Chapter 19: Brigade Commander Pulls His Gun
Seeing the Brigade Commander come out, Li Yunlong quickly saluted him: “Brigade Commander.”
The Brigade Commander walked to Li Yunlong’s side, touched the cannon with his hand, and it was indeed an iron lump.
The Brigade Commander looked at Li Yunlong suspiciously: “Li Yunlong, where did you get this cannon?”
“Brigade Commander, you definitely won’t believe it when I tell you.” Li Yunlong teased him first.
“Spit it out quickly if you have something to say!” the Brigade Commander cursed.
“This is a cannon manufactured by our Border Region Arsenal.” Li Yunlong replied.
A cannon manufactured by the Border Region Arsenal?
When the Brigade Commander and the personnel of the Brigade Headquarters heard this, they all acted as if they had heard the biggest joke in the world.
Who doesn’t know what our Arsenal is like.
They struggle to even produce bullets and grenades, and they can build cannons?
Why don’t you, Li Yunlong, just say that the Border Region Arsenal can build airplanes, tanks, and warships.
Seeing that the Brigade Commander and the others didn’t believe him, Li Yunlong explained: “Brigade Commander, think about it carefully, would the enemy’s Arsenal build artillery with such a crude appearance?”
“That’s true.” The Brigade Commander and the others nodded.
With the enemy’s craftsmanship, they couldn’t possibly build cannons with such a rough appearance.
Our Arsenal’s capabilities are mediocre; if we use some pipes and scrap iron and weld them together, it seems somewhat possible to build such a cannon.
But that’s impossible too!
Heavy cannons have higher chamber pressure than ordinary infantry guns and mountain cannons, and they require higher quality cannon barrels.
The thin-walled pipe of the cannon in front of us wouldn’t be able to withstand the powerful chamber pressure.
“Brigade Commander, please suppress the matter of our Arsenal producing cannons.” Li Yunlong leaned in towards the Brigade Commander, “You come from an intelligence background, do you have any intelligence about the enemy’s sugar?”
“Li Yunlong, you’re quite greedy. You know as well as I do that sugar is very important to the enemy, so they’ll definitely keep it under tight wraps.” The Brigade Commander’s answer implied he had none.
Li Yunlong couldn’t help but anxiously say: “Oh dear, then we’re ruined! I’ve already promised the Arsenal that I’ll get them a thousand jin of sugar in three days.”
A thousand jin of sugar for the Arsenal in three days?
The Brigade Commander’s eyes widened: “Li Yunlong, are you boasting without even a draft? You don’t even know where the enemy’s sugar is, and you dare promise them a thousand jin!”
“Brigade Commander, the main reason is that the Arsenal has conditions; if they get a thousand jin of sugar, they can exchange it for a cannon.” Li Yunlong explained.
A thousand jin of sugar can be exchanged for a cannon?
The Brigade Commander was stunned and looked at Li Yunlong: “Haven’t you already brought the cannon back?”
“I told them I borrowed it for three days.” Li Yunlong explained.
“Oh, come on, with Logistics Minister Zhang’s stingy temper, I don’t believe he would lend it…” Alright, the Brigade Commander didn’t finish his sentence.
Someone from the Brigade Headquarters called out: “Brigade Commander, Logistics Minister Zhang is on the phone. He’s very angry and wants you to pick up immediately.”
Hearing this, the Brigade Commander glared at Li Yunlong: “Li Yunlong, you better tell me the truth, did you snatch this cannon from Logistics?”
Li Yunlong had just arrived when Zhang Wanhe personally called. The Brigade Commander felt that Li Yunlong definitely hadn’t told the truth.
“Brigade Commander, I really borrowed it, I borrowed it.” Li Yunlong wouldn’t budge.
“You’d better tell me the truth.” The Brigade Commander said to Li Yunlong before going to answer the phone.
The Deputy Brigade Commander questioned Li Yunlong, “Li Yunlong, did you really borrow this cannon?”
