The Fourth Outstanding Person of Huangpu Military Academy

Nie Rongzhen, the first head of the General Armaments Department, shook hands with Li Qiang, the head of the Military Industry Department. "Hello, did you come from the United Reading Group?"

Li Qiang: "I've done some work at United Reading, but it wasn't my main job. I've done a little bit of everything, so I'm known as a jack of all trades."

Chen Tianheng: "The General Armaments Department is responsible for all military equipment, specifically the procurement, testing, and support of equipment for each service branch. It is also responsible for developing planning programs, equipment demonstration, and equipment development strategies. Furthermore, the General Armaments Department oversees funding for all military equipment construction. Li Qiang, your Ministry of Military Industry is part of the Ministry of Industry under the State Council. Your two departments will meet frequently in the future, but outside of work, the two departments should maintain clear boundaries."

Li Qiang: "I know. I won't play with people from the General Armaments Department anymore."

Chen Tianheng: "My current plan is to use one thing to improve the relationship between the General Armament Department and the industrial sector. The selection of light machine guns for the National Revolutionary Army."

Liu Yuqian, Chief Engineer of the First Arsenal, and Zhong Daolu, Chief Engineer of the Second Arsenal, were present. Chen Tianheng said, "Chief Engineer Liu, the Whampoa Military Training Division has just received and tested your 65-caliber Madsen. By the way, General Zhong, the Taisho 11-year light machine guns you assembled are also being tested at the training division, but the troops haven't been very enthusiastic about them these days. They're significantly inferior to the original Taisho models. And as far as I know, these machine guns are assembled almost entirely from imported parts... What's the reason?"

Zhong Daolu: "Well, because we don't import parts from Japan, we use certain channels to import parts kits from the Fengtian Arsenal in Northeast China. It contains some original Japanese parts, but also includes parts made by the Fengtian Arsenal, so the quality is not as good as the original ones."

--..-.

"The meeting will begin then. Let me speak first." Nie Rongzhen took out the meeting materials:

"The relevant qualifications of the two factories. The First Arsenal has produced the Type 1 rifle, the Mauser-imitation rifle, the Type 38 rifle, and the Type 38 carbine; the 79-caliber and 65-caliber Madsen-imitation light machine guns; and the 79-caliber Maxim heavy machine gun. The Second Arsenal has produced the Type 38 rifle, the Type 38 carbine, and the Taisho 11-year light machine gun, and has obtained technical data on the Fedorov 1916 automatic rifle. Both the First and Second Arsenals have design studios or departments, capable of improving and developing light weapons. They meet the bidding requirements."

"In this tender, the equipment we are seeking is: light machine guns."

"—Equipment definition. The light machine gun we seek is an automatic firearm that fires 6.5x50mm rifle rounds, has both single-shot and burst fire modes, and is equipped with a bipod for increased shooting stability."

"Second, technical requirements."

"2.1. The net weight of the rifle after installing the bipod and empty feed device shall not exceed 10 kg. Proposals exceeding this limit will be rejected. Proposals below this weight limit will receive additional points."

"2.2. The ammunition feed system must have a capacity of no less than 20 rounds. Proposals with a capacity of less than 20 rounds will be rejected. Proposals with a capacity exceeding this limit will receive additional points."

“2.3、轻机枪的标尺标定射程不小于800米。射击精度，在200米距离,单发及点射射击时弹着点散布区不超过30x40厘米椭圆区域。”

"2.4. Reliability requirements..."

"2.5. Service requirements..."

"2.6. Military Trial and Testing Process..."

This tender will determine the uniform light machine gun for the entire army, and there will be orders for the production of light machine guns for at least the next five years. That is to say, within five years, each squad of the existing and newly built revolutionary army units will be equipped with one of these light machine guns. The production number can be calculated or guessed by yourself.

