Chapter 219: Equipment In Sight, But No Tungsten Ore
“This, this, this is really bizarre.”
Zhang Wanhe had previously been called out by Li Muzhi, but he didn’t stay outside and went to take care of his own matters.
After finishing his matters, Zhang Wanhe came back to check if Li Muzhi had indeed tamed these troublemakers.
Zhang Wanhe arrived outside the meeting room and saw the students all quietly and seriously doing their exercises.
Even those few troublemaker students were behaving very properly.
He also didn’t see Li Muzhi in the meeting room.
Zhang Wanhe deliberately observed for a few more minutes outside, and the students were still quietly doing their exercises, without violating classroom discipline.
So, this really puzzled Old Zhang.
How did Li Muzhi manage to do this?
He wasn’t even in the meeting room, yet he tamed all these troublemakers!
The Guard Captain smiled and said to Minister Zhang, “Minister Zhang, Factory Director Li said he’s not good at managing people, but I think he’s better at it than anyone else.”
Even if these few troublemakers were scolded face-to-face by Minister Zhang into behaving properly, as soon as they turned away, they immediately reverted to their old ways.
But Factory Director Li’s few brief words were far more effective than Minister Zhang’s stern scolding.
It’s been over an hour, and the troublemakers are all still behaving properly.
“How did Xiao Li do it?” Zhang Wanhe was greatly curious.
“After you left, Factory Director Li didn’t pursue the matter of the students questioning him. Instead, he lavishly praised them, saying they were all rare elite talents, very outstanding. The students were pleased by the praise, and then Factory Director Li had them do exercises,” the Guard Captain said.
“Just that simple?” Zhang Wanhe didn’t quite believe it.
When those few troublemakers were sent here, the leaders from their original unit looked like they were greatly relieved.
Their attitude was as if they were offloading a burden: Ah, finally got rid of these ancestors.
For troublemakers like that, just casually praising them a few times made them obedient and compliant? No matter how Zhang Wanhe thought about it, it didn’t seem realistic.
“Maybe they’ve been scolded too much before. Li Muzhi appreciated them from beginning to end, making them feel like prized steeds meeting a discerning judge,” the Guard Captain said with a smile.
“Those few troublemakers are prized steeds? I…” Zhang Wanhe immediately wanted to refute, but he soon held his tongue.
Didn’t I praise them earlier too? And what happened? It was completely useless.
Li Muzhi praised them, and it worked?
Perhaps they obeyed Li Muzhi because he was about the same age and easier to talk to.
Forget it, forget it. As long as Xiao Li can control them, it saves me some effort.
“You keep watching here. I’ll go check on Xiao Li,” Zhang Wanhe told the Guard Captain to continue watching here.
“Yes, Minister Zhang.” The Guard Captain nodded.
Zhang Wanhe had just walked away from outside the meeting room and hadn’t reached Li Muzhi’s office when he saw the doorway guard come to report: “Minister Zhang, Company Commander Sun Desheng from Regimental Commander Li’s cavalry company is here with urgent business to see the Factory Director.”
Cavalry company commander under Li Yunlong?
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wanhe’s expression turned serious: “Have him come to me first.”
Li Yunlong’s side was planning to break out of the encirclement to fight and seize the Japanese invaders’ large arsenal. If he came rushing over with urgent business now, they must have encountered some difficulty.
I can handle this in place of Xiao Li and save him some time.
“Okay.”
Soon, Sun Desheng quickly walked up to Zhang Wanhe and saluted him: “Minister Zhang.”
“Company Commander Sun, did your regimental commander send you hurrying over here to request some equipment from the arsenal?” Zhang Wanhe asked directly.
“No.” Sun Desheng shook his head and answered, “It’s Yan Kai from the Jin Sui Army. Our regimental commander said Yan Kai is willing to trade equipment for our tungsten ore…”
Before Sun Desheng could finish, Zhang Wanhe interrupted with a scolding: “That’s impossible!”
Before, we had 8000 tons of tungsten ore. Why did we trade it for supplies? Because at that time we couldn’t refine tungsten ore ourselves, conditions were harsh, and we indeed urgently needed supplies, so we had no choice!
It’s different now.
Xiao Li says he has a way to refine tungsten ore; we’re just short of equipment. We can use tungsten ore to make weapons, so no matter what, we won’t give tungsten ore to the Jin Sui Army side.
Moreover, now that logistics revenue generation is in place, living conditions can be maintained, so there’s even less need to sell such a precious strategic metal like tungsten ore!
Sun Desheng explained: “Our regimental commander sent me back to ask Factory Director Li if he can make fake tungsten ore, and use the fake tungsten ore to trade with Yan Kai’s side…”
Before Sun Desheng could finish speaking, Old Zhang Comrade’s face changed faster than turning a page in a book.
His serious expression instantly turned to excitement: “Heh heh, using fakes to exchange for equipment? I think that’s feasible. I think it works.”
Isn’t this getting something for nothing? Our Border Region Arsenal is short on equipment.
Immediately, Zhang Wanhe questioned: “Is this for real? Or is it some trick from the Jin Sui Army side?”
We’ve suffered plenty from the Jin Sui Army. They say one thing to your face and do another behind your back.
On the surface, they say they’ll trade equipment for tungsten ore, but they might just be toying with us, taking the tungsten ore and not giving the equipment.
“I’m not clear on that.” Sun Desheng shook his head, then said: “But our regimental commander isn’t a fool, and Minister Zhang, you’re even less of one, right?”
“That’s true.” Zhang Wanhe nodded.
Without seeing the equipment, no way they’re getting our tungsten ore!
Even if we see the equipment, I’m still not giving them the damn tungsten ore!
