Chapter 170: Minister Zhang, Logistics Is Celebrating The New Year!
Despite this, Sato Jino gave orders to the troops below through Lieutenant General Shinozuka.
Abandon the attack on the Jin Sui Army and Direct Line Army, and switch to surrounding and intercepting the Eighth Route Army.
But it was still too late in the end.
After all, on Li Yunlong’s side, besides the rocket launcher and Hell Cannon for cover, the most important thing was over a thousand war horses, so the troops’ marching speed was very fast.
Even Kong Jie brought thirty jumping mines, and all of them were buried.
The jumping mines were the last line of cover, blocking a battalion of Japanese soldiers’ footsteps.
Ding Wei and Li Yunlong successfully covered Kong Jie into the mountains.
“Haha, today’s battle was not satisfying enough, really not satisfying enough.” Li Yunlong laughed heartily and said, “There were too few rockets, not enough to use. Otherwise, I would still want to charge out and fight another fierce round with the Japanese invaders.”
Ding Wei said: “Old Li, what are you in a hurry for? We’ve brought back the Japanese arsenal, we’ll definitely get plenty of rockets. Then we can properly set up and fight a battle with the Japanese invaders.”
“Haha, that makes sense, that makes sense.” Li Yunlong laughed heartily again.
Kong Jie, however, said: “Li Yunlong, Ding Wei, you still shouldn’t underestimate the Japanese invaders too much. You’ve seen it—we attacked the Cuicun Arsenal, and all the Japanese troops abandoned their attacks on the Jin Sui Army and Direct Line Army, all coming after us. We’ve become a thorn in the Japanese invaders’ side, and once you dare to show up easily later, the Japanese invaders will definitely…”
Kong Jie was grateful that they had obtained enough war horses from Kuroshima Morita in advance.
Otherwise, if the marching speed couldn’t keep up and they were surrounded by heavy Japanese forces, the three brothers might not have made it through today.
Li Yunlong interrupted Kong Jie: “Kong Er Lengzi, from now on you’d better stick to being your coal miner and keep a close eye on Younger Brother Li’s side. You don’t need to worry about battlefield matters—I’ve never lost a battle.”
“Alright, Old Li, stop bragging. Hurry up and transport the stuff to the arsenal.” Ding Wei said seriously, “Our arsenal’s location is extremely important. These workers captured from the Cuicun Arsenal have their eyes blindfolded, but we can’t take them directly to our Border Region Arsenal. Find a place up ahead to release them, and let Minister Zhang and the intelligence department handle it when we get back.”
These workers from the Cuicun Arsenal are very valuable, but they definitely need to go through several strict checks.
Only after confirming no issues can they be used.
“Good, fine, fine.” Kong Jie and Li Yunlong both indicated no objections.
……
Eighth Route Army Headquarters Logistics Office
“Minister Zhang, what you’ve done is too much.”
On the phone, Factory Director Xu of the Huangyadong Arsenal sounded very annoyed. “You transferred several top experts from my Huangyadong Arsenal to the Border Region Arsenal, haven’t returned them, and now you want to borrow a large number of my workers, all skilled ones. Minister Zhang, doesn’t the Huangyadong Arsenal need to continue military industry production?!”
“Where are we not doing it? Of course we have to continue.” Zhang Wanhe said seriously into the phone, “I’m just asking you to transfer as many skilled workers as possible to help at the Border Region Arsenal, not all of them.”
“Minister Zhang, from what you’re saying, you want all of them.” Factory Director Xu said.
“How about this, Factory Director Xu—you can make conditions, as long as they’re not too excessive.” Zhang Wanhe didn’t say much more to Factory Director Xu; they were both shrewd people, no need to pretend.
Factory Director Xu was complaining to him precisely to seize the chance to make some demands.
“Minister Zhang, my condition definitely isn’t excessive, but you probably won’t agree.” Factory Director Xu’s tone held back excitement.
Sure enough, he had been waiting for Zhang Wanhe’s attitude with his complaints.
“If you want to borrow equipment from the Border Region Arsenal, that’s probably not possible.” Zhang Wanhe preemptively warned, “The Border Region Arsenal is now producing weapons and ammunition at full capacity; the equipment can’t be transferred.”
The Border Region Arsenal’s current equipment was enviable to other arsenals.
Zhang Wanhe had considered it.
Transferring some equipment to other arsenals to boost their strength and balance things out.
After all, supplying ammunition to the troops relies on all the arsenals, not just the Border Region Arsenal.
But he still hadn’t done so.
Mainly because there wasn’t surplus equipment to spare.
And also.
Li Muzhi’s abilities were outstanding; with the equipment on his side, it would definitely perform at its best.
So Old Zhang Comrade had no plans to transfer equipment for now.
Unless there was surplus later.
“Minister Zhang, don’t worry about that.” Factory Director Xu immediately said, “Everyone knows those equipment at the Border Region Arsenal are your treasures; you wouldn’t transfer them easily. I don’t want your equipment.”
“Then what do you want?” Zhang Wanhe asked.
“Heh heh.” Factory Director Xu chuckled twice, then said, “I don’t want anything else—just have the new Factory Director Li Muzhi of the Border Region Arsenal come to my Huangyadong Arsenal as a guest for a few days if he’s free. What do you think…”
“You old Xu!” Zhang Wanhe cursed, interrupting before he finished, “You dare to set your sights on Little Li? I knew you had no good intentions!”
