The Empire will continue to win

Gun factory.

Red flags fluttering.

A bright red banner reading "Serve the country with utmost loyalty, all colleagues work hard for 180 days" hangs at the entrance of each workshop.

Following the announcement of the establishment of a new General Affairs Department with 1500 personnel, Supervisor Shen once again ordered an immediate halt to all production except for bullets, and to concentrate efforts on producing new rifles.

Inside the research and development workshop.

The workshop supervisors, senior engineers, and some hardworking and honest workers gathered in three or four circles to listen to the on-site explanation of the structure of the lever rifle.

It is actually the Winchester Model 1886 lever rifle in history. It cannot be said to be completely similar, but it is exactly the same, because the designer is the same person - Browning.

The gun is 90 centimeters long, with simple lines and a smooth shape, featuring a beechwood stock and a brass receiver.

At first glance, it looks like a double-barreled gun. The slightly narrower part at the bottom is the magazine, which can hold 10 rounds of 10mm round-nosed bullets.

The magazine contains a spring, and 10 bullets are arranged in sequence.

When firing, pulling the trigger guard causes the bolt to recoil and eject the empty cartridge case, pushing the second bullet in the magazine backward to the feed position.

When the trigger guard returns to its original position, the follower plate lifts up, raising the second bullet upwards so that it is propelled into the chamber by the forward-moving bolt.

Browning's stuttering was typical of a technician, not good with words, but devoted to studying technology.

.........

The layman looks at the excitement and the insider looks at the doorway.

Even if these people were reluctant to admit it, they couldn't help but admire Browning's talent!

"The design is indeed ingenious; Browning, that foreigner, is quite skilled."

"It is exquisite, but the parts are complex, and the manufacturing time is twice as long as that of the previous Type 30 rifle."

"Yes, these parts must be exactly the same."

"Boiling is the key!"

"It's a pity that Xiuquan resigned. Xiuquan was a master at operating the boring machine. His eyes were like a ruler, and the parts he shaved were perfect."

Shen Moqing's heart skipped a beat.

Hong Xiuquan, a senior worker in our factory, has been with us for two and a half years, has worked in three different workshops, is very popular, has excellent skills, and is hardworking and conscientious.

Xiuquan, what exactly do you want to do?

Then he thought of Munakata Kotaro, whom he had injured and who had fled that day.

There's also the Sakura Agency.

There were also stolen weapons.

Shen Moqing wanted to shout to the heavens, "How many demons and monsters are lurking beneath the seemingly calm surface of the capital city?"

In addition, he discovered a very interesting phenomenon: compared to younger employees, workers over the age of 35 seemed to understand technology better.

The project initiation technical seminar lasted a full half day.

Because they talked so much, everyone drank half a pot of tea. Afterwards, they each received their tasks and returned to the workshop to begin trial production of the first batch of sample rifles.

Thanks to the initial industrialization of the United Empire, Yanshan Heavy Industry Group has excellent hardware conditions. For example, its gun factory has all kinds of steam-powered and hand-operated machine tools.

Drilling, cutting, shaving, boring, and polishing are all mechanized.

.........

After the meeting, Shen Moqing, along with Gu Hongming and Shen Lian, inspected the workshop. As soon as they entered, they were greeted by ear-piercing noise and the unpleasant smell of engine oil.

Manufacturing has always been like this—bitter and exhausting.

However, manufacturing is the foundation of the national economy. No matter how the building is constructed, we cannot abandon the foundation.

A philosopher once said:

Losing finance means losing a lot.

Lose manufacturing, lose everything.

The manufacturing industry is like the Confucian and Mencian ideas; it is always disliked as old-fashioned, outdated, stale, smelly, and meaningless, and people always want to get rid of it.

But after losing it, people want to find it again.

.........

"Old Zhang, how's it going?"

"Reporting to the supervisor, there are too many parts for the new rifle, which is difficult, but our workshop can overcome it," Zhang Erhe, with graying temples and wearing overalls, said loudly. He is a very responsible old worker who has worked in the factory for more than 20 years.

"Take me to see it."

A steam-powered milling machine is running, sparks flying, metal shavings flying everywhere, and deafening noise.

Shen Moqing observed for a while, then pulled Zhang Erhe aside with a hint of doubt: "I'm asking you, why are all the operators veterans, while the young people are just standing around doing odd jobs?"

"Supervision is impossible. The workers who have come to the factory in recent years don't know anything, and all they produce when the machines are turned on is scrap."

"Yeah?"

"If the supervisor doesn't believe it, he can pick a few to test it on the spot."

Of course you should try it!

Shen Moqing dared not be fooled and randomly pointed to a few young workers.

"You, you, and you, get on the plane."

Just five minutes after turning it on, the drill bit almost broke.

.........

Shen Moqing suppressed her anger and dragged Zhang Erhe outside the workshop: "Why?"

"I can't explain it either, but the young workers just aren't up to it."

"And what about him?" Shen Moqing asked, pointing to Gu Hongming, who was personally trying it out on the plane.

"He's alright."

"Why can he do it, but other young people can't?"

"He's different. He can read and write, and he's willing to think things through. He learns faster than anyone else."

It turned out to be the case.

Shen Moqing couldn't help but sigh, if all the outstanding scholars were willing to work in factories, they could definitely become excellent craftsmen of a great nation! But the problem is, all the scholars want to become officials.

Why don't they just honestly go to the factory, instead of scrambling to become officials?

.........

"Zhang Erhe, in which year did the phenomenon of a talent gap begin?"

"Xianning 15 years ago".

What happened that year?

"I can't say for sure, but in any case, fifteen years before Xianning, Yanshan Heavy Industry was definitely not like this."

"What was it like before?"

"Fifteen years ago in Xianning, people took pride in their skills and precision. Skilled masters might not become officials, but they could get a raise."

After a conversation.

Shen Moqing roughly understood that in Yanshan Heavy Industry Group in Xianning 15 years ago, playboys and skilled workers coexisted, with the former sitting in offices and the latter in workshops.

When the workshop achieves results, the spoiled brats get promoted, and the skilled workers get bonuses. You get the meat, and I get the soup; it's become a tacit understanding.

Later, this tacit understanding was broken.

The spoiled brats wanted both promotions and wealth.

.........

Shen Moqing sighed. Before he transmigrated, Huang Renyu wrote "15th Year of Wanli". Now, he can write "15th Year of Xianning".

Fifteen years is a significant milestone!

"Old Zhang, come on, have a cigarette."

"Thank you for your supervision."

"What are your three sons doing now?"

"How did you know I have three sons??"

"I've seen your file."

One of the key principles of managing people is to make subordinates feel valued.

As expected~

Zhang Erhe was deeply moved:

"I'm sorry to trouble you. My eldest son runs a small business in the south of the city, my second son is a scholar who failed the provincial examination for the third time, and my youngest son is also studying."

Are you married?

Only the eldest son is married.

"If your son is willing, your second and third sons can both come and work at our factory."

"what?"

"Have them come and report for duty tomorrow, and learn your craft from you."

"Thank you, Supervisor." Zhang Erhe knelt down on the spot, deeply moved.

Working at Yanshan Heavy Industry guarantees a stable income, no matter the weather, which is much more lucrative than becoming a mere scholar.

There's a joke in the southern part of the city that goes something like this:

If you stand on the gate tower of Chongmen Wencheng and throw a handful of soybeans down, you could hit three scholars and two brothel girls.