当然,现在还在选型阶段。总装备部给两个兵工厂一年的时间,各自拿出一种轻机枪的设计方案,并在1年后交付100支样枪以做对比测试。如果这100支样枪确实是能用的轻机枪，总装备部为这个设计方案和100支样枪给两个军工厂付清尾款,无论输嬴这笔钱都会付。但今后5年的订单给哪种枪,就看最后对比测试的结果。

Furthermore, the General Armaments Department's bidding process did not inquire about the technology sources of the two arsenals. This was not the General Armaments Department's responsibility, but rather the responsibility of the Ministry of Military Industry. As long as no one filed a lawsuit in Guangzhou, the technical assistance provided was legal. Theoretically, the First Arsenal could directly bid with the 65-caliber Madsen rifle, which was already in production. However, it would be difficult to guarantee the accuracy of the replica Madsen. The First Arsenal also had to consider the Second Arsenal's proposal; if it proved significantly superior to the 65-caliber Madsen, it would be disastrous.

Guangzhou Railway Station.

A passenger train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou arrived at the station, and a few big-nosed foreigners got off the train.

If someone who is more familiar with the appearance of foreigners looks carefully, they will find that these foreigners do not have traditional British looks. Their faces... have a bit of Eastern European style.

"We only found a Czech to English translation, but no Czech to Chinese translation. What should we do?"

Harkliff Yassi, marketing manager of the Czech Bruno Arsenal, said: "Then we have to hire two translators at the same time, and we will also find an English-to-Chinese translator."

"Manager, we can't bring the ZB-26 prototype to Guangzhou. Will this affect our participation in the bidding?"

"No," Harcliffe Yashi said, "According to the information released by the Guangzhou Army, we don't need to bring samples yet."

Chapter 23, Sulfo-19 Antibiotic

Before World War I, the Czech Republic was the Bohemian region of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, known as the "heart of the Austro-Hungarian Empire", a prosperous region with strong industry and agriculture.

After independence, Czechoslovakia inherited the manufacturing industry of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with a particularly developed machinery industry that excelled in manufacturing various sophisticated machine tools and guns.

The Bruno factory isn't considered a top-tier Czech enterprise, nor is it solely a military arsenal. Besides guns and cannons, it also manufactures vehicles, currently selling two sedans and a light truck. Even so, Bruno's ZB-26 light machine gun (its full name is actually the ZB LK vz.26) stunned Europe upon its debut.

In the light machine gun competition held in the UK in 1928, the ZB-26 beat the Louis light machine gun and the French M1922 machine gun. It was almost a foregone conclusion that the British Army would accept the ZB-26. However, Bruno wanted to make some minor modifications to the ZB-26 according to the British military's ideas and change it to a 7.7 caliber.

Harcliffe Ashi traveled to the Far East to explore the Asian market. However, his first stop, Japan, yielded absolutely nothing. In Tokyo, he saw that the Guangzhou government in China was actually holding a tender for the selection of a future light machine gun, and he immediately came to China.

"Should the revolutionary army light machine guns participating in the bidding be produced in Chinese factories?" Harcliffe Yashi asked the Ministry of Military Industry, and this was the answer he received. He was mentally prepared for this answer. During the first formal negotiation with the British, the British side had also been very firm. The patent fees for the light machine gun could be paid to Bruno, but the production must be carried out in factories in the British Empire.

"But based on my understanding of the two arsenals in Guangdong, yours either lacks sufficient equipment and skilled personnel, or is newly built. Meanwhile, the Bruno Arsenal is capable of producing world-class weapons."

Li Qiang: "The Ministry of Military Industry will continue to invest in military enterprises, improve machinery and equipment, and enhance the skills of the workforce. This isn't just a decision of the Ministry of Military Industry, but a decision of the Revolutionary Committee. We must consider how to produce machine guns, a fundamental national defense weapon, even under a blockade and severed domestic and international communication."

After two days of communication and negotiation, Harcliff Yashi sent a telegram to the Czech Republic and received a reply from the factory, basically confirming the matter.

