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

Chapter 241 The Military Intelligence Bureau Wants to Buy Flashbangs

Border Region Arsenal

Despite the Japanese army's ongoing mopping-up operations, Li Muzhi remained the same as always.

I woke up at the appointed time in the morning.

After washing up, I went to the cafeteria for breakfast.

After breakfast, he led the workers to continue modifying the equipment.

In this respect, Li Muzhi did things differently from later generations.

There's been too much formalism in later generations; people have to attend a meeting every day at work.

Li Muzhi tries to avoid holding meetings, as they are a waste of time.

Moreover, with the Japanese currently conducting a sweep, the arsenal still needs to race against time to produce weapons and ammunition.

Another piece of equipment was quickly modified, and Li Muzhi had just started testing it when he saw Wang Xun, the captain of the headquarters' anti-espionage team, jogging over.

"Director Li, I'm busy." Wang Xun said with a smile.

"Captain Wang, I'm very busy here. Just tell me what you need," Li Muzhi said to Constable Wang Xun while fine-tuning the equipment.

"Here's the thing, the Military Intelligence Bureau knows about our flashbangs and wants to buy them. Director Li, what do you think?" Officer Wang Xun said.

Is the Military Intelligence Bureau (MIB) trying to buy flashbangs?
Upon hearing this, Li Muzhi was somewhat surprised; the Military Intelligence Bureau had gathered information very quickly.

However, that was the Military Intelligence Bureau, one of the most powerful intelligence agencies during the War of Resistance against Japan.

Without even thinking, Li Muzhi shook his head and refused: "Captain Wang, we just got these flashbangs out, and we have a huge shortage here. How could we possibly sell them to them?"

Although the Military Intelligence Bureau had achieved some success in fighting the Japanese, they also arrested many of our underground comrades during the War of Resistance.

If we sell them flashbangs, and they use them to arrest our comrades, wouldn't that be shooting ourselves in the foot?
As if anticipating Li Muzhi's refusal, Wang Xun said, "Director Li, are you worried that the Military Intelligence Bureau will use the flashbangs to arrest our comrades? Actually, I've already communicated with the headquarters leaders. The Military Intelligence Bureau can buy our flashbangs, but they must explain their intended use to us, and their operations must be carried out by our men. We need to confirm that they are indeed using the flashbangs to arrest Japanese traitors and collaborators, otherwise we won't sell them. What do you think?"

There's another advantage to doing this.

That means we have the opportunity to keep an eye on the Military Intelligence Bureau's actions and thus obtain their whereabouts, which can be considered a form of surveillance.

If one day they want to arrest our comrades, we can prepare in advance.

Upon hearing this, Li Muzhi couldn't help but question, "Is the Military Intelligence Bureau really willing to cooperate?"

During the War of Resistance against Japan, the Military Intelligence Bureau was a violent organization.

To achieve one's goals by any means necessary.

It seems unrealistic for an organization like this to be willing to disclose its action plan and objectives to us.

Wang Xun said, "If they're targeting those traitors and Japanese soldiers who have committed serious crimes, I think it's worth considering. After all, although their reputation isn't good, they're very skilled and professional at arresting Japanese soldiers and traitors."

"Shouldn't you have discussed this with Minister Zhang beforehand?" Li Muzhi still questioned.

Logically speaking, Wang Xun should have just gone directly to Comrade Zhang for this kind of thing; there was no need for him to come to him.

“Minister Zhang isn’t here. He seemed to have left in a hurry because of some urgent matter. That’s why I came to find you,” Officer Wang Xun said hurriedly. “Moreover, the Military Intelligence Bureau is about to arrest two important targets. The mission cannot fail, and they need our flashbangs to help. That’s why I came here.”

"Are you familiar with these two important targets for arrest?"

“Of course I know. These two targets were once on our assassination list, but unfortunately we never had the chance.” Constable Wang Xun nodded immediately.

"In that case, how many flashbangs do they need?" Li Muzhi asked.

“At least two,” said Constable Wang Xun.

"Go tell Lao He to bring me two flashbangs," Li Muzhi immediately instructed a worker to go find Lao He.

"Yes, factory manager." The worker hurried off.

Seeing this, Wang Xunbu laughed and said, "Director Li, so you agree, right?"

"If we can guarantee that their targets are traitors or Japanese soldiers, I have no objection," Li Muzhi replied. "In short, if a flashbang ends up in their hands and is later used to arrest our own comrades..."

Before Li Muzhi could finish speaking, Wang Xunbu immediately interrupted him solemnly: "Don't worry about that, I definitely won't give them a chance. Our team members will throw the flashbangs, and from beginning to end, they won't have a chance to come into contact with them."

"Is their arrest mission today urgent? When will they likely take place?" Li Muzhi asked.

Wang Xunbu said that from beginning to end, the Kuomintang agents would not have any opportunity to come into contact with flashbangs, which was simply unrealistic.

The Military Intelligence Bureau is a notorious violent organization; it's not so easy to deal with.