Sun Desheng said suspiciously: “Minister Zhang, the key is whether Factory Director Li can actually make it.”
“Of course he can. Xiao Li even has a way to refine tungsten ore; making fakes is definitely no problem,” Zhang Wanhe said to Sun Desheng. “Wait here. I’ll go ask Xiao Li first.”
After speaking, Zhang Wanhe quickly arrived at Li Muzhi’s office.
Seeing Zhang Wanhe coming, Li Muzhi asked while working: “Minister Zhang, are those students still quiet now?”
“Quiet, quiet, unbelievably quiet.” Zhang Wanhe said admiringly, “Xiao Li, you’re the one who can do it. These troublemakers were unruly in their original units, and when they came to me, they had plenty of issues and loved to complain. I never expected that in just a few minutes in your hands, you got them behaving perfectly. No doubt about it, Xiao Li, this was truly unexpected.”
“Heh heh.” Li Muzhi chuckled and said, “Actually, what they need is respect and understanding. As long as you approach it that way, the work goes much smoother.”
“As long as you can tame this bunch of troublemakers, I’ll be relieved.” Zhang Wanhe smiled and said, then asked: “Can you make this fake tungsten ore?”
Make fake tungsten ore?
Upon hearing this, Li Muzhi was a bit stunned and looked at Zhang Wanhe: “Minister Zhang, we have real tungsten ore now. Why make fakes?”
“It’s not Yan Kai from the Jin Sui Army eyeing our tungsten ore,” Zhang Wanhe grumbled. “This bastard—I kept him hanging, not selling Hell Cannon shells or rocket launchers for now—and now he’s set his sights on our tungsten ore, saying he can trade equipment for it.”
“So, you’re planning to use fake tungsten ore to exchange for their real equipment?” Li Muzhi understood immediately.
“So, Xiao Li, can you make fakes?” Zhang Wanhe asked.
“That’s not difficult.” Li Muzhi nodded.
“Good, then make some when you have time.” Zhang Wanhe said happily, “I’ll handle Yan Kai’s side.”
“Minister Zhang, just like with the Hell Cannon shells, we need to stall first. We can’t agree too readily,” Li Muzhi reminded. “Even making fake tungsten ore takes time.”
“Don’t worry, when it comes to doing business, I’m better than you.” Zhang Wanhe nodded briskly. If we agree too quickly, Yan Kai’s side will get suspicious. We definitely need to parry a couple rounds of feints first, then we can really open the lion’s mouth.
Hearing Li Muzhi mention Hell Cannon shells, Zhang Wanhe asked: “By the way, Xiao Li, have you finished the anti-disassembly device inside the Hell Cannon shells?”
“Not yet. We’re making flashbangs anyway, and Yan Kai’s side needs to be kept hanging first, so no rush,” Li Muzhi said calmly.
“Mm, no rush.” Zhang Wanhe nodded. The problem was, even if it were urgent, it wouldn’t help.
Even if Li Muzhi made it today, we couldn’t trade it for equipment with the Jin Sui Army side today.
Moreover, now the Japanese invaders’ large-scale sweep had begun, with the vanguard already mobilized, so there wasn’t a stable environment for transactions.
“Xiao Li, keep working then. I’m heading out.” Zhang Wanhe turned and walked out, closing the door.
“Okay.” Li Muzhi kept his head down and continued working.
Zhang Wanhe came before Sun Desheng and asked happily: “Company Commander Sun, is this Yan Kai with your regimental commander now?”
“Yes, Yan Kai is at our regimental commander’s place now.” Sun Desheng nodded.
“Go back and tell your regimental commander that Xiao Li can make fake tungsten ore. Have him keep Yan Kai steady, don’t agree too readily,” Zhang Wanhe instructed. “I’ll handle the final transaction with Yan Kai.”
“Okay, Minister Zhang.” Sun Desheng nodded and was about to mount his horse and leave.
“Hold on.” Thinking of something, Zhang Wanhe stopped Sun Desheng.
“Minister Zhang, do you have more to say?” Sun Desheng halted and turned to look at Zhang Wanhe.
“Isn’t your regimental commander taking troops to fight wars, breaking out of the encirclement? Yan Kai is still with your regimental commander?” Zhang Wanhe asked suspiciously.
“Minister Zhang, besides our tungsten ore, Yan Kai is also eyeing our Hell Cannons and rocket launchers,” Sun Desheng said. “This guy is like a plaster, stuck to our regimental commander and won’t leave.”
Sun Desheng certainly wouldn’t tell Zhang Wanhe that although Yan Kai was a bit like a plaster, the one truly keeping him around was still our regimental commander.
Our regimental commander wanted to pull the Jin Sui Army in again.
“Doesn’t he, Yan Kai, fear danger following Li Yunlong?”
“I don’t know about that.” Sun Desheng shook his head.
“Then go back.” Zhang Wanhe didn’t ask further.
Watching Sun Desheng mount his horse and quickly disappear from sight, Zhang Wanhe muttered to himself: “Yan Kai’s identity isn’t simple. If something happens to him following Li Yunlong out there, won’t this business fall through? Should I report to headquarters or mention it to Li Yunlong’s brigade commander?”
Forget it, forget it.
I won’t overthink combat troops’ matters.
Regimental Commander Li is so good at fighting wars and never takes losses. I won’t meddle blindly.
Old Zhang Comrade suppressed this thought and walked back toward the meeting room.
He wanted to check if those few troublemakers were still seriously doing their exercises without causing trouble.
On the surface, they were twenty-eight people.
Old Zhang Comrade also knew what it meant if Li Muzhi could train them up.
These would all be our precious assets in the future, treasured lumps.
Every one of them was invaluable.
