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

Chapter 207 The Hydrogen Problem
Border Region Arsenal

Old He walked over and said to Li Muzhi, "Factory Director, the excavation for the new factory has begun, but once the factory is built, there's a big problem."

The copper smelter was brought back, but the new factory building will still be constructed by excavating cave dwellings.

The cave dwellings were well-hidden, so they weren't afraid even when bombed by Japanese planes.

But building a factory isn't just about digging cave dwellings; it also requires supporting facilities.

"It's a lighting problem, isn't it?" Li Muzhi said directly.

"Yes, that's right, we don't have enough light bulbs." Old He nodded.

As the production scale of the arsenal in the border region continued to expand, the factory buildings also expanded. In addition, the arsenal operated on a three-shift system and required lighting at night, so all the light bulbs stored in the logistics warehouse were used up.

Even if the combat troops seized light bulbs from the ironworks and mines, they had all been used up.

“It’s alright,” Li Muzhi said calmly. “Didn’t the combat troops bring back tungsten ore? Once that tungsten ore is purified, the tungsten filament can be used to make light bulbs. That way, we’ll have light bulbs.”

Tungsten filaments have a very high melting point, making them an excellent material for light bulbs.

Old He was stunned when he heard this: "Tungsten sand can be used to make light bulb filaments?"

"Yes," Li Muzhi nodded.

Remembering something, Lao He said, "But this light bulb also needs glass, and we can't make glass here."

Li Muzhi smiled and said, "The glass on the light bulb is mainly used to prevent dust and electric shock and short circuit fire. We can use other things to replace the glass. The lighting is not as good as the glass, but we can install more of these light bulbs."

"What should we use as a substitute?" the old man asked.

"I'll take care of that later." Li Muzhi's biggest problem right now isn't finding a way to replace the glass.

Instead, we need to purify the tungsten sand as quickly as possible.

"Factory Director, Lao Qi and Lao Lu are all in the conference room." At this moment, someone came over to report to Li Muzhi.

"Okay, I understand." Li Muzhi nodded and said to Lao He, "I'll find a way to solve the light bulb problem. You can continue with your work."

"Factory manager, you should get some rest before you call a meeting with Lao Qi and Lao Lu," Lao He advised.

It's almost midnight, and factory manager Li Muzhi still isn't resting.

In the past, he would have already gone to bed at nine o'clock.

Even now, we're still not resting; Lao He knows that too.

Factory director Li Muzhi was waiting for news from the combat troops.

Five cartloads of tungsten ore.

The Japanese even sent out planes for tungsten ore.

Factory director Li Muzhi probably won't take a break until he gets this tungsten ore.

“I know, go ahead.” Li Muzhi nodded.

"Yes, factory manager." Old He left.

Li Muzhi picked up the documents on the table and went to the conference room.

When Lao Qi and Lao Lu saw Li Muzhi arrive, they all stood up immediately: "Factory Director."

"Sit down, everyone, please sit down." Li Muzhi gestured for them to sit down, then got straight to the point: "I'm sure you all know by now, the combat troops discovered five truckloads of tungsten ore belonging to the Japanese. They've already brought some back, and they'll be able to bring back the rest."

"Factory manager, you've gathered us all night, are you perhaps going to discuss how to purify tungsten ore?" Old Lu asked immediately.

If you bring back tungsten ore, but don't know how to refine it, what's the difference between it and regular sand?

Old Gao also said, "Factory Director, our industrial strength is not good. In the past, we exported our tungsten ore to foreign powers. Factory Director, can you find a way to purify the tungsten ore?"

Since Lao Gao and the others had completed their paperwork and were now key personnel at the border region's arsenal, they changed their address for Li Muzhi from "Director Li" to "Director".

Li Muzhi said, "If we manage to salvage these five truckloads of tungsten ore, but we don't know how to purify it ourselves, wouldn't it just be like waste slag?"

