Chapter 148: We Can Make Cannon Barrels Now
A secret transaction site.
Zhang Wanhe brought a Hell Cannon here and was waiting.
They had already negotiated with the Jin Sui Army side to conduct the transaction here.
Of course, considering that Old Zhang didn’t understand military industry machinery, to prevent being cheated, he also brought several military industry personnel who knew machines.
They had all been repeatedly instructed by Li Muzhi that the machines exchanged by the other side could not be dysfunctional.
Otherwise, terminate the exchange.
Old Zhang hadn’t waited long when he saw Chief of Staff Fang Ligong from the Jin Sui Army 358th Regiment arrive.
Fang Ligong spotted the Hell Cannon that Zhang Wanhe brought at first glance, and his expression lit up instantly: “I didn’t expect the Eighth Route Army to really be willing to trade their heavy cannon for our equipment.”
When Zhang Wanhe saw Fang Ligong, he had the same thought and was equally delighted: “Haha, the Jin Sui Army is willing to trade equipment for our Hell Cannon, that’s great. These key pieces of equipment are exactly what Xiao Li urgently needs.”
Both sides were happily surprised and satisfied, so the transaction naturally went extremely smoothly.
Both sides exchanged opening pleasantries for a couple of sentences, then got down to business.
The military industry personnel Zhang Wanhe brought confirmed the machines had no issues, Fang Ligong saw that this was indeed the same as the artillery Li Yunlong carried that day, then both sides cooperated quickly and exchanged the things.
After the things were exchanged, to prevent the other side from regretting it.
Both transaction parties departed with the things at the fastest speed.
“Hahaha, bringing these key pieces of equipment to Xiao Li, our Border Region Arsenal’s production efficiency will improve a lot again.” On the way back, Zhang Wanhe laughed heartily.
Fang Ligong was also laughing, but with a mocking tone: “The Eighth Route Army traded the heavy cannon to us, we’ll go back and have the arsenal copy it. This is a huge loss for the Eighth Route Army in the transaction, and the funny thing is they act like they’ve picked up a treasure. Farmers are farmers, with little knowledge, hahaha.”
Carrying this Hell Cannon, Fang Ligong returned to the 358th Regiment headquarters at the fastest speed.
Seeing that Fang Ligong had really brought back the Eighth Route Army’s Hell Cannon, Chu Yunfei was still very surprised: “Brother Ligong, is this really the Eighth Route Army’s heavy cannon?”
“Regimental Commander, you’ve never seen it before, how could it be fake.” Fang Ligong laughed, “Those rural idiots from the Eighth Route Army are ultimately short-sighted.”
“Brother Ligong, don’t speak so definitively.” Chu Yunfei didn’t think the Eighth Route Army was stupid, but this heavy cannon had indeed been traded over, so he didn’t fully agree with Fang Ligong’s words.
Soon, Chu Yunfei noticed that Fang Ligong hadn’t traded back any cannonballs, and asked suspiciously: “What’s going on, only the cannon, no cannonballs?”
Fang Ligong explained: “Regimental Commander, although neither of us understands military industry, we both know that the cannon itself is the most valuable part. As for cannonballs, our arsenal can make them too. Whether we trade for cannonballs or not, I think it doesn’t make much difference.”
In fact, Fang Ligong had proposed to Zhang Wanhe that they wanted to trade for a few cannonballs.
Old Zhang’s response was that the Jin Sui Army side hadn’t said in advance they wanted to trade for cannonballs, so Zhang Wanhe hadn’t brought any.
If Fang Ligong didn’t agree, then forget it.
How could Fang Ligong disagree? He immediately completed the transaction and hurriedly brought the Hell Cannon back.
“That’s true.” Chu Yunfei didn’t suspect anything and said to Fang Ligong, “Then send someone to transport this Hell Cannon to the superior immediately.”
“Yes, Regimental Commander!” Fang Ligong nodded and immediately carried out Chu Yunfei’s order, sending people to take this Hell Cannon away right away.
“Brother Ligong, according to intelligence, the Japanese invaders are rapidly assembling troops. It looks like they’re going to attack us. You and I need to prepare to defend against the enemy as soon as possible.” Chu Yunfei pulled Fang Ligong and got back to the main topic on the sand table.
“Have the Japanese invaders taken the wrong medicine this time and lost track of priorities?” Fang Ligong cursed, “The Eighth Route Army clearly attacked their railway and robbed their military train, so why not go after the Eighth Route Army but come hit us instead!”
Regarding the Eighth Route Army robbing the Japanese invaders’ military train, when Fang Ligong heard the news, he was extremely shocked.
These mud-legged Eighth Route Army folks really did it—they managed to bring the train back, and even took back two reinforcement armored trains. The Japanese high officials’ expressions must have been ashen like pig liver.
“The reason is simple: the Japanese invaders can’t find the Eighth Route Army temporarily, so they have to take it out on us and the Direct Line Army.” Chu Yunfei was quite calm, “The Japanese invaders’ retaliation operations aren’t once or twice. Block the soldiers with generals, block the water with earth.”
“That’s true.” Fang Ligong nodded and said, “The Japanese invaders attacking us, I think the main purpose is still for the supplies we have.”
This time fishing in troubled waters, both the Jin Sui Army and the Direct Line Army seized quite a lot of supplies from the Japanese invaders.
The Japanese invaders’ side has heavy logistical pressure, and the railway hasn’t been restored to full operation yet, so they’ll definitely squeeze wool from the sheep themselves for supplies.
“So, the superior has already ordered us to hide or transfer supplies in advance, not leaving a single hair for the Japanese invaders.” Chu Yunfei sneered, “The Japanese invaders don’t have much logistical supplies. Hitting us is just one or two attempts. Without material supply, they’ll stop on their own. Maybe we’ll even get a chance to counterattack them then.”
