Chapter 230: Clue On Seamless Steel Pipes
386 Brigade Brigade Headquarters
The Deputy Brigade Commander held a notebook and came before the Brigade Commander, handing the notebook to him: “Brigade Commander, I’ve extracted all the information from the Factory Director of Cuicun Arsenal’s mouth. It’s all in this notebook. The biggest gain is the upper-level arsenal of Cuicun Arsenal, which is the factory where the Japanese Invaders make cannon barrels.”
The factory where the Japanese Invaders make cannon barrels?
The Brigade Commander was stunned upon hearing this: “Doesn’t that mean we took the wrong approach with Yanzhen Arsenal that Li Yunlong and the others went to get?”
Previously, Cuicun Arsenal had semi-finished cannon barrels, so we speculated that the next large arsenal after Cuicun Arsenal could definitely make cannons.
Since they could make cannons, they could definitely make cannon barrels.
Now thinking about it, it seems our understanding of military industry production had some errors.
“Brigade Commander, no problem. As long as we know this factory where the Japanese Invaders make cannon barrels, that’s fine too,” the Deputy Brigade Commander said. “After this counter-raid is over, we can go take down that factory that can make cannon barrels. According to the confession of this Factory Director of Cuicun Arsenal, besides making cannon barrels, it can also make gun barrels, which is the seamless steel pipe that Factory Director Li mentioned.”
Cannon barrel steel pipes all belong to seamless steel pipes.
“Great, we’ve finally found news about the seamless steel pipe that Xiao Li has been obsessing over,” the Brigade Commander quickly opened the small notebook, looked at the arsenal address recorded above, and was stunned again: “This factory where the Japanese Invaders produce seamless steel pipes is quite far away.”
The Deputy Brigade Commander said: “What’s to fear about distance? We’re afraid of having no clues. As long as Xiao Li can make new type rockets for us, with this thing, do we still worry about not being able to hit that far!”
“That’s true.” The Brigade Commander nodded, still somewhat emotional: “Sigh, Yanzhen Arsenal might have the equipment Xiao Li needs, but Li Yunlong and the others couldn’t bring it back…”
Before the Brigade Commander finished speaking, a staff officer hurried in and reported to him: “Brigade Commander, just received news that Liu Weidong from the 115th Division has taken the Yanzhen Arsenal equipment to our Border Region Arsenal.”
“What? Liu Weidong took the Yanzhen Arsenal equipment to the Border Region Arsenal!!!” The Brigade Commander was stunned upon hearing this. “They broke out of the encirclement, could they have fought back in again!”
This afternoon, the Japanese encirclement and suppression army would all be in position.
Bringing the thing back to the Border Region Arsenal, and then wanting to fight out again, that would probably be difficult.
This damn Li Yunlong has messed up the big plan.
Weren’t they supposed to contain the Japanese Invaders outside?
Weren’t they supposed to buy time for the Border Region Arsenal?
Pulling the troops back into the heavy encirclement of the Japanese Invaders, what containment or buying time is that?
The staff officer explained: “Only Liu Weidong’s troops came back. Li Yunlong and their troops are still outside.”
“Only Liu Weidong’s troops brought back the Yanzhen Arsenal equipment?” The Brigade Commander was stunned again. “How did one regiment of his do that?”
Although the Japanese Army hadn’t fully arrived, the vanguard already had one brigade and one puppet army division.
Upon hearing that Yanzhen Arsenal was attacked, this Japanese vanguard would definitely send reinforcements.
Liu Weidong’s one regiment still had to bring the equipment—how could they fight the Japanese Invaders?
“It seems Li Yunlong and the others helped contain one regiment of Japanese Invaders. Liu Weidong’s troops also obtained sufficient artillery replenishment at Yanzhen Arsenal and directly blasted their way back with artillery fire,” the staff officer answered.
“Oh, right, right.” The Brigade Commander suddenly realized, remembering that Yanzhen Arsenal was an arsenal, so it definitely had cannons and weapons produced by the Japanese Invaders inside.
Liu Weidong and Li Yunlong charging into Yanzhen Arsenal would surely allow them to replenish another wave of artillery and cannonballs.
Relying on artillery barrage bombing, smashing cannonballs like they were free money—those Japanese Invaders are also flesh and blood, born of parents, not invulnerable to knives and guns.
Thinking of something, the Brigade Commander immediately asked: “Did you ask Xiao Li at the Border Region Arsenal if there’s equipment inside for making new type rockets?”
“Yes!” The staff officer nodded affirmatively and said, “Factory Director Li said that equipment can be used after some modifications.”
“Haha!” The Brigade Commander laughed heartily. “Great! As long as Xiao Li can make new type rockets, our chances in this counter-raid operation will be much greater.”
The Deputy Brigade Commander also laughed on the side: “Yes, as long as the new type rockets are made, our guerrilla team can bring them to the battlefield for cold cannon attacks on the Japanese Invaders, especially in the mountains where their standard artillery can’t be brought in—they’ll suffer even more. That way, even if the Japanese Invaders’ raid can’t be stopped for a while, they won’t be able to do anything to us. Our Border Region Arsenal can continue producing ammunition continuously without needing to stop and relocate.”