Upon hearing this, Lao Lu, Lao Qi, and the others exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions filled with shock.

Is the factory manager really that amazing? He can do things that even the bald guy can't.
Old Gao hurriedly asked, "Factory manager, what are you going to do?"

Li Muzhi first took out a piece of white powder and placed it in front of the group: "Look what this is."

The group immediately examined it and quickly identified it: "This is baking soda used for steaming buns."

Old Qi asked suspiciously, "Can this stuff be used to purify tungsten?"

One is for steaming buns, and the other is tungsten sand. These two seem completely unrelated.

Li Muzhi explained, "By mixing and roasting tungsten ore with soda ash, tungstate can be produced. Then, tungstic acid can be extracted using hydrochloric acid. Tungstic acid is then calcined to produce tungsten trioxide. Finally, by reducing it with hydrogen at a high temperature, elemental tungsten can be obtained."

Upon hearing this, Lao Qi and Lao Gao were stunned for a moment: "Factory Director, from what you've said, tungsten purification seems to be very simple."

Scientists from those major powers kept their mouths shut about the purification of tungsten, refusing to reveal a single detail.

We've also researched how to purify this stuff, but we're completely clueless and can't figure it out at all.

As for the factory manager, did he figure it out?

Li Muzhi's expression was serious: "The soda ash combat troops have recovered quite a lot, and we also have hydrochloric acid. The biggest problem is still hydrogen. Without hydrogen, we are stuck in the last step of purification."

Upon hearing this, Lao Qi, Lao Gao, and the others all became serious: "Yes, if we can't produce hydrogen, we're stuck. Factory manager, do you know how to do it?"

Lao Qi and Lao Gao were no strangers to hydrogen.

On May 6, 1937, the German airship Hindenburg suffered a major disaster, burning to the ground in just 32 seconds and killing 36 people.

The Hindenburg airship was filled with hydrogen.

Hydrogen is so dangerous that if it is not pure enough and contains some oxygen, it can explode when it comes into contact with static electricity.

“Hydrogen can be obtained through water electrolysis,” Li Muzhi said. “But this process is easier said than done. We lack the relevant equipment, so I need you to work with us to solve the problems.”

After Li Muzhi finished speaking, he handed out the documents he had in his hand: "Take a look at these documents first." Lao Qi, Lao Gao, and the others took the documents and looked at them carefully.

The meeting lasted until 2 a.m.

Old Qi, Old Gao, and others all offered their own insights on the issues in the materials, and in the end, each of them took a difficult problem back with them.

After the meeting, Li Muzhi went to the courtyard of the arsenal for some fresh air.

Although Lao Qi and Lao Gao were Li Muzhi's capable assistants, as the saying goes, even a skilled cook cannot make a meal without rice.

It's unrealistic to expect to solve the problem of hydrogen production in a short time.

Unless... we try to find a solution through Yan Kai.

Let's see if there's any equipment that Commander Yan took away back then that we can make do with.

If Commander Yan doesn't have it, then think of Baldy's side.

Our Hell Cannon has made a name for itself, and Baldy will definitely be envious.

"Factory Director, why don't you go and get some sleep? Minister Zhang and the others are back. I'll let you know right away," the guard captain said as he returned with the message and saw that Li Muzhi hadn't rested yet.

"It's okay, I'm not sleepy," Li Muzhi waved his hand.

"Alright, Factory Director, I'll wait with you then." The guard captain said, going to the kitchen to bring over two servings of late-night snacks, handing one to Li Muzhi: "Factory Director, you should have some too."

The border region arsenal operates on a three-shift system: lunchtime refreshments, afternoon tea, and late-night snacks.

"Okay, I'm hungry too." Li Muzhi took it and sat down to eat.

"Captain of the Guard, do you have any family members left?" Li Muzhi chatted with the captain of the guard about everyday matters.