The Bruno Arsenal and the First Arsenal jointly improved the design of the ZB-26. In addition to changing the caliber to 6.5 mm, other parts of the machine gun were also slightly modified. The First Arsenal used this gun instead of the 65-caliber Madsen to participate in the bidding.

...Each of your infantry squads is equipped with a machine gun, so the firepower density is really high."

Harcliffe Yashi also obtained the bidding documents, which clearly stated the organization method of the future revolutionary army's light machine guns.

Each infantry squad had one light machine gun, each company had nine, and each regiment had 81. In addition, regimental and division headquarters, reconnaissance teams, and logistics and transport units also had to be equipped with a small number of machine guns, so each division was equipped with 310 light machine guns.

Li Qiang: "In terms of production capacity, China hopes to reach a monthly output of enough light machine guns to equip an entire division within five years. So even if you only sell the patents, you can still make a lot of money. Moreover, in the initial stages of mass production, your company can also sell some parts. And a monthly production of 300 machine guns is only the military industrial production capacity requirement for our first five-year plan."

Harcliffe Yashi: "So, do you have any requirements for other weapons, such as heavy machine guns?"

Li Qiang: "Our First and Second Arsenals are both imitating the Maxim machine gun in heavy machine gun production. Of course, heavy machine guns also need technological upgrades. When the time is right, we will issue a tender, just like we do now."

"So, what about artillery weapons?"

Li Qiang: "As far as I know, the Bruno Arsenal does not produce artillery." Harcliffe Yashi: "Then... what about anti-tank guns?"

Medical Laboratory, School of Health Science, Sun Yat-sen University.

It had been more than a month since Chen Tianheng returned to China, but he had just returned when a series of adjustments were made in the General Staff, the General Logistics Department and the General Armament Department. There was also the Su Chui incident. It was already February 1929 when all these things were dealt with.

When I returned to China, I received a telegram saying that the medical laboratory had made a major breakthrough in the development of antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drugs, but I didn't have time to go and see it. Now I finally have time to take a look.

"Hello, Director Zhong. The medical lab has given me a big surprise." "Commissioner Chen, well, I'm not worthy of that," said Zhong Zaiquan, the medical lab director, with a less than ecstatic expression. "We've spent almost four years and over five million yuan on Sulfuric Acid-19. Hi... For a while, all three departments of the lab, myself included, were a little hopeless."

Chen Tianheng: "Continue developing drugs, and you'll find that three and a half years isn't a long time to develop a new drug. ... Let me take a look at your controlled trials."

The controlled trial was successful three months ago.

Ten monkeys were given cuts on their arms that caused infections. Five of them were left alone, while five were given sulfa drugs.

Half a month later, the wound infections of three of the monkeys that took sulfa drugs disappeared and gradually healed, while the wound infections of two monkeys were still there, but the degree of infection seemed to be under control.

Among the monkeys that did not take sulfa, one monkey's infection disappeared and recovered on its own, three monkeys were still infected, and one monkey's infection worsened and died within a week.

The conclusion is that this medicine can kill bacteria that invade the body, and has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects after taking it, and is effective.

Chen Tianheng checked the technical data of the drug, but he couldn't figure out which derivative of sulfamethoxazole it was. He only knew that the pharmaceutical laboratory named this ingredient Sulfon-19 and planned to register the brand name "Xiaoyanhuang" when selling it to the outside world.

"We're currently testing it in a hospital in Guangzhou," Zhong Zaiquan said. "It's clearly effective on humans. Most patients experience improvement after taking two sulfa tablets a day. The day before yesterday, we managed to get a diphtheria patient to take a little sulfa paste, and today their condition has improved."

Chen Tianheng: "For patients with severe diphtheria who are unable to eat or whose digestive ability is impaired, oral medication may not always be effective. The most effective way to administer medication is through injection, directly into the body."

Zhong Zaiquan: "That's true."

Chen Tianheng: "So, there's still a lot of work to be done in the medical laboratory, new drugs, constantly developing new drugs. Has the third group made any new progress?"