The safest approach is to impose a technological blockade on them!
"Tonight at midnight," said Constable Wang Xun.

"Hmm, there's still time." Li Muzhi nodded and said to the workers who were modifying the equipment, "Continue to modify the remaining equipment according to my requirements. If you encounter any problems, notify me in time. I need to step away for a moment."

There's no rush to debug the equipment; modifying this flashbang won't take long. To paraphrase a later saying: I don't know how to build a business, but destroying one is a matter of minutes.

The same applies to the military industry.

It's not easy to create something, but it's all too easy to destroy it.

"Yes, factory manager." The workers nodded and continued working.

Two flashbangs were passed to Li Muzhi, who told Wang Xun to wait outside while he went into the control room.

Two hours later, Li Muzhi came out with a flashbang. As he handed it to Wang Xun, he said, "I added a small self-destruct device to this flashbang. The button is here. Pressing it won't activate the self-destruct device, but as soon as you release it, it will activate and the flashbang will self-destruct in about ten seconds."

Li Muzhi explained the operation to Wang Xun in detail, adding, "In this way, even if the Military Intelligence Bureau tries any tricks, they will have no chance to dismantle it."

"Director Li, your method is really thoughtful." Wang Xun quickly figured it out.

When our team members approach with flashbangs, before taking any action, they can press the self-destruct button in advance, but without letting go.

When used, the flashbang will explode in two or three seconds after being thrown. The self-destruct device has a long time to detonate, so it will not affect the effect of the flashbang.

If the Kuomintang agents use tricks, such as secretly attacking our team members in an attempt to seize the flashbangs.

Our team members were ambushed, and the button holding the flashbang was released.

The flashbang self-destructs within ten seconds, so even if it falls into the hands of Kuomintang agents, they will have no chance to disassemble it and obtain technical data.

Remembering something, Wang Xun asked, "With the addition of a self-destruct device, the cost must be even higher, right?"

"What price are you planning to sell it for?" Li Muzhi asked.

"Ten silver dollars for one," said Wang Xun, who considered this price to be extremely high.

But there was nothing we could do. The Military Intelligence Bureau was rolling in money, while we were poor and needed money.

"Let's raise it to thirty silver dollars a piece," Li Muzhi casually suggested, tripling the price.

"Thirty silver dollars?" Wang Xun was taken aback. Director Li's price increase was a bit too outrageous.

With just a few words, you can earn an extra twenty dollars—faster than robbing someone.

Li Muzhi said seriously, "Didn't we also add a self-destruct device? The production cost has increased, so isn't it reasonable to raise the price a little?"

"Director Li, may I ask you something? How much does it cost to produce one flashbang?" Wang Xunbu asked.

"The cost is definitely not small; aluminum and magnesium powder are not easy to obtain!" Li Muzhi said seriously. "If calculated at cost price, the cost of one flashbang is less than one dollar."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xun originally thought that Li Muzhi's so-called cost would be several silver dollars.

Unexpectedly, the cost was less than a single silver dollar.

As a result, you're going to sell it for thirty dollars apiece!
Even Logistics Minister Zhang isn't as corrupt as you.

No wonder some people always say that even if Minister Zhang is not around, Director Li of the arsenal can take over the logistics.

Now that I see it, it truly lives up to its reputation.

Factory Director Li can not only make decisions in place of Minister Zhang, but he can also take care of generating revenue for the finance department.

"Director Li, your price..." Wang Xun was about to say something.

Li Muzhi interrupted: "Didn't I already say that magnesium powder and aluminum powder are hard to come by? That's too much of a limitation. Of course, we can offer other conditions to the Military Intelligence Bureau, such as exchanging equipment or other military raw materials. We're not just after money."

The Military Intelligence Bureau wielded considerable power, and it investigated and confiscated some factories.

These equipment and raw materials are all stored in the Military Intelligence Bureau's warehouse.

It's such a waste to leave these devices gathering dust; we should help them make the most of them.

"So how do you price this equipment and other military raw materials?" Wang Xunbu asked.

"Let's see what equipment and military raw materials they can get first," Li Muzhi said.

“Alright then.” Wang Xun nodded and said, “If we want them to get the equipment and military raw materials, we still need to let them see the battlefield effects of the flashbangs first. I’ll go and contact them first, and if things go well, I’ll come back to you.”

After saying that, Wang Xun was about to leave when Li Muzhi stopped him: "When you come again, if Minister Zhang is here, you can talk to him instead of always coming to me."

"I still think you're much better at negotiating business than Minister Zhang. Of course, Director Li, your time is very valuable. If Minister Zhang were here, I would talk to him first." Wang Xun left Li Muzhi with these words, then left without disturbing him any longer.

Li Muzhi quickly wrote down the modifications to the self-destruct mechanism of the flashbangs and handed them to Lao He: "Lao He, according to my new requirements, make some more flashbangs separately. You don't need that many for now, just a hundred will do."

"Okay, factory manager." Lao He didn't even ask why and just agreed.

(End of this chapter)