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

Chapter 347 Two Key Equipment Units Missing
According to the records, Zhang Ganren's mother was from Heilongjiang, and his father was a wealthy businessman from Jilin.

Because of his wealthy family background, Zhang Ganren received excellent upbringing in his early years.

He not only studied in Japan, but also entered the Fengtian Industrial and Mining Technical Institute, where he acquired a wealth of skills.

He was also given important responsibilities at the Fengtian Arsenal.

The September 18 Incident began. The Japanese forcibly seized Zhang Ganren's mother, and his father was stabbed to death with a bayonet.

Zhang Ganren was unwilling to serve the Japanese, so he fled Northeast China and came to North China.

The resume that followed was almost identical to what Zhang Ganren had said.

After putting down Zhang Ganren's file, Li Muzhi looked at Zhang Ganren, who was still carefully reading the book, and couldn't hide his joy.

Minister Zhang has really struck gold!

Zhang Ganren is not only good at building airplanes, but also has a deep foundation in physics and chemistry, especially mathematics.

Mathematics is the foundation of science.

This means that Minister Zhang has found a truly capable assistant for Li Muzhi.

Although the students performed well, talent is something that can't be acquired through hard work alone.

For example, some students study from morning till night, even memorizing questions while going to the toilet.

But during exams, he could only score 70 or 80 points, occasionally he would perform exceptionally well and score 90 points.

But some gifted students can cram for the exam two days beforehand, or even not study at all, and still get full marks.

Often, effort is utterly worthless in the face of talent.

"Factory manager, Section Chief Wu is here." At this moment, Xiao Gu's voice rang out from outside the door.

Zhang Ganren continued reading his notebook as if he hadn't heard Xiao Gu's words.

Li Muzhi didn't disturb him. He stood up and went to open the door.

The door opened, and Wu Yaohan, his face beaming with excitement, exclaimed loudly, "Director Li..."

"Shh!" Li Muzhi quickly made a shushing gesture, pointing to Zhang Ganren, who was reading a notebook in the office, to indicate that they should not disturb him.

Wu Yaohan immediately stopped talking and gestured, saying that he was there to move the radar.

Li Muzhi pointed to the boxes inside the room, instructing Wu Yaohan's men to move them carefully and gently.

Wu Yaohan nodded and took charge himself, leading a few people to quickly move all the boxes out without disturbing Zhang Ganren.

Once outside in the courtyard, Wu Yaohan asked Li Muzhi with great anticipation, "Director Li, does your radar also retain the technology of radio wave direction finding?"

“Yes, it’s been kept.” Li Muzhi nodded.

"Great, this is great!" Wu Yaohan said excitedly. "There's a cunning bastard who's been sending out intelligence right under my nose for days. I haven't been able to catch him. As long as this radar can locate the bastard's radio station, I'll be able to take him down."

"Section Chief Wu, the instruction manual is also inside. Please read it carefully," Li Muzhi reminded him.

"It will definitely look great, it absolutely has to look great!" Wu Yaohan nodded emphatically. "This is our only precious machine. If we break it, we'll have no one to blame but ourselves."

Wu Yaohan opened the packaging and found the instruction manual.

"Director Li, I won't bother you any longer. I'll be going now." Wu Yaohan had the packaging repackaged and was looking at the instruction manual as he walked away.

"Section Chief Wu, could you please report this to headquarters as well? This is the first radar we've built, and it's yours," Li Muzhi added.

"Okay, I understand." Wu Yaohan nodded and quickly left.

Li Muzhi walked back to the office door, where Zhang Ganren was still carefully reading the notebook.

Li Muzhi thought for a moment, then decided not to go in, but to go check on the students instead.

The students have modified all the equipment for producing gas masks and are currently trying to produce them.

Although the Japanese are no longer using poison gas, the importance of gas masks remains undeniable.

"Teacher, you're here." Liu Fuxing was making a face mask, but he stopped immediately when he saw Li Muzhi arrive.

"Let me see the mask you're holding." Li Muzhi reached out to Liu Fuxing.

As Liu Fuxing handed the mask to Li Muzhi, he said, "Teacher, this is only a semi-finished product; it's not finished yet."

Li Muzhi took it, tried it on his face, and found it fit his skin well. He praised, "This thing fits the skin very well; it's well made."

Having received praise from Li Muzhi, Liu Fuxing said happily, "Once the finished product is made, there will definitely be no gaps at all, but there is one problem."

"What's the problem?" Li Muzhi asked.

“There’s not much material in this mask; there’s too little rubber and glass lenses,” Liu Fuxing pointed out.