“I really borrowed it.” Li Yunlong still didn’t change his story.
“Then we’ll wait for the Brigade Commander to come back.”
…
The Brigade Commander arrived at the phone and picked up the microphone: “This is the 386th Brigade…”
Before the Brigade Commander could finish speaking, Zhang Wanhe’s roar came from the handset: “Brigade Commander Chen, your subordinate Li Yunlong has forcibly detained the cannon manufactured by my Logistics Arsenal. Find Li Yunlong immediately and have him return the cannon as soon as possible, otherwise, I will report this to Headquarters and hold Li Yunlong accountable.”
The Brigade Commander feigned surprise: “What, your Arsenal can build cannons now? Old Zhang, are you sure you’re not joking? Your Arsenal has trouble producing bullets and grenades. Old Zhang, if your Head of Logistics is so idle, don’t play such jokes on me.”
Although the Brigade Commander didn’t believe the Arsenal could build cannons, since the cannon was already at his Brigade Headquarters, he couldn’t not use it immediately.
“I am not joking. You come from an intelligence background, so you should have received intelligence about Sunjiabao being shelled, right? Our Arsenal’s Hell Cannon destroyed three gun towers in Sunjiabao with one shot, scaring the defenders of Sunjiabao into surrendering. Then we led our men to ambush the enemy reinforcements, and one shot destroyed over a hundred Japanese invaders, directly wiping out half of a Japanese squadron. Such a destructive artillery piece, you should understand how significant it is to our army. I know you usually protect Li Yunlong, but this time, Li Yunlong forcibly detaining our Logistics’ cannon is indeed audacious. You must immediately have Li Yunlong return the cannon to us in Logistics.”
“Old Zhang, you’re bragging more and more outrageously. One shot killed over a hundred Japanese soldiers?” The Brigade Commander hadn’t received this intelligence and doubted it verbally and mentally.
The cannon Li Yunlong brought back could even be pulled by a mule, how could it be considered a heavy cannon.
If it’s not a heavy cannon, how could it kill over a hundred Japanese soldiers in one shot.
However, the Brigade Commander believed that Zhang Wanhe was likely not exaggerating, otherwise, why would his tone be so solemn.
If Old Zhang hadn’t said that one shot could kill over a hundred Japanese soldiers, perhaps I really would have…
Killing over a hundred Japanese soldiers with one shot, an artillery piece with such terrifying lethality, if I don’t get to see it, wouldn’t that be a waste of this chance encounter.
“I am not joking with you!” Zhang Wanhe’s tone remained very serious.
“Alright, I will immediately send people to investigate this matter. If it is true, I will deal with it immediately.” The Brigade Commander’s words were flawless.
“Within three days, the cannon must be delivered to me!” Zhang Wanhe said and hung up the phone.
Although Zhang Wanhe was very angry, he also understood the temper of Li Yunlong’s superior.
If the cannon fell into his hands, it wouldn’t be returned so readily.
That’s why Zhang Wanhe gave them three days, depending on whether his 386th Brigade could get the sugar.
After all, the Brigade Commander was one of the Huangpu Three Heroes and had real ability. Zhang Wanhe still hoped he could get the sugar so that the cannonballs could continue to be produced.
Otherwise, Zhang Wanhe would personally go to the 386th Brigade to demand the cannon.
When the Brigade Commander finished talking with Zhang Wanhe and walked out, his expression was terrifying.
“Oh dear, Brigade Commander, what’s wrong? Did Logistics’ Old Zhang slander me…” Li Yunlong’s heart tightened at the Brigade Commander’s expression, and he stepped forward with a fawning smile.
The Brigade Commander drew his gun and cursed, “You good-for-nothing Li Yunlong, I knew you were causing trouble for me! You dare to snatch cannons from Logistics, you’re tired of living, I’ll shoot you now!”
The Deputy Brigade Commander and the others were all startled.
So it was you, Li Yunlong, who snatched the cannon, truly audacious and fearless of death.