Zhong Zaiquan sighed: "No."

Chen Tianheng: "Last year, Professor Fleming of Bacteriology at St. Mary's Medical School discovered in his laboratory that Penicillium has bactericidal properties. Have you paid attention to that paper?"

Zhong Zaiquan: "We saw the paper, and a third group also did it in the lab, but they couldn't replicate the phenomenon even after trying dozens of different strains of mold. I read a French medical paper, and some people suggested that Fleming might have faked the experiment."

Chen Tianheng said, "Don't dismiss Fleming's experiment so easily. Look for more strains from different regions. Furthermore, the lab teams don't need to be so anxious or stressed out. Sulfur-19 alone has already paid back the costs of the three labs, Groups 1, 2, and 3, over the past few years."

Jiang Xianyun is here.

"Why, your cousin hasn't arrived yet?"

Chen Tianheng: "Chen Ying won't be here for a while."

Jiang Xianyun: "I heard this lab has developed a special medicine that can cure diphtheria?"

"Yes, this is a broad-spectrum antibiotic. It's effective not only for diphtheria, but also for other infectious, inflammatory diseases and traumatic infections." Chen Tianheng patted Jiang Xianyun on the shoulder. "But Jiang Xianyun, don't dwell on the past. Think more about your life now."

Jiang Xianyun's ex-wife contracted diphtheria in Wuhan in 1927. Her condition worsened and she died due to the lack of effective medication.

Jiang Xianyun: “If I had been stuck in the past, I wouldn’t have come here.”

"That's good." Chen Tianheng checked Jiang Xianyun's clothes again. He had changed into a new military uniform, and his whole body was neat and tidy.

"Well, this is the appearance of someone who is going on a blind date."

Chen Ying has arrived.

However, when Chen Tianheng saw Chen Ying, he gasped. It had only been over a year since we last met, and this cousin Chen Ying...

how……

How did a Republic of China-era actress like Shen Dianxia come over?

"Chen Tianheng! Hehehe, not bad, no change at all. It seems that the injury has no effect on you!"

Chen Ying walked in front of the two people with heroic steps.

Chen Tianheng: "...No, cousin, how come you have changed so much in just over a year?"

"That's how it works," Chen Ying said. "Have you ever had this experience? For example, if you use your brain intensively all day long, your brain will use up all the nutrients and send out the signal 'I'm hungry,' but in fact, the rest of your body still has plenty of nutrients."

"I see. With a lifestyle like this, it's easy to overeat. If you don't have time to exercise, it's normal to gain weight." Chen Tianheng said sadly, "Ah, this is Jiang Xianyun, my classmate at Huangpu."

Chen Ying: "I know, you told me." Jiang Xianyun: "Ms. Chen Ying, hello..." Chen Ying: "Wow, this is Jiang Xianyun."

Chen Tianheng: "...Ahem! Jiang Xianyun is one of the most outstanding students in our first term. He's strong in military and political skills, and he's also a great writer."

Chen Ying: "No, no, I was just saying that last time. Actually, I have a partner now. Put your hand down."

"Oh." Chen Tianheng let go of the hand that had been grabbing Jiang Xianyun's collar. Jiang Xianyun: "I can't run..."

"The Spring Festival is in two days, Jiang Xianyun, your parents are in Guangzhou, so it should be very convenient." Chen Tianheng said.

"Don't even mention it. My parents were very reluctant to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Guangzhou. If I hadn't only had three days off, they would have probably gone back to their hometown in Xintian County," Jiang Xianyun said. "Even so, on the third day of the Lunar New Year, when I returned to the army, they also rushed back to Xintian County."

Chen Tianheng: "Xintian County is now within the Southern Hunan Liberated Area, so there shouldn't be any problems."

Chen Ying: "By the way, Chen Tianheng, are your mother's relatives in Changsha safe now?"

Chen Tianheng: "That branch of relatives is now in Hengyang, safe. ...How's your business going lately?"

