Chapter 212: Flashbang Conditions Ripe
Li Muzhi quickly followed Zhang Wanhe to the new warehouse.
Due to combat troops grabbing more and more things, new warehouses were constantly being dug out.
But it still couldn’t quite keep up with the speed at which combat troops plundered supplies.
After all, digging cave dwellings wasn’t just about digging the hole; it required a series of corresponding follow-up measures.
For example, structural support, waterproofing measures, lighting, and so on.
The new warehouse in front of them was again packed very full.
Zhang Wanhe said worriedly: “Tungsten ore and other supplies haven’t been transported back yet. I’m worried about where to put these things once they’re transported back.”
Before, Old Zhang worried about a lack of supplies, with the warehouse empty.
Now Old Zhang was still worried, but about having too many supplies and not enough warehouse space.
“Supplies like these—if they can’t fit, just distribute them to the combat troops.” Li Muzhi saw that there were still quite a few supplies in the warehouse.
“We can’t just send them all out at once; logistics needs to get by too.” Zhang Wanhe said seriously, “Even with extra rations, we need to save as much as possible. During lean times, the troops below all come to me with open mouths. You think it’s easy being in charge?”
“It’s not easy.” Li Muzhi nodded.
Without his help in manufacturing weapons and revenue generation, Old Zhang’s job as head of logistics would be tough.
After all, on the surface, our army only had three divisions, but in reality, troops had exceeded 300,000.
The daily rations for these 300,000 men were no small amount.
Although there were orders to solve living problems on their own and be self-sufficient through their own efforts.
But not all troops could do it well, especially in harsh, frigid conditions—they still had to ask Old Zhang for help.
And now.
With logistics generating revenue, it was even more important to stay frugal.
It is easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to go from luxury to frugality!
Facing abundant supplies without gorging themselves, still living thriftily—this was even harder.
“Xiao Li, look—these are all things grabbed from Yuehua Station last night: potassium nitrate, sealing paint, even light bulbs urgently needed by the new factory. With so many light bulbs, once more new factories are built, they can hold us over for a while.” Zhang Wanhe pointed to supplies packed full in another new warehouse for Li Muzhi. “This is just part of the captures from Yuehua Station; the other new warehouses are all full.”
“Minister Zhang, Yuehua Station has so much profit—twice we’ve grabbed important military industrial raw materials.” Li Muzhi pointed out, “We can remind the combat troops to send people to watch Yuehua Station’s transport vehicles. Maybe we can follow those transport vehicles to find the Japanese invaders’ military industrial raw materials factory.”
Where there are military industrial raw materials, there must be a military industrial raw materials factory.
“Yuehua Station is a station on the Jingtai Line. The Japanese invaders’ supplies are probably transported by military train, so it might not be easy to track.” Zhang Wanhe said.
“It doesn’t rule out that Japanese invaders’ military industrial raw materials factories elsewhere use automobiles to transport things to Yuehua Station, then ship them out by military train.” Li Muzhi said.
“Mm, that makes sense.” Zhang Wanhe agreed, “I’ll remind the 120th Division later.”
Zhang Wanhe continued: “But I reckon the 120th Division is already on it. Even someone like you who only knows how to make weapons and not fight wars thought of this—the staff officers of the combat troops aren’t pushovers.”
“Mm.” Li Muzhi agreed.
Zhang Wanhe asked: “I heard Lao He say that tungsten ore can also be used to make electric lights?”
“Yes, refined into tungsten filament, which has a very high melting point.” Li Muzhi nodded, “Ordinary metals have low melting points and will break under high heat. Tungsten filament won’t.”
“Then let’s hope the combat troops can grab the related equipment soon.” Zhang Wanhe said expectantly.
They arrived at a new warehouse with several unrecognizable supplies inside.
Zhang Wanhe pointed: “Xiao Li, the stuff is all here. Take a look and see what it is.”
“Okay.” Li Muzhi nodded and stepped forward immediately.
Li Muzhi opened a bag, took a bit of sample, and his eyes lit up: “Minister Zhang, this is good stuff.”
“What good stuff?” Zhang Wanhe asked quickly.
“If I’m not mistaken, this should be magnesium powder.” Li Muzhi answered.
He said “judgment” because Li Muzhi still needed to test it to confirm completely.
Identifying raw materials requires science—not just eyes, but test results.
“What’s magnesium powder for?”
“When magnesium powder burns, it produces strong light. It can be used to make illumination flares.” Li Muzhi said.
Of course, magnesium powder’s uses weren’t just that.
Besides making illumination flares and fireworks.
It could be used as a reducing agent or in organic synthesis.
It could even be used in ramjet engines for rockets and to remove hydrogen chloride from propellant gases.
Of course, concepts like reducing agents and organic synthesis didn’t need explaining to Old Zhang—he wouldn’t understand.
“For making illumination flares, that’s good stuff.” Zhang Wanhe laughed, “Although troops have captured Japanese invaders’ illumination flares, they’ll run out eventually. If our arsenal can make them ourselves, that means a lot.”
