Chapter 127: This Son Of A Bitch Li Yunlong Must’ve Had Too Much To Drink
“Heh heh, big brother found you a business,” Li Yunlong said mysteriously.
“You found me a business?” Li Muzhi paused, suspicious, “What business?”
Before Li Yunlong could answer, Zhang Wanhe and Kong Jie arrived.
Although Li Yunlong had brought Li Muzhi a lot of good food and a case of wine, Zhang Wanhe still said, “Regimental Commander Li, why are you at the arsenal empty-handed? Don’t you usually bring some equipment, sugar, or something when you visit?”
Li Yunlong directly cursed, “Old Zhang, look at your greedy look, do you think this equipment and sugar are stones by the roadside that can be picked up randomly!”
“Haha.” Zhang Wanhe gave a self-deprecating smile, “Regimental Commander Li, I was just joking. You said you wanted to find a business for Xiao Li. I’m interested in the business, you can tell me.”
“Old Kong, you’ve been working hard mining coal here, sit down and eat with us.” Li Yunlong ignored Zhang Wanhe, “I’m not talking to you.”
“Old Li, I need to deliver cannonballs to the Brigade Headquarters,” Kong Jie didn’t sit down.
“I’m here, aren’t I? When I go back, I’ll bring the cannonballs with me. Isn’t that fine?” Li Yunlong said to Kong Jie, “The Brigade Commander hasn’t gotten the specific intelligence on the Japanese military train’s transport yet, so the fight won’t start today, and it won’t delay anything.”
Li Yunlong was surprised in his heart, the efficiency of the arsenal’s cannonball production was quite fast, it had improved a lot.
“That’s fine then.” Kong Jie unceremoniously sat down.
The delicacies Li Yunlong brought were something the logistics department, despite having good food, couldn’t get.
If there was an opportunity to indulge his taste buds, Old Kong naturally wouldn’t refuse.
After Kong Jie sat down, Li Yunlong turned to Li Muzhi and said, “I’m going to Chu Yunfei’s for a banquet. Chu Yunfei told me that his superior wants to buy our Hell Cannons…”
Li Yunlong hadn’t finished speaking when Zhang Wanhe, who was nearby, immediately couldn’t sit still and interrupted, “Li Yunlong, this is the business you’re talking about? Stop joking. We don’t even have enough Hell Cannons for ourselves, how can we sell them! If you want to sell, why don’t you sell the ones you have?”
Kong Jie, standing nearby, was also very surprised. He never expected Li Yunlong to instigate Li Muzhi to sell Hell Cannons. This guy’s courage had grown too much after drinking.
If the Brigade Commander found out, he’d surely have your hide, Old Li!
However, Kong Jie didn’t speak up. As far as he knew, there was only one Hell Cannon left in the arsenal, and it had already been reserved by Regimental Commander Liu of the 120th Division.
Even if Li Muzhi wanted to sell it, there was nothing to sell.
Of course, if they could get more Large Caliber Steel Pipes later, that would be another matter.
“I say, Old Zhang, why are you in such a hurry? Let me finish talking to Younger Brother Li.” Li Yunlong glanced at Zhang Wanhe.
“In short, don’t say any more, we’re not selling!” Zhang Wanhe said again, shaking his head.
Some people from the Jin Sui Army had already contacted Zhang Wanhe, wanting to buy Hell Cannons, but Zhang Wanhe had directly refused them.
What a joke, why would we sell!
Zhang Wanhe didn’t understand fighting wars, but he could sense it.
After the Japanese invaders were driven away, they would likely have another conflict with them.
If they made Hell Cannons and sold them to them, and they copied the technology, what good would that do them?
“Old Zhang, I’m talking to Younger Brother Li, not you. Go somewhere cool.” Li Yunlong’s courage had grown immensely after drinking, he even dared to order Old Zhang around.
“Li Yunlong, this Logistics Arsenal is my territory!” Zhang Wanhe said sternly, “If you keep blabbering, do you believe I won’t call your Brigade Commander?”
