Chapter 75: Regimental Commander Li, You’ve Worked Hard
Border Region Arsenal
“Factory Director, several key personnel came from Huangyadong Arsenal, and Minister Zhang wants you to come over.”
Li Muzhi was supervising the production of Hell Cannon shells when Lao He walked over.
Although the test data for these new shells had not come back yet, the explosive charge still needed to be prepared in advance, and the cannonball bodies also needed to be cast ahead of time, and so on.
“Good, Lao He, you keep an eye on it.” Li Muzhi still held Huangyadong Arsenal in great respect.
This was one of our army’s most capable arsenals, able to make guns by itself during the War of Resistance.
It could even modify grenade launchers into new-style “50mm little mortars,” usable for both indirect and direct fire, with a range of one thousand meters, greatly increasing combat power.
“Got it, Factory Director.” Lao He nodded.
Li Muzhi walked out of the workshop. In the meeting room, these key personnel from Huangyadong Arsenal saw him coming and all stood up respectfully.
These key personnel actually did not believe at all that the Border Region Arsenal could make cannons; the Border Region Arsenal’s strength was at the bottom among all Eighth Route Army arsenals.
Even Huangyadong Arsenal, the big brother, could not make cannons, so how could the little brother at the end make them—how could anyone believe it.
The third Hell Cannon had already been pulled to headquarters, and these key personnel had seen it with their own eyes there, so they truly had no choice but to believe.
This was simply a genius-like idea: unable to make a cannon barrel that could withstand huge chamber pressure, so bypass chamber pressure and take another path.
It even mixed fertilizer and sugar sold by the Japanese invaders to make powerful ammonium nitrate explosives.
This young man in front of them, in his early twenties, had created a miracle completely at odds with his age—this was the real heaven-sent genius!
“Come on, come on, let me introduce you. This is Comrade Li Muzhi, the new Factory Director of the Border Region Arsenal.” Zhang Wanhe immediately introduced Li Muzhi to these key personnel.
Then, Zhang Wanhe introduced these key personnel to Li Muzhi one by one.
“This is Old Lu, a graduate of Berlin University Steel Department.”
“This is Metallurgy Doctor Old Zhang, who studied in the United Kingdom.”
“This is Old Gao, a graduate student in Yanjing University Physics Department.”
“This is Old Qi, a senior technical backbone from Taiyuan Arsenal.”
Old Lu, Old Zhang, Old Gao, and Old Qi, the four key personnel, shook hands and greeted Li Muzhi one by one.
Then one of them could not wait to ask: “Factory Director Li, I heard Minister Zhang say you plan to have combat troops grab Japanese locomotives to modify into power for the Border Region Arsenal. Can you explain your thinking?”
Japanese locomotives are powerful enough, and if they could be modified into power, it would be of extraordinary significance to our military industry strength.
But modifying a locomotive into power is not as simple as just saying it; it involves many details and expertise.
Li Muzhi replied: “Since Minister Zhang had you come first, it must be for disassembling Japanese locomotives. Let’s first get familiar as soon as possible with how to disassemble Japanese locomotives in the shortest time. As for how to modify them into power once the locomotives are brought back, I’ll explain that to you in detail then.”
The other looked at Li Muzhi: “Without internal structure diagrams of the Japanese locomotive, this might be hard to do.”
“Someone who used to be a locomotive repair worker helped, and with his assistance, I’ve already drawn up the internal structure diagram of the Japanese locomotive in advance,” Li Muzhi replied.
“Alright then, let’s get to it.” These key personnel all nodded.
Li Muzhi took out the drawn diagram, spread it out in front of them, and began explaining directly: “The structure of this Japanese locomotive boils down to burning water. The combustion chamber provides heat, the heat boils the water to produce steam, and the steam generates power…”
Although these technical key personnel were not involved in locomotive internals and it was not their expertise, they all had extremely high comprehension.
Plus Li Muzhi described it in great detail, so they quickly grasped most of it.
How to disassemble quickly and simply without damaging parts.
What to disassemble first, what after, and so on.
Zhang Wanhe, on the other hand, was yawning widely nearby; this Head of Logistics really had no interest in these machine structures and could not understand them.
But Minister Zhang was not idle; he could still help by pouring tea and water nearby.
Until someone came to report: “Report, Factory Director, Minister Zhang, Regimental Commander Li is here.”
When Zhang Wanhe heard Li Yunlong had come, his yawning expression instantly became full of energy.
Before, Zhang Wanhe’s biggest headache was Li Yunlong coming to logistics to wheedle.
Now, Zhang Wanhe’s biggest anticipation was Li Yunlong coming to logistics.
Every time he came, there was a surprise.
Li Muzhi gave four shells to 386 Brigade to help with testing.
It might even generate revenue for logistics during their testing process.
Zhang Wanhe immediately said to Li Muzhi: “You continue here, I’ll go out.”
“Minister Zhang, I’d better go out with you.” Li Muzhi said tactfully.
The locomotive structure had already been explained to these technical key personnel in great detail, and they needed time to digest it.
Also, if Li Yunlong really brought something good, he might not be willing to give it directly to Zhang Wanhe, so Li Muzhi should go resolve the awkwardness.
“Aren’t you still busy here?” Zhang Wanhe pointed out.
“Everyone, take your time looking, I’ll be right back.” Li Muzhi said to these technical key personnel.
“Sure, sure, Factory Director Li, you go ahead.” These people all nodded, their eyes not leaving the diagram.
Although locomotive structure was not their field, our army’s military industry strength was really too weak, so these key personnel basically all wore multiple hats.
For example, Metallurgy Doctor Old Zhang knew metallurgy, but also how to prepare black powder and forge and repair guns.
Senior technical backbone Old Qi from Taiyuan Arsenal knew even more: repairing guns, loading bullets, making grenades, and so on; he could even repair automobiles and basically do anything.
Having a chance to familiarize with locomotive structure meant more skills were always useful.
Zhang Wanhe said nothing more and walked out with Li Muzhi.
Seeing Li Muzhi come out, Li Yunlong hurriedly handed him a small notebook: “Little brother, this is the test data for the four shells.”
“Regimental Commander Li, thanks for your hard work.” Li Muzhi took the notebook while expressing thanks.
“Little brother, you’re too polite. What hard work? This is what should be done.” Li Yunlong grinned and leaned close to Li Muzhi, about to continue speaking.
Zhang Wanhe nearby blinked and spoke up: “Regimental Commander Li, did you come empty-handed?”
Facing Zhang Wanhe’s question, Li Yunlong explained: “Old Zhang, this shell test data is the most important; shouldn’t I deliver it at top speed?”
“So you have more stuff behind?” Zhang Wanhe’s eyes lit up, hearing the implication in Li Yunlong’s words.
