Chapter 121: Our Chance To Get Rich Has Come
Li Muzhi hadn’t expected that among the batch of equipment Li Yunlong brought back, several key parts were missing.
Facing Minister Zhang’s inquiry, Li Muzhi could only nod regretfully: “That’s right, Minister Zhang, parts are really missing. Without them, bullets can’t be made.”
Minister Zhang quickly looked at Li Yunlong: “Regimental Commander Li, are you sure you brought back all the stuff without leaving anything behind?”
The brigade commander also glared fiercely at Li Yunlong: “Li Yunlong, you son of a bitch, usually when you capture good stuff, if you secretly stash a bit for yourself, I’ll turn a blind eye. But now, if you dare joke with me again, believe it or not, I’ll shoot you!”
Li Yunlong looked bewildered, stunned for two seconds, ignored the brigade commander and Minister Zhang’s gazes, and looked at Li Muzhi: “Younger Brother Li, did you really check carefully?”
Ding Wei on the side looked somewhat enlightened; he had actually been a bit puzzled at first, wondering how the Japanese invaders could be so stupid as to use equipment for fishing.
Now it seemed the Japanese invaders were still cunning, holding back a trick.
Gao Liujin and Old Zhou on the side both looked solemnly at Li Muzhi.
Although the two envied Li Yunlong for getting equipment to make bullets, now lacking key parts, they weren’t gloating.
After all, whether the arsenal could make bullets was closely related to them too.
Facing Li Yunlong’s inquiry, Li Muzhi didn’t speak, just nodded.
Hearing this, Li Yunlong couldn’t believe it and shouted loudly: “How is that possible? I really brought back all the stuff, how could key parts still be missing!”
“Ding Wei, are you sure all the stuff was brought back?” The brigade commander didn’t ask Li Yunlong again but asked Ding Wei on the side.
“Brigade Commander, everything was really brought back.” Ding Wei nodded and explained, “It must be that the Japanese invaders held back a trick.”
“This damned Fujita Ichi!” Hearing this, the brigade commander jumped in rage and cursed: “Daring to play this trick, I think you’ve lived too long!”
“Brigade Commander, I’ll immediately take troops to attack Heyuan County Town and tear that Japanese invader Fujita Ichi into pieces!” Li Yunlong immediately bristled with killing intent, ready to attack Heyuan County Town.
Daring to trick me, you’re done for, Fujita Ichi.
Ding Wei hurriedly advised on the side: “Old Li, don’t get agitated, don’t miss the big event.”
Then, Ding Wei immediately said to the brigade commander: “Brigade Commander, we have important military action next, we can’t have extraneous issues.”
Fujita Ichi playing tricks indeed made people very angry.
But now the Japanese invaders’ encirclement troops were crippled, it was truly the opportunity to attack the Jingtai Line and seize the military train.
How could they miss the big event to deal with a mere Fujita Ichi.
Hearing Ding Wei’s reminder, the brigade commander calmed down and said: “You’re right, you’re right, then let that Japanese invader Fujita Ichi live a couple more days.”
Li Yunlong couldn’t wait, his eyes red as he said: “Brigade Commander, I’ll first deal with Fujita Ichi, it won’t delay the later big events.”
“No, without my order, you can’t go anywhere!” The brigade commander was resolute, his tone leaving no room for doubt, forcibly holding Li Yunlong down.
Then, the brigade commander turned to Li Muzhi and said: “Xiao Li, put this equipment in the warehouse first. Once I get the power task done for you, we’ll figure out how to get the key parts back.”
“Brigade Commander Chen, no rush, solve the power first, that’s the most important.” Li Muzhi soothed, “Once power is solved, I’ll find a way to make up for these key parts.”
“Xiao Li, can these key parts be made up?” Minister Zhang was the first to ask eagerly.
“They definitely still can’t compare to the original parts,” Li Muzhi answered, “but at least it can make this batch of equipment barely run.”
Minister Zhang turned to the brigade commander: “Still better to get the key parts back.”
Barely running, the efficiency definitely wouldn’t be high.
Maybe the first day it runs, the second day the parts break.
“Rest assured, I’ll make Fujita Ichi obediently hand over the key parts.” The brigade commander was very confident.
Fujita Ichi holding back a trick, though indeed very infuriating.
But the brigade commander calmed down and felt dealing with a mere Fujita Ichi to make him hand over the remaining parts was a piece of cake.
And how did the brigade commander know that he wouldn’t even need to make a move; later Fujita Ichi would proactively hand over these key parts himself.
Of course, that’s a later story.
The brigade commander said to Li Muzhi: “Put this equipment away first, once I get the key parts for you, then we’ll settle accounts.”
Got the equipment but without key parts, the brigade commander had no mood to settle accounts now.
To be precise, he had no face to settle accounts!
We must make up the parts before we can settle accounts upright.
Bringing a pile of unusable equipment, what kind of thing is that.
Minister Zhang on the side quickly expressed: “Sure sure sure, no problem, just follow Brigade Commander Chen’s meaning.”
Li Muzhi also nodded: “Since Brigade Commander Chen has said so, I’ll respect your opinion.”
Li Yunlong and Ding Wei had no objections to the brigade commander either.
We got tricked by the Japanese invaders, didn’t fully equip the arsenal, and rushing to settle accounts first, we have no mood for that.
“Old Zhang, Xiao Li, once enough cannonballs are made, immediately send someone to bring them to my brigade headquarters, I’m heading back first.” The brigade commander prepared to take leave.