Zhang Wanhe had already figured out Li Yunlong’s weakness.
This guy feared nothing, but if you brought up his Brigade Commander, he’d immediately become a coward.
“Old Zhang, I think your position as Head of Logistics is a bit unsuitable. There’s a small broadcasting position at Headquarters that I think would suit you very well!” Li Yunlong hated it the most when people reported him to his Brigade Commander, and immediately bared his teeth.
“Minister Zhang, please calm down first,” Li Muzhi said to Zhang Wanhe, “Let Regimental Commander Li finish speaking. What, you don’t trust me? Do you think I’d be foolish enough to leak our technology to them?”
Zhang Wanhe thought what Li Muzhi said made sense, so he looked at Li Yunlong, “Li Yunlong, then continue.”
Li Yunlong ignored Zhang Wanhe and looked at Li Muzhi, “Younger brother, it’s like this, Chu Yunfei’s superior said that as long as we are willing to sell the Hell Cannons to them, we can name our terms, as long as they are not too excessive.”
“Even if the terms are excessive, we won’t sell,” Zhang Wanhe added.
“Get out of here, Old Zhang, you’re just not a businessman,” Li Yunlong cursed. “If the terms can be excessive, I’ll ask the Bald One for the First Arsenal of the Ministry of Ordnance directly!”
The First Arsenal of the Ministry of Ordnance was formerly the Hanyang Arsenal, founded by Zhang Zhidong in 1889.
When the Japanese invaders invaded, the Hanyang Arsenal moved to Shancheng and was renamed: the First Arsenal of the Ministry of Ordnance.
It is now one of the most important arsenals under the Bald One’s control.
Kong Jie joked from the side, “Old Li, I think it’s better to ask for the Bald One’s position, that would be the most profitable.”
“Hahaha, Old Kong, you look a bit slow-witted, but you’re quite shrewd when it comes to business,” Li Yunlong laughed heartily, “Why didn’t I think of that.”
“Oh my, Li Yunlong, only you think you’re smart, is the Bald One a fool!” Zhang Wanhe pouted, your daydreaming is too grand.
Li Muzhi, however, looked at Li Yunlong, “Regimental Commander Li, did the other party really say that we can name our terms?”
Li Yunlong didn’t respond. Zhang Wanhe immediately turned to Li Muzhi, “Xiao Li, you’re not really planning to sell, are you? We’re supposed to give our last Hell Cannon to Regimental Commander Liu, and we have no more.”
Li Yunlong immediately said to Zhang Wanhe, “That’s not a problem, I have one.”
“Are you going to sell the one you have?” Zhang Wanhe didn’t believe Li Yunlong would sell his own Hell Cannon.
Moreover, they were about to attack the Japanese Jingtai Line soon, how could they possibly do without the support of Hell Cannons.
“I won’t sell the one I have, of course,” Li Yunlong shook his head.
“Then are you selling the one Regimental Commander Ding has?” Zhang Wanhe asked again.
“How could I possibly cheat Old Ding,” Li Yunlong shook his head.
Kong Jie couldn’t help but gasp, “Li Yunlong, you bastard, you’re not planning to sell the Division Commander’s Hell Cannon, are you?”
If Li Yunlong wouldn’t sell, and Ding Wei wouldn’t sell, then it could only be the Division Commander’s cannon.
This bastard Li Yunlong had really drunk too much.
The Brigade Commander didn’t dare, how could you!
“Old Kong, our Division Commander has four cannons. Selling one, I don’t think it will cause any harm…” Li Yunlong hadn’t finished speaking.
Kong Jie immediately stood up, “Minister Zhang, Factory Director Li, I’m a bit tired, I’m going to rest.”
After saying that, Kong Jie left without looking back.
Harm? That was the Division Commander!
This madman Li Yunlong actually dared to set his sights on the Division Commander’s Hell Cannon. The Division Commander would surely be furious.
He came here to mooch a meal, and ended up getting into big trouble. It wasn’t worth being implicated by this kid Li Yunlong.
