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

Chapter 48, one-fifth
Li Muzhi has completed the statistics.

There are over 8000 liters of diesel, over 3000 liters of gasoline, over 700 liters of engine oil, and over 1000 liters of lubricating oil...

"Commander Li, the supplies you provided are very important. Tell me, what do you want?" Li Muzhi closed his notebook, knowing that this customer never left empty-handed.

“Brother, what are you saying? I’m just giving you some gifts, how can I ask you for something? That would be a business deal!” Li Yunlong said seriously.

"Hehe." Li Muzhi chuckled and said, "It's only polite to reciprocate. How about this, when the arsenal finishes making the shells, I'll give you twenty."

"Give me twenty cannonballs from the Hellfire Cannon, brother, you're not kidding, are you?" Li Yunlong was taken aback.

He said he didn't want anything, but he was actually playing the emotional card.

What's the most valuable thing in the world? It's feelings.

Twenty cannonballs from Hellfire sounds like a bit few.

At least give me a hell cannon.

Remembering something, Li Yunlong looked at Li Muzhi and asked, "There's a question I shouldn't have asked you, but I couldn't help it. You don't have to answer it."

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

"How many artillery shells can be produced if we bring back a thousand catties of white sugar?" Li Yunlong asked.

"One hundred shots," Li Muzhi said succinctly.

According to the data fed back from the shells, although the shells are extremely powerful, the amount of explosive is still a bit too much, resulting in some wasted power. Li Muzhi will reduce the amount of explosive.

Because white sugar is difficult to obtain, the proportion of white sugar added will be reduced to a certain extent.

With limited resources, make as many shells as possible.

According to the estimate of the new shells, 1,000 catties of white sugar can make about 300 shells.

Of course, he couldn't reveal this information to Li Yunlong.

Otherwise, this person who never leaves empty-handed wouldn't be so easily dismissed.

"That's so little?" Li Yunlong was stunned. "A thousand catties of sugar can only produce a hundred shells. You're giving me twenty? Did I hear that right?"

The Hell Cannon may be powerful, but without shells, it's just a piece of scrap metal.

Those few infantry gun shells in the logistics warehouse are treasured to the extreme.

This hell cannon only has a total of one hundred shells, making it even more precious.

Getting more shells is not that easy.

And we can get one-fifth? Really?!
"Commander Li, you can also forgo these twenty shells and take the cannon instead..." Li Muzhi feigned reluctance.

"No, no, no, I don't want the Hell Cannon anymore, I just want the shells, twenty rounds, you said it, not one less!" Li Yunlong hurriedly interrupted excitedly.

A total of one hundred shells were produced. Given Old Zhang's stingy and miserly nature, he would definitely treat himself like a beggar.

not to mention!
We are just a regimental-level unit.

Based on our merits, the reward shells would pass through the hands of the division commander, then the brigade commander, and finally end up in my hands, Old Li. If we get even three shells, we'll be lucky.

Li Muzhi giving us twenty shells is like a windfall.

"Commander Li, in my hands, those with ability deserve to eat meat. Since you, Commander Li, are so capable, then we certainly can't treat you unfairly." Li Muzhi delivered a flattering message to Li Yunlong: "Twenty shells, not one less for you."

"Hahahaha." Li Yunlong was so happy that he wanted to climb onto the roof, his mouth grinning from ear to ear. "Brother, you're much more decisive than Lao Zhang when it comes to doing things."

Li Muzhi continued to offer emotional support to Li Yunlong, adding, "If you ever become rich again, you can bring anything the arsenal can use to exchange for artillery shells."

"Hahaha." Li Yunlong was overjoyed. "Alright, it's settled then."

Once the items were seized, they were taken directly to Li Muzhi's side, which was equivalent to directly contacting the manufacturer.

If it were handed over to Zhang Wanhe, the rewards would likely be reduced after passing through the middleman's hands.

