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

Chapter 228 They're all their own arms factories, why are they so clearly distinguished?

Logistics Office

Zhang Wanhe spoke with Director Xu of the Huangyadong Arsenal, and the two were arguing again.

Li Muzhi instructed Zhang Wanhe to send new recruits over for training. The headquarters also happened to have some outstanding college graduates, some of whom were to be sent to the Huangyadong Arsenal.

As a result, they all ended up going to Comrade Zhang's arsenal in the border region. Director Xu of the Huangyadong arsenal was definitely unhappy.

"Minister Zhang, I won't say anything about the fact that the regional arsenal poached several of my senior talents. But the fact that the border region arsenal also snatched away my new recruits from the Huangyadong Arsenal is a bit too much." On the phone, Director Xu of the Huangyadong Arsenal sounded very dissatisfied.

"Director Xu, you should think long-term," Zhang Wanhe said. "Those college graduates who were originally supposed to be sent to your Huangyadong Arsenal can definitely receive special training from Xiao Li if they stay at the Border Region Arsenal. Once these graduates are trained, I'll transfer them back to you. That way, you'll actually benefit, don't you think?"

"Minister Zhang, from what you're saying, it's like I took advantage of Director Li, essentially having him train talent for me." Director Xu didn't believe Zhang Wanhe's nonsense and directly exposed him, "I borrowed several highly skilled personnel to the border region's arsenal, but they never came back. Now you're telling me that these were supposed to be my university graduates receiving special training from Director Li at the border region's arsenal, and that they'd be transferred to me after they completed their studies? Do you think I'd believe that?"

I believe you!
At that time, these college students will definitely stay in the border region's arsenal with the same determination as those few highly skilled talents, and they will not come back.

"How about this, I'll talk to headquarters again, and when more college students come, we'll give you a few more. What do you think?" Zhang Wanhe reassured him.

“Minister Zhang, this batch of college students is the best we’ve selected so far. The quality of those who come later will definitely not be as good,” Factory Director Xu disagreed.

"The person has already been sent to the border region's arsenal. Director Xu, why don't you make some other requests?" Zhang Wanhe finally had no choice but to compromise.

All this talk from Director Xu is just a pretext to make demands.

"Minister Zhang, this is the request you asked me to make!" Director Xu's emotions surged, and he said excitedly, "Didn't the border region's arsenal send over some equipment, along with iron locomotives and oil? Hehe."

Director Xu smiled and continued, "How about we ask the border region's arsenal to spare some more equipment for me?"

"You, Director Xu, you've gone a bit too far," Zhang Wanhe said solemnly. "Do you know how envious the other arsenals are of you, getting power and equipment? And yet, you're still not satisfied, wanting even more."

"Minister Zhang, didn't you ask me to make this request? What, are you going to take it back now?" Director Xu asked seriously.

“I’ll take that back…” Zhang Wanhe hadn’t finished speaking when someone knocked on the door: “Minister Zhang, the head of the guard has something urgent to discuss with you.”

Upon hearing that it was urgent, Zhang Wanhe quickly covered the microphone and said, "Let him in right away."

Could it be that the guard captain has discovered some enemy spies? Now that the sweep has begun, Japanese spies are everywhere, so we must be careful.

Especially the arsenals in our border region, they were a thorn in the side of the Japanese!
The captain of the guard rushed in, looking very excited. He said to Zhang Wanhe, "Minister Zhang, Regiment Commander Liu of the 115th Division has brought back equipment from a large arsenal. The artillery ammunition production lines inside are very complete, with more than ten in total."

More than ten complete artillery ammunition production lines!!!
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wanhe immediately became excited, as if a huge windfall had fallen from the sky, and exclaimed with delight: "Captain of the Guard, are you kidding me? There really are more than a dozen artillery ammunition production lines!"

My God!

This Liu Weidong is amazing! He went to the outside of the encirclement with Li Yunlong and the others, but he still managed to bring back a large-scale arms factory.

More than a dozen production lines, that's incredible!

“Minister Zhang, how could I joke with you like that? Director Li wants you to come over right away.” The guard captain nodded.

Zhang Wanhe immediately released his hand from the microphone and said to Director Xu on the other end, "Director Xu, I have some urgent business to attend to. I can consider your request..."

We've brought back a dozen or so production lines, so what's the point of all this arguing? We can just give Director Xu two production lines.