"Minister Zhang will try his best to supply you with gas masks," Li Muzhi said. "Your current task is to expedite the production of gas masks, thoroughly understand the relevant technical data, and lay a solid foundation for our arsenal to produce gas masks later."

"Yes, teacher, I guarantee I will complete the task." Liu Fuxing nodded emphatically, then took out the plan and handed it to Li Muzhi: "Teacher, this plan has been revised according to your wishes. Please take another look."

Liu Fuxing had planned to give it to Li Muzhi after get off work, but since Li Muzhi was here now, he decided to give it to him as well.

Li Muzhi took it and read it from beginning to end. He looked satisfied and said, "Hmm, this problem can be solved. In the future, you and the workers can not only learn and produce, but also gradually learn military skills."

After all, learning and production are the most important.

Military skills cannot be mastered quickly unless soldiers practice them all day long; it takes time.

“Since you think there’s no problem, teacher, then you should quickly submit it to headquarters…” Liu Fuxing didn’t finish his sentence.

The guard captain came over: "Director Li, so you've been here all along."

"Captain of the Guard, what's going on? Is there some kind of emergency?" Li Muzhi asked.

“No,” the guard captain shook his head and said, “the first batch of equipment from the Taiyuan Arsenal has arrived.”

"Really?" Li Muzhi exclaimed upon hearing this, "This is really not easy. If the Japanese hadn't launched their mopping-up operation, this equipment would have been delivered long ago."

The first batch of equipment from the Taiyuan Arsenal should have arrived a few days ago.

Those damned Japanese devils launched a sweep, which delayed things.

Fortunately, although it was delayed for a few days, the items still arrived.

"The items are outside now, go and take a look right away," the guard captain said expectantly.

I heard that the first batch of equipment has arrived, and the arsenal will be able to manufacture seamless steel pipes.

With seamless steel pipes, the production of this hell cannon can definitely continue.

With Director Li's abilities, he can definitely manufacture guns too.

More importantly, air defense weapons can also be put on the agenda.

With anti-aircraft weapons, we won't have to act like cowards when facing Japanese planes anymore.

"Liu Fuxing, keep doing your job well here. If you encounter any problems, figure them out yourself," Li Muzhi said to Liu Fuxing. "If you really can't handle it, then come back to me."

"Teacher, can we participate in the manufacturing of these seamless steel pipes?" Liu Fuxing asked expectantly.

"You should get the gas masks sorted out first," Li Muzhi said.

"Yes, teacher." Liu Fuxing nodded.

Li Muzhi followed the captain of the guard and quickly walked out of the arsenal, arriving at the other side of the arsenal.

Here, more than a hundred pieces of equipment were completely covered by tarpaulins. When the head of the transportation team saw Li Muzhi coming over, he quickly handed him a notebook and said, "Director Li, this is the list of equipment."

"Comrade, you've worked hard." Li Muzhi said, taking the list from the other person while showing his concern.

"It's not hard work. As long as you, Director Li, can make good products with this equipment, then it's all worth it." The transport team leader's face was flushed.

Li Muzhi opened the list and quickly glanced through it.

In fact, Li Muzhi already knew what was on the list.

The three technicians who were sent have returned and have given Li Muzhi the answer.

After looking at the list, Li Muzhi still frowned: Sigh!

"What's wrong, Director Li? Is there something wrong with this list?" Seeing Li Muzhi frown, the transport team leader immediately became nervous and quickly said, "When I took over from the last station, I didn't touch this or the list. Is something missing?"

“This is none of your business. You did a great job with your task,” Li Muzhi said to him. “Let me take a look at the things first.”

"Immediately uncover the tarpaulin and let Director Li inspect it." The transport team leader immediately ordered the tarpaulin to be uncovered.

Li Muzhi took the list and checked it one by one.

Finally, I sighed again: Sigh!
Seeing that Li Muzhi's expression was off, the guard captain cautiously asked, "Director Li, is there something wrong with this equipment?"

"The equipment is fine, but we're missing two key units," Li Muzhi said.

Upon hearing this, the guard captain asked suspiciously, "How crucial are these two key machines?"

Li Muzhi said, "The barrel strength of this anti-aircraft weapon is more demanding than that of ordinary firearms. Without these two crucial pieces of equipment, the quality of the anti-aircraft weapon's barrel will not meet the standards."

Anti-aircraft weapons have a very long range, capable of hitting targets at altitudes of up to 10,000 meters, which means they require even higher chamber pressure.

This places even more stringent requirements on the gun barrel.

Unlike ordinary firearms, which have a range of several hundred meters and do not have high requirements for barrel quality.

Upon hearing this, the guard captain immediately turned to the transport captain: "Comrade, are you sure you checked the equipment carefully when you took it over, and that nothing is missing?"