To hit the Japanese invaders’ Jingtai Line and rob the military train isn’t as simple as just taking the hell cannon to attack on the surface.
There’s still a lot of preparatory work to do.
For example, need to figure out the Japanese invaders’ troop deployments in this area, so when attacking, roughly how many reinforcements the Japanese invaders can send.
Most crucially, still need to find a way to figure out the Japanese invaders’ military train transport intelligence.
Anyway, since we’re robbing military trains, we definitely can’t rob empty ones.
Must rob fully loaded military trains, whichever has the most profits, we’ll rob that one!
“Younger Brother Li, Elder Brother is heading back first.” Li Yunlong said to Li Muzhi.
Ding Wei also said: “Factory Director Li, Minister Zhang, we’re going back.”
“Let me see you off.” Although the bullet equipment lacking key parts was disappointing, today was still a bountiful day, so Minister Zhang and Li Muzhi both wanted to see them off.
“No need, we have legs.” The brigade commander led Ding Wei and Li Yunlong and turned to leave.
Old Zhou also said: “You two, I’m going back too.”
Gao Liujin didn’t move, instead leaning close to Li Muzhi: “Factory Director Li, can I ask you a question?”
“Ask what, hurry up and come back with me.” Old Zhou dragged Gao Liujin to leave.
You’ve caused so much trouble, the brigade commander and division commander are still waiting to deal with you.
“Just one question.” Gao Liujin stubbornly didn’t budge, looking at Li Muzhi: “Can I ask? I just heard 386 Brigade talking about some big event related to power, what’s that about?”
Li Muzhi glanced at Minister Zhang, meaning to ask: This is the combat troops’ secret, should I say it?
Minister Zhang directly said to Gao Liujin: “The arsenal here lacks power, so 386 Brigade is going to help rob a locomotive.”
Rob a locomotive?
Gao Liujin upon hearing, his eyes immediately widened round: “Then they have to attack the Japanese invaders’ railway, this is a major action!”
“This is their major action, what business is it of yours, come back with me!” Old Zhou pinched Gao Liujin, forcibly dragging him away, and said to Li Muzhi and Minister Zhang: “You two, we’re off.”
Gao Liujin was pinched by Old Zhou as they walked, muttering in Old Zhou’s ear: “Old Zhou, our chance to get rich has come.”
“What chance to get rich, you son of a bitch, whether you can keep your life when we get back is still up in the air, and you want to get rich!” Old Zhou cursed.
“Didn’t you hear Minister Zhang say, 386 Brigade is going to attack the Japanese invaders’ railway line to rob military trains.” Gao Liujin said excitedly, “As soon as they from 386 Brigade strike, the Japanese invaders will definitely send massive reinforcements, the Japanese invaders’ rear area will definitely be empty, if we take the hell cannon to strike a wave in the Japanese invaders’ rear area…”
“What are you scheming, this is 386 Brigade’s important military action, don’t butt in blindly, don’t mess it up!” Old Zhou solemnly roared, “They’re getting power for our arsenal, we can’t joke about this. If something goes wrong, even ten heads wouldn’t be enough to chop off.”
Old Zhou’s tone was solemn, but in his heart he was also calculating: Gao Liujin’s words seemed to have some reason, once back, still need to report to division headquarters quickly.
The combat troops had left, Minister Zhang called people to move the machinery and equipment into the arsenal’s warehouse.
Li Muzhi on the side said: “Minister Zhang, I didn’t expect the combat troops to deliver the iron smelting plant, we need to select a location for the iron smelting plant.”
“No problem, I’ll select the location.” Minister Zhang nodded and asked: “Any requirements for site selection?”
“It needs to be easy to defend and hard to attack like Huangyadong Arsenal.” Li Muzhi said.
Huangyadong Arsenal was once attacked by enemies, but because it was easy to defend and hard to attack, the arsenal was preserved.
“Any distance requirements?” Minister Zhang asked.
“Of course, the closer to the arsenal the better.”
“Good, got it.” Minister Zhang nodded.
“There’s another thing.”
“What thing?”
“Old He said he has a way to make those few high-level key personnel from Huangyadong Arsenal stay on their own, what do you think?” Li Muzhi looked at Minister Zhang tactfully.
Minister Zhang’s face looked troubled upon hearing: “If you want those few specific skilled workers, no problem, but wanting to keep these few high-level talents, I’m afraid it’s hard to handle.”
Minister Zhang already knew Li Muzhi wanted to keep a few specific workers, that matter wasn’t big, easy to handle.
But Old Qi and the others were the backbone of Huangyadong Arsenal, pulling them over, wouldn’t Huangyadong Arsenal make a fuss to headquarters leaders?
As head of logistics, if I can’t keep the rear stable, especially the arsenal, I’ll definitely get reprimanded.
“Minister Zhang, if it’s really not possible, don’t force it.” Li Muzhi could understand Old Zhang’s pressure.
Huangyadong Arsenal’s meaning is extraordinary, although for arsenal production we can act first and report later, but how can we cut from Huangyadong Arsenal.
“No, since you Xiao Li brought it up, I’ll still try. Worst case, get cursed bloody by headquarters leaders again.” Old Zhang quickly nodded anyway.
“Minister Zhang, thank you.” Li Muzhi thanked him.
If these few high-level talents can be kept, it would really mean a great deal for the Border Region Arsenal’s future; they would become Li Muzhi’s most solid left and right arms!
“Thank what, isn’t this all for making weapons for our army.” Minister Zhang said solemnly on the surface, but thought to himself: If I have to choose getting cursed by headquarters leaders, I’d rather lose a piece of flesh.