Factory Director Xu laughed: “This Factory Director Li has very strong military industry abilities. If he comes to my side for a visit, he can help solve some technical problems here, optimize them, and maybe even suggest making some new things. Don’t you think?”
“Wait until Little Li gets the conventional cannonballs done.” Zhang Wanhe didn’t outright refuse and said, “If you have technical problems, you can send people over to the Border Region Arsenal first to discuss with Little Li, then…”
Before Zhang Wanhe finished, Factory Director Xu interrupted: “No need, really no need. I’ll just wait for Factory Director Li to come as a guest.”
Factory Director Xu thought to himself, I’m not that foolish.
The logistics organized a transportation team, and several targeted workers plus high-level talents like Old Qi all stayed at the Border Region Arsenal and never returned.
If I send people over now and they get kept too, I’d lose more talent.
Anyway, these technical problems aren’t that urgent now; I can wait a bit.
Of course!
Factory Director Xu’s main hope was for Li Muzhi to come to the Huangyadong Arsenal and see if he could develop some new gadgets.
Watching the former little brother Border Region Arsenal thriving while his Huangyadong Arsenal, the big brother, was being left behind—he definitely couldn’t sit still.
“Factory Director Xu, then hurry up and send the workers over.” After Zhang Wanhe finished, he hung up the phone.
Finally settled the Huangyadong Arsenal; next were the other arsenals.
As Zhang Wanhe was about to call the next arsenal, someone rushed over excitedly, spitting saliva right onto Zhang Wanhe’s face: “Minister Zhang, Minister Zhang, it’s New Year for logistics! Our logistics is celebrating New Year! Go take a look quick—Regiment Commander Kong and the others went out to test rocket launchers and brought back a Japanese arsenal, with over a thousand horses carrying equipment and supplies.”
Logistics celebrating New Year!
Kong Jie testing rocket launchers and bringing back a Japanese arsenal!
Hearing this, Zhang Wanhe sprang up from his chair, not even bothering to wipe the spit from his face, looking at the person in surprise: “You’re sure Kong Jie brought back an arsenal?!”
The regiment commanders of several combat regiments below had competed for the rocket launcher testing qualification, and in the end Li Muzhi gave it to Kong Jie.
He hadn’t expected Kong Jie leading the New Second Regiment to test rocket launchers and actually capture a Japanese arsenal—this luck was too exaggerated.
The Japanese invaders’ arsenal must be in a very concealed location, not easy to find.
For Kong Jie to stumble upon it was like a huge pie falling from the sky.
If this enemy arsenal could make airplanes and tanks, they’d really hit the jackpot!
“Yes, Minister Zhang, lots of people are gathered there watching. Go quick.”
“Let’s go, let’s go!”
……
Border Region Arsenal
“What is Younger Brother Li busy with? Why hasn’t he come out yet?”
Li Yunlong, Kong Jie, and Ding Wei brought the equipment and supplies to the entrance of the Border Region Arsenal and waited a while, but still no sign of Li Muzhi. Li Yunlong was really curious—what could be more important than bringing back a Japanese arsenal?!
Old He explained to Li Yunlong: “The equipment broke down; the Factory Director is hurrying to repair it.”
“Can’t this equipment be fixed later?” Li Yunlong asked.
“Regimental Commander Li, if that equipment isn’t repaired in time, it will greatly affect iron smelting.” Old He explained, “Once the furnace is started, it can’t stop midway. If it stops, restarting consumes huge electricity, and the furnace’s lifespan will also decrease.”
“Then it has to be repaired quickly, has to be hurried—can’t rush Younger Brother Li.” Although Li Yunlong didn’t know much about military industry, he knew what affecting iron smelting meant.
Then Li Yunlong sighed and said: “If we let Minister Zhang handle the handover of this stuff, we’ll definitely lose out.”
Ding Wei chimed in from the side: “Yeah, Minister Zhang doesn’t recognize machines; he won’t know their value, so then…”
Before Ding Wei finished, Zhang Wanhe’s excited figure rushed over and said to Li Yunlong and Ding Wei: “You two rest assured, I absolutely won’t shortchange you. I don’t know the goods? No problem—once Little Li is done, he’ll know.”
“Who knows how long it will take for Younger Brother Li’s machine to be fixed.” Li Yunlong looked toward the inside of the arsenal.
It was a bit like a child coming home after earning big money outside, waiting for praise from the parents.
But the parents were busy, no time—it was really making him anxious.
Nearby, Kong Jie spoke up to Zhang Wanhe: “Minister Zhang, how about letting Old He first inspect and store the supplies and equipment he recognizes? For the ones he doesn’t, leave them until Factory Director Li comes out.”
“That works, that works.” Zhang Wanhe nodded, then turned to Old He and said, “Old He, hurry and check what good treasures were brought back from this Japanese arsenal.”
“Got it.” Old He nodded excitedly, feeling greatly honored.
Previously, inspecting equipment brought back by combat troops was the Factory Director’s job; now doing it himself—hey, wasn’t this like acting Factory Director?
This was a good sign; maybe he’d soon be promoted to Deputy Factory Director.
Li Muzhi was originally the Deputy Factory Director of the Border Region Arsenal; after being promoted to Factory Director, his old deputy position was vacant.
No one had been assigned to it yet; Old He and a few other veterans were secretly competing for it.
