 8000 tons of tungsten sand for so many other supplies.

But Zhang Wanhe didn't know what it was specifically used for.

Judging from Li Muzhi's reaction now, could it be that Li Muzhi knows its purpose?
"Minister Zhang, please wait outside while I examine it," Li Muzhi explained.

"Let's go out." Zhang Wanhe didn't mind Li Muzhi's attitude and immediately led a few people out, closing the door behind them.

Outside the door, the movers were still saying to Zhang Wanhe, "Minister Zhang, Director Li's reaction is so strong. We all know this thing is very valuable, but Director Li's reaction is a bit too much."

Li Muzhi directly summoned Minister Zhang, which was practically a command.

Even if Minister Zhang doesn't mind, he is still your superior, Director Li.

"Shut up, all of you." Zhang Wanhe said sternly.

The stronger Li Muzhi's reaction, the more it demonstrates the importance of this thing.

They told these people to shut up and not talk, and to keep them away from the door, so as not to disturb Li Muzhi's appraisal.

Just then, someone rushed over: "Factory director, factory director, Regiment Commander Li of the 386th Brigade is back! He says he's brought the copper smelting plant back!"

Li Yunlong has brought the copper smelter back!
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wanhe's emotions instantly surged.

Previously, I heard from Brigade Commander Chen of the 386th Brigade that Li Yunlong would soon find the copper smelter.

Li Muzhi also squeezed in a dozen or so workers with tools and went over there. Now the copper smelter is back in operation. The efficiency is really fast!

The arsenal now has power and can smelt iron, but it can't smelt copper.

If we can smelt copper, then we can produce the raw materials for artillery shells and bullets ourselves.

This has extraordinary significance.

Zhang Wanhe immediately scolded, "Keep your voice down, don't disturb Director Li's work."

The man quickly lowered his voice and said, "Minister Zhang, Regiment Commander Li said that the copper smelter has been brought back and that the factory director is going to take it over."

"You all stay here and guard this place. No one is allowed to disturb Director Li's work, understand?" Zhang Wanhe said to the staff.

"Yes, Minister Zhang."

Zhang Wanhe then quickly walked out.

Outside, Li Yunlong was in a bad mood because he lost a rock-paper-scissors game to Ding Wei.

Seeing that it was Zhang Wanhe who came out instead of Li Muzhi, Li Yunlong shouted, "Old Zhang, you don't know what's good for you. Why are you coming out? Let Brother Li come out instead."

"Xiao Li has important work to do right now and can't get away for the time being." Zhang Wanhe wasn't unhappy about Li Yunlong's shouting.

joke!

What they brought back was a copper smelter.

Even if he yells at us, we won't get angry.

In short, who can blame them for having the ability and skill?

"Old Zhang, you're not kidding, are you? What job could be more important than me bringing back a copper smelter?" Li Yunlong said, but still let Zhang Wanhe receive the goods.

Li Yunlong didn't understand military industry, but he also knew that his brother Li was making so many weapons just because he had nothing better to do.
This was achieved through hard work.

The rocket launcher has been developed; perhaps Brother Li is working on something new again.

“There’s too much stuff. Let’s move the equipment directly to the new warehouse first. Once Xiao Li is done with his work, let him verify it,” Zhang Wanhe said after taking a look. “As for the raw materials, put them towards the arsenal, and put the copper billets directly there as well.”

The copper smelter that Li Yunlong reclaimed was not just about equipment and raw materials.

There are also finished copper billets produced, and of course, semi-finished products as well.

"Okay." Li Yunlong nodded and immediately made the arrangements, while Zhang Wanhe directed how to put the things away.

At this moment, Kong Jie brought his team over for lunch.

Seeing that Li Yunlong had brought back a lot of things and was unloading them, Kong Jie quickly came over and asked, "Old Li, what are you up to this time? So much copper and raw materials, did you set up a copper smelter?" "Old Kong, it's just a small copper smelter, nothing special," Li Yunlong said, trying to sound cool.

"Old Li, you're really something, you've done another great service," Kong Jie exclaimed.

Kong Jie, who worked at the arsenal, heard from the workers that they couldn't smelt copper themselves; once the existing copper was used up, the arsenal would have to stop production.

Now that Li Yunlong has brought the copper smelter back, it's a timely help.

"Old Kong, why don't you quit mining coal and come hang out with me, Old Li?" Li Yunlong joked.

"I'm not following you. I'm just going to focus on mining coal." Kong Jie shook his head and said to his soldiers, "Help me move things and equipment. We'll eat after we're done."

"Yes, Commander." The soldiers of the New Second Regiment immediately helped unload the supplies and equipment.

After finishing his conversation with Kong Jie, Li Yunlong remembered something and leaned closer to Zhang Wanhe to add, "Old Zhang, the managers and workers of the copper smelter have also been captured and are now in the abandoned village No. 17. You should contact the intelligence department to handle this."

The workers and managers of these copper smelters will certainly need to be screened and modified before they can be used.

“Okay, no problem.” Zhang Wanhe nodded quickly and immediately called someone over to notify the intelligence department.

Immediately afterwards, Zhang Wanhe approached Li Yunlong and asked, "Commander Li, how is your brigade commander doing with the interrogation of those managers at the Cuicun arsenal?"

The ordinary workers and lower-level managers at the Cuicun arsenal have already been screened and handed over to the intelligence department for processing.