"Nothing is missing. I checked everything, Director Li. I swear to God, I didn't..." the transport team leader hurriedly swore.

Li Muzhi interrupted: "I've already said that. You completed your task very well. This has nothing to do with you."

"Director Li, should we look again? What if we missed something in the equipment?" the transport team leader asked Li Muzhi.

The remaining equipment from the Taiyuan Arsenal had not yet been transported to the rear, and there was still time to find it. "No need," Li Muzhi waved his hand. "I'll take the stuff. You've worked hard too. Take the troops back and rest."

Li Muzhi sent three people over from here; they were all very meticulous in their work.

Since no equipment was brought back, there are only two possible reasons.

The first reason is that although Commander Yan purchased a large amount of equipment when he established the Taiyuan Arsenal, there was no equipment to manufacture seamless steel pipes to meet the requirements for anti-aircraft weapon barrels.

The second reason is that among the large amount of equipment purchased by Commander Yan, there was equipment that could manufacture seamless steel pipes for air defense weapons.

But such equipment was also very important to the Japanese. After the Japanese captured the Taiyuan Arsenal, they transported it back to their homeland.

"Alright, Director Li." The transport team leader nodded, left the equipment behind, and then led his men away.

"Have someone keep an eye on the equipment. I'll have someone move it into the factory after dark," Li Muzhi instructed the guard captain.

"Yes, Director Li." The guard captain nodded and immediately made arrangements.

The guard captain was still unwilling to give up: "Director Li, so if two key pieces of equipment are missing, the air defense weapon can't be manufactured, right?"

Expectations for air defense weapons are growing day by day, and suddenly hearing that they can't be manufactured anymore is definitely hard to accept psychologically.

“We can’t build anti-aircraft weapons, but we can continue building hell cannons,” Li Muzhi said optimistically. “And guns, we can build those too.”

When looking at a problem, we can't just see the negative side; we also need to look at the positive side.

Bringing these devices back will increase the production capacity of Hellfire missiles and rocket launchers.

The barrel strength requirements for the Hell Cannon are not high, so production of Hell Cannons can continue.

We can even start manufacturing guns.

These are all positive effects.

“That’s true, that’s true.” The captain of the guard nodded. “It’s a good thing that we can make guns and cannons now.”

After giving the guard captain a few more instructions, Li Muzhi returned to his office.

In his office, Zhang Ganren had already begun modifying the radar on his own.

Li Muzhi was very surprised. Had Zhang Ganren read and digested all of what he had written in such a short time?

Li Muzhi did not disturb Zhang Ganren, but stood aside and watched.

Zhang Ganren's assembly movements were methodical, and he even worked faster and more accurately than Li Muzhi.

Li Muzhi wanted to say a few words, but he didn't speak.

Zhang Ganren is too talented. Since he has already mastered it, let him do whatever he wants.

Li Muzhi sat back down in his chair, opened a drawer, and took out a rifle blueprint.

These are the blueprints for the "Big Eight" rifle. After the three technicians returned and told Li Muzhi what equipment was involved, Li Muzhi took the time to draw the blueprints for the Big Eight rifle in advance.

Now that he had the equipment, Li Muzhi could begin making detailed modifications.

The eight-round rifle has a capacity of eight rounds, unlike bolt-action rifles which require ejecting and reloading after each round. The eight-round rifle can be fired continuously by pulling the trigger, providing strong sustained firepower.

It was a highly reliable, accurate, and easy-to-disassemble and clean rifle used by the US military during World War II.

It performed exceptionally well in the Pacific islands, Southeast Asian jungles, African deserts, and European battlefields, and is widely recognized as the best rifle of World War II.

Of course, while the Big Eight was good, the equipment brought back from the Taiyuan Arsenal was still far from meeting the specifications of the US military's industrial equipment.

With such a large difference in equipment, it's impossible to reproduce the original eight-shot rifle.

During the Korean War, many Chinese People's Volunteer Army soldiers still preferred to use the Type 38 rifle because it was lighter than the Type 88 rifle.

Therefore, Li Muzhi also had to reduce the weight as much as possible.

Another drawback of the 8-round magazine is that improper loading can easily lead to finger injuries.

Li Muzhi had to solve these problems.

Some might argue that they shouldn't just make automatic rifles, which would provide more continuous and fierce firepower.

Any of the advanced automatic rifles from later generations would be far superior to the Big Eight.

Here, we must consider two issues.

The first is ammunition.

Automatic rifles are powerful, but they consume just as many bullets as machine guns, and the Eighth Route Army's logistics arsenal couldn't supply enough ammunition.

The second issue is equipment problems.

The advanced automatic rifles of later generations had extremely high equipment requirements.