Therefore, Old Kong wisely chose to leave.
“Hey, hey, hey, Old Kong, why are you so scared? It’s just the Division Commander, hey, hey, hey, Old Kong…” Li Yunlong wanted to call Kong Jie back to eat, but Kong Jie didn’t turn back and disappeared from view.
Li Yunlong then cursed, “This Kong Er Lengzi, after digging coal at the arsenal for two days, his courage has become smaller and smaller.”
“Is Regimental Commander Kong’s courage small, Li Yunlong? He’s just worried about being implicated by you,” Zhang Wanhe retorted, “If you want to sell your Division Commander’s Hell Cannon, go talk to your Division Commander yourself. Why are you dragging Xiao Li into this? I think you’re like a weasel wishing the New Year to a chicken, with ill intentions!”
Zhang Wanhe could see that this kid Li Yunlong wanted to negotiate with his Division Commander through Li Muzhi.
This scoundrel, if you have the guts, go talk to your Division Commander yourself.
Aren’t you brave? What are you afraid of?
Facing Zhang Wanhe’s attitude, Li Yunlong retorted stubbornly, “Am I scared! I’m worried I’ll negotiate a low price myself, that’s why I asked Younger Brother Li to discuss it.”
Then, Li Yunlong asked Li Muzhi, “Younger brother, what do you think about this?”
“The arsenal is still missing several crucial small lathes. If we can exchange them for Hell Cannons, it’s not entirely out of the question,” Li Muzhi pondered.
As for large lathes, don’t even think about it, Officer Yan didn’t have them either.
Back then, Taiyuan was lost, and the Taiyuan Arsenal was also lost.
Officer Yan only moved a small portion of the machinery and equipment from the Taiyuan Arsenal in advance; most of it fell into the hands of the Japanese invaders.
The arsenal had small lathes, but they were scrap.
Scrap couldn’t compare to intact ones, after all.
What? Selling Hell Cannons to Officer Yan? Isn’t that leaking technology?
How is that possible!
There’s no technology to speak of in the Hell Cannon. It’s just a large caliber steel pipe welded onto a base, and the base is equipped with a detonator.
Moreover, this detonator is still the outdated gunpowder ignition, a technology that has existed since the Qing Dynasty.
The real technological content is in the cannonballs!
Didn’t Chu Yunfei’s superior say they wanted to buy our cannons, but not the cannonballs?
Therefore, these cannons can be completely exchanged for small lathes, and we’ll keep the cannonballs ourselves. No matter how high the price, we won’t sell them.
Hearing Li Muzhi say this, Zhang Wanhe immediately looked at him, “Xiao Li, aren’t you afraid of leaking technology to them?”
Although Zhang Wanhe understood the significance of small lathes, the technology of the Hell Cannon must not be leaked.
If the Leader at Headquarters found out, they would be furious.
Li Muzhi explained, “Minister Zhang, you’ve seen the cannon. It’s just welding and cutting large caliber steel pipes, and the ignition method is the most primitive gunpowder ignition. The main technology is concentrated in the cannonballs. We just don’t sell the cannonballs.”
“Then, then, then we still need to report this to the Leader at Headquarters.” Zhang Wanhe still felt that a report to the Leader at Headquarters was necessary after hearing Li Muzhi’s explanation.
This was, after all, a Hell Cannon.
There were only eleven in total.
Each one was extremely precious.
But intact small lathes were definitely more valuable than Hell Cannons!
“Of course, we need to report it,” Li Muzhi nodded, “I will personally write a report, clarifying the key points and benefits, and you can give it to the Leader at Headquarters to look at.”
“Alright,” Zhang Wanhe agreed first.
“Younger Brother Li, since you think this business can be done, then you go talk to our Division Commander then.”
After hearing Li Muzhi and Zhang Wanhe come to an agreement, Li Yunlong immediately adopted a “pass the buck” attitude.
Did you really think Old Li was drunk and not thinking clearly?
That was the Division Commander.