All the senior and middle-level managers of the Cuicun Arsenal are still with the 386th Brigade.

"Old Zhang, what's the rush? Good things come to those who wait," Li Yunlong said directly. "If you're in a hurry, go ahead and urge our brigade commander. I wouldn't dare to do that."

Li Yunlong also heard some news from the brigade headquarters. The middle and senior management personnel were very stubborn, and the brigade commander needed more time.

"Hehe, no rush, no rush, let your brigade commander take his time." Zhang Wanhe chuckled.

Zhang Wanhe also knew that intelligence interrogation was a delicate task that couldn't be rushed.

Besides, Yan Kai could also get his hands on the equipment if the opportunity arose.

Zhang Wanhe continued directing the men to move the weapons and ammunition. Kong Jie approached Li Yunlong and asked, "Li Yunlong, the brigade commander said he wanted you to give me some weapons and ammunition. Did he tell you?"

When Kong Jie took a closer look at the weapon in Li Yunlong's hand, his eyes almost popped out.

Not to mention the light and heavy machine guns, there were four Type 92 infantry guns, and the number of grenade launchers and mortars reached one hundred!

The firepower of this guy's regiment completely overwhelms that of an entire elite division.

No wonder the brigade commander wanted Li Yunlong to give him so many weapons and ammunition; it turns out that Li Yunlong had made a fortune.

"Old Kong, how many weapons and ammunition did the brigade commander ask me to give you?" Li Yunlong didn't object to this.

Firstly, although Kong Jie was helping the arsenal mine coal, he still had to take on the responsibility of protecting the arsenal at crucial moments.

Providing weapons and ammunition to Kong Jie's new Second Regiment is also providing protection and security for the arsenal.

And another one!
Li Yunlong wasn't stupid either.

We've made such a fortune this time, we're bound to be robbed by the division commander and brigade commander.

They just haven't had time to rob them yet.

Rather than being robbed later, it's better to leave more for Old Kong.

In the future, if we need any weapons or ammunition support, we can get some help from Lao Kong.

"The brigade commander asked you to give me twenty grenade launchers, ten mortars, and two Type 92 infantry guns." Seeing that Li Yunlong showed no sign of resistance, Kong Jie immediately said happily, "And light and heavy machine guns, he told me to just give them to me as I see fit."

That kid Li Yunlong always lets people in but never lets them out.

Kong Jie was worried that he wouldn't be able to get weapons and ammunition from this guy, but he didn't expect the guy's attitude to be so good.

Upon hearing this, Li Yunlong's eyes widened, and he cursed, "Hey Kong Erlengzi, are you sure you didn't misremember the numbers? Are you sure it's twenty grenade launchers, ten mortars, and two Type 92 infantry guns?"

Seeing that Li Yunlong's expression had changed, Kong Jie retorted, "Li Yunlong, this is an order personally given by the brigade commander. If you don't believe me, you can check with the brigade commander first and see if I'm right..."

"Hey Lao Kong, your memory's really terrible," Li Yunlong said seriously. "The brigade commander clearly said I was only to keep twenty grenade launchers, ten mortars, and one Type 92 infantry gun, and the rest were all yours. Did I remember wrong?!"

Upon hearing this, Kong Jie's eyes widened even more, and he was shocked: Is Li Yunlong joking with me?
I'm only letting you keep twenty grenade launchers, ten mortars, and only one Type 92 infantry gun. Isn't this just me robbing you, Li Yunlong?

Moreover, you, Li Yunlong, practically delivered this to my doorstep to rob me. Are you, Li Yunlong, a fool?

Kong Jie quickly figured it out.

That son of a bitch Li Yunlong, he's trying to use me as a shield.

Knowing full well that I was mining coal for the arsenal and, to some extent, acting as its protector, you're stuffing this huge amount of artillery into my hands, Kong Jie, to prevent it from being robbed by the brigade commander and division commander later.

These are hundreds of artillery pieces after all; it's impossible for brigade commanders and division commanders to rob them.

Even if the headquarters leaders find out, they'll still have to issue an order for you, Li Yunlong, to hand over most of it.

You've got a clever plan; you've directly put it in my (Kong Jie's) hands.

Don't you even consider my feelings? What if... However, since we're near the border arsenal, the headquarters leaders should still consider it, right?

Seeing Kong Jie's understanding attitude, Li Yunlong asked seriously, "Old Kong, think about it again. Did you remember it wrong, or am I right?"

Li Yunlong did this not only to prevent robbery.

When the time comes, once we take down the rocket launchers from the arsenal, we'll have a reason to ask for a few more.

Otherwise, the brigade commander would say, "What are you pretending for, you son of a bitch? You already have so many weapons, why are you still fighting over rocket launchers?"

Therefore, with the number of weapons at hand significantly reduced, it's reasonable for them to fight over rocket launchers.

Although Li Muzhi said he would give us thirty rocket launchers.

When the rocket launchers arrive, if we have enough artillery, the brigade commander will definitely cut back on our rocket launchers.

"It seems I really did remember wrong." Kong Jie stopped pretending. Since so many cannons were being delivered to him, he might as well take them.

Who knows, if those little devils attack anytime, I'll just rain down artillery shells to send them on their way!
"Old Kong, that's right..."

Before Li Yunlong could finish speaking, his expression suddenly changed.

(End of this chapter)