Chen Ying: "Right now, Wall Street and London are calling this era the Roaring Twenties. The London and New York stock markets, as well as nearly all investment sectors, are experiencing rapid growth. It's probably not easy for Guangzhou to attract investment and borrow money from overseas right now."

Chen Tianheng: "The future trend of the Western economy will definitely not be what these people wish for."

Chen Ying: "Yes, I feel it now too."

Chen Tianheng: "Currently, Western Europe and the US are experiencing an investment boom, with high demand for luxury goods. Various agricultural products and silk fabrics are selling like hotcakes in Guangzhou, but investment and loans are hard to come by because all the investment has been sucked away by Europe and the US. If the US suffers a major setback in the future, the situation will reverse. Silk sales will likely struggle, but investment will become easier to secure."

Chen Ying: "There's one thing I just have a rough idea about, but it might not be right. Is it necessary to push things a little bit and make Nanjing fall into a trap?"

Chapter 24: The Four Idiots of Guangzhou

As the Great Depression in the West was approaching, Nanjing itself was full of holes.

The Nanjing government’s current fiscal and financial policy...is almost equivalent to no policy at all.

The currency was in chaos, and the currency used was still silver dollars and copper coins. Not only could Yuan Datou coins minted by the current dynasty and the previous dynasty be used, but foreign silver dollars such as Yingyang were also circulating in the market, and even silver ingots from the Qing Dynasty could be taken out and spent.

Of course, Guangzhou is still using silver dollars, but the Guangzhou Reserve Committee is already preparing to switch to legal tender.

The tax collection capacity was low. Nanjing's fiscal revenue mainly depended on the detailed taxation of the five provinces south of the Yangtze River, and the fiscal system had not yet achieved national unification.

Taking all these factors into consideration, the Nanjing government will inevitably have to endure financial hardships in the next five years.

"Shaoguan Chenzhou! Shaoguan Chenzhou! Are you going to Chenzhou? Five yuan per person!" "Five yuan per person! One yuan extra for luggage!"

Chen Tianheng looked out the window and saw a car that was bigger than the one he was riding in.

A Mercedes-Benz N5 Omnibus. It's ABB, a big name, and the Mercedes-Benz logo on the front is really eye-catching.

"Travel from the Yuehan Railway to Shaoguan, and then north from Shaoguan to Hunan, used to be done by horse-drawn carriages. Now a company is using buses to run the service. This has simply made horse-drawn carriages outdated productivity."

Deng Ping, a staff officer of the Third Department of the General Staff, said.

Chen Tianheng: "It costs five taels of silver to get to Chenzhou, and I don't know how much it will cost to get to Hengyang. Is anyone willing to take it?"

Deng Ping: "There are so many people riding that the carriages are almost completely crowded. Even if it costs five dollars a trip, it's still cheaper than a horse-drawn carriage. A horse-drawn carriage fare is also three dollars, and you have to stay in a hotel for a night. It's really interesting that civilian transportation is more advanced than military transportation."

Chen Tianheng: "If we wanted to, we could buy a motorized unit, but the government is short of money right now. It's not that we haven't made any money, but the money needs to be used where it's most needed. For example, why are there now passenger buses running from Shaoguan to Chenzhou and Hengyang? This is because we invested heavily in a major renovation of the Hunan-Guangdong Highway last year. We cut slopes, built bridges, and installed a 30-ton load-bearing roadbed. This not only supports the construction of the Yue-Han Railway, but also greatly facilitates private transportation and even commerce."

Deng Ping: "This is quite interesting right now, General Secretary. Do you know that there's a joke circulating among Guangdong people right now that says there are four idiots in the Guangzhou Communist Party?"

Chen Tianheng: "Oh? Who are these four idiots?"

"Ban opium, abolish lijin, open schools, build railways."

"Hahaha," Chen Tianheng thought for a moment, "I can tell. This joke doesn't seem to be insulting."