The Brigade Commander continued praising: “Looks like loosening the reins on this damn Li Yunlong was the right move. Him having Liu Weidong bring back the Yanzhen Arsenal equipment instead of burying it outside has allowed our new type rockets to be made in advance…”
The Brigade Commander didn’t finish his words.
Ding ling ling.
The telephone on the table rang.
The Brigade Commander picked up the microphone on the table: “This is 386 Brigade…”
The Deputy Commander’s very annoyed voice came from the phone, interrupting the Brigade Commander: “Chen*, come to headquarters right now!”
Hearing the Deputy Commander’s tone off, the Brigade Commander was still puzzled.
Logically, the Deputy Commander must know that Liu Weidong brought back the Yanzhen Arsenal equipment.
The Deputy Commander should be very happy about it and call to praise us—why is he angry instead?
It sounds just like someone has caused trouble…
Thinking of this, the Brigade Commander couldn’t help but feel a chill in his heart: “Damn it, don’t tell me that bastard Li Yunlong has caused trouble again.”
Liu Weidong bringing the Yanzhen Arsenal equipment back to the Border Region Arsenal would definitely require a quick report to superiors, and that report would surely reach the headquarters leaders.
The headquarters leader calling over like this probably means that bastard Li Yunlong has stirred up trouble.
So, the Brigade Commander asked suspiciously: “Leader, why are you angry…”
Before the Brigade Commander finished, the Deputy Commander angrily roared over: “Just now, Officer Yan from the Jin Sui Army personally called my combat command post! He said Li Yunlong kidnapped Yan Kai. Look at what you’ve indulged him into—last time using Yan Kai as bait, I let it slide. This time, Li Yunlong kidnapped the man again, and Officer Yan is forcing me to hand him over. Tell me, how to handle this?”
Upon hearing this, the Brigade Commander’s head exploded.
Li Yunlong kidnapped Yan Kai, and Officer Yan is forcing the headquarters leader to hand him over!
My god!
This is totally screwed!
I was just praising him, saying loosening the reins was good.
Bringing back the Yanzhen Arsenal equipment in advance allows our Border Region Arsenal to produce new type rockets sooner.
And before I could even catch my breath, you damn it kidnapped Yan Kai.
You’re really afraid Northwestern Shanxi won’t be chaotic enough.
You’ve even implicated the headquarters leader, you bastard.
The Brigade Commander still asked suspiciously: “Leader, could there be some misunderstanding? When I went to Li Yunlong’s Independent Regiment, I didn’t see Yan Kai either—how could Li Yunlong have kidnapped him?”
“Ask your Li Yunlong about that.” The Deputy Commander said irritably, “Communication is bad over Officer Yan’s phone, so someone will definitely come to headquarters. Hurry over here, quick.”
After the Deputy Commander finished, the call ended.
The Deputy Brigade Commander on the side saw the Brigade Commander, who had been very happy, become confused and angry after taking the headquarters call, and couldn’t help asking: “Brigade Commander, what’s going on? Why mention Yan Kai again?”
The Brigade Commander put the microphone back on the stand, slammed the table hard, and spat out a rainbow of saliva: “That bastard Li Yunlong really has some skills. Quietly kidnapping Yan Kai—if the headquarters leader hadn’t called, I’d still be in the dark!”
Upon hearing this, the Deputy Brigade Commander looked shocked and stunned: “Brigade Commander, Yan Kai has a very important status with Officer Yan. How did Li Yunlong go and kidnap him? Is there some misunderstanding?”
The Deputy Brigade Commander’s meaning was that Yan Kai was in the Jin Sui Army’s important area, well protected.
Even if Li Yunlong grew wings, he might not be able to kidnap the man.
“The headquarters leader is already cursing up a storm—what misunderstanding is there!” the Brigade Commander said irritably.
The staff officer on the side said: “Maybe Yan Kai was thinking about our Hell Cannon and couldn’t see Minister Zhang, so he went to find Li Yunlong instead, just in time for Li Yunlong going outside the encirclement, so Li Yunlong took the chance to whisk him away.”
Hearing the staff officer say this, the Deputy Brigade Commander immediately nodded in agreement: “Now it seems that’s probably it. Otherwise, Brigade Commander, you couldn’t have gone to the Independent Regiment without running into Yan Kai.” Then the Deputy Brigade Commander changed tone and analyzed: “Brigade Commander, I think Li Yunlong wants to use Yan Kai again to pull in the Jin Sui Army. If the Jin Sui Army joins, in this counter-raid, with them sharing the pressure, our casualties might be much fewer.”
“What, after your analysis, do I have to praise him Li Yunlong now?!” The Brigade Commander said this, but clearly had some clarity in his mind.
That’s true.
This damn Li Yunlong kidnapping Yan Kai—if he can really pull in the Jin Sui Army, that would have great significance for our counter-raid.
Once the Jin Sui Army joining helps our arsenals continue production, then this matter… still has room to maneuver.
“Praise can wait. After the counter-raid ends, Li Yunlong must be seriously disciplined,” the Deputy Brigade Commander said. “Such a big thing, done secretly without reporting to you in advance.”
“Dealing with Li Yunlong can wait. I’m heading to headquarters now— you all do your jobs.” The Brigade Commander didn’t hesitate, quickly took his guard troops, mounted horses, and sped off.