"I also have a younger sister at home." The captain of the guard said with affection in his eyes. "Factory manager, my sister is quite pretty, and she just turned sixteen."

Have you discussed your future in-laws yet?

“I’ve mentioned a few, but she doesn’t like any of them. I’m so worried,” the captain of the guard replied.

"It's okay, just wait two more years, maybe she'll meet the right person," Li Muzhi comforted her.

In later generations, one was considered an adult only when they reached the age of eighteen.

Anyone under the age of eighteen is considered a minor, and marriage under such circumstances is illegal.

This era was different from later generations.

Many girls get married at the age of twelve or thirteen, and by sixteen they are considered grown women.

If you're married, you'll already have two or three children.

"Haha." The guard captain laughed and said, "She's been following me around with weapons since she was little, and now she's a guerrilla captain. She's actually driven away all those families she married into, haha."

"Haha." Li Muzhi laughed too: "Women are just as capable as men, you have a good sister. If you really don't have a boyfriend in the future, I'll find someone to help you solve this problem."

Commander Chen of the 386th Brigade was an incredibly capable matchmaker.

The matchmaker for the deputy commander-in-chief was Brigade Commander Chen.

Earlier, Brigade Commander Chen was in a good mood and even wanted to act as a matchmaker for us.

"Haha, factory manager, alright then, I'll thank you in advance on behalf of my sister." The captain of the guard laughed again, and the air was filled with a happy atmosphere.

Li Muzhi chatted with the guard captain until late at night when someone ran in to report, his tone excited: "Reporting to the factory director, Minister Zhang and the others have returned."

Hearing the other party's excited tone, Li Muzhi said happily, "It seems that the operation of the combat troops was very successful. All five truckloads of tungsten ore have been brought back."

The guard captain also said, "With this tungsten sand, and once we have the equipment, you, factory director, can start making anti-aircraft weapons. We're all waiting for you."

Zhang Wanhe's figure soon appeared in front of Li Muzhi.

Of course, there are also Li Yunlong and Ding Wei.

"Xiao Li, did you wait all night?" Zhang Wanhe looked at Li Muzhi's dark circles and felt extremely distressed.

This is our arsenal's prized possession. I told you before I left that you should go to sleep after you're done with your work and not wait for me.

In the end, you still waited all night.

In response to Zhang Wanhe's concern, Li Muzhi smiled and said, "Five cartloads of tungsten ore are too important. I can't sleep until I see them with my own eyes."

Li Yunlong laughed heartily: "Brother Li, don't worry, I've brought back every single grain of tungsten ore from the five cartloads. It's just that the Japanese have tampered with the tungsten ore and are hiding it outside for now, so we can't bring it directly to you. We'll have to wait twelve hours."

Not only tungsten ore, but all the other supplies are also hidden outside. They will be retrieved after twelve hours.

Immediately afterwards, Li Yunlong asked, "Brother, how are you going to settle accounts with me for the copper smelter project as well?"

Ding Wei also smiled and said, "Director Li..."

Before Ding Wei could finish speaking, Zhang Wanhe interrupted, "Gentlemen, are you in such a hurry? Didn't you see that Xiao Li hasn't slept all night? He should go to sleep now. We'll settle the bill with you after he wakes up."

“That’s true.” Li Yunlong nodded and said, “Brother Li, your spirit is the hope and future of our army. Now that we’ve brought back the tungsten ore, you should go to sleep first. We can talk about the settlement later.”

Ding Wei also said, "We can discuss this again after you've rested, Director Li. We're tired too, and we need to go back and get some rest. We still have to work tonight."

What should I do tonight?

It's all because Old Zhang is too stingy.

The horse feed was only given for three days.

We still need to go to Kuroshima Morita's base tonight to steal horse feed.

Otherwise, if the Japanese invaders came to sweep through, there might not be another chance.

Of course, if the brigade commander can find Sato Haruno's location in advance, we will definitely prioritize taking him out.

(End of this chapter)