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

Chapter 35 Brigade Commander, brilliant!
"Brigade Commander, you're mistaken. I, Li Yunlong, was a handsome young man in the surrounding villages. Matchmakers practically wore down my doorstep..." Li Yunlong retorted.

"Go away, I don't have time to listen to your nonsense."

The brigade commander pushed Li Yunlong aside and said to Li Muzhi with a smile, "Li Muzhi, it's alright. Whenever you want to think about personal matters, just come to me. I'll always keep an opportunity for you."

Li Muzhi realized he had no choice but to act as matchmaker for the brigade commander. Just as he was about to adopt a righteous and serious attitude, Lao He and his men pushed the cannons over.

Li Muzhi then said to the two men, "You two should hurry up and leave with the cannons. Lao He must have already notified Minister Zhang."

Li Muzhi didn't blame Lao He, after all, two hell cannons were a huge deal for Zhang Wanhe.

Both Li Yunlong and the brigade commander were shrewd men. Without further ado, they waved their hands and ordered the cannons to be moved away.

The two didn't linger: "Li Muzhi, we're leaving now. Let's get the sugar as soon as possible so you can supply us with the shells."

"Alright, you two, I won't see you off." Li Muzhi said to the two of them.

"No need, no need to see me off, goodbye." Li Yunlong and the brigade commander disappeared in a flash, along with the artillery and guards.

Having run far away from the arsenal, Li Yunlong looked back and saw no one from the arsenal chasing after him.

Li Yunlong was still somewhat incredulous: "Brigade Commander, did we really get the cannons just like that? Now that Li Muzhi has calmed down, will he make us return them?"

After all, they are two hell cannons.

While Li Muzhi was enjoying looking at the equipment, we took the opportunity to ask for cannons, which was a bit... well, you know.

When the time comes, Li Muzhi will be too embarrassed to go back, but he will tell the headquarters leaders that his thin arms can't possibly be able to twist the heads of the headquarters.

If things go wrong, and we obediently return the cannon, we'll get a severe scolding from headquarters.

The headquarters leaders would scold him for focusing all his energy on his own people instead of on the Japanese.
"Now that we have the cannons, let's go back and get to work." The brigade commander didn't think too much about it and said to Li Yunlong, "There are six shells left in total. I'll give you five. You can do whatever you want."

"Brigade Commander, did I hear that right? You're giving me five shells?" Li Yunlong wondered if he had misheard.

There were six shells left in total. In Li Yunlong's opinion, he would be lucky if the brigade commander gave him two.

Unexpectedly, the brigade commander wanted to give him five shots.

They let me do whatever I want, that's awesome!

"If you're so capable, go ahead and tear the sky apart," the brigade commander said.

"Hehehe." Old Li chuckled excitedly twice, then asked, "Brigadier, I still don't quite understand why you gave me five shells?"

"It's very simple," the brigade commander explained to Li Yunlong. "Next, don't I have to extort sugar from the puppet army? If you take the cannons and cause trouble for the Japanese, they will be even angrier and more eager for clues, which will lead to a significant increase in the reward. Think about what that means for the puppet army, which is eager to make a name for themselves!"

"Brigade Commander, that's brilliant!" Li Yunlong gave the brigade commander a thumbs up. "He truly deserves to be called brigade commander."

Those traitors were already eager to make a name for themselves, and the constant pressure from the Japanese bounty drove them crazy.

To destroy you, you must first drive you mad!

"Alright, stop flattering me. Let me tell you, if you don't do your job well, don't come back to see me," the brigade commander yelled. "Don't worry, brigade commander, making a mess is my specialty..." Li Yunlong didn't finish his sentence.

The brigade commander glared at him: "Huh?"

"I mean, I'm talking about messing things up for the Japanese."

"That's pretty much it."

……

Only two cannons have been produced so far, and both have been given to the 386th Brigade. We definitely need to explain this to headquarters.

Just as Li Muzhi was about to report to headquarters, Logistics Minister Zhang Wanhe rushed back in a flurry.

Upon returning, Zhang Wanhe immediately asked, "Li Muzhi, I heard from Lao He that you also gave this newly produced cannon to the 386th Brigade?"

"The 386th Brigade brought back another batch of equipment, and I am..." Li Muzhi didn't finish his sentence.

Zhang Wanhe still said, "That won't do either. You've been too inconsiderate. You know what's going on with the headquarters leaders. They're waiting for the artillery. And yet, you just handed it over to the 386th Brigade. You've stood up the headquarters leaders."

The headquarters leaders have all given instructions that once the second cannon is completed, it will be transported to headquarters.

“Minister Zhang, didn’t the headquarters leaders say that as long as it’s beneficial to military production, I have the right to act first and report later?” Li Muzhi looked at Zhang Wanhe. “Besides, the headquarters leaders aren’t unreasonable people. I will explain it to him properly.”

"What equipment did Brigade 386 bring back?" The die was cast, and there was no point in Zhang Wanhe saying anything more.

Moreover, since the headquarters commander had indeed given the order, Li Muzhi could act first and report later for the sake of military production.

“Once the power plant at the arsenal is up and running, we can produce conventional artillery shells with this equipment,” Li Muzhi replied.

As for making rocket launchers and rockets, there's no rush to talk about that now.

This kind of weapon was not even a concept in the minds of people at this time.

What? They can produce artillery shells???
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wanhe's eyes widened instantly.

Artillery shells are extremely scarce for our army.

Why are those few infantry gun shells in the logistics warehouse still being hoarded and not used?
This is because we can't manufacture our own shells; every shell we use is one less we have!
Now, as long as the power plant in the arsenal is up and running, we can produce our own artillery shells. This is such a wonderful thing!
When the time comes, the ammunition supply for our mortars, mountain guns, and infantry guns will be available, which will be of immense significance to the troops' combat effectiveness.

"Li Muzhi, you're not kidding, are you? You really can make cannonballs?" Zhang Wanhe was overjoyed!

"If it weren't for the fact that they could make shells, do you think I would have easily given the 386th Brigade two Hellfire cannons?"

"Why can't you offer a discount? Even if the equipment handed over by the 386th Brigade can be used to make artillery shells, you could have just given them a cannon." Although Zhang Wanhe was speechless, he couldn't shake his stingy nature and still thought Li Muzhi was being a bit inconsiderate.

“Minister Zhang, you can’t do it like that.” Li Muzhi shook his head and analyzed, “Think about it, if we give the 386th Brigade one Hellfire cannon, they can even come up with the equipment to make the shells. If we give them two, won’t they give us even more surprises?”

“What you said is true, but if they bring back a thousand catties of white sugar, wouldn’t they need another cannon?” Zhang Wanhe pointed out, “Even division-level units don’t have cannons, but the 386th Brigade alone wants three cannons. This is too unfair, and other units will definitely be upset.”

(End of this chapter)