Chapter 4: Thirty Crates Of Grenades
“I am the new Factory Director Li Muzhi of the Arsenal.” Li Muzhi reported his identity to Li Yunlong.
“I am Regimental Commander Li Yunlong of the Independent Regiment.” Li Yunlong also reported his identity to Li Muzhi, still asking suspiciously: “Wasn’t the original Factory Director of your Arsenal Old Luo?”
“Old Luo was injured, so Minister Zhang had me take his place.” Li Muzhi explained.
“So that’s how it is.” Li Yunlong nodded, immediately getting to the point, “I heard from my people that you came to deliver grenades to me?”
“Regimental Commander Li, earlier when you delivered supplies to the Arsenal, I wasn’t there, and my people neglected you. I hope you won’t hold it against us.” Li Muzhi first apologized to Li Yunlong, then waved his hand, having people carry over thirty cases of grenades. “The extra ten cases of grenades are my apology to you.”
“Hahaha.” Li Yunlong looked at these thirty cases of grenades and immediately beamed like he had seen his own father, laughing as if he had eaten honeybee droppings. “No hard feelings, I’ve never held it against your Arsenal, Factory Director Li. You’re young and promising. Let’s keep in touch more in the future.”
After speaking, Li Yunlong, afraid that Li Muzhi might change his mind, quickly waved his hand, and his men carried away the thirty cases of grenades like they were snatching them.
“Hehe.” Li Muzhi chuckled and got straight to the point. “Regimental Commander Li, our Arsenal has made a new weapon that needs testing, and we need your cooperation.”
“No problem, no problem.” With thirty cases of grenades in hand, Comrade Li was extremely friendly. “How do you need me to cooperate?”
“To save resources, this new weapon of mine needs to use the enemy’s gun tower for testing, but I don’t know about fighting wars. I want Regimental Commander Li to help me pick a target. Of course, I also hope that Regimental Commander Li can provide some troops to cover us at that time.” Li Muzhi said.
“Use the enemy’s gun tower for testing?” Li Yunlong, upon hearing this, couldn’t help saying: “What is this new weapon of yours? Don’t tell me your Arsenal made artillery. You can’t even make the most basic bullets properly.”
To take out the enemy’s gun tower, you can only use artillery!
Li Yunlong knew all too well the quality of the bullets and grenades made by the Arsenal.
If they couldn’t even make basic ammunition properly, the Arsenal couldn’t possibly make artillery.
“Hehe.” Li Muzhi chuckled. “To be honest, I have indeed made a cannon.”
“Hahaha.” Li Yunlong was amused, then realized it was inappropriate and quickly tried desperately to hold back his laughter. “Sorry, I’m not joking about your Arsenal. I’m just happy about the thirty cases of grenades you just gave me.”
“No problem.” Li Muzhi indicated he didn’t mind.
After all, everyone knew the capabilities of the Border Region Arsenal.
If they couldn’t even make basic ammunition properly, it was reasonable for others to think it was a joke that the Arsenal had made a cannon.
But Li Muzhi believed that once this Hell Cannon was successfully test-fired, all the laughter would turn into shocked gazes.
It was just like the world’s first machine gun.
When it was first made, those generals laughed that the machine gun wasted too much ammunition, was expensive, and impractical.
But when the machine gun roared on the battlefield and the enemy fell like cut wheat, there was no laughter on those generals’ faces, only deep shock!
“Alright then, I’ll have Battalion Commander Zhang Dabiao take his battalion to go with you.”
“Regimental Commander Li, you’re not planning to come personally to see it?”
“No, I have things to do at Regimental Headquarters.” Li Yunlong simply didn’t believe Li Muzhi could make artillery and had no interest in joining the fun.
“Alright then, have your Battalion Commander go with me.” Li Muzhi didn’t insist. Zhang Dabiao was Old Li’s top fierce general and skilled at fighting wars, which was sufficient.
“Wait a moment.” Li Yunlong had Li Muzhi wait, then personally found Zhang Dabiao and said to him: “Dabiao, assemble your battalion and go with Factory Director Li of the Arsenal. Remember, you must ensure the safety of these Arsenal people.”
“Regimental Commander, we personally delivered supplies to the Arsenal, and they wouldn’t even give us twenty cases of grenades. I still…” Zhang Dabiao was not too willing.
Li Yunlong interrupted: “They just personally delivered thirty cases of grenades.”
“Personally delivered thirty cases of grenades?” Zhang Dabiao was stunned. So generous?
“The original Factory Director of the Arsenal, Old Luo, was injured. The new Factory Director of the Arsenal is Li Muzhi, a young fellow in his twenties.” Li Yunlong instructed. “I see this kid is still green and hasn’t learned stinginess from Zhang Wanhe yet. Do you get what I mean?”
“Yes, Regimental Commander.” Zhang Dabiao understood perfectly.
This Li Muzhi was the new Factory Director of the Arsenal, and he controlled the Arsenal’s ammunition production.
Although those bullets and grenades were of poor quality, as the Regimental Commander said, something that draws pus is good medicine!
While this Li Muzhi hadn’t yet learned to be tightfisted, it was best to leave a good impression and get more ammunition from him.
Soon, Zhang Dabiao led his battalion and set off with Li Muzhi.
“Factory Director Li, the Regimental Commander said your Arsenal made a new weapon to test on the enemy’s gun tower. What new weapon is it?” Zhang Dabiao saw the Arsenal workers pulling a cannon with a mule, but it was covered tightly with cloth, so he couldn’t see what it was.
“Battalion Commander Zhang, pick a target for testing. If the enemy rushes out then, your troops need to control the situation.” Li Muzhi didn’t directly answer Zhang Dabiao’s question. “Which one are you planning to choose?”
“Factory Director Li, that worry of yours is completely unnecessary.” Zhang Dabiao said. “These Japanese Invaders and Traitors are scared of our guerrilla warfare. They usually huddle in their gun towers and bunkers and don’t come out. No matter how we try to lure them, these Traitors and Japanese Invaders won’t take the bait. So, you can mess around as you like then; they won’t dare come out at all.”
“Nothing is absolute.” Li Muzhi still reminded him. “What if they do come out?”
If it were ordinary light weapons, it was understandable that the Japanese Invaders and Traitors huddled in gun towers and bunkers and wouldn’t come out.
But this was the Hell Cannon, which belonged to assault artillery.
When this cannon fired, the enemy would see they had assault weapons. Staying in the gun tower and bunker to take hits would be waiting to die, so they would definitely come out.
“I wish they would come out. If they do, we can take care of them.” Zhang Dabiao said.
“Battalion Commander Zhang, you still need to pick a target you can handle. Don’t let too many of them rush out then, and your troops be insufficient.”
“Don’t worry, it’s a sure thing.” Zhang Dabiao nodded.
Zhang Dabiao had his own calculations. Ants couldn’t swallow an elephant. If a large number of enemies came out then, they would be in trouble.
Moreover, they absolutely couldn’t let these Arsenal people get caught up in it. If the impression was bad, how could they continue getting ammunition from Li Muzhi?
