Chapter 191: It Must Never Happen Again
The brigade commander suppressed the turbulent waves in his heart and looked at Li Muzhi: “Xiao Li, how did you do this?”
“Brigade Commander Chen, here, I was originally planning to show it to the headquarters leader first, but you, Brigade Commander Chen, are lucky, so you look first.” Zhang Wanhe handed the report written by Li Muzhi to the brigade commander.
If it were someone else, this report really couldn’t be shown to just anyone.
But the brigade commander in front of him was not just anyone.
The brigade commander still directly pressed down Zhang Wanhe’s outstretched hand, his expression solemn: “This belongs to our army’s top secret, I won’t look.”
The brigade commander had done intelligence work and knew the value of the contents inside.
The more top-level the secret content, the fewer people should see it, the better.
Although the brigade commander wouldn’t leak it if he saw it, not looking was still the most secure.
“This is you not looking yourself, there won’t be another chance later.” Zhang Wanhe took back the report.
“I trust Xiao Li, so I won’t look.” The brigade commander said solemnly.
“Haha.” Zhang Wanhe laughed heartily, then changed the subject: “Brigade Commander Chen, for this new type rocket, we still need one important raw material, you need to hurry on your side.”
“What important raw material?” the brigade commander asked.
“Sugar.” Zhang Wanhe had an attitude of dumping the burden on the brigade commander and said, “Your 386th Brigade sent one hundred fifty tons of fertilizer, and the sugar matching these one hundred fifty tons of fertilizer is also a very large amount. Brigade Commander Chen, for this new type rocket to be made, the propellant and explosives inside both need sugar.”
“Of course.” The brigade commander nodded directly.
This new type rocket can fly on its own without carrying a cannon barrel to launch it. Such an important weapon has extraordinary battlefield significance, so sugar definitely needs to be hurried.
Li Muzhi turned his head to Zhang Wanhe and said: “Minister Zhang, don’t contact Yan Kai’s side directly first, let them hang for a while, wait for them to contact us, then you deliberately refuse a few times, and finally negotiate. Do you know what I mean?”
“I know, I know, whet their appetite thoroughly, and finally we open our mouths for equipment, this is a big lion’s mouth, hehe.” Old Zhang comrades thought of the scene at that time, and the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but grin back to his ears.
The brigade commander continued: “Xiao Li, Old Zhang, I have another piece of good news to tell you two.”
“What good news?” Old Zhang comrades’ mouth corners immediately straightened, staring at the brigade commander.
Li Muzhi also looked at the brigade commander; it seemed there was still a surprise.
“Li Yunlong’s side will soon find the Japanese invaders’ copper refining plant…” The brigade commander’s words were not finished.
Zhang Wanhe interrupted in surprise: “Brigade Commander Chen, what did you say, copper refining plant, real or fake?”
Li Muzhi was also stunned.
Was Li Yunlong really that capable?
Soon finding the Japanese invaders’ copper refining plant meant they had a lead.
The Border Region Arsenal’s production of cannonballs and bullets urgently needed copper.
“That’s right, it’s a copper refining plant.” The brigade commander nodded.
“Then how soon is soon?” Zhang Wanhe urged.
“If fast, they’ll find it today.” The brigade commander answered.
“Haha, that means we can get it back today.” Zhang Wanhe laughed and said, “Do you need me to put together another transportation team to go over?”
“No need, Li Yunlong’s side has a transportation team.” The brigade commander shook his head.
Li Muzhi added: “Brigade Commander Chen, this news of yours came very timely. I should still send some workers over immediately. When we dismantled the enemy’s iron smelting plant earlier, the furnace wasn’t dismantled well.”
What Li Muzhi said was also quite tactful, without any intention of blaming the combat troops.
After all, combat troops only knew how to kill Japanese invaders, how would they understand military industry equipment?
“The furnace wasn’t dismantled well, and you never mentioned it?” Zhang Wanhe turned to look at Li Muzhi.
“I just didn’t want to spoil your mood.” Li Muzhi explained, “After all, if the furnace wasn’t dismantled well and you knew, besides cursing in your hearts, you couldn’t help with anything.”
“Alright then, Xiao Li, you send workers from the arsenal side.” Zhang Wanhe nodded.
“Good.” Li Muzhi immediately called an assistant and told him a dozen names and some tools.
These assistants noted it down and immediately ran back to the workshop to find people.
Soon, a dozen workers came over with tools.
The brigade commander immediately turned to the Guard Company Commander and said: “You take these dozen workers to find Li Yunlong and them; you know where they are.”
“Brigade commander, if our Guard Company leaves, who will protect your safety?” the Guard Company Commander said.
“Isn’t there still Kong Jie?” the brigade commander said.
“Yes, brigade commander.” The Guard Company Commander nodded and quickly left with these dozen workers.
“You two, I now have some internal matters to find Kong Jie for, so I won’t disturb your work.” The brigade commander had finished talking business with Li Muzhi and Zhang Wanhe and planned to go chat with Kong Jie.
“Good, Brigade Commander Chen, go ahead with your business.” Zhang Wanhe and Li Muzhi nodded.
The brigade commander went to find Kong Jie. Zhang Wanhe held the report and said to Li Muzhi: “I’ll send this report to headquarters, and by the way, report to the headquarters leader about your plan to install a self-destruct device in the Hell Cannon shells.”
“Good.” Li Muzhi nodded, watched Zhang Wanhe leave, then he returned to the office; the details of the 107 rockets still needed further improvement.
……
New Second Regiment of the 386th Brigade
“Regiment commander, the workers in the arsenal are discussing that Factory Director Li is making new weapons again.” Someone came to Kong Jie and said.