Of course.

Without seeing the production line, Comrade Zhang certainly couldn't just blurt things out.

When the production line is delivered, we should also take the opportunity to get the Huangyadong Arsenal to provide some support to the border region arsenal.

After all, this production equipment can't be given away for free.

No matter how precious those college students are, are they worth several production lines?
The other arsenals are the same; if they want production lines, they all have to provide support to the border region's arsenals.

Before Zhang Wanhe could finish speaking, Director Xu's happy voice came through the phone: "Okay, okay, Minister Zhang, you go ahead and attend to your urgent matters. Take your time to think about it."

Factory Director Xu was overjoyed. As long as Minister Zhang said he would consider it, there was hope.

Haha.

A few college students were able to exchange for equipment; we not only didn't lose out, we actually made a fortune.

"Okay, I'm hanging up now." After saying that, Zhang Wanhe put the phone back on the shelf and then hurriedly ran out the door with the guard captain.

Over in the woods, Li Muzhi finished explaining the new type of rocket to his students, who were all incredibly impressed.
"We can't smelt steel or make cannon barrels, so this new type of rocket doesn't even need cannon barrels anymore. Teacher, this is amazing. It directly changes the way artillery is fired, which has been around for hundreds of years."

"We can launch it by digging a hole. Combined with our troops' guerrilla tactics, the Japanese will be in constant turmoil."

"It also greatly reduces the pressure on logistics and transportation. Although the Hell Cannon can be pulled by mules, it is still not as convenient and easy as this new type of rocket."

"Teacher, can we participate in the production of this new type of rocket?" a student asked eagerly.

“You’ve just arrived. Military manufacturing isn’t as simple as you imagine,” Li Muzhi said seriously. “Your current task is to seize the time to learn. Once you’ve mastered the skills, you can naturally participate in the production of new types of rockets.”

……

Zhang Wanhe hurriedly followed the captain of the guard.

The students stopped talking as soon as they saw Zhang Wanhe come out.

It's like enthusiasm meeting cold water; the atmosphere immediately turns sour.

"Now that you've all seen the equipment, go back and digest the electrical knowledge I taught you in class," Li Muzhi said, sending the students away to avoid embarrassing Old Zhang.

"goodbye teacher."

Goodbye, teacher.

The students used Li Muzhi as a stepping stone to turn around and leave. "These kids, I'm not the Big Bad Wolf!" Zhang Wanhe couldn't help but mutter after seeing this.

Li Muzhi smiled and said, "Minister Zhang, it's mainly because they just attended my class, and they still need to memorize and understand the knowledge."

Fortunately, Comrade Zhang's main focus was not on this.

His gaze quickly fell upon the equipment in front of him.

Looking at all this equipment, Zhang Wanhe grinned from ear to ear like a lotus flower: "Hahaha, more than a dozen production lines, we're going to be rich!"

Li Muzhi reminded him from the side, "Minister Zhang, this is the next large-scale arsenal equipment for the Cuicun Arsenal. Although there are quite a few production lines, the power is insufficient, and the combat troops need to seize more locomotives. There is also a shortage of raw materials, so I'm afraid this batch of equipment cannot be started immediately."

"So this is the next large-scale arsenal of the Cuicun Arsenal. No wonder there's so much equipment!" Zhang Wanhe exclaimed in surprise. "That Brigade Commander Chen of the 386th Brigade is really something. He managed to get the Cuicun Arsenal management personnel to talk and obtain the equipment for this next large-scale arsenal without even telling me beforehand. If he had sent a transport team earlier, he definitely could have brought the raw materials back."

There is only equipment here; apart from semi-finished cannon barrels, there are very few other raw materials.

It's definitely because the combat troops don't have enough manpower.

“They need to cross the Japanese encirclement. The transport team would be too conspicuous, wouldn’t it?” Li Muzhi said. “Judging from Liu Weidong’s tone, the raw materials are probably hidden outside. They can retrieve them after the Japanese mopping-up operation is over.”

"Yes, the sweep is over. We must retrieve the raw materials as soon as possible." Zhang Wanhe nodded emphatically. "Then, if we can seize some of those Japanese locomotives, the machines will be up and running right away. Hahaha, so much equipment, what kind of weapons and ammunition are they producing? Tell me."

