Chapter 202: At Any Cost
After Li Muzhi simply addressed these workers’ psychological concerns, he continued to inspect the other workshops.
During this time, Li Muzhi also gave a simple speech to the other workers.
The arsenal is built in cave dwellings, with very thick roofs above them, which Japanese aircraft simply cannot penetrate.
Everyone can rest assured and focus on production.
Once the timing is right and anti-aircraft weapons are produced, they’ll teach the Japanese invaders’ aircraft a lesson.
The impact of Japanese aircraft on morale at the Border Region Arsenal was completely and easily resolved by Li Muzhi.
Moreover, these workers became even more diligent and serious in their work, with output not only failing to decline but slightly increasing.
After inspecting the workshops, Li Muzhi walked out.
Li Yunlong had brought back the Copper Refining Plant, and although Minister Zhang said to transport it in the evening.
This did not affect Li Muzhi’s intention to check the supplies and equipment in advance.
Seeing Li Muzhi approaching, the transportation team members hurriedly said one after another, “Factory Director Li, why did you come out? You should stay inside the arsenal. We’ll move the equipment and supplies in tonight.”
Although the Japanese aircraft had already flown away now.
But it was still safest for Factory Director Li to stay in the arsenal.
“It’s fine. This place is very concealed; even if Japanese aircraft come, they won’t see us.” Li Muzhi remained very calm, then began inspecting the equipment.
Li Muzhi mainly prioritized checking the furnace first.
Previously, the furnace from the Iron Smelting Plant had not been dismantled well.
Once the furnace is restarted, it cannot be stopped for twenty-four hours.
This copper refining furnace must not have similar mistakes again.
“Hmm, the furnace looks free of cracks; it’s intact.” Li Muzhi inspected the copper refining furnace, his expression very satisfied.
Then, Li Muzhi began checking the other equipment.
This other equipment was also complete.
It seems that sending a skilled worker team from the arsenal with the combat troops to disassemble the machinery and equipment was extremely necessary.
Li Muzhi decided that the Border Region Arsenal still needed to organize a professional dismantling technical team.
Once the combat troops encounter an enemy factory, this professional dismantling technical team would reinforce at the fastest speed, maximizing the preservation of equipment integrity.
After checking all the equipment, Li Muzhi examined the other raw materials and supplies, which could be described as very abundant.
Using these raw materials and supplies, once the equipment is set up and connected to power, copper refining can proceed directly.
There was just one problem.
For iron smelting at the Border Region Arsenal, raw materials can be directly taken from the Japanese invaders’ railway.
But copper refining won’t work; there is no copper on the Japanese invaders’ railway.
Although the currently captured raw materials and supplies are plentiful, they will eventually run out.
Therefore, they must have their own copper mine.
Currently, there are no copper mines in the base area.
After all, the Japanese army is not stupid.
Whenever they discover a mine, they basically occupy it and frantically plunder the minerals.
To seize a copper mine occupied by the Japanese army, the main issue lies in military strength.
Of course, with such a huge disparity in strength between enemy and us, even if they temporarily capture a copper mine, they may not be able to hold it.
Therefore, the best approach is still to target the Japanese invaders’ transport line.
The ore he digs up must be transported away via the transport line.
Our combat troops can switch tactics: target the Japanese invaders’ transport line to snatch, making the Japanese invaders the transport captain.
Yes, that’s the plan.
After finishing the inspection, Li Muzhi chatted a few words with the transportation team and returned to the arsenal office.
He took out a map and, relying on memory, began marking the locations of copper mines occupied by the Japanese army during the War of Resistance.
How the Japanese invaders would transport the copper ore once mined, the specific routes, and so on.
……
386 Brigade Headquarters
The Brigade Commander looked up as Japanese aircraft roared overhead and cursed, “Damn it, why have these Japanese invaders’ planes come here?”
When the Japanese First Army was established, it had no aircraft.
But during the First Army’s raids, there was still aircraft support.
This isn’t a raid now, yet the aircraft have appeared; this is unreasonable.
Although the Japanese aircraft numbers are huge, most are in the hands of their navy; the army’s aircraft numbers are not many.
Due to the frontline being stretched too long and ground troops’ combat power being insufficient, many areas need air support.
With limited aircraft facing frequent reinforcement tasks, they are stretched thin.
Moreover, the Japanese main forces are fighting on other battlefields, with warfare at a critical juncture, so aircraft are basically reinforcing there.
Yet aircraft have come here now, which is obviously abnormal.
The Deputy Brigade Commander couldn’t help saying to the Brigade Commander, “Brigade Commander, didn’t you send Li Yunlong to move a Japanese Copper Refining Plant? Do you think that bastard Li Yunlong has stirred up trouble again, drawing out the Japanese invaders’ aircraft?”
“It shouldn’t be that serious,” the Brigade Commander said. “After Li Yunlong moves the Copper Refining Plant, what else can he do? Either tear up a section of railway or go to Black Island Morita’s base to snatch horse feed. Beyond that, what else can Li Yunlong do!”