Our army excelled at night combat; with illumination flares, it would be like a tiger with wings.
Zhang Wanhe then urged: “Xiao Li, check the other stuff.”
“Okay.” Li Muzhi nodded and continued checking.
Li Muzhi opened another package and took out a bit of sample.
“This should be aluminum powder.” Li Muzhi quickly gave the answer.
“What’s aluminum powder for?” Zhang Wanhe asked.
“Like magnesium powder, it can be used to make illumination flares or explosives.” Li Muzhi answered.
Aluminum powder’s uses weren’t just that.
In later generations, aluminum powder’s main uses spanned industrial coloring, aerospace fuel, metal processing, safety protection, and special materials manufacturing, its unique metallic properties and physics making it indispensable in modern industry.
Of course, same as before.
Those advanced terms would be like talking to a duck if explained to Old Zhang.
“It can also be used for explosives—that’s indeed good stuff.” Zhang Wanhe laughed happily again.
Li Muzhi continued checking the remaining two supplies.
One was ammonium nitrate, like potassium nitrate—an important raw material for explosives.
The other, Li Muzhi couldn’t confirm on the spot.
Li Muzhi said to Zhang Wanhe: “Minister Zhang, I need to test all these raw materials fully before I can give you a report.”
“Sure, sure, no problem—get to it.” Zhang Wanhe nodded repeatedly.
Li Muzhi took several small bottles, put samples of these raw materials and supplies in them, then returned to his office.
Zhang Wanhe stood at the doorway of Li Muzhi’s office, waiting for the results.
Back in the office, Li Muzhi quickly tested these things.
Magnesium powder, aluminum powder, and potassium nitrate were quickly confirmed by Li Muzhi.
The last supply took Li Muzhi a bit of time, but he still identified it.
The last supply was copper perchlorate!
Copper perchlorate was a type of perchlorate, mainly used as a combustion catalyst.
Li Muzhi couldn’t help laughing: “This time, the stuff is so complete. If we just used all these for illumination flares, it’d be a bit of a waste.”
Li Muzhi opened the door. Seeing his smile, Zhang Wanhe eagerly asked: “Xiao Li, is this last thing especially valuable?”
“Valuable, sure, but its uses are even greater.” Li Muzhi laughed.
“What can it do?” Zhang Wanhe asked.
“In guerrilla warfare in the wild, our army has rocket launchers and new type rockets. But when attacking cities and engaging Japanese invaders in street fighting, we’re short on auxiliary tactical equipment.” Li Muzhi said, “Mixing these few things like magnesium powder and aluminum powder, once they meet an open flame, will release strong light and high-decibel sound, temporarily blinding the enemy’s eyes and deafening their ears.”
Right, mixing these made flashbangs.
Zhang Wanhe got excited: “Temporarily disabling the Japanese invaders’ eyes and ears—wouldn’t they be sitting ducks!”
Imagine a group of Japanese invaders losing hearing and vision—they’d lose combat power.
Done right, one throw could kill a swath of Japanese invaders.
Zhang Wanhe quickly asked: “Xiao Li, how soon can you make this?”
“With all the raw materials ready, fast would be one or two days.” Li Muzhi said.
With materials complete, it was just the projectile body and a few small parts—easy to manufacture.
“One or two days?” Zhang Wanhe was stunned, thrilled. “Then hurry and make some to see. Do it fast. The Japanese invaders will soon launch a large-scale sweep. If you throw this weapon and instantly deprive thousands of them of hearing and vision, wouldn’t that quickly annihilate them all and break their encirclement and suppression!”
Li Muzhi chuckled a bit—Old Zhang’s imagination was too rich.
He’d said it was tactical equipment.
Instantly disabling thousands would make it a strategic weapon.
Of course, Li Muzhi didn’t mock Old Zhang—his military industry knowledge was just some crude sketches.
Li Muzhi explained: “Minister Zhang, I said this weapon is for aiding street fighting. Useless in open areas, only in rooms.”
A flashbang’s strong light in the open was basically nothing, like sunlight.
Exploding in sunlight, it’d just be a puff of smoke.
The high explosion noise had some effect, but not much.
In a room, the effect was great.
“Only usable in rooms.” Zhang Wanhe was a bit dazed upon hearing that.
He’d thought Xiao Li’s weapon could take out hordes of Japanese invaders, but room-only meant limited kills.
Besides!
If you could throw this into a room, why not just throw a grenade?
Seeing Zhang Wanhe’s thoughts, Li Muzhi laughed: “Once raw materials and equipment are ready, making weapons to kill hordes at once isn’t hard—it’s inevitable. Throw this flash weapon into a room, deprive enemies of hearing and vision, then troops rush in and slaughter them easily—perfect for training recruits. Of course, the biggest use is capturing live prisoners, especially scouts and spies—extremely useful.”
“True, true.” Zhang Wanhe quickly adjusted his emotions and said: “Xiao Li, hurry and make a few to show.”
