I am an industrial worker during the War of Resistance

Chapter 6: We can reload our bullets now.

The successful trial production of TNT explosives signifies a significant improvement in the firepower of the armed forces.

Although the production of saltpeter still limits the production of explosives, the troops have now begun to advance towards Qingjian County and Anse County because there are saltpeter mines there.

The military base is currently stationed here.

Regardless of whether they were soldiers or civilians, all their excrement and urine were collected and stored, and used to cultivate saltpeter according to the saltpeter bed method provided by Chen Changzai.

Moreover, the excrement and humus produced after nitrate cultivation in the nitrate bed become excellent fertilizer.

Its effects on crop growth and soil improvement are very obvious.

Although there are many saltpeter beds for growing saltpeter, the surrounding area does indeed have a rather unpleasant smell.

But whether it's the old farmers who cultivate the land or the soldiers in the army, they all find this smell sweet and delicious.

The third day after the successful trial production of TNT explosives.

The "Wujiabao Arsenal" was officially established.

Chen Changzai was specially approved by the headquarters to serve as the first director of the arsenal.

For Chen Changzai, who later rose from a technician to become the vice president of production at a large company with tens of thousands of employees under his command.

When he was handed over a military factory with a few hundred employees, he felt no pressure at all.

Therefore, Chen Changzai did not decline the appointment from the headquarters.

The headquarters also specially transferred a cadre to serve as the factory's political commissar to assist Chen Changzai in his work.

The political commissar, who was in his thirties, wore glasses, and had only one right arm, was named He Fei.

He's a veteran.

However, when he arrived at the arsenal, he said to Chen Changzai, who was more than ten years younger than him, "Director Chen, I came here to fully assist you in your work."

"As for the military industry, you just focus on the front lines. Leave everything else to me; I'll guarantee you ample supplies."

Chen Changzai did not put on airs in response to Political Commissar He Fei's frankness.

He humbly replied, "Political Commissar He, I am still young, and I certainly haven't considered many things thoroughly."

If I do anything wrong, the political commissar should just criticize me; I will absolutely not throw a tantrum.

Political Commissar He Fei was very pleased with Chen Changzai's attitude.

Before he arrived, he was worried that he wouldn't get along well with the young factory manager.

After all, although he was only eighteen years old, he had managed to produce TNT explosives for the military, making him a true hero.

The headquarters specially approved his appointment as factory director; it's no surprise he was young and ambitious.

Before he arrived, his superiors told him to "spend more time with this young hero."

As long as it's not a matter of principle, we should be more accommodating to younger people.

However, judging from Chen Changzai's current attitude, this young man is also easy to get along with.

Political Commissar He Fei felt even more confident about carrying out future work.

When the arsenal was officially established.

Chen Changzai went to the grave of his father, Laozi, to pay his respects.

Not far from the dilapidated cave where Chen Changzai first came into this world, there was a place that could be considered a feng shui treasure.

A mound of earth sits quietly here.

Chen Changzai respectfully kowtowed three times to the earthen grave and lit three incense sticks.

This can be considered a way of settling the old man's debt of gratitude to Chen Changzai for raising him throughout his life.

These three heads also represent Chen Changzai's complete farewell to his previous life.

In his previous life, Chen Changzai's wife passed away early, and his children had all grown up and moved out on their own.

He had nothing left to worry about.

After kowtowing these three times, Chen Changzai's new life truly began.

The reason he came now is that Chen Chang wanted to achieve something before coming here.

This way, one can give an account of both past and present lives.

This time, Regiment Commander Chen, Political Commissar Liu, and Political Commissar He Fei also accompanied Chen Chang. After paying their respects at the grave, they also bowed three times.

The headquarters is confident in Chen Changzai's background check.

Although Chen Changzai said that five out of his six family members died, which was his own claim, his father did indeed starve to death beside him.

If Commander Chen hadn't accidentally discovered him while surveying the terrain, he would have been dead long ago.

There's not much to investigate given this background.

Moreover, Chen Changzai actually managed to produce TNT explosives for the troops. How could someone like that be sent by the enemy?

That's really hilarious.

That's why the headquarters made a special approval to appoint Chen Changzai as the director of the "Wujiabao Arsenal".

After the arsenal was established, the entire arsenal was not brought together.

Instead, under Chen Changzai's plan, they were dispersed to several hidden mountain gullies.

