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

Chapter 292 Without seamless steel pipes, anti-aircraft weapons cannot be made.

Border Region Arsenal

Li Muzhi stretched from his chair and then stood up: "Finally, the flashbang is done."

Five flashbangs were placed on the table.

Everything was done according to Minister Zhang's requirements; it can prevent dismantling and can also self-destruct periodically.

Li Muzhi took a flashbang, walked out, and found a guard: "Go and call your captain of the guard."

"Yes, Director Li." The guard nodded.

Before long, the captain of the guard rushed over and said to Li Muzhi with a smile, "Director Li, you called me over, are you going to sneak the Emperor away again?"

The captain of the guard, with his keen eye, could tell from Li Muzhi's demeanor that he had likely completed another phase of his work and was about to take the Emperor out for a stroll again.

"That Takahashi Konosuke, he hasn't confessed yet, has he?" Li Muzhi didn't answer the captain of the guard directly, but asked instead.

“No way. This bastard is very agitated right now. After you got important information out of him, he's been cursing non-stop,” the guard captain replied.

Li Muzhi handed the flashbang to the captain of the guard and said, "This is a flashbang I just made. Have someone take it to Takahashi Konosuke to test it."

Although the Military Intelligence Bureau was a violent organization, its contributions to the War of Resistance against Japan cannot be denied.

They were so eager to exchange their equipment for making gas masks for flashbangs that their mission must have been extremely important.

Even with the added device, Li Muzhi still had to ensure the flashbang could explode properly.

Otherwise, wouldn't this delay the important mission of the Military Intelligence Bureau?

"Okay, sure." The guard captain nodded, took the flashbang, and asked, "We can't go in to see the flashbang's effects, so how do I write down the data for you?"

"As long as the flashbang explodes normally, you just need to record the time and extent of Takahashi Konosuke's vision and hearing loss," Li Muzhi said.

"Okay, I understand." The captain of the guard nodded and immediately arranged for someone to deliver it to the interrogation area.

Li Muzhi arrived outside the dog kennel. Before he even entered the yard, the Emperor was already barking excitedly.

The Emperor was very clever; he could even tell if it was Li Muzhi just by the sound of his footsteps.

When Li Muzhi arrived at the dog kennel, the Emperor excitedly wagged his tail frantically.

Li Muzhi untied the rope, and the Emperor spun around at Li Muzhi's feet, overjoyed.

Li Muzhi fed the Emperor a few bones, then led the Emperor out for a stroll, accompanied by the captain of the guard and his men.

"Director Li, I just heard some news." The guard captain said to Li Muzhi excitedly, "The battle at the front has been won, and the Kumamoto Division has been severely damaged. The Japanese mopping-up operation has failed, and our arsenal can now produce weapons and ammunition."

"It was severely damaged, not wiped out?" Li Muzhi retorted.

With its logistical supplies cut off and its elite troops joining the fray, the fate of the Kumamoto Division was sealed.

but!

Simply inflicting heavy damage on the Kumamoto Division is not enough.

We must eliminate them so that the Japanese cannot gather enough troops to launch another large-scale mopping-up operation in a short period of time. This will buy time for the border region's arsenal.

Otherwise, once the Kumamoto Division's logistics and supplies were replenished, and Yoshio Shinotsuka added some more troops, the sweep would quickly resume.

"Director Li, who didn't want to annihilate the Kumamoto Division? When your Hellfire missiles were launched, they destroyed the Kumamoto Division's artillery positions. Without suppression, the elite troops seized the opportunity to break out. Our troops also split into three groups to launch a fierce attack on the Japanese. The Japanese, who were running low on ammunition, tried to struggle with their advantage in hand-to-hand combat, but they were suppressed by your blinding powder." The guard captain's tone was regretful. "It seemed that if everyone just put in a little more effort, even if they couldn't completely wipe out the Kumamoto Division, they could at least completely crush them. But then the Japanese planes came. These planes bombed and suppressed us and the elite troops, and they also airdropped ammunition and supplies to the Kumamoto Division in time. The Kumamoto Division's combat effectiveness recovered considerably, and under the cover of the planes, they immediately broke through."

Li Muzhi said regretfully, "There's nothing we can do about it. Without seamless steel pipes, the arsenal can't produce anti-aircraft weapons."

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Japanese used their air superiority to turn the tide of many battles, resulting in too many tragic casualties on our side.

Without air defense weapons, even ordinary people became cannon fodder.

pity.

Without the necessary equipment, Li Muzhi, despite his exceptional skills, would be unable to utilize them.

This seamless steel pipe requires a solid industrial foundation, and the anti-aircraft bullets need to be propelled out with huge chamber pressure; there are no shortcuts.

Of course, this doesn't mean that seamless steel pipes are completely impossible to produce.

During the War of Resistance Against Japan, the Eighth Route Army's military industrial workers once used train tracks to make steel pipes, but the pipes were extremely crude, barely qualifying as the first step.

There are also parts that resemble seamless steel pipes, salvaged from discarded machinery and equipment.

For example, the pipes of old-fashioned steam engines, although these things are not of standard size, can be used barely after being cut and forged, but only barely.

These tubes simply cannot withstand the chamber pressure of anti-aircraft bullets.

“Yes, without seamless steel pipes, we can’t build anti-aircraft weapons.” The captain of the guard nodded. “Not just anti-aircraft weapons, we can’t even build the most basic firearms.”

Don't be fooled by the fact that Li Muzhi has already built the Hell Cannon, rocket launcher, and now Hell Missile; these are all artillery pieces.

To some extent, the destructive power of artillery is certainly incomparable to that of firearms.

but!

Firearms are, after all, basic weapons on the battlefield and are indispensable.