“The superior is wise.”
……
When Zhang Wanhe arrived at the arsenal with the equipment.
He happened to hear a rumbling sound.
Zhang Wanhe immediately lit up with joy: “Haha, Xiao Li’s efficiency is really fast. So quickly, the locomotive has been assembled and is running.”
Zhang Wanhe ran into the arsenal’s power workshop, where the rumbling locomotive was operating normally.
“Haha, from now on, our Border Region Arsenal has power.” Zhang Wanhe laughed heartily, his eyes even starting to blur.
War is fought on logistics.
The arsenal is a very important part of logistics.
Previously, our industrial foundation was weak, so we could only do reloaded bullets and grenades.
The soldiers were at a great disadvantage fighting the Japanese invaders.
Now, our arsenal has power, and soon we can also provide the soldiers with excellent weapons and ammunition, letting the soldiers shed less blood and sacrifice less.
The others in the arsenal also cheered one after another:
“Hahaha, who would have thought that our factory director could bring back a Japanese locomotive to use as power.”
“The locomotive can pull a fully loaded train. With such powerful power output, our arsenal’s strength starts from this moment.”
“Listening to this rumbling machine sound, it doesn’t feel noisy at all. This is the most wonderful sound in the world.”
“Yes, this is the most beautiful sound.”
……
The excited workers even tossed Li Muzhi into the air, then caught him again.
This scared Old Zhang, who hurried over to stop them: “Don’t do that, don’t do that. I understand everyone’s excitement, but if you drop him by accident, there’s no place to regret it.”
After rescuing Li Muzhi from the workers’ enthusiasm, Zhang Wanhe happily said: “Xiao Li, I got all those key pieces of equipment you wanted. Go check them out quickly.”
“Old Qi, Old Lu, you all continue here.” Li Muzhi said to several big shots, “The locomotive power is fine. Proceed to the next step immediately.”
“Good, Factory Director Li.” These big shots’ eyes were full of energy as they immediately directed the workers to connect the power machinery and generator.
Li Muzhi followed Zhang Wanhe out and saw the several small lathes brought back in the yard. He immediately went up to inspect them carefully.
After confirming that all these small lathes could operate normally, Li Muzhi happily said: “Minister Zhang, these small lathes are all set. For the shoulder-mounted cannon, we can make the cannon barrel ourselves now.”
Those military industry personnel heard Li Muzhi say the equipment was normal and breathed a sigh of relief one by one.
They had checked and verified at the time, confirming the machines had no issues.
But they hadn’t relaxed their emotions.
Only now that Li Muzhi said the machines were fine did they fully relax.
Hearing Li Muzhi say they could make the cannon barrel themselves, these people were stunned looking at Li Muzhi: “Factory Director, you’re not joking, right? With just these few small lathes, we can make a cannon barrel ourselves?”
Cannon barrel manufacturing is equivalent to a country’s top industrial level.
Our arsenal just got power, and electricity isn’t set up yet.
The iron smelting plant hasn’t started either.
Factory Director, you’re saying in advance we can make cannon barrels— you’re not speaking carelessly, right?
With our current strength, can we produce cannon barrels?
Zhang Wanhe also looked at Li Muzhi in surprise: “Xiao Li, can you really do it now??”
For this shoulder-mounted cannon, Li Muzhi planned to modify captured mortar cannon barrels.
These cannon barrels are limited in number, so even if Li Muzhi makes shoulder-mounted cannons, the quantity will be limited.
But if Li Muzhi can make cannon barrels himself, that would mean something entirely different.
Just think about it.
One day, if every one of our soldiers carries a cannon on their shoulder, won’t that blast the Japanese invaders back home?
“Yes!” Li Muzhi was concise.
A rocket launcher’s cannon barrel is of course different from a standard artillery cannon barrel.
A standard artillery cannon barrel needs to withstand powerful chamber pressure, so the quality requirement for the cannon barrel is very high.
But a rocket launcher’s cannon barrel doesn’t need to withstand chamber pressure, so the quality requirement can be greatly reduced.
Once we smelt steel, using the arsenal’s equipment and these key small lathes in front of us, the cannon barrels we make can meet the rocket launcher requirements.
Hearing Li Muzhi’s affirmative answer, Zhang Wanhe and the military industry personnel were all extremely surprised. One of them thought of something and asked: “Then, since we can make the shoulder-mounted cannon cannon barrel, can we make the Hell Cannon’s cannon barrel?”
If we can make the Hell Cannon’s cannon barrel too, then we’d essentially have the ability to produce cannons independently.
No longer restricted by large caliber steel pipes.
“No.” Li Muzhi shook his head and explained: “The shoulder-mounted cannon doesn’t need to withstand any chamber pressure at all, so the quality requirement isn’t high. The Hell Cannon is different. Although it can bypass huge chamber pressure, there is still recoil force when firing, which requires a certain level of tolerance from the cannon barrel.”
“No problem. Being able to mass-produce the shoulder-mounted cannon is meaningful enough.” Zhang Wanhe took it in stride.
Once we produce enough shoulder cannons, with regiment commanders like Li Yunlong’s skills, are we still worried about not capturing large caliber steel pipes?
Maybe they’ll soon capture equipment for producing large caliber steel pipes.
Then, our Hell Cannon can achieve independent production.
“As long as the factory director is here, I believe we’ll eventually be able to produce large caliber steel pipes ourselves too.” These military industry personnel all had blind faith-like confidence in Li Muzhi.
“Since the things are brought back, hurry and move them inside.” Li Muzhi said, “Everything is waiting to be revived, and there’s still a lot to do.”
“Good.”
……