Moreover, Chen Changzai left a backup of each step in the manufacturing of raw materials and the synthesis of explosives, and distributed them separately.

Chen Changzai explained his reasons to Political Commissar He Fei and Regiment Commander Chen and Political Commissar Liu, who were now in charge of the security of the arsenal.

The main reason is that "enemy planes could appear in the sky at any time."

The ground could be attacked by the enemy at any time. Therefore, it's better to prepare than to put all your eggs in one basket.

The three veterans, including Regiment Commander Chen, all agreed with Chen Changzai's statement and gave their full support.

Just as the "Wujiabao Arsenal" was gradually getting on the right track.

The small detachment sent out to search for cinnabar and mercury has finally returned.

A full month had passed between the time they received orders to search for cinnabar and mercury and the time they returned to their ranks with their spoils.

Chen Changzai has been here for over a month.

When mercury is added to concentrated nitric acid in a certain proportion to react, a mercuric nitrate solution is obtained.

Then, pour the mercuric nitrate solution into ethanol, which is alcohol, to carry out a secondary reaction.

As the solution gradually evaporates, the powder that settles at the bottom of the container is mercuric fulminate.

Mercuric fulminate is the primary material used in the manufacture of detonators and bullet primers.

Under current conditions, this is also the simplest and easiest-to-obtain ignition material.

The process sounds simple, but industrial production is actually a very dangerous and complex process.

The process flow here is something Chen Changzai must clearly understand.

When Commander Chen and his men saw Chen Chang pour a small amount of gray powder onto the stone.

Then he took out a small iron hammer and gently tapped it.

With a crisp "pop," the tiny amount of powder exploded and burned completely.

"Goodness, it worked! It really worked!"

"With this, we can reload our bullets." Commander Chen laughed loudly as he saw the small, almost invisible plume of smoke drifting in the breeze.

Political Commissar He Fei and Political Commissar Liu were also laughing heartily, patting each other on the shoulder.

It goes without saying how important bullets are to the military. Without enough bullets, winning a battle would require sacrifices many times greater than necessary.

Now that the military factory has developed a primer, the bullet problem is largely solved.

At this moment, Chen Changzai also said with a smile, "Yes, with the primer, we can at least reload the bullets now."

Nitrocellulose, used as a propellant, was no longer a major problem once we had nitric acid and sulfuric acid.

As for the materials for the warheads, we don't have that much copper right now, but we can still smelt iron.

We can collect copper coins and copper bills from the public, melt and purify them, and then press them into thin copper plates.

This gives us the primer shell.

The remaining copper scraps and slag can be mixed with sulfuric acid to produce copper sulfate.

Copper can be plated onto iron bullet heads and steel bullet casings using chemical copper plating.

This will extend the service life of the gun barrel as much as possible.

As for the bullet loading machine, that's the easiest problem to solve.

We can make some manual ones; they're very simple.

The regimental commander and two political commissars were all stunned when they heard Chen Changzai finish speaking.

This young man has already taken all of these things into account.

That's incredible.

At this moment, Political Commissar He Fei suddenly said, "Director Chen, you just mentioned that we can make iron bullets."

There is something I'd like to ask.

Do you have any way to increase the purity of iron ore?

The iron ore we've found so far has very low grade.

It is very difficult to forge good steel.

If Director Chen can use chemical methods to improve the grade of the ore, then we will be able to produce high-quality steel.

With steel, we can make our own guns.

After hearing Political Commissar He's words, Chen Changzai did not speak, but simply lowered his head and pondered for a moment.

Seeing that Chen Changzai seemed to be thinking about something, Political Commissar He and Regiment Commander Chen fell silent and just watched him quietly.

After thinking for a while, Chen Changzai shook his head and said, "In the final beneficiation stage of iron ore, concentrate powder can be selected through flotation."

However, this method requires a great many chemical reagents and equipment.

The process is also very complex.

It would be extremely difficult to do so under our current conditions.

As soon as Chen Changzai finished speaking, the three people who had been looking at him with hope all sighed.

Then they all lowered their heads and shook their heads.

“However,” Chen Changzai continued at this point.

When listening to someone speak, what I fear most is hearing "but," and what I want to hear most is "however."

Chen Chang's use of the word "however" immediately perked up the three of them.

"But what is it, Xiao Chen? Tell me quickly." Commander Chen was an impatient man and immediately pressed for an answer.

Chen Changzai said, "Have you ever tried lifting iron bars by the river?"

(End of this chapter)