Li Muzhi has a way to bypass the Hell Cannon, rocket launcher, and Hell Missile, or he doesn't need the seamless steel pipe to provide huge chamber pressure.

But guns won't let you off the hook.

Li Muzhi remained optimistic, saying, "I believe it won't be long before the combat troops below can seize the equipment for producing seamless steel pipes for us. Once this anti-aircraft weapon is built, the Japanese air superiority will be curbed, and the regrets on the battlefield will be greatly reduced." Remembering something, the guard captain turned to look at Li Muzhi: "Director Li, do you think the Taiyuan Arsenal has equipment for producing seamless steel pipes?"

Taking advantage of the Japanese rear being undefended in Taiyuan, Li Yunlong and his men might raid the Taiyuan arsenal.

"Of course there is." Li Muzhi nodded directly.

During the War of Resistance against Japan, the Taiyuan Arsenal was able to manufacture guns and cannons, so it must have had the capability to produce seamless steel pipes.

only……

Even if Taiyuan's rear is undefended, it probably won't be so easy for Li Yunlong and his men to seize the Taiyuan Arsenal.

Of course, Commander Li's abilities have always been outstanding, and since he went, Li Muzhi believed that he would not return empty-handed.

"Well, if Commander Li can seize the Taiyuan Arsenal and get the equipment to manufacture seamless steel pipes, then in the future..." The guard captain didn't finish his sentence.

A guard ran up and interrupted: "Reporting to the captain, Regiment Commander Luo of the 35th Regiment has sent a liaison officer back, saying he wants to see Director Li."

"Have you confirmed their identity? What is their purpose in coming?" the guard captain asked seriously. These days, not just anyone can come and see Li Muzhi.

In other words, Li Muzhi's time should not be disturbed casually.

Even a stroll is a way to rest your mind; you can't afford to get distracted.

"Yes, confirmed, no mistake, he's from the 35th Regiment." The guard nodded and continued, "He said that his regimental commander sent him back to tell Director Li that the elite troops have seen the effects of blinding powder and hell missiles on the battlefield, and they want to buy them."

Upon hearing this, the captain of the guard immediately said, "Shouldn't he be the one to go talk to Minister Zhang about this?"

"He said Minister Zhang is not here," the guard replied.

"Director Li, what do you think?" The captain of the guard turned to look at Li Muzhi.

The captain of the guard thought that the blinding powder was cheap and worth selling.

But we don't even have enough Hell Missiles for ourselves, so we're not considering selling them for the time being.

"Let him come over," Li Muzhi said.

The captain of the guard then instructed the guards, "Bring the man over here."

"Yes, Captain." The guard ran off.

Before long, a guard led a young man over.

"This is Director Li," the guard introduced Li Muzhi to the young man.

"Hello, Director Li, my name is Luo Sanmu." The young man quickly saluted Li Muzhi and introduced himself, "I am the liaison officer of the 35th Regiment."

Looking at Director Li in front of him, Luo Sanmu recalled the heroic scene on the battlefield where Hellfire missiles wiped out the Japanese heavy artillery positions, and his eyes were filled with uncontrollable excitement and respect.

The Hell Missile was created by this Factory Director Li. I'm so lucky. Fortunately, Minister Zhang wasn't here, so I was able to meet Factory Director Li in person.

At this moment, countless people in the 35th Regiment are probably envious of them.

"Luo Sanmu, tell me the details of the situation," Li Muzhi said with a smile.

"Yes, Director Li." Luo Sanmu nodded and immediately described in detail, "It was like this, back then on the battlefield..."

After Luo Sanmu finished his detailed description, he looked at Li Muzhi with some nervousness and asked, "Director Li, are you going to sell these Hellfire Missiles and Blinding Powder?"

When Luo Sanmu arrived, the regimental commander had already made arrangements.

If the logistics department wants to sell, make sure they negotiate the incentives beforehand.

If the logistics department doesn't sell it, then the reward will be lost.

“We definitely have to sell,” Li Muzhi nodded and said. “I’ll talk to Minister Zhang about this later, and he’ll coordinate with our inner circle.”

"Director Li, I heard that Regiment Commander Li of the 386th Brigade introduced a client to you, and you rewarded him..." Luo Sanmu asked as soon as he heard Li Muzhi say he wanted to sell.

"How about this, if the deal goes through, I'll give your 35th Regiment three Hellfire Missiles, how about that?" Li Muzhi interrupted the other party, realizing that the other party probably wanted to meet him because they wanted this reward.

"Director Li, how many? Three?" Upon hearing this, Luo Sanmu immediately thought he had misheard.

This is a hell missile; it doesn't need a cannon barrel, you can just ignite it by hand and fire it.

Such a useful tool, the main force and the backbone force must be fighting over it.

For local regiments like the 35th Regiment, getting even one or two items would be considered incredibly lucky.

Although the regimental commander said that he could take three or five Hellfire Missiles with his combat skills of killing more than four hundred enemies, it was just empty talk.

Now, let's introduce a business opportunity to the logistics department. Director Li is giving our 35th Regiment three Hellfire missiles. This is simply too good to be true.

We were worried that Director Li would be difficult to talk to, and we wouldn't be able to explain ourselves to the regimental commander when we got back.

Now, not only is it easier to complete this task, but the regimental commander will also have to give him a big compliment.

“Yes, three.” Li Muzhi nodded.

"Hahaha." Luo Sanmu laughed so hard his mouth stretched to his ears. "Thank you, Director Li, thank you, Director Li. I won't bother you any longer. I'm going back to report the good news to the regimental commander."

After saying that, Luo Sanmu saluted Li Muzhi and ran off happily.

(End of this chapter)