"My brother here is really kind-hearted." Li Muzhi instructed Lao He. "Lao He, move the things into the warehouse."

"Yes, Factory Manager." Old He and his men happily began moving the goods, their hearts filled with admiration for Li Muzhi.

Li Yunlong brought so much oil over, and Lao He was wondering how to handle it. This oil was just as precious as sugar, and Li Yunlong wasn't easily satisfied.

The factory director is really something; he took down Li Yunlong with just twenty shells.

Ding Wei, standing to the side, raised a question: "Director Li, can you really make the decision about so many shells?"

Of the one hundred shells produced, Li Muzhi was allowed to directly allocate twenty to Li Yunlong. This was simply too much…

The use of each of the few infantry gun shells in the headquarters warehouse required the approval of the headquarters leaders.

These are cannonballs from the Hellfire Cannon, whose destructive power far surpasses that of infantry artillery.

In this context, shouldn't every shell be approved by the headquarters commander?
Is it really possible for Li Muzhi to bypass headquarters and specially approve twenty artillery shells for the combat troops below?

"Commander Ding, you can rest assured. I said I could give Commander Li twenty shells, and I will give them to him. No problem." Li Muzhi nodded.

If only one hundred shells can be made, giving twenty to Li Yunlong is definitely not enough; we must first consult with the headquarters leaders.

Having produced 300 shells, and considering Li Yunlong's acquisition of this batch of fuel, they'll give him 20 or 30 more. They'll report this to the headquarters leaders later, and the leaders won't say anything.

"Old Ding, you've asked a question wrong!" Li Yunlong explained to Ding Wei in a serious tone, "I've already said that as long as it's for the sake of the arsenal's production, Li Muzhi has the right to act first and report later, so there's no problem. As long as we can get more treasures, let alone twenty shells, even thirty are no problem, right, Brother Li?"

When Li Yunlong spoke last, he turned to look at Li Muzhi.

“That’s right, Commander Li. Once the shells are manufactured, I’ll give you a job. If you can do it well, I can give you thirty shells.” Li Muzhi nodded again.

The power problem at the arsenal needs to be solved by Li Yunlong.

This is a tough job, the kind that's earth-shattering!

A good horse needs to be fed enough hay before it can work.

Upon hearing that there would be thirty shells, Ding Wei was dumbfounded, finding it unbelievable.

Isn't it a bit too much power that the headquarters leaders have given Li Muzhi?

There are a total of one hundred shells. If you give out twenty first, and then thirty more, then you'll only have half the shells left.

Does the head of headquarters really have no objections?

In other words, even if the battle required that many shells, the headquarters commander might not be so willing to use them.

Li Yunlong's eyes widened as well: "Brother Li, you're not joking with me, are you?"

Now, wouldn't we be taking half of the shells produced by the arsenal?

Even if Li Muzhi agrees, Old Zhang will definitely cause a scene and take it all the way to headquarters.

“I’m not joking.” Li Muzhi shook his head, his tone firm.

"So what kind of job is this?" Li Yunlong asked hurriedly, rubbing his hands together, eager to get started immediately.

Ding Wei also cast a suspicious glance at Li Muzhi. What kind of job could be worth thirty cannonballs from the Hell Cannon?!

"I can't tell you yet, it's too early," Li Muzhi said, keeping everyone in suspense. "The sugar hasn't arrived yet, and the shells haven't been made."

"No problem, no problem. We'll go back and urge the brigade commander, and we'll definitely get the sugar for you soon," Li Yunlong readily agreed.

"Okay, I'll be waiting for your good news." Li Muzhi looked at the horizon, where the first light of dawn was breaking, a new day had begun, and said to Ding Wei and Kong Jie, "Have breakfast here before you go back."

"Sure, of course." Ding Wei and Li Yunlong exchanged a glance, indicating that they had no objections.

The food at the arsenal is pretty good these days; it's a good opportunity to see what breakfast is like.

(End of this chapter)