Bright Sword: I built Italian cannons for Li Yunlong

The little girl's eyes were filled with undisguised admiration and anticipation.

Zhou Zhen's heart felt as if it had been gently touched by the softest feather.

He squatted down, reached out, and patted the little girl's head.

Although the little girl was a bit timid, she did not run away.

Zhou Zhen solemnly accepted the bowl of mulberries, picked up one, and put it in his mouth.

The mulberries were indeed sweet and juicy, with a unique fragrance from the mountains and fields.

Although it cannot compare to the improved and cultivated fruits of later generations in size and sugar content, its natural flavor and the sentiment it embodies surpass countless rare fruits.

"It's so sweet, it's delicious, thank you Yaya."

Zhou Zhen sincerely praised him, and then asked with concern.

"Ya Ya, this fruit is so good, have you eaten any yourself?"

Ya Ya nodded vigorously and answered crisply, "I secretly tasted several while washing them. These are for the factory manager, so he should eat more."

After saying that, she smiled happily as if she had accomplished some important task, then turned around and skipped away.

Zhou Zhen held the bowl of wild fruit, still cool from the mountain spring water, and watched the little girl's cheerful figure disappear into the distance, somewhat lost in thought.

In a place where resources were extremely scarce and even coarse grains had to be carefully rationed, this bowl of mulberries was the best gift the child could offer.

White sugar is a strictly controlled strategic resource, and ordinary people don't see any sweetness for several years. This natural sweetness is an irresistible temptation for any child.

But Ya Ya was able to resist her cravings and was determined to give this "best" to her "great hero".

This gift, though simple, carries immense weight.

The purplish-black fruit in the bowl now gleamed enticingly in the sunlight.

The trust and expectation projected from the innocent eyes of a child brought him more joy and honor than any award.

He gently picked up a mulberry and put it in his mouth again.

All the previous efforts cannot compare to this insignificant reward.

These are his lovely fellow villagers!

They see everything you do, and they will give you the best they can in return whenever they have the chance.

How could he not be willing to dedicate his life to protecting the safety of such a simple and lovely group of people?

There was a saying that was popular in my past life: "There is no such thing as a peaceful life; it's just that someone is carrying the burden for you."

At this moment, however, he wants to say: "The reason why some people are willing to bear heavy burdens is simply so that you can live in peace and tranquility."

A few days later, he solemnly handed over the "Simple Activated Carbon Preparation and Anti-Gas Equipment Manufacturing Manual," which he had systematically compiled, along with several samples, to the head of the transport team who came to the arsenal to receive the materials, and asked him to forward it to headquarters.

This material, which embodies the recent efforts and wisdom of the Huangyadong Arsenal, will soon be distributed to other arsenals through headquarters channels.

With the first batch of materials coordinated and procured by headquarters arriving at Huangyadong, the mass production trial of the simple gas mask was immediately launched.

Although Zhou Zhen was "ordered" to take a break, as the chief technical officer, he still needed to provide clear guidance.

He gathered the key personnel in charge of leather processing and assembly, and brought over several captured Japanese gas masks and samples they had previously modified themselves.

"Comrades, our goal is not to replicate it exactly; that's impossible and unnecessary."

All we need is for it to fit snugly against the face and prevent air leakage.

He then introduced the various parts of the gas mask, and when he introduced the filter canister, he repeatedly gave instructions.

"The core of the gas mask is this filter canister. First of all, we must ensure that after filling it with our self-made activated carbon, the canister and the activated carbon are completely sealed."

Secondly, the activated charcoal must be soaked in the wood ash alkaline water for a sufficient amount of time; this is crucial and cannot be overlooked.

Use mica sheets for the eye window, and make the fixing frame a little larger to improve the field of vision…

After he finished speaking, everyone gathered around the sample and expressed their opinions, enthusiastically discussing various "home remedies".

Someone suggested carefully soldering the rubber edges with a heated soldering iron.

Some people believe that using boiled fish glue is a more reliable way to bond fish...

Zhou Zhen was greatly pleased to see everyone quickly get into the swing of things and showcasing their talents.

This task has a relatively low technical threshold; the key is patience and meticulousness.

After finishing his work here, he returned to a "laid-off" state of rest and recuperation.

Meanwhile, at this time, the Japanese headquarters was located in Taiyuan.

"Baka! Useless! You're all idiots!"

With a furious curse, Major General Miyano shoved all the documents and teacups off his desk.

His face was ashen, and he pointed at the trembling Captain Yamazaki beside him, shouting angrily.

The spittle he produced while speaking almost landed on the other person's face.

"Are the weapons you're holding fire pokers?"

So many fully equipped elite squads went to harass villages in the Eighth Route Army's territory, but not only did they fail to complete their mission, they also suffered heavy losses.

You have utterly disgraced the Empire, Yamazaki. Even if you commit seppuku to atone to the Emperor, it will not be enough to atone for your sins.

Yamazaki's face was deathly pale, and his forehead was covered in cold sweat. Although he was full of grievances, he dared not say a word in his defense.

At that moment, the door was pushed open, and Lieutenant General Yoshio Shinotsuka, the commander, walked in slowly.

He had a thin face and a seemingly calm expression, but his narrow eyes flashed with a sharp and ruthless edge like a hawk.

He glanced at the trembling Yamazaki, waved his hand, and signaled him to step back.

Yamazaki felt as if he had been granted a pardon. He bowed and fled as if his life depended on it.

"Miyano-kun, what's making you so angry?" Yoshio Shinotsuka asked as he approached Major General Miyano.

Miyano took a few deep breaths, barely suppressing her anger: "Shinotsuka-kun, you saw it too, Yamazaki is such an idiot, he's utterly incompetent."

I instructed him to sweep away the villages surrounding the Eighth Route Army's base area, and then gradually erode the Eighth Route Army's control and influence.

As a result, he not only made no progress, but also caused heavy losses to the Empire's soldiers.

Our army's progress here is slow because there are too many corrupt elements within the military.

"That's not surprising, Miyano-kun. Don't you think the Eighth Route Army's activities have been noticeably more active lately?"

He turned around, his gaze fixed on the military map of northwestern Shanxi in front of him.

That area marked in red was so glaringly obvious.

"In addition to the incredibly powerful incendiary weapons we already know of, their bullet performance has also been greatly improved."

Every report from the front lines mentioned that the Eighth Route Army was reducing the amount of black powder bullets they were using.

Their new bullets are not much worse than our current bullets in terms of power, accuracy, and reliability.

The frequent jamming and misfiring that used to occur has been greatly reduced.

Yamazaki's ordeal may not have been solely due to command errors.

Miyano frowned, an unbelievable conclusion forming in his mind.

"You mean... the Eighth Route Army has obtained a stable and higher-quality source of ammunition?"