“But the Japanese aircraft couldn’t have come here for no reason,” the Deputy Brigade Commander pointed out.
“Immediately have someone closely monitor Japanese intelligence…” The Brigade Commander’s words were cut off.
An intelligence officer rushed in hurriedly: “Report to Brigade Commander, the Japanese have had another military train attacked near 120 Division. The Japanese side is furious, with troops from all directions desperately reinforcing there. Even the strongholds around here where troops were drawn from have been abandoned by the Japanese invaders and traitors, who have directly reinforced over.”
Hearing this, the Brigade Commander was stunned: “Even the strongholds around here where troops were drawn from—the Japanese have abandoned them and directly reinforced?”
120 Division had snatched another Japanese military train.
The Japanese are abandoning even their strongholds, clearly panicked.
No wonder their aircraft have come out.
Clearly, that robbed military train must have carried supplies extremely important to the Japanese.
At the same time, the Brigade Commander immediately judged that it was most likely that bastard Gao Liujin who caused trouble.
This bastard drew so many Japanese over, even bringing out the Japanese invaders’ aircraft—this is poking the sky!
The Brigade Commander immediately asked, “Have we figured out what supplies were on that robbed military train?”
“Not clear yet,” the intelligence officer shook his head.
As soon as the intelligence officer finished speaking, the telephone on the table rang. The Brigade Commander picked up the receiver, and the Division Commander’s roaring voice came through: “Headquarters Leader just gave our division an important task: spare no effort to support Li Yunlong, Gao Liujin, and the others in bringing back five cars of tungsten ore. Immediately mobilize all available military forces on your side—district squads, county brigades, militia—all move out and suppress the Japanese in your area. Not a single Japanese can go to 120 Division.”
Five cars of tungsten ore!!!
The Brigade Commander caught the key four words from the Division Commander: five cars of tungsten ore!
My God!
No wonder the Japanese are panicked, even sending out aircraft.
Five cars of tungsten ore amount to two or three hundred tons—this is strategic material!
“Yes, Division Commander, I guarantee to suppress the Japanese invaders and traitors here.” The Brigade Commander nodded solemnly, immediately calling for the messenger and issuing solemn orders: “Quickly pass my orders: all troops deploy—771 Regiment, county brigades, district squads, militia—all move out, bring all family fortune. Spare no effort to pin down the Japanese reinforcement troops.”
“Yes.” The messenger ran off quickly.
The Brigade Commander turned to the Deputy Brigade Commander: “Also, send out my guard company; even the brigade headquarters cooks and all go out.”
“Brigade Commander, what about your safety…” The Deputy Brigade Commander didn’t finish.
The Brigade Commander roared, “Execute the orders.”
“Yes.” The Deputy Brigade Commander left.
The Brigade Commander slammed the table hard and cursed, “That bastard Li Yunlong, following Gao Liujin to snatch tungsten ore—this huge operation, and you didn’t report to me in advance, you bastard.”
……
Jin Sui Army 358 Regiment
Chu Yunfei watched as Japanese aircraft flew overhead but did not drop bombs.
This struck Chu Yunfei as very strange: “Strange, the Japanese aircraft came for reinforcements but didn’t bomb?”
With Jin Sui Army’s large force right in front of the aircraft, they were as obvious as lice on a bald head.
The Japanese aircraft clearly spotted the force but didn’t attack—this is too abnormal.
“Regimental Commander, perhaps the Japanese aircraft are just passing by on urgent business,” Battalion Commander Qian Bojun reminded. “The Japanese troops opposite are rushing to escape—should we pursue?”
Due to the Japanese aircraft arriving, the troops had lain on the ground in concealment and stopped pursuing.
So, the Japanese troops opposite were taking the chance to disengage.
“Of course pursue!” Chu Yunfei said decisively. “These Japanese aircraft clearly aren’t coming for us, so what is there to fear? Continue the pursuit. Not one of these damned Japanese pigs can escape. Move faster, or others will snatch them.”
Chu Yunfei’s actions were very decisive; the Japanese reinforcement troops that had just disengaged were quickly caught up by him again.
The other Jin Sui Army forces, seeing this, were unwilling to lag behind and surged forward.
This group of Japanese reinforcement troops was entangled once more.
“Baka, damn it, these damned Jin Sui Army, damned Jin Sui Army!” The commander of the Japanese reinforcement troops raged furiously.
He had received a new death order: spare no effort to reinforce the railway line near Eighth Route 120 Division, where important supplies needed guarding.
Regrettably, after much difficulty, a few aircraft arrived and scared off the Chinese troops.
But these aircraft were also infuriating—they came but didn’t take the opportunity to attack.
They just left directly, letting the Jin Sui Army see that the aircraft weren’t targeting them.
Sure enough, this pack of Jin Sui Army rats has latched on again.
“Colonel, what do we do now?” A Japanese officer shouted.
“Baka, what else? Fight the Jin Sui Army.” The commander of the Japanese reinforcement troops roared.
Both sides quickly engaged in fierce fighting.
This Japanese reinforcement troop was held up again by the Jin Sui Army.