"There are five bullet production lines, four grenade launcher production lines, and three mortar production lines..." Li Muzhi listed them off as if they were his own treasures.

"Hahahaha." Zhang Wanhe danced with joy, like a playful old man. "With all these machines running, our troops' light artillery and ammunition will be rapidly replenished. That's wonderful!"

Remembering something, Comrade Zhang immediately looked at Li Muzhi: "By the way, do you have any of the equipment here that you need? Didn't you say there wasn't enough equipment for the new rockets? This Cuicun arsenal is next..."

Before Zhang Wanhe could finish speaking, Li Muzhi gave an affirmative answer: "I can modify a few of the machines here and use them to make the remaining parts for the new type of rocket."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Wanhe exclaimed with delight, "So that means the new rocket can be produced now?"

"Yes," Li Muzhi nodded.

"Haha, Xiao Li, then go back and get it done right away, right away! I'll send someone to help you move the machinery and equipment you need into the arsenal immediately." Comrade Zhang couldn't wait.

It had only been a few days since Li Muzhi first mentioned this new type of rocket.

But it felt like we waited for years.

“Minister Zhang, it’s daytime now, let’s move it at night,” Li Muzhi said. “If the Japanese planes appear halfway through the move, we won’t have time to hide. Once we’re exposed, it will be a real problem.”

"That would waste most of the day," Zhang Wanhe said, but he still nodded.

Now that we have the equipment, what's a little extra time?

Li Muzhi continued, "Minister Zhang, I'm thinking, we have too much equipment and machinery. What do you think about distributing some of it to other arsenals?"

The production of bullets, shells, and melon grenades could be entirely transferred to other arsenals.

Grenade launchers and mortars can also be converted into production lines.

By not putting all their eggs in one basket, the various arsenals can work together to produce weapons and ammunition for the troops, and their efficiency will certainly not be slower than that of the arsenals in the border areas.

After all, starting so many machines requires more workers, and the border region's arsenal is short-handed and lacks sufficient space.

“Sure, sure, no problem.” Zhang Wanhe nodded immediately and said, “Since you can’t handle it all here, then transfer it to other arms factories. Take a look and decide which equipment you want to keep, and I’ll transfer the rest.”

As for the equipment being transferred there, and the fact that other arsenals have no incentive to do so, that's also negotiable.

Once the Japanese mopping-up operation is over, have the combat troops seize as many military train locomotives as possible, and then use them to power other arsenals.

Then Zhang Wanhe said, "Also, if you need any support from other arsenals, just tell me. The machinery and equipment aren't given away for free."

Upon hearing this, Li Mu laughed heartily: "Haha, Minister Zhang, they're all our own arsenals, why are you making such a distinction?"

“Even close brothers need to keep clear accounts,” Zhang Wanhe said seriously. “Think carefully about what kind of support you need.”

"I can't think of anything right now," Li Muzhi said.

"It's alright, we can give them the things first, and then we can ask them to do the work later," Zhang Wanhe said, indicating that it wasn't a big problem.

“Okay.” Li Muzhi nodded, then divided the equipment in front of him into sections.

All five bullet production lines will be eliminated, one mortar production line will be retained, the grenade launcher production line will be eliminated, one melon grenade production line will be retained, and the artillery shell production line will be eliminated.

As a result, Li Muzhi only kept one mortar production line and one melon grenade production line, and kept the rest.

Of course, the equipment that Li Muzhi needed to make the new rocket was also left behind.

Seeing this, Zhang Wanhe was somewhat stunned: "Xiao Li, are you sure you only want this little bit? This isn't even a fraction of the price."

“Minister Zhang, the border region's arsenal can already produce bullets, grenades, and artillery shells, so we don’t need so many,” Li Muzhi said. “Let the other arsenals take them and produce them at full capacity.”

“If you give up so many production lines, the other arms factories will be overjoyed,” Zhang Wanhe said.

Li Muzhi added, "When these devices are delivered, we'll also have our technical workers go over and teach them."

Other arsenals have little experience in producing bullets, shells, mortars, and grenade launchers, so they will definitely need Li Muzhi to send people over to provide guidance.

“Okay, let them transport it themselves after the sweep is over.” Zhang Wanhe nodded. “After dark, I’ll move these devices to hide them first, and I’ll move your devices to your side.”

"Okay." Li Muzhi nodded.

(End of this chapter)