“What new weapons?” Kong Jie perked up his ears immediately upon hearing it.
Last time, the news of the rocket launcher wasn’t reported to the brigade headquarters in advance, and Kong Jie got scolded.
This time, Li Muzhi was making new weapons again; he couldn’t delay it.
“I heard it’s some kind of new type cannonball that doesn’t need a cannon barrel to launch; it can fly out and kill the enemy on its own.” This person said.
Kong Jie widened his eyes upon hearing: “Cannonballs that don’t need a cannon barrel to launch, real or fake?”
This news seemed too fake; how could cannonballs launch without a cannon barrel?
“The workers inside the arsenal are all talking about it; I estimate it’s not fake.” This person answered.
“Cannonballs without a cannon barrel, how do they fly out?” Kong Jie scratched his head and asked: “Are you sure this isn’t a rumor?”
“Regiment commander, the arsenal workers are all discussing it, everyone speaking with foam at their mouths; it doesn’t look like a rumor.” This person nodded.
“I’ll go find Factory Director Li right now to ask…” Kong Jie was just about to go personally ask Li Muzhi.
The Battalion Commander came to report: “Regiment commander, the brigade commander is here; the brigade commander’s expression looks very bad.”
The brigade commander was here, and his expression was bad?
Kong Jie was stunned upon hearing it.
Could it be that bastard Li Yunlong pissed off the brigade commander again?
The brigade commander came to find him; if things went bad, this anger might be vented on him.
Kong Jie hurriedly straightened his clothes and quickly went over.
“Brigade commander, you came at the perfect time.” Kong Jie looked at the brigade commander and spoke first: “I just heard that Factory Director Li is making new weapons again; I was preparing to verify with him and then report to you.”
The brigade commander had a dark face: “Kong Jie, don’t you think your reaction is too slow?”
“My reaction is too slow?” Kong Jie didn’t understand the brigade commander’s meaning, “Where is it slow?”
“I already knew this news.” The brigade commander said, “You say, I already know, and you’re only reporting now; isn’t that slow?”
“What, brigade commander, you already knew?” Kong Jie was stunned.
His own people had just heard about it from the arsenal side, and the brigade commander already knew?
Could it be that the brigade commander had placed eyes and ears inside the arsenal?
Did the brigade commander need to do that? Wasn’t that distrusting the New Second Regiment?
“I see you’ve been coal mining so much your brain’s gone stupid…” The brigade commander was about to start scolding.
Kong Jie remembered something and immediately said very affirmatively: “Brigade commander, this news definitely just came out today; I dare say absolutely not yesterday!”
Every day after work, Kong Jie’s people would go chat with the arsenal workers.
If Li Muzhi had started a few days ago, Kong Jie couldn’t possibly not know.
“You’re that sure?” The brigade commander’s expression paused.
If this news just came out today, then Kong Jie’s actions weren’t slow.
If he hadn’t happened to learn it in advance from Zhang Wanhe, he wouldn’t have beaten Kong Jie to it.
“Brigade commander, you can go check right away.” Kong Jie said solemnly, “If this news started spreading yesterday, you can shoot me, and I won’t object.”
“What nonsense are you saying? Can’t you say something good!” The brigade commander scolded.
“Yes, brigade commander.”
“When Li Yunlong’s side robs the Japanese military train and makes a fortune, when they transport the captured goods to the arsenal, have him give you twenty grenade launcher mortars, ten mortars, and also two Type 92 Infantry Guns.” The brigade commander said solemnly to Kong Jie, “As for light and heavy machine guns, rifles, ammunition, and such, you decide what you need yourself; just say it’s my order.”
Li Yunlong, Ding Wei, and Cheng Xiazi had made a big fortune, two or three hundred artillery pieces; the division commander would definitely be jealous.
The brigade commander allocated some to Kong Jie’s side in advance; the division commander understood the importance of Kong Jie staying at the arsenal side, and he wouldn’t target Kong Jie. This also counted as the brigade commander securing some equipment in advance.
Kong Jie widened his eyes upon hearing: “Brigade commander, you’re not joking with me, right? How big a fortune did Li Yunlong and them make?”
Grenade launcher mortars and mortars together thirty pieces for him, Kong Jie, and even two Type 92 Infantry Guns; Kong Jie was truly shocked. Had that dog Li Yunlong robbed a Japanese cargo train?
“Comrade Kong Jie, the stuff isn’t free.” The brigade commander’s tone was very solemn, “Lately my left eyelid keeps twitching; I always feel the Japanese invaders will find the Border Region Arsenal. If you drop the ball for me then, don’t blame me for really shooting you!”
“Brigade commander, didn’t you say to say something good?” Kong Jie said.
“Better safe than sorry, is that not okay!” The brigade commander glared, “If you don’t want it, then I…”
“I want it, I want it, thank you brigade commander, thank you brigade commander.” Kong Jie nodded his head like a pecking chick and still didn’t forget to ask, “What if Li Yunlong doesn’t give?”
“He’s smarter than you.” The brigade commander threw that line at Kong Jie, simply inspected Kong Jie’s coal mining work, and then left.
“Regiment commander, I’m increasingly feeling that coal mining is a great job.” The Battalion Commander happily came to Kong Jie, “Look, we haven’t fought much, but the weapons in our hands keep increasing, haha.”
“Less grinning!” Kong Jie’s tone was serious, “After coal mining work, hurry and train troops.”
The brigade commander’s intuition was always accurate; if the Japanese invaders really killed to the Border Region Arsenal, the humiliating battle of two hundred to zero in Yang Village must not happen again.
“Yes, regiment commander.”
……
