Chapter 13: Young And Promising
Zhang Dabiao did not give all the ammunition that Li Muzhi provided to the first battalion; he also distributed some to the second and third battalions.
After all, there were more than five hundred enemies; they couldn’t rely solely on the first battalion—they needed to combine fists with the second and third battalions.
Li Yunlong asked, “Dabiao, were the weapons and ammunition from Sunjiabao really given to you voluntarily by Li Muzhi?”
Li Yunlong thought Li Muzhi was a greenhorn, easy to fool, but it turned out he had misjudged him.
Li Muzhi was not a greenhorn; for him to voluntarily give the weapons and ammunition from Sunjiabao to Zhang Dabiao— no matter how Li Yunlong thought about it, it didn’t seem realistic.
These logistics people, which one of them wasn’t stingy like an iron rooster, treating even a weight as a gold ingot.
“Regiment Commander, if Factory Director Li didn’t give it voluntarily, do you think I could get it from him?” Zhang Dabiao replied, then added, “I think the other side giving us these weapons and ammunition is probably not for free. Look, even Minister Zhang has no objection to it.”
Li Yunlong understood what Zhang Dabiao meant.
That was, although the arsenal’s cannon had fired its first shot, whether it could smoothly fire subsequent shots was uncertain.
When the time came, their Independent Regiment would have to fight the enemy head-on to cover the arsenal personnel’s withdrawal.
Among them was a Japanese squadron; if things went badly, the Independent Regiment’s casualties would be heavy.
In this world, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
If this battle were easy, with Zhang Wanhe’s temperament, he would now be haggling with them to take back the weapons and ammunition.
“Dabiao, no problem—we love tough battles the most!” Li Yunlong quickly said, “If we do this job well for Zhang Wanhe, it will also help us get cannons from logistics in advance later.”
If Li Yunlong were asked now to get sugar or a general’s sword, without the diamond tools, he couldn’t do the porcelain work.
But if he could get the cannons in advance, then Li Yunlong could properly figure it out.
Hearing this, Zhang Dabiao couldn’t help looking at Li Yunlong: “Regiment Commander, are you really confident you can get a general’s sword or a thousand catties of sugar?”
“I may not know much else, but I’m best at side hustles. Isn’t it just a general’s sword or a thousand catties of sugar? As long as I have the cannon in hand, I can get it.” Li Yunlong was full of bravado.
Just as he finished speaking, Li Muzhi and Zhang Wanhe came over.
Zhang Wanhe spoke to Li Yunlong: “Li Yunlong, get the supplies first, then exchange for the cannon.”
Hearing Zhang Wanhe say this, Li Yunlong immediately understood clearly.
Haha, it seems Li Muzhi had done ideological work on Zhang Wanhe successfully.
Li Yunlong hurriedly said to Zhang Wanhe: “Old Zhang, back in the countryside during busy farming seasons, when we did odd jobs at the landlord’s house, the landlord always provided tools in advance. If I get you sugar or a general’s sword, it’s only right for you to provide tools in advance.”
Zhang Wanhe responded: “Li Yunlong, do you think I’m stupid? If you take the tools in advance, don’t do the job well, and lose the tools, wouldn’t I be the unlucky one?”
Li Yunlong patted his chest and guaranteed: “Old Zhang, rest assured on this—when I Li Yunlong work, I never lose tools.”
“How can that be? If everyone asked for cannons in advance like you, how could I, as head of logistics, do my job? Everything has rules. Supplies first, then the cannon!” Zhang Wanhe said.
Li Muzhi spoke up: “Minister Zhang, let’s talk about the cannon later. How much longer until the enemy’s reinforcements arrive?”
“About ten more minutes.” Li Yunlong looked at Li Muzhi, “You’d better select a cannonball that you’re most confident in firing, to maximize reducing pressure on our combat troops with the first shot.”
“Regimental Commander Li, rest assured—I’m confident in every cannonball.” Li Muzhi was full of confidence.
Hearing this, Li Yunlong still didn’t quite believe it.
You’re so confident, yet you gave us all the weapons and ammunition from Sunjiabao?
However, Li Yunlong didn’t voice his doubts and instead flattered: “Factory Director Li is young and promising, a top talent in our army’s military industry. I believe in your confidence.”
“Regimental Commander Li, then get ready for battle. I’ll also prepare to support you.” Li Muzhi was concise.
“No problem, my battle preparations are long done.” Li Yunlong nodded, looking at Li Muzhi: “When we take down these enemy reinforcements, it’s not too much for my Independent Regiment to get a share of the captured items, right?”
It was hard to talk with Zhang Wanhe, so negotiating with this Li Muzhi was more reliable.
Before Li Muzhi could speak, Zhang Wanhe did: “Half for you.”
“Old Zhang, isn’t half a bit too little? There’s a whole Japanese squadron in there.” Li Yunlong was dissatisfied with the offer.
“Li Yunlong, giving you half is already generous.” Zhang Wanhe was very confident, “Isn’t it just a Japanese squadron? We’ll take care of it with the cannon.”
Take care of a Japanese squadron with the cannon?
Hearing this, Li Yunlong’s eyes widened instantly.
Old Zhang, I admit your cannon has great lethality—one shot can take out three gun towers.
But you’re blowing this boast way out of proportion.
The Japanese squadron aren’t fools; after one shot, they’ll scatter immediately.
It won’t be easy for your subsequent cannonballs to inflict heavy casualties on the Japanese again.
Moreover, you don’t have many cannonballs, and you can’t fire them all here.
Of course, Zhang Wanhe was the head of logistics, and they still wanted to get cannons from him in advance, so he couldn’t voice his doubts directly.
Li Yunlong smiled and said: “Old Zhang, if your cannon can heavily damage the Japanese squadron, then taking half the ammunition would indeed be you being generous.”
Li Muzhi added to Li Yunlong: “Regimental Commander Li, if this cannon fails to heavily damage the Japanese squadron and we take the reinforcements, we logistics won’t take a single bullet from the weapons and ammunition—we’ll give it all to you.”
Hearing this, Li Yunlong was stunned for a moment, wondering if he’d misheard.
Li Muzhi was so confident—as if this cannon could heavily damage the Japanese with one shot!
I admit your cannon has great lethality and can blast a big crater with one shot.
But this squadron of Japanese isn’t standing neatly together for you to bombard; they’re in marching formation, stretched out in troop formation.
Li Yunlong’s gaze quickly shifted to Zhang Wanhe: “Old Zhang, does Factory Director Li’s word count?”
Although Zhang Wanhe hadn’t yet seen the lethality of the cannonballs loaded with iron beads and nails, seeing Li Muzhi so confident, he was naturally full of assurance too: “That’s right, Li Muzhi’s word counts.”
“Hahaha.” Li Yunlong burst out laughing and said, “If you really can heavily damage the Japanese squadron, then getting half the weapons and ammunition would be too easy for me.”
Then, Li Yunlong said to Li Muzhi: “Can I learn from you how to fire this cannon?”
“Of course.”
……
“Regiment Commander, the enemy is coming.” Li Yunlong had just learned to fire the cannon when a vanguard reported.
“Damn it, how did ten minutes pass so fast? Listen to my command—prepare to fire!”
