Chapter 16: Then I’ll Be A Rogue
“Go back and tell Old Zhang that I’m borrowing this cannon for three days, just three days.”
Li Yunlong said to Lao He, “Within three days, I’ll send him a thousand jin of sugar, I mean what I say.”
“Regimental Commander Li, aren’t you being a scoundrel!” Lao He glared, “Moreover, the firing data for the remaining cannonballs still needs to be recorded for our factory director. You roughnecks who only know how to swing big knives and pull triggers, can you even write?”
Getting a thousand jin of sugar in three days, Lao He would never believe it no matter what.
The sugar in our arsenal has been stored for a very, very long time.
The troops below struggle even to get ordinary guns and ammunition, let alone sugar—let alone a thousand jin in three days. Do you think sugar is coarse grains?
Moreover, the cannonball firing data afterward must be provided to the factory director.
“Whether I’m a scoundrel or not is none of your business. If you piss me off, I won’t even give you half of these captured goods.” Li Yunlong acted like a tough nut, “As for the cannonball data records, you don’t need to worry about that. Our Commissioner Zhao is a Yanjing University graduate, he’s a senior intellectual—what’s so hard about writing some data.”
“You…” Lao He faced Li Yunlong’s shameless attitude, rolled up his sleeves wanting to take action, but was held back by an arsenal worker on the side: “Director, calm down, calm down. We arsenal workers aren’t a match for them either.”
Taking advantage of the arsenal workers holding back Lao He, Li Yunlong turned and walked away, not bothering to argue with Lao He.
Looking at Li Yunlong’s back, Lao He was furious: “That guy doesn’t act like a regimental commander at all, he’s just a bandit—without organization or discipline!”
An arsenal worker said on the side, “Which other regimental commander dares to be as bold as Regimental Commander Li? On the battlefield, he even dares to defy headquarters leaders’ orders. He stayed at the clothing factory for not even two days and immediately went back to being regimental commander, and on the way out, he took two hundred sets of military uniforms—Minister Zhang couldn’t do anything about him either. Director, we’d better not go head-to-head with this Regimental Commander Li. Let’s go back and report truthfully, let Minister Zhang handle it.”
The arsenal worker’s meaning was hinting that this Regimental Commander Li has connections above, someone protecting him, that’s why he’s so bold. Us going hard against him now isn’t rational.
“Hmph.” Lao He could only snort heavily in the end, temporarily letting it go: “However, we need half of the weapons and ammunition, we must personally oversee it to prevent them from giving us less.”
Lao He brought his people and followed Li Yunlong’s troops to clean up the battlefield together.
After dividing half of the weapons and ammunition on the battlefield, Lao He’s mood improved again.
“Over two hundred rifles, three thousand rifle bullets, six hundred grenades, four light machine guns, three thousand machine gun bullets, and two grenade launchers, over two hundred grenade launcher cannonballs, heh heh heh…” A smile bloomed on Lao He’s face as he exclaimed, “The factory director was right—producing in the arsenal is nowhere near as fast as grabbing from outside.”
With so many weapons and ammunition, the arsenal’s delivery missions pale in comparison.
Seeing Lao He’s expression improve, Li Yunlong said to Lao He: “Lao He, you’ve tasted the sweetness of battlefield looting, huh. Next time your factory director makes some new gadget for testing, you must call me.”
“Regimental Commander Li, don’t worry, we absolutely won’t call you!” Lao He said firmly.
With your lack of organization and discipline, we won’t call you again.
“Dabiao, send a company to escort them back.” Li Yunlong didn’t continue talking to Lao He and turned to Zhang Dabiao.
He had forcibly taken their cannon, and it was only natural for them to have a bad temper—we Li Yunlong should still be magnanimous.
Moreover, they were arsenal workers, the cornerstone of our military industry’s production.
Not one of these people could be harmed; troops must be sent to escort them back.
“Yes, regimental commander.” Zhang Dabiao immediately sent a company to escort the arsenal people back.
“Dabiao, take the cannon. Let’s go to brigade headquarters.” Li Yunlong said to Zhang Dabiao.
Li Yunlong wasn’t stupid—he took the cannon without giving it, and this Lao He would report to Zhang Wanhe first thing upon returning.
With Old Zhang’s iron rooster personality, he would soon apply official pressure on him through formal channels.
This official pressure, we definitely couldn’t withstand.
So, let the brigade commander take the heat.
What, the brigade commander is willing to stand up for us?
Nonsense!
What we’re bringing back is a cannon—the brigade commander won’t be tempted?
Worst case, the brigade commander will even treat me to drinks.
“Yes, regimental commander.”
……
“Minister Zhang, slow down—my head is spinning.”
Li Muzhi was arranged by Zhang Wanhe to sit on horseback. Zhang Wanhe also rode another horse, leading Li Muzhi’s horse as it ran too fast.
“Li Muzhi, sorry, sorry. Then I’ll slow down, I’ll slow down. If I shake your brain out of whack, I can’t afford the blame.” Zhang Wanhe quickly slowed down, then asked excitedly and curiously: “Li Muzhi, how did you think of a shortcut to make a cannon? And using fertilizer and sugar to make explosives—how did you know the fertilizer contains ammonium nitrate?”
“Minister Zhang, when I was deputy factory director before, developing explosives was my main job. I was curious about the Japanese invaders’ fertilizer, so I analyzed it and found it contains ammonium nitrate. Once, by accident, some sugar fell in and I couldn’t get it out, so I continued experimenting. The result was that adding sugar increased the power—the explosives were made that way.” Li Muzhi explained, “As for the shortcut to make a cannon, I suddenly got inspiration while looking at the equipment Regimental Commander Li turned over. I didn’t expect it would really work.”
“Genius.” Zhang Wanhe sighed deeply upon hearing this.
Explosives were his main job, so making them was no surprise.
This shortcut to make a cannon came from a single inspiration—truly heaven blesses the Eighth Route Army.
“Minister Zhang, although the cannon can be made, cannonballs are indispensable. Never mind the sugar—you must hurry to stockpile fertilizer from the Japanese invaders’ side.” Li Muzhi still reminded him.
“Nonsense! If fertilizer can make explosives, even if I sell my underwear, I’ll stockpile as much as possible!” Zhang Wanhe immediately promised, then sighed again, “But logistics is really too poor—no money on the books.”
Soon, Zhang Wanhe said to Li Muzhi: “Li Muzhi, how to get money is my job as head of logistics. Don’t worry about it—just focus on making the remaining cannons in the arsenal for me.”
“Minister Zhang, I do have a few ideas on how to get funds.” Li Muzhi was from later generations; grabbing a few scams from there would make getting funds not difficult.
“Didn’t I say? You don’t need to worry about getting money—put all your mind on military industry. Who knows, maybe one day inspiration strikes again and you make new gear for the military.” Zhang Wanhe didn’t want Li Muzhi distracted.
Li Muzhi had talent in military industry, so he should put all his mind into military research.
Every brain cell of his wasted on other things would be a major loss for logistics!
“Minister Zhang, on the way back to the arsenal now, I’m idle anyway.” Li Muzhi said.
“Well, then tell me your ideas.” Zhang Wanhe agreed and let Li Muzhi share his thoughts.