Take the AK47 for example. It was simple, easy to use, and durable, yet it represented the highest level of industrial technology in the Soviet Union at the time.

Given our current logistics and arsenal conditions, even a tiny hair from the Soviet Union's industry is far superior to ours. What kind of AKs could we possibly manufacture?

Therefore, we still need to develop guns that are best suited to the current conditions of our army.

We must produce the best and most reliable gun that the arsenal can currently manufacture, given its current capabilities.

Of course, Li Muzhi would still make guns with fierce firepower and high bullet consumption.

For example, a submachine gun.

However, the main consideration now is the overall situation; our army needs the most basic rifles.

As for submachine guns, they will be manufactured and used by a small number of elite units, such as the guard captain's troops or the security forces protecting the headquarters leaders.

Time passed quietly. Li Muzhi worked on the blueprints, while Zhang Ganren assembled the radar. Neither of them interfered with the other.

Then Xiao Gu's voice came from outside again: "Factory Manager, it's time for you to eat."

Li Muzhi put down his pen and said to Xiao Gu, "Xiao Gu, bring over two meals."

"Yes, Factory Manager," Xiao Gu replied, his footsteps heading towards the canteen.

Li Muzhi flexed his wrists, then stood up, stretched his torso, and walked over to Zhang Ganren.

Zhang Ganren meticulously assembled the radar parts without making a single mistake, assembling them quickly and steadily.

"Comrade Zhang Ganren, stop and rest for a bit. It's time to eat," Li Muzhi said gently.

"Factory manager, the food hasn't been delivered yet anyway, I'll work on it a little longer." Zhang Ganren raised his head slightly, then lowered it again to continue assembling.

"The food has been delivered. You must stop and eat." Li Muzhi said in a commanding tone.

"Yes, Factory Director." This time, Zhang Ganren didn't even raise his head.

Li Muzhi did not mind Zhang Ganren's slight rudeness.

Xiao Gu came in, carrying two meals.

Zhang Ganren cooperated readily, stopping and quickly walking to the table.

He picked up his chopsticks and began to wolf down his food quickly.

It looked as if someone was trying to steal his food.

"Eat slowly, eating too fast is bad for your health," Li Muzhi said.

"Factory Director, your radar is really too attractive. I have to hurry up and get it done for you." Zhang Ganren's mouth was full of food, and his words were a little slurred.

"Have you really mastered everything in that notebook?" Li Muzhi asked again.

After all, Zhang Ganren has yet to ask any questions about the relevant information in the book.

"What's so difficult about that? You've written the answers down clearly. If I still can't understand them, wouldn't I be an idiot?" Zhang Ganren said casually.

"Hehe." Li Muzhi chuckled.

It was written clearly in that book, but people without a foundation in the subject probably wouldn't understand it.

Even those with a foundation but no natural talent need time.

How many people can master something in such a short time like you, Zhang Ganren?
"You have experience in gun manufacturing on your resume. Would you be interested in helping me build guns?" Li Muzhi asked with a smile.

Once these two radars are assembled, Zhang Ganren will definitely have to do something else.

His resume was outstanding, and Li Muzhi felt that he was capable of undertaking the task of manufacturing guns.

"Help you make guns?" Zhang Ganren was overjoyed upon hearing this. "Factory manager, are you kidding me? Can I help you make guns?"

Although the arsenal in this area can now manufacture cannons, it cannot yet manufacture guns.

The factory manager's entrustment of this task to me clearly demonstrates a great deal of trust.

“Didn’t you clamor to become the deputy factory director and take charge of one or more projects on your own?” Li Muzhi pointed. “As long as you can help me manufacture the guns, I’m sure no one will question you anymore.”

“Sure, no problem.” Zhang Ganren was eager to try, rubbing his hands together as he looked at Li Muzhi: “Whether it’s the Fengtian Arsenal or the Taiyuan Arsenal, I know the structure of their best rifles. Do you want to build rifles for the Jin-Sui Army or rifles for the Northeast Army…”

Li Muzhi shook his head, interrupting Zhang Ganren: "No, I don't need you to build their guns, but rather you to build new guns according to my blueprints."

The Big Eight is widely recognized as the best rifle of World War II, having been proven in actual combat.

Whether it's the guns of the Jin-Sui Army or the guns of the Northeast Army, there's no need to consider them.

"Director Li, where are the blueprints for your new gun? Let me take a look." Upon hearing Li Muzhi's words, Zhang Ganren's expression became even more respectful.

The factory manager seemed to have designed a new gun, and Zhang Ganren wanted to see what it was like.

Will it be as outstanding and dazzling as the Hellfire Missile?

(